Year: 1860

tiations aud prearrah5sments? Ifthis practice
is to prevail We shall have all the disadvantage
of settled ministry without its Advantage-the
embarrassments Of two systems and the full
benefits ofneither. No philosophic mind will
pretend that the two systems can be bl nded.
We must adhere to the one or adopt the other.
We believe our ministers and people are ard
emily attached to the itinerancy, and that these
local embarrassments will disappear as soon as
their inmethodistic charactera nd unhappy con-
sequences are perceived. The Generally Con-
ference of 1874 resolved that "the change Of our
ministers to different sections of the work is
highly important to the common interests of
our beloved Methodism." In attempting to act
in accordance with the views thus expressed,
occasional opposition has arisen in annual Con-
ference. Some Of these bodies have requested
the bishep not to transfer any ministers
within their bounds, while others have desired
that each case Of transfer should be submitted
to their vote. Such opposition is counterpart
to the negotiations already alluded to, and, like
them, tend to embarrass the work Of station
ing preachers.


SLAVERY.


During the past four years we have submit
ted to the annual conferences several proplsl-
tons for changes in the discipline, by request
of the Conferences, in which they originated
Two of these relate to lay delegations in the
annual and general conferences, ,and three to the
changing Of the general rule on slavery. For the
action Of the Annual Con ference in reference to
the general rule on slavery we fer you to their
has received constitutional majority. We
find so little change in the relation OF the church
to this subject during the last four years (ex-
cept as statistics, TOR which see general min
utes) that we refer you to the views which we
communicated to the last General Conference
in our episcopal address.


LAY REPRESENTATION.


The question of lay representation in the
conferences is not new one. 1t has been Of
ten and ably discussed. 1t the organization Of
the church this question was yielded TO efticien-
cy under the popularity of our system. 1t was
believed to be fully compensated by the other
grants to the layity--such as lay ministry in
the office of local preachers, now numbering
about 8, 900; the sub pastorate in the office Of
class-leader. an office peculiar to Methodism
and exercising the gifts and graces Of still
large number of our most excellent men; the
authority to license men to preach and to re-
commend them to the travelling connection or
pastoral office, and in the ministry concenting
TO depend upon the voluntary contributions OF
the people for their support No church so fully
employs her lalty,or more highly bonors them
than does our Church. In no church have they
more influence and control. The matter is sone
of expediency and resolves itselfinto these two
questions-is it practicable, and will it be use
ful? In our judgement there are great, if not
nsupera!e difficulties in the way Of introducing
lay delegates into the conferences co ordinate
members Of those bodies. We do not consider
it appropriate to specify these embarrassments
in this address. We are of the opinion that
lay delegations might de introduced in one form
into the General Conference with safety, and
perhaps with advantage-that form being in a
separate house. The General Conference being
composed ofa house of clerical, and a house of
lay delegates, celebrating together, but voting
as seperate houses and no action being valid
without majority of each separately obtained
We believe this would be fully satisfactory to
our intelligent laity,who appreciate the value
of our peculiar ecclesiastical politics, and we
judge would not be unsatisfactory to the minis
try of the church. The necessity for this
change does not appear to us so great, nor the
call for it so general as to induce us to recon-
mend its adoption But the subject is before
pers,and wall be brought to your attention by
the journals of several annual con ferences; and
we deem it suitable and proper for us toimitate
our Judgement an to the extent to which it may
be allowed without destroying the peculi
arities four economy, or impairing efficiency
as an aggressive church. Some OF the annual
conferences have taken action on the question
Of extending the term of Ministerial service
We do not regard this as matter of vital
importance either way. Positively the term
might be extended one year without serious diff
ficulty in the administration or injury to the
work. TO us it seems that the advantages
would be incidental, and shared by the few
both Of the ministry and the churches, to the
dissatisfaction and disadvantage Of the many
In exercising our joint general superintendent
cy,we have sought TO adhere strictly to the dis
cipline, and the will # the General Conference,
as expressed from time to time, in their resolu,
tions of instruction. We cheeriully submit our
administration to your examination. II in any,
thingwe have erredwe shall be happy to be cor.
rected. We do not consider our office an ire
sponsible one, but hold ourselves accountable
to your bodyboth for our Christian deporm
and official acts. In conclusion, dear brethren,
we join you with devout thanksgiving to AL
mighty God, for the general and remarkable
prosperity which he has graciously bestowed on
the churches under one pastoral care during the
last five years. Profoundly impressed by the
conviction Of the vastnes OF the influence which
your deliberations and decisions must have on
the prosperity. and interests of the church, we
most earnestly implore for youa large meas
ure o THAT wisdom which is from above, and
which is profitable to direct, and we pray that
upon you and the whole church may ever abide
the benedicii ion Of the Holy Ghost.


y. A. NORRIS NJ. SIMPSON,
E. s. JAMES, 0. G. BAKER.


l.. ScoTT, i. r. AMEs.