May 9. EIGHTH DAY. Report of the aries, and it was referred, with the accompanying papers, to the Committee on Boundaries, namely: The General Conference of 1864 requested the Board of Bishops "to consider and report to the General Conference of 1868 what changes should, in their judgment, be made in the boundaries of the Annual Conferences to promote the highest welfare of the Church." The Board gave to this subject its early and earnest attention. In addition to the consideration and adoption of the general principles embodied in the quadrennial address, the Board gathered, from the latest and most authentic sources, such data as would have an important bearing upon the question of Conference boundaries. In some cases also plans were drawn, or the Conference lines suggested were indicated upon maps. In response to the request of your body, passed on the 6th inst., these data and plans, together with memoranda relating to the subject, are now submitted for your consideration. We are not, however, prepared to recommend the enactment of the Conference lines here indicated without a proper consideration of all the Church interests involved. They rather indicate what we would recommend were we undertaking the work of Conference division de novo. But they at the same time suggest ideas that may be realized in part now, but more fully in the future, when the change of circumstances shall have modified or removed the obstacles now in the way of their realization. The accompanying memoranda indicate the relation of the maps and data to the several Annual Conferences, and also the Bishops to whom has been committed the consideration of the boundary lines in each particular state and territory. On motion of F. A. Hester, the rules were suspended so as to allow the call of Conferences for the presentation of miscellaneous business to be resumed at the point where it was suspended on the last call. The President called the Conferences, and matters were introduced and disposed of as follows, namely: On printing Annual ONEIDA CONFERENCE. A. S. Graves submitted the following resolutions, the first of which was referred to the Committee on the Book Concern, and the second to the Committee on Itinerancy, namely: Resolved, That the Committee on the Book Concern be requested Confer- to inquire into the practicability of having the Minutes of the difence Minutes ferent Annual Conferences published at the Book Concern in New York or Cincinnati. at the Book Concern. On transfers. Resolved, That the Committee on Itinerancy be instructed to examine the action of Anuual Conferences on the subject of transfers, to find if such action has in any case embarrassed the transfer of preachers from one Conference to another. Also to inquire what action, if any, by the General Conference, is necessary to facilitate such transfers as the interests of the Church may occasion. PHILADELPHIA CONFERENCE. On motion of R. H. Pattison, the following resolution was referred to the Committee on Revisals, namely: Resolved, That the Committee on Revisals be instructed to inquire into the propriety of amending the answer to question 13, section 2, chapter iii of the Discipline, by adding the, words, "amount collected for Church Extension Society." On further motion of R. H. Pattison, the following resolution was adopted, namely: Resolved, That the Secretary of this Conference be, and is hereby instructed to have a copy of the Journal of this General Conference printed, substantially bound, and duly certified by himself to be correct, and that this copy be deposited by himself in the General Conference trunk or safe, as the "official Journal." After this resolution was adopted B. N. Spahr moved a reconsideration of the vote adopting it, but the motion to reconsider did not prevail. J. Cunningham presented a memorial from Elkton, Maryland, signed by Lucius C. Matlack, Pastor, and fifteen official members, asking the General Conference to rescind the preamble and resolutions passed by the General Conference May 12, 1836, at Cincinnati, disapproving the conduct of two members of that General Conference "for having lectured upon and in favor of modern abolitionism;" and it was referred to the Committee on the State of the Church. G. D. Carrow submitted the following preamble and resolutions, and they were referred to the Committee on Itinerancy: Whereas, It is desirable and necessary that our people should have the opportunity of communicating with the Bishops in regard to the pastors whose services they may desire to obtain; and Whereas, The different modes of communication that now prevail are either unsatisfactory or mischievous, tending to breed and disseminate discontent among both pastors and people, and to the practical abolition of the appointing power of the Bishops; and May 9. EIGHTH DAY. A copy of the Journal to be deposited with the Secretary as the "official Journal." Whereas, We deem it all-important that pastors and people should live and labor together in perfect harmony, and that the constitu- Quarterly Contional authority of the Bishops to station and remove the pastors should be fully maintained; therefore, Resolved, 1. That the General Conference be and is hereby requested to enact and insert in the Discipline a rule constituting the Quarterly Conference the organ through which any circuit or station, desiring to express a wish in regard to its own pastoral supply, may convey that expression; and that a majority of the members ferences to be organ the through which communications are to be sent to the Bishops pulpit plies. for sup May 9. EIGHTH DAY. Relation of Gen eral Conference to our Theological Schools. Missionary Map. PITTSBURGH. Uniformity in of a Quarterly Conference present and voting, shall be understood to represent the desires of such charge in the premises. Resolved, 2. To provide by express rule of Discipline that the Bishops shall not give either an express or implied promise to make a desired appointment till the meeting of the Annual Conference, and after consultation with the Presiding Elders; except in such cases of special exigency, occurring in the interim of conferences, as would render instantaneous action necessary to secure the best interests of the Church. On motion of T. C. Murphy, the following resolutions were referred, the first to the Committee on Education, the second to the Committee on Missions, namely: Resolved, That the Committee on Education be instructed to inquire into the relation of the General Conference to our Theological Institutions, and the extent of its authority over them. Resolved, That the Committee on Missions be directed to consider the expediency of having prepared a Missionary Map, in which shall be indicated the various Mission Stations of our own Church, and as far as practicable, those of our sister Churches. PITTSBURGH CONFERENCE. On motion of D. L. Dempsey, the following resolution was referred to the Committee on Revisals, namely: Resolved, That the Committee on Revisals be requested to prepublic wor- pare a plan by which uniformity may be secured in our public ship. Election Stewards ballot. of services. On motion of H. Miller, the following resolution was referred to the Committee on Revisals, namely: Resolved, That the Committee on Revisals be instructed to conby sider the propriety of so changing the Discipline as to provide that in the appointment of Stewards by the Quarterly Conference the vote shall be by ballot. Of receiving On motion of S. H. Nesbit, the following resolution was referred to the Committee on Revisals, namely: Resolved, That the Committee on Revisals be instructed to inministers from quire into the expediency of so changing Part II, chap. ii, sec. 12, ques. 1, in our Book of Discipline, that ministers from other Methodist bodies than the British, Irish, and Canada Conferences may be received on their credentials, and on giving satisfaction to an Annual Conference of their willingness to conform to our Church government and usages. Methodist bod ies. SOUTHEASTERN INDIANA. SOUTHEASTERN INDIANA CONFERENCE. On motion of F. A. Hester, the following resolution was referred to the Committee on Revisals, namely: Whereas, The laws of some of the States permit divorce for many causes, and authorize the divorced parties to remarry; and Whereas, Many persons, and among them, sometimes, members of our own Church become united in marriage to parties divorced, contrary to Christ's law; and Whereas, Some ministers have yielded to solicitations to solemnize such marriages, and thereby religion is scandalized and a great evil encouraged; therefore, Resolved, That the Committee on Revisals be instructed to inquire into the propriety of introducing into our Book of Discipline specific enactments prohibiting this offense against the law of Christ both among our ministry and laity. On motion of F. C. Holliday, the following resolution was referred to the Committee on Revisals, namely: May 9. EIGHTH DAY. Divorce. Resolved, That the Committee on Revisals be instructed to add a Church Music. clause to sec. 2, chapter iii, page 42 of the Book of Discipline, defining who shall have control of the whole subject of Church Music in our congregations, such as the appointment of choirs, the employment of choristers, and the use of instrumental music. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS CONFERENCE. On motion of T. A. Eaton, the following preamble and resolution were referred to the Committee on Boundaries, namely: SOUTHERN ILLI- Whereas, The Societies, Craig's and Bowling Green, east of Boundaries. Hillsborough, in the bounds of the Illinois Conference, are supplied with preaching from the Southern Illinois Conference; and as the people of those Societies desire to be united to the Southern Illinois Conference; therefore, Resolved, That the Committee on Boundaries be requested to inquire into the expediency of changing the line between those Conferences so as to include those two Societies in the bounds of the Southern Illinois Conference. SOUTHWESTERN GERMAN CONFERENCE. SOUTHWESTERN Evangelical As On motion of Philip Kuhl, the reception of the report of the delegation appointed by the last General sociation. Conference to bear the Christian salutations of that body to the General Conference of the Evangelical Association was made the order of the day for Tuesday next, immediately after the report of Bishop Thomson relating to his visit to our Missions in India and China. TROY CONFERENCE. R. H. Robinson offered the following resolution, and, on motion of G. W. Woodruff, it was laid on the table, namely: ΤΕΟΣ. Resolved, That the Committee on Revisals be requested to inquire into the expediency of adding to the Invitation to the Communion as found on page 153 of our Book of Discipline, "and have been baptized," so that the Invitation shall be as follows: "Therefore, ye that do truly and earnestly repent of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbors, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in his holy ways, and have been baptized, draw near with faith and take this holy sacrament to your comfort, and devoutly kneeling, make your humble confession to Almighty God." On motion of John E. Bowen, the following resolu tions were referred to the Committee on Revisals, namely: Resolved, That the Committee on Revisals be requested to inquire into the expediency and propriety of inserting in the Discipline a chapter on" The Manner of Constituting Exhorters and their Duty." Resolved, That the Committee on Revisals be requested to inquire into the expediency of inserting in the chapter of the Discipline on the qualifications, appointments, and duties of Stewards a sentence demanding the appointment by each Quarterly Conference of a District Steward, and a paragraph defining his duties and responsibilities. WEST VIRGINIA CONFERENCE. On motion of A. J. Lyda, the following preamble and resolution were referred to the Committee on Revisals, namely: Whereas, The subject of intermediate sessions as a Court of Appeals, or in some other form, has, at former meetings of this body, been considered and favorably reported upon, and has again at this session been referred to the Committee on Revisals; and, Whereas, There is a wide-felt conviction that for many reasons affecting the Episcopacy, the Annual Conferences, and other interests of the Church, some such arrangement should be made; and, Whereas, In view of the great enlargement of the work there are numerous and important questions which demand earlier and more prompt attention than a body meeting only once in four years can give to them; therefore, Resolved, That the Committee on Revisals be instructed to consider and report on the expediency of, 1. Such a change in the Discipline as will provide for Biennial Sessions of the General Conference. 2. Such a change as will reduce the number of delegates so that at no time it shall exceed two hundred. On further motion of A. J. Lyda, the following resolution was referred to the Committee on Revisals, namely: Resolved, That the Committee on Revisals be instructed to inquire into the expediency of so changing the Book of Discipline on pages 263 and 264, sec. 2, paragraphs 2, 3, and 4, as to read as |