May 12. TENTH DAY. CENTRAL GER MAN. Neglect of the means of grace. CENTRAL GERMAN CONFERENCE. On motion of J. Rothweiler, 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 Discipline on page 119, ques. 2, third line, by inserting after the word "neglect" the words any one of, so that it shall read "who habitually neglect any one of the means of grace," etc. CENTRAL ILLI- Scandinavian work. Endowment for schools. Book Concern. Ordinations. CENTRAL ILLINOIS CONFERENCE. W. H. Hunter presented the following preamble and resolution, and they were referred to the Special Committee on the Centenary, namely: Whereas, we believe it important for the success of our Scandinavian work both in this country, and also in other lands, that the Methodist Episcopal Church should make ample provision for the theological training of her young men called of God to the ministry; and, Whereas, Our Scandinavian brethren have secured by pledges in their Centenary offerings about twenty thousand dollars for the endowment of an institution of learning for the better preparation of their young men for the work of the ministry; therefore, Resolved, That the Centenary Committee inquire into the expediency of recommending to this General Conference an appropriation of twenty-five thousand dollars from the Centenary funds for educational purposes to this object. And on further motion of W. H. Hunter, the following preamble and resolution were referred to the Committee on the Book Concern: Whereas, It is believed that the disbursements of the Book Concern for many years past have been made in violation of our fundamental law; therefore, Resolved, That the Book Committee be instructed to inquire into the expediency of restoring to the Conferences their share of the profits for the support of the superannuated preachers, and the widows and orphans of those who have died in the work. On motion of H. Ritchie, the following preamble and resolution were referred to the Committee on Revisals, namely: Whereas, The Discipline provides that ministers of other evangelical Churches may be recognized among us by taking upon them our ordination vows; and, Whereas, In most other Churches a man may receive Elders' orders within six months after being licensed if he receives a call to a pastoral charge; and Whereas, In the Methodist Episcopal Church a man is required to labor in the pastorate four years, receiving a previous ordination as a Deacon before he is eligible to Elders' orders; therefore, Resolved, That the Committee on Revisals be instructed to inquire whether some additional provision is not needed on this subject. May 12. CENTRAL OHIO CONFERENCE. P. S. Donelson offered the following resolutions, and they were referred to the Committee on Revisals, namely: CENTRAL OHIO. Term of pastoral service. Resolved, 1. That the Committee on Revisals be instructed to inquire into the propriety of amending ans. 3, ques. 3, chap. xiii, on page 88, by changing the word "six" to "seven," so as to read, shall not continue a preacher more than three years in seven." Resolved, 2. That the Committee on Revisals be instructed to in- Educational quire into the propriety of inserting in sec. 17, page 99 of the Discipline a clause requiring the taking of an annual collection for the cause of education. W. G. Williams offered the following resolution, and it was referred to the Committee on Revisals, namely: Resolved, That the Committee on Revisals be instructed to inquire why the wording of the questions of the General Minutes differs from that prescribed in the Discipline, pp. 50-52, and report either by modification of the Discipline, or by resolution directing the Bishops and Editor of the General Minutes to adopt the form found in the Discipline. On motion of W. G. Williams, the following resolution was adopted, namely: collection. Questions of the utes. Boundaries. Resolved, That the Bishops who have prepared memoranda on the Bishops and subject of Conference Boundaries be requested to meet the Committee on that subject, and give such additional information and suggestions as they may desire to bring before the Committee. On motion of W. J. Wells, 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 changing the answer to ques. 3, part 2, sec. 14 of the Discipline, so as to read, "for any term not exceeding four years, after which he shall not be appointed to the same district for six years," or any other, except when an Annual Confer ence shall by a vote order otherwise. CINCINNATI CONFERENCE. On motion of J. M. Walden, the following resolution was referred to the Committee on the Book Concern, namely: Term of service for Presiding Elders. CINCINNATI. May 12. TENTH DAY. Assistant Edi tors. Amendment of strictive Rule. Resolved, That the Committee on the Book Concern be instructed to consider the expediency of making the Assistant Editors of our papers and periodicals elective by the General Conference. On further motion of J. M. Walden, the following resolution was referred to the Committee on Revisals, namely: Resolved, That the Committee on Revisals be instructed to inquire the second Re- into the expediency of proposing a change in the second Restrictive Rule of Discipline, Part II, chap. i, sec. 1, so as to accord to the members of all regularly constituted Mission Annual Conferences, wherever located, the right of representation in the General Conference. On motion of William Young, the following resolution was referred to the Committee on Revisals, namely: Resolved, That the Committee on Revisals be instructed to consider the propriety of amending the third ans. of the third question on page 40 of the Discipline. The present answer is as follows, namely: "Whenever they shall have attained an age sufficient to understand the obligations of religion, and shall give evidence of a desire to flee from the wrath to come, and to be saved from their sins, their names may, with their consent, be enrolled on the list of probationers; and if they shall continue to give evidence of a principle and habit of piety they may be admitted to full membership in our Church on the recommendation of a leader with whom they have met at least six months in class, by publicly assenting before the Church to the baptismal covenant, and also the usual questions on doctrine and discipline." The amended answer would read, "Whenever they shall have attained an age sufficient to understand the obligations of religion, and continue to give evidence of a principle and habit of piety, they may be admitted into full membership in our Church on the recommendation of a leader with whom they have met at least six months in class by publicly assenting before the Church to the baptismal covenant, and to the usual questions on doctrine and discipline." A. Lowry submitted the following plan for the introduction of Lay Delegation into the Annual and General Conferences, and it was referred to the Committee on Lay Representation. PLAN. Quest. Who shall compose the General Conference, and what are the regulations and powers belonging to it? Ans. The General Conference shall be composed of an equal number of Ministers and Laymen, who shall be elected by the Annual Conferences. There shall be one member for every thirty members of each Annual Conference, to be appointed either by seniority or choice, at the discretion of such Annual Conference, yet so that such representatives shall have traveled at least four full calendar years from the time that they were received on trial by an Annual Conference, and are in full connection at the time of hold- May 12. ing the Conference. Also the following, which was referred to the same Committee: Quest. Who shall attend the Annual Conferences? Ans. All the Traveling Preachers, both those who are in full connection, and those who are on trial, together with as many Lay Representatives as there are separate pastoral charges within the limits of the Conference. Such Delegates shall have a right to speak and vote on all questions coming before the Conference except those which may involve the trial of a Minister. Each shall be chosen by ballot by the Society of which he is a member at the time of the last quarterly meeting of each year, the Presiding Elder being in the chair. The Presiding Elder shall be the representative of the Charges and Ministers within his district jointly with the lay delegates, and the Bishop shall appoint a time during the session of each Conference to hear and consider the joint representations. Soon after the opening of each Conference the Bishop presiding shall indicate the number of Presiding Elders needed for the ensuing year, whereupon the Conference shall elect by ballot the required number. The Ministers thus chosen and appointed by the Bishop shall hold their representative office until their successors are appointed. No rights or privileges herein granted shall be construed to limit or interfere with the appointing power of the Bishop beyond the specific representation of the needs and wishes of the parties interested. The Societies and Conferences may instruct their Representatives respectively, subject to this limitation In all charges containing more than one Society the election of Lay Representatives shall take place as follows: Each Society shall elect by ballot previous to the last quarterly meeting as many electors as there are classes in the Society, the Preacher in Charge being in the chair. Electors shall meet at the time and place of the last quarterly meeting for the charge on Saturday, and with the Presiding Elder in the chair, or in his absence the Preacher in Charge, proceed to elect by ballot as many delegates to the Annual Conference as there are Pastors on that work. DETROIT CONFERENCE. F. A. Blades submitted the following resolution, and it was referred to the Committee on Revisals, namely: Resolved, That the Committee on Revisals be requested to add to the Disciplinary Committees in Quarterly Conference business one on Church Records, of which the Pastor shall be chairman. He also presented a plan for Lay Delegation, and it was referred to the Committee on Lay Representation. EAST BALTIMORE CONFERENCE. On motion of B. H. Crever, the following preamble and resolution were adopted, namely: TENTH DAY. May 12. TENTH DAY. The Memorial Church at Gettysburg. Reporting ac Whereas, The East Baltimore Conference, recognizing the moral and religious elements that entered into the great national struggle, and in consideration of the life-sacrifice offered in behalf of our liberties, have in contemplation the erection at Gettysburg, Pa., of a Soldiers' Memorial Church, and have appointed an agent to promote the success of this enterprise; and Whereas, This subject has received the favorable consideration of the Philadelphia Conference, and the General Committee of the Church Extension Society, and many distinguished citizens in military and civil life; and Whereas, It is eminently fit that among the historic monuments by which the Republic shall perpetuate the fame of her heroes one at least should be sacred to their religious faith and trust in God; and Whereas, The heroic and sainted dead of the Methodist Episcopal Church sleep in every battle-field of the Republic; therefore, Resolved, That the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in Conference assembled, do cordially approve of this sacred and patriotic design, and commend it to the favor of our people and of all patriotic citizens. J. H. C. Dosh presented the following resolutions, and they were severally and appropriately referred, namely: Resolved, That the Committee on Revisals be instructed to concessions and sider the expediency of reporting both accessions and removals in our removals. Lord's Prayer. Annual Statistics. Resolved, That the Committee on Revisals be instructed to consider the expediency of conforming the Lord's Prayer as found in our Ritual to the language of Jesus as given in St. Matthew, vi, 9-13. Resolved, That the Committee on Revisals be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing for the eligibility of Local Preachers, graduates of our Theological Institutes, to Deacons' Orders, by virtue of such graduation. Resolved, That the Committee on Revisals be instructed to inquire into the expediency of having the preacher in charge of a circuit or station state, in his report to the Quarterly Conference, the number of pastoral visits made by himself and his colleague (if he has a colleague) during the previous quarter. Resolved, That the Committee on the Better Organization of our Local Preachers be instructed to inquire into the expediency of conferring upon Quarterly Conferences the power to suspend certain privileges of Local Deacons and Elders for inefficiency, or a refusal to accept regular and systematic employment on the Sabbath. On motion of Joseph France, the following res olution was referred to the Committee on Revisals, namely: Resolved, That the Committee on Revisals be requested to consider the propriety of changing the Discipline, chap. iii, page 108, so that in answer to question 2, "How are the Stewards to be appointed?" instead of saying, "The preacher having charge of the circuit shall have the right of nomination, but the Quarterly Conference shall confirm or reject such nomination the Stewards so appointed shall hold office for one year, but may be reappointed |