METHODISTS. 



member*. It was authorized to appro- 

 lie money to defray the expenses of its work, 

 ineidental expenses; to provide for the 

 ori of superannuated missionaries, and the 

 id>\vs ami orphan* of missionaries not |>r- 

 vi.l.-d for by any Annual Conferences; t) build 

 s for worship, for schools, and for ini.s- 

 and was directed to make reports 

 operations to the General Conference, etc. 

 The following Hause, giving a veto-power 

 to the bi>li.'ps, having been approved by the 

 requisite majority in the Annual Conference, 

 was incorporated into the Discipline : 



When uiiy rule, or regulation, Is adopted by tlio 

 General CuntVreneoj which, in the opinion of the 

 liishopa, is unconstitutional, the bishops may pre- 

 sent to tin ('.inference which passed such rule or 

 regulation their objections thereto, with their rea- 

 sons, in writing ; and if then the General Conference 

 shall, by a two-thirds vote, adhere to its action on 

 said rule or regulation, it shall then take the course 

 .'.'I for altering a restricted rule, and if thus 

 passed upon affirmatively, the bishops shall an- 

 nounce that such rule, or regulation, takes effect 

 from that time. 



A provision was added to the Discipline for 

 the support of the widows and orphan children 

 of deceased bishops. The election of superin- 

 tendents of Sunday-schools was vested in the 

 Quarterly Conference, on the nomination of 

 the preacher in charge. An amendment to 

 the general rule in relation to the use of in- 

 toxicating liquors was adopted for submission 

 to the Annual Conferences, by which, if it is 

 approved, members will be required to avoid 

 " drunkenness, or drinking spirituous liquors, 

 unless in coses of necessity." 



The bishops were requested to address a 

 pastoral letter to the people, bringing promi- 

 nently before them the pastoral worship of the 

 Church, explaining the action of the General 

 Conference of 1866 respecting class-meetings; 

 emphasizing the obligation to read the Script- 

 ures; deprecating the increasing indulgence 

 in such divisions " as cannot be taken in the 

 name of the Lord Jesus; " and expressing dis- 

 approbation of " operatic performances in our 

 churches, which drown the sense of our hymns, 

 and utterly destroy congregational singing." 



III. COLORED METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 

 IN AMERICA. The report of this Church, made 

 in May, 1874, showed it to have fifteen An- 

 nual Conferences, 607 traveling preachers, 618 

 local preachers, 74,719 members, 585 Sunday- 

 schools, 1,102 Sunday-school teachers, and 

 49.955 Sunday-school scholars. 



The General Conference of the Colored Meth- 

 odist Episcopal Church in America, met at 

 Louisville, Ky., August 5th. The bishops pre- 

 sented an address reviewing the condition of 

 the Church. Many recommended that as few 

 changes as possible be made in the Book of 

 Discipline. They invited serious attention to 

 the affairs of the Book Concern. It had been 

 established at Memphis, Tenn., by the previous 

 General Conference, but had not been success- 

 fully operated there. The Book Committee 



had adjudged it necessary to remove it to LouU- 

 \ ill.-, K y., and had w> n-mov. <l it. It has since 

 been successful, has paid its way, and returned 

 dividrads, 



Tin- bMiops hud been appointed at the last 

 session of the <..-n< ml ConU-ivi.rr a cominitt. 



to mature a plan of education. '1 In y reported 

 that the Tennessee and Kentucky (out. . 

 had bought a lot in Louisville lor tho purpose 

 of establishing a school, and had invited the 

 other conferences to join them. Stops had 

 been taken toward erecting a building. The 

 (ieiu-ral ('mil. reiico resolved that this contem- 

 tcmplated school be mode the central university 

 of the Church, and that all the Annual Confer- 

 ences bo requested to give it their aid' and pa- 

 tronage. Measures were also adopted looking 

 to the establishment of a school for the educa- 

 tion of young women. 



Action was taken to further the prosecution 

 of mission-work, and the hope was expressed 

 that in the course of the next ten years the 

 Church might be able to send missionaries to 

 Africa. For the present the mission-work of 

 the Church is confined to the home field. The 

 publication of a monthly Sunday-school paper 

 was determined upon. 



A fundamental principle was adopted at the 

 organization of this Church, that none but per- 

 sons of the colored or negro race should be 

 members of it. A resolution was offered at 

 the present Conference to modify this rule, so 

 as to permit the admission of others (Indians 

 were particularly contemplated), but it was 

 almost unanimously rejected. 



The Conference was visited by a deputation 

 representing the Louisville District Conference 

 of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. A 

 resolution of thanks was voted the District 

 Conference " for this expression of their love," 

 in which was also embodied the expression of 

 gratitude to the Church South for its action in 

 organizing and setting apart the colored Church, 

 and of the desire and wish of the General Con- 

 ference for the perpetuation of friendly rela- 

 tions with the members of that Church, "as 

 Christians and the people of God." The fol- 

 lowing resolution on fraternal relations with 

 other churches was adopted : 



Jttgolved, That a committee on fraternal greeting 

 be appointed by this Conference ; that, should any 

 Christian Church offer fraternal relations, said com- 

 mittee is also authorized to effect the same ; that the 

 committee is also authorized, if any other Church 

 should offer a union with our Church, to effect that 

 union with them, without relinquishing any of the 

 rights or principles of our Church. 



IV. METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH. Sta- 

 tistical reports were made to the General Con- 

 ference of this Church, in May, 1874, from 

 twelve conferences, as follows: Number of 

 ministers, 500 ; of members, 40,122 ; value of 

 church property, $999,065. No reports were 

 received from eight conferences. 



The General Conference of the Methodist 

 Protestant Church met at Lynchburg, Va., 

 May 1st. The Rev. L. W. Bates, D. D., of Bal- 



