354 EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. 



EXODUS OF COLORED PEOPLE. 



present, four of whom were from Germany. 

 The four bishops presided in turn. The pro- 

 ceedings were conducted in the English and 

 German languages. The bishops presented a 

 quadrennial address, which dwelt at the open- 

 ing upon a decrease in the rate of growth of 

 the Church, which had become evident during 

 'the last four years. The fact was illustrated 

 by tables giving the rates of growth in differ- 

 ent particulars, by quadrenniums, of which 

 the table of members showed that the rate of 

 increase has been as follows : from 1863 to 

 1867, 18 per cent. ; from 1867 to 1871, 23 per 

 cent. ; from 1871 to 1875, 20 per cent. ; from 

 1875 to 1879, 13 per cent. The following 

 resolution was adopted in reply to an invi- 

 tation from the General Conference of the 

 Methodist Episcopal Church to the Associa- 

 tion to take part in an (Ecumenical Confer- 

 ence of Methodist bodies accepting the Ar- 

 minian theology : 



1. That we duly appreciate and most heartily recip- 

 rocate the fraternal spirit which prompted and which 

 pervades said invitation to participate m the delibera- 

 tions of said Conference. 



2. That, although we are not a " Methodist body," 

 but yet are closely allied to Methodism in doctrine and 

 practice, we herewith accept the invitation and make 

 arrangements to be properly represented at said Con- 

 ference. 



The Committee of Ways and Means was 

 instructed to take steps to have the Church 

 properly represented at the (Ecumenical Con- 

 ference. The need of a more appropriate 

 translation into the English language of the 

 ^original name of the denomination (JSvangeli- 

 sche Gemeinschaft) was recognized by the Con- 

 ference, and a resolution was adopted, to be 

 submitted to the Annual Conferences for ap- 

 proval, ordering that the English name of the 

 Church in the future should be the Evangelical 

 Church of North America. A committee was 

 appointed to take in hand the necessary mea- 

 sures to make the contemplated change of name 

 legal. The rule with regard to teaching in the- 

 ological schools was amended so as to read: 

 " The teachers of the theological branches must 

 be ministers of our Church ; for non-theologi- 

 cal branches other competent persons may be 

 appointed, whose character and faith are in ac- 

 cordance with the directions of our Church 

 Discipline." The rule concerning the Board 

 of Publication was modified so as to read : 

 " There shall be a Board of Publication con- 

 sisting of the Bishops and eight other men. 

 The Church shall be divided into eight dis- 

 tricts, from each of which one man shall be 

 elected for four years by the General Confer- 

 ence. The Board shall be amenable for its 

 management only to the General Conference." 

 The Committee on Sunday-Schools reported 

 that a gratifying success had been attained in 

 that department of the work of the Church, 

 and that the ministry were manifesting an in- 

 creasing interest and zeal in carrying it for- 

 ward. The Conference advised that, in addi- 

 tion to the Conference and district conventions 



already often held, Sunday-school institutes ba 

 held, as far as possible, at all appointments, 

 under the direction of the pastor, and that nor- 

 mal classes be established, where instructions 

 may be given in the Biblical sciences and the 

 best methods of teaching. A committee was 

 appointed to prepare and publish a course of 

 study for normal classes ; and the speedy pub- 

 lication of a catechism for Sunday-schools in 

 the English and German languages, and the 

 preparation and publication of a Biblical ge- 

 ography, in German, were recommended. Ar- 

 ticles were approved, to be recommended to 

 the Annual Conferences, providing that the 

 Bishops, except the one who is at the time in 

 the chair, shall be permitted to take part in 

 the deliberations of the General Conference, 

 without having the right to vote, and that such 

 general officers of the Church as were at pres- 

 ent members of the General Conference by 

 virtue of their office should have the privilege 

 of choosing the Annual Conferences of which 

 they would be members, or of retaining mem- 

 bership in the Conferences with which they 

 were already connected, while their official 

 membership of the General Conference should 

 cease. The Eev. Jacob J. Esher, the Rev. Ru- 

 dolph Dubs, D. D., and the Rev. Thomas Bow- 

 man, D. D., were reflected to the office of 

 Bishop. 



EXODUS OF COLORED PEOPLE. The 

 attention of the country during the past year 

 has been attracted to movements among the 

 colored population, chiefly in the States bor- 

 dering on the Mississippi. There was no ap- 

 pearance of organization or system among 

 these persons. Their irregularity and the ab- 

 sence of preparation seemed to indicate spon- 

 taneousness and earnestness. Bands moved 

 from the plantations to the Mississippi River, 

 and thence to St. Louis and other cities, with 

 no defined purpose, except to reach some one 

 of the new States west of the Mississippi, 

 where they expected to enjoy a new Canaan. 

 Their movements received the name of the 

 "Exodus." A large number of these estrays 

 were returned to their homes. Others were 

 sent forward to Kansas, where the welcome 

 was not cordial. There has been much suffer- 

 ing and destitution among them. That there 

 should be a restless and migratory spirit ex- 

 hibited from time to time by this population, 

 that this should impel to inconsiderate and 

 unorganized efforts for change, and result in 

 unsuccessful experiments, is not surprising. 

 The number of this population is large and in- 

 creasing. Their place in political and social 

 life is ill-defined, and their merely economical 

 and domestic relations are open to disturbance 

 through the interference and influence of per- 

 sons unconnected with them socially or eco- 

 nomically. Their relations as citizens and 

 voters give them an importance in the eyes of 

 those who are indifferent to them in any other 

 of their relations. A brief retrospect of the 

 history of this race, with a view to ascertain 



