Proceedings of the Baltimore annual
Conference.
first day.
Staunton, Va.,March 13, 1861. The Conference met in the new and elegant Methodist Church--Bishop Scott, of Delaware, presiding.
After reading appropriate Scripture lessons, and singing the hymn commencing
"Except the Lord construct the house The best concerted schemes are vain,"
Revs. N. Wilson and Wm. Prettyman led in prayer.
Rev. John S. Martin was elected Secretary.
Rev. N. Wilson presented a memorial from the late Layman's Convention of Baltimore, on the subject of separation from the Northern Conferences. Memorials on the same subject were also presented from the Alexandria Quarterly Conference, from the Light Street (Baltimore) Meeting, from a member of the Kentucky Conference, and from the Frankfort Circuit Quarterly Conference. These, after a prolonged discussion as to the propriety of reference to a select committee, or to committee of the whole, were ordered to be read. After the Secretary had finished reading them, they were made the order of the day for to-morrow at 11 o'clock.
The hours of 9 A. M., and 1 P. M., were set as the hours of meeting and adjourning.
The rules of the last session were adopted for the present session.
Rev. Samuel V. Leech was elected Reporter for the Baltimore Christian Advocate.
The usual standing committees were appointed. These are on Necessitous Cases, Dickenson College, Seminaries, Temperance, Baltimore Advocate, and Colonization. They consist, generally, of seven members, taken one from each Presiding Elder's district.
The names of the Clerical Stewards were announced, viz. L. H. W. Mouroe, J. N. Davis, S. Cornelius, N. J. B. Morgan, A. Bushman, P. B. Smith.
The Lay Stewards were announced to the Conference, as follows: J. S. Berry, Robert Ricketts, E. C. Brown, J. S. Carson, A. D. Trotter, A. J. Lucas, Col. McPherson.-- Messrs. Berry, Carson, and McPherson, were introduced to the Conference.
The transfer of Rev. W. H. Holliday, from Upper Iowa, to the Baltimore Conference, was read.
On motion, the Conference adjourned, with singing and prayer.
The Laymen's Convention, composed of the leading men in the Church, met this morning in the basement of the church edifice. An organization was partially effected. The Convention then adjourned until this afternoon.
Evening session.
According to adjournment, the Convention assembled at 3 P. M.The Committee on Permanent Organization reported the following, viz:
- President--Jos. S. Garson.
- 1st Vice President--Col. McPherson,
- 2d Vice President--Chas. J. Baker.
- Secretaries--J. Asbury Morgan,--Watts.
A motion was made to appoint a committee to prepare business for the Convention.
Mr. Gant, of Anne Arundel county, Md., opposed this motion, and offered a resolution repudiating, in strong terms, the new chapter on slavery adopted by the late General Conference at Buffalo.
Mr. Davis, of Washington city, was opposed to the resolution. If you view the new chapter condemning slavery as a sin indiscriminately, or making a new test of membership, he repudiated it as strongly as any one. But there was the very issue. There was a difference as to the meaning.
Mr. Ridgely of Baltimore county, desired to avoid mere resolutions of opinion as not the thing demanded. He wanted a committee to prepare business.
On motion, the resolution of Mr. Gant was laid on the table, and a committee of two from each Presiding Elder's district appointed to report business.
The committee is composed of the following gentlemen:
Col. Ridgely, Baltimore county; Charles J. Baker, Baltimore; W. H. Edes, Georgetown; E. C. Brown, Loudoun; D. M. Wood, Botetourt; Dr. Black, Montgomery, Va., James N. Davis, Washington; Dr. Z. Howard, Montgomery, Md.; Abraham Nulton, Winchester; Samuel Taylor, Hampshire, Jacob Mohler, Rockingham; Dr. E. G. Moorman, Rockingham; Joel McPherson, Lewisburg; William Smith, Monroe.
Hon. Mr. Daniel, of Baltimore, offered a resolution asking for a joint committee on the part of the Convention and Conference to prepare business, that there might be harmony of action.
Judge Bond opposed, and Mr. Daniel supported the resolution.
On motion, it was laid on the table.
The Convention then adjourned to meet tomorrow at 9 ½ A. M.
The Convention is strongly for separation from the General Conference.
