NEGenWeb Project
Resource Center
Church

     Whereas, The future welfare of both Church and State depends on the proper education of our youth,

     Resolved, That we approve the proposition making elementary education compulsory.

     2nd. That we will everywhere and all the time discourage the sending of Protestant children to Romish schools.

     3rd. That our people be affectionately reminded of the necessity of constant preparation in temporal as well as spiritual affairs for life changes and ends; that the warning of God's prophet to the King, "Set thine house in order, for thou shalt die and not live," is worthy of all consideration, even in times of health, and that it is the highest wisdom for all those who desire to devote a portion of their posssessions (sic) to the service of the Church, when they are removed to the upper sanctuary, that this purpose be expressed in form of will at the earliest practicable moment.

     4th, That we commend our educational interests in a most especial manner to the favorable consideration of the people, and urge that legacies thereto and ample endowments thereof will prove of the highest importance to the future of the Church in this Conference.

     5th. That we also recommend that a committee of one be appointed to visit the Garrett Biblical Institute, and report at the next session of our Conference.

     The Trustees elected at the last session of the Nebraska Annual Conference for the purpose of making choice of a location for a Conference Seminary, beg leave to report:

     That several meetings were held in accordance with the instructions, and the merits of the competing places named by the Conference, viz. Ashland and Bellevue, fully considered. Both propositions proving un-

satisfactory to the Board, and being restricted by the Conference to these two places it was thought best to leave the matter undecided, and recommend that the Conference open the subject to propositions from other places.

     Since the commencement of this session, instructions to that effect having been given by the Conference, propositions from J. G. Miller, from the city of Plattsmouth, and also from the citizens of Rock Bluffs, have been received, examined and placed on file, but the Trustees are still unable to decide upon the recommendation of a location.

     We therefore beg leave to submit the following resolutions:

     1st. That the Conference Trustees be and are hereby instructed to select a location for a Conference Seminary within the next six months.

     2d. That proposals be and are hereby invited from all persons or places desirous of securing the location of such Seminary within the bounds of this Conference, and that said proposals be forwarded to the Clerk of this Board on or before the 25th day of September next.

     3d. That the Trustees meet the first Tuesday of October, at 2  o'clock, P. M., at the M. E. Church in Lincoln, for the purpose of receiving propositions and making a final choice of location if practicable.

     4th. That the Board of Trustees provide for the reception of donations of lots, lands and money for the purpose of creating an endowment for said institution.

     5th. That the members of this Conference be requested to urge the necessity of such donations upon their people in every charge and that wherever obtained, a report be made to the Trustees immediately.

     6th. That the said Conference Trustees are hereby instructed to resolve themselves into a corporate body in accordance with the usages of the M. E. Church and the laws of the State, making provision in said act for the election of three Trustees annually by the Conference, and that the term of office shall continue three years.

     Whereas, We find many families in our Church without any of our periodicals, and whereas they are designed to unfold the great interests of the Church, and stimulate and direct the efforts of its members; and

whereas, we believe the great loss among the probations of the Church would be efficiently checked by such literature; therefore

     Resolved 1st. That we, as ministers, will make untiring effort to supply these deficient families; and

     2nd. That we will make especial efforts to put our periodicals into the hands of each probationer on our respective charges.

     Report of the Committee on Temperance to the Nebraska Annual Conference.

     Slavery abolished, the next great evil threatening our national life is intemperance. Financially, it assumes such gigantic proportions as to claim the most careful thought of our best financiers and statesmen.

     Are we able to stand the drain of hundreds of millions annually upon the material resources of our country, with no return save that of sorrow, poverty, crime, and death? is a question for wise men to consider.

     Socially and morally it sweeps with the "besom of destruction" the dearest interests of our people, invading the social, destroying the hope of man for time and eternity.

     Our sons and our daughters are laid low by this terrible destroyer. No circle is too sacred for the approach of this demon, with his poisonous breath and barbed tongue. The bar, the church, and even the ministry feel its terrible sting. Therefore resolved,

     1st. As Methodist ministers we will do all in our power, privately, socially, and in our public ministry, by preaching at least annually as required by the discipline of our church, to save the youth now pure, to reclaim the fallen and to suppress the traffic.

     2nd. As citizens, responsible for our high privilege of suffrage, we will, by our political action, seek to place the traffic in intoxicating liquors in the catalogue of crimes.

     3rd. We approve the action organizing the "Nebraska State Temperance Union," of which Rev. J. G. Miller is President, and we respectfully request the Bishop to appoint him State temperance lecturer.

     Your Committee on Church Extension beg leave to report that we regard this society as a creature of Providence, raised up to meet a great and growing want in our church, especially throughout our western frontier, that is rapidly so filling up with a class of people of Methodist training, who, being unable to furnish the means of support for themselves, and at the same time erect suitable places of worship, who must look to the extension society of our church to supply their needs, or receive it from other churches, who are ready to enter and occupy the ground. We rejoice to see the increasing interest of the whole church in behalf of the grand church extension enterprise, as revealed by the annual report of our parent society, but deeply regret that the funds at its disposal are far from being adequate to meet the ever increasing demands of our widely extended and rapidly growing country. Therefore

     Resolved 1st. That we have implicit confidence in the officers and managers of the present society, and believe, under their administration, it is destined to become a mighty power in extending our beloved Methodism, and strengthening the posts of Zion.

     Resolved 2nd. That in view of the rapid increase of population within the bounds of the frontier Conference, we would affectionately recommend to the General Committee the appropriation of large amounts to aid the work of church building among a class of people, that in a few years, will become wealthy and liberal in the support of the general interests of the church.

     Resolved 3rd. That as a Conference we pledge ourselves to lay the claims of the society more faithfully before our people, and urge upon them the importance of an increased zeal arid liberality in support of this worthy enterprise of our church.

     Resolved 4th. That we recommend to the consideration of the parent society the plan of organizing a Church Extension Insurance Company, for the purpose of holding in our own hands the large amounts now paid for insurance on our churches.

     All of which is respectfully submitted.

     Whereas, The Woman's Foreign Missionary Society has, ever since its organization, acted in harmony with and under the supervison (sic) of the missionary authorities of the church, and has awakened missionary zeal and aroused the activities and sympathies of our people in the great work of the world's evangelization, and by the circulation of the "Heathen Woman's Friend," the organ of the society., has enlightened the community on the needs of heathendom, and has added more than thirty thousand dollars to the funds of the Missionary Treasurer, and has conducted its operations in such a manner as to inspire confidence in its ability, and call forth our warmest commendations; therefore

      Resolved, That we continue to extend to this society our earnest sympathy and confidence; and we recommend its claims to our people, and urge our preachers to aid in organizing and sustaining auxilary societies upon our charges, and we will encourage the circulation of the "Heathen Woman's Friend," and we hereby give our official endorsement as a Conference to the noble agency in the world's conversion, by ordering the publication of this preamble and resolutions in our minutes.

      Resolved 2nd, That as a Conference we highly esteem the labors of the Corresponding Secretary, Sister A. Newman, in this great work, and heartily commend her to the confidence of all our societies, asking them to aid her in the formation of auxillery (sic) branches, believing that a more extensive knowledge of the operations of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society will produce very significant results in our great missionary work.

      The committee appointed to memorialize the General Conference, beg leave to report that we have attended to the duties assigned us, and submit the following resolutions:

      1st. That we believe the Bishops should receive their support, like all other traveling preachers, directly from the people they serve.

      2nd. That the profits of the Book Concern should be devoted entirely to the relief of the superannuated preachers, their widows and orphans.

      3rd. That one of the Bishops be requested to make his place of residence in the Missouri Valley.

      4th. That we are opposed to making color in any sense a condition in the Episcopal election.

      5th. That an agent for the Book Concern be elected for the St. Louis branch thereof.

      6th. That we favor the enlargement of the Missionary Advocate, that it be made a weekly paper, and that a competent editor thereof be appointed by the General Conference.

      7th. That we favor a thorough revision of our Hymn Book and Ritual.

      8th. That we instruct our delegates to the General Conference to procure, if possible, the passage of a law forbiding (sic) the agents of Book Concerns to extend credit any further than is common among the leading publishers and other business houses of the country.

      9th. That we favor the election, by the General Conference, of a Board of Managers, and a Corresponding Secretary for the Educational Society, who, together, shall exercise supervision over all institutions of learning, of whatever grade, which claim the endorsement of the Church, by whom all degrees shall be issued or endorsed, all courses of study approved, and who shall form a Board of Advisement concerning the location and endowment of new institutions.

      10th. That we appeal to the General Conference for greater liberality in its provisions for the Missionary and Church Extension work in this Conference, respectfully urging that in all the annals of our country such rapid growth in numbers has never been witnessed, and that with the very inadequate means at, our disposal, it is utterly impossible to provide for the religious destitution of the people without very enlarged assistance.

      11th. That we favor the publication of a new Monthly Magazine, to take the place of the old National.

      12th. That the subject of the insurance of our churches and parsonages by the Church Extension Society be recommended to the favorable consideration of the General Conference.

      Whereas, The circulation of religious tracts has been an efficient instrument for good, in extending the cause of the Redeemer; therefore be it

      Resolved, That we will as ministers be more active in the circulation of our tracts for the year to come.

      Resolved, That it gives us great pleasure to once more greet our beloved Bishop Scott at the Nebraska Annual Conference, and we hereby express our hearty thanks for his able superintendence at our session, and trust that he may long be spared to the work and service of the church.

      Resolved, That this Conference most heartily endorse the Central Christian Advocate under the very able management of B. F. Crary, D. D., and, should he be returned to this position by the ensuing General Conference, hereby pledge our unfailing sympathy and support in the years to come.

      The Committee on Missions met and agreed upon the following missions and appropriations:

M. PRITCHARD, Chairman.     

     I concur in the above appropriations.

S. SCOTT.     

© 2003 for the NEGenWeb Project by Pam Rietsch, Ted & Carole Miller.