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NEBRASKA CITY, Neb., March 22, 1872.     

     At 10 o'clock, A. M., John Hamlin, of Nebraska City, Called the Conference to order and was elected temporary chairman. Wm. A. Burr, of Lincoln, was elected temporary secretary.

     Rev. W. A. Presson, of Beatrice, assisted by Rev. Aaron Thorpe, conducted devotional exercises.

     On motion by M. J. Mumford, a committee of five, one from each Conference District, was elected on Credentials. The following named persons were chosen:

     E. H. Rogers, from the Omaha district; S. J. Prose, Nebraska district; S. D. Paddock, Lincoln district; Wm. N. Edwards, Beatrice district; A. Olinger, Covington district.

     The committee reported the following persons entitled to seats in the Conference

     OMAHA DISTRICT.--E. H. Rogers, Fremont; John Van Anda, North Bend; Isaac Carter, Columbus; John Ritchie, Bellevue; Joseph E. Spencer, West Point; J. J. McLain, Omaha, 1st church; John W. Tousley, Omaha, 2d church; E. J. Hancock, Elkhorn; B. F. King, Schuyler; Julius S. Smith, Grand Island; J. Allberry, Blair; Peter Lindquist, Scandinavian church.

     LINCOLN DISTRICT.--S. Dwight Paddock, Seward; Jacob Bridenstine, Rock Bluff; Aaron Thorpe, Wyoming; George Worley, Oak Creek; Andrew Smith, Nemaha; Stephen B. Hobson, Mt. Pleasant; Jacob Sollenberger, Palmyra; J. S. LeHew, Fairmount; J. W. Barr, South Bend; P. J. Goodrich, Milford; John W. Barnes, Plattsmouth; J. S. Simington, Ashland; W. A. Burr, Lincoln.

     NEBRASKA DISTRICT.--M. S. Mumford, Table Rock; John Hamlin, Nebraska City; Jacob Trulton, Pawnee City; S. I. Prose, South Fork; W. B. Davis, Nebraska; S. P. Majors, Peru; S. W. Kennedy, London; E. E. Ebright, Brownville; J. P. Welty, Nemaha City; Robert Robb, Tecumseh.

      BEATRICE DISTRICT.--W. M. Edwards, Plum Creek; Newton Wetherald, Beatrice; B. Harnly, Crab Orchard; Marvin Warren, Fairbury; G. M. Cooper, Crete; David Baker, York.

     COVINGTON DISTRICT.--A. Olinger, Arizona; J. W. Perkins, Logan Valley; George Scott, St. James; S. B. York, Norfolk.

Signed,       E. H. ROGERS, Chairman.     

     S. DWIGHT PADDOCK, Secretary.

     Report of committee adopted.

     Committee appointed on permanent organization reported as follows

     For Chairman, John Ritchie, of Bellevue; Secretary, Wm. A. Burr, of Lincoln.

     Report adopted.

     On motion of S. P. Majors, the Chairman appointed the following committees:

     Committee on Temperance--John Van Anda, M. J. Mumford, Stephen B. Hobson, Marvin Warren, S. B. York.

     Committee on Address to the Ministerial Conference--John Ritchie, John Hamlin, Wm. A. Burr, Marvin Warren, George Scott.

     On motion, 2 o'clock this p. m. was the hour chosen for election of delegates to the General Conference.

     On motion, no member allowed to speak on any question more than twice, nor more than 2 1/2 minutes each time.

     Committee on Address to the Ministerial Conference made the following report, which was adopted:

     ADDRESS TO THE NEBRASKA ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE M. E. CHURCH.
     In behalf of the Electoral Conference of Laymen of Nebraska now in session in this city, permit us to present to you their formal christian greeting, and to express to you their hope that the great revolution in the constitution of our beloved church now being brought to a practical conclusion, may more firmly cement the hearts of the Itineracy and Laity; may increase the efficiency of each branch of our beloved zion in the discharge of their respective duties, and prove no mean auxilliary (sic) the world's salvation.

     A change so quietly effected can scarcely be termed a revolution; and yet it is of so radical a nature that we do not wonder that many are looking with fear and trembling to its possible results. To allay this apprehension, and to indicate the results sought by us, permit us to say that we love our church too well to lay rude hands upon her time-honored institutions and formulas; but we feel that her growth has been so great and so rapid that she needs increased facilities for accomplishing the results contemplated, and we desire, under the leading of the Divine Spirit, to place such instrumentality in Her hand as shall enable Her to meet the increased and increasing duties devolving upon her.

     Our confidence in the efficiency and utility of the Itinerancy and Episcopacy of our church is unimpaired, and we trust they may, by a proper adaptation to changed circumstances, retain their power for good over the hearts of the people. We come loyal to the church of our choice, feeling that in obedience to its law we can enjoy the greatest christian liberty. We come into the counsels of the church to take nothing from you, its honored Ministry, but a portion of your labor and toil. We come to assist you if we can, with humble spirits, prayerful hearts, cheerful voices and willing hands, in the discharge of the duties imposed upon you by the wants of the church we love.

     We come profoundly impressed with the thought that these enlarged

privileges bring enlarged obligations and duties, and trust that enlarged measures of wisdom and grace from God may also attend them.

     In short, we come desiring to know the will of God in regard to our new relations and duties, and trust we may have grace to do it.

     It cannot be expected that so large an infusion of a new element into the church counsels direct from the great mass of the laity, will produce no effect. But if practical wisdom, as we trust it may, shall be thereby added to such counsels, and evinced in the beneficial practical operations of the church, let us hope and trust that this great change shall not have been made in vain.

     In conclusion, let us say to you, in a word, that in joining with the ministry in the high counsels of the church we feel that we are coming upon holy ground, and are taking responsibilities that are to be discharged by us with great caution and prayer before God, for the guidance of his holy spirit; and saying this, we trust and believe that we are uttering the united sentiment of the laity of our church in Nebraska and throughout the world.

     We are, dear brethren, your unworthy co-laborers in the vineyard of our Lord and Master,

JOHN RITCHIE, Chairman.     

     WM. A. BURR, Secretary.

     Your Committee on Temperance respectfully submit and recommend for adoption the following resolutions:

     Resolved, That the usages of drinking as a beverage, manufacturing and selling intoxicating liquors, are productive of great evils against the State, are serious crimes against God and humanity, respecting which neither the church nor the individual members of the church can be passive or silent, without being, in a measure, partakers of the same crimes and evils.

      Resolved, That it is the duty of each member of the church in his own » locality, and in accordance with his own particular circumstances and conditions, to use and aid in using all means in his power, whether legal, social or political, in preventing the commission of the crimes above named.

     Resolved, That, until the passage of a better liquor law, it is the duty of every one to make the best possible use of the one now upon the statute books of the State.

     Report adopted.

     M. J. Mumford introduced the following additional resolution, which was adopted:

     Resolved, That we will not knowingly support any man for any public office who is in the habit of using intoxicating liquors as a beverage.

     W. A. Burr introduced the following:

     Whereas, Rev. J. G. Miller, of the Nebraska Conference, recently elected President of "The Nebraska State Temperance Union," has expressed a willingness to devote his entire time the coming Conference

year to the interests of the temperance cause, lecturing and organizing temperance societies throughout the State; therefore be it

     Resolved, By this Electoral Conference of Laymen, that we earnestly desire the Ministerial Conference to approve Rev. J. G. Miller as Conference temperance lecturer, clothing him with all the authority necessary to make his labors the most effective for good.

     Adopted.

     A committee of three was appointed to confer a like committee from the Ministerial Conference to memoralize (sic) the next legislature upon the subject of temperance.

      Adjourned to convene at 1 1/2 o'clock, P. M.

JOHN RITCHIE, Chairman.      

      WM. A. BURR, Secretary.

     Pursuant to adjournment, convened at 1 1/2 o'clock, P. M.

     Devotional exercises conducted by Rev. Geo. Scott.

     The following resolutions were adopted:

     Whereas, we have seen it stated in some of our church periodicals that there is some prospect of a change in our present form of episcopacy,

     Resolved, That we, the members of the Electoral Conference of Laymen of the M. B. Church of Nebraska, do hereby declare our hearty approval of the form of episcopacy as it now exists in our church.

     Resolved, That the delegates from this Conference to the General Conference are hereby instructed to oppose any essential change in the tenure of office, or modification of our present form of episcopacy.

JOHN HAMLIN.     

     Resolved, That we, the Electoral Conference of Laymen of the Nebraska Annual Conference; consider it a binding financial obligation, and a moral and religious duty that we owe to our ministers to pay in full the salaries agreed to be paid, and that wherein we fail we are guilty of neglect of duty, and violate a most solemn church obligation.

J. J. McLAIN.     

     Resolved, That we encourage every effort of the M. E. Church to promote the cause of education within the bounds of the Nebraska Conference; and we hereby express our sympathy with the efforts of the Annual Conference to establish a first class institution of learning.

J. A. VAN ANDA.     

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     Resolved, That we are much gratified with the organization of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, believing it to be an auxilary (sic) much needed in the effectual working of our great missionary enterprise, and we hereby promise to give it our aid and influence.

      Resolved, That the Electoral Conference of Laymen of Nebraska do recommend the Central Christian Advocate as in every way worthy of our patronage.

     Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention are hereby extended to the pastor and members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for the generous tender of their house of worship for this Convention.

JOHN HAMLIN.     

     Resolved, That the thanks of this body are hereby extended to the churches and citizens of this city for the hospitality and courtesy with which we have been entertained by them.

     E. H. Rogers, of Fremont, and S. P. Majors, of Peru, were elected delegates to the General Conference; John Ritchie, of Bellevue, and Wm. A. Burr, of Lincoln, alternates.

     The Secretary was instructed to prepare the minutes of this Convention for publication with the Conference minutes. A collection was taken, and $45.44 was raised to assist in defraying the expenses of such publication.

     J. S. LeHew, of Fairmount, moved that each member of this Electoral Conference of Laymen pledge himself to pay his pastor one dollar, on receipt of a copy of the Conference minutes. Carried.

     The Chairman was appointed to deliver the address to the Ministerial. Conference.

     A committee was appointed to confer with a committee from the Ministerial Conference to memoralize (sic) the General Conference.

     Conference addressed by S. P. Majors.

     On motion adjourned, subject to call of Chairman.

JOHN RITCHIE, Chairman.     

      WM. A. BURR, Secretary.

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