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     Suitable arrangements will be made for good board at reasonable rates.

     All communications for information concerning the school should be addressed to Rev. EDWARD THOMSON, A. M., Principal, or W. E. MORGAN, Secretary of the Board of Trustees, York, Neb.

     Circulars will be sent to the pastors of each M. E. Church in the State, containing particulars relative to rooms, tuition, etc. Pastors of the various churches are earnestly requested to remember the action of the conference respecting the collections to be taken during the coming month of December.

W. E. MORGAN,          
Secretary Board of Trustees.

     3

      FOR ADMISSION ON TRIAL--J. R. Reed, S. Wood, and W. S. Blackburn.

      FIRST YEAR--H. Burch, A. L. Folden, W. F. Warren, and P. C. Johnson.

      SECOND YEAR--S. P. VanDoozer, S. D. Roberts, J. Gallagher, and J. L. St. Clair.

      THIRD YEAR--J. Fowler, J. H. Presson, L. F. Britt, and A. C. Crosthwaite.

      FOURTH YEAR--R. Pearson, F. M. Esterbrook, C. G. Lathrop and J. R. Wolfe.

      To EXAMINE CANDIDATES FOR LOCAL DEACONS' ORDERS--J. W. Stewart, C. L. Smith, D. S. Davis, and J. M. Richards.

      To EXAMINE CANDIDATES FOR LOCAL ELDERS' ORDERS--J. Marsh, W. M. Worley, W. K. Beans, and C. W. Wells.

      To PREACH THE MISSIONARY SERMON--J. B. Maxfleld. Alternate, S. H. Henderson.

      A. G. White, J. B. Maxfield, J. W. Stewart, S. P. VanDoozer, John Gallagher, J. G. Miller, and J. Fowler.

      Your Committee, to whom was referred the matter of expenses of delegates to the General Conference, submit the following report:

      We have apportioned the $150 assigned to this Conference as follows, to-wit:

     We request the passage of the following resolutions

      1st--That the District Stewards of each district be instructed to apportion the amount assigned their respective districts to the several pastoral charges.

      2d--That each preacher be requested to raise the amount apportioned to his charge and forward the same to Hitchcock & Walden, at Cincinnati, Ohio, by the first day of April, 1880.

     Your committee on Missions beg leave to offer the following report;

      Your committee, to whom was referred a communication from Rev. H. D. Fisher, of Salt Lake City, on the state of the country, report the following;

     Whereas, There is existing in several territories of this Government a system of polygamy, under the sanction of the teachings and practice of the church of the "Latter Day Saints," more properly known as Mormons; and

     Whereas, This practice and teaching is kept up and promulgated under the assumption of Divine revelation, made known by the visit of angels of the Holy Ghost, becoming thereby subversive of all correct idea of revealed truth and religion ; and

     Whereas, Polygamy, under whatsoever pretense or assumption, is opposed to the principles of Christianity, and at variance with the civilization of our age and country; and

     Whereas, The laws of Congress and the decisions of the Supreme Court have clearly defined Polygamy to be contrary to the Constitution of out nation; and

     Whereas, The President and his Cabinet have referred the case of the emigration of Mormons for polygamous purposes to the friendly consideration of the governments of foreign countries interested therein, and have instructed the officers of Federal Courts in territories to prosecute violaters of the law, and thus stamp out a practice vile and debasing; therefore

     Resolved, That we call upon all good citizens to unite with us in hearty condemnation of all efforts to engraft upon our civilization such a monstrous practice, and to give all moral aid and support to the civil authorities in removing this foul blot from our land.

     Resolved, That we appeal with confidence to all who may be in authority to exclude polygamists from the halls of Congress, and a voice in our national Legislature, and we urge upon all a most determined opposition to the admission as a State into our Union, any territory, until polygamy is excluded therefrom by organic act;

     That we desire all other religious bodies to join us in this opposition.

     Your committee on the State of the Church within the bounds of the Nebraska Conference report the following;

     After a brief review of the work of the past year, we present the following report of the several items mentioned:

     Our Church has made great advancement in all the particulars of material prosperity. New churches and personages have been built, church debts cancelled (sic), and a more hopeful feeling prevails among our members.

     The work of God in converting souls and sanctifying believers has been carried forward, and the results are such as to excite our liveliest gratitude to God therefor. Yet we deem it right and proper to call attention to several facts needing attention and correction.

     Among these are the limited attendance upon the prayer meeting, class meeting, and love feast services; the low tone of spiritual life; the indulgence in amusements of a questionable character, such as attendance upon theatres, circuses, card playing, wine drinking, horse racing, etc.; the very general neglect of family prayer. We regard these as prominent faults of our practical christian life and hurtful to our christianity.

     We believe the facts warrant us in saying that more attention is given to this feature than formerly, and as a consequence more of our papers and periodicals are taken. Yet we believe more can and ought to be done in this direction by the ministers of this Conference. While we fully indorse (sic) all the Advocates of our Church, we nevertheless regard it incumbent upon as to give particular attention to the Central, of St. Louis, as our "home organ," and we recommend that the members of our Conference make earnest effort to extend its circulation among our people.

      After due consideration, your committee advise against all connection with Union Sunday Schools, and that the ministers and members of our Church endeavor to carry out the disciplinary provision relating to the formation of Sunday schools in new places.

     We also suggest that the requirement of the discipline concerning the organization of Sunday Schools into Juvenile Missionary Societies be more fully carried out. That we disapprove in strongest terms of the practice of introducing into our Sunday Schools the publications of any other house or denomination--Union or otherwise--and pledge ourselves to support our own Sunday School publications alone and no other.

     We notice a gratifying increase in our benevolent collections, especially, in that for missions, which presents an increase of over $400--about 45 per cent--also that all the collections have been taken. We suggest that an early systematic effort be made to take these collections, and that they be presented singly and earnestly rather than in omnibus form.

     We regret to state that the estimates for ministerial support have been, in too many instances, below that necessary for a comfortable support, and what is more

to be deplored many of these estimates have not been met, the deficiencies sometimes amounting to from one-fourth to one-half of the estimate. We believe the time has come when this matter of ministerial support should be conducted upon principles of common honesty and business character. We call attention to two articles upon this subject in the Central, under date of October 8th.

     We recommend that every district hold these associations for mutual self-improvement.

     That we recommend that there be placed among the standing committees one on the State of the Church within the bounds of this Conference.

     Your committee on Bible Cause offer the following report:

     With devout thankfulness to Almighty God, we rejoice in the providence that gave birth to this organization which is sending forth to the four winds throughout the world, as by the breath of heaven, its teeming millions of the word of our God; so that the rich and poor, Gentile and Jew, in all lands, may be taught in the knowledge of God, and fallen humanity everywhere be pointed to a risen Saviour. The Bible only, the book of books, through Christ unfolds and offers redemption to our fallen race. This, the word of our God, shall stand forever; and this word must be preached and published in all the world and to every creature.

     We would therefore earnestly recommend that our preachers urge upon the people throughout their various charges increased liberality in their contributions to the American Bible cause.

     Resolved, That we recognize the church as the most efficient agency for the promotion of Temperance, and believe that the regenerating influence of the Gospel is necessary in order to gain any healthy and permanent advance in this great work; and that we will preach Christ as a complete Saviour, not only from the habit, but also from the desire for strong drink;

     And that we especially endorse the Womans' Christian Temperance Union, inasmuch as it operates on this line.

DEAR FATHERS AND BROTHERS:

     The evil of intemperance is a social, physical, mental and moral curse. Alcoholic drunkenness is one of the worst enemies of Christian institutions, Christian

customs, and vita] piety in our land. This drunkenness is caused by the use of alcoholic liquors. Those liquors are the product of man's ingenuity and skill, and are found nowhere among the natural products of the earth. Hence, the desire for these liquors cannot be natural, but must be created by the use of the abnormal liquors. To destroy the desire for these liquors your committee deem it necessary to destroy the cause of the desire for the liquors themselves, and to this end they would call your attention to the laws existing in this commonwealth, licensing the sale of alcoholic liquors for drink, to the injury of the individuals both buyer and seller, and to the serious detriment of the best interests of the State and the church.

     It is not the purpose of your committee to call into question the patriotism of those men by whom, in former days, these laws were first made, or of those by whom they have since been modified. In their day they doubtless acted according to their light. We wish that they who come after us may be able to bear witness that we have acted according to ours.

     We do not propose to exhibit a picture of drunkenness in any of its degree, or of its effects upon the miserable victim, or upon the often more miserable ones who are bound to him by the ties of society or of family. Your own eyes, when directed to the subject of human misery in this State, will be struck by more appalling scenes than any we can paint; nor when you see them will you ask for proof that misery flows directly, or by necessary consequence, from intoxicating drinks. These the laws of the commonwealth allow, to be sold for the express purpose of being drunk; and this, too, now that we know, as our fathers did not, that they are always poisonous to the human system, and that, in just the degree in which they are drunk, they are destructive to the bodily and mental energies, the moral character, the highest interests of any one who drinks them. Can it, then, be for the best interests of the State that they should be drunk? Can it consist with the character of a highly moral community that they should be sold by permission and under the protection of its laws?--That a priesthood should be ordained for the very purpose of pouring this poison into the veins of the body politic--a priesthood, whose only office, so far as it is recognized by the law, is exclusively a work of destruction, without one healing tendency, one salutary influence; a priesthood who, if not engaged in this work--laboring to make drunkards, are faithless to the ministry to which they were appointed by the law?

      We respectfully ask: "Is it right to license man thus to mar the image of God in his brother than ?--Right to give him authority thus to sell insanity and deal out sure destruction? If it is right, why should any man be forbidden to do it? If not right, why should any be permitted? Why forbid all but men of a "good moral (?) character" to do this if it is right? Why allow men of a "good moral character" to do it if it is wrong? Will poison be less active or less fatal if it is dealt out by a man of "moral character?" Will the buyer be less a drunkard because the seller is a sober man? May this pollution be poured out upon society only by clean hands? Or, is it the presumption of the law that in such hands it will do no harm?--That a man of "good moral character" will sell not to drunkards, but to sober men like himself? Is it thus more "for the public good" that the sober men of the State should he made drunkards, than that those who are already drunkards should remain such? Can that which always works pri-

vate evil, conduce to the public good? Can that which is bad for all the parts be good for the whole? Can evil be converted into good by multiplication? Can wrong be legislated into right? Under the laws of this commonwealth, the body of the citizen as jealously protected. Not a hair of his head can with impunity be harmed. The law lifts up its trumpet voice against personal injury so long as it is merely physical. But when the physical becomes linked with the moral, when the destroyer takes hold of both soul and body together to draw them into the pit, then the arrows of the law are returned in their own quiver ; its thunders are laid aside, and its shield is spread over the pit into which they both go down.

     It may be too much to expect from human laws that they protect the morals of society from corruption, and even from temptation. But is it too much to ask that they will not throw open the doors of temptation and hold them open that the "simple ones" may go down through them to the chambers of death? Should not the sale of these poisonous intoxicating liquors be prohibited by penal laws? It is said that we are aware that this will be an infringement of the citizen's rights. We answer, Then are those rights already infringed. All but a few are already forbidden, by penal statutes, to retail ardent spirits. It is a greater infringement of rights, or a bolder stretch of power, to restrain the few of "good character" than it is to restrain the many of an opposite description.

      Again, may not our neighbors--our children--be protected by penal statute from practices against their health and life as well as the lower order of creation. By penal statute we protect our birds, why not our children? We would punish any man who should expose poisonous substances with the intent that they should be taken and swallowed by his neighbor's cattle. Why not then, if with the intent that the same should be taken and swallowed by the neighbor himself? So that sickness, delirium, and death ensue, what matters it by what name the draught be called? To the sufferer or to society, is the injury less because the delirium is longer continued and the death pains more protracted? If I be willingly accessory to my brother's death, by pistol or cord, the law holds me guilty, but guiltless if I mix his death-drink in a cup. The halter is my reward if I bring him his death in a solution of strychnine; if in a glass of alcoholic liquor, I am rewarded with his purse. Yet who would not rather die--who would not rather see his child die--by strychnine than alcoholic liquors? The law sends me to the penitentiary if I set fire to my neighbor's house, though not a soul perish in the flames. But I may throw a torch into his household; I may lead his children through a fire more consuming than Moloch's; I may make his whole family a burnt-offering upon the altar of Mammon, and the same law holds its shield between me and harm. It has installed me in my office, and it comes in to protect alike the priest, the altar, and the God. For the victim it has no sympathies. For them it provides neither ransom nor avenger. Your committee feel that on this subject it is not more the right than the duty of our Church to remonstrate. Would these who throw this stumbling block in their brothers' way take care of such as fall over it, or could the curse of drunkenness be confined to its own ranks, and the dead be made to bury their dead, even then Christianity would prompt us to intercede for our suffering brethren, and to demand those who legislate for the common weal that they interpose all barriers in their power to keep back the waves of this destruction. But so it is not; so it

cannot be. In the body politic, "if one member suffer, all the members suffer with it." If the laws of a Christian state will open these seminaries of poverty, vice, and sorrow, the same laws must open near them to receive their graduates alms--houses, criminal courts, penitentiaries, prisons, and graves. And while these are fitting and filling up, the earnings of the industrious, the savings of the prudent must be taken from their pockets by the hand of the same laws to guard and support them.

     Is it necessary "for the public good" that these fatherless fountains of sin and misery should be everlastingly kept open?--That the Holy Sabbath should be desecrated?--That the few should fatten by feeding on the many?--That the whole head of the state should be kept sick in the paralysis of its industry, its whole heart faint in the corruption of its morals ?--That the whole body should grow leprous, though it may yet live? Is the life that would be left in this commonwealth, after alcoholic liquors shall have done their work upon it in taking away its strength and soul, such a life as the patriotic Christian would desire? We cannot but think that the Sovereign of all states designed for this a nobler life than intemperance, aided by law, will leave it--a higher destiny than such a destroyer, with such a support, will ever allow it to fulfill.

     For these reasons your committee would denounce all laws that would give an extended lease of life to the license system in any part of this state as "contracts with death and agreements with hell," and would recommend:

      1st. That we, as a church, oppose any and all forms of license, and work for complete prohibition of the manufacture and sale of alcoholic liquors as a beverage.

     2d. That we denounce the doctrine of moderate indulgence in the use of these liquors that cause the evils of intemperance, as false in theory and fearful in results, and that we declare as our belief that total abstinence from the use of alcoholic poison is the only true temperance doctrine.

     3d. That we, as a church, oppose the Beer Power of the State in its efforts to introduce into this State the customs of European despotism, to supplant our Christian homes by the drunken obscenity of the bear garden, and to turn our Sabbath Into a day of drunken revelry and debauchery.

     4th. That we, as a church, co-operate with the State Liberty Alliance, Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and all other temperance societies in this State that are working to redeem men from the slavery of a drunkard's life, and to free our tate (sic) from this terrible curse.

     Your committee on Church Periodicals, recognizing the paramount importance of our own periodical literature in educating our people to Methodistic usages and elevating them to true christian living, would offer the following resolutions

     Resolved, That we are exceedingly gratified with the information that the publishers have determined to reduce the price of our Western church papers.

     Resolved, That during the coming conference year we will try to place at least one of our church papers in each family of our congregations, and especially in the families of our official members.

     Resolved, That we are highly pleased with the editorial management of our official paper, the Central Christian Advocate, and we recommend it as especially adapted to the home and family circle.

     Resolved, That we look with no small degree of satisfaction on the position to which our Sunday-school literature has attained. And we will insist on its introduction into all our schools.

     Resolved, That we could make a better canvass for Golden Hours if it contained more numerous illustrations, and we would respectfully make this suggestion to the publishers.

     Resolved, That the Quarterly Review is a periodical of the first order, and we will recommend it to our people, believing it to be eminently adapted to the laity as well as to the ministry.

     WHEREAS, The board of managers of the Freedmen's Aid Society, by direction of the General Conference, has fixed upon the sum of $75,000 as the necessary amount for the prosecution of its work the present year, and the amount apportioned to Nebraska Conference is $400, therefore

     Resolved, That in view of the importance of the work, its great and pressing demands upon the liberality of the people, this Conference will make a strong effort to meet its apportionment; and to this end we will faithfully present the claims of this society and take the collection upon all our charges.

W. K. BEANS,     
Chairman     

     We look with favor on the zeal and efforts of the citizens of York towards securing the location of a Conference Seminary at their place, and recommend the adoption of the following:

     Resolved, That the Conference accept the proposition of the people of York.

E. THOMSON,          
Chairman.     

     Resolved, That while we feel the great importance and necessity of a school of seminary grade at the earliest possible date, yet, in our judgment, no proposition has yet come to us which offers sufficient basis for us to establish a school under the auspices of the Conference.

     Resolved, second, That although we cannot accept either the proposition from Osceola or York so as to hinder our considering and accepting propositions from any other place if more advantageous, yet we commend their zeal and energy, and would not wish in the least to discourage efforts in this enterprise, but would respectfully request the Conference to accept, for the time at least, the proposition of our brethren at Osceola, and that a board of visitors of three be appointed from three different sections of the Conference to visit the school at Osceola.

     WHEREAS, The Nebraska Annual Conference has decided to locate immediately a Conference Seminary at York, therefore be it

     Resolved, That the following persons be appointed a Board of Trustees to take charge of the property offered by the people of York and use it in establishing the institution proposed; Lee Love, G. W. Woods, B. Crabbe, W. E. Morgan, L. J. Gandy, J. W. Small, J. B. Maxfield, W. J. Olinger, J. G. Miller, H. T, Davis, T. B. Lemon, G. W. Elwood, and Presiding Elder of Beatrice District, Pastor M. E. Church at York, and the Principal of the Seminary, ex-officio.

      Resolved, That the following brethren be appointed a Board of Visitors to the Seminary during the coming conference year: P. C. Johnson, C. L. Brockway, S. P. Wilson, W. K. Beans, Samuel Wood, W. R. Jones, and D. Marquett.

     Resolved, That the said Board of Trustees be also instructed to immediately obtain a charter for the Nebraska Conference Seminary.

     Resolved, That so much of the money received this year, in collections for the cause of education as is now in the hands of this committee, except that part that was taken up on Children's Day and for the children's fund, be turned over to the said Board of Trustees to assist them in the work of founding the seminary.

     Resolved, That it shall be the duty of all the pastors in the conference, on some Sunday in December next, to deliver a sermon on the subject of education, especially bringing before the people the Nebraska Conference Seminary, and at that time to take up the annual educational collection, and to forward the same to the Board of Trustees above referred to, who shall give receipt therefor.

     Resolved, That we will, in private conversation, bring the matter of the seminary

before the minds of the young people in our respective charges, and urge them and their parents to patronize our conference institution.

     Resolved, That we request the Bishop to appoint the Rev. Edward Thomson, A.M., Principal and Financial Agent of said Conference Seminary.

     Resolved, That we will give Bro. Thomson a hearty support within our charges whenever it is most convenient for him to visit us.

     WHEREAS, We still feel an interest in this theological school and the work it is accomplishing for the Church, therefore be it

     Resolved, That John Gallagher be appointed an official visitor from this Conference to that institution at its next commencement, and that he be requested to furnish a report in writing of his observations to this body at its next session.

     WHEREAS, We have with pleasure visited this institution; and

     WHEREAS, We believe that it should be made a great power for good in the State; and

     WHEREAS, Infidel sentiments are held and expressed by some members of its faculty, and in this way pernicious influences are sought to he thrown around the young men and young ladies attending this institution, therefore we recommend for adoption the following resolution, which came before the committee indorsed (sic) by the names attached:

     Resolved, That we, as a christian denomination, enter our earnest protest against the prostitution of the State University to the propagation of modern infidelity, known as "Broad Gauge" or "Liberal" religion; and we do not and cannot feel free to send our children there while it is under the influence of teachers who are known to discard the Bible and sneer at Christianity, and who pour contempt upon prayer and the religious services in the chapel by refusing to attend. And we hereby petition the Hon. Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska to make such changes in the Faculty as will protect our children from being perverted by influence and example from the Christian faith which is so dear to us.

     And we further recommend for adoption the following:

     Resolved, That in our judgment no man should be elected to the regency in this institution who is not either a christian man or a man of christian sympathies.

     Resolved, That we heartily endorse and sympathize with Chancellor E. B. Fairfield and the christian gentlemen who have so faithfully labored with him in making moral and religious principles a part of the discipline of the State University; and

     Resolved further, That we will use every instrumentality in our power to make this institution worthy of the State of which we are citizens, and worthy the patronage of our people.

     Your committee has received in cash and paid over to John H. Cameron one hundred and thirteen dollars and seventy-eight cents, and in receipts eight dollars and twenty-one cents.

     Your committee to whom was referred for consideration the interests of the Tract Society;

     Resolved, That as the Tract Society is an acknowledged efficient agent in spreading the gospel and securing the conversion of sinners, we will order tracts from the Tract Society, and will distribute the same on our charges, and, further, will take collections as provided by the discipline at every appointment for the tract cause.

     We, the committee who had the subject of the Sunday-school referred to us, having had the same under consideration, are of the opinion that we, as a body, do not give the attention and time to the Sunday-school work that the relation that we sustain to the Church demands, and the Church loses much through the neglect of her preachers. Therefore be it

     Resolved, 1st, That we as a Conference will give greater attention to the Sunday-school work, and will give not only our influence, but will engage heartily in the work ourselves.

     2d, That we will urge Sunday-schools to adopt the Berean Lesson Series, and further we will urge the officers and teachers to take the Sunday-School Journal and Berean Quarterly, and will urge our schools to take the Sunday-School Advocate, Classmate, and the Picture Lesson Paper.

     3d, That the interests of our Church demand a more careful and prayerful attention to the rule of discipline relating to the religious instruction of our children.

     4th, That we will urge our Sabbath-school scholars to sign the pledge of total abstinence from all intoxicating liquors and from the use of tobacco.

     Your committee on Church Extension is gratified to report, from documents placed in its possession from the parent society, that in the history of its organization about eighty churches have been aided by gifts and loans within the bounds of this Conference, aggregating an amount of $25,000, and regret that during these years the Conference has returned in collections and loans to the parent society in amount aggregating only $6,000; and that this year our collections fall some short of last year's amounts.

     Considering the fact that in the history of this Conference it has never had a visit from either of the Secretaries, therefore

     Resolved, That we request them to make arrangements for one of them to visit us at our next session.

     Resolved, That we will diligently present this cause to our people and make a determined effort to raise our assessment.

     Resolved, That at our next session, when the characters of the preachers are passed, they be required to report the amount of their assessment and the amount of collections taken.

      Your Committee on the W. F. M. S. do report the following resolutions:

     1st, That we recognize this society as an effective instrumentality in evangelizing the world.

     2d, That we, as Methodist ministers, will give to the society our hearty sympathy and support.

     3d, That we recommend the paper published by the society--The Heathen Woman's Friend--to the earnest support of all Christians.

     4th, We call the attention of the ministers and laity of our Church in the State to the constitution of this society, placing it under the supervision of the parent Board of Missions.

     5th, That we will welcome to our charges Mrs. M. J. Shelley, the corresponding secretary of our Conference, and will aid her in all ways practicable.

      Your committee on the Missionary Cause offer the following resolutions:

     Resolved, 1st, That we will seek a better acquaintance with the work of our missionary society, and that we will use all proper means to keep our people posted with regard to this work and in sympathy therewith, and will also urge them to make this cause a special subject of prayer and to contribute to its support.

     Resolved, 2d, That we recommend the holding of a special missionary meeting on each charge early in the year, and request the Presiding Elders to give such aid to the pastors in holding such meetings as may be practicable.

     Resolved, 3d, That we are more and more impressed with the importance and obligation of carrying out the plan provided in our book of discipline.

     Resolved, 4th, That we heartily welcome the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society as a co-laborer and helpmeet with the parent society, and greatly rejoice in the noble work which it is accomplishing.

     We have examined the accounts of the Presiding Elders presented to us, and find them to be correct.

CHARLES L. SMITH,          
Chairmen.     

To the Nebraska Annual Conference:

     We, your committee on publishing the minutes, would respectfully report as follows:

     1st. That we recommend the publication of 2000 copies of the minutes of this session.

     2d. That the Presiding Elders' report be not inserted in the minutes unless each report be so condensed as to state only such facts as may be of general interest, and which cannot be gathered from other portions of the minutes, and unless they shall occupy one page or less of the printed minutes.

     3d. That the plan for publishing and distributing the minutes which has been enforced for the last two years be adopted.

S. H. HENDERSON,          
Secretary.     

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