ADDRESS OF THE BISHOPS - TO THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE - Methodist Episcopal Church, IN GENERAL CONFERENCE ASSEMBLED, BALTIMORE, MAY 3, 1876

Sep 28, 2026

Address of the bishops to the members of the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church convened in Baltimore on May 3, 1876. It reviews significant events and reports on the deaths of prominent church leaders, including bishops and editors appointed by recent General Conferences. The address also recounts organizational developments after the previous conference, including formation of new conferences and details of episcopal supervision of foreign missions, emphasizing personal visitation and the global circuit undertaken by appointed bishops.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

FormatPDF

Pages28

Reading Time1 h 11 min

AccessFree to download

Address of the Bishops

To the Members of the General Conference

Reports on deaths and memorial matters

Conferences formed since the last General Conference

Resolution on foreign missions and episcopal visitation

School of Theology at Claremont10011411112BX8381A51876 # The Library SCHOOL OF THEOLOGYAT CLAREMONT WEST FOOTHILL AT COLLEGE AVENUECLAREMONT,CALIFORNIA 夏ithdrawn anett BblicalT | Address of the Bishops
TO THE
M E M BE R S
OF THE
GENERAL CONFERENCE
OF THE
Methodist Episcopal Church,
IN GENERAL CONFERENCE ASSEMBLED,
BALTIMORE,MAY 3,1876.
NELSON &PHILLIPS:
NEW YURK.
HITCHCOCK &WALDEN:
CINCINNATI. | | --- | x381 1876Address of the Bishops TO THE M EM BERS OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF THE Methodist Episcopal Church, IN GENERAL CONFERENCE ASSEMBLED, BALTIMORE,MAY 3,1876. NELSON &PHILLIPS:NEW YORK. HITCHCOCK &WALDEN: CINCINNATI. # Theology Library SCHOOLOF THEOLOGYATCLAREMONTCalfonia PR1NTED BY WM.K.BOYLE &SOM, B▲LTIMOB累。 # ADDRESS OF THE BISHOPS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, IN GENERAL CONFERENCE ASEMBLED. DEAR BRETHREN:---Divine Providence and Grace have filledanother page of Methodist history.On it,we find recordedmany events of deep interest,and of high importance.Someof them we read with sorrow,but most of them with joyand thankfulness. Our senior colleague,the Rev.Thomas A.Morris,D.D.,after a long public career of great labor,responsibilityand usefulness,closed his eventful life and valuable servicesat his home,in Springfield,Ohio,September 2,1874.Hisexit was in beautiful harmony with his eminently calm Chris-tian life.In our long and intimate association with him,hisgenial and Christian spirit so won our hearts,that we feelhis death to be a painful bereavement. The Rev.John Wright Roberts,Missionary Bishop forAfrica,died in Monrovia,Liberia,January 30th,1874.His Episcopal jurisdiction being limited to that country,wehad but little intercourse with him.Indeed,some of ournumber never saw him.His personal and official record isa good one.He was a man of Christian integrity and offi-cial fidelity. As we presume your body,in accordance with usage,willprovide for a fitting memorial service for these deceasedBishops;we deem it inappropriate for us to say more respect-ing them in this address. 4 The last General Conference elected the Rev.Thomas M.Eddy,D.D.,a Secretary of the Missionary Society of theMethodist Episcopal Church.Dr.Eddy entered upon theduties of his office promptly.He prosecuted his work withwisdom and devotion,and great success until the 7th day ofOctober,1874,when in a most blessed and triumphant man-ner he entered into glory. The General Conference of 1872,elected the Rev.Nelson E.Cobleigh,D.D.,LL.D.,Editor of the Methodist Advo-cate,at Atlanta,Georgia.He was early at his post,anddischarged his duties with ability and fidelity,until Feb-ruary 4th,1874,when he was suddenly removed by death. At the same time,and by the same body,the Rev.Dallas D.Lore,D.D.,was elected Editor of the Northern ChristianAdvocate.Dr.Lore had held that position the eight pre-ceding years.He resumed and prosecuted his Editoriallabors with his accustomed zeal and ability,until the 20thday of June,1875,when he was smitten with apoplexy,anddied in a few hours. Since the last General Conference,eighteen ministers,whowere members of that body have died.Most of them hadheld important positions in the Church,and all of them wereministers of great merit.Of the laymen who were membersof the last General Conference,three have departed this life.They were beloved and honored,and useful members of theChurch.The death of so large a number of our brethren,who were in the counsels,and shared the responsibilities ofthe last General Conference,admonishes us that we maysoon be summoned to account for the manner in which wedischarge the grave duties to which we are called as membersof this representative body. Since the adjournment of the last General Conference,under its enabling act,the following Conferences have beenformed,viz:East Oregon and Washington,Southern Ger-man,We

FAQs

What is the purpose of the bishops' address to the General Conference members?

It communicates reflections on Methodist events since the last conference, acknowledges the deaths of church leaders, and reports administrative developments and mission supervision.

Which leaders are highlighted as having died since the previous General Conference?

The address mentions the deaths of senior church figures, including bishops and editors, and notes that eighteen ministers and additional lay members of the last conference have departed this life.

What resolution is adopted regarding foreign missions and how was it carried out?

A resolution requests bishops to provide Episcopal supervision to foreign missions for the ensuing four years, including personal visitation when judged necessary. Appointed bishops then undertook visits to missions across multiple regions.

Sep 28, 2026

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