Bear us to the upper heaven,
Father, in Thy house to stay:
Joy unspeakable our portion,
There, for ever and for aye.”
The Conference commenced its sittings on Tuesday, January 13th, and with a brief interval sat till Thursday, the 22d. There were present during those sittings some sixty members, including the missionaries of the Friends’ Association, our brethren in the country stations of Imerina, and two brethren from the Betsileo. One half the members were ladies, who took much interest in the discussions, and attended the meetings with great regularity. The daily devotional service proved very pleasant and profitable to all. The harmony that prevailed was delightful; the discussions were active and lively: the papers read were full of information, and the conclusions reached were all but unanimous.
I need not enter into detail respecting the important questions considered during this Conference. There were six points, however, lying at the very centre of the present system of operations, on which considerable advance was made, to which I must make brief reference.
a. In Education, it was desired that the Theological Institution should take men for short courses as well as the long, full course; that it should be enlarged so as to be a “College” for general instruction, with good English classes; and that the best congregational schools should teach English to their topmost classes in order to feed it. Great anxiety was expressed to improve the congregational schools.
b. It was resolved, that it would improve Pastoral and Episcopal work, to concentrate it more fully at certain points; to establish a good Central Station in every district, with three or four Sub-Centres: that it would be well to make preaching at those centres more full and systematic; and to have Bible Classes, few but taught with great regularity.
c. New districts in the country were desired on all hands: and that the men appointed to them should leave the capital and occupy them without delay.
d. Great anxiety was evinced to watch over the admission of members to the native churches; by firm discipline to reduce the present excessive numbers; to enlighten the churches as to their responsibilities; and to improve the present forms of worship.