t not to be assumed or exercised by any minister of our Church.

4. That the anomalous question and answers referred to in the
foregoing resolution, be, and are hereby expunged from our
Discipline and are required to be omitted in printing the next
edition of it. (See page 477.)

These resolutions having been negatived by a considerable majority on
the 12th June, Dr. Ryerson wrote to the President:

The decision of the Conference this afternoon on the scriptural rights
of the members of our Church, and the power of our ministers in respect
to them, makes it at length my painful duty to request you to lay before
the Conference the letter which I addressed to you the 2nd of last
January, and that you will consider that letter as now addressed to the
Conference through you.

I hereby again enclose you my parchments of ordination. I propose to do
all in my power to promote those important measures in regard to the
college and means for the regular training of received candidates for
the ministry which have been recommended by the Conference. I cannot
attempt to add anything more to what is contained in my letter of the
2nd January, expressive of what I feel on the present occasion, except
to say that, although I gave no intimation during the discussion of the
result of the decision on this subject upon my own official relations to
the Conference, I retire from it with feelings of undiminished respect
and affection for my Reverend Brethren, and my earnest prayer for their
welfare and usefulness.

In reply to this letter Dr. Wood said:--

The purpose you aim to accomplish can be effectually secured by a
different resolution to that introduced yesterday; if you will stay
and hear what the brethren may say about the appointment of a large
committee to take up this subject before I lay your resignation
before them, I shall feel much gratified. I again say, I look upon
your proposed withdrawal with deep sorrow, and must say, I cannot
bring myself to believe that on such grounds you can be justified
in taking so serious a step.

Dr. Ryerson did attend the Conference as suggested, after which he wrote
to Dr. Wood:--

I listened with delight and hope to the observations and recommendations
which you made. I anticipated happy results from the appointment of the
very large committee which you nominated, and which might be considered
as representing the sentiments and