The act of discoursing with another in order to treat upon some subject, or to settle some point of dispute. Conference Meetings, in a religious sense, are meetings assembled for the purpose of relating experience, discoursing on some religious subject, or for transacting religious business. "Religious conference, " says a divine, "is one way of teaching religion. We all have leisure time, and it is well spent on when it is employed in set conferences on religion. There the doubting man may open all his suspicions, and confirmed Christians will strengthen his belief; there the fearful may learn to be valiant for the truth; there the liberal may learn to devise liberal things; there the tongue of the stammerer may learn to speak plainly; there Paul may withstand Peter to the face, because he deserves to be blamed; there the Gospel may be communicated severally to them of reputation; there, in one word, ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. One hour in a week spent thus will contribute much to our edification, provided we abstain from the disorders that have often disgraced, and sometimes destroyed, this excellent Christian practice. Time should be kept, order should be preserved, no idle question should be asked; freedom of inquiry should be nourished; immodest forwardness should be restrained; practical , experimental, and substantial subjects should be examined; Charity with all its gentle train should be there, for she openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness."
See EXPERIENCE MEETINGS.