n. Comparison; examination of things by comparison.n. The act of conferring or consulting together; a meeting for consultation, discussion, or instruction; an interview and comparison or interchange of opinions.n. In British and American parliamentary usage, a species of negotiation between the two houses of Parliament or of Congress, conducted by managers appointed on both sides, for the purpose of reconciling differences.n. Eccles.: The annual assembly of ministers of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in England, for transacting business of an ecclesiastical nature.n. In the Meth. Epis. Ch. of America, the title of four judicatories: (i.) An assembly, called the general conference, which meets once every four years, is composed of ministerial and lay delegates from the annual conferences, and is presided over by a general superintendent.n. (ii.) One of a number (now over 100) of assemblies, called annual conferences, which meet annually, take cognizance of ecclesiastical matters, collect statistics relating to the church, and have charge of benevolent contributions, current expenses, etc.n. (iii.) An assembly of the itinerant and local preachers, the exhorters, the stewards of a district, and a class-leader and Sunday-school superintendent from each pastoral charge, called the district conference, meeting annually or semi-annually.n. (iv.) An assembly, termed the quarterly conference, of all the itinerant and local preachers, exhorters. stewards, class-leaders, trustees of churches, and first superintendents of Sunday-schools, in a circuit or station, under the presidency of a presiding elder. It hears complaints and appeals, examines into the character of preachers, licenses ministers, tries those against whom charges are preferred, and makes appointments and removals.n. In the Rom. Cath. Ch.: (i.) A voluntary local assembly of priests; a pastoral conference.n. (ii.) An assembly of priests called by a college; a chapter conference.n. In some Protestant churches, as the Congregational, a local assembly of representatives from several neighboring churches.n. Discourse; talk; conversation.n. A lecture.
