Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-03-06

Society, were Accordingly aPPo - q, z |
K. Jennings, Alexander McCalne' Dap,e.
Reese, lanes r. Williams, William kesey'
Thomas Mccormick, Thomas Mummy, Jonn
]. Harrod. John Kennard, Wesley Starr, e
phraim Smith, and Arthur Emmerson'
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.
TIE convention of reforrners in the Method'
ist Enisc opal Church, Tor the State OF mary
land and the District Of Columbia, which met ih
this CITY, on the fifteenth and sixteenth OF NO
yember. passed certain resolutions, the Design
of which was to shew that the retormers MAO
good cause to Justify their proceedings, IN ma,
king arrangements for sending up memorai
to The next general conference, praying that
,bev NAV be represented in the legislative de-
partmen, Of our church.
Eleven local preachers, with the trustees anu
ste yards OF the Baltimore city station, IN an
twenty-four, signed paper, tn their 'nd'o'dud'
copacifies. and published it, with the appearance
of an official document, as a manifesto, IN oppo'
.;,;on tor the convention. In that paper they
saw. the publication made by Ihe convention,
was the proceedings OF "few local preachers
and lay members" sc. &c. We reply:
The convention consisted OF a number OF DEL
ep ates from the District of Columbia, and snch
reformers from other parts Of the State Oh WA
ryland, as saw FIJI 10 accept the invitation give"
for the purpose; and. as conVentioh' was
spectacle. But the facts and principles pre-
sented by the resolutions, to the consideration
of the public, do not rest on the appreciation oil
numbers. They are supported by their own
,,n,h and Intrinsic value. The rcformers, how
ever. are not "few" in number. There are
more than aeleren" local preachers, within the
Baltimore city station, and IN any laymen, who
apnrove of the principles advocated by the re-
formers There are many hundreds in this
S,a,e. and there are thousands in the Unlteo
States. and the numbers are continually increas-
ing.
These brethren, it appears, conceiVed
be duty which they owe 10 the church end TO
themselves, to declare, that they were IN no way
concerned with said convention; and, that they
entirely disa2prove Of the innovations, which
the reformers propose in the government and
discipline Of our church." -,
Their names ought TO have great weight, II
an enlightened community are 10 be SATISFIED,
that the convention was wrong in making pro.
vision for preparing a memorial 10 the general
conference, merely, because they were not con
cerned, and disapprove Of the measure.
They say, "lheir confidence in the travelling
ministers remains unimpsired." And did The
members Of the convention say, that they had
lost their confidence in the travelling minis
try? They did not. The resolutions, which
the manifesto opposes, do most unequivoeaiy
declare the attachment Of the convention 10 thea
nerancu. And our brethren might have known,
hsd they been attentive to this controversy from
the beginning, that some of the most distin-
euished advocates for the proposed changes in
our church government, are among our travel
ling preachers. =.
They say further, that I" the travelling minis
| try have never deprived them of their rights
and privileges; on the contrary, they enjoy all
49,. :r-,lated for or acquired when they be-
| came members oil the Church, .hey voluntarily
connected themselves with the Melhodists, the
terms Of membership being known at the time,
and they have had no cause to repent Of their
| acceptance Of the conditions"
With whom did they stipulate? And for
what! According to the book Of discipline,
There is only one condition previously requir-
ed Of those who desire admission into these So
ceiies, desire TO flee from The ,craM to come,
and 10 be saued from their sins" If this is con.
slGered a stipulation, our brethren are at liber-
ty to plead il in their justification. But every
reader will perceive, that it can be no proper
objection to the proceedings Of the convention.
They say, "they are not disposed to aban-
don system which their best judgment approves,
for visionary theories and uncertain specula-
TONS
Let US examine few particulars, which con.
s,i,ute parts of the "sysiem' that these bre-
thren So heartily approve.
!. The travelling ministry possess erchlsively
the legislative power, which they exercise over
the whole body Of the laity and local preach
ers, ,oiihom responsibility.
2. The travelling ministry, independently of
the membership, appoint all the class leaders
s. They nominate all the stewards, and the
quarterly conferences, majority of which are
class leaders, make their election out oil the no.
limitations Of the preachers.
4. They nominate all trustees, and the trus-
tees out Of the nominations, according to dis
cipline, Eli all vacancies in their boards
5They appoint the committee for the trial of
accused members, and the accused have no le-
gal right TO object to any person SO appointed
by the preachers.
6. In all cases Of trial, the travelling preach
er sits as judge. He may summon any aceus-
ed member to trial, and is no, obliged to furnish
the accused with specifications Of complaints
or charges, until the parties meet at the time
and place Of trial;-thus rendering it impossible
for the accused 10 prepare for his defence
The accused member has no legal right to de- |
mand postponement And however hard the |
decision, he must submit, saying only, that he |