The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1828-10-02

= IN Inc pftddiDft, AMI IN tie commitment ion u
Il the Sd page of this paper, signed Friend
MetlrodisIn.
, REPORT,
Ofhe Committee on Petitions anil ATep0yig al
ddopted are bciiene. ratoHta disseaftHgrJfs h
me hte Geherdf C0RSfeHe {, on motion Of N
RE. 1sa Shipa, 1lit Ordered 10 be printed.
, IiE Committee 10 whom ,crr rei,,rf ID Ger
tam petitions aud memorials ior and against
direc, lay and local representation IN the Gea
erai Conference, submit tie following irpurt -
OF Those which pfoposr this revolution IN oui
economy, that which has bern received from .
convention oi certain Local preachers AID Ia,
m"nibets. held IN tue city ut Baltimore IA M
velnber last, Is presanpaI 90 eulid, tie gene. n
views of those VII desire tbs change. aud IA,
chlei arguments o winch the, rely. Ia tr ~
my n reply. in the Hidsi oi The var .nus ani ur"s
sing business oi a tenetal Conference II canno,
l'e reasonably expected HAT We should enter IL.
10 minute details. Our remarks Of necessity
| must be confined tu a few leading TONES
IN a condensed, yet, We trust, an inieligible
torIn.
As to the claim Of richt to tive representation
coniended for. II 1t he ,ight which liz cla.
mants aie entitled 10 demand, il must be either
natural, or an acquired rlsht II n nd raj
nsht, then, hong founded ~ nature, 1t must be
common 10 men. as men. 4 5e foundation of
rights Ia ecclesiastical bodies, in our opinion rests
90 different basis. Fiji he alleged Ia he an
acquired right then il must have been nruuir-
ed either IN Consequence al becamiag Chris
titns, or of becpn.ing Methodsts. II the
former IL dsvolves ON the claimants /, prayc
that th,ar,ghl Is conferred 10y the Holy Scrip
lures, andfihat they impose on us the corrcspon-
ding obligation 10 grant the cIam. That II i,
not " forbidden IN the New Testament Is not
sufficient ior neither IS the contrary s." Forbid
leh.t VI the latter be- alleged, VIZ that IT has
been acquired IN consequence ot becoming Me
thodisiS, then II must have been either by somF
c"nVenfiona comact, OF by some oh leaIolS
principle IN the economy Of Methodism, 70
which, as thea organized, the claimants vo'nn.
tarily attached themselves Neither ofthese,
we believe, either has been, or can br, shown
And until one at least o. ihese be slowp, the
Claim OF righb. as such, Cannot, We tiIinh, Ia We
been sustained.
Bat d. tue memorallsts meat. 10 say that they
are entitled 10 thew clam IS a matter of rig ht,
'gainst the Judgment and The voice Of a, confess
sedly. very large maJptIty OF then brethren,
oph oftbe mlulsiry, travelling and local, aud al
50 OF the lay members o., that IN these clr-
cumstances, Oh amy ,rnund, the clam ought t,
De ADMITTED We oud not nave believe Il
mem capable OF so strange Il position, had the,
pt declared The opinion as prevailing anloue
.ninselyes, that the extension II he principle
II representation To the members and the LOCI
yrpachers oi the church, by the General Confer.
nee, IN compliance with a petition u this KIND,
Al Mis copjuiiciure 0fiiHte, would do more
satds coDclliat'ne good feeling, restoring llsi
cnnIidence among brrtarsn, id confirming wa
sering mn,ds. on all sldeS, tIan any odei mea-
sure which eau be adopted"
+ Now aDe speak advisedly' when we say.
that, III our judgment, such IA measure, ii this
rpnJecture OF tline, W 'uld nave a precisely con
tfary effect. The ministers assembled IN Cen
eial Conference, coming 50 recently nom All
parts of the great field otour ms, Ionary lab.ts,
and having had, throughout It's wnole extent.
free aud Constant intercourse both with iravei-
Ing and local preachers and also with oul -,
members, are. certainly, al least as well pr eua,
ed DIS the mcnIufaiists could have hcelt ~ firm
correct judgment Oh this puIut and tnen
calm and deliberate Judgment Is r,eatly and nm
hesiiaiingly us above stated. I'M, we b,hey,
,oa,io be tie true state o! t.,c gneetion, aiirr Il
has been 50 ZealousIy q. .cu,sed on the sid. III
the memorIallsts, tor low nea,Iv eight years
unrlng Utmost the +" mole of winch time, uni
very recently ihe discussion has becn Conduct
eo a'mos' exc .dsivclv by tlter Own wIlte,s
we are aware III TT la, been A. lmcd, b.
som" ~ ieast otthose writers, that shl> r.
P"gn-ace 10 the change proposed, on the part n
SO great Il proportion BON OF our local preach
crs and lay member, TO say nothing ot the TIN
i Grant preachers is The result OF ignorance, y,
want of intellect. This we conccivc 10 be a
least moi IA veiy modest assumptions. Our opi,
| ION, IN Tie contrary, is, wife We IteeIy ADM
tnai thefe are men oi respectable mtormaiu
aud intelligence. vino desire the Change tia
ltp1
least equally Respectable information aud meli
eence, WHO are opposed to it, whtheI ON tn
GROUND OF right, OF CONSISTENT pracllcabllIty, or
ut nullty.
Wit regard 10 our local brethren particularly
| it Is decided judy ment tina, the privilege
and advantages IN which they have participated
| in this country have much rather exceeded thar
! fallen shoIt OF what was contemplated ~ thei
| institution IN the ollgudI economy oi MetiuaIsin
A. iUnnded by the venerable Wesley, either ~
! Europe or IN America We cauuol but regret I,
perceive hai the addition OF ~ viltge 10 plIvi
! lege, seems only 10 have had the effect OF excl
| Ting seine of our brethren 10 claim still more &
more6 now 10 begin 10 demand them AS matters
OF positive and inherent right. Wea happy IL
| he able 10 say - some on.y OF our local bre;h
ren ; ior OF the great body, even vi themselves
/ we brleve better things, though we thus speak.
! IL, llluftu our InENtbtls RentfdHf ave iitu VI
our missionary and ilmerant sysien, and wish d
| change. thea We could not he surprised u tney
should desire To introduce into our COUNCILS loca
! men, whose views, and feelings, and Interests II
! the very nature aud necessity vi things, cOuld
not fail TO lie more local than those OF lntueran'
| men. Aud II 10 so powerful IA local influence
| should he added. would be added, the lenden
| cies and temptations 10 lncoilty, which, in DIES
pie OF all our better c1u|Ictiuns too often eAis
| among ourselves. from domestic aud perS6 ma
| considerations Of a pressing character, We are
| free TO confess Our tears OF the dangers TO out
lnllnerant ecouumy, when, III our oPnon could
not fail IN time to be the result. Now the pre-
srrvation OF the sfea, Itherant Eyslem. unlInpdIr
ed ~ all it, vial energies, we do CONSCIENTIOUS
! " believe 10 br essential 10 the accump liShnien
OF the Grand originA design Of the economy o
| NJ tnodlsm, 10 sp'ea" scnPtur"t holiness o,e
| these and other lduas.
! The nlenofall,r, we know, disavow any in
tention OF desire 20 impair those energies, or II
injure this system. Ii II 50. they can, how
49,