Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1829-12-10
Tie .Ncthodists and .4nti-. wa.onrv-atan

lac .1ethodnts and .7nfi-. HasonyN are
cent meeting Of the New England Confer
ence Of MethOdists, held at Portsmouth. n
H. the following preamble aud resolutions
were Adopted fhey show determination
not to sutler the church TO become partizans
an the new warfare
whereas, much agitation is at this time
experienced IN different sections of the coun-
try, on the subject of speculative freemason-
~, and influences connected with il: and the
constructions put upon it are productive of
much evil to the Church of Christ and the
community at large-therelore
Resolved, BY the New England Coafer-
ence OF the Methodist Episcopal Church
L. Ihatwe Will have no connexion whate-
yer with excitement, and this Conference win
consider any member who disregards this re-
solution as Offending against the authority of
the Conference.
=. That we consider ourselves bound as
ministers of the gospel of Christ. to avoid all
such questions, fer or against masonry, or
producing excitements and stirring I'D striles
among the people
8. That we do hereby earnestly exhort our
people throughout this conference, 10 pursue
the things that make for peace, and hethings
whereby one may edify another by mutual
forbearance and Christian candor: and that
while we disclaim, on our part, all connexiof,
with ireemasonry they, ON theirs, are ex
horted, and afectonately advised to receive
such preachers as, in the province Of God,
shall be appointed TO labour among them,
whether ttey have been masons or other
wise--not as partlz on either side OF this
perplexing question, but as they profess to be,
and as they hope b. their spirit and labors to
prove themselves to be, the ministers Of Jesus
Christ.
MIR. BALDWIN, OF Pennsylvania, has de-
clined being candidate for Congress from
district, where there is now vacancy. In
reply to the Committee who requested him to
offer, Mr.. Baldwin made the following reply:
"But, admitting the preference which the
meeting and yourselves have been so kind as
to express in my favor is meiited, cannot
withhold the expression of my opinion, that
under existing circumstances, it would be
improper that my name would be presented
to the people. A recentoccurence seems to
me to Indicate the extensive prevalence of a
feeling as little consistent with the honor, the
justice, the peace or the welfare OF thecoun-
try, as with the genius Of our mild, benign,
and free institutions: Men whose character
and wealth give them an imposing station in
society, have publicly denounced as unwor-
thy of public confidence, and dangerous to
the community the members of an associa-
ton, which for ages has survived the enmty
of he inquisitions and of tyrarts, and whose
principles have been respected amidst the
widest excuses Of civil discord, of trium-
plant party vengeance, and of regal eppres-
sion, and a solemn appeal is about to be
made to the people of This district to sanction
the prescription. Whether the impulse pro-
ceeds from public duty, the spirit OF perse-
cution or the aspirations OF ambition, is not
for nae to say: but if the freedom which Is ac-
corded to their subjects by the disputes of
the old world, is to be denied TO he citizens
of the free republics Of the new, Il We are to
become the victims Of prescription, not less
ruthless and cruel than unjustand undeserrea,
IL seems to me the duty ofevery man to pause,
and seriously enquire, whether the sacrifice
efFseemasons win appease the angry spirits Of
the storm which RACES around us-what new
victims it may require, and how many of the
ciDiL and religious Institutions OF the country,
may, at no distant day, be destained to dis
appear before the ambition of candidates
For my part, whether the design or tenden-
cy of this new combination is properly appre-
ciated or not. my path seems plain one, not
with my own consent to risk the fearful con-
sequence which may possibly ensue by nay
being candidate. If the people ofths pow
eriul and respectable district shall think pro
per to stamp masons and naasoiay with the seal
Of inlamy, | hope it may never be attributa-
bic to me or my friends; and that the respon-
sihility may rest exclusively on those who
have commenced the excitement"