The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-06-05
IMPORTANT DECISION OF THE
METHODIST GENERAL
CONFERENCE.

IN the CITY Oh NEW 1OIh' HiS OOuy, IL
is well known, is composed Of certain
number of delegates from each of the an
nual conferences of the Church and as
sembles once in four years. As the rep
resentatives of a sect of Christians, num-
bering in this country over one mitt'on OF
members, and exercising, particularly IN
the Southern and Western States, pre-
dominating influence, the doIngs ana de-
cisions of this body are invested with great
and peculiar interest, more especially
when those decisions and doings have
bearing on the great questions that agltate
the national mind.
Four years ago, at the session OF the
General Conference held in Baltimore, the
question of iSLarcry in the Church gave
rise to great deal of discussion and no
little excitement. The question came up
again at this conference, in the manner
detailed in the subloined article, which
which we take from the Tribune of Fri
day. The decision we regard as one OF
vast importance, and the moral influence
Of which must be deeply felt 1t was rem
dered after a long and animated discuss
ion, which was marked by no small de-
gree of warmth on both sides. This may
be inferred from the fact that commit
tee was raised composed of an equal num-
Der of Northern and Southern members,
including the Bishops OF the church, to
confer upon some plan of reconciliation.
This committee reported on Saturday that
it was impossible to agree upon any plan
of Cancellation, and were accordingly dis
charged. Thus stands the matter, and
the decision of the highest body of the
churchis irrevocably against STAR
<rv. In the mean time rumors are afloat
that Bishop Andrews, into whose possession
several slaves have fallen by marriage, will
resign. Indeed he could hardly do other
wise after this decision, and we believe
we are safe in saying, that it is erpected of
him to do SO.
We record this decision, as one ofthe
significant "signs of the times" and as
being a matter of general and deep inter-
est. Indications are not wanting to con-
firm our belief that Slavery in the United
States will soon be numbered with things
that hare ben. 1t is needless to add, that
this decision is one Of the most satisfacto-
~ ones. We give the article from the
Tribune
"Those who read the reports which ap-
pear in our columns of the proceedings Of
the General Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, now in session III this
city, will have observed that an important
decision was made in that body on Satur-
day last, which can hardly fail to attract
universal attention The facts in the case
are briefly these: AT the last meeting of
the Baltimore Annual Conference, Fran
els A Hardin, travelling preacher, was
suspended f ON his Ministerial functions
for refusing to emancipate five slaves which
had come into his possession by marriage
with Miss Swan of St. Mary Co. Md
From this decision he appealed to the
General Conference, and after devoting
nearly four DAYS to an investigation of the
case and hearing of the parties, that
body on Saturday last rendered verdict
affirming the decision Of the Baltimore
Conference, by vote Of III to 81, thus
settling the principle that STAKEHOLDER, in
q State where the Laws do not render
emancipation absolutely impossible, ought
not to be ordained as a preacher in The
Methodist Episcopal Church. This YER
diet will be seen to be the more emphatic
in It's bearings on Slavery, when the
ground on which Mr.. Hardin placed his
defence is taken into consideration. 1t
was shown distinctly that the laws of Ma
ryland allowed emancipation only on con-
dition OF the removal of the slave beyond
the limits of the State. On this point the
highest legal authority was quoted, and it
was contended that in such case slave
holding did not work forfeiture of minis
terlal character, the Discipline only re-
curing TO " execute, if it be practicable, a
legal emancipation of his slaves, confer
mably to the laws of the State in which
he lives" 1t was not denied that the laws
of Maryland did contain the provisions re-
lied upon by the appellant in his defence,
and yet so strong was the feeling against
Slavery, that the General Conference de-
cided by vote of more than two to one
that the decision Of the Baltimore Confer
ence should stand as the solemn decision
ofthe whole CHURCH
HtSC WIZ GAC liOI oNAA1iiiASd hitii
the internal policy ofthe Methodist Church
may perhaps infer from this that hereafter
no STAKEHOLDER can be ordained as min
lister of that Church, in any part of the
country, However natural such an in
ference might be, we suppose it will not
be warranted by the premises. With the
exception of the Delegates of the Balti-
more Conference, located partly in Mary
land and Virginia and partly in Pennsyl-
vania) one Delegate of the Missouri Con-
ference and one from the Texas Confer
ence, all the Southern Delegates voted in
the minority: while all from the North
with the exception of three from the Phil
adelphla and two from the New Jersey
Conference, voted with the majority
The division, therefore, was essentially
between the slaveholding and non-slave-
holding States; and as the question turn
ed upon the proper meaning ola clause of