The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-05-14

Methodist EP1scOp0l Conference.
Bishop HEApISG presided yesterday. The rou-
tine business having been disposed of, the Presi-
dent sad the business next before the house, was
the disposal of the case of Brother Frazee, who ap-
peaed from a decision OF the Michigan Confer
| en- =, to the General Conference. The motion be-
| fore the house was that tse appeal be admitted.
| This having passed,
| Mr.. FRAzEE to lay the case before his
brethren. He felt glad to be able to tell them, that
his present position was the result of no quarrel
with the Michigan Conference, or in any disaf-
fec'ion from them to him, or from him to them.
They were a body of men he esteemed, and
thought them capable Of making any sacrifice
| called for by new country, and the last who
would do deliberate injury to any one. The in
jury OF which he complained and called for redress,
he considered incidental SO far as it had that
character and Influence. He appealed upon the
ground Of illegaly in the action of the Michigan
Conference. He took the position that they had
right TO locate him in the premises, according to
the discipline OF their Church. The first reason he
would give to prove the legali,y of the proceed
ings. the iilegality of the plea upon which the
the Conference had located him. 1t was general
rule Of Interpretation OF law, whether civil or &C.
cleslastlca If at where specific case is m. ntioned,
where specific powers are given to body or Of
ficsrs, under specified statute, II is prohibited IN
all cases. except in the one in which il is given
There was no need OF enlarsins upon that. It was
admitted that the powers given to the A.. E..
by a specific statute upon deiineated plan and in
s res ,G and ' argued
at great length, that his case did not come within
the scope OF the prescribed rules that the position
assumed by him at the time the Conference located
him without hi leave desire not contemplated
by the rule that Conference had erred in its inter-
probation and application Of the law that the evil
dence against him was insufficient; and on all these
grounds he relied upon the wisdom, honesty and
fair play Of the Genera! Conference to see him
righted and reverse the decision of the Michigan
body.
Mr.. SMITH, one ofthe delegates from Michigan,
replied in behalf Of that body. Mr.. Smiths de-
fence of the decision was merely vindication Of
the motives of his Conference in their action upon
this case. He differed very little upon the law Of
the case with Mr. F., the appellant, and admitted
letter to his presiding elder the principal if not
sole evdence--if the intent Of The letter WINS mis-
taken, they had erred in their decision The Mi
chsan people had acted in spir! of affection for
the Church, jealous eye to her interests, and the
preservation intact OF the glorious institution of tn-
erancy; and in that spirit, had only abstained from
a more rigorous penalty on Mr. f., because the act
obnoxious to that penalty had not been fully &C
eomp.i she'd
MIR. BALDWIN was of opinion that the decision
was come to from some necessity in the case; al
though there was no direct authority from brother
FraZee to locate him, 1t was clearly implied in his
letter. If Conference had given an Interpretation
Ia his letter which It did not intend to convey,
clearly the duty Of Mr. F. to 60 to the Conference,
and set them right on the matter
Bishop SoULE observed that he had no wish TO
make any remark, either direct or indirect, to pre-
judce the app al of Brother Frazee, but it could
not have escaped the observation OF every mem
Der there that this case was closely connected with
the question OF administration committed 10 his
hands. He thought that the present would he the
last time to address them, not for the purpose of
speaking to the question of the appeal, bui to ap-
prize them of his intention to take up the matter Of
administration al not distant day.
After Mr.. Frazer had replied to the argument in
support of the decision OF the Michigan Confer
ence,
The question Was put and decided that that de.
DR.. CApERs then addressed the chair and asked
leave 10 submit resolution, which il was his firm
est wish and trust would meet the APPRECIATION of
his brethren. 1t was as follows:-
On view Of the distracting agitation which has long
prevailed the subject OF slavery and abolition and
especially the difficulties under which they labor in the
present General Conference account of this perplex
members from the South and three members from the
North be appointed to confer with the Bishop and report
within two days to the possibility OF adopting some
plan and what for the permanent pscfcation Of the
church
THIS resolution was heard with deep attention a
marked silence prevailed during its reading, mem
bers getting up, as though impclled by The strong
feelings by which and all were evidently ami
mated even several monients after its reading, not
a word was bresthed.
member at last moved that the resolution be
amended by adding the addition of three members
from the Middle States to the committee.
Dr. CApEks objected to the amendment. There
were two ponts-twO extreme points, submit ed
for reconciliation, and to those extremes attention
should be directed and for that view of the case
alone a suitable remedy devils d. In mentioning,
however, the terms North and South, he did not at
all mean to convey the impression that all members
from the South we've for slavery or all those from
he nd "a nd
one nor the other The case was widely different,
as there were but TWO interests which came IN con-
tact in the church; No other was provided for in
the committee and it would not be wise to make
such distinction. QIear hear.)
DR.. ROLLINS and two or three others were about
to address the Chair when
The PRESIDENT said, that as the amendment was
the question, that the thing to speak to-
Dr. ROLLINS said that he had nothing to say if the
amendment vas the question.
After a motion was made to lay the anne ndment
on the table,
Professor DUrBrx hoped that the amendment
would not pre- vail. l. wonld be better TO leave the
addition to the committee with the Bishops if they
though prope- to add the names of any members
from the Middle and Western States-(hear)
The motion to lay on the table was lost, and the
amendment Withdrawn to give the opportunity of
addressing the house to
DIR. ROLLS, who began by observing that, as a
member of that Conference, a member of that
Church, he felt il TO be his duty TO attach his name
as the &c conder Ct the resolution, aud he did so not
only with strong sense Of duty, but with the ad
vice and appreciation of Il colleague whose counsel
he was in the habit Of soliciting and valuing IN
very high degree. He felt that It was offered in
spirit of conciation, and in spirit c Cancellation
he seconded it, but he could hardly say IN spirit
Of hope-(Hear) lie had feelings of deep and
heartfelt kind, that thus 10 escape from their dill
cuIies was hardly possible. He saw IA dark, angry
and portentious cloud hanging over and ready to
bnrst on them, and no hand to save, me ans OF
escape were visible, unless God himself, in his
Providence, inierceded. (Sensation, and cries OF
"God save us'') However deficient he might be
on most subjects which come before Conference,
he felt that on this he had some advantage over
many, otherwise his superiors from meeting, mix
ing with, aud ascertanng the views OF very
large number of the brethren in reference To- the
question which now threatened to dsirac, and rend
hen and on which the nrincinlrs In which they