The Arkansas banner., 1844-07-10

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 these and similar demonstrations have con- vinced the undersigned that they cannot re- main silent and inactive without hazard and injustice to the different portions ofthe church they represent. l
 They have therefore thought proper to in yoke the attention of the church in the South to state of things they are compelled to re- gard as worthy the immediate notice and atten- ton of the church throughout all the slave holding States and Territories. The subject of slavery and abolition, notwithstanding the plain law of the discipline on the subject, was agitated and debated in the late General Conference for fUe SucceSsiUe meekS; and even at the very Jose of the session, the aspect of things was less satisfactory, and more threat- ening to the South, than atany former period; and under such circumstances of mutual dis trust and disagreement, the General Comic renee adjourned.
 Some time before the adjournment, how ever, upon a declaration made by the south- afn delegations, setting forth the impossibility @enduring such state of things much lon ger, the General Conference, by very large and decided majority, agreed to plan of fomaI and pacific separation, by which the southern conferences are to have distinct and independent organization of their own, in no way subject to northern jurisdiction. It affords us pleasure to state that there were those found among the majority who met this proposition with every manifestation oi jus tice and liberatity. And should a similar spirit be exhibited by the annual conferences in the North, when submitted to them as provided for in the plan itself, there will re- main no legal impeachment to it's peaceful con- summation.
 This plan is approved by the undersigned as the best, and indeed all that can be done at present, in remedy of the great evil under peaceablea constitutional division of church property of every kind. The plan does not decide that division shall take place, but sim ply, and it is thought securely, provides that that it may be found necessary. Of this ne- cessity you are to be the judges, after a care ful survey and comparison of all the reasons for and against 1t.
 As the undersigned have had opportunity and advantages which those at distance could not possess, to form a correct judg- ment in the premises, and it may be expect ed of them that they express their views full ly on the subject, they do not hesitate to say that they regard separation at no distant day as inevitable; and further, that the plan of separation agreed upon is as eligible as the southern conferences have any right to expect at any time. We must respectfully, therefore, and with no common solicltude, beseech our brethren of the ministry and membership in the slaYeholding States, to examine this matter carefully, and weighing it well in all it's bearings, try to reach the conclusion most proper under the circum- stances. Shall that which, in all moral like lihood, must take place soon, be attempted now, or are there reasons why 1t should be postponed
 We depfecate all excitement; we ask you to be calm and collected, and to approach and dispose of the subject with all the can- dor and forbearance the occasion demands. The separation proposed is not sehlsm; 1t is not succession. It is a State or family; separating into two different States or families by mutual consent. As the ss1lethodlst Episcopal Church'' will be found north of the dividing line, so the 'sSouthem Methodist Episcopal Churchn will be found south of the same line.
 The undersigned have clung to the cher ished unity of the church, with firmness of purpose, and force of feeling which nothing but invincible necessity could subdue If however, nominal unity must coexist with unceasing strife and alienated feeling, what is likely to be gained by its perpetuatlon ?- Every minister and member of the church in slaveholding States, must perceive at once that the constant, not to say interminable, agitation of the slavery and abolition ques- ton in the councils of the church, and else where, must terminate in incalcuable injury to all the Southern conferences. Our access to slave and master is to great extent cut of. The legislation of the church in conflict with that of the church-church policy at tempting to control public opinion and social order-must generate an amount of hostility to the church impossible to be overcome, and slowly but certainly diminish both the means and the hope of usefulness and extension on the part of the church.
 Disposed, however, to defer to the iudg- ment of the church, we leave this subject with you. Our first and most direct object has been to bring 1t fully before you, and, giving you an opportunity to judge and de- termine for yourselves, await your decision. The majority from the South in tic late Ge- neral Conference were most anxious to ad- journ the decision in the case of Bishop An drew, with all its attendant results. to the annual conferences and to the church at large, to consider and decide upon during the next four years, as no charge was presented against the bishop, and especially as this measure was urgently recommended by the whole bench of bishops, although Bishop Hedding subsequently, withdrew his name. The pro- position, however, to appeal the whole sub ject to the church, was promptly rejected by the majority, and immediate action demanded and had. Butas all the facts connected with the equivocal suspension of Bishop Andrew will come before you in other forms, 1t is unnecessary to detail them in this brief ad-