Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-07-03

trines, practically avowed and endors.
ed by that body and the northern por-
ton of the Church generally, with re-
gard to the constitution Of the Church,
and the constitutional rights and pow
ers respectively, of the Episcopacy and
the General Conference. In relation
to the first it is confidently, although
most unaccountably maintained that the
six short Restrictive Rules which were
adopted in 1903, and first became OBJ
igatory, as an amendment to the con-
stitution, inl812, are in fact the true
and only constitution of the Church.
This single position should ii becomes
an established principle of action, to
the extent it found favor with the last
General Conference, must subyert the
government Of the Methodist Episco.
pal Church. 1t must be seen at once,
that the position leaves many OF the
organic laws and most important insti-
tutions of the church entirely unpro-
tected and at the mercy of a mere and
ever tuctuating majority Of the Gener-
al Conference. Episcopacy, for ex-
ample, although protected in the alb
stract, in general terms, may be entire
ly superseded Or destroyed by the sim.
pie omission to elect or consecrate
Bishops, neither of which is provided
for in the Restrictive Articles. The
whole itinerant system, except general
superintendency,is without protection IN
the Restrictive Rules;and there is moth
ing in them preventing the Episcopacy
from restricting their superlntendency
to local and settled Pastors, rather than
a ira yelling ministry, and thus destroy
ing the most distinctive feature of Wes-
leyan Methodism. So far as the Re-
strictive Rules are concerned, the An
nual Conferences are without protec-
ton, and might also be destroyed BY
the General Conference at any time
If the new constitutional theory be cor
rect, GLASS leaders and private members,
are as eligible upon the basis of the
constitution, to seat in the General
Conference, as any Minister of the
Church. Societies too instead of An
nual Conferences, may elect delegates,
and may elect laymep instead of minis
tiers. Very few indeed of the more
fundamental and distinguishing ele-
ments of Me'hodism, deeply and i'm
perlshably imbedded in the affection
and veneration of the Church, and Vi
tai to its very existence, are even allu-
ded TO in the Restrictive Articles. This
theory assumes the self-refuted absur-
dlty, that the General Conference is in
fact the government of the Church, if
not the Church itself. WitE no other
constitution than these mere restric-
tons upon the powers and rights of
the General Conference, the govern
ment and Discipline of the Methodist
Episcopal Church as system of organ
lied laws and we'll adjusted instrument
taltles for the spread ofthe Gospel land
the diffusion Of piety, and whose liv-
ing principles ofenergy and action, have
so long commanded the admiration of
the void, would cease even to exist.
The startling assumption that Bishop
of the Methodist Episcopal Church in
stead of holding Office under the con-
stitution, anc by tenure of law, and
the faithful performance of duty,is moth
ing in his character of Bishop, but
mere officer at will, of the General Con-
ference, and may accordingly be de-
posed at any time, with or without
cause, accusation, proof or form OF tri-
al, as dominant majority may capri
clously elect, or party interest suggest
and that the General Conference
may do, by right, whatever is not pro-
hibIted by the Restrictive rules, and
with this single exception, possesses
power, "supreme and all controlling"
and this, in all the possible forms Of
its manifestation legislative, judicial, land
executive-the same men claiming to
be at the same time both the fountain
and functionaries of all the powers of
government, hich powers' thus mingled
and concentrated into common force
may at any time be employed, at the
prompting of their own interest, cap
rice or ambition. Such wild and rev
dictionary assumptions, so unlike the
Faith and Discipline of Methodism, as
we have been taught them, we arel
compelled to regard as fraughl with
mischief and ruin to the best interests
OF the church, land as furnishing strong|
additional reason why we should avail
ourselves of the warrant we now have
but may never again maintain, from
the General Conference, to establish
an ecclesiastical connexion," embra.