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

than a general specification Of the dis
abilities, under which the Southern part
of the Church labors, in view of exis-
ting difficulties, and must continue to
do so until they are removed, we must
not omit to state, that should we sub
nit to The action of the late General
Conference, and decline separate or
ganization, it would be to place, and
finally confirm the whole Southern
ministry in the relation of an inferior
caste, the effect of which, in spite of
all effort to the contrary, would be such
a rela'ion,if not (as we think real deg
recitation of the ministry as to destroy
its influence to great-a most fearful
extent throughout the South. A,prac-
teal prescription under show of legal
right, has long been exercised towards
the South, with regard to the higher
offices of the Church, especially the
Episcopacy. To this, however, the
South submitted with patient endurance,
and was willing further to submit inor-
der to maintain the peace and unity of
the Church while the principle inyolv-
ed was disavowed, and decided to be
unjust as by the decision of the Gener-
al Conference in 1910. But when in
1914, the General Conference declared
by their action, without the forms Of
Legislative or judicial process, that the
mere providential ownership, of slave
property, in State where emancipa-
ton is legally prohibited under all cir
cumstances, and can only be effected
by special Legislative enactment, was
hereafter to operate as forfeiture Of
right in all similar cases, the law of the
Church and the decision of the prece-
ding General Conference to the contra
ny Notwithstanding, the Southern min
stry were compelled to realize, that
they were deliberately fixed, by the
brand of common shame, in the degra-
ding relation of standing infenority to
ministers, not actually, nor yet liable
to be, connected with slavery, and tina.
they were published to the Church and
the world as belonging to caste in the
ministry, from which the higher officers
of the Church coold never be selected.
To submit under such circumstan-
ces, would have been practical,
most humiliating recognition of the
lnferlority of caste, attempted TO befxed
upon Us by the Northern majority, and
would have justly authorized the infer
ence ola want of conscious integrity
of self-respect; well calculated to de-
stroy both the the reputation and infu-
ence of the ministry in all the slave-hol-
ding States. 1t may be no virtue to
avow it, but we confess we have no
humility in counting the grace ofsuch
baptism. The higher objects, there
fore of the Christian Ministry, not
less than conscious night and self-res-
pect, demanded resistance on the part
of the Southern Ministry and church,
and these unite with other reasons, in
vindicating the plea of necessity, upon
which the meeting and action of this
Convention are based, with the con-
sent and approval OF the General Con-
ference Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. The variety of interests in
volved, renders it necessary that the
brief view of the subject we are allow
ed to take. be varied accordingly.
Unless the Southern Conferences or
ganize as proposed, it is morally GER
tain in view of the evidence before the
Committee, that the Gospel now regu-
larly and successfully dispensed by the
ministers of these Conferences to about
million of slaves, in their various
fields of missionary enterprise and pas
toral charge must to great extent, be
withheld from them, and immense mas
ses of this unfortunate class of our fell
low beings be left to perish, as the re-
suit Of the Church interference with the
civil affairs and relations of the coun-
try.
The committee are compelled 10 be-
lieve that the mere division O: iurisdic.
ton, as authrised by the general con-
ference, cannot affect the moral or le-
gal unity of the great American family
Of Christians, known as the Methodist
Episcopal Church, and this opinion is
concurred in by the ablest jurists of the
country. We do nothing but what We
are expressly authorised to do by the
supreme, or rather highest legislative
power of the church. Would the church
authorise us to do wrong? The divi-
SIGN relates only to the power of gene
raj jurisdiction, which it is not propo-
sed to destroy or even reduce, but SIM
ply to invest it in two great organs Of
church action and control, instead of
one as stpresent. Such change in