Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1845-05-05

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AZ. When any travelling preacher becomes an owner
Ola slave slaves. by any mrsns he shall orct his
ministerial character IN church. unles4 he execute II
il be practicable, legal aneifai of stoh Slaves
rnniornsbly 20 the laws t the STATE IN which he
lives
twill 10 remembered tat the y ipline no where ~
qulfos the manumlsson Of slaves, ~ those " hn hold
hem as a condition Of membership THIS ground vas
opehl, sbandontd by special rule in lf9t, II Is
Ia the section uadet considerations that the eureh
provides TIA, shyeholding shall mol be dslua deatiun
uf any olioo IN her gut, where the laws Ut The STATE
VIII not admit ut an cnmncpsed slave enjoying feed m
Although. therefore the qut ntan Is asked IN th# secton
hat shall be done 10 eNilipale the evil u elaYefy2
the answer given oblges the church % ufhef 10
wards It's eNurpaon llan II withhold oni,o uu tluse
who viii not manumii slaves in lhuse States Which pr
ia the mahunltied slave 10 enjy his freedom, namely.
IN to'f States Wtich called free. for other.
general thing, allow manumued slave 10 euJy frees
dom within the STATE uf can do SO with any degree OF
rorurr a. long rs they npd II necessary maintain
the Institution OF dpuoslic slavery (Ihe IL Tree
persons OF cuer within the SLAVE States are tie excer-
liuns winch make tie general rule; and they maintain
hrlr lteedom only by speeal provisions Of law IN their
Individual hYarl h PajHi qtfac,. mtytfole TIE dsd
bhty laid the members question: extends nj 10
You'd the inhhhants of The tiee Smies Bot 4 rs nnl
the question here quoted nom de Discipline and the in
mediate answer wv are h. much as convinced II
the great cyl al ssSuy,' Thdeo The church tF ia *
tuFaiun II eetaleiy does mattrf oi pfuei pie.
But the rules hich follow. limiting the operations OF
Has puhtipi - have ahaNn, mtfcis im application
Ia tie exclusive euatfo Of tho civil Legislation ii tho
slave States, and teEeiern mikes The language a The
church Iuhe essentially ibis namely 49,. " are indeed
as nnah ever convinced Of the great evil OF slavery,
bnl Ne feQaid u rutoy question which belongs 10
Oesar. When. thefciufe, the civil policy oI thc State
shall laror The ,Htuaun Of this evil, ead 0s hr ~ Il
may iayut H. by removing the existing dsoauaecu oHts
70 emancipation. We pledged 10 promote tue design
ui government, and 60 sabteVatds il hereby 10 lay
our ueubefs under ecclesiastical disabilities who VIII
mol fall IA With That benevolent design. by nlauaning
Their sanes. 1 dis being lhe essential lansuare Of thp
church. II Ia eetnny not her doctrine that domos-
tic slavery necessarily snful Eor il this Ncte So sac
would ho bouud 10 mike a All ony ecclesiastical die
ability but condition OF membership without regard 10
tle authority oi Cwaar Ia The romses- according tie
dorinne ct our seeuGd rusnlate.
That the church should have iaken any action al all
upon The subject Of slavery by way Of pl,dgng herself
Tor It's eAtrpatlon, certainly without any warrant from
The SchplnrF. aud must he regarded of very duubtg
pprricy Tho ehutehes planted by the apostles IA Je,
rucelum, Ephesus. Cprinlh, and Rome. were ~ the
heart Of ou..mt n. Is Ia Which domestic slavery
isted ia ,s nosl Objectionable t0ma ogelhef with ohef
notifications Of civil dtspotam isei. ftt We find no
eaarmcni no feecp. which pledges the church la the
extumlluh 81 either the che OF the ulher on tle cult
mary, We ever hud die doctrine embodied ~ the 2ed
Article # relgan Hfuatyy mruitattd by tbp apust,
aud acted upon by The inst church regard The civil
a1t9HIy. The pledge Of The NJ. H. Church Is Tiers
tore without warrant itun tie Scriptures. But still, II
she took any action Al all upon he autiee,, II must be
confessed that This l. tie least ultusye Fol- interpret
I'd according tho PLAIN impmt a It's general provisions
Is highly dJtteaiai io The cr authority, and such
the candid ct2Ua Of lAe slave States weip
toned 10 rtsefd II win suspicion, Indeed, thCy wee
generally satisfied viii It rs II Waa. Ii Is trne, the
more nlf tp s3w m tt, that as The apusllR IN sim
liar md indeed lr more urgeut circumstances. did rot
furnish an exam IL Of similar enacnenis, AMI IS tho
subject II one oil se;y peculiar delieacy, arising uut
Of the character Of eur civil goyernneHtt was IA II
self much Ia DO regretted tat any circumstances had ey
induced lis add pljnu; for ii certainly cmldl the ee
mems Of an exposiln. that might DAY rend the
church 10 sundtr and pohapa shake the foundation OF
our civil Confederation. SUI, looking ct tho peculiar
circumstances in which the iahais of the church were
placed from the days ct DR.. Coke 10 the general Gun
ference Of circumstances IN good degree grows
ing ot 1T The wide difference between le legislation Of
the several States on the subject Of African slavery
they regarded lacm fortunate hitting upon happy
method OF compromising the conflicting ISSUES by which
they wero pressed. 81 far then from complaining, they
congratulated themselves. and the whole church, hat
fathers were 81 Jtnnalr, ms ID catch were ny
the rod ufFrankn, the lightning Of destruction, which
then threatened Ia desvlae HE church and conduct it to
safe deposlte, where, surrounded by secure non
conductors, II might remain IN safety; aud where II
would remain IN safety. IN oil lime 10 cune, unless some
silly brain should guide idle land Ia touCh ii with
Disastrous conductor Tia. would Il 10 lay
the heritage Of The bUd.
But am correct in he view taken If this section Of
authority of The slave States To mako The holding Of
savos within these States disqua cnlion for office
ia the NJ. r.. Chureh} Ilany reasonable doub can
main afer cgndd examination Of tine section ilscf II
vii find Sufficient solution ~ the following historical
tacts From the lha Ibis section was completed ia
1916 until the late general conference 10 decision Of
tits body the subject of slavery CONTRACTING this
srnctiun, has been given. On The contrary, there was
decision y resolution of The general conference IA lSlu
plainly confmalury Of The construction, The Bati4
mao conference had repeatedly refused coHf local
ders upon Mr., Doggett (bfouer Of Rev. d. ) Dugseu
Of this coniuictcp) and oLcrs, citizens uf Ntstluure
land county, fugiha-simpy because they were the
owners Of slaves IL 1896 these brethren sought Ia have
their circuit attached to the Virginia COZ ference; But the
delegation VI the Baltimore conference managed to siare
oT he question: and Tins avoided issue before the
general conference AT The general conference Of 1910
bcWovar they ASSERTED their rights before tho conference
in memorial which brought the question TO All ISSUE.
IN responding this ntmorai, the general conference
adopted resolution fully confirming the construction
here given Of the l0h section Of Dsch All the
nua conferences within The slave States have admins
tered these rules upon tia understanding o. their mean-
ing. The Baltimore conference Itself cannot be eXefp
ted. They have ordained both travelling aud local
preachers, who held and still hold slaves Under the
direction OF presiding eldtrs, who received the Sanction
Of the confluence, the preachers m charge lave without
hesitation, appointed Shareholders 10 the office Of Stew
ards leaders and oxbuuers. kuw, added To- the adj
minstratye sanction II this of these rules
by the general conference, is The resolution Of 1910
Surely reasonable doubt should remain. lag /
down therefore that such is the plain construction vi Dis
eipine on the subject vi slavery.
III. now advance ~ lle Sd point in the prc eress
this argument, and enquTeUh Therein did The mGjorit,
in lie late general coceacc grossly disregard on pal
pGby roide The cteil a,rs together tch the Dscipta