The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-05-28

der to all but themselves. Over and above the doc
trinal differences, and distinctions of discipline that
exist between their various sects, which have been
over and over again the cause of alteration and
contention two or three Of the stronger and it would
appear the more pugnacious and irritable of them
have sought and found new elements of strife and
disunion. Slavery has set them at their wits end
and there Is no knowing where the indiscreet and
il-judged departure from their proper vocation to
dabble in politics may lead these enthusiasts.
And first among these in point OF numbers are the
great body Of the Baptists, numbering nearly
100000 of souls, of all sizes and sects In days
gone past they had their due proportion Of the ar
gument and pickering that would seem to be an in
separable concomant from what is called evangeli-
cal christianity )" but long as they argued about
jumping into the water or letting alone-sprinkng
or immersion, it was harmless enough to well tenn
pered disputants and hearers. Now, however,
whether from the pride of prosperity the conscious
ness OF strength, the nsolence of power or the We
getation OF the tares of vice that the devil takes
care to sow IN such well titled SOIL they have taken
to matters that have no connection with the per-
Torrance of their duties and this for no other APP
parent reason than love of quarrelling and most
ungodly ambition to amper with strictly secular af-
fairs BY the address of the Southern Baptist Con-
vention, dated from Georgia, May 18th, 1876, we
are informed that painful division has taken place
among the American Baptists bywhich, in the face
Of the old constitution of the body the acting Board
of the Convention, assembled at Boston. declared
siaveholding to be disqualification for mssiona-
ry. We are told that the dissenson only relates to
the missionary question: and that the Northern and
Southern portions Of the Church remain in statu quo,
but this is all sham from the very moment this wedge
of disqualification through slave-owning was recog-
nlsed the foundation of the body and its stability
was frittered to rags. The fanatics of the North
have obtained fulcrum for their anti-slavery lever
and before long we may expect to see the Northern
and Southern Baptsts as not only distinct but in
state of hostility.
Again, the Methodist Episcopal Church have COM
united the same blunders, and the same visitation
has fallen upon them. The proceedings of the
General Conference, which sat in this city last year.
have been prolific ofefecs ofthe most disastrouskind
It was great mistake to suppose that all the bit
ter contention that took place in reference to the
OF Bishop Andrews confined to the merits of that
alone The whole merits of the slave question were In
volved therein, and from the very moment Bishop
Andrews was repudiated as a Bishop on account of
owning slaves the church was split into two halves
Accordingly, all connection between the Methodists
of the South and of the North has ceased, by the
resolutions just adopted the Louisville Convention
This body will meet again in May next, at Peters
burg, Virginia, when the Southern book concern
will be arranged. In the meantime, Bishop Andrews
has declared his adhesion to that body, and Bishop
Soule has expressed his readiness to do so too as
soon as he has discharged obligations incurred at
the New York Convention. Thus all the hopes of a
more sensible portion of the Methodists have been
dissolved. And not only the members of that body
who were disposed to dwell together in unity, but
comprehend the results that must follow in nation
al point of view, are vexed and alarmed, for it is
greatly to be feared that these new formations of
sects and parties the question ofsavery will smu
late fearfuy the already insensate attempts Of the
abolition party.
In the midst Of all this fanaticsm and error it is
pleasing to have to record instance of cool COM
mon sense The Presbyterians of the United States
far surprising in extent the sanctiy Of their more
boisterous Baptist and Methodist brethren. In the
General Assembly Of the Presbyterian church, in
Cincinnati, on the 2Ohinst, the question Of slavery
was brought up by the presentation of the report Of
the committee, to whom large number of petitions
had been referred The reportvery udciouely regards
the jurisdiction of Chriss church as extending to
questions OF faith and morals, and that as neither
not belong to modern sects Slavery existed in the
days of the Apostles, and slaves were admitted to
church membership; their owners told to treat
them well-notto emancipate them. The Assembly
slaves as necessarily a heinous and scan
dalous SIM The Assembly does not defend
slavery, nor deny that many evils grow
out Of it; they deprecate the idea of property in
but in admitting and regretting these evils, they do
not believe their reform is practicable, by ecclesas-
teal legislation There Is SO much good sense and
recttude ofjudgment in the following paragraph
and resolutions, that they deserve an insertion
The Apostles Of Christ sought to ameliorae the
dition Of slaves, not BY denouncihg and excommu-
ncang their masters but by teaching beth masters and
ing upon such the discharge Of their relative duties
Thus only can the church Of Christ such, i'm
prove the condition Of the slaves in country.
"A IN oft Tho 1vad
the best methods of removing them, various opinions
prevail and neither the scriptures nor constitution
be pursued by the churches under our care. The A.
sembly cannot but rejoice however to learn that the
awaiting to deep sense Of their obligation to extend to
the slave population generally the Of Grace and
many SHAREHOLDERS not professedy religious favor this
object We earnestly exhor them to abound more and
more in this good work We would exhort every be-
ievng master to remember that his master Is also in
Heaven and in view ofall the circumstance in which
he placed to act in the spirit of the golden rule
Whatever you would that men should do to you do ye
even the same to them"
In view of the above stated principles and facts
Resolved, First That the General Assembly of the
organised and has since continued the bond of union
the church upon conceded principle that the exist
of domestcl slavery under the circumstances in
which 1t 10 found in the Southern portion of the country
is no bar to Christian communion
Second That the petition that ask the Assembly
make the holding Of slaves in itself matter Of dsci.
pine do virtually require this udcaoy to dissolve it.
sell and abandon the organization under which, by the
divine blessing 1t has SO long prospered The tendency
evidently to separate the northern from the southern
portion Of the church result which every good c-
must depore tending to the dissolution union
Of our beloved country and which every enlightened
Christian will oppose bringing about ruinous and
unnecessary schism between brethren who maintain
common faith
This is the proper way for those who profess to
be ministers of God,, and Of that religion which
teaches charity to all, to meet the question of
slavery, We hope the resolution Of the General
Assembly will find response from the laity, of una
nimity and appreciation. If they do, the best ef-
fects will follow their borders will be extended,
and their communion increased by fugitives from
the other secs, anxious to be done with the profit
less contention and oppressive agitation that is now
and will continue to shake them to the centre
But by far the most exemplary of Christian de-
nominations, in their conduct in regard to the ques-
ton Of slavery, is the numerous and far spread
Catholic community Of this republic On all occa-
slons, the most admirable tact is displayed by them
and on no occasion has this been more obvious than
the slavery question. For years past, her minis