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

the present system Of general control,
cannot disturb the moral unity Of the
church, for it is strictly an agreed mo-
dyfcation of general conference jurls-
diction, and such agreement and con-
sent Of parties must preclude the idea
Of disunion. In view of uhot is the al
legged disunion pretlicated? Is the
purpose and act of becoming separate
organization proof Of disunion or want
of proper church unity? This cannot
be urged with any show of consistency,
inasmuch as "the several annual con-
ferences in general conference assem-
bled," that is TO say,the church through
its only constitutional organ of action,
on all subjects involving the power Of
Legislation, not only agreed to the Sc
parate organization south, but made
full constitutional provision for carry
ing it into effect. 1t is separation by
consent Of parties, under the highest
authority of the church. Is it intend
ed to maintain that the unity of the
church depends upon the modal unifor-
nifty of the jurisdiction in question p
If this be so, the Methodist Episcopal
Church has lost its unity at several diff
ferent times. The general jurisdiction
of,he church has undergone modifca-
lions,at several different times, not less
vital, if not greatly more so, than the
one now proposed. The high conyen-
tional powers, of which we are so o.
ten reminded, exercised in the organi-
cation Of the Methodist Episcopal
Courch, were in the hands of a confer
ence of unordained lay preachers, under
the sole superintendent of an appoin-
tee of Mr.. Wesley. This was the first
general conference type and original
form of the jurisdiction in question in
this country. The juri> dic:ional power
now proposed by the General Confer
enee, was for four years exercised by
small! Annual Conferences, without a.
ny defined boundaries, and acting sepa-
rately on all measures proposed for
their determination. This general
power ofjurlsdiction next passed into
the hands ofthe Bishops Council, con-
sisting of some ten persons, where ii
remained for term ofyears. Next ii
passed into the hands of the whole itin-
Grant Ministry, in full connection, and
was exercised by them, in collective
action, as General Conference of the
whole body, met together at the same
time. The power was afterwards YES
ted in the whole body of travelling Ell
ders, and from thence finally passed in.
to the HANDS of Delegates, elected by
the Annual Conferences, TO meet and
act Fundamentally as General Confer.
ence, under constitutional restrictions
and limitations. Here are several sue
cessive reorganizations of General Con-
ference jurisdiction, each involving a
much more material change than that
contemplated in the General Confer
ence plan, by authority of which, this
Convention is about to erect the 16I
Annual Conferences in the slaveholeling
States into separate organization.-
We change no principle IN the existing
theory of General Conference jurisdic-
ton. We distinctly recognise the ju-
risdiction of a Delegated General Con-
ference, receiving its appointment and
authority from the whole constituency
of"Annual Conferences in the slave
holding Sta,es," as authorized in the
plan of separation, will meet in one
General Conference assembly of their
own, and act in behalf only of their
constituency, and in the regulation Of
their own affairs, consistently with the
good faith and fealty they owe the all
thority and laws of the several States
in which they reside, without interfer-
ing with affairs beyond their jurisdic-
ton, or suffering foreign interference
with their own. And in proceeding to
do this, we have all the authority it was
in the power ofthe Methodist Episcopal
Church to confer. We have also fur
ther example and precedent in the his
tory of Methodism to show that there
IS nothing irregular orinconsistent with
Church order Or unity in the sepera-
ton proposed. The great Wesleyan
Methodist family, every where one in
faith and practice, already exists under
several distinct and unconnected iuris-
dictions there is no jurisdictional or
connect.onal union between them; and
yet it has never been pretended, tina,
these several distinct organizations
were in any sense inconsistent with
Church unity. If the Southern Con-
ferences proceed then, to the estab-
lishment ofanother distinct jurisdiction,
without any change of doctrine or dis
cipline, except in matters necessary to
the mere economical adjustment Of
system, will it furnish any reason for