Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-09-11
COR RESPONDENCE.
For the Green Mountain Freeman.
CONSISTENCY OF CHRISTIAN ADOLF
TIONISTS---NO. 5.
70 THE SIETHoDIsTs.

[rO THE METHODIsTsl
But it does not appear that this movement of the
slavehoding Methodiss, which we noticed in our last
however it may result can free us from responsibility
in relation to slavery even should our most sanguine
expectation be realized, that entire separation of
the Shareholders from the church should be effected
thereby 1t is true, itmgh save from that repoach
which have hitherto suffered in consequence of our
conneXon with Shareholders And this in the minds
of some, might be of primary consideration. And such
will doubtless be disposed to relax their efforts, as
though they had found resingpace, as if the bat
tie had been fought and the victory Won But those
who have the cause at heart will only be stimulated
thereby to renew their efforts, considering nothing
done so long as the leayen of slavery is not purged
from the church, the system of slavery, with its three
millions of Victims continue in the land And if not
outstanding this separation, patena intercourse
should be kept up by the church with this organ-
cation Jas some have already prediced) recognizing it
only as another branch of the great Methodist family.
the reformation would in that case be only from bad
to worse and the church be far less excusabe than as
though separation had taken place; for then there
might have been at least show of necessity in the
case but there is none, for they went out from
because they not of u.s. for if they had been of
us, they no doubt would have continued with u.s."
"And as they have gone out from expressly for the
purpose of making it manifest that they not of us;
if we now extend to them the right hand of fellowship,
it must be obvious that do So not from necessity,
but from choice-of our own accord, and without the
least show Of justification in our behalf, not even on
the principle of expediency; make the of the
Shareholder own, thereby bringing ourselves
weight of guilt and of reproach which may never be
wiped away, to the years of many generations"
am, however, disposed to believe that this will not be
the case; but the contrary, that whilst slavery con-
tnues, this breach which has been made, instead of
being healed, will only continue to widen until this
band of Shareholders shall be recognzed not merely
seceders from the Methodist church, but apostates
from the christian religion For it cannot otherwise
be- in case the friends of the cause are true to their
trust than that it will soon be quite eXpedient for
the church to have sort of fellowship, as now is
that no STAKEHOLDER should be bishop But however
it may be- it certainly is no time now to relax eff
forts The interests both of the church and of the
slave are now at stake and call loudly all who wish
behalf And should we succeed in disposing of the
Shareholders to our minds so as to free the church en-
tirey from them STILL if we stop here and go no far
thcr shall accomplish nothing, absolutely nothing,
for the poor slaves And the condition of such of
them as members of the church of which there are
about 100000 would, if possible be more desperate
and hopeless than what it otherwise would have been
lIcoyi t,o,v, A. l.,
course with those who would naturally for Them
And there are probably about 100000 more who are
reckoned in law free, whose condition. as relates
to the church, would be effected in similar way
, making, in all, about 100000 who, by process of
lynchaw, placed under the care and at the entire
disposal Of those whose interests are adverse to their
own and whose tender morcies are cruel Still, they
must be considered as members of the church-as
much so as though no separation had taken place. for
they have not seeded, and probably never will. And
the secession of DIS. Smith and Cape, with their as
socates affect their relationship than the
secession of Orange Scott does NINE Nor is it pos
slbe that any action of the General Conference can
exclude them, seeing that body is clothed with no au-
thorty for such purpose-and to division, there is
cannot divide the property of the church-much less
its members. These 100000 ndiyG.yols, thea efofe
seeing they have not voluntarily separated themselves
from the church, and have not by any due process of
discipline been excluded therefrom, are constitutional
ly members of the Methodist Episcopal church, as
much so now, as they were. The acton of the
slavehoding Convention Or even of the General Con-
ference to the contrary Notwithstanding. This being
the case we are laid under the most solemn obga-
tons, in the use of appropriate MEANS to seek for their
restoration, not only to the bosom of the church, from
which they have been to but also to all other rights
which, by the laws of country and the customs of
the people, they have been deprived. And what those
appropriate are, shall endeavor to show but
must postpone it for another communication.
GEO. PUTNAM.
Albany, Sept. 5, 1916,