Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1845-05-12


But may not the general conference 5o forced Ia Re
eede. by the popular viii Of the membership M SIR
have despalrod Of this confess entertained
sangnne hopes from this quartet still believe thai tho
pop8la ,clH OF tho church would the unlnn If n
legal expression Of their unbiased opinion could be reach
ed But
|. Neither the constitution laws 6f the church
make any provision for legal formal expression oi
the will ol the membership This, Sir, in INV honest
Judgment is great defect IN our government. Il leaves
the membership no immediate alternative bet In separ-
alol.--Mheh. in itself considered, is revolutionary
mosementMith the consent Of the dominant party, II
they nay--wlthout it,, II they must That the mem
hefsnp should DO forced 10 this, the only remedy,
without tho advantage etany legal provision Tor
thinning heir opinions Wishes Is in my humble opinion
a disability which admits oino defence. Hui such IS,
The tact 80 that whatever may be the popular will OF the
iaity. IN connection with the ministry, and however
competent the popular will might he to The union
Of the church. have means Of LEGALLY arriving Al
an unbiased ur formal expression oft.
The prnposluun otihe bishops made, Sir. chiefly
believe. through your agenrYto defer action until the
ncxi general conference offered hopeful remedy for
tins detect II would have afforded an opnofnnli, for
al least moral expression OF the popular will. Hut
SIR, this most commendabn euri 10 prescribe union
was rudey laid upon the liable by the ruling majority
aud thus defeated without hearing.
/ :. The Christian Advocate and Journal the pline
pal church paper has been closed against all defence Of
The flphts o the South, and filled from week 10 week
with hdse issues upon many points of tho controversy
aud false culongs 10 the wishes and designs o The
South. We are constantly represented, IN Terms
less slung. the enemies Of unon dsorganzers
- settled purpose In this state OF things have
access 10 Ia" ear Of large portion Of the lay Hence
we ranno arrive IA any thing like moral expression OF
enlightened aud uubiassa' public opinion theret1fe
am Tree To confess that have ussrdoud all hope iram
this qaafter-especiay since my fears Ia regard 10 the
senor Editor have been moethan renIiaed and whit
all hope If perpetuang the unun of tho NJ r. Church
10 me It appeals, thai have alternative. but 10
dls'ulye our connection with the present general eun.
tfeHen. ! am happy IN hnow Tint We have al least
the sanction Of the general conference IN this movement
30. mest understand the adopted by the gen
era conference. from the committee of nine, prepatao
~ to- peaccabIo separation. The committee Of nine
cas raised udCy resolutions ihsirHcHg Them 10 drrsc
soHic CONSTITUTIONAL plan II meefH2 The oaiiag du
Hcaes. The plan reported The result Of lher de-
beTat1pns IN fulfilling the duty assigned them. And
although II must be confessed that no such plan Il pro
vded 10y any specific Article ui the constitution
Vtnohal rule 1T the church, yet II may be easily shewn
10 arise out Of those cardinal principles Of govern
menl SO clearly and fully Land down. in the celebrated
report o the general conference Of 1928 an ''poions
aud Memorials" VIZ that Ia the right OF any udvd-
ual ui any number OF individuals, oggrleved by the
government Of the church, 10 Withdraw without offence
tuin It's eccIcsasica lurisdciuna rph, nallenahle IL
The membership Of church, whose government makes
no provision by which. an oppressed membership
otherwise legally redress then wrungs Than by spplra
I'm. his doctrine, Sir. found most able support
from the pen OF the very individual who fills the edo-
ra char Of The principal church paper, but who Ia now
daily eshaustng his resources 10 accumulate udium up
The South, for proposing 10 fall back upon their
served rights, rs the only means of protecting them
selves rutn the nsrulc OF AZ oyrsldowine aud urpres
sl9e naIlnly.
YES Sir "scccdersn "disnnipnlsts," and such like
eplihels rung ia by this Editor an1 his IA
vorles Tor The obvious purpose pf Fixing the conviction
on the public mind that We nre seeking to perpeltaie
'selisn N The body ol Christi SIR, know mol in
what terms TO allow myself 10 speak Of these abofe6 eff
lors al unlndness. Poad the feelings ol an already
injured ponpe. in order Ia excite the tears OF the mex
perfnced and the limd, hal HEY may divide the
sis ot The South "Schlsm, Sir Is one iaIng and up
on IL God has set seal of The highest dsapprnbaton ;
separation from the ecclesiastical jurisdiction al The
church. quite another thng, and, # it be done for
sufficient cause, involves !hc eensurc of NEITHER earth
nor heaven. No one Sir, knows this better than this
same jesuilicql Editor The Protestant Reformers,
who threw of the ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Of AMI.
christian Rome were separalisis but as they adhered
10 The pure docrne u Christ, they mere net Sehismat
les What. Sirl Did M, all come out from the ju-
risdisn Of tho English Hierarchy -sporate from the
church ui England And shall we now be tainted with
the Umin Of schismNlcs, by the organ Of the late gene
ri coaierencc2 la the true PaPa spirit Of the Pusey
ties Of the present day, whose predecessors thought II
wise 10 bqw he knee at the court IT st. James, and
beg the humble privilege of bolng church, and who
taunt and worthy ufeaicts, for not follow,
that the American Revolution gmcelcss work, -
shall we be auned with the odlum ui being schismai
les But Sir, will hot deny, thal it is not ueJy iacon
ssfni at rns that those WHO have 50 FAR assumed the
doctrine Of Rome. that The church should control The
il policy of the State should goa step further. and main
tain, HAT 1t sinful mol 10 bow willing neck 10 any
/ yake HAT they may please 10 put upon us
But are told, that whether be schsfnalies,
crdefs separallsis and whether have The sanction
Of the general conference OF not. HAT act ot separa
ton will lofcii tile To houses Of worship. But
Sir, ! must remind you, that those. who allow them-
selves 10 think that money Is consideration IN settling
hn issues before tbs church the Question whether
shall submit to be governed by the Papal doctrine
that in matters purely political The civil shall be snbor
idmale 10 The ecclesiastical authory-know but little of
either the principles feelings, which animate the
Southern potion Of the church. Stll, SIr have no
idea Of giving up properly. or OF ever being required
10 give ii up. Let examine the ground, upon which
these ala;nss proceed. That some instances Of lga-
ton may not arise and be shaneiny disastrous, under
the III advised counsel of such Troublesome spirits.
may safely take the senior Editor and his faithful echo
IA. CT Ga certain Yankee from Boston resident
in Ballmure,) to be, will not pretend 10 say But
that any Of equity wogd hesitate as ~ lite decl>
sion, cannot entertain a moments doubt. The crodm
Stances OF the separati0nhe preliminary steps taken
by the general conference in order peacenhe sepaa
ton and the nature Of the deeds under which our houses
Of worship are usually held, would leave doub, what,
ever on the mind OF any impartial Judge. ! will add a
few remarks only the deeds of settlement" under
which our houses are usually held Much Of church
property is held under deeds drawn according to the
Judgment Of some neghborho1d lawyer and these usu-
ally The property majority Of the church OF
Ic,ngreuat,,u occnnvjnu noIse. No contr,i.prsy