The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-09-05
2.---NO. 90.
1916.
L II E N E w f II A
For the New Era.
NUMBER III.
AccoMAcK CouNrr, August e6. Is.

signed to snbstantiaie a position assumed In INV
'etter OF the 2ist of Jnly, and denied by Mr.. Gar
rs"n IN his reply thereto. hut certainly not dis.
P"Neu oy MN. The purpose for which am now
whuhg IS To reply to such other portions of Mr..
pa'risohS article. as are worthy nf notice, and
passed over IN my last letter. To any one ar-
qnalnted with the history of the division of m.
he'hodist Episcopal Church. and the causes
w"ico produced 1t. 1t must be very evident that
WI o'iison 5 at'empt To Tefnie n.y. statements
is a signal failure. Those persuns who are dis.
p'std 10 mistake positive assertions for facts and
sue" uncaiieo Tor. and improper lnslnuations Tor
argument. as that W." slatemen,s have ,h,ir
origin IN a 'r"itini Imagination, q give the idea.
oht 40 MT remember the precise language of Mr..
CD regard II, / doubt not, as an unanswerable
reply. and a triumphant vindicaiion of the cause
which he has esroused. The object Of NV com
munirations is not To Influence individuals whose
pre1uhices render them Impervious To conviction.
and whose minds engrossed with ,one sipule. isu-
lated idea, are unable Ia comprehend the scnpe of
any other. My sole object is Ia make a fair and
Impartial statement nf all the di difficulties Involved
IN this %snhject. so that the people Of this county
may come to such a determination as the protec-
ti"n OF their property, and | greatly fear. the pre-
servatInn of their lives imperativelv demand.
Mr.. Harrison asserts positively, (and the asser-
lion indicates clearly. the extent OF his aconain,-
ance with the history of the difficulties which have
occurred in his Church. that wv. canno, pro-
duce a single instance where any man has been
refused admission into the church, or expelled
from 1t, because he was a slave holJern
was the intention "f Mr.. G.. to confne the appiica-
llon III his remark Ia the case of private members.
l am not disposed to controvert H. Bat if IL an,
p'les To the case of official members, and the re-
marx is snthcienily comprehensive and dugma,ical
", Justify the inference, II is assutealy untrue
The suspension of Bishop Andrew from the ever
else ct his Episcopal func,iuns, and the expolsion
al MT. Harding by the Baltimore Conference. in
consequence of their owning slaves which the laws
"' '"e'r respective States would not permit them
u" eunhhcipa'e, are known To all who have exam
lned the reports "f the proceedings uf The General
Conference of 1910. and 1914. The treatment,
extended 10 these gentlemen by that body. wssa
host unJnst'hahie and arbitrary exercise of newer.
ana a direct violation of the laws of the church
l ne rule as extracted from the Discipline, reads
as i"IIows " When any travelling preacher be.
comes The owner of a slave. or slaves, by anys
means ne shall forfeit his ministerial character in
cur church, nLless he execute. if IL be pyactice.
Dte,a legal emancipation of such slaves, conforma-
o!y 10 Inc laws of the State in which he live"
MARK The phrase. "ifi it he practicable " he is to
mahumit. 1T the laws Of the State will no, suffer
MIN 10 emancipate. he is certainly permitted to
retain 'he ownership of his slaves and continue In
exercise his ministerial duties.
ne foilowing resolution adopted by the Gene
raj Conference of 1910, clearly shows The con-
strnc'ion put upon the law just quoted, by that
body. a.a ..f fsr.s ~
RESOLVED. BY the delegates of The several
annual Conferences in General Conference assem-
oIed' That under the provisional exception of the
general rule OF The church on the subject of slave
~, inc simple holding of slaves. or mere owner
snip OF slave property, in States or Territories
where Inc laws do nut admit of Emancipation and
permit the liberated slave 10 enjoy freedom. con-
sulu'es no legal barrier to the election or ordin,:
u" "i ministers 10 the UariOuS grades of office
known IN The ministry of The Methodist Episc"pal
Church, and cannot, therefore, be considered as
operating any forfeiture of right in view of such
election or ordination"
Again, The custom of the church is evinced in
tne following extract from the address of The
nishops TO the General Conference Of 1910. ain
dI enac'men's ot the church relating to slayery.a
due and respectful regard has been had to the Ia ws
OF me o'aies, nerer requiring emancipation in
co"trapent'on ri ciriI authority, or ,rhere The lars
y 'He otnteS no0htd not nuoW The liberated sLaye
u eGJoy ms Jreedom, Now ii was proven be
yond the possibility of controversy. before The
tribunals which sat in Judgment UPON Bisbo,
Andrew and Mr.. Harding, that the slaves which
tney owned came into their possession by no act
W 'heiis' Out by means entirely beyond their
control ana That the laws of the States in which
Ihey lived rendered emancipation impraclicabie.
Dld The General Conference act in these cases
IN accordance the custom of the church, and in
obedience to the laws prescribed for the reoula
'op Oh thelr proceedings Actuated. as il seems
To me, by a spirit of fanatlcal abolitiunism. burning
with a desire 10 display their abhorence Of slavee'
they suffered intolerance to get the better Of
'"eif prudence, and private passion 10 destroy the
alth"rl'y OF the law. 1t is surely a most remarka-
oe reIigious creed which regards Alright in Law
what IN ministers IL condemns as a sin
VI Inc deepest dye. Glass leaders and private
me nners may hold the negro in " durance vile"
wv nlshoPs are suspended because they can mel
'"er mahnnlt him, nor transfer their ownership
- any o'ner person, the law Of the church abso-
IuteIy prohibiting " the seIlipg Of men. women.
'' cn'I"ren," " here the effect of such sale will
be To enslave them.
mr. Garrison, as If perfectly confident that all
VINO nave seen my Communication will give an
"hi 'laIlVe answer, puts the question, AFTER all,
Is IL not tOD manifest that the oljectiDns of w.
are not 50 much against the Philadelphia Confer.
ence, as against McihOdism in any shape, and
nnder any form of government ~ if my article
is susceptible of this construction I regret it ex.
ceedingly. For The Methodist Church 7 have
always entertained feelings Of the greatest 70.
gard, and | believe it 20 have exerted a n,werfnl
Influence for good throughout the entire field of
ITS mlnisirations. But am free To confess that
since the harsh and unjust treatment of Bishop
Andrew and Mr.. Harding, 10y The General Con.
ference Of 1874, and the fanarical soLcitode
evinced by that body to reader church legislation
to civil government, and The authority of
the law my respect for them as an ecclesiastical
institution has greatly abated. My objection. and
! VII state 1t as explicitly as ] can, is to The
heihodists ct this county connecting themselves
with a church whose proceedings clearly Indicate
the most %virDIent hostility to The South, an irwin.
chile determination to subvert The institution of
slavery and an utter disregard Of those laws which
they are solemnly pledged to observe, whenever
an %Infraction Of them becomes necessary to carry
lnlo e0eCt ifS unnqIl1Wed puTpOeeS Nv sole