Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-02-26
ThingS al the South.

Rev, DR.. Bond: Dear Su,-Having little leisure,
venture to address you line upon the unhappy con-
dition of our beloved Methodism in the South It is
not my object at this time to say muchabout The doings
of the late General Conference; whether the action
taken by that body in relation to the division of the
Church was right or wrong But sure am, the Con-
ference did not clearly the case as it is or as we
now feel it. Had this been the case there never would
have been line agreed to, dividing not only the
Church. but relatives and friends 1t is presumed that
| the General Conference must have been mised. They
seem to have supposed that all south of such line
would desire division. This may have been said; but
it not true and if the necessity of division does
exist down in the extreme South, (which quite doubt
full sure am, that the same necessity does not exist
in large portion of the southern division Now ask,
what occasion have the north end of Arkansas East
Tennessee, parts of Georgia. North Carolina, West
ern Virginia, Kentucky, aud Missouri fora pro-savery
Church? There can be but little doubt but there is
at this time, living within the above named states at
least one hundred and fifty thousand MEMBERS formerly
belonging to the Methodist Episcopal Church. whose
peace is destroyed, and they know not what to do.
Let me say, the southern preachers claim lis all
both preachers and pcoplc---by contract although
hundreds among us have ayowed our determination not
to go with the South. They hold to us with an iron
grasp, and say must 90 with them, withdraw or be
expelled, They take hold of our characters in their
quarterly confcrenc s. as though we had never made
any avowal on the matter, and were amonable to their
Church And to complete our misery, are told that
destiny is fixed; that no minister of the old Meth
odist Church will be allowed to put his foot in all
these ands and should one be sent he would be quick
ly sent back again.
Now, let me ask, what have we done that we should
be thus treated? And by those, too, whom we have
helped to make, and have fed and clothed We may
adopt the language of the Lord by Isaiah: awe have
nourished and brought up children, and they have
belled against u.s." Now let me ask, Is there no remr
edv? look back; see Israel surrounded by noun
tans IN either hand the Red Sea in front; and Pha-
raoh and his host in the rear: but there was remedy
| sec a Daniel accused of dsobeying law of the land
thrown into lions den still there was a remedy
Likewise the three Hebrew children cast into fiery
furnace, and still they found remedy. Now has the
action Of the General Conference and of the LOUIS
vile Convention thrown us into such wofu predica-
ment, that no remedy can be found? If so, we wis
soon to know the worst Of our case. What wish
to know here is, whether the Church will regard that
line OF separation, or not, in her future operations?
We wish to know our DOOM and to know It soon. If
our case is decided only by General Conference,
could not that body be called together before the reg
uar time? These questions are Of vast Importance to
us, and to children, and we wish speedy answer.
Now if we are to wait for help till after the next
regular meeting of the General Conference, we are r-
ned for men are now what they always have been.
When Moses tarried long on the Mount Israel went
astray In our present state of disorganization, we
shall become prey to all who will devour u.s. If our
mother intends to help, we ask that help no,o. We
are like Joseph; though sold and sent to Egypt, we
still inquire for parent and BRETHREN and still say
" We are Joseph your brother; come near u.s."
am Your afflicted BROTHER in the bonds of the Cos
pei of Christ, which knows lines of separation, or
impossible CULTS, this side perdton. N
Benton co. .4rk. Sept l6, 1915.