The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-09-01

Church, South nor shall'they attempt to exer-
else any pastoral oversight therein !; il being
understood that the Ministry of the South recip.
rocally observe the same rule in relation to sta
,ions. societies and conferences adhering by rote
of a majority, TO the Methodist Episcopal Church;
provided also, that this rule shall apply onIy to
societies. stations and conferences bordering on
the line of division. and not to interior charges.
,chich shall. in all cases. be left to the care of
that Church. within whose territory they are
situated" (See Journal of the General Confer
ence in 1874, page 1859
Now. il is supposed by Mr.. Garrison, and as |
have before said, many others have fallen into the
same error, that for the Churches, Stations. So
%cieties. &c., TO adhere to the Southern Conference.
I is necessary they should do so by a majority Of
their members SO voting. This, however, is a
great mistake. as a fair and proper construction Of
the law above referred to will show. 1t ia true.
the first section seems TO imply that they are only
10 90 South by a vote Of a majority 50. determin.
ing, and a like construction of the third section
above quoted, would also imply that none were to
adhere 10 the Northern Conference, except such
as did so by a Uofc of a majority" II this were
a proper construction, then there would be no
thnrches. societies. stations, &c.. belonging to the
Northern Conference, for none within the northern
jurisdiction have SD voted and thus the strange
anomaly would be presented of some half dozen
Bishops, many annual conferences, stations, socie-
ties. churches, and thousands Of members and
ministers. belonging to no General Conference,
because they have not determined by vote to
which they will adherel! A construction so alb
surd, ] attn sure, will not be received by any, and
more especially. by our Northern Brethren. But
IT it is not a fair construction Of the third section,
to say that only such churches, stations. societies.
&c, as uote by a majority of their members to go
North, shall be counted of the Northern Confer
ence. then it is an equally unfair construction Of
the first section to say, that only such churches.
stations, societies. &c., as oete by a majority of
their members TO go South. shall be counted of
the Southern Conference. The fact is, there is
no need of voting on either side, nor was it ever
contemplated, by the trainers of the plan Of sepa-
ration, that any should vote except such churches.
stations. societies, &c., as border on the line of
division ; the others, the =" interior " churches.
societies. stations, &c., belonging to the (" terri.
tory in which they are respectively si,uated."-
And hence the prouiso above quoted, " that this
rule" what rules why the rule Of uoting, " shall
apply only TO societies, stations, churches, &c.,
bordering on the line of dipision, and not to inte-
rlor charges, which shall in all cases be left to the
care of that Church within whose territory they
are situated" There is then no necessity for any
! voting upon the subject, except for the churches,
stations, societies, &C., bordering on the line of
division, and all votes taken elsewhere are void
because not taken in conformity TO law on the
plan OF separation; such as have gone with the
South, have done no harm by votiag, but they
and all others, except as before excepted, belong to
the Southern General Conference by territorial
position. Are there, then, any that need vote.
and If so, which are they2 There are none such
in Accomack, except such as border on Maryland
she being onr Northern boundary, according tn the
plan of division. The society then at Horn Town
and such other churches and societies. if there be
any, as border on the line are all that need
vote upon the subject. The churches, &C., in
Worcester, bordering on the line, may, in like
manner. by a vote of a majority of their members.
unite with the Southern General Conference, and
we give them a cordial invitation TO do so. /
trust that Horn Town Church will vote with a
view to her own interests and those of the com
munity in which she is, and wisely adhere to the
Southern Conference.
have devoted SO much time to the considera-
ton of one topic in Mr.. Garrison's article, that |
must overlook others of much importance; but, as
| before said, they viii be noticed in due time.
This subject is regarded as of great importance
on this shore. and you will oblige many of your
readers, by giving this an insertion. "W.'