Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-04-30
R ELlGIOUS
For the Green Mountain Freeman.
Consistency Of Christian AbOlitioniStS,

MEssRs. EDIToRs:-In former numbers, have en-
deavored to tace out the origin of our present difficult
ties, with view to come to right understanding as
to our duty in relation to them. And in doing this
have imputed wrong motive to the church as to the
which she has pursued but, on the contrary
have taken for granted that her object has been good
that from the beginning to the end, she has sought
to do that which, in her Judgment would best promote
the welfare of every class of men, the poor slave not
excepted. She has not sustained slavery on the
ground that it just right or on account of any
love which she had for this institutions but solely on
the ground of its being expedent. This doctrine of
expedency-this choosing the least of two eyils-of
doing evil that good might come-of shining that
grace might abound, has been the root from whence
has originated all those dread calamtes, to avert
which, our wisest have labored much but, as yet
have labored in vain Nor need we expect change
for the better, only adopt the principle of doing
that which is Just and right, instead of that which is
expedlent At this crisis therefore, it is a-important
that the friends of the slave in the church. should well
understand their duty and do it. The eyes of the
church are upon lis, and its future action depends
time to let our light shne-to let our position be
known, and thus give the church to understand, once
for ALL that shall submit to no retrograde move
ment-no compromise with slavery and especially, to
no arrangement that shall require U.S. Methodsts,
to recognize this southern organization Or chris
tians, to have any sort of fellowship for it, that
shall require us, in any way to give it countenance
support inasmuch as it originated for the accom-
mediation of such would not submit to the discipline
OF the church, and for the express purpose of sustain
ing system of iniquty which John Wesley said was
the vest that ever the sum- And should the plan
of division at last succeed, to originate two sep
arate and distinct organizations the one at the south
and the other at the NORTH shall still adhere to the
original Methodist Episcopal Church, and claim fol
her, as formerly, jurisdiction all the societies and
members that adhere to her communion throughout the
land, and shall recognize these organizations the
north alike with the SOUTH only as a secession from
the church. To the authority of the General Con
ference when acting within her legitimate sphere, We
are disposed to bow in humble submission. But we
cannot feel ourselves obligated SO to do when, acting
principle of expedency and driven by intense ex
NlCeuen Sic eAerClSeS authority WHICH Sne never pos
Sessed And this she appears to have done when she
adopted the plan of division. 1t is true, she has full
powers to legslate for the church, to certain extent
but no action of hers can affect that which is funda-
mental without the concurrence of three fourths of all
the annual conferences. She can sustain and carry
out such principles as already established but tc
originate or alter or amend any fundamental prnci
pe or to have jurisdiction except is cases of an ap
peal over the characters or membership of any but thu
bishops comes not within her sphere of action Sh'
promote the unity of the church. and the extrpa
ton of slavery, for this is her appropriate work; bu
to decide the character to make provision for th
institution of saveryboth of which the plan contem
plates-she has authority whatever. But if it wer
otherwise if she was fully authorized to do all she ha
done still the whole scheme falls to the ground, in
asmuch the division which has been effected is no
in accordance with the provisions of the plan, nor il
accordance with the wishes of large majority of TN
church at the SOUTH They have submitted to it on
as a case of necessty-it having been forced upo
them bya few shareholders, and that, by virtue Q
lynch-law. Nor have the shareholders themselve
regarded the plan at ALL only as it has suite
Their convenience The geographical line which the
have drawn, by the agency of lynch law is no bour