American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-04-03
Observation-Disclosures

THE BALTIMORE ANNUAL CONFERENCE
! 70 THE MEMBERS OF THE METHODIST
EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
1--WE find in the last Christian Advocate and
urnal, the Pastoral Address, adopted at the
: e session of the Baltimore Annual Confer
ce of the Methodist Episcopal Church, by a
4 e of lit yeas, to 3 nays, in relation to mat
rs which have disturbed the peace of some
embers of the Conference in certain portions
4 their fields of labor, as well as in respect
subjects of more general interest TO the
hurch.
The address is signed by Bishop Hedding,
d attested by the Rev. S. A. Roszell, Secre-
ky. After announcing the reception by the
difference, of 'memorals and petitions from
veral circuits, in which classes have been
kled; from meetings, official and otherwise,
other circuits, and from other quarterly
Getting conferences; all which have been de-
(oerately and faithfully considered" and ac-
howledging that Ga due respect for the opin-
ms and wishes of the memoralists requires,
! nd our hearts are free to give, kind, frank
F nd explicit answer to the requests contained
their communication" address pro-
beds:
The things prayed for i'll some of these me-
|orials are, First. That the Baltimore An
flal Conference shall withdraw itselffrom the
N. E. Church, and attach itself to the Nj, E.
Ihurch, South, a distinct ecclesiastical con-
Iecton recently formed.
With this request the Baltimore Annual
Conference cannot comply consistently with its
|snse of duty to God, and his Church. First,
because the members of the conference are
bnfident that such an act would be in opposi-
| on to the wishes OF the great body of the peo-
lie under their pastoral care, even in the
aaveholding portions Of the conference terri
bry. Our intercourse with our brethren of
he membership has satisfied us that they, with
lew exceptions, comparatively, desire to re-
fnain in the communion ofthe M. E. Church,
| nd in this desire the Baltimore Annual Con-
Ference cordially and sincerely concurs. Sc
fondly, we cannot comply with the request be-
fause the reason assigned by the General Con-
Ference, and stated in the "Plan of Separation"
f0r authorizing the formation of "dstnct
connection" does not apply to
lhe Baltimore Annual Conference. In the re-
hort of the Committee of Nine, adopted by the
General Conference of 1914, it is given as the
kround of the whole report, that ga declara-
zion has been presented to this General Con-
kerence, with the signatures of fity-one dele
Prates ofthe body, from thirteen annual con-
lerences in the slaveholding states, represent
Inc that for various reasons enumerated, the
objects and purposes of the Christian ministry
and Church organization cannot be successful.
nv accomplished by them under the jurisdic.
hion of this General Conference as now con-
stituted," and upon this ground, and this only
Twas the whole 'Plan of. Separation" based
Nov, no one of the delegates Of the Baltimore
ANNUAL Conference united in this declaration
land up to this time the members of the con-
1ference have neither seen nor heard anything
which would justify them in making such
declaration. To make it would be grossly tt
lmisrepresent their brethren and the communi
lilies among whom they labor. None of thu
'"various reasons enumerated have opposed any
Fobstacles to the accomplishment of the object
land purposes Of the Christian ministry, or o
Tour Church organization" under the jurisdic
,tion Of the General Conference of the M. E
Church. We have not been cut off from &C
lcess either to masters or slaves in the discharg
/ of our duties as ministers, but have been al
| lowed everywhere to declare the whole coun
sell of God, and to administer without let o
hindrance the wholesome discipline Of GU