The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-09-08
For the New Era.
PUBLIC MEETING IN ACCoMAcK.
AccoMAcx C. H. Auo Al IS46

George p. Scarbnrgh, who. in a brief address.
stated the objects of the meeting respectfully. but
firmly, demonstrating with the Methodists upon
their present position; impresslng upon them the
dangers which may result to the safety Of The
people, and calling upon them as pious, intelli-
gent men. to sever their connection with the con-
ference alluded to-, and attach themselves to the
Virginia Conference.
The meeting we3 then organized by the ap.
pointment Of the following officers:
ROBERT j. POULSON, President.
STEPHEN HOPKINS.
WIN. PARRAMoRE,
RIcH'D P. READ,
EpwARDo Q; FIsSnr, PIC. President.
william Mock,
WIN. p. MOORE, Jr.,
JAMES NoRTHAM,
JOHN r.. BowpoIN,
JOHN w. GILLET. Secretary.
IL was moved that a COMMITTEES be nominated
ey the Chair to prepare the business of the meet
log Whereupon, George p. Scarburgh. William
+, Bayly, Edward P. Pitts, John w. H. Parker,
Charles B.. Duiield. Thomas T. Chopper, Louis
G. H. Finney, William Slran Gusts. Littleton
Mock. James Walker, VIM. Samuel Gusts.
Richard j. Ayres and Lewis l.. Snead, were APP
pointed.
The Committe. through the Hon. George p.
Scarburgh. their chairman. reported the following
preamble and resolution. as expressive of the
views of this meeting; which were unanimously
adopted, viz:
Amongst the business of the General Confer
ence of the Methodist Episcopal Church. held in
the city of New York. in May, A. d. 1914. was
an appeal of the Rev. Francis A. Harding, from a
decision of the Baltimore Conference, by which
he had been suspended, for falling to manumit
certain slaves. which come into his possession by
virtue Of his marital rights. 1t clearly appeared
that occOrdinn IN tho a,vS of Nfaryl,Dd m
son, in that State, can emancipate a slave to re-
main therein; and moreover, that a husband there
has no other or further right to his wife's slaves,
than their labor while he lives. That he can
neither sell nor liberate them, nor can he and his
wife, either jointly or separately. manumit her
slaves by deed or otherwise. Nevertheless. the
General Conference, by a vote of III to Sc, re-
fused to reverse the decision of the Baltimore
Conference.
Afterwards, at the same General Conference.
on the motion of the Rev. Mr.. Collins, of the Bal
timore Conference, a preamble and resolutions
were adopted, suggesting that one of the Bishops
of the Methodist Episcopal Church had become
connected with slavery, and instructing the Com
mittee on the Episcopacy TO ascertain the facts in
the case, and report the result. According to The
report of this committee. made in pursuance of this
resolution, it was ascertained that Bishop Andrew
was connected with slavery, under the following
. N CildlC u utcn urQutdtN-
ed To him. in trust, 10 take care of her till she
should be 10 years of age: then, ,Uith her con-
sent. to send her to Liberia and in case of her
refusal, to keep her and make her az free as the
laws of the State of Georgia would permit
When the time arrived, she refused to 90 10 Lii
IBERIA, and of her own choice remained legally his
slave, although he derived no pecuniary advantage
from her, and she resided in her own house on
his lot. and was at liberty to 90 to a free State at
har aoer,a h"f tho la.y, of Go>x-,. -,-.ll 40.
permit her emancipation, and she refused to leave
that State.
He became entitled as husband to another slave
left his former wife by her mother. Emancipa-
lion being impraciicable where he lived, he de-
clared that this slav We should be at liberty to leave
the State whenever he (the Bishop should be
satisfied that he Che slave) was prepared to pro-
vide for himself, or he could have sufficient secu-
rity that he (the slave) would be protected and
provided for in the place, TO which he might go.
At the time of his intermarriage with his pre-.
sent wife, she was possessed of slaves derived from
her former husbands estate, and belonging to her.
Shortly after his marriage. being unwilling 10 be-
come their owner, regarding them as strictly hers,
and the law not permitting their emancipation, he
secured them to her by a deed of trust.
Under these circumstances. a resolution was
adopted by a vote of Ill to SO, declaring it the
sense of the General Conference, that Bishop An
drew desist from the exercise of his office. so long
as the impediment of his connection with slavery
by marriage and otherwise, should remain.
The members of the General Conference from
the South and South West, justly regarded this
act as a direct attack upon the dearest interests,
and an alarming encroachment upon the rights and
peace Of the slave holding States.
A proposition was theTeupon submitted for The
division of the Church, and this proposition was
sanctioned by the General Conference.
A Convention of Delegates from the Southern
and South Western Conferences, Of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, elected on tho basis Of the
Plan of Separation. adopted by the General Con-
ference, assembled in the city of Louisville. Ken
lucky, on the lst day of May, A. D., 1915. At
this Convention the organization of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, was effected. To this
church 1T is believed by your committee, that all
the Methodist societies and congregations, in The
slave holding States, except those in Delaware
and Maryland, and a few in a small portion of
Virginia. are now attached.
The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, is
based upon the Discipline Of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church, comprehending the doctrines and
GstIre moral, ecclesiastical, and economical rules
and regulations of said Discipline, except only in
so Tar IA verbal alterations are necessary to a dis
tinct organization.
According to the plan of separation and a Teso-
ton adopted by the Louisville Convention, any
society or station adjoining the line Of division is
at liberty tn unite with the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South. There can be no doubt, there
fore, that the societies in the county Of Accomack
have 1t IN their power to unite with the Southern
Church; and in doing so, it will not be necessary
tor them to make any change whatever Of faith or
doctrine. or of church organization, as they will be
subjected to the same Discipline, to which they
have always heen accustomed.
IL is with feelings Of the deepest regret, that
your mmii have TO report that all the socie-
ties in this county, with a solitary exception, still
continue their connection with the Methodist
Episcopal Church, North, whilst their brethren
Of the slave holding States, with the exceptions
already Observation-Disclosures with whom they are