The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-09-01
For the New Era.
NUMBER III.

AccoMAoK County, Aug. 25, 1916.
The article in the Old Dominion of the Goth
inst. signed James r. Garrison, in relation to the
pending questions and difficulties between the
Northern and Southern divisions of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, requires an answer. will
proceed to answer one assumption in that article,
and others shall receive a notice in due time
Let me premise. in the first place, that the South
ern side of this question does not need misstate-
ments or misrepresentation TO sustain it all that
is necessary, one might suppose. to win converts
and adherents to il, in a Southern Comfy, is
rightly to understand the action of The Northern
members of the Church, and more especially, of
the Northern Conference of 1914.
1t is very easy for Mr.. Garrison to sou, in rela-
laiion to the article which lately appeared in the
Old Dominion. under the signature Of W." to
which he is attempting a reply. that the "writer
is In error. when he says that Accomack, accord.
ing TO the plan of separation, belongs TO the
Southern Church" This | repeat is a very easv
assertion, but | believe he would find it very diff
ficnlt to prove, and hence he does not attempt it.
1t is useless to handy assertions on this point,
and l will go at once to the proof. What was
The plan of separation proposed by the General
Conference of 1874. and accepted by the Snuth-
ern Conferences assembled in l845, al Louisville
l VIII quote the very language. 1t was first re-
solved, "That the Methodist Episcopal Church
IN these United States and territories, and the
Republic of Texas. shall constitute two General
Conferences, TO meet quadrienally, the one at
some place South, and the other North of the line
which divides between the States commonly de-
sIgnated as free States and those in which Slave.
~ exists" 1t is then provided, THAT the two
General Conferences afo resaid shall have inrisdic-
tion as follows;-The Southern General Confer
ence shall comprehend the States of Virginia.
Kentucky and Missouri, and the States and Ter
rIloTles lying %southerIY thereto, and The Republic
ct Texas. And the Northern General Conferences
to comprehend all the States and Territories living
north OF the States Of Virginia, Kentucky and
Missouri as above" 1t first divides the Me;ho-
oist Episcopal Church into two General Confer
ences by a fixed line, and assigns to each iuris-
dIctIon over particular States, not "Conrerences.''
and virginia, not In part but in whole, is as as
signed to the Southern General Conference.
now, u Accomack be a portion Of Virginia,
winch ! think is not an unreasonable postulate, it
does seem to me that "W." is right when no
says " that according to the plan of division. she
belongs to the Southern General Conference"
Itsirlkes me that Mr.. Garrison, in common with
many o'hers, has fallen into a great error, when
he says that " Accomock does not and cannot
belong oonih, until by a vote of a majority of the
members OF the Church she decides TO 90 South. :"
IT would indeed, be fortunate that not only
a msJority, but that all should so decide, bot there
IS no need OF any vote upon the subject, by what
are oenoIn'nated in the plan Of separation, E" iDte-
rior churches. societies, stations, &C., nor is it
in conformity with the said plan that they should
vote upon It, being =" left by territorial position to
the care OF that Church within whose territory
they are situated" But as I wish to be perfectly
TAR IN this discussion, and particularly desire tha,
the public may fully understand the subject,
WIZ copy the whole law upon this head Of divi-
sion or separation. II SAYS,
The following rule shall be observed with
regard to the northern boundary of snch cunnec-
ton, meaning the Southern General Conference
" All the societies, stations and conferences. adj
herring to the Church in the South, by = vote of a
majority Of the members Of said societies, stations
and conferences, which shall remain under the
unmolested pastoral care Of the Southern Church
and the Ministers of the Methodist EpisoopaI
Church shall, in no wise. attempt TO organize
churches or societies within the Limits Of the