The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-05-24


ofdefsnsive hostililies. Neps.
THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF
THE NJ. E. CHURCH. NORTH.
We have before us the proceedings ofthis
body up to the eighth day. With much Of the
business heretofore transacted our readers will
feel, with ourselves, little concern or interest.
There are however. few saliant points which
stand out as exceptions. Among these The &C.
tim in reference to the delegate from the Gen.
eral Conference ofthe NJ. E. Church, South
claims the first importance. DR.. Pierce reach.
ed Pittsburg on the evening fthe I'd inst, and
the next day sent to the President ofthe Con.
ference communication informing him of his
appointment as Delegate, and requesting de-
cision by vote, whether he would be received
as the bearer of fraternal regards. This com.
muneaton produced good deal Of auttering,
and was ultimately referred to the Committee
on the State Of the Church, who brought in
the following preamble and resolution on the
5th.
Whereas, a letter from the Rev. l.. Pieree,
D. d., delegate of the NJ. E. Church, South
proposing fraternal relations between the Meth
odist Episcopal Church and the N. E. Church,
South, has been presented TO his Conference,
and whereas there are serious questions and
difficulties existing between the two bodies:
therefore,
Resolved, That while we tender 10 the Rev.
Dr.. Pierce all personal courtesies. and invite
him to attend our sessions, this General Con.
ference does not consider it proper, at present.
to enter into fraternal relations with The Meth
odisl E. Church, South.
This resolution proposed to make quick work
ola disagreeahlc question, and by summary
process to settle the future policy and relations
of the two Churches. Some Of the Baltimore
delegates, knowing that such rejection of DR..
Pierce would lead to trouble among the laily
in their quarter, wished postponement OF &C.
ton. debate cnsued which ended in the a.
doplion of the following Provso, which was ap.
pended to the origina! resolution and carried
by unanimous vote, the Baltimore delegates
caving in:
Provided, however, that nothing in this reso-
luton shall be so construed as to operate as a
bar to any propositions from Dr.. Pierce, or any
other representative of the N. T.. Church,
South, towards The settlement Of existing ditti.
cullies between that body and this.
As pendent to this procedure, the Commit.
Tee on public worship announced the next day
that they did not feel themselves authorized to
tender any ofthe Methodist pul pits to DR.. Pierce
or others of the preachers from the South who
were present. 1t was however most graclousy
resolved that Dr.. Pierce should be allowed to
su ouhin the bor!-a remarkable specimen OF
L c. tho hao
avaied himself of,his privilege does not appear.
We regret that he did not tee it due 10 sell.
respect and 10 the character oflhe Church he
represented, to'leave Pil,sburg blythe first mail.
coach or steamer.
Some Of the speakers in the debate occasion
ed by DR.. Pierce's note, seemed at loss TO
conjecture The precise object oftbe-Doctor's
mission. This however,, is Obvious TO every
man. 1t was simply to exhibit the desire ofthe
Southern Methodist Church to preserve the
essential unity of Wesleyan Melhodism, and to
declare that the movement which led TO the
new and independent organization, was in no
sense schismatical;- NJ. E. Church, South,
no secession. II involved no admission OF in
ieriority on our part; it was not asking any IA.
YOURS. On the ground Of perfect equality we
rendered an overture which looked to the main.
tanning ofiraternal relations between ecclesi.
astical bodies, in doctrine and discipline essen.
TALLY one. We should spurn the thought ofre.
ceiving any condescending courtesies, where
rs conlilulional Methodist our right OF acknowl.
edsng the Northern Church us Legitimate
branch flhe Wesleyan family, or Withholding
that acknowledgement is, to say the least, as
clear and strong as any they may claim in ret.
erence 10 us.
Very different was the reception given to DR..
Dixon, the de.ate from the British Conference.
Upon being presented he told them ot the
pleasure it gave him TO be among them. He
could moi refrain from expressing his gratifica.
ton in having shaken hands with the Presi'
dent Of the United States, and the Leading pol.
iticians at Washington. Poor old DR.. Bond
must have sat on pins lest his British friend
should mention ,he name Of Mr.. Calhoun, at.
ter ALT tho humbug abou. DR.. Capers correspon.
dence with that distinguished statesman" How.
ever nothing came to light about the aforesaid
correspondence in Dr.. Dxon's speech; and The
substance OF the matter was that being an Eng.
lishman, was much impressed with the courtesy
of our great men, shaking hands with strain
ger-a thing scarcely creditable in his coun.
try: he was very sure they were gentlemen!
He volunteered the confession that lie had heen
treated by his Methodist friends with cordial.
ity and affection such as was not accorded 10
the Methods, brethren when in England. And
here his good brother Peck might have remem.
bered few things not so very pleasant on that
subject. He kindly promised that the next
time Methodist gentlemen visited Great Britain,
they should be treated a little better; which no
doubt, administered a crumb Of comfort to DR..
Peck and others.
With regard to the circumstances which sur.
rounded Meihodism in the United States, Dr..
Dixon, with one breath, declared it would be
presumptuous and premature in him to remark;
- ...lS l..oall h. x,l,.xsal IA