Arkansas intelligencer., 1849-06-23

frrOr' Is made, by comparing our Church conSlltu-
Ion with that of the United States. For if these
restriesions had been passed by separate depart.
gent pf power, in the constitution of the nited
States, then they would have been, nolens iange-
fere.by the General Conference. But where is
Ss1ch power lodged if it be removed from the Ge-
neral Conference Let me be well Understood
= mean the jural right and power, abstract from
'rthe proprlety or expedlency. Certainly 1t will
not Be contended that q conventional body could
,nbt2ffit had made such restrictions, alter or re-
move them But, we have seen, all conven-
tionai function is vested in the General Confer
ence. Where then rests this jural power? Il
y i'll not be admitted that the Church has entirely
fut itaway. 1t unquestonobly rests in the Ge-
neral Conference. .....,.
But it: is said they deprived their body of such
power When they passed the rules. Here again
We ask, in what department of the Church is ii
vested Surely the Church he's not parted with
her original jural right and power. inherent in her
body when she was first organized. But il is re-
Strictea. This we admit il is restrained, but il
exists there.
But it is said that the General Conference has
ever refused to touch those rules, till time and
common consent gives them inviolabty. This
is not exactly correct, as may be seen by refe-
renee 10 our history. But even admitting it 10 be
strtcAy so, this does not argue that they had no
jural right or power TO interfere. It only proves
that they deemed il iaecpedient TO interfere.
Guilty The General Conference, even since the
acts of lSOS, possessed in their body intrinscalIy
the same powers which that body held previous TO
that time. They did not part with their iurlI right
and power TO act, but restrained restricted il,
from motives Of expediency. Let us review briefly
the work cf this law of expedency, found in
the history OF our Church.
!. II moved Mr.. Wesley TO organize n society
in England, while still meriiber of the Establish
ed Church. 2. 1t moved this great man, also, to
grant again separate organization Of the same
body TO his Irish brethren. 3. 1t moved him,
moreover, TO grant separate organization 10 his
American brethren. f. Ii moved The same Ame.
rican brethren to accept such organization, and
form American Church. 5. Ii moved them 10
grant the brethren in Canada a separate iursdic-
ton. And why should il not move the Conference
Of 1914 10 grant The South separate Jurisdiction
But that infraction5 of the restrictive rules may,
and have been made. on grounds of expedlency
let us hear from The history of the Church tVol.
2, page 234.) DR.. Bangs, speaking on the same
subject, the restrictive rules says, And although
the progress Of events has dictated the expedlen-
cy," (mnrk the expression has dicinfed the Prup-
dlency) 3" OF modification in the iron-like band Of
the proviso, yet time and experience have borne
faithful testimony 10 the sautary influence of the
restrictions themselves" &c. Thus may per-
ceive that infractions of these restrictions have
been deemed admissible, whenever this same la W
]
remarked had these restrictions been enacted by
separate convention, similar TO that Of our civil
chart, then Conference had been bound by pos stve
law, which never can yield even 70 expediency.
Blu. IT may be said, The people were not consult
ed through their annual Conferences. This, also,
is another feature of code entrusted to expcd-
ency, or propriety. Although the voice OF the
people ever has been, and no doubt will continue
10 be, fully regarded, yet we find positive rule
demanding any formal expression of their voice,
save the rule referred TO. which requires the
sent of the annual Conferences and they, in their
turn, as is implied, will consult The people Yet,
If the legal or jural power 10 act, as has been
shown, be lodged in the General Conference, they
become, by virtue of such power and their prcro-
gative, The judges of propricty and oxpediency,-
and consequently, may and have, where tho wishes
of the people were known, acted without formal
instruction. By reference to our history it will
be found that such has been the practice of the
General Conference on all occasions. But will
cite ono instance only DIR. Bangs, (Nol. !, page
1867 when speaking subject carrying with it
as much vital Importance to the Church North, as
the question now under consideration can have 10
the Church South, | mean the organization of our
Church in America, says I" But 10 all this it may
be said, the people were not consulted" But"
continues he, their wishes we're already KNOWN
Now, while this act shows a willingness in the
General Conference to consult the people, il at the
same lifne proves tnat no formal instruction -
deemed essential to the validity Of their acts. IL
proves conclusively that they had the iura power
to act, should they deem it erpedient, 10 act with
out such Instruction.
But it may be though, by some that wo are
lodging too much power upon the platform of ex-
pediency. Not more in my conception than our
chart will legitmately authorize. This great law
OF propriety and Christian charity, has. and indeed
should have, much greater latitude in ecclesasil-
cal cases. than it can, or should have, in the civil.
In fact, what more does body of divines, an as
semby of holy men, having the power TO act, want
to know of measure. than that 1t is eGpedienf.-
For, will be obvious to ALL no positive resric-
tions of absolute metcs and bounds can be made,
while the three powers are centred in one body
W hat but the great and exceedingly broad law Of
expedency can be their guide, in the exercise OF
these three departments IF the power TO act be
taken from them, in what department shall II be
lodged And who shall produce II when called
for? When and what shall be the check TO ba-
lance these three departments in the same body,
but expedency? We are bound then by all rules
of fair constructions 10 admit that the Conference
of 1874 had the jhral right and power 10 act IN
tho premises that such jura right rests in their
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