Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-12-08
The Methodist Episcopal Church.,

Multitudes have been made to believe that
the division between the Northern and South
crn portions of the Methodist Church has left
the former free from the stains of Slavery. This
deception has been promoted by ministers and
members of the Church, to whom the facts in
the case must be familiar. The statements in
the following article from the True Wesleyan
will not be disputed by any honest and intelli-
gent man:
l. No change has taken place in the NJ. L.
Discipline since the division the Discipline is
now what it has been for many years on the sub
jcct of slavery.
2. No change has taken place with the South
ern division on this subject so far as slavery is
concerned, the Northern and Southern Church
have the same discipline.
3. There is no rule in the discipline of the N.
E. Church, prohibiting slaveholding by private
members of the Church, in any State, or under
any system of laws, as understood and explain
ed by the authorities and organs of the Church.
Some may say that the rule prohibiting "thc
buying and selling of men, women and chill
dren, with intention to enslavo them" prohi5-
its slaveholding. This cannot be. Bishop He'd
ding decided in the case Of Rev. c. K. True,
while the writer of this was making a speech in
his own defence, that the general rule docs not
forbid slavcholding. The official organ of the
Church has explained that rule to prohibit, not
the buying Of slaves, but of free persons for the
purpose of converting them into slaves.
4. The NJ. L. Church always has, and still
does cherish shareholders in her bosom. She
docs not make slaveholding a disqualification for
membership in the Church, but receives slave
holders on confession of faith, the same as she
does non-slaveholdcrs.
5. The NJ. L. Church has eight annual Con-
fcrences which include shareholders, viz Pitts
burgh, Ohio, Western Virginia, Indiana, Hi
nois, Missouri, Baltimore and Philadelphia
These Conferences all embrace more or less
slaveholding territory, and slavcholding Church
members.
6. The NJ. Z. Church has many slaveholdine
preachers, and ordains Shareholders to the work
of the ministry. The Philadelphia Conference
has ordained a STAKEHOLDER since the South sep
arated, knowing him to be such. When the
vote was to be taken for the election of the can
didatc, Rev. Mr.. Cooper rose and remarked that
the candidate was a STAKEHOLDER, he hoped the
vote would be unanimous, to show the South
that shareholders could enjoy their rights in the
Northern Church. The vote was nearly unan-
imous, there being only six opposed in a Con-
ference of nearly or quite two hundred men,
bcrs.
Z. Tn division was not the act of the North
but of the South the North did not eXpcl OIL
separate from the South, but the South scpara.
ted from the North.-The North did what they
could to prevent the separation, and now con-
denim it as an unjustiiable act on the part Of the
South.
8. The action of the General Conference,
which led to the separation, was not against sla-
very or shareholders by the membership or min
istry, but simply against slaveholding by the
Episcopacy, and that not upon principle, but
wholly upon the ground of expediency. The
following gives the entire action in the case:
Whereas, The discipline of our Church
forbids the doing of any thing calculated
to destroy our general SUPPLEMENTARY and
whereas, Bishop Andrew has become connected
with slavery, by marriage and otherwise, ant
this act having drawn after it circumstance:
which, in the estimation OF the General Confer,
ence, will greatly embarrass the exercises of hi,
Office as general superintendent, if not in som,
places entirely prevent it therefore,
ReSoiUed, That it is the sense of this Genera
Conference, that he dcsist from the exercise o
his office so long as this impeachment remains.
olutions were adopted: -
al. ResoLUed, As the sense of this Conference
that Bishop Andrews name stand in the Min
utes, Hymnbook and Discipline as formerly.
2. Resoloed, That the rule in relation to tn
support of a Bishop and his family applies t
Bishop Andrew.
3. R~esolced, That whether in any, and i
"lub WIN DAolAOp III bG blilbAONGhy 10 l
be determined by his own decision and aetio.
in relation to the previous action OF this Confer
encc in his case"
The General Conference adopted another doc
ument, defending their action against the pro
test of the Southern members, in which the
make the following declaration
"Thc action of the Conference was neithC
judicial nor punitive. 1t neither achieves nc
intends a deposition, nor so much as a legal su:
pension. Bishop Andrew is still a Bishop an
should he, against the expressed sense of til
General Conference, proceed in the discharge
his functions, his official acts would be valid
We might add various other facts of the sam
character, but we have given enough. Tn
above We give as facts, and our friends may rel
upon them as facts. No well informed Methc
dist will deny them over his proper name. W
are not disposed to reason or moralize upo
them this we leave for others, that each ma
do it as liketh him best. If these facts are hoI
orable to the NJ. Z. Church, their pu6licatio
will help to spread her fame if they are again
her, she ought to bear the fault. Let him tn,
readeth understand.
o mn