The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-11-01
From the Columbia Telegraph.
"THE PEOPLE ARE AHEAD OF THEIR
LEADERS.'

LEADERS,
Messrs. Editors: The truth Of the above cap
ton is fully demonstrated 10 the recent c"nduct
of the General Conference ofthe NJ. T.. Churcn
South, in relation to the section in their book
os Discipline on slavery 1t will be recollect-
ed, by all who may read this communication,
that wh.n the Methodist Episcopal Church Sc,
parated few years since, the generous and
confiding South took it for granted, that tn"
Southern Church was light OH the great subject
of our institutions, and although the Members
of the Church felt much disappointed that the
slavery section was not stricken out OF the he"
discipline, yet the "Leaders" told them to "walt
time with patience, and all would be ight-
that large amount of MONEY was at stake,
aud that their claim might be weakened by any
change in the book; by next conference how
ever, the Objectionable section woald be lett
outa This conference has just closed its ses-
sion mt St Louis, and their journal shows. that
the insulting and unscriptural abolition section
is to come out in a new edition, with the fol-
lowing note appended.
"TIis section was inserted by majority Of
votes when the Church embraced the whole
country. and as the Church, South, still EN-
braces wide extent of country with various
views and conflicting interests, it is not renh"v-
Cd, though it has long since ceased to become
operative, and by common consent to set forth
a practical rule or principle"
NV heart sickens at the recital Of the above
course pursued by the leaders OF this Church,
all the Members of which are sound on this
question, aud who will doubtless rise in their
majesty aud might and deliver .1 If beloved
Church from the last trace Of Abolitionism. by
refusing to hare this forthcoming book circuto-
ted among them.
The following is the section alluded to:
"Quea. shall be done for the extr-
patton OF the evil Of slaveryl
Ansr.-l. We declare that we are as much
as ever convinced of the great evil of slavery:
therefore no STAKEHOLDER shall be eligible to any
official station in our Church hereafter, where
the laws of the State in which he lives vii! ad:
NIT of emancipation, and permit the liberated
slave to enjoy freedom.
2. When any travelling preacher becomes an
owner of slave or slaves, by any means, ne
shall forfeit his ministerial character in our
Church, unless he execute, il it be practicable.
legal emancipation of such slaves, contorna4
bly to the laws of the State in which he lives.
3. All our preachers shall prudently enforce
upon our members the necessity OF teaching
their slaves to read the word of God; and to
allow them time to attend upon the public wor-
ship of God on our regular days Of divine ser
vice.
4. Our colorcd preachers and official mem
bers shall have all the privileges which are us'l.
al to others in the district and quarterly con.
ferences, where the usages OF the country do
not forbid it. And the presiding elder may
hold for them a separate district conference,
where the number Of colored local preachers
will justify it.
5. The annual conferences may employ CO.
lored preachers to travel and preach where
their services are judged necessary; provided
that no one shall be SO employed without hav.
ing been recommended according to the form
OF discipline"
would suggest to that august body when
they meet again, to change the name of the
Church, so that it may read as follows:
"The Methodist Episcopal Church wiih ra
rious riems and conflicting interests"
Nothing but sstrong desire to see the Church
of nv c,.oice delivered from misrule and incom.
petrnt ic,I~rss has induced me to bring this
subject store an intelligent community, to
whom i, J, now committed, by an
OLD METHODIST.
sBy this is meant the forty-three members OF