The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-11-13

from any claim on the part Of the Northern Church
me general and common property, such rs notes
ana osner obligations, together with the property
sn0 enects to the printing blishments
at Charleston, Richmond, and Nashville and the
cspital and produce Of the Book Concern, at New
York, was referred for future adjustment. This
upon the power of the General Conference in respect
to the produce Of the Book Concern, and of the
Charter Fund Some delay was necessary to pro-
care that authority from the annual conferences
But one mode Of the adjustment was settled depend
ing only upon the action of the conferences in re-
spoct to the authority The notes and book debts
against persons within the Southern Church. togeth-
with the several printing establishments situated
within its limits, were to be transferred to that
church; and, also, SO much Of the capital and pro.
duce Of the Book Concern which, together with the
aforesaid property would bear the same proportion
to the whole interest in that concern, as the travel
the travelling preachers of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. This perfected the adjustment Of the coz
mon property between the two organizations:
1t will be seen, looking back to the plan Of sepa
ration, that the only contingencies, conditions
subsequent, to be found in it, are two. First, the
separate organization was to depend upon the
action Of the annual conferences in the slave hold
ing States and second. the division of this latter
upon the action of all the annual conferences in
respect to the change Of the restrictive article.
men the annual conferences in the slave holding
states acted, and organized Southern church, as
Church into two organizations became complete.
And SO would the adjustment of the common pre-
perty between them, If the assent of ell the annual
conferences had been given to the change Of the
restrictive article. The failure to give that has
left this part OF the plan open the only consequence
OF which is to deprive the Southern di sion Of its
share OF the property dependent upon this assent,
and leave it to get along as it best may, unless
right to recover its position legally results from the
authorized division into two parate organizations
The argument against this view is, that the Sc
paration was to take place, not only in the event of
the concurrence of the Southern conferences, but
also upon the assent of all the annual conferences
to change the restrictive article. And the pream-
bic TO the plan Of separation was referred to, as
countenancins this construction. We think other
wise On the contrary, in our judgment, it con-
firms the view above taken.
That preamble recites that declaration had
been presented to the General Conference with the
signatures Of fifty delegates of that body from
thirteen annual conferences in the slaveholding
States, presenting that for various reasons emu.
Merated, the objects and purposes Of the Christian
ministers and church organization cannot be sue
cessfuly accomplished b. them, under the jurisdic-
tion of the General Conference, as then constitu-
ted; and that, in the event of q separation, q
contingency to which the declaration asks at
IGNITION, as not improbable, we esteem it the duty
IF the General Conference to meet the emergency
With Christian kindness and the s.r.ctest equity.
Then follows the plan of separation And it leaves
The strongest impress throughout of the conviction
md spirit SO ieelingly and impressivey announced
b the preamble.
The question of separation is left to the judg-
nent Of their Southern brethren in the church,
whose delegates had declared the necessity, and
provision is made for an adjustment and decision
o. the common property, which, so far rs We know,
ale founded upon principles of 'the strctest equi.
ty, between the parties, and then the constitution
alpowers Of the conference are exhausted in the
endeavor to carry out this division.
tits apparent from the plan of separation, as vel
asfrom the whole course Of the proceedings, that,
IN hNAa had I'D hAlsn al
they possessed it, to make effectua division Of
the property, it would have been made at the time,
dependent only upon the determination of the
Southern Conferences for separate organization.
They advanced as far as was supposed to be in their
power and took imme diate steps to obtain the me-
cesssry authority to perfect it.
HE division OF the property was not an element
thatentered into the considerations Of the Southern
delegates to declare for separate organization.
They related to different subject, and one of much
more transcendent interest to the churches North
and South and which during the present session had
threatened to rend this vast and heretofore compact
body of Christians in pieces. The agitation grow
ing cut of it had reached the highest authorities Of
the Church, and had brought in confic. its chief
fupctionaIies, aud abest mbers and in respect to
which opinions were entertained and expressed deep
and irreconcilabe
In the jud yment Of large portion Of the body Sc
paraton was the only alternative to preserve the fu
ture Christian fellowship and usefulness of tn,
Church. The division Of the property but
parative insignifcsnce.
Instead of the decision of the Church depending
upon the division Of the common property, toe very
reverse is the result of the true construction of the
dian Of separation.
las to the power Of the General Conference to
authorize a separation of the Chnrch organization.
The Methodist Episcopal Church Of the United
States was established in its government, doctrine
and discipline by General Conference Of the ira.
Yelling preachers in this communion, in 1854. Down
to that time the Methodist societies ia America had
been governed by John Wesley, the founder Of this
denomination Of Chr stians, through the agency of
his assistants During this year, the entire govern
ment was taken into the hands Of the travelling
preachers with his appreciation and assent. They
organized it, established its doctrines and discipline
appointed the several neutrality-suspicious. dents,
bishops mimi tiers, and preachers-to administer
its poty, and promug ate its doctrines and teach
ings throughout the land. From tina, time to this,
the source and fountain Of all its temporal power
are the travelling preachers in this connection in
General Conference assembled The lay members
OF the Church have no part or connection with IT,
governmental org Anization, and never had. The
travelling preachers comprise the embodiment of IL
power, ecclesiastical and temporal; and, when as.
sembled in General COME renee, according to the
usages and discipline oftbe Church, represent them
selves; and have constituents; and thus the orga-
nigation continued until the year 1905, when n
modification took place.
At the General Conference Of that year, COM
posed Of ell the travelling preachers, IL was re-
solved to have thereafter a delegated Conference,
to be composed Of one for every Eve members Of
each Annual Conference. Those annual COME
rences are composed exclusively Of travelling
preachers. The ratio Of representation has been
altered, IRON time to time, so that, in 1871, the
Annual Conferences were represented by one dele
gate for every twenty.one members
The reason for the change TO n delegated body,
instead Of the astemblage Of the entire body Of
travelling preachers, was the great enlargement
Of the boundaries OF the Church, which had ex-
panded with the settlements OF the country the
it,lf If sh.ro Of Ia
Yelling preachefs-the distance and expense Of
trsvel-snd the deprivation Of tae field Of their
labors, for too long period, Of the Christian ordi
nances and religious instruction.
The General Conference OF ls0S, which deter.
mined in favor Of a delegated body for the future,
imposed upon the powers Of this body certain
limitations, which, in tAe language Of the pro-
ceedirgs OF the Church, called restrictive arti
cles. Elk in number. IL is declared, that the
Gereral Conference shall have full powers to
make rules and regulations for the church, under
the following limitations ard restrictions
/. They shall net alter or change the articles Of
.lfe,tor ,l,~ A. ~