The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-21


The Wsthedist Church Case.
The United States circuit courtroom was
thronged, at an early hour this morning, with
persons DESTROYS of hearing the argument In the
controversy between the Methodist Episcopal
Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church,
South Among them we noticed several cler-
gymen OF various denominations, and the gal
lery was occupied by number OF ladies'.
Judges Nelson and Belts took their seats on the
bench at ten O'Clock, and the counsel for the par
ties soon made their appearance at the bar. South
ern clergy present-Rev. Drs Early. Pierce,
Durbin, Peck, kennedy.
The title Of the case is Henry r. Bascom and
others %. George Lane and others, and the COM
plant il filed in equity for the purpose OF enforcing
q division of the funds Of the Methodist Book Con-
Germ. The Hon. Rcvcrdy Johnson, Of Baltimore,
and Daniel d. Lord, esq, of this city, Appeared for
the complainant-Mr. Webster, who Is also en-
gagged on the same side, being absent. For the
defendants appeared Hon. Rufus Choate, Of Massa-
chusetts, and George Wood, esq, of this city
Hon. Thomas Ewing also present, he being
counsel for defendants in similar suit against the
branch Methodist Book Concern OF Cincinnati.
Daniel Lord opened tho with brief detail
of the general aacts and circumstances Of the
The subject Of this controversy il what Ia denomi-
mated '.'rhe Book Concern in the city Of Now
York, the funds Of which amount to $750,0Q0 In
the early history OF the Methodist denomination
the press was resorted to by Mr.. Wesley for the
purpose Of disseminating a religious literature.
The nucleus Of the establishment in this country
was in Philadelphia, whence it was soon after re-
moved to New York. 1t became ultimately a
concern Of great magnitude.
In 1886 their building was burned down, but was
soon rebuilt, and the Concern gradually increased
in its operations until it reached its present large
extent. The profits of tho fund were devoted to
making up provision for superannuated preach
ers the widows and orphans OF deceased ministers,
&c.
The af5aira of this denomination are governed by
what are called annual conferences and a general
conference. In 1854 there was but one annual con-
ference, but afterwards and for long period Of
time there were seven. The conferences consisted
Of all the preachers who travelled" q particular
circuit In 1874 there were 80 or 80 annual confer
ences. The general system of the Methodist
clergy il to itinerate from one church to another.
Many of these were unable to pay their ministers,
and the conferences provided for them az lar as
they could. When the conferences were too poor
to provide for them, deficiency OF course occur
red and it was to supply this deficiency, in part,
that the surplus funds Of the Book Concern were
appropriated. In 1908 the power Of the general
conference became 80 absolute, that the more con-
servative members of tho denomination began to
fear that il would be dangerous, it might even
alter the doctrines of the church, and change
was then made in its organization, providing that
it should be composed Of delegates instead Of all
the preachers, and q number Of restrictions were
imposed.
divertng the surplus funds of the Book Concern to
any other purpose than the support OF superannu
atcd preachers, &c.
great question will arise in this case as to the
effect of this restrictive rule It grew out of the
subject Of slavery. The Methodist denomination at
an early period took high ground on temperance
and slavery. They excluded from membership
any one who bought and sold human beings, for
the purpose of ensaving them, and these provisions
were found to be 30 impracticable that they were
rescnded at tho next general conference, and the
ttaru yaul eft IN he q
States in which their members resided. About the
year 1886 tho agitation of abolition began very seri
susy to disturb the Methodist church.
The bishops and the conservative clergy endea-
vored to soothe the agitation. But in 1874 the mat
ter became critical and decisive, and state Of
things then occurred which necessarily led to q
separation of this church into two parts. min
lister named Harding had been complained OF as
possessing sIaves, and the Baltimore conference
suspended him, althoughit was impossible for him
to manumit them under the laws of Maryland.
He appealed to the general conference, and that
body confirmed the suspension. Another difficulty
occurred in the case OF Bishop Andrews in Geor-
gia, who had two slaves, both of whom it was i'm
possible for him to manumt. The abolition spirit
was up, however, and II was determined to attack
hin.
Without trying him, they passed resolution
that he should suspend his Episcopal functions
til he manumitted his slaves.
These things convinced the southern members Of
the church that it was Improbable for them to 60
They presented a document to the general confer
snce of lS44, protesting against the action taken in
the cases of Bishop Andrews and the Rev. Mr..
Harding, and declaring that, If it was ersisted in,
the Methodist Society in the South would be ex
tinct. Sixteen southern conferences elected dele
gates to a conference OF the Methodist Church,
South held at Louisville, in 1885, and they resolv
ed TO organize themselves into q church indepen-
dent Of the North. They appointed commissioners
to meet commissioners OF the Church North, and
range a plan Of separation. But the northern body
had in the mean time been overtaken BY constitu-
tonal scrupes, and refused to recognise the action
of the Louisville conference, notwithstanding it
had been held at their own suggestion.
The Louisville conference adopted the whole
creed and discipline of the Methodist Church, as 1t
had existed in this country since 1884, md did not
change single doctrine. The southern claimants
to their share of the profits Of the Book Concern are
therefore. just as orthodox they ever were, and
just much entitled to their proportion in the fund
which has been accumulated by the joint exertions
Of their fathers and husbands.
Mr.. Lord then read the complaint. After which
Mr.. Johnson q son of the Hon. Reverdy Johnson,
we believe) read portion of the answer, and Mr..
f. L. Fancher concluded the reading of the same.
The reading of the application dispensed with.
Mr.. Lord here stated that Bishop Bascom having
died since the bringing OF the suit he had obtained
consent from the defendants TO substitute the
name of the Rev. William A. Smith as one of the
plaintiffs, and an order of the court making such
substitution was accordingly made.
Mr.. Lord commenced his argument by stating
that Emory's History, the Book Of Discipline, the
printed journals Of the conference prior to lS4S,
the manuscript journals of the conferences prior
to $780, and other documents were to be introduced
as evidence, by agreement between the parties
He then read extracts from the Book of Discip-
line Of 1910, page 1893; Dr. Emory's History, under
the year 1900; the Articles of Religions the Six Re-
strictive Articles; Wesley's letter to DR.. Cooke.
Mr.. Francis Asbury, and the brethren Of North
America, &C.; and had not finished reading the
thorites upon which his argument il to be founded
when we left
JENNY LIND.-We had the pleasure on Friday
evening OF listening once more to this incompar
able vocalist. She is thinner in person than when
she left for the South but her face is not
worn; all that it has lost in rotundity it has gained
in spirituality Of expression. Her voice never
sweetcr, but no description can do it justice; it
must be heard to be appreciated. Fresh from a
round oftriumphs, she evidently feels more at ease