The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-11-15


Church This perfected the adjustment OF t4e common
property between the two organzauoAs.
Ii will be seen, looking back 10 The plan OF separation
that the only contingencies conditions subsequent TO
be found IN It are two FIRST me
the sayeholding States; and, secondly, The DIVISION
this last portion OF the common property oil the church
upon the action OF all the annual conferences IN Iespec,
10 The change OF the restrictive article When the annual
conferences the slavcholdDg States acted and organ
lied a southern church they did, the division OF NE
Methodist Episcopal Church into two organizations be-
came completes and 80 would the adjustment OF the com
mon property between Them il the assent oil all the an
nua conferences had been given TO the change OF the re-
stricve article The failure to give that has etl ms
part of the plan openbe only consequence OF which is
10 deprive the southern division OF its share OF the prop
ery dependent upon this assent and leave 10 get along
as il best nav unless right 10 recover Its position le
gally results from the authorized division into two sepa-
rate organizations.
The argument against this view u.s. that the separation
was to take place. only in the event OF the
renee OF the southern conferences but also upon the
sent of all the annual conferences TO change the restrict
i've article And the preamble TO the Ilan OF separation
referred TO countenancng this construction. We
think Otherwise On the contrary, in our judgment,
confirms the view above taken.
That preamble reces that declaration had been pre-
scented the general conference with the signatures OF
fifty delegates OF that body, from thirteen annual con-
ferences in the saveboldng States, representing that for
various enumerated the objects and purposes OF
the Christian ministers and church organization cannot
be successfully accomplished by them under The jursdc
ton OF the general conference, then constitued and
that in the event oil separaona contingency TO which
the declaration asks attention mprohable-we
TEEN the duty OF the general conference TO meet the
emergency with Christian Kindness and the stricest
equity. Then follows the plan of separation. And it
leaves the strongest impress throughout OF the
and spirit feelngly and mpessvey announced in the
preamble.
The question of separation is left to the judgment OF
their southern brethren in the church. whose delegates
had declared the necessity and provision is made for an
adjustment aud decision OF the property, which,
so far as we know are founded upon principles OF 1.-THE
srctest equity" between The parties, and then the
sutiona powers OF the conference exhausted in the
endeavor to carry out this division.
II is apparent, from the plan of separation, well
from the whole of proceedings that il this body
had possessed the power or had believed that they pos
sessed IL 10 make eectual division OF the property,
would have been made al the time, dependent only upon
rate organization They advanced as Tar as was sup
posed TO be IN their power, and took immediate steps to
abide the necessary authority 10 perfect it.
entered into The consideration of The southern delegates
to declare for separate organization They related 10
different subject and one OF much more IN
erest 10 the churches North and South, and which,
during the present session. had threatened to rend this
vast and heretofore compact body OF Christians pieces
The agitation growing out OF il had reached the highest
authorities OF the church, and had brought in conflict It's
chief and abes members, and in respect TO
which opinions were entertained and expressed deep and
irreconcilable.
In the judgment Of large portion Of the body, sepaa
ton the only alternative TO peace, the future Chris
an owship and usefulness OF the church The d..
vision OF the property but consequence of separa
tion subordinate and of comparative insgnhcance.
Instead Of the decision OF the church depending upon
the decision OF the property, the very reverse
is the result of the true construction OF the plan OF sep
aration.
H. As TO the power of the general conference au-
thorize a separation OF the church organization.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States
established, in It's government doctrine, and discp
line, by general conference of the travelling preachers
in thus communion in 1921. Down to that time the
Methodist societies in American had been governed by
John Wesley, the founder OF this denomination OF Chris
tans through the agency Of his assistants During this
year the entire government was taken into the hands OF
The travelling preachers, with his appreciation and assent
They organized it, established its doctrines and dscip-
line appointed the several
or bishops, ministers aud peachers-to administer lis
policy, and promugae its doctrine and teaching through
out the land From that time 10 this the and ioun-
tam oil all It's temporal power are the travelling preach
IN this connexIon in general conference assembled
the lay members OF the church have no connexon with
its governmental organization, and never had The
travelling preachers comprise the Indictment OF its
power ecclesiastical and temporal and, when assembled
IN general conference according TO the usases and dscp
line OF the church. represent themselves and have no
constituents and thus the organization continued until
the year 1905, when modification took place
Al the general conference OF that year. composed OF all
the travelling preachers, resolved 10 have there
alter delegated conference, 10 be composed OF OF
every five members OF each annual conference. These
annual conferences are composed exclusively OF trav.
eing preachers. The ratio CT representation has been
altered from time to time, that IN 1874 the annual
ierences represented by delegate for every
twenty -one members
The for the change to delegated body instead
OF the assemb'sge of the entire body of travelling preach
the great enlargement OF the boundaries OF the
church. which had expanded with the settlements oil the
country; the consequent multiplication OF the travelling
preachers the distance and expense OF travel and The
deprivation OF the field OF their abos for too long a
period Of the Christian ordinances and religious nsTuc
| ton
The general conference OF 1905. which determined in
favor Of delegated body for the future. imposed upon
the powers OF this body certain limitations, which, in the
language OF the proceedings OF The church, called
strlctye articessx in number. 1t is declared that the
general conference shall have full powers TO make rules
and regulations for the church, under the following lm
iailons and restrictions;
/. They shall not alter or change the articles OF re-
gion, nor establish any standards OF doctrine.
2. They shall not allow OF than represent
alive Tor every fourteen members OF the annual confer
ence, nor less than one for every thirty.
8. They shall not alter the government SO 10 do
away with ePiscopaces, destroy the plan OF itneran
superniendences.
They shall not change the general rules OF the
United Societies
s. They shall not deprive the ministers preachers
OF trial by committee and OF appeal the members
OF trial before The society or lay committee and appeal
O. They shall not appropriate the produce OF the Book
Concern nor OF the charter fund to any purpose other
than for the benefit OF the travelling, superGumerary,
widows, and children; provided that the concurrent
Recommendation OF three fourihs OF all The members
OF the general annual conferences present. aud voting
majority OF two thirds OF the general conferences sue
cecdng, shall suffice TO alter any of the above restrictions
except the first article,
These comprise all The limitations upon that body,
assembled by delegates.
cling preachers. and who established the government,
doctrines, and dlsriplne Of the church. proes