Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-09-20
From tie NeD York Express
The Methodist Book CNRcern Case.


We have before us Mr. Sutton's full, complete,
nay, may add perfect Report of the Metho-
dist Book Concern trial, before Judges Nelson and
Belts, in which the lawyers were Messrs. Lord,
Choate, Wood, and Johnson speakers, with
others to aid. There 372 pages of it, and
Mr.. Sutton the Reporter, has done the work with
his usual, but yet with uncommon ability.
This is the first time have ever been able to
get at the facts in this case; and they show how
/ easy Union is dissolved, and how difficult the
business Of Saving Union is, SO that we ask
the attention of readers to a brief abstract of
them.
The subject of this controversy is the "Book
Concern in New York city 4 fund of about
= $50, 600 has accumulated from the profits in
printing books for the Methodist Church, for a
fair share of which the Methodist Episcopal
Church South now sues In 1914, in this city,
very quietly, then, and to the knowledge of very
few out of The pale Of the Methodist Society, the
Methodist Episcopal Church, which had acted as
one body from the days of Wesley, its founder
was rent in twain. The Northern Abolitionsts
created much excitement and feeling in the
Church, there and here, that two cases of slavery
IN the Church were forced upon the attention of
the General Methodist Conference; one, that of
Harding, preacher in Maryland and the other,
that of Bishop Andrew, of Georgia. Rev. Mr..
Harding married Miss Swan, in Maryland, who,
at the time of her marriage, was entitled to some
Slaves but in Maryland no person can manumit
slave, and husband has other or further right
to his wife's slaves than their labor, while he lives
By vote of IL to SO, indirectly, however, but
practically, Mr.. Harding was suspended from the
ministry by the General Conference held in New
York for being Shareholder Bishop Andrews
case he himself states thus:
"Io tie ConensiHee on EpiScopocy:
"DEAR BRETHREN,- reply to your inquiry,
submit the following statement of all the facts
bearing on my connexon with slavery. Several
years since, old lady of Augusta, Georgia, be
queathed to me q mulatto girl, in trust that
should take care of her until she should be nine
teen years of age; that with her consent should
then send her to Liberia; and that in case of her
refusal | should keep her, and make her as free
as the laws of the State of Georgia would permit.
When the time arrived, she refused to 90 to Lii
IBERIA, and on her choice remains legally my
slave, although derive no pecuniary profit from
her. She continues to live in her own house, on
nay lot; and has been, and is at present, at perfect
liberty to 90 to free State at her pleasure; but
the laws of the State will not permit her emancipa-
ton, nor admit such deed of emancipation to re-
cord, and she refuses to leave the State In her
case therefore, | have been made a STAKEHOLDER
legally, but not with my own consent
"2dly. About five years since, the mother of
my former wife left to her daughter, not to me,
negro boy; and my wife died without will,
more than two years since, by the laws of the
State he becomes legally my property. In this
case, IN the former emancipation Is impractical
BILE in the State; but he shall be at liberty to leave
the State whenever shall be satisfied that he is
prepared to provide for himself, or | can have suf
tcient security that he will be protected and pro-
yded for in the place to which he may 90.
''3dly. In the month of January last | mar
ried my present wife, she being at the time pos
sessed of slaves, inherited from her former hus-
bands estate, and belonging to her. Shortly af-
ter my marriage, being unwilling to become their
owner, regarding them strictly hers, and the
law not permitting their emancipation, | secured
them to her by deed of trust.
cit will be obvious TO you, from the above state
ment of facts, that have neither bought nor sold
a slave; that in the only two instances in which
am legally a slave holder, emancipation Is i'm
practicable. AS to the servants owned by my
wife, l have no legal responsibility in the premi-
ses, nor could my wife emancipate them If she
desired to do SO. | have thus plainly stated all
the facts in the case, and submit the statement ol
the consideration of the General Conference,
Yours, respectfully,
JAMES O. ANDREW
The General Conference, holding their sessions
in this city in 1914 discussed this matter for sev
eral days, with great ability and intense feeling
but hnally ayes llo, noes 90 the following IRE
amble and Resolution passed:
j Whereas, the Discipline of our Church for
bids the doing of anything calculated to destro.
our itinerant general superintendency, and where
as Bishop Andrew has become connected with sla
: very by marriage and otherwise and this act hay
: ing drawn after circumstances which, in the est
nation of the General Conference, will great,
embarrass the exercise of his Office an tneran
> general superintendent if not ii some places en-
ftirey prevent it; therefore,
f 'Resotped, That it is the sense of this Genera
Conference that he desist from the exercise OF hi
4 office SO long as this impediment remains"
Y This action and these votes led to the unhapp
b sectional division of the Methodist Eplscops
ii Church. The Southern Methodists said, Method
r ism South could not exist under such vote, an
e that if they attempted to exist under it, the
should not only be put down. but that it shut thel
out from all preaching to or teaching of the Metf
Il odst slaves of whom there million undt
e their pastoral care. The Northern Methods
then, as it seems to us, but of this there is di
e pute, agreed to the separation of the Church in
o two sectional divisions. A plan of division was
% greed upon, (too long to copy) and adopted, OF
s. item in which a recommendation to all Il
! annual conferences (two-thirds vong) to give Il
at Southern Church fair share of the Book Coz
> Eeern." The annual conferences took vote {
lie that, but, though large majority voted aye the