The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-26

the church, ard aiso upon conviction Of such
charge, after due form Of trial To those who
are not familiar with the Methodist economy,
this might seem plausible But it il, in reality,
an attempt 10 except from the action Of gene
raj system, those who, least of all, ought TO be
excepted. The cardinal feature Of our polity is
the iiinerancy.
ITO sustain this system, it is essential that
re classes should receive the leaders that are
appointed by the preacher, that the societies
should receive the preachers that are stationed
over them by the bishops, that the annual con-
ference should receive the bishops that are sent
to them by the general conference. Will the
Methodist church sanction the doctrine, that
while all its other officers, of whatever name or
degree, are subjected to sleeplsss supervision (;
are codnselled, admonished, or changed, as me-
cessity may require, and as the discipline d.
icits;' a bishop, who decides all que tions Of
law in annual conferences; who, Of his mere
motion and will, controls the work and the des-
tiny of four thousand ministers; who appoints
and changes at pleasure the spiritual guides Of
four millions Of souls that the depository Of
these vast powers, whose slightest indiscretions
or omissions are likely to disturb the harmony,
and even impair the efficiency, of our mighty
system of operations, enjoys virtual impunity
for all delinquencies or misdoings not strictly
criminal!
+" 1t is believed that mn attempt to establish
such an episcopal supremacy would fill not only
part, bui the whole Of the church, with alarm
aid dsmay' But this doctrine is NOT more at
variance with the genius of Methodism, than it
is with the express language Of the discipline,
and the exposition OF it by all our standard
writer's. The constitution Of the church pro-
vides that the general conference shall have
full powers to make rules and regulations for
our church, under six limitations and restric-
tions; among which the only one relating t.
the epscopacy is this - They shall not change
or alter any part or rule of our government, 80
as to do away epscopacy, or destroy the plan
of our itinerant general superintendency! AS
there is nothing in the restrictive rules to limit
the full powers of the general conference in the
premises, so is there nothing in the special pro-
vision respecting the responsibility of a bishop.
In reply to the question, 10 whom is bishop
amenable for his conduct 2 the discipline de-
clares, to the general conference, who have
power to expel him for improper conduct, if they
see it necessary And this, be it remembered
is all that is said respecting the jurisdiction over
a bishop, with the exception OF rule for his
trial, in the interval of general conference, if
he be guilty of immortality. In full accordance
with the plain meaning of these provisions, is
the language of all the standard writers on
Methodist polity.
"Bishop Emory-a man Of whom it is no in
justice to the living or the dead to say, that he
was a chief ornament and light of our episcOpacy;
that he brought to the investia alton of all &C.
clesiastica subjects COOL sagacious, powerful,
f..ll H.
we have assumed in behalf of the powers of the
general conference over the bishops of our
church. He gives an unqualified assent to the
following passages from the notes to the disci
pline, prepared by Bishops Asbury and Coke, ut
the request of the general conference They
(our bishops) are entirely dependent on the
general conference:' their power, their useful
ness, themselves, are entirely at the mercy of
the general conference
"The propos ton for peaceful separation
Gf any must take pace,) with which the pro-
test closes, though strangely at variance with
much that precedes, has already been met by The
general conference. And the readiness with
which that body (by vote which would doubt
less have been unanimous but for the belief
which some entertained of the unconstitution-
atty of the measure) granted all that the
such an event, must forever stand as practical
refutation Of any assertion that the minority
have been subjected to the tyranny of Q majority
Finally, we cannot but hope that the mi
nority, after reviewing the entire action of the
conference, will find that, both in their declara
ton and their protest, they have taken too
strong view of the case; and that by pre-
senting it in its true light before their people,
they may be able to check any feelings of dis
cord that may have arisenSso that the Methodist
Episcopal church may still continue AS one body,
engaged in its proper work of spreading
Scriptural holiness over these lands.'"
Mr.. Lord then gave the dates Of various
documents for the information of the court and
proceeded to read the communication of Bishop
Soule to the general conference from page 1913
to l25. He also read from page 1876 to 1871,
from which we extract the following resolutions
of the select committee of nine appointed to re-
port on the declaration Of the delegates from the
conferences of the saveholding States:
!. That, should the annual conferences in the
slavehoIding States find il necessary to unite in
distinct ecclesiastical connection, the follow ing
rule shall be observed with regard to the north
ern boundary of such connection All the
societies, stations and conferences adhering to
the church in the South, by a vote of a majority
of the members Of the said societies. stations
and conferences, shall remain under the unmo-
Tested pastoral care of the Southern church ;
and the ministers of the Methodist Episcopal
church shall in no wise attempt to organize
churches or societies within the limits of the
church South, nor shall they attempt to exer.
else any pastoral oversight therein; it being
understood that the ministry of the South re-
ciprocally observe the sane rule in relation
TO stations, societies, and conferences adher-
ing, by vote Of majority, to the Methodist
Episcopal church; provided, also that Thu
rule shall apply only to societies, stations and
conferences bordering on the line of division
and not to interior charges, which shall in all
cases be left to the care of that church within
whose territory they are situated.
2. That ministers, local and travelling of
every grade and Office in the Methodist Epis-
copal church may, as they prefer, remain in
that church, or, without blame, attach them
selves to the church South.
8. RESOLVED, by the delegates of all the IN
nua conferences in general conferences assem-
bled, that we recommended to all the annual
conferences at their first approaching sessions.
,ho ,ft ho OIL