Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-11-18


s. The ns .: tie Southern organization is tec"!ed to
tree IRON any clain the part of the Northern Church
OF me general and property such notes and "he
s. obligations together with the property and e-cis hrl0ngG
IL 10 The printing establishments Chargstnn Richmond an
Nashville and the capital and produce OF the Book Concrr
- at New York, referred tor future adjustment ll
n was account or the restrictive fucla upon u
81 wnr n the General Conference respect tho Produc
"i The Book Concern and Of the Cnrt.r Fund Some de
y was Necessary To procure that authority o Inc Anu,
Conerencrs hut mode of the adjustment was settled
drprnaiaI only upon The action OF the Conferences in re
ID cct 10 the authority The notes and book debts agalns
persons within tie Southern Church. together with te
ea printing establishments situated within its limits wer
10 be transferred 10 that Church; and also much OF tn
Capital and produce of the Book Concern which, together
with tie aforesaid property would bear the proportion
10 Inc whole interest in that concern, the travelling
preachers lnhe Southern Church bear all the travelling
preachers "l the Methodist Episcopal Church. This per
'tced the adjustment of The property between tic
2 two organiZuons
1t w be seen looking back to the plan of separation tina
the only contingencies conditions subsequent to be found
in IT, are two First the organization de-
pend upon Inc action OF The annual conferences in the slave
ho.ing States and second the division OF this latter
on OF the common property Of the Church. upon the ac!ion
OF all the annua conferences in respect the change Of
saveh0ding States acted and oganizcda Southern church.
they did, the division OF the Methodist Episcopal Church
into organizations became complete And 80 would the
adjustment OF the common property between thta II te
all the annual conferences had been given to the
change nf the restrictive article The failure 10 give that
has i s part o tho plan open, The only consequence OF
which deprive the Southern division of is share OF the
property dependent upon this assent and leave 10 get along
IA il best may unless right recover its poaition legally
results from the authorized division into Two separate organ
E iSIons.
The argument ngans this view is, that the separation was
tSr place. nut only in the event Of the concurrence o.
Tie Southern conferences but also upon the assent OF u
the aanul conferences to change the restrictive article
AMI le prcam5a 10 The plan OF separation was referred 10
Ms cyunenlncing This construction We thnH otherwise
On the contrary? II our Judgment confirms INC VIC" ABOVE
taken
Iha preamble reccs that declaration had been present;
ed 10 tho Ci.nere Conference with the signatures OF hy-
OF
in the savehodrg States representing that tor varons
enumcrared tic objects ard purpr7rs "i the Ih:s
tim ministers and church organlz caunot be SUCCESS
nilr ACCOMPLISHED by tncm the jurisdiction OF the
General Conference then constituted; and that in the
II separation, contingency TO which the decafa-
hon asks attention. np.obn5e esteem X the duy
nj inc Ganrrl Conference In meet the emergency Win
Christian %iuGaess aud The slricest equity. Then loows
The l.n Of scpara And il leaves the strongest impress
throughout! p The conviction and spirit 80 fcengy and i'm
Irfrssirrly announced in the preamble
Ee question Of separation is left 10 the Judgment ni Aer
Southern brethren 10 the Church. whose delegates had de-
caeL necessity and provision is made io an ADJUST
and decision Of the common property which, 80 lar as
know founded upon principles Of 'he etricrst cqu
IT," the parties and then the constitutional powers
h The conference exhausted in the endearor TO carry out
!. this division.
Ii apparent from the plan Of separation, well as from
the whole course of the proceedings that il this body had
the mower or had believed that they possessed IL
make rtTsca division Of the poDerty it would have
been the time, dependent only upon the dtleTnia
Of the Sothern Conference for separate organization
rncy advanced as f supposed be in their power
ana took immediate steps TO abide the necessary authority 10
The division Of the property was not an that
tered into the consideration The Southern delegates TO de
clare for separate organization. Iney related 10 different
subject, and al much more anscenden interest !" ie
churches North and South and which during the present
had threatened rcni this and heretofore conf
pact BODY of Chrsllus in pieces. tn. as!thn growing
OF it nd reached toe highest authorities ot he Church
M! had brought III conflict It's cie uact"afcS ana aoS
mer RS md respect which orinuGs were entertained
ans. expressed, deep and rreconcilabe
the ugmen of large portion oi Tie hody separation
,hr
luwsp aud tu!ness Of The Church. The division n me
property bu, consequence OF tepirauon suoo!enae
! ami Dt comparative irsanlctnce.
Instead decision Of The Church depending upon thr
decision of the property the very reverse Is Tue re-
i suit %! the construction Of The plan Of separation
IL As the power OF the General Conference 10 authorize
separation ut the Church organization.
. The M:.o:st EpsrDpnl Church OF the unltrd Sstes was
b.is:rd s government! doctrine, nnn 1iScfIe oy
General Conference of The travelling PREACHERS IN '!s com
i; lnIn in 1854 Down 10 that lime the aleiod!sl S"ce'es
in been governed by John Wesley the ionnieF
n nj mis- .cnomnnn Of Christians, hTonEh HE agency OF
IF his ssi>;an,s During this year the eE'c aoc!;e,;
, wl TAX, in the hands tho travelling preachers with his
and They organized IL established lis
tmtrins and discipline, appointed lhe several an'oies-
spentcnen bishops. ministers and preachers 10 aamn-
is Hpt2 and pomulgate its doctrines and teaching
trounhor: land. From that time u tns the source and
fountain all its temporal are 'he travelling preachers
IN this conarct ton General Conference assembled The
lay of the church have no part or connection win
is governmental organzaon and never mad iae ffa'sl-
ling preachers comprise the embodiment o s po"ef ecce
slascal and cmpora and when assembled IN General !"-
ference according 10 and discipline nt the church.
represent themselves snd have constituents ana thus
the ,az,t1n continued unit: the year lSU5 when odl'
l., icariun took place. ,
Al the General Conference of that year. composed Of all
travelling preachers, reaolvrd to have thereafter
l. Delegated Conference 10 be cninposoc o one OF every hVe
i c,ncs OF each Annual Conference These Annual Con
d rencrs composed exclusively Of travelling preachers
The ratio u representation has been altered from time 10
me hs in 1884, the Annual Conferences wee reprcsen'
= ten by delegate for every tweny-onc members
The or the change delegated body instead Of
the assembase of the entire body of travelling preachers
ii he
h which had expanded with the settlements OF the country
the consequent multiplication OF the travelling preachers
the distance expense Of travel and the deprivation Of
the field OF their abrs for too long period OF the Chfsah
&c ordinances, and religious instruction.
The General Conference of 1903 which determined in IA
vo Of delegated body for the future nposed upon the
powers of this body limitations which, in The Ian
guage Of the proceedings of the church, arc called restrictive
articles number 1t is declared that The General Con-
shall have full powers make rules and regulations
for The church. under the following limitations and res'ric
,r lions:
" nor establish amy standards OF doctrine
vl 3 They snail not allow OF more than one representative
fourteen members OF the Annual Conference hof
h less than for every thirty.
g. They shall alter the government so rs to do away
with Episcopaces destroy the plan OF tineran supern
y tendencies.
l. They shall change the general rules of the United
Societies..
e s. They shall not deprive the ministers preachers o
rial by committee and of appeal; the members OF
Il rial before the Society or Lay Committee and appeal ,
6. They shall appropriate the produce o the BooH
CONCERN nor Of Fund any purpose other than
m benefit Of the travelling supernumerary suPcrannu,
ed and preachers their wives, widows ana cn
cn: provided thar upon the concurrent recommendation
y + tee.fourths Of all the members OF the General Annua
Conferences present and voting minority OF two'Ihds
;ac General Conferences succeeding shall suffice ate
INV of above Restrictions, except the hrst article
These comprise all the Limitations upon that body assom
o!cd by delegates.
That the General Conference composed Of all the travel
q linz preachers and who established the government doc
al ines and discipline Of the Church, proicset the power
and rrorgaze government sIascal nnt
,i,ns is question about which, think, serious doub
!r can we'll DC entertained
These travelling preachers represented the sovereign pow
of lie government and responsible 10 no earthly iFl
baQ tor nude and manner of its c1errse ley "er
W entirely exercise their and Judgment as
" what poity and organization OF the Church. =
" accomplish this great object and design ot INC masters
whose service they engaged; and which wcrc IN IN
language of their discipline, ito reform the continent
" and 10 spread scrpura holiness these lands AS e
might any number OF separate ami sumo
" org inzltions in their first ratena association and eilo
~ the iullmeut Of this mission, accordingly as Eis sen
10 10 them cct was equally in their power ~ hF suose
,l.-t. Tfl