The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-14
From the Nep York Times.
LEGAL DECISION.
The Methodist Episcopal Church.
THE CHURCH NORTH AND SOUTH,
nu rr1nrE MINI COM

/ lhE IhOhCh NOhlh AMI ooOlh,
DECISION OF JUDGE NELSON.
| In the United Staets circuit court on Tuesday
Judge NELSON pronounced the following able
and interesting decision in the case of Henri,
b. Bascom and others vs.. George Lane ana
others, in Equity
| The complainants state in their bill, that be-
fore and on the eighth day of June, l84s, there
existed in the United States of America, vol
untary association known as the Methodist
Episcopal Church, not incorporated, but CON-
posed of seven bishops, four Thousand eight
hundred and twenty eight preachers belonging to
the travelling connection and, in bishops, min
listers and membership, about one million one
hundred and nine thousand nine hundred and
sixty, then being in the United States and terri
tories thereof, united and holden together in one
organized body, by certain doctrines of faith and
morals, and by certain rules Of government and
discipline That the general government of this
church was vested in one body called the Gen.
eral Conference, and in certain subordinate bod
les called Annual Conferences, and in bishops,
travelling ministers, and preaC hers and that the
constitution, organization form of government,
and rules of discipline, as well as the articles Of
religion and doctrines of the church, were of
general notoriety; but, for the more particular
information Of the court, reference is made to n
printed volume entitled "The Doctrines and
Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church !"
and the compliments allege that differences and
disagreements having sprung up between what
was called the Northern and Southern members,
in respect to the administration of the church
government concerning the ownership of slaves
by the ministry of the church, of such a charac-
ter and attended with such consequences, az
threatened fearfuly to impair the usefulness of
the church, well ns permanently to disturb its
harmony ; and, that il became question of grave
and serious importance whether separation
ought not te take place by some geographical
boundary, 40 that the church should thereafter
constitute two separate and distinct Methodist
Episcopal Churches; and, tbereupon the CON-
plainants allege that al general conference of the
church, holden according to usage and discipline,
at New York, on the eighth day of June, ls44
the following resolutions were duly adopted by
| majority of over three-fourths of the entire
body As the principal question iI the case
arises upon these resolutions, we copy them en-.
tire.
| RESOLVED, By the delegates Of the several an
nual conferences, in general conference Assem-.
bled:
l. That should the annual conferences In the
1 saveholding States find il necessary to unite in
distinct ecclesiastical connection the following
rules shall be observed with regard TO the North
ern boundary of such connections All the soce-
ties stations, and conferences, adhering to the
church in the South, by vote of majority Of
the members of said societies, stations, and con
ferenccs, shall remain under the unmoIested
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 exercise any pastoral
| overnight therein; it being understood that the
| ministry Of the South reciprocaly observe the
same rule in relation to stations, societies, and