The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-11-13

ness over these lands" Al they might have con-
structed any number Of separate and distinct or.
effort in the ful6lment of this mission, accordingly
as it might seem to them best, 80 was it equally in
their power at any subsequent period OF their abors
| The power remained unchanged
The only argument urged against tins view Is tne
unity Of the first organization Of the church In l7Si
which, supposed, evinced design that It should
be co extensive with the territorial limits OF the
United States, neither more or less; and to remain
and continue united church within these limits
In the exercise Of its jurisdiction spiritual and tenn
poral, and further, that If power exists IN any
General Conference to break up this org snization
and polity Of the chui CHI originally designed and
established, it belongs to an extraordinary General
Conference assembled especially for the purpose;
and not to one assembled in the ordinary way for
the discharge Of it administrative duties as
the chief legislative body of the church, and the
history, ecclesiastical judicatories, practice and
usages OF the church from its origin ably and
extensively reviewed and examined, on the argu-
ment, t0r the purpose OF sustaining these several
positions.
But the obvious answer 10 them is, that the ar.
gumert overlooks the source aud fountain Of the
power belonging TO the General Conference. We
must look to these, and no to the exercise Of
power in the administration of the government,
when seeking to measure its depth and extent
Where is the limit! and who has prescribed it!
The travelling preachers, assembled in General
CONF renee, embody, in themselves, the sovereign
power; and we have nowhere seen their consent 10
any limitation or restriction, till we come down-in
Of 1903.
We must have soma evidence that they have
parted with portion of their sovereign power, that
confessedy belonged to them at the first organiza.
ton, since that period and, that they assembled
la the subsequent conferences, subject to the dsab
liy, before their powers can be distinguished from
those orig q LILY possessed We have not been re-
ferred to any such evidence, nor have or own re-
searches discovered any, do we believe there are
any recorded acts or declarations of this bodyt to
the effect claimed. When jurisdiction and au.
thority, spiri0al and temporal, in each General
Conference from that Of 1854 down to 1905 inclu-
sive, were the same, unlimited aud unrestricted,
possessing all the power which since the latter
period has belonged u the General and Annual
Conferences co nbined, under the new organization,
this he ,essary 80, as all the power and author
ity possessed by the Annual Conferences have been
conferred upon them from time to time, by the Ge-
neral Conference.
The argument that this body, previous to 1903,
did not possess the competency to rsorganize and
reconstruct the government of the church, as they
might think best for the great objects Of its mis-
s0n the Length of that to the
Conferences since that period. And, that there is
something in this association and system Of polty,
differing SO radically from all Others, of which We
have any knowledge, that, even the constituent and
representative, although comb ming every element of
power appertaining TO the government, can neither
change or modify it. For the argument comes
down to this Wecannot thinkit necessary to pursue
this branch OF the case any further.
AS 1t respects the powers of the General Comic
renee since the notifications of $685. is the same
as previously existed, subject to the six restrictive
articles; and neither Of them has any cOnnexion
with or bearing upon the question we have been
considering. They relate to the doctrine of the
Church, its representation in the General Confe-
renee, the Episcopacy, discipline Of preachers and
members, the Book Concern, and Charter Fund.
These concern the exercise Of the administrative
powers Of the Conference, and are intended rs lim
tatons upon them, unless concurred in by the
Annual Conferences.
The povers confarred unon tina Ganarol Con-
ference are broad and unlimited, subject only to
these checks in regulating the doctrine and dissi
pline and property of the church. In al other
respects and in everything else that concerns it, the
body still represents the sovereign power the same
as before.
The practice of the General Conference, since the
change in ls0S. confirms this view. The con-
necton Of the Annual Upper Canada Conference
with the Methodist Episcopal Church was dissolved
in 1925 and that body authorized to erect itself into
an independt ecclesiastical establishment.
The force Of this precedent has been attempted to
be weakened upon the allegs alton that this connec
tion differed from that Of the Annual Conferences
within the United States and that it rested upon
sort Of compact between that Conference and this
church, and, therefore, held different relation to
it. But, on looking into the history and disc plne
Of the church, this will be found TO be misappre-
hension Of that relation and that the Canada Con-
ference was brought within its folds in the same
| way as those lying upon the frontier settlement
| within the United States.
1t will be found that as early as 1904 the Upper
Canada districts were included in the New York
Annual Conference, and continued part of ID,
| the same other districts, till 1872, when these
districts, and also the Lower Canada districts
irclrdsd within GeDesee Conference. In lSl6, the
| Lower Canada districts were embraced within the
| New York and New England Conference In $50,
| both Upper and Lower Canada were again in
cluded IL one Genesee Conference an in the same
| year. the Bishops were authorized, with the con-
cuIrence Of this Conference, to establish Annual
! Conference in Canada and in 1924 the Canada
| Conference included the whole of the Upper Tro-
vince and thus it stood in ISIS, when erected into
| an independent establishment.
We have seen nothing in the history, discipline,
or practice of the church. restricting its organlza
ton or Christian labors to the territorial limits Of
the United States but much to show that both have
been steadily devoted to the accom- plhment Of the
high and holy missioH avowed in founding the
| church, namely, "to reform the continent, aud TO
spread scrip,ural holiness over these lands"
as early ms $50, the republic Of Texas was in
| corporat,d into its bosom, and an Annual Confer
| ence established And we doubt not but that as
the principles Of civil liberty and religious tolera-
| tcn work their way in the Advancement Of civza-
| ton, over regions hitherto impenetrable to the
missionary, unless Of particular faith, this great
| work Of organization and Christian labor will be
carried on regardless Of territorial boundaries or
! forms OF secular government.
In referring to the practice Of the church, we
must not overlook the action Of the General Con-
ference Of 1874 in the instance now before US. The
vote upon the FIRST resolution stood one hundred and
forty seven to twenty-five, in body representing
than four thousand travelling preachers in this
communion and, among whom, il Is fair to sup
pose, were included men Of the greatest experience
and knowledge IN the administration Of the po,ty
OF the church. Indeed, on looking into the report
Of the debates Of this session. and into the discus
| sions upon the report of the committee The dvi-
sion Of the church, and especially upon the all alb
sorbing subjects that led to its necessity, no one
can fail to be impressed with the eminent ability
and intelligence Of the leading members OF that
body; nor for a moment doubt but that they were
profoundly skilled in all the history, practices and
ges Of The church government, spiritual and tenn
poTal, and in the nature and extent Of their own
powers rs the highest judicature belonging to it.
As il respects the action of this body ia the mat
to- Of divsion, can pretend but that II pro-
ceeded upon the assumption Of unquestioned power
&c erect the church into two separate ccclcsiastc
est sblishments The only DOUBT entertained or ex-
pressed in the plan Of separation, related 10 the d.
vision OF the common property, ca account Of the
sixth restrictive article which have -ded all
nnt In ir In