The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-11-15
From the New York Times Nov. ls
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL oaUhCn
Tho Church north and soutf
DECISION or JUDGE NELSON.


DECISION OF JUDGE NELSON
In the United States circuit court yesterday Judge
cison in the OF ..Henry b Bascom and Others Us
George Lane and others. in equity"
The compliments in their bill that be fore and on
the 9Th day OF June, lS4s there existed IN the Uni
ted States o. America voluntary association known
the Methodist Episcopal Church. not incorpo-
rated. bat composed OF seven bishops, four thou
sand eight hundred and tweniy-eght preachers be
longing 10 the travelling connexion, and, IN bish-
ops ministers, and membership, about one million
hundred and nine thousand nine hundred and sixty
then being in the United States and Territories thereof
united and holden together in organized body by
certain doctrines Of faith and morals and by certain rules
OF government and discipline that the general govern
ment CT this church vested in body, called the
general conference and in certain subordinate bodies
called annual conferences, and IN bishops, travelling min.
sters and preachers and that the constitution ogsni
cation. form Of government, and rules Of discipline,
well the articles OF religion and doctrnes OF the church,
were OF general notoe,y; but, for the more particular
information OF the court, reference Is made 10 printed
volume entitled "The Doctrines and Discipline of the
Methodist Episcopal Church " and the compliments al
ege that differences and disageemeuis have sprung up
between what was called the northern and southern
MEMBERS in respect the administration of the cnurch
government concerning The ownership OF slaves by the
ministry OF the church. OF such character and attend
ed with such conseq threatened feartuly TO I'M
pair the usefulness OF the church, well as permanently
10 disturb lis harmony and that il became question OF
grave and serious importance whether separation ought
not to take place by some geographical boundary so ina
the church should thereafter constitute two separate and
distinct Methodist Episcopal Churches; and thereupon
the compliments alege that at general conference OF
the church, holden according usage and discipline at
New York, on the slh day OF June 1884, the following
resolutions duly adopted BY majority OF over three
fourlbs of the body. AS tho principal question in
the arises upon these resolutions copy them en-
tire:
RssoOsd BY the delegates of the several annual confer
ences, in general conference assembled;
That should the annual conferences in the saveh old
ing States find unite IN distinct ecct1sias
tca connection, the following rule shall be observed with
regard the northern boundary OF such connexion ALI the
socees stations and conferences adhering 10 the ennTch
In the South by vote OF majority OF The members oil
said societies. stations and conferences shall remain nh
der the unoesed pastoral care q he ,oaihsn church
in nowse attempt to organizs churches societies within
limits of the church South, snail they attempt
ercse pastoral oversight theren being understood
the ministry OF the South reciprocay observe the
herring by a OF a majority the Methodist Episcopal
Church; Provided also, That this rule shall apply only
DIVISION not interior charges, which shall, ali
be left TO the Of that church within whose terri
g That minister's local and travelling, every grade and
Office in the Methodist Episcopal Church may they
selves TO the church South.
g. Rsso0sdb by The delegates Of all the annual conferences 1"
annual conferences their first approaching sessions
M @ change Of the n T s ase SO tina.
the produce of the Book Concern of the chartered
fund to any purpose other than for the benefit of
travelling snpernumeIary superannnated, and
preachers their wives widows and children, and to such
other purposes may be determined upon by Of
two thirds ofthe members OF the general conference.
4. That whenever the annual conferences. by of
ourhs OF all their members voting the third
luton, shall have conquered in the recommendation TO alter
the sixth restrictive article the agents at New York and
Cincinnati shall be- and they hereby authorized and d
Ieced deliver any authorized agent appoinee
OF the church South should one be organized all notes and
book against the ministers, church, members
citizens within It's boundaries with authority 10 collect the
for the sole OF the southern church and that said
agents also convey to Aforesaid agent or apPontee oil The
South all the real estate and assign to him all the property
including presses stock and all light aud Interest connected
with the printing establishments at Charleston hchmond
and Nashville which now belong to the Methodist EPisco
pal Church.
s. That, when the annual conferences shall have APP
prove the aforesaid change 10 the sixth restrictive article
church much OF the capital and produce OF the
Methodist Book Concern will, with the notes, book
tho proportion the whole property OF said
h. the travelling preacher, in the ,SaSs shall
pal Church: the division be made the basis Of the
Tba s oovs b be n
payments OF $4,000 per annum, and specifically in stock
OF the Book Concern, and in southern and
due the establishment and sccuing after the frat transfer
mentioned above; and, until the payments are made the
soafhern church shall share all the profits OF the Book
Concern IN the proportion that the amount due them, IN
artean, bears to all the properly Of the Concern
ley be, and they hereby, appointed commissioners TO
act in with the number Of commissioners
appointed by the southern organization, tshouId one be
formed,) to estimate the amounts which will fail due
TO the South by the preceding rule and 10 have fall power
regard to the division Of property should The separation
board OF commissioners. the book committee al New York
shalt Al said vacancy.
o. whenever agents OF tho southern church
clothed with legal authority cornotare power in
the lses The agents New York hereby author.
ized and directed to act in conceI, with said southern
agents % give the provisions Of these resolutions
legally binding iosco.q - -. ..,- +. u ..s.,l
O. That properly Of the Methods Church,
IN meeting par,onagos colleges. schools, confer
ehcei1nds tenetere and Of kind within tue limits
OF the tothern organzaoh shall be forever Tree from
apv claim sci up the part OF fhe Mebodisi piscopA
Churcb lar ~ thus Iesoutioa can be o. iofeeln ihe
10 That the church formed in the South shall have
oil The copyrights IN possession oil the
Book Concerns at New York and Cincinnati at the time oil
seuc by the commissioners,
n. That the book np~nts New York be directed to
conferences South for
dividend from chartered fund the communicates
iab0vt rovded for shall agree upon ~ u = ~. Z
VsA hs The bishops be respectfully requested 10 lay That
part OF this report requiring the con OF The annual
before them possible, beginning with
the New York conference.
The conpainavNs further allege that the said general
conference bad full and competent power and authority
10 adopt the resolutions each and all OF them, and that,
the same became OF binding force and yady and that
in pursuance OF said resolutions, such proceedings were
Afterwards had in the seyeya animal conferences OF The
nssnessi ension assembled by delegates detected
the basis of the resolutions OF the general conference Of
ls44,) at Louisville. Kentucky. On the 1s day of May,
ls43. na following resolution adopted after mature
and deliberate consideration. Z. f-.@ r+'a-t
81 ts}ssf BY the delegates Of ire several aan.oi eo~f
ssf M Nshodist EViseopa rhnrch IN ms sapeAoldrg
ct1" IN Rsneraf eonptnor dsenibed, That is right, et
Poniep ana necessary tho sonnzl conferences
fssenNa lnithts a distinct
conference oil the Msthodist Episcopal Church
snt cons"ted and, accordingly we, the delegates OF nd
annual conference acting under the provisional plan of
separation adopted 10y the general oil 1914 do
aooIunlv declare the