Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-23
From the New York Commercial Advertiser.

The United States circuit courtroom tronged
early hour this morning. with DESTROYS of hearing the
argument in the controversy between the Methodist Epsco
pal Church North and the Methodist Episcopal Church
South Among them noticed several cegymen OF vari.
denominations and the gallery occupied by num-
Der of ladies' Judges Nelson and Belts took their
the bench o'clock and the counsel for the pur,ies
made their appearance the bar Southern clergy
Rev. Drs Early, Pierce Smith; Northern clergy present
Rev. Drs. Scott, Durbin Peck, Kennedy.
The title OF the is Henry r. Bascom and others
George Lane and Others and the complaint filed in equity
Methodist Book Concern. The Hon. Reverdy Johnson of
Baltimore and Daniel D. Lord Esq., of this city, appeared
for the companant-Mr Webster, who is also engaged
Hon. Rufus Choate of Massachusetts, and George Wood
Esq., Of this city. Hon. Thomas Ewing also present
he being counsel for defendants in similar suit against
branch Methodist Book concern Of Cincinnati.
Daniel Lord opened the with brief detail Of Tho
general acts and circumstances of the The sublec
of this controversy is what is denominated The Book
Concern 10 the city of New York, the funds of which
amount S750000. In the early history of the Methods
denomination the press was rcsored to by Mr. Wesley FOL
the purpose OF disseminating religious literature.
The nucleus of the establishment in this country was r
Philadelphia, whence it after removed to New
York II became ultimately concern of great magnitude
In 1886 their building burned down. but it
rebuilt and the Concern gradually increased in its operations
until il reached its present large extent The profits of h
fund were devoted to making up provision for superann
aed preachers the widows and orphans OF deceased minis
tiers, &c
The affairs Of this denomination governed by what
called annual conferences and general conference In u.s.
there was but annual conference but afterwards and TO
long period of time there The conferences
consisted Of all preachers who travelled" particular
circuit In lS4 there 90 80 annual conferences
The general system of the Methodist clergy is 10 neae
from church to another Many of these unable
pay their ministers, and the conferences provided for them
far they could When the conferences were TOO poor
to provide for hem deficiency of occurred i,
was to supply this deficiency in part that the surplus funds
OF the Book Concern were appropriated In 1908 the pow
Of the general conference became so absolute that the
conservative members Of the denomination began
fear that would be dangerous it might even alter the
church.
organization providing that it should be composed Of dele
gates instead Of all the preachers and number of estrc
tons were imposed.
Among other things, they restricted from divernl
surplus funds of the Book Concern any other purpose
than the support of superaunuated preachers, &c.
great question will arise in this the effect
this restrictive rule grew out of the subject Of slavery
The Methodist denomination at early period took hgl
ground temperance and slavery. They excluded from
membership any who Dough, and sold human beings
for the purpose of ensavng hem and these provisions
found 10 be upractcablc that they rescnded
next general conference and the matter left the leg
islaon of the various States in which their members resided
About the year 1886 the agitation of abolition began very
seriously 10 disturb the Methodist church.
The bishops and the conservative clergy endeavored
soothc the agitation But in 1874 the became c
cal and decisive and state of things then occurred which
necessarily led separation of this church into two parts
minister named Harding had complained of rs pos
sessng slaves and the Baltimore conference suspended him
although was impossible for him to nanum them under
the laws OF Maryland He appealed the general confer
ence and that body confirmed the suspension Another
difficulty occurred in the Of Bishop Andrews in Geo
for him manumt The abolition spirit was up however
and it was determined TO attack him.
Without trying him. they passed resolution that he should
suspend bis Episcopal functions until he manumed his
slaves.
These things convinced the southern members of the
church that it was Improbable for them
ion with their northern brethren. They presented docu
the general conference of lS4I protesting against
the action taken in the of Bishop Andrews and the
Rev. Mr. Harding and declaring that it was persisted
in the Methodist Society in the South would be extinct
Sixteen southern conferences elected delegates 10 confer
of the Methodist Church, South held Louisville in
lS45 and they resolved to organize themselves into church
independent of the North They appointed commissioners
commissioners of the Church North and arrange
plan of separation But the northern BODY had in The
time been overaken by constitutional scrupes and refused
recognise the action of the Louisville conference now
standing it had been held at their own suggestion.
The Louisville conference adopted the whole creed and
cipne of the Methodist Church. it had existed in this
country since 1884, and did change single doctrine
The southern claimants their share of the profits of the
Book Concern are therefore, jus, orthodox they ever
WERE and just much entitled TO their proportion in the
fund which has accumulated by the joint excrlons
their fathers and husbands.
Johnson IA Of the Hon. Rererdy johnson, bcieve)
read portion Of the answer, aud Mr.. f: L. Fanchcr
cluded The reading of the The reading Of the appcu
ton dispensed with.
Mr.. Lord here stated that Bishop Bascom having died
since the bringing of the suit he had obtained
from the defendants to substitute the of the Rev. vii.
liam A. Smith of the plaintiffs, and order Of the
court making such substitution was accordingly made.
Mr. Lord commenced his argument by stating tina, Emo
rvs History The Book of Discipline the printed Journals OF
the conference prior lS4s the manuscript journals Of the
conferences prior ls40 and other documents be
He then read extracts from the Book of Discipline
s40 page 1873; Dr. Emoys History under the year $780,
the Articles of Religion the Six Restrictive Articles Wes-
ey's Dr. Cooke Mr. Francis Asbury, and the breh-
of North America &C., and had not finished reading the
authorities upon which his argument is 10 be founded when
we left.
The New York Express of the complaint and answer
IN this case above referred TO:
ne complaint states that the church is voluntary insti-
luton and unincopoated II consists Of bishops 1928
in bishops ministers and members under the
In the United States $780, or these about
belong to the North and 465 900 the Church South
The answer denies that there was anv necessity for dvi