The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-22

From the .hsc York Hsraia.
The Great Methodist Case.
UNITED STATES CIRCUIT COURT
The Hon. Judges Nelson and Belts presiding
Highly importsms Cass---shs Methodist Episcopal
Church, North and Scuh.
May I9.--Henry Il. Bascom and others u.s.
George Lane and others.--This case, which has
created great deal of interest and excitement
came on for argument to-day, before the court,
without a Jury II was suit brought by the
Methodist Episcopal Church South against the
Methodist Episcopal Church North, (Which were
formerly incorporated in one body, known as
the Methodist Episcopal Church Of the United
States of American and was for share In the
funds of the book concern, said to amount 10
nearly S750OOO. Counsel for the South, Hon.
Reverdy Johnson. of Baltimore; Mr.. ID. Lord, OF
New York, and Mr.. Johnson, jr. For the North,
| Hon. Rufus Choate, of Massachusetts; Mr.. Geo.
Wood, of New York, and Mr.. +. L. Fancher of
New York The Hon. Mr.. Ewing, as counsel
for the defendants, In a co-rclative case pending
in Ohio, was also present TO watch the proceed
ings. Mr.. Lord said that, in opening case OF
this magnitude and Importance, serving the
court as it's servant, he deemed it necessary to
60 more into detail than he should in cases OF
an ordinary controversy. The subject OF this
controversy, between the Methodist Episcopal
Church South and the Methodist Episcopal
| Church North, is what il den0minated the book
concern, which involves sum of about $780,
OOO--the origin of which appeared TO be that, at
the early establishment of the church, when Me-
thodism was first introduced into this country,
under Mr. Wesley, books were introduced to
supply the wants fits members. Upon the In
dependence of this country, the Methodists be-
came very numerous, and it was very obvious
that a want of religious literature was to be
supplied. A preacher, he thought. named Coo
per, lent sum of money for the purchase OF
books by them small crptal was made, and il
was subsequently employed in the purchase OF
more books.
The Book concern was afterwards removed
into this city, and, in 1886, it was becoming a
great establishment, when it was destroyed by
| fire; bot it was again re-inyigorated. as every
thing seemed to have been after that FIRE, and
from that period it has gone on until it has
anassed a capital of $750000. 1t was early pro-
vided that ihe preachers should see that their
communities were supplied with books; they
| took the books, supplied them, and were an
swerabe for them. All preachers were agents,
carving out this obiec stimulated not by the
love of gain, but by the higher purpose of reli-
gious devotion, and the court would find that
this fund was the result Of the religious devo-
ton and earnings of those preachers, and not
arising from any donations. The profits OF the
fund were devoted at an early period to one pur-
pose, and that was, making up the deficiencies
of the travelling preachers, paying for supernu-
merary preachers, and providing for superannu-
ated and worn out preachers and their wives,
and the widows and orphans of deceased preach
ers. That, therefore, was the distribution OF the
profits of the book fund.- and they were brought
to the relief of those purposes of the society
The concerns Of the Method st Episcopal church
were managed by what are called annual and
general conferences. The extent of the terri
tory then was not very great, and there were
but seven annual conferences, at which all the
preachers met and disposed of the concerns OF
the society. Originally there was but one con-
ference. In 1884 the body became so numerous
that the conferences were divided-one in New
York and one in Philadelphia-so, as they in
creased they were divided, until in 1874 there
were thirty-two or thirty three annual conference
They examined the character of the preachers
and the working of the system. Collections
were taken up in the various churches-the peo-
pie were poor in many of the districts, and def
kxiepcies arose-tbe deficiencies were reported al
the annual conference, and were made up. Every
| four wears these annual conferences met in q
general conference usually in the month OF
MAY, and that was the Legislative body Of the
church. Every time the general conference met
all the preachers were together--they established
the articles of religion, they made all the changes
necessary, and every year when they separated
they made new discipline. and it became the
law of the church as to its discipline and organ
ization. From 1884 up to 1903, the body be-
care 80 numerous and its powers so absolute
that the more conservative men in it became Q
little alarmed at its extent, and 1t was consid
cred dangerous in the extent of its powers.
In 1908 a change was made in the genera
organization. Instead of being universal
meeting, it was to be n meeting by delegation
That change in its restrictions also provided
against the absolute power which the body pos
sessed. One of those restrictions was that they
should not change the articles of religion
Another of the restrictions was that they should
not make any change so as not to have the
church Episcopal--they should not change the
degree of delegation-that they should moi
change the rules of the united socetes-tha
they should not make change with regard &c
the trial of members and preachers and the sixth
was, that they should never apply the profits o
the book concern to any other purpose than TO
the benefit Of travelling, supcrnumerary, super
, animated and worn out preachers, their wives
widows and children; and there was one pro
vision overriding the whole, that without thu
! general vote of the church in its primary assem-
bly. these restrictions should not be changed
The particular controversy, in this case, grew
out of the existence of slavery. Very early il
the history of this church, the Methodsts tool
grounds of mn exclusive character on the ques
tons Of slavery and temperance One of thos
grounds was that no member should belong T.
this society who bought men or women with
view Of reducing them to slavery; but yer
soon it was evident that the society viewed it I
larger aspect A conference began in Boston
in 1884, at which was adopted an article com
polling the abolition Of slavery and the manu-
mission Of slaves, which became so obviousl
destructive of this society, that, at the hrs
+ meeting of the annual conference, they n
agreed that this article should be suspended.
, About 1896, the agitation which has bee
, called abolition began to disturb the peace Q
the Methodist church. In 1910, conference q
/ Boston gave very general alarm; but tn
| bishona rava IL ratber tho 90 hv In 1874. thi