The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-11-13
oil was composed Of the Northern bishops) and
then and there adopted unanimously the folio wing

then and there adopted unanimously the folio wing
l. Resolved That the plan reported BY the select oom
mittee nine ct the last Conference sud adopt
ed by that body in regard to distinct ecclssis scal
connection should such be found necessary BY
the conferences in the savehodng States Is re-
gardsd BY a Of binding obligation in the premises SO
far our administration is concerned
2 Resolved, That In order ascertain fairly the de-
sire and purpose Of those societies bordering the line
Of DIVISION IN regard to their adherence the Church
North or South due notice should be given of
place. and object of the meeting the above purpose
at which chairman and etary should BE- appointed
sno the sense az all the members be asceranea
and the same be forwarded to the bishop who may pre-
eide at the ensuing annual conferences; forward to
said presiding bishop written request to be recognized
and have preacher them With the names of the
majority appended thereto
And the compainants aliege and insist that by,
| Methodist Episcopal Church in the United Sta;es.
a. 1t had existed before the year 1884, became aAd
was divided into two distinct Methodist Episcopal
Churches, with distinct and independent organiza-
tions powers, and authority, composed OF the seve'
raj annual COME rences, charges stations, and socis
ties, lying being situated north and south of The
aforesaid line OF division.
And the compliments further alege, that, by
force of the foregoing proceedings the Methodist
Episcopal Church South became, and was, entitled
to its proportion of all the property, real and per-
time of the separation had belonged to the
Methodist Episcopal Church; and, that the
Church South was and Is SO entitled, without
any change or alteration OF the sixth res.ric-
and on the said eighth day of June, 1874,
the Methodist Episcopal Church owned and pos.
sessed large amount of property in various parts
of the United States, real and personal which was
in the hands Of agents and trustees; and, among
Others large interests therein belonged to the said
church-what was denominated the Book Concern,
in the .ity OF New York, consisting OF houses and
lots. machinery, printing presses, bookbindery,
books, papers, debts, cash, &c, amounting to
about the sum Of $3.50, 0O0-the whole of which
property is now in the possession Of the defendants
Lane and Scott, as book agents.
And the complainants further allege, that, after
the division OF the Methodist Episcopal Church
into two distinct churches by virtue of the reso-
buttons of the General CoAfe renee OF 1914
Of the South, as herenbefore set forth, tn
agents of the Book Concern, since the year
lSi5, have utterly refused to pay to the
annual conferences, south, or to the compla;nants
for and on behalf of them, their said just proper
ton of the profits and income OF the said
Book Concern, and that they still continue to
withhold the same. That the said General Con-
ference of the Church South, holden at Peters
burg, Virginia, in May, lSi5, in pursuance of, and
in compliance with, the plan Of separation of 1874,
proceeded to appoint the eomp!anants, Bascom
and Green, together with s. A. Latta, Commits
sioners, to meet the Com missioners appointed by
the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, Of lS44, and to settle and receive from the
said Commissioners the just proportion of the pro-
perty and effects due to the Church. South, accord
ing to the said plan of separation; and, that the
said Bascom, Green, and Latta, afterwards applied
to Nathan Bangs, George Peck, and James b Fin
ley, appointed by the General Conference of 1874,
and the said book agents. to meet them for the pur
pose Of q settlement and division Of the said pro-
perty, and have repeatedly called on them for that
purpose. But that the defendants have wholly
failed and refused to act in the premises; nor have
they been enabled to induce the said book agents,
nor Commissioners, nor Church ITSELF to pay to the
said Church, South, its proportonate share of the
said property and funds, as provided in the said
plan OF separation.
And, the complainants allege that they are mem
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church South
that Kelly and Allen are supernumerary preachers,
and Tevis superannuated preacher; and that they
belong to the travelling connection of the said
church; and, as such, have personal interest in
the estate, real and personal, now holden by the
Methodist Episcopal Church, by the defend
ants, as agents and trustees appointed by the
General Conference; that there about fifteen
hundred preachers belonging to the travelling con-
nection Of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South,
each of whom has the same personal interest in the
great number of persons thus interested in the
covery sought by the said bill, makes il iuconveni
ent if not impossible, to bring them all before the
court as complainants; that they are citizens Of
states other than the State of New ork and their
interests exceed the SUN Of $1,000; that the de-
feI dants, Lane and Scott, have the custody and
ptrol by law, and by virtue Of their appointment
as agents Of the book concern, OF all the property
and effects Of the said concern as above described
The Gem lainants further allege, that the entire
membership Of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
South is about four hundred and sixty thousand
i've hundred and ffty.three; and, that the entire
membership Of the Church, North, is about six
hundred and thirty nine thousand and sixty six
aud that it is, therefore, impossible to bring all the
parties interest before the court in this b ei.aer
as complainanis or defe ndants.
The defendants admit the adoption of the ,esolu-
tions of the General Conference Of the eighth Of
June, 1914, by majority Of over three fouIths Of
the entire body; but allege that the aid resolutions
we're, in respect TO their operation and effect, pro
vsional and contingent, and were intended TO meet
a future emergency, that II was supposed might
arise in the church, between the northern and
southern MEMBER; and further, that the said reso
lutions, called the plan of separation, not duly
or legally passed; and that the General Conference
had no competent power or authority TO pass or
adopt the same, except that portion comprising
the recomme ndation to the annual conferences to
change the sixth restrictive rules and, that the last
named resolutions, when adopted, were null and
void, and without any binding force, except as a
matter Of recommendation, The defendants fur
tber insist that even had the socsled plan Of sopa
ration been constitutional and valid, IL merely pro.
vided for prospective plan, which, without the
happening Of certain future conditions, or on the
failure Of which conditions either Of them, could
not, by its express terms, was il ever intended
70 have, any force or validity, and null and void
And that the same never ratified by the annual
conferences named thereiRj and that the Southern
annual conferences have, in all respects TO the
Church South, acted on their own responsibility,
without any authority from the General Conference
e 1874.
ne CeIenaants aunt the IcsOiubions SET
forth in the complainant bill adopted by the
convention of dele gates from the annu al conferences
in the slaveholdng Sta,ss, assembled at Louisville
Kentucky, on the first Of May, lsi5; but they deny
that the delegates comprising said convention
elected on the basis, according TO the authority
Of the provisional plan Of separation Of 1874 And
they insist that the Methodist Episcopal Church,
South, exists a. n separate ecclesiastical commun-
ion, by the actions aud doiBgs of the individual
bishops, ministers, and members attached to such
church, proceeding in the premises on their own
responsibility; and that such bishops, ministers and
members have Voluntarily Withdrawn themselves
from the Methodist Episcopal Church, and have re-
bounced all their rights and privileges in the com
munion and under her government.
The defendants further admit that the council Of
bishops ot the Neil odist Episcopal Church, called
TIE northern bishops in complaiusnts' hill met and
adopted the res, lu'ions therein stated They deny
that this church il existed before the year 1871,
or as 1t At any time existed was lawfully divided