The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-14

aathcrize 4 change OF tbs feltrietivs article d
the fundamental law IL the church, which w
shall have occasion TO examine with some partic
ulArty In another branch vi this case, and which
prohibited the general conference from appro
pssting the produce of the Book Concern to any
other purpose than for the benefit of the travel
ing. supesnumerary aud worn-out preachers
their widows and orphans, without the concur.
renee Of the annual conferences.
The change recommended was to add to the
clause of Limitation, and to such other purpose
as may be determined upon by vote Of two.
thirds of the members of the general confer
ence"
The object of recommending this change, was
to enable the general conference to proceed III
once, and make an equitable division of the pro-
perry and effects belonging to the Methodist
Episcopal Church, as then organized, between
the two separate organizations, which had been
authorized in the preceding resolutions. For
this purpose, the next resolution provided that
as soon as the annual conferences shall have
concnrred in the recommendation, the agents ut
New York and Cincinnati were directed to de-
liver over to the agent Of the Church South, all
notes, &c, against the minister's members, or
citizens within its boundaries, for the sole use
Of said church and, also, to convey to such
=
nected with the printing establishments at
Charleston, Richmond, and Nashville, which
then belonged to the church and in the one fol-
lowing, that there should be transferred to the
said agent 80 much of the capital aud produce
of the Methodist Book Concern as would with
the property and effects before mentioned, bear
the same proportion to the whole property of
the said concern, that the travelling preachers in
the Southern Church bore to all the travelling
preachers of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The terms and mode of payment were then
prescribed, and commissioners appointed to meet
COMM sioners to be appointed by the Southern
organization, to estimate and fix the amount
that might fall due them according to the pre-
ceediug arrangement. And, in winding up, the
bishops are requested to lay that part of the re-
port (resolutions) requiring the action Of the
annual conferences before them as soon as pos
sbe
Now it will be seen from this analysis of the
plan of separation, that the only condition or
contingency upon which an absolute division of
the church organization was made to depend,
was the action of the several annual confer
ences in the slaveholding States. If these
should find it necessary to unite in favor Of
distinct organization, by the very terms of the
plan the separation was to take place according
to the boundary designated 1t was left to them
to judge of the necessity and their judgment
is made final in the matter. And when the de-
clsion is made, and the church divided into two
separate bodies, it is declared that ministers Of
every grade and Office in the Methodist Episco-
pal Church may, as they prefer, remain in that
church, or, without blame, attach themselves to
the Church South.
The whole plan of separation confirms this
view. AS soon as the separation takes place in
accordance with the first resolution, all the prop
erty, IN meetlng-houses, parsonages, colleges,
schools, conference funds, and cemeteries, with
in the limits OF the Southern organization is de.
clared to be free from any claim on the port of
the Northern Church The general and com
mon property such as notes and other obliQa-
tons, together with the property and effects be-
longing to tho printing esta blishments at
Charleston, Richmond, and Nashville, and the
capital and produce of the Book Concern at
New York, was referred for future adjustment
This was necessary, on account of the restrict
i've article upon the power of the general con-
ference, in respect to the produce of the Book
Concern,and of the charter fund.- Some delay was
necessary to procure that authority from the an
nual conferences. But one mode Of the adjust.
ment was settled, depending only upon the &C.
ton ofthe conferences in respect to the authority
in the Southern Church, together with the sew.
eral printing establishments situated within its
limits, were to be transferred to that Church
and also so much of the captical and pro-
duce of the Book Concern, which, together with
the aforesaid property, would bear the same pro-
portion to the whole interest in that concern, as
the travelling preachers in the Southern Church
bear to all the travelling preachers of the Meth |
odist Episcopal Church. This perfected the
adjustment of the common property between
the two organizations.
1t will be seen, looking back to the plan of
separation, that the only contingencies, or condi
tons subsequent, to be found in it, are two
First, the separate organization was to depend
upon the action of the annual conferences in the
slavebolding States and second, the division of
this latter portion of the common property of
the Church, upon the action of all the annual |
conferences in respect to the change of the re-
strctive article. When the annual conferences
in the slavehoding States acted, and organi-
zed Southern Church, az they did, the divi- |
sion of the Methodist Episcopal Church into
two organizations became complete. And so
would the adjustment Of the common property
between them, il the assent of all the annual |
conferences had been given to the change of the |
restrictive article The failure to give that has
iei' WIS part oi TIE pan open, the only cOnse- |
quence of which is, to deprive the Southern d. |
vision of its share of the property dependent
upon this assent, and to leave it to get along as
it best may, unless right to recover its position
legally results from the authorized division into |
two separate organizations.
The argument against this view is, that the |
separation was to take place, not only in the |
event Of the concurrence of the Southern con- |
ferences, but also upon the assent of all the an
nual conferences to change the restrictive article. |
And the preamble TO the plan of separation was
referred to as countenancing this Instruction.
we think otherwise. On the contrary, in our
Judgment, it confirms the view above taken
That preamble reciies that declaration haa
been presented to the general conference with !
the signatures of ffty.one delegates Of that body |
from thirteen annual conferences In the slave
holding States, representing that for various
reasons enumerated, the objects ard purposes
of the Christian ministers and church organiza-
ton cannot be successfully accomplished by |
them, under the jurisdiction of the general con. !
ference, as then constituted; and that in the
event of separation, contingency to which |