The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-11-22

they are usually called.
The first one declares, that, should the annual
cessary to unite in distinct ecclesiastical connec-
tion the following shall be observed with regard to
the northern boundary Of such connection. All
the societies, stations and conferences adhering to
the church in the South by vote Of the majority Of
the members, shall remain under the unmolested
pastoral care of the Southern Church; and then
follows mutual stipulation that each church shall
abstain from organizing churches or societies with
in the boundaries of the other; and, also, from ex-
srcislng any pastoral overnight therein.
The second, that ministers, local and travelling,
Of every grade and office in the Methodist Episco-
pal Church, may, they prefer, remain in that
church, or without blame attach themselves to the
Church South.
The ninth resolution declares, that all the prop
erty Of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in meet
ing houses, parsonages, colleges, schools, confer
ence funds, cemeteries, and OF every kind, within
the limits of the Southern organization, shall be
free from any claim set up on the part OF the
Methodist Episcopal Church, so far as this resolu-
tion can be of force in the premises.
The third is recommendation to the Annual
Conferences, at their approaching sessions, to au-
thorize change Of the restrictive article OF the
fundamental law of the church, which we shall
have occasion to examine with some particularly
in another branch of this case, and which prohib-
tied the General Conference from appropriatng
the produce of the Book Concern to any other
purpose than for the benefit of the travelling, super
numerary, and worn-out preachers, their widows
and orphans, without the concurrence Of the An
nual Conferences
The change recommended was to add to the
clause Of Limitation, "and to such other purposes
as may be determined upon by vote Of two-thirds
Of the members of the General Conference"
The object Of recommending this change, was to
enable the General Conference to proceed at once,
and make an equitable division of the property
and effects belonging to the Methodist Episcopal
'httra l.t,, IL
rate organizations, which had been authorized in
the preceding resolutions. For this purpose, the
next resolution provided that soon as the Annual
Conferences shall have concurred in the recon-
mendation, the agents at NewYork and Cincinnati
were directed to deliver to the agent Of the
Church, South, all notes, etc, against the minis
ters, MEMBERS citizens within its boundaries,
for the sole use of said church; and, also, to con-
vey to such agent all the real estate and other
property connected with the printing establish
ments at Charleston, Richmond, and Nashville,
which then belonged to the church and in the
following that there should be transferred to the
said agent so much of the capital and produce Of
the Methodist Book Concern 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 South
ern Church bore to all the travelling preachers of
the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The terms and mode Of payment were then pre-
scribed, and commissioners appointed TO meet COM
missioners to be appointed by the Southern organ
izatlon, to estimate and fix the amount that might
fall due them according to the preceding arrange
ment And, in winding up, the bishops are
requested to lay that part of the report
requiring the action of the Annual Conferences
before them possible.
Now, it will be from this analysis of the
plan OF separation, that the only condition
| ungency upon which absolute division OF the
church organization was made to depend, was the
| action of the several Annual Conferences in the
slaveholdng States. If these should find il neces
sary to unite in favor of distinct organization, by
the very terms OF the plan, the separation was tc
| take place according to the boundary designated
1t was left to them Judge of the necessity; and
| their judgment is made final in the matter. And
when the decision is made, and the church divided
into two separate bodies, it is declared that minis
| ters of every grade and office in the Methodist
Episcopal 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 the separation tax, place in accordance
with the first resolution all the property, in meet
ing houses, parsonages, colleges schools, Confer.
ence funds and cemeteries, within the limits OF the
Southern organization, is declared to be free from
| any claim on the part Of the Northern Church
| he general and common property, such as notes
and other obligations, together with the property
and effects belonging to the printing establishments
| at Charleston, Richmond, and Nashville and the
1
| York, referred for future adjustment. This
was necessary, account of the restrictive article
| upon the power Of the General Conference, in
respect to the produce Of the Book Concern, and o.
the Charter Fund Some delay was necessary tt
procure that authority from the annual Conferences
But one mode Of the adjustment settled
depending only upon the action Of the Conference
| in respect to the authority. The notes and bool
debts against persons within the Southern Church
together with the several printing establishments
situated within its limits, were to be transferred t,
that church; and, ais much of the capital ant
produce of the Book Concern, which, together witt
the Aforesaid property, would bear the same proper
| tion to the whole interest in that concern, tn,
travelling preachers in the Southern Church bea
to all the travelling preachers Of the Methods
Episcopal Church. This perfected the adjustmen
of the common property between the two organi
cations.
1t will be seen, looking back to the plan Of tn
| separation, that the only contingencies, condi
tlons subsequent, to be found in it, two First
the separate organization was to depend upon th
action of the annual Conferences in the slave hold
ing States and, second, the division Of this latte
portion of the common property Of the church
upon the action OF all the annual Conferences il
respect to the change of the restrictive article
When the annual Conferences in the slave holding
States acted, and organized Southern Church, a
they did, the division of the Methodist Episcopa
| Church into two organizations became complete
And so would the adjustment of the common pro
perty between them if the assent of all the annua
| Conferences had been given to the change of tn
| restrictive article. The failure to give that ha
left this part Of the plan open, the only conse
quence Of which is, to deprive the Southern divi
sion Of its share of the property dependent upo
this assent and leave it to get along it best may
unless right to discover its position legally result
| from the authorized division into two separat
organizations.
The argument against this view is, that tn
separation was to take place, not only in the ever
| OF the concurrence of the Southern Conference.
but also upon the assent Of all the annual Confer
ences to change the restrictive article. And tn
preamble to the plan Of separation referred t.
|, as countenanclng this construction. We thin
otherwise. On the contrary, in our judgment,
confirms the view above taken.
That preamble recites that declaration ha
been presented to the General Conference, wit
the signatures of ffty-one delegates of that bod
f from thirteen annual Conferences in the slav,
holding States, representing that for various rel
) sons enumerated, the objects and purposes of Il
Christian ministers and church organization cann
: be successfully accomplished by them, under Il
I jurisdiction of the General Conference, as the
constituted and that, in the event Of separatio
| contingency to which the declaration asks atte
ton, as not improbable, we esteem it the duty
III the General Conference to meet the emergenc
n | with Christian kindness and the strcest equit
Then follows the plan Of separation. And it leav
the strongest impress throughout the of convicto
and spirit so feelingly and impressvely announce
in the preamble.
= The question of separation is left to the jud
II ment OF their Southern brethren in the churc
l. whose delegates had declared the necessity, al
o provision ia made for an adjustment and decsio
. tboc xxJhi as tNa kpp