New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-11-12

WIN Hf property And Gle - BEFORE meuune :. Ne
the same proportion To the who.e properly Of N,
said concern that the travelling preachers 10 ta'
southern hurch bore 20 all the travelling prearh ~
Of ne heiaOSist Episcopal Church.
lie terms and moce Of pay meat we're then PIE
scfuec' ard Commissioners appointed % NEE Com
nnssone'S 70 &c appointed by the Southern organiz
ton to estimate ana dx the amount that might isl
oUe ne n according to the preceding arrangement
And. IN winding up the Bishops requested % lay
that part OF me Report fesolutiOnsl requiring the
action OF The Annua. Conferences before them rs
soon as possible
Now, 1t viii Re seen from this analysis Of the piln
OF separation. that the only condition o. contngen
cy upon which an absolute division OF the Church or
ganiZatOn was MACE 10 depend. was the action o.
the several Annual On'erences III the >layeholdO1
states II these should nn y necessary 10 unite ~
favor o. dlsilnc. organz lon By the very terms OF
the p!an the separation to take place accordlas
10 TIE boundary designated II vas left TO them 10
Judge OF the necessity and their judgment Is male
maj IA me matter. And when the decision Is made.
and me church divided INTO two separate bodies Il
IS declared hat ministers Of every grae and off ,e N
the Methodist Episcopal Church, may, as they pre-
fer remain IN that Church, or. without blame, at
tach themselves to the Church South
ne whole plan Of separation confirms this view
As socn as the separation takes place IN accordance
Win The INST resolutions, all the property IN meet
ing houses pafsOnages, colleges schools, conference
funds, and cemeteries, within the limits of the
Southern organization, is declared 70 be free from
any claim on The par. OF the Northern Church. The
general ard common property, such as notes and
other obligations, together with the property and eff
feels belonging 10 the pruning estapnsnents al
Charleston Richmond, and Nashville, and the capt
tai and produce of the Book Concern AT Newly orh,
referred for future adjustment. This was neces-
sary on account of the restrictive article upon the
power of the General Conference, respect 10 he
produce OF the Book Concern, and OF the Charter
Fund. Some delay was necessary 10 procure tnat
authority from the annual conferences. BIT one
mode OF the aijuslment was settled depending only
upon The action Of the conferences IN respect to the
authority The notes and book debts against per-
sons within the Southern Church, together with The
several printing establishments situated within its
limits were to be trans erred to that church and,
also. so much OF the capital and produce OF the
Book Concern. which. together with tae aforesaid
property. would bear the same proportion to the
whole interest in that concern as the travelling
preachers IN the Southern Church bear To alt the
travelling preachers Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. This perfected the adjustment OF the COM
mon property between the two organizations.
1t will be SEEM looking back to the plan of seplra-
ton, that the only contingencies or conditions SUB
sequent to be found IN II, are two. First, the sepa
rate organization was to depend upon the action of
the annual conferences IN the Slave-hOldIHg 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 10 the chane
OF the restrictive article When the animal coner-
ences in the slavehOlding States acted, and organ
Ized southern church, as they elc, the DIVISION OF
the Methodist Episcopal Church into two organiZt-
tons became complete. And so would the ADJUST
meDt of the common property between them II the
assent of all the annual conferences had been given
10 the change Of the restrictive article. The failure
10 give that has left this part of the plan open, the
only consequence OF which is, TO deprive the South
ern division Of lis share OF the property dependent
upon this assent, and leave II 10 get along as II best
may unless night to recover It's position legally re-
suits from the authorized division into two separate
organizations.
The argument against this view is, that the sepa-
ration TO take place, not only IN the event OF
the concurrence OF the Southern conferences but
al 10 O a animal conferences
change the restrictive article. And the preamble TO
the plan of separation was referred 10, rs coun'e-
nancing this construction. We think otherwlse On
the contrary, IN our judgment, It confirms the view
above taken.
That preamble recites that declaration had been
presented 10 the General Conference, with the sg-
natures Of hhy-one delegates oil that pody rom
thirteen annual conferences IN the slave-holdlng
States repre- sentng that for various reasons emu
meIated, the objects and purposes OF the christian
ministers and church organization cannot be sue
cessflly accomplished by them, under the JurSdic-
ton the General Conference, As then constituted
and that in the event of separation, contingency
to (which the declaration nsks attention, as not
improbable, we esteem 1t the duty OF the General
Conference to meet the emergency With Christian
kindness and the strlctest .equlty. Then follows
the plan Of separation. And leaves the strongest
impress throughout of the conviction and sprt
so feelingly and mpressiyely announced IN the pre-
ambe.
The question of separation is left to the judgment
of Their Southern brethren IN the church, whose
is made for an adjustment and decision of the com
mon property, which, SO far as we know, are
founded upon principles OF the stI!cteSt equity,
between the parties, and then the CONSTITUTIONS
powers of the Conference are exhausted IN the ell
deavor to carry out TINS DIVISION
Ii sappalcnt from the plan OF separation, as wei
a. from The whole course Of the proceeding, that, il
tins body had seSsed the power, or had believed
they possessed II, 10 make an eiectual DIVISION OF
the property, It would have been made at the time,
dependent only upon the determination OF me
Southern Conferences for separate organization.
They advanced as far supposed to be IN their
pow err and took immediate steps to obtain tue ne
cessary authority 10 perfect 1t.
The division Of the property was not an element
that entered into the considerations OF the southern
Delegates 10 declare for a separate organization.
They related to different subject and one OF nuch
msre transcendent interest TO the churches North
and South and which during the present session had
threatened 10 rend this vast and heretofore compact
body Of Christians in pieces. The agitation growing
out OF Il had reached the highest authorities OF the
Church. and had brought in conflict It's chief flnc-
touarles, and ableSt members, and IN respect 20
which opinions were entertained and expressed deep
and lTTeconclaole.
araon was the only alternative TO peace, the future
Christian fellowship and usefulness OF the Church
The division of The property was but consequence
OF separation. subordinate, ana OF comparative IN
significance.
Instead of the decision of the Church depending
upon the division OF the common property, the very
reverse is the result OF the true construction OF the
plan Of separation.
We are obliged to omit Judge Nelson's arguments
s 10 the mower Of the General Conference 20 autho-
rise a separation Of the Church organization.
The Judge arrives at the conclusion that the Gen
eral Conference OF 1874 vas competent 70 make the
DIVISION and that the only condition annexed 10 1t
has been fully complied WITH aud says We are pre-
nared 10 apply the principles OF law, which, IN the
posture of the case must govern H.
We have held, III previous part OF thus opinion,
that the compialnans mus, bring themselves "ltnln
The description Of persons entitled to the benefit OF
tins charitable fund prescribed BY It's original
founders and that, when they have zone ths, those
vho deny or withhold the charity mus. present a
case 10 the Cour, taking them out OF the description
This has been attempted by showing that they have
wrongful liz separated from the connection and com.
munion OF the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
erected themselves into an Iee pendent ecclesiastl,
cal establishment and have. therefore, deprived
themselves OF the character Of benehciareS OF me
fu d. Having arrived al the Conclusion that there IS
10 .ouncatlOn for this allegation the ground Of me
defense. Of course falls and the compliments stlil
continue clothed character ard rights De-