New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-05-23
METHODIST CHURCH QUESTION
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Before Judge Nelson.


Mr.. Lord Yesterday concluded his argu-
ment, occupying something more than two hours.
On the question Of slavery II Is true that II was IN
corported IN the articles OF Discipline. on the or
ganlzaton m l7s3 Il was on the recommendation
of DR.. Coke, of Oxford, England. who had been APP
pointed by Rev John Wesley, with Mi Asbury, to
organize, after the Revolution, the VI. f. Church in
the United States Dr. c. did SO IN conformity with
the rule OF discipline IN the church. that none OF the
members should be engaged IN the buying and sell
ing of men lie said he aware that II was nitro
ducing a new ground OF communion. 1t required
every member of the church within year TO agree,
within certain time, TO manumlt ms slaves and
other stipulations. DR. C. was gentleman OF edu-
cation but lived IN another country, and was very
little acquainted with the United States and he
himself found anerwarl that his plan Of discipline
as then arranged. could not be acted upon, anu II
was not attempted to be carried out
The rule was ancTward changed. requiring man
omission only IN States that authorized IT, As TO
slavery being great evil as stated IN the language
of the original rules of discipline, that IS doctrine
ven Uy enc Brnttinen AT me ooutn as tnose
at the Norh-but how to deal With 1t the question
The former say that 1t is not the nature Of Gov
eminent 10 exercise force in such a ease, but TO abo
sh the system by onlightenmg both master and slave
Tense like stealing and should not be tolerated at all.
The experience of single year Of The original
plan convinced the society and persons much better
acquainted with the subject than Dr. Coke that It
was impracticable to be- carried out Various reyls-
ions of the rule took place, TIL the regulation was
that no person who was slayehodtT should be
elected to official station in the Church, and those
elected should manumt any slaves comlg into their
possession, provided the laws Of the State in which
they lived did not forbid manumIsslon II makes
distinction IN those states permitting and those States
prohibiting emancipatOn-and IN fact sanctions the
principle that the rule IS not operative IN latter.
In 1910 the agitation 10 the slave question had
become extreme, which Is shown by the proceedings
Of the General Conference, and an lrreconcilable
state Of opinion existed which prevented the Church
acting together as one body On a petition being
presented from New-York on the slavery question,
such was the state Of feeling that 1t could not be
ferred TO a small sound committee but committee
OF 20 was selected being from each annual Con
ference Lord Chesterfield said IN the House Of
Parliament that every large assembly was mob.
acted upon by their sympathles rather than Their
judgment In the case Of Bishop Andrew, IN that
Conference he was invited to suspend the duties Of
his Office but the invitation Vas good deal Ike that
Of inviting man to leave your door or your room
a
been broken and was analogous to bill Of attander.
It was an act Of degradation, although claimed to
be merely advisory. Living IN Georgia, Bishop \.
was not allowed BY the law there, to manumIt
slaves and the resolution, striking u did, al the
very rules which exempted such a case, was d.
vision IN itself Bishop A was deprived Of his power
A. an itnerant Superintendent As 10 a Bishop Il IS
the glory Of labor which is the glory Of the ofice-not
the title From the feeling displayed by that Con
ference, a separation became inevitable The case
Of Rev Mr. Harding. Of Baltimore also showed the
feeling. The Conference decided That II the west
moreland Conference had suspended Mr. Harding on
the ground OF MS holding slaves, they we're wrong as
the laws OF the state forbade manumsslOn but a. It
did not appear IN the minutes that that vas the cause
although fully understood they decided not 10 reverse
the decision. Mr l.. cOntendet that the agitation OF
the question ever since 1892 had produced Crisis
and a state Of feeling which could not be healed he
alluded 70 the addresses Of the Bishops to enteayof
to avert the division and their fears expressed being
fully realized, &c.
On a motion TO strike from report the word Con-
stitutlona IN that Convention, N reference TO the
power Of the Convention. the motion vas lost In
relation 70 the division. Committee Of nine we're
APPOINTED by the Conference 70 devise plan, by
winch II was left 20 the southern Annual Conference
III
II should be carried INTO eaect-and those confer
ence, did 50 find, and appointed delegates 70 gener-
al southern Conference, which decided that division
vas Necessary and voted separate organization
under the title Of the Methodist Episcopal Church
South.
By the plan Of the Commute Of nine, the Church
North agreed n case OF a division. 70 reiiDqush al
clam 70 meeting houses, cemeteries, &C. IL 'he
slaye-holdIng States. and the southern DIVISION Inc
same as 70 the North There was no condition as
ha, been contended. There was no lmpeainehI 70
the Southern members Of the Conference .. i0f' al
yising the Annual Conferences south TO DIVISION
they aid 80 but il vas for the action Of those Annual
Conferences. and they decided upon separation,
and their Judgment was to be conclusive As to
division n the Book Concern, submitted on re-
consideration Of the original vote by the General
Conference Of 1874. Il vas almoS, unanimous at the
south and Il64 10 1907 a, the North, so iha, there
was 4 majority OF the members Of The Annual Con-