The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-05-22

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the discipline The opinion certainly entertained,
IN several quarters, that II was improper for the
shepherd and bhop 81 eleven hundred thousand souls
either deliberately or heedlesly to place himself d.
rect and irreconeilable conflict with the known aud
cherished moral sentiments Of large majority Of
vast hocb. Such, however, the prevalence Of mo-
derate eounses, that proposal made either to
mpesch punish and such the controlling influence Of
forbesranee and kindness that II is believed not
word uttered during the entire debate of nearly
fortnight derogstory TO the character justly often
siye TO the feelings Of Bishop Andrew The transaction
which had brought such distress upon the church. and
threatened such extensive ruin, dealt with merely
as fact-as practical dinaculty-for the removal or
paIliston Of which It was the duty Of the General Con
ference to provide 1t in this spirit and for such
ends, that the following resolution was passed =
Resolved That i isths sense Of this General Con-
ference that ne dest sm the exercise Of this office SO
long as this impeachment rennuns
R"The action Of the General Conference neither ju
dcia nor punitive II neither achieves nor intends
deposition, nor so much as legal suspension. Bishop
Andrew is stn bishop; and should he against the
passed Of the General Conference proceed in the
discharge Of his functions bis official acts would be
E"sueh the facts in the case Of Bishop Andrew We
now proceed to notice the law.
1T is indeed true that the question of slavery had
been long and xiousy agated in the church. the
various eral Conferences had endeavored to adjust
ties but this fact goes to dprove the position
the protes. FOR as the attention OF the church
had been thus strongly called to the subject had
by constitutional provisions it would have been
done when the church actually did meet to frame
The only provision any where established by that Gene
raj Conference Of constitutional force the general
with an intention TO snsleye them So that in direct
opposition to the assertion Of the protest we maintain
that tie section on slavery is mere legislative enact
nient simple decree Of General Conferences, muc
under its control any other portion OF the dsciplu
not covered by the restrictive rules
The protest maintains that the General Conference
hae right power authority ministerial judicial or
administrative, in any way to subject bishop TO any
Official disability whatever without the formal presonte
a cha ehcrr allg fhaA -
be dealt With has been guilty the violation Of
law or at least disciplinary Obligation oftha church.
and also upon conviction Of such charge after due form
Of trial. 10 these who familiar with the Netho
dist economy, this might plausible. But it IL, la
reality attempt to except from the action of gene
raj system, those who least OF all ought 70 be excepted
The cardinal feature Of poli.y is the itinerancy
To sustain this sysem It is essential that the classes
should receive the eaSers that appointed by the
preacher that the soetes should receive the preachers
that are stationed them by the bishops that the
Annual Conferences should receive the bishops
tkst are sent to them by the General Conference.
WIZ the Methodist Church sanction the doctrine tia.
while all its other officers Of whatever degree
Eonishcd, changed, necessity may require and az
the Discipline dr.cts bishop who decides all ques-
tion and v controls the work and the destiny Of four
thousand ministers; who appoints and changes at ple
sure the spiritual guides Of four millions of souls that
the depository Of these powers whose slightest in
diseretions omissions likely to disturb the har
moDy and even impair the efficiency mighty sys-
tenn Of operations enjoys virtual impunity Cor all den
quencies misdoings not strictly criminal!
st is believed that an attempt to establish such an epi
copa supremacy would I'LL not only part but the whole
OF the church, with alarm and dsmay But this doc
trine not at variance With the genius Of Method
ism than Is with the express language Of the Disc
pine, and the exposition Of il by all standard wr
ers The constitution Of the church provides that the
General Conference shall have full powers to rules
and regulations for church, under sir limitations
and restrictions among which the only relating
the epicoracy IL this They shall not change alter
any part or rule Of our government 80 as to do away
supcrint.ndency As there Is nothing in the restrictive
rules to limit the full powers Of the General Conference
in the premises il there nothing in the special prov
sion respecting the responsibility Of bishop In reply
TO the question, To whom Is bishop amenate for his
conduct the Discipline declares To the General Con-
duet IL they it necessary And this be II remcm
bered Il all that is said respecting the jurisdiction
interval 81 General Conference he be guilty Of nmo
rality In full accordance with the plain meaning OF
these pro, fons y the Language Q: all the standard wr
Bishop Emory-a Of HON It no injustice to the
living or the dead to that he chief ornament and
CATION Of all sccesiastIcai subjects cool sarasious pow
erful practical intellectually sustains the positions we
have assumed in behalf Of the powers OF the General Con-
ference the bishops OF church He gives
qualified assent to the following passages from the
to tho MciIine prepared by shops Asbury and Coke
at the request OF the General Conference They (our
bishops) entirely dependent the General Confe-
rense' their power their usefulness themselves are
entirely az tho mercy of the General Conference
The proposition for peaceful separation f any must
take place. With which the protest closes, though
STRANGELY at Variance with much that precede has al
ready been met by the General Conference And the
diness with which that body (by a vote which would
doubtless have leen unanimous but for the belief which
entertained Of the unconsttutousity Of the mea
sure granted all that the Southern brethren themselves
could ask In such event must forever stand prsc-
teal REPUTATION assertion that the minority have
been subjected 70 thetyranny q majority.
FINALLY cannot but hope that the minority after
reviewing the entire action Of the Conference, will find
have taken too strong Wow q tho and that by
PRESENTING in lis true light before their people they
may be able to check any feelings Of diseord that may
have arisen, 50 that the Methodist Episcopal church may
stil continue one body engaged in it, proper work Of
spreading scriptural holiness over these lands
MI H. LsS ,nsp gave the date, Of various
the communication Of Bishop soue to the General Con-
ference from page lS9 to l2o He also read from page
l26 70 Isl from which extract the following resolu
ous of the Select Committee II Nine appointed report
the declaration Of the delegates from the Conferences
ofthe savchcding States
That should the annual Conferences In the slave
holding States md IL necessary to unite In distinct
ecclesiastical connection, the following rule ha h. OBJ
served with regard 70 the northern boundary u such
copncction:An III. societies, stations and conferences
ndhcfing TO the church In the South, by vote Of
majority u the members Of ssJ societies stations and
conferences shnll remain under the unmolec1 atora
n the southern Church, and the ministers Of the
Methodist Episcopal Church shall In no wise attempt 70
organize churches rocetics within the limits Of the
Church South, shall they attempt 70 cxcrcs. any
pastoral oversight therein Il being undorcod that the
relation a. stations societies and conference adhr
Ing Wy vote ~ majority 70 the Methodist Episcopal
,hurch provided also that this rule shall apply only 20
socetie stations and conferences bordering the line
II division md not 70 interior charges which shall In All
cases Ne left 10 tbs rare Of that church within whose
territory they tiunied
That minister local and travelling ~ every grade
and Office ia the Methodist Episcopal church; may.
they prsf.r remain IN that church, without blame
attach Themselves e. the Church south
y Resolved. ny the delegates &C All the annual con-
iercnees In General Confercbcrs assembled That r.
commend q all the annual conferences NJ their fret
sessions 20 sutorise change oi the sixth
restrictive article, that the Grit clause sha real thus
They shall not appropriate the produce q the Book
concern nor - The chartered fund 70 any other purpose
Their than for the benefit a tho travelling supcrnume
fnry, supctsnnuntcd aud worn cut preacher, their
wives widows AMI children, and e. such other purposes
may b. determined upon by the votes " two-hris q
the members fihc General Conference.
Mr. Lorr sai hot that contain. all they Int ned to
cad nem Book OF Proof. No y II remains for the
thor tde 70 produce The remainder IA evidence liz
hen proceeded ,cad from rook ~ Proofs. No . tn
history Il proceedings ~ dcig-ats from savsh"laine
taes at their mtuting IN New York IN 1871. and thc
ddreeg To- the mini ters AMI members e the hcthalt
Ipicopal Church ~ thc saycholing states aud terrific