Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-05-24
THE METHODIST CHURCH CASE.

The United States Circuit Court was hronged at
early hour this morning with persons DESTROYS Of hearing the
argument In the controversy between the Methods. Episco
pal Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church South
Among them We noticed several cegymen Of various denom
nations, and the gallery occupied by number Of ladies'
Judges NELsoE and BErrs took their seats on the bench
ten o'clock, and the counsel for the parties made their
appearance at the bar.
Southern clergy present. Rev. Drs Early PIERCE Smith
Northern clergy present, Rev. Ds Scott Dublin, Peck,
Kennady.
The title Of the cause Henry R. Bascom and others
George Lane and Others and the complaint is fled equity
for the purpose Of enforcing division Of the funds Of the Me-
,hodist Book Concern.
The Hon. REvERDr JoHssos, Of Baltimore, and DANIEL
D. LOAD, Esq of this city, appeared for the complainant
Mr. WEBsrER, who also engaged on the same side being
absent For the defendants appeared the Hon. Rurus
CHoArE, of Massachusetts, and GEoRGr WooD ESQ., Of this
city. Hon. THOMAS EwISs also present, he being
counsel for defendants in similar suit against the branch
Methodist Book Concern Of Cincinnati
DANIEL LoRD opened the case with brief detail Of the
general facts and of the The subject Of
this controversy 10 what is denominated sthe Book Con.
in the city OF New York. the funds Of which amour.
$3.50 O0O In the early history of the Methodist denom-
nation the press was resored by Mr. Wesley for the pur
pose OF disseminating religious literature. The nucleus of
the establishment In this country in Philadelphia whence
soon after removed New York II became ulti-
mately concern Of great magnitude In 1885 their build.
ing was burnt down. but rebuilt and the Concern
gradually increased in its operations until reached pre-
sent large extent The profits of the fund devoted
making up provision for superannuated preachers the wi
dows and orphans Of deceased minister's &c.
The affairs of this denomination governed by what are
called annual conferences and general conference In 1854
was but annual conference but afterwards and for
long perio4 OF tne, hsse The conferences
consisted Of all the preachers who travelled particular
circuit In 1874 there thirty thirty annual
conferences The general system Of the Methodist clergy
itneate from church to another Many Of these
unable pay their minister's and the conferences provided
for them far they could. When the conferences were
poor provide for hem deficiency Of course occurred
and supply this deficiency part that the surplus
funds Of the Book Concern were appropriated In 1903 the
of the general conference became absolute that the
conservative members Of the denomination began to fear
that would be dangerous, might even alter the doc
Of the church, and change then made in it's or
ganzao providing that should be composed Of delegates
instead of all the preachers and number of restrictions were
imposed. Among other things they restricted faom d.
veng the surplus funds Of the Book Concern any other
purpose then the support of superannuated preachers Sc
great question will arise in this the effect Of
this restrictive rule. grew out of the subject Of slavery
The Methodist denomination early period took high
ground on temperance and slavery They excluded from
membership any who bought and sold human beings for
the purpose of enlavng hem and these provisions were
found be maclicable that they rescinded the
General Conference and the left the egis-
aon of the various States in which their members resided
About the year 1886 the agitation of abolition began very
rousy disturb the Methodist Church The bishops and
the conservative clergy endeavoed to soohe the agitation
But in 1914 tie matter became critical and decisive, and
of things Then occurred which necessarily led sepa-
ration Of this church into two parts minister named
Harding had been complained Of possessing slaves and
the Baltimore Conference suspended him. although it
impossible for him to manumt them under the laws of Mary
land He appealed the General Conference and tina. body
confirmed the suspension Another difficulty occurred in the
of Bishop Andrews in Georgia, who had two slaves
both Of whom it impossible for him manumit. The
abolition spirit up, however, and it determined to
tack him. Without trying him, they passed resolution that
he should suspend his episcopal functions until he manum
ted his slaves. These things convinced the Southern
bes Of the church that il improbable for them 60
In connexion with their Northern brethren They presented
document to the General Conference Of 1914, protesting
against the action taken in the cases of Bishop Andrews and
the Rev. Mr.. Harding and declaring that il it persisted
in the Methodist Society in the South would be extinct
Sixteen Southern Conferences elected delegates to Con-
ference Of the Methodist Church South held at Louisville in
ls45, and they resolved organize themselves into church
independent 81 the North They appointed commissioners
to meet commissioners Of the Church North and arrange
plan Of separation But the Northern body had in the mean
time been overtsken by constitutional scrupes and refused
recognise the action Of the Louisville Consrsnce notwik
standing it had been held At their suggestion. The
Louisville Conference adopted the whole creed and discipline
of the Methodist Church had existed In this country since
1884, and did not change single doctrine The Southern
claimants TO their share Of the profits Of the Book Concern
entitled their proportion in the fund which has been
muate by the joint exeons Of their fathers and husbands
Mr.. LoRD then read the complaint. After which Mr..
JOHNSON Ca Of the Hon. Reverdy johnson, we beeve
read portion Of the answer, and Mr. E. L. FAHcHER
cuded the reading of the The reading Of the appca
ton was dispensed with
Mr. LORD here sisted that Bishop BAscox having died
since the bringing Of the suit he had obtained from
the defendants to substitute the Of the Rev. William
A. Smith ono Of the plaintiffs, and order Of the court
making such substitution accordingly made.
Mr. LoRp coLmenced his argument by stating that Emory
History, the Book Of Discipline, the printed journals Of the
conference prior ls4s the manuscript journals Of the confer
ences prior to 84O and other documents we're to be intro
duced evidence by agreement betWeen the parties.
He then read extracts from the Book Of Discipline of ls40
page 1893 Dr.. Emorys History, under the year 1905 the
Articles Of Religion the Six Restrictive Articles Weseys
Letter 10 Dr. Coke Mr. Francis Asbury and the brethren
10 North Amercs &C., and had finished reading the
thoFes upon which his argument to be founded when this
report closed.
This case was resumed on Tuesday. There IT, learn
from the Commercial Advertiser, such of document
ay evidence to be read that it will probably occupy the
greater part of the week. No speeches have yet been made
by the counsel on either sd except the opening address by
Mr.. LORD.
On Tuesday that gentleman continued read extracts
from the Book Of Proofs pages "a, &c. 70. ~ u.s. and
also from the Debates of the General Conference of 1874
pages 49, 49, and a. He also read the laws Of Maryland
prohibiting the manumisson Of slaves within that State and
reerre to the written opinions Of Judge Key and the Hon.
Mr. Merriek the Of the Rev. Francis A. Harding,
which presented to tho Baltimore Conference, which
suspended that minister.
The Rev Dir. SIXTH at the request of Mr.. Lord, read
the protest the Minority Of the General Conference against
the action Of the Majority in relation to Bishop Andrew
Mr. Losp then read letter from the late Bishop Bascom,