The southern press., 1851-05-28

are not familiar With tie Methodist economy
this might seem plausible. But il is, in reality
an attempt 10 except from the action of a gene
raj system, those who least of all. ought to b.
excepted. The cardinal feature of our polity il
the ilinerancy.
"To sustain this system, it is essential thai
the classes should receive The leaders that ARE
appointed by the preacher, that the societies
hould receive the preachers that are stationed
over them by the bishops, that the annual con
ference should receive tie bishops that are sent
TO them by the general conference. Will the
Methodist church sanction the doctrine, that
While all its other officers, Of whatever name or
degree, subjected to sleepess supervision
are counselled, admonshed, or chang d, as ne-
cessi,y may require, and az The discipline di-
ects ! bishop, who decides all questions OF
law in annual conferences; who, of his mere
motion and will, controls the work AID the des-
tiny Of four Thousand ministers; who appoints
aud changes at pleasure the spiritual guides Of
four millions of souls that the depository Of
these vast powers, whose slightest indiscretions
or omissions are likely to disturb the harmony,
and even impair the efficiency, of our mighty
system of operations, enjoys Virtual impunity
for all delinquencies or msdoings not strictly
criminal?
ut is believed that an attempt to establish
such an episcopal supremacy would fill not only
part, but the hole of the church, with alarm
and dismay.' But this doctrine is not more at
variance with the genius of Methodism, than il
is with the express language of the discipline,
and the expo-itiop or it by all our standard
writer's. The constitution of the church pro-
vides that the general conference shall have
full powers to make rules and regulations for
our church, under six limitations and restric-
tions;' among which the only one relating to
the episcopacy is this So They shall not change
or alter any part, or rule OF our government, so
as to do away epscopacy, or destroy the plan
of our tinerant general superintendency As
there is nothing in the restrictive rules to limit
the full powers of the general conference in the
premises, 80 is thee nothing in the special pro-
vision respecting the responsibility of bishop.
In reply to the question, TO whom is bishop
amenable for his conduct? the discipline de-
clares, to the general conference, who have
power to expel him for improper conduct, if they
see it necessary And this, be it remembered,
is all that is said respecting the jurisdiction over
a bishop, with the exception of a rule for his
trial, in the interval of a general conference, if
he be guilty of immortality. In full accordance
with the plain meaning Of these provisions, is
the language Of all the standard writers on
Methodist polity.
"Bishop Emory man of whom it is no in
justice to the living or the dead to say, that he
was chief ornament and light of our episcopacy;
that he brought to the investia alton of all &C.
clesiastical subjects cool, sagacious, powerful,
practical intellectually sustains the positions
we have assumed in behalf Of the powers of the
general conference over the bishops Of our
church. He gives an unqualified assent to the
passages from the notes to the disci
pine, prepared by Bishops Asbury and Coke, at
the request of the general conference They
(our bishops) are entirely dependent on the
general conference their power, their useful
ness, themselves, are entirely at the mercy of
the general conference
"The propos ton for peaceful separation,
Gf any must take place. with which the pro-
test closes, though strangely at variance with
much that precedes has already been met by the
general conference. And the readiness with
which that body (by vote which would doubt
less have been unanimous but for the belief
which some entertained of the unconstitutiou-
ality of the measure) granted all that the
Southern brethren themselves could osk. in |
such an event, must forever stand rs practical
Of any assertion that the minority
have heen subjected to the tyrannyDf majority
Finally, we cannot but hope that the mi
nority, after reviewing the entire action Of the
conference, will find that, both in their declara-
ton and their protest, they have taken too
strong view of the case; and that by pre-
sentIng it in its true light before their people,
they may be able to check any feelings of dis
.ord that may have arisen, so that the Methodist
Episcopal church may still continue as one body,
Engaged in its proper work Of spreading
holiness over these lands.'"
\ 1~1< L. r.
documents for the information of the court and
proceeded TO read the communication of Bishop
Sonle to the general conference from page 1913
TO 1875. He also read from page l26 to l3l,
rom which we extract the following resolutions !
Il the select committee Of nine appointed TO re-
port on the declaration of the delegates from the
conferences Of the slaveholdng States:
/. That. should the annual conferences in the |
slaveholdng States find il necessary 10 unite In |
distinct ecclesiastical connect on, the folio rine
rule shall be observe, with regard to the north. |
,rn boundary of such connection All the |
societies. stations fnd conferences .rdhering e.
The church in the South, bS vote OF majorit, |
,f the members of the said societies, stations |
md conferences, shall remain under the unmo |
ested PASTORAL care Of the Southern church; |
md the ministers Of the Methodist Episcopal |
hugh shall in no wise attempt 10 organize |
.hurches or societies within the limits Of the
.hurch South, nor shall they attempt to exer.
Use any pastoral oversight therein; 1t being |
that the ministry Of the South re-
:iprocally observe the ga ne rule in rel,t;on
10 stations. societies, and conferences adher- !
ug, by vote of a majority, 10 the Methodist
Episcopal church; provided, also that ihis |
rule shall apply only to societies, stations and
conferences bordering on the line of division.
md not TO interior charges. which shall in all
;ases be left 10 the care of that church within |
whose territory they are situsted.
2. That ministers, local and travelling Of
every grnde and Office in the Methodist Epis.
copal church may, ms they prefer, remain in
that church, or. without blame, attach them
selves TO the church South.
8. Resolred, by the delegates Of all the IN
nunl conferences in general conferences assem-
bled, that we recommended TO all the annual
at their frat approaching sessions,
10 authorize a change Of the six restrictive ar
Iicle, 40 that the first clause shall read thus
"a They shall not appropriate the produce OF
Tho boot corearn NOR NJ tho cha IT. rad fund 70