The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-22


lprosaedfnQ they requested that Bishop Andrewa
should Be- suspeuded all operations ~ long ~
be he1 slaves and this wac followed up by
circumstances which seemed TO give eject 70
this 6grsdstion. Al every conferenee they
puhli1hfd his degradation; Their hymn book
kNas 4nted, and it contained the name Of
pshoR Andrews. and ~ the congregation
turned over its pages the name their eyes, and
the question was what had become Of Bishop
Andrews who was never seen. though his name
was always kept before them He was exclu-
ded from Office. The gentlemen from the
South, who were delegates in 1874, made q
protest. which will be read, giving their viewa
on the subject, and it will be seen that the
church became divided.
A plan of division WAS adopted by a very
large vote; the border was declared, and pro-
vision was made that If the restrictive article
should be altered if the various conferences
should adopt change in that restrictive article,
this fund should be divided, and commission
was appointed to carry this plan Of division into
effect. The fifteen or sixteen Southern confer
ences all united in voting that it was impossible
to 60 on with the Northern gentlemen, ana they
elected delegates to meet at Louisville. AT the
convention Of l845, they adopted every dlscl-
pline, only that the genera conferences, instead
|
ers Of the North church had been met with
conscientious scruples, and it occurred to them
that the North church was the only church, and
that the South church, organizing on their invi-
tation, was null and void, and that by that very
organization, they had become seceders, and
that not being members, the supernumeyary and
superannuAted preachers, as we'll as the widows
and orphans, should not partake of their funds.
When there was no difference of ecclesiastical
connection, he chr. Lord could not see how
these old men and the widows and orphans OF
those who had labored, should be cut off from
the funds which they and their fathers had ac-
cumulated. He claimed, on behalf of the South
ern conference, thnt this fund shall be divided
that the wants of those parties shall be supplied.
1t may be that the court will say that the funds
shall remain in the hands of the same trustees |;
to that they Rad no objection. But it is grave
question--grave in its amount, and grave in its
interest; reaching not only this fund, but reach
ing to every Methodist parsonage and preaching
house in the country. Mr. Lord then proceeded
to read the bill of complaint, which shows, that
before and on the 9Th day of June, 1874, there
existed in the United States of America a. vol
untary association known as the Methodist
f pscopal church in the United States of Ameri-
ca; not Incorporated by any legal enactment,
| DuI composer Cl 5tNCn OlSippot lout tuuuouiiu
eight hundred and twenty-eight preachers, be-
longing to the travelling connection; and in
bishops, ministers, and membership, about one
million one hundred and nine thousand nine
hundred ally sixty--then being in the United
States and territories Of the United States united
and holden together in one organized body, by
] certain doctrines Of faith and morals, and by
certain rules of government and discipline That
| the general government Of the Methodist Epis
copal church was vested in one general body,
called the general conference, and in certain
| subordinate bodies, called annual conference
and in bishops and travelling ministers and
preachers and the great object Of the said Mo-
thodist Episcopal church was the diffusion Of
the principles Of the Saviour of mankind-good
morals, pure religion, piety, and holiness, among
the people Of the world. And the complainants
alege that the constitution, organization, form
of government, and rules of discipline, as well
AZ the articles Of religion and doctrines Of faith
of the Methodist Episcopal church, were of
general knowledge and notoriety; nevertheless,
for the more particular information OF the court,
they refer to printed volume, which will be
produced on the trial of the cause, entitled. "The
doctrines and discipline of the Methodist Epis-
copal church,
And the compliments alIege, that differences
and disagreemcnts having sprung up in the chuich
between what was called by the church, the
Northern and Southern members, upon the ad
mnistration of the church government, with re-
ference to the ownership of slaves by the min
stry of the church of such character, and at
tended with such consequences, as threatened
fearfully to impair the usefulness of the church.
az WILL as permanently to disturb its harmony
and became and was with the members of the
church question of very grave and serious i'm
portance, whether a separation ought not to
take place by some geographical boundary, with
necessary and proper exceptions, so as that the
Methodist Episcopal church should hereafter
constitute two separate and distinct Methodist
Episcopal churches. And thereupon the CON-
planants alege, that at general conference OF
the church, holden according to usage and dis
cipne, at New York, on the 9Th day Of June,
1874, the following amongst other resolutions
were duly and legally, and by majority of over
thrce-fourths of the entire body, passed.
RESOLVED, by the delegates of the several an
nual conferences, in general conference assem-
bled /. That should the annual conferences in
the slaveholding States find it necessary to unite
in distinct ecclesiastical connection, the fol-
lowing rule shall be observed with regard to the
Northern boundary, of snch connection. All
the societies, stations and conferences adherne
10 the churcD IN tfe South, by n vote OF n ma
iority Of the members of said societies, stations
and conferences, shall remain under the unmo-
Tested pastoral care of the Southern church
and the ministers of the Methodist Episcopal
church shall in nowise attempt to organize
churches or societies within the limits of the
church South, nor shall they attempt to exer
else any pastoral oversight therein; it being un
derstood that the ministry Of the South re-
ciprocay observe the same rule in relation tt
stations, societies, and conferences adhering, by
vote of majority, to the Methodist Episcopa
church provided also, that this rule shall appl,
only to societies. stations, and conferences Dor
dering on the line of division, and not to int
rior charges, which shall, in all cases, be left t'
the care Of that church within whose territory
they are situated.
Resolped, by the delegates Of all the nnnua
, conferences, in general conference assembled
that we recommend to all the annual conferen
ces, at their 6rstapproachng sessions, to author
, ize change in the sixth restrictive article, 81
that the first clruse shall read thus :-"The'
shall not appropriate the produce OF the boo'