The daily crescent., 1851-05-28

m. Ill
this place, portion of which are laden with goods
Tor J w. McGoffin and Is ac Lightner, of Ell Paso,
and portion laden for McNght & McCutchan, of
Santa Fe, all of whom are we'll known to the mer-
camille world.
The Methodist Church Case in NewY ork.
A large number of readers will read with eager
interest the opening of the proceedings in the suit
at the instance of the Methodist Church South for
its rights in the valuable "Book Concern" The
NewYork Commercial Advertiser, of the evening of
the l9h has this well-stated report of the opening
The United States Circuit Court room was
thronged at an early hour this morning with per.
sons desirous OF hearing the argument in the con-
troversy between the Methodist Episcopal Church
and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
Among them we noticed several clergymen of
various denominations, and the gallery was occu-
pied by number of ladies' Judges Nelson and
Belts took their seats the bench at ten o'clock,
and the counsel for the parties soon made their
appearance at the bar. Southern clergy present,
Rev. Drs. Early, PIERCE Smith; Northern clergy
present, Rev. Drs. Scott Durbin, Peck, Kennady.
Ihe title OF the cause is Henry R. Bascom and
others Us. George Lane and Others and the com
plant is filed in equity for the purpose of enforcing
division OF the funds of the Methodist Book
Concern The Hon. Reverdy Johnson, of Balti
more, and Daniel ID. Lord, Esq. of this city,
IS also engaged on the same side, being absent
For the defendants, appeared the Hon. Rufus
Choate, of Massachusetts, and George Wood,
Esq, of this city. Hon. Thomas Ewing was also
present, he being counsel for defendants in sim.
liar suit against the branch Methodist Book Con-
cern of Cincinnati.
Daniel Lord opened the case with brief detail
Of the general facts and circumstances of the case.
Ihe subject OF this controversy is what is denom-
mated the Book Concern in the citv of New
York, the funds OF which amount to $500 In
the early history Of the Methodist denomination.
the press was resorted to by Mr.. Wesley, for the
purpose of disseminating religious literature.
he nucleus of the establishment in this country
was in Philadelphia, whence it was soon after
removed to NewYork. 1t became ultimately a
concern Of great magnitude.
In 1885, their building was burned down. but
was soon rebuilt, and the concern graduallv in.
creased In Its operations until it reached its present
large extent. The profits of the fund were devo
TED to making up a provision for superannuated
preachers, the widows and orphans of deceased
etc.
lhe affairs OF this denomination are governed bv
what are called annual conferences and general
conference. In 1854 there was but one annual con.
terence, but afterwards, and for a long period of
time. there were seven- The conferences consisted
'f all the preachers who travelled" a particular
circuit. In 1914 there were 80 or SO annual con-
erences The general system of the Methodist
,lergy is to itinerate from one church to another
Many Of these were unable to pay their ministers,
md the conferences provided for them as far as thew
ould. When the conferences were too poor to
'rovde for them, deficiency of course occurred,
md 1t was to supply this deficiency, in part, that
he surplus funds of the Book Concern were appro.
'rlated In loOS, the power of the General Con-
erence became absolute, that the more conserv
tive members OF the denomination began to fear
hat 1t would be dangerous, as it might even alter
hnnfp Srfth tha i
made In Its organization, providing that it should
'e composed OF delegates, instead of all the preach
RS, and number of restrictions were imposed
Among other things, they were restricted from
vertng the surplus funds of the Book Concern to
ny other purpose than the support of superannua-
ed preachers, etc.
A great question will arise in this case as to the
fleet of this restrictive rule. 1t grew out of the
ubject of slavery. The Methodist denomination
an early period took high ground on temperance
nd slavery. They excluded from membership any
ne who bought and sold human beings, for the
urpose of enslaving them, and these provisions
we're found to be SO impracticable that they were
escinded at the next General Conference, and the
natter was left to the Legislation of the various
'tates in which their members resided. About
he year 1886, the agitation of abolition began very
eriously to disturb the Methodist Church.
The bishops and the conservative clergy endea-
ored to soothe the agitation. But in 1874 the
natter became critical and decisive and state Of
hings then occurred which necessarily led to
eparation Of this church into two parts. A minis
er named Harding had been conn planned Of as pos
essing slaves, and the Baltimore Conference sus-
ended him, although 1t was imposs sble for him to
nanumit them under the laws of Maryland He
ppealed to the General Conference, and that body
onfirmed the suspension. Another difficulty oc.
urred in the case of Bishop Andrews in Georgia,
Who had two slaves, both of whom it was impossi- |
Ip IN ma apm Iha abo
p, however and it was determined to attack him.
Without trying him, they passed resolution
hat he should suspend his episcopal functions un- |
il he manumitted his slaves.
These things convinced the Southern members |
the church that it was improbable for them to |
o on in connection with their Northern brethren.
hey presented document to the General Con-
'rence of 1874 protesting against the action taken
} the cases OF Bishop Andrews and the Rev Mr.. |
iardlng, and declaring that if it was persisted n
he Methodist Society in the South would be ex-
net. Sixteen Southern Conferences elected dele |
ates to aConerence of the MethodistC hurch, South
eld at Louisville, in 1S45 and they resolved to or
anize themselves into Church independent OF
he North. They appointed commissioners to
leet commissioners OF the Church North and ar
ange plan OF separation. But the Northern
ody had, in the meantime, been overtaken by con.
titutional scruples, and refused to recognize the
cton of the Louisville Conference, notwithstand.
" thdt IL hdu oeen nelu at their own suggestion.
The Louisville Conference adopted the whole
reed and disc pline of the Methodist Church as i,
ad existed in this country since 1884, and did not
hange single doctrine. The Southern claimants
} their share of the profits of the Book Concern
re therefore just orthodox as they ever were.
nd just as much entitled to their proportion in the
Ind which has been accumulated by the joint ex-
rtions OF their fathers and husbands.
Mr.. Lord then read the complaint. After which
lr. Johnson, "a son of the Hon. Reverdy John
IN, we believe,) read portion of the answer, and
lr. E. l.. Fancher concluded the reading OF the
ime. The reading Of the application was dis
ensed with.
Mr.. Lord here stated that Bishop Bascom hav-
g died since the bringing of the suit, he had OBJ
Ined consent from the defenda its to substitute
le name Of the Rev. William A. Smith as one of
le plaintiffs, and an order of the Court making
ich substitution, was accordingly made.
Mr.. Lord commenced his argument by stating
lat Emory's History, the Book of Discipline, the
rinted journals of the Conference prior to 1S4S,
le manuscript journals of the Conference prior to
o4o, and other documents, were to be introduced
evidence, by agreement between the parties r
lie then read extracts from the Book of Disci-
line Of 1910, page l9S; DR.. Emory's History,
nder the year 1900; the Articles of Religion the
X Restrictive Articles Wesleys Letter to DR..
oke, Mr.. Francis Asbury and the brethren in
orth America, etc., and had not finished reading
lie authorities upon which his argument is to be
unded when we left