Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-09-20
were not two thirds. Hence this result.

were not two thirds. Hence this result
Meanwhile, or soon after the General Confer
enee in 1914, the Methodist Church South organ
lied the old basis, and the Southern Bishops ac-
ted as Bishops of that Church. The Northern
Church, howeye, contend that they did not sepa-
rate according to the plan Of division; that in fact
they are that they have
organized "a nes0 Church; and that, if the plan of
division in 1914 had been truly carried OUT the
General Conference had no constitutional power to
make such plan, and therefore the Church South
ought not to have a share of the Book Concern.
The Lawyers arguments are long; the protests
and the counter protests of the Clergy very able;
the facts numerous and weghty, beyond our pow
er to compress, even, for a newspaper. in way to
be understood completely.
The Wesleyan Methodist Church was organ
lied in this country in 1884, it seems, by Bishops
sent out from England, on that Abolition basis,
even; but the Methodsts of this country soon
found they could not extend their Church on that
basis, and it quietly dropped compromised
by agreeing to consider slavery evil. but toera-
ting, nevertheless, the holding of slaves by travel
ling preachers in States where slafes could not be
manumitted. The Church went harmoniously on,
under these regulations til l84O and d. when
Abotonism broke out. and passed the votes we
have quoted in the cases of Rev. Mr. Harding
and Bishop Andrew. These votes threw the
Southern Methodists into a fever. They broke
the old federation and the old discipline of the
Church, they argued; they established new Laws;
they condemned Bishop Andrew without trial.
and doomed every Southern Methodist to degra-
dation. Hence this separation, or secession, as
the Northern Methodists contend, bat this reor-
ganization by agreement, the Southern McthO-
distS explain. If they were schismatics, separa-
fists, the South has no legal right to the fund it
is admitted; but, they contend that they are the
same old Church, on the old Southern (compro-
mise platform. they demand in Law and Equity a
division Of the property. The question thus be-
comes a nice one as to facts, and as to the Law,
ecclesiastical and common.
We wish every statesman in this country could
and would read this book of Mr.. Sutton's to show
how easy it was to break up great Church Union,
that had endured since the peace OF 1888; what
really unimportant causes brought it about in 844
and how little noise it then made; but to reflect,
however that this division OF this great Metho-
dist Union is now one of the greatest perils this
Union of the States has yet to encounter This
very suit is breeding world of bad blood among
the thousands and tens of thousands, North and
South of this powerful domination It's settle
ment is to breed yet more. The God of the Meth
odist South must, in the estimation of each sec
ton, be very different Being. The Northern
must look upon his Southern brother as
a criminal, in the bonds of sin, and the Southern
Methodist cannot love his brother who thus
Judges so harshly of him. The suit has been con-
Quoted in the best Of temper, argued with kind
ness and affection, even; but there is so much
deep feeling in it that the Lawyers, or Referees,
and the Judges have in vain tried to settle ami
cably, and it now awaits only the stern decision of
the Law. Whichever way it is decided, there will
be a fermentation in the Church.