Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-11-18
LEGAL DECISION.

The Methodist Episcopal Church1Hs Church North ond
South-Decision of Judge Nelson
In the United States Circuit Court New York on Tues
day Judge NELSON pronounced the following able and inter-
es,ing decision 10 the OF enry H. baecom and oAeTs
rs George Lane and Others, in Equay':
The companans in their BILL that before and on he
9Th dsy of June s49 there existed in the United States oil
America voluntary association known as the Methodist
Episcopal Church, not incorporated out composer o
preachers belonging the travelling connection; ano, IN
bishopa ministers and membership, about one million one
hundred thousand nine hundred and sixty then De-
ing in the United States and territories thereof united anu
holden together in organized body by certain doctrines
of faith and morals and by certain rules OF government and
vested in one body called the General Conference and IN
certain subordinate bodies called Annual Conferences ana
bishops travelling ministers and preachers and that me
constitution organization form OF government ana ue OF
discipline well the articles Of religion aud doctrines oil
the church. OF general noorie but for the more par
,cua information Of the court reference s made to PRINT
d volume entitled Tho Doctrines and Discipline of IN
Methodist Episcopal Church, and the compalnanis aege
that differences and having sprung up
what was called the Northern and Southern members IN
respect TO the administration of the church government
concerning the ownership OF slaves by the ministry OF Inc
church. such character and attended win such
quences threatened feauy 70 impair tne usefulness VI
the church as well as permanently to disturb lis harmony;
and that it became question of grave and serious lmpor-
ance whether separation ought not TO take place by some
geographical boundary that the church should thereafter
constitute two separate and distinct Methodist Episcopal
Churches and heeupon, the compainans aiege mat al
General Conference o tho Church, holoen according ~
usage and discipline at New York. tho 5th day OF June,
S44 the following resolutions duly adopted by ma
ory three ourhs of the entire body As tho prn-
cpa question In the case arises upon tnese resouons
copy them entire
Resolved, BY the Delegates Of the several Annual Con-
ferences in General Conference assembled:
That should the Annual Conferences in the Slavehold
nr States find necessary unite in distinct ecclasast
cbI connection The following rule shall DC observed with
ard 10 the Northern boundary of such connection All the
Societies stations and Conferences adherng the Church
in the South by o. majority OF the members OF said
Societies. Stations and Conferences shall remain under the
nnnolesed pastoral of Tho Southern Churc and the
min ste.s of the Methodist Episcopal Church shall in no
wise attempt Churches Societies within the
limits of the Church South shall they attempt 10 exer-
else any pastoral oversight hercn il being understood that
he ministry of the South recprocay OBSERVE tne same rule
in lion stations Societies and Conferences aancn2
oy vote OF majority TO the Mshodiet Episcopal onuLsn;
provided asn this rule shall apply only to aoclees
Stations and Conferences bordering on the Inc o dr!su
and not 10 interior charges which shall in oil cases. be lett
OF that church within whose territory they arc
situated -
2 Tina, minister's local and travelling OF every grade and
office in the Methodist Episcopal Church. may as ihey pre-
c remain in that church, or without oiac, h'tach 'hen
selves to the Church South
Resolved BY the delegates Of oil the Annual conferences
in General Conference assembled That we recommsna 10
ali the annual Cunerences their first approaching sfs-
nns 10 authorize change of the sixth restrictive article
So that the first shall read thus hey shall not aP-
nroprine the putucc Of the Book Concern nor OF the Cha
tered Fund any other purpose other than Tor the oenc
OF the travelling supernumeray superannuateo ana worn
out preachers their wives widows and children, and TO such
other purposes as may DC uPoh " oA
thirds of The members Of tho General Conference
That whenever the annual conference by vote o nfee-
ourhs of all their members voting on the th1d fesouo
shall have concurred in the recommendation 10 alter ihe
sixth restrictive article the agents at Ne"- orR ana Clh
cinna SHALL and they hereby authorized and dheetea
TO- deliver over 10 authorized agent or appointe o Tue
Church South should be organized Mi notes and ooh
accounts against ihe minister's church, nenlhers or c!'-
zrps within ,s boundaries with authority 10 collect HE sainr
f,r the sole use Of the Southern Church and that sad
apens also convey the aforesaid agent appontee inc
Souh nil the real estate and assign him oil the property,
including presses stock and oil right and interest connected
with the printing establishments ut Charleston, Richmond
and Nashville which belongs TO The Methodist Epsco-
pal Church L ,n,rorod
the aforesaid change ia the sixth restrictive article hec
shall he transferred the above agent for the Soulhern
Church 90 much of the capital and produce OF the Methodist
Book Concern as will with the notes book accounts press
&c. mentioned the last resolution bear the same pro-
portion to the whole property Of said Concern that he IRA
yelling preachers in the Southern Church shall bear 10 all lhe
travelling ministers of the Methodist Episcopai Church.-
The division be made the basis OF the numoe Oh ira
| yelling preachers in the forthcoming minutes.
g. That the above transfer shalt be IN inc form OF annual
payments Of 900 per annum and speclhca IN STOCK VI
the Book Concern and In Southern notes and accounts que
the establishment and accruing after the FIRST transfer e
TONED above and until the payments are made he SCUM
ern Church shall share in oil the profits OF the BOOK Con-
In the proportion that the due hem or in arrears
bears to all the property Of the Concern.
l. That Nathan Bangs, George Peck and James Finley