Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-07-12
SLAVERY IN THE METHODIST EPsIC0-
PAL CHURCH


-rc Genera, Conference Of Tie Methodist Episcopal Church
i M lu9lrornI & .G99 % '' qi1g. % , IT, a. 'sIHggf s,1sr Wy
.u,at arrc .. Of thc time Do wa. introduced D.,
he 1871 hops in their official address TO the Conference as ie
VIEWS OF THE BISHOPS.
\ In compliance with tho request Of tho Troy,
Erie North Ohio and Wisconsin Conferences diff
ferent resolutions, asking change IN the General
Rule on slavery, were laid before all the Annual
Conferences for their concurrence. The result
will he found by Inspection Of the journals, but
we believe no one Of these resolutions received the
constitutional majorlly of the members Of the An
nunl Conferences In view Of this fact, the ques-
ton may arso whether this body has authority to
change the Discipline upon this subject so as to
affect membership in the Church We are aware
that it is dificul to separate the consideration OF
the desirableness of any measure from its consu-
tutionality, and especially SO where deep feeling
on the subject may exist. Yet we think 1t to be
our duty 20 oxprcss strong doubts whether, in
view of the restricted powers of deegatcdGeueral
conferencc,any measure equivalent TO change IN the
ceneralRues can be canstItuGouaily adopted with
ont the concurrcule of the AnnualConlerenc es As
to the propriety Of any notifications not OF such
a character 10 conflict with the constitutional
economy Of the Church, while opinions and views
NAV be variuus,wo can fully cOnGde in the wisdom
of this General Conference as the supreme council
of the Church.
In our administration in the territory where sla
very exists we have been careful hot 80 tIanSeond
stood to le Tie will and direction Of the General
Conference. That Body having retained its juris-
diction over Conferences previously existing In
It such territory, and having directed the organlza
I ton of additional Conferences, it became our duty
j. to arargo the districts circuits aud stations, and
n to superinttnd them as an into grail part of the
1 Church. As the result, We have SIX Annual Con
. ferences which wholly or in part in slave terri
Il tory. These Conferences have white Church
U membership, including probationers, OF more than
l43 600 with the attendants upon our ministry,
t making probable population OF between five and
six hundred thousand. They have colored
r Churchmemhership, including probationers, OF
II more than 5000, with the attendants upon our
r ministry making probable population Of up
l. ward Of n hundred thousand \ portion OF this
j population arc slaves. The others mosty poor.
j. They arr generally strongly attached to the Church
r Of their choice and look to it conHdngly for miu-
o istera services, religious sympathy, and all the
t. Offices of Christian kindness. The white member
i ship in these Conferences in respect to intelli-
IS gence, piety and attachment to Methodist Disei-
ID pline and economy, will compare faVoraDly with
3r other portions Of the Church.
of In our Judgment the existence Of those Confer
er ences and Churches, under their present circum
stances does not tend to extend or perpetuatc sla
n very. They are known 10 - 5-gIasat arder
I'd Discipline which characterizes slavery as srea
evil: which makes the STAKEHOLDER ineligible to any
!, official station in the Church, where the laws OF
e the State in which he lives will admit VI enamel
patton, and permit the liberated slave to enjoy
. freedom which DISTINGUISHES travelling minister
., who, by any means, becomes ne owner OF u slave
or slaves, unless he executes, if practicable, le-
gal emancipation Of such slaves coniormapiy 10
the laws Or the State wherein be lives; which
q makes it the duty Of all the ministers to enforce
y upon all the members tue necessity OF teachlng
their slaves to read the word Of God and allowing
them time to attend upon the public worship OF
God on our regular days Of Divine service; which
as prohibits the buying and selling OF men, women
10 and children with an intention to ensave them.
il and INQUIRIES what shall Oe done for the eXtlrpa-
+. ton Of the evil of slavery.
vs. With this Discipline freely circulated amcng the
Is people, or certainly within the reach OF any who
deesire to examine it, and with other Churches eH-
y, listing in the same territory without these exact
monts these societies and Conferences have, either
n hy elective affinity adhered to, or from preferences
)e associated with, the Methodist Episcopal Church
In a few instances their Church relations have eH-
Z posed them to some peril, and in numerous cases
5. to sacrifices But such have been their moral
worth, and Christian excellence and prudent con
duct, that ncrally they have been permitted to
enjoy their religious lmmuniues and serve ana
: worship God according to their consciences.
O. Ic,Lsoouantlr the whole suliect was referred 70
+ Committee of one from each Annual Conference
az IN olI-Mr RAYMOND of New Iampshire be.
h inc Chairman. From this Committee there were
y 10 5 ra,orts ,yLicL win Inc f,nnd bqlow the FIRST
q nresant Nav DIST the last on the following dav.1
- F'0 -
MATURITY NLFONI'
The Committee on Slavery present the following
"a as their Report:
That the reduction of a moral and responsible
being to the condition OF property Is violation o
y natural rights, is considered by most men an AK
+ ION in ethics; but whatever opinions may have oD
10 tanned in general society, the Methodist LPlscopa
!, Church has ever malntaned an uhnnls'aN@Dle anu
:. slavery position. Aihrmatlons that slavery Is
y founded in the philosophy OF CYL society that IT
/; is the cornerstone OF our republican nshtuuons
j. that it ''is sanctioned by the B!oe nave never
/, met with ar apprcYng response IN our Chureh.L
Contrariwise, the founder o! Methodism denounced
the system in unqualified terms OF condemnation
'r and the fathers unwayeringiy followed the exam
le pie Of the venerated Wesley.
le The Methodist Eolscopai Church mas IN gool
faith, in all the periods OF ITS history proposed t
- itself the question, wv hat shail be done 10y tn