True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-05-28
General Conference.-The Editors--.and
ft the Great Question.

the Great Question.
Every body knows that the connection
of the NJ. E. Church with Slavery, along
the border, and the question of entire pro-
hibition for the future, by the General Con-
ference now in session, has greatly agitated
the Connection for some months past, an
the action of the present Conference is
looked O.with intense anxiety. .
DR.. Elliott of the w. C. Advocate, has
been earnestly pressing the let-alone-policy,
claiming that any modification of the Dis
cipline, by the introduction of more
stringent clause, would be for the worse,
and not for the better. DR.. f. says:
Much work has been done for the Gen.
eral Conference within this last year, by
volunteer and unauthorized, if not inter-
.meddling reformers but it has not been
done by the ORDER of the General Confer
ence. And the men who promise to do so
much, may learn yet that it would have
been as well had they minded their own
business. Judging for ourself, we believe
it would be in us arrogance to attempt this
reformation, so called, or miscalled. Our
faith is, that neither Editors nor Cores
pondents have any right, in our papers, to
attempt or effect changes, or to make new
rules of conduct in any shape"
Upon the other hand, Rev, j. V. Watson,
of the North Western Christian Advocate,
gives, in recent number, synopsis of
the action of the Annual Conferences at
their last Sessions, upon the subject of
Slavery, from the published minutes or the
prints of the Church. He shows that
twenty-seven, out of the thirty-eight An
nual Conferences, have recommended such
change in the Discipline in reference to
Slavery, as will exclude Shareholders from
Church fellowship; and that the Delegates
from these 81 Conferences number l47, of
the 22l Delegates which compose the pres
ent Conference.
Brother Watson, writing from Indianap-
oils, since the commenc ement the session,
says
elf our judgement has, in any wise,
been enlightened or confirmed by what we
have seen and heard of the General Con-
ference, thus far, not only are we convinced
that something will most certainly be done
on this subject at this session, but some-
thing 80 effectual that free-soil Methodism
may ever after boast that she has washed
her hands of the evil-that she is no longer
connected with it by the remotest alliance,
but that she frowns upon it with an indig-
nifty commensurate with its enormity, if
that, indeed, is possible"
&c For this happy issue, we exhort all our
readers heartily to pray. For ourselves, to
witness such result-to know that we
have, in the least, contributed to its to
us even as a Simeon vision. We pen these
lines with fevered hand-such is our
health that we totter in feebleness as we
pass from our lodgings to the seat of the
sessions. We hope to be better, and should
like to live long tn do battle for the Lord
but it is enough; let our eyes but behold
the NJ. L. Church thoroughly emancipated
from the evil Of slavery-her reproach
wiped forever away-and then shall we die
content, even should it be at a point Of
time never so near. We would rather
never return to Chicago than witness the
supreme council of the chief evangelical
church i'll this nation blink and ignore this
question, at this time, in manner that
would grieve her faithful and loyal children,
and bring down upon her the jeer, laugh
and scorn Of her enemies. We love our
home, we love our country, we love our life
but we should suspect our piety and zeal
and fear for our acceptance with our Savior
did we not love our church more than al
of them"
The issue will soon be known. But tht
proba BILE result can be anticipated, from thu
fact that In their Episcopal Address, 'tht
Bishops distinctly question "whether thiI
body has authority to change the DISCIPLINE
upon this subject, so as to effect member
ship in the church y the reason given being
that no resolutions on the subject, submit
ted for the concurrent action of the Annua
Conferences, have received the constitu
tionul majority of the members of the An
nual Conferences.
The view taken by the Bishops, please
DR.. Elliott well--and, anticipating the &C
tion of the Conference to be conformet
thereto, he thus deprecates division, ant
urges submission upon those who are abou
to be disappointed in their cherished hopes
{" We anticipate, ourself, no action Of th'
Conference that would give any just reasoi
for the disruption Of any portion Of tn
Church from the body. If any disputes
point is not decided according to the view
Of the minority, let them, like wise an
good men, submit to the majority, an
time and circumstances will either prov
the measure to be right, or will correct i
if it be wrong. In the meantime, let tn
Church continue in prayer, and invoke tn
wisdom from on high"
GP The Directors Of the Agriculture
Society Of Jefferson county held NEE
ing in SteubenyiIle on Saturday last, an
III. .holI Il