The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1856-06-11

tam, perfection, We DO not thmG thy can conSiS
tcntiy claim the right to rule them opt Of the
church, because ofa difference Of opinion on the
question ofdom site scrvituds,
The address of the Bishops does not contain
word of encouragement for the advocates of the
test On the contrary they evidently inclina to
tie belief that tits aqusstion that hal better be
dropped This is the position that acccords with
the feelings AMI sentiments Of all who have not
run Wild on the Abolition question. We pub
lish all the address Chat rclatos to the slavery
question as soIlOws;-Er,
SLAVERY. .....
In compliance with the request Of the Troy,
Erie, North Ohio, and Wisconsin Conferences,
different resolutions asking change in the gen
eral rule on slavery were laid before all the An
nualConierences for the concurrence. The re-
suit will be found by inspection of the journals,
but we believe, no one of these resolutions re-
eeived the constitutional majority of the mem
hers Of the annual conferences In view Of this
fact the question may arise whether this body
has authority to change the Discipline upon this
subject SO as to effect membership in the church
We are aware that it is difficult to separate the
consideration of tll2 desirableness Of any measure
from it constitutionallg, 3, and especially so, where
deep feeling on the subject may exist. Yet we
think it to be our duty to express our strong
doubts whether in view Gf th@ estrictod powers
ofa delegated general conference, any measure
equivalent to change in the general rules can be
eonstitutionally adopted pith"pt the concurrence
ol the annual conference rs to the propretr
OF any notifications not Of such character as
to conflict with the constitutional economy Of
the church, while opinions and views may be
various, we eau fully confidc in the wisdom Of
this General Conference as the supreme council
Of the church
In our ADMINISTRATION in the territory where
slavery exists we have been careful not to tran
sceud in any instance, or in any respect what
we understand to be the will and direction ofthc
General Conference.
That body having retained the Jurisdiction
'ovorconTerences previously existing in such ter.
ritory, and having directed the organization or
additional conferences, ii became our duty 10 ar
ranga ta districts, circuits, and stations, and 10
sapefntona them a. an integral part Of the
cltaeea. AZ the resalt, we have elk annual con-
taranee5 which are wholly or in part in the slave
territory. These conferences have white
church membership, including probationors, of
niore than 143 600 with the attendants upon
our ministry, making probable population of
between five and six hundred thousand. They
have c5lorcd church membership including
probationers, Of more than $4,000 with the at
tsnaants upon our ministry, making probable
pspaiation Of upwards Of one hundred thousand
a portion Of this population are slaves They
arc mostiy poor. They are generally strongly
attache 70 the Church of their choice, and look
t5it cenfdfngfy for ministerial services, religious
syfapathy, and all the Offices Of christian kind
ness. The white membership in these confer
encga in resprct to intelligence, -piety, and at
tachlnent to Methodist discipline and economy,
wslleompare Elyorably with other portions of
the church.
Inour dsineAts The existence Of these con-
f3genccs AMI churches under their present cir
csmstances docs not tend to extend or pe9petu-
ate slasory. They are known to be organized
ualar 4 discipline which characterizes slavery
rs a great evil; which makes the slave holder in
eligible to any official station in the church
where the laws ofthe State in which he lives
will admit Of emancipation and permit the lib
cEatel slave to enjey freedom; which disffan-
,ciiiscs travelling minister, who by any means
bacomes thcowner ola slave OF slaves, unless he
exccatcs if it be practicable, a legal erhancipa-
ton Of such slaves conformably to the laws OF
the state Wherein he lives; which makes it the
datygf al the ministers TO enforce upon all the
members the necessity Of teaching their slaves
toIcad thc@wosd of 1Gsed and allowing them time
TO attend upon the public worship Of God on
ON rsgr2nr day of divine service; which pro
hibits the buying and setiing Of men, women and
children with an intention 70 enslavc them, and
iuqurcs what shall be donsfor the extirpation
oftfe evil Of slavery. -
With ibis dicipline freely circulated among
the people, orcertainly within the reach Of any
who desire to esInine I t,ahtl with other chuicl-
es existing in tIio sarnc territory without these
cract1ncpf1 these societies and conference haze
either By elective afiaftg adhered to, Or nom
preferences associated wittn the Methodist
Episcopal chdreli IN a few Instances their
sChuFeii relations have exposed tiiem " some
pcrilap6 ii nLineopils eases 70 sacrifices. gut
such have f1en tltoir moral worth, and christian
excellence, and prudeLt conduct that generally
they bare been permitted to enjoy tier rcii-
gious immunites and serve and worship God
according 10 their censeienees
And now brethren, ID c,nclssion, win you
suffer the word of exhoFtatioiL We have long
regretted two things connected with the General
ConereAee aoroeeedihgs, VII: acedles 4iass Of time
in the early Rart of Che nssien, ana too much
haste towards It's termination. We1rrt that
onthis OCCASION beth viii be avoided; that the
conference viii enter hpon its duties prom, ,,tly,
and THAI every inehibef will patiently remain at
his post untit every pirt eti II dnty considelel
and regeiafIy disposed of We. trust yeur ie-
lberafi0rs will be characterized ~ fi1ternal