New-York daily tribune., 1857-04-21
PUBLIC MEETINGS.
METHODIST CONFERENCE.


The Annual Conference of the New-York East
NJ. T.. Church now in session at fleet-street
Church, Brooklyn, on Saturday morning last,
had presented the following resolutions and reports
from the Committee Slavery, appointed by the
Conference. majority and minority report were
presented, the former of which was unanimously
adopted. The following majority Report was pre-
eented by the Rev. Chas Fletcher:
The Committee Slavery beg leave to present the
following resolutions for adoption by the Conference
Resord That we regard Slavery moral and social
evil violation Of the rights Of and opposed to the spirit
and progress Of the Christian religion
Resoted That will what influence we possess 20 pre-
vent sons ard communities in which does
present exist aud will all means that may WITH Yo
prety be by Christian ministers TO effect s exps'ion
from the world
The following is the minority report:
Re'oired That we ressrd Slavery as great evil threaten ~
the the Psass sc ANA ad Ss saSs the ve
Re'olred That the NJ T. Church has been from its ON
mepcemen, Antsavery in spirit both BY Prespt and ex'
ample.
OF our Church the question of Slavery furnishes as with
cause for gratitude God Tor favorable results
10 RS @s That wh we are oppo.a 70 slavery and have
sympathy with the institution at the same tim. We az. equally
many Of the pofesed friends Of the slave for hi. smancpson
aud that have sympathy whatever with their re'on
ROred That minister. Of the gospel will do wsst se
can not aes"st % SS t eG"S for the s.p,'ss so u.
.Sery yok. and IL the oppre.sed 40 free we w pray for
tn. master and slave wsI as for kings and al hs \.
sothG sdnss! .n sari may quiet GROVE
The Rev. Mr.. HATFIELD moved the adoption Of the
majority resolutions The subject of Slavery, "a tar
a. the Methodist Conference was concerned, had been
allowed TO rest too long Ministers OF Christ were bu'
just awakening to Of their duty III this MATER
which was TO instruct their focks OF the parsmouh'
evils of Slavery and exhot upon them decisive ac-
tion with view to put an efectual stop 10 the &c
cured system. IL had long been disgrace uIon t n
Methodist Church that there were nymDe e., ,nnis.
communion who slavehodeFsi on" J ~ .pa; 40
tiers were engaged in employing slaves 70 10 s'.m
estc and IA mn labor lie desired hat ie P',nciPes
embodied in these resolutions shcui' .i W teJ .,..
every mind and all the Church WIN one nanu ens"ge
in sweeping from te t.bos. Tossi Church should act and
10 - o;cs encourage those Of other churches who
Were actively going forward IN the good work. Inc
resolutions were not in fact half strong enough, ana
L ,;.bed they were stronger. He believed II was
.b d,y Of every minister to take hold OF the subject
80 Il 10 Ii- utmost 10 root it from soil
The Rev. Dr. KEssEDAY was strongly in favor Of tne
minority report of the Committee. He compared the
AGITATION Of Slavery to the maniac Erenchman.
20 ntleman walking along the streets OF Il our
cities one day when crazy Frenchman rushing
upon him, having in his hand heated poker. He
accosted the gentleman with, Sare, viii you let me
put this into you far, measuring the distance upon
Lis ann. The gentleman declined. The Frenchman
persisted in introducing il only little ways INTO Dis
body but meeting with decided refusal he very con
si-ently demanded that he should be pad f9f nesun
the poker. The Doctor said that this sgo)e'. naa
been sought to be introduced only iit'le way Tor
many successive Sessions of the Conference out with
ont effect they desired to have nothing TO do with "
Now, he was perfectly willing to pay Tor beating the
poker if they would agiiate Le subject no longer he
had had considerable experience among aavenohers
ord was sat;,6ed IN his own mind that true Christian
feeling would do more to emaoeipate the slave 'hsn
all the agitation that could be brought 70 bear. ne
cited many instances in support Of his theory. ~
believed that had the subject OF Slavery never been
apated at ali The slaves at the South would ere this
have been free in progress OF rapid emancipation.
He would vote for the minority report, az he could no.
bring himsef to vote for report when advoctHs
that every mems be used to free the slave oucn
oo1'rse would be destructive 20 society and to the
Urion He believed with John Randolph when ne
said that he wished there clause IN the Consu'
tuition which would proclaim as traitor sny man
who should dare TO breathe wish involving the saI
ty CT these United states; He said that WIN ,ss s
ir,t 10 Introduce il upon shores and one Of me
grievances complained Of by our forefafher'o o. ~"