Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-12-02
Methodist Protestant Convention-Con
clusion Of its Deliberations.

We give this morning the concluding
proceedings of the Methodist Protestant
Convention yesterday, when the body
adjourned sine die.
1t will be seen by the report, which
we have given from day to day, of the
debates and action OF the Convention,
that there is a settled conviction amongst
the delegates, that q separation between
The Northern snd Sou hern portions of
the Conference, is an inevitable result
if not immediate, not far distant. The
Northern members regard human slave
~ as a sin, and decline TO fellowship, as
brethren in the Church, those who toll,
crate. encourage and traffic in slave
holding and slave trading. Neither sec
ton will submit, and as separation is in
evitable, the o it comes, and all
matters in controversy be peaceably ar
ranged, the better it will be for the har-
mony and usefulness of both sections
The North will not tolerate slavery; the
South regard it as : Sweet morsel."-
There seems 10 be no middle ground;
and if each remains welded TO its opin-
ions, n peaceful separation will undoubt-
fully satisfy both sections. 1t is useless
to talk about hsrmonising. Neither sec
ton will compromise, and probably both
are conscientious. Let them separate as
brethren Of one religious faith and Oh
servance, hut honestly differing in re-
gard to the evil OF human bondage
Gin. Goxtae.
This Convention represents different
Methodist Protestant Church Conferen
ces Of the North and Northwest, and the
following course was finally determined
upon by the Convention:
A committee appointed by the Con-
v%en;inn. will attend the general Confer
at Lynchburg (Virginia) in May next.
and present to that body a memorial
from the Convention. PROTESTING against
the practices of voluntary slaveholding
and slave trading by members of the
church, and calling upon the Conference
to take iniIiatory steps toward modifying
the constitution and discipline, SO As to
meet the anti slavery spirit of The North,
by striking out all the Objectionable fea
lures of those instruments, and declaring
that voluntary slave holding and slave
trading shall hereafter constitute a bar
rier to membership in the Methodist Pro-
testant church. The General Confer
ence not having constitutional authority
10 make these changes but upon recon-
mendaiion Of Two thirds of the annual
conferences, that body is requested TO
exercise its prerogative in recommend
ing such action 10 the annual conferen-
ces. 1t is not expected, of course, that
the General Conference will accede to
these demands; but it was supposed By
members of the Convention that the
South were no less DESTROYS for a dissolu.
ton than the North. and that the Gener
al Conference might be induced to con
tent 10 such dissolution. But no provis-
is made in the constitution for the with
drswal of the annual conferences from the
general body. 1t is proposed, therefore,
hat the General Conference recommend
10 the annual Conference TO call a spec
ial general meeting, which shall Lave
power SO to amend the constitution as to
release the annual Conferences from all
obligations 10 meet in one General Con-
ference. Should the General Conference
agree to these propositions, a peaceful
separation may be effected between The
Northern and Southern divisions Of the
church. In case, however, as is feared
by many. tine Gensrsl Conference should
refuse TO entertain any OF those PROPOSE
lions. a convention is 10 be held in Spring
field. Ohio. in November, 1853, to take
such action as may be deemed necessa
~ upon the response of the Conference.
which convention shall have power 10
organize a Northern conference, to
amend the constitution. and to authorize
the publication of a new edition of the
discipline, containing The necessary
amendments. Such is the course deter.
mined upon by the Convention, from
which it will be seen that a separation,
peaceful or otherwise, is ~inruidb!e.