New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-02-21
LIVE CHRusTIAnIrx.

ecclesiastical trial which took place at Knottsve,
in the County of Taylor, and District Of the Hon.
sheIrard Clemens, WesternVirginia, which eyinces
an unexpected aud gratifying vitality in the Chris
tianity of that secluded region. The leading facts
are as follows:
Willis Rector is (Or until recently was IN aged
and respected member Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church in Knotisve; Caleb Shroyer, a much
Younger man, was another. Il. Shields OF Prunty-
town is negro-trader and We infer hss the grace
not TO pretend to have any religion whatever.
Rector vas the owner Of q likely young slave
named jack, and Shields wanted to buy said slave
for sale in one Of the cottongrowing STATES. Jack
was also a member of the Methodist Church in
Knottsyile, which is very strong there, and has
never dissolved its connection with the regular, old.
time organization, now distinguished a, the xetto.
dist Church North. Rector and his slave jack
were members of the same class in church; Shro
yer's father WAS its class.lesder. Shields the
negro-trsder, hired shroyer for S2j to help him
buy Jack Of his mater, which ShroJer hesitated to
do until he had consulted and obtained the san ,tiOn
of his class. leading father aforesaid. They then
laid siege to Rector and persuaded him to cell His
chattel according TO the laws Of Virginia but his
Christian brother according to the laws of Metho'
diam, for satisfactory price, which was paid. and
the said chatte carried of after this fashion:
"Mr. Rector, wbose conscience was likely some
what troubled about the matter and whose syupathles
were evidently aroused refused to surrender the negro
to Mr. Shields at bis house, bot appointed spot on
his farm, where be would, on certain day, send tue
ALA art Isa tta npul
NEE! him, and tke possession of him, by paying
TO Mr. ShrOyer the price ana receiving from Snroyer
a bill Of sale. The day being unpropltious, the paa
was cbsnged and the negro was cent TO Baker Mli.
There Mr. Shields Informed the negro he must go with
him. AT first the smiled suppo sing i. was only
Jest SIS Mr. Shields is fond OF good joke Toe min-
ner If Mr.. Shields convinced the negro that he
wss earnest, as he took from his pocket rope ahd
commenced t,ipg him. At this the boy exclaimed
What have done Mr.. Shieldsr The boy knowing
Mr. Shields TO he officer supposed he was arrestng
bin for some supposed offense. This mlsspprehenson
was soon removed by Mr. Shields replying fou hsve
conc nothing boy. only have bought you. Ihs was
the fret irtimation the boy had that his master had
cold him: and, hearing it, be burst ioto Hood OF
tears, excaiDng, We'll Sir please don't tie me. aud
will 90 with you. Caleb Shr0yer, who was present,
having known he boy from his youth, and being
brother with him in the church flor the negro
was METHODIST, then turned to the miller MIR. Jo-
seph Golf and remarked, well | am sorry for poor
Jack after all The boy was tied and taken off,
SO far, the laws of Virginia had been fully sat.
is6ed; but the laws of Meth Odism-and, may we
not say, the law of God had not been. Jack had
maintained good standing in the church, and was
esteemed by many of his brethren; not only are
Methodsts numerous, but Shareholders rather
scarce in Taylor County-slave-traders, happily,
still scarcer. A fierce excitement was aroused
among the members of KnottsVille Church BY the
above transaction; and they raised purse exceed
ing by 800 the price paid for Jack ny Shields,
which they sent good man to give for him. Shields
would Dot look at it-ssid be could do better-be.
sides, the negro had been sent off, Nj John
Llewellyn then entered q complaint before the
church against Willis Rector aud Caleb Shroyer
for violating that rule of the Methodist Book of
Discipline which demands the expulsion of any
me mber-
"For buying or selling men, Oonea or children, nth
the intention 10 eas.dpe them
The Rev. Thomas Trainer presiding over that
Circuit, entertained the charge, and appointed
John Haym,nd, II. Claggett and three other
brethren, to try it, A full and exciting trial was
had, and unanimous verde! rendered asains! said
Rector and Shroyer, who must henceforth buy and
sell Methodsts outside Of the Methodist Church, If
they see fit to persevere In that line OF business. 1t
is presumed that the case will be appealed to the
Annual Conference; but as that Conference ad-
heres to the Old Methodist Church, and as the Rule
OF Discipline as well as the moral character Of TIE
transaction condemned seem perfectly plain, We do
not see how the decision OF the trers can be shaken
We have thus given pretty full outline Of this
case, because it seems to prove two important
points: !. That Slavery, in its moro revolving
aspects, shocks the moral sense at the South no
IS than at the North and. 2. That Christianity,
if not corrupted and deb,sed By servity, is capable
of graphing with the monster which now renders
Religion pockeIy through half our country.
Had the Methodist Church always stood square up
to the testimony Of the Wesleys against the sum
Of all yilainies," and treated aay completely with
that sin as bar TO her communion she would not
only have been stronger in the South, stronger
everywhere, than she now is, but she would ere
this have shsmed other denominations into Like
fidelity TO humanity aud TO Christian duty.
In 1850, when the calendars Of both the Special
and General Sessions il this city had become so
large that one Judge-the Recorder-could not