Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-08-02
. The .utiec, of sl,yery. as related to

5. .. The subject Of Slavery, as related to
The Church hes occupie ber earnest atten-
Won Tor hundred years, and history on this
question Shove the difficulty and decscy Of
the matter. Her testimony has been uni.
formily against IL % a system; and yet she
has tolerated the iegsi relation where cir
cunstsnces have justified tolerstion. In the
ocufse Of half q century, some doubts have
arisen az TO the true intent and meaning of
the Dlsciplne on this subject, and to eel
THE matter a. rest this General Conference
has Judged Il proper to reconstruct the
seventh chapter Of the Discipline on the
subject OF Slavery, SO that il shall be clear
declaration of the principles Of the Church
touching this matter; and to add an affect
ioBate admoniiion to all our "preachers and
people TO keep themselves pure from this
great evil, and to SEEK lis extirpalion by all
iswl"l and Christian means" Thus the
Genera Conference has expressed its iudg-
ment by declaratisn OF principles, and
given it's godly ADVICE as to the application
OF these principles by thuse who may in any
way be implicated in this matter, whether
a. pastors or people; pointing. out in its ad-
vice, that IN the application of the princi.
ples, due regard be had to the laws Of the
States, and our duty founded 10 Christian
morals. Welsncerely trust that this well
considered action or this vexed question
~Al be accepted by the Church. and that
peace and quiet may hereafter eign through.
out oil our borders.
10. The sui jrct OF Lay Delegation has
received large share of the earnest slten.
'ion OF this conference. The discussion Of
the question led us to approve of the princi.
pie oi lay delegation in the General Con-
terence, and this appreciation was expressed
by a general resolution in these words, viz:
1--WE hereby approve Of the Introduction Of
lay representation into this body, when II
shall be ascer;aired that the Church desires
IT," II remains for the annual Conferences
whose repre- entatiyes we are, snd for the
male members of the whole Church, to con.
hrm or reject our judgment In this matter
ana win u view ofobtaining fair express.
ION OF The will Of the whole Church, we have
tssen' suitable fnessures for submitting the
question to the annual conferences, and to
Sue adult male members. sfter having frank.
ly expressed our opinion By. large vote ia ia.
t'r OF The same. should the general Church
confirm our vpinion, the arrangeme nts will
be completed at the next General Confer.
ence to Introduce ou, lay brethren into oLr
General Conference ss common patrons
with Us pastors in the highest judicature in
our Church. in considering this grave
question, which VIC submit to YOU, and in
giving your vote upon IL, we earnestly ex.
hort you to be temperate 10 your express
. ions, conclude and act ss in the sigh. u
God, and Tor the glory Of his holy name
In concluslon, we commend the whole
body o. our pastors and people to the grace
OF our Lord Jesus Christ, aud to the love q
Cod and to the guidance Of his Holy Spirit
In behalf end with the approbat OF the
General Conference.
J p. DURBIN,
=. G. HIBBARp,
L. THOMPSON,
M. RAYMOND,
w. HUNrER,