New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-04-14
PUBLIC MEETINGS.
NETWORK CONFERENCE OF THE NJ. E.
CHURCH.


AND IRA FERRIS, THE REvs KETTELL, PECK,
VINCENT, AND OTHERs-CONTINUED EXCITE
MENT.
A large audience were in attendance a! the opening
of the Conference yesterday morning. anxious TO hear
the expected discussion on the Slavery question, az
embodied in the Erie resolutions.
After some preliminary business, the order OF the
day was taken up and the Bishop presented the reso
uons In question adopted July 49, 1882 which request
the Annual Conference TO concur in 80 amending the
general rule on Slavery as 10 read as follows:
being be slavery" The rals reads the buying
and selling Of men, women, and Children with an intention 70
enslave them" p"
A motion was made 10 concur.
The Rev. WIN. II. FERRIS said that he supposed his
brethren would give him credit for being conserva-
tive man. But If he were to glance among the two
divisions Of this Conference he hardly knew where he
shond find the dearest friends the eide Of the Con-
servatves, or among these who might be called the
Progressiyes He hardly thought 1t expedent to act
the Erie resolutions at this time. They were dead
twice dead, and should not be revived. He would
offer, in lieu of Dr. McCintock's, the following re-
solution. Several brethren here called Mr.. Ferris
10 ORDER as the motion had already passed for vote on
the other resolution. At length, however, he was
allowed TO read his preamble and resolution, rs fol-
lows;
Whereas, The NewYork Conference has heretofore defined
ks1sa. The Cincinnati, Providence and Ehs Rules have
failed Of the constitutional msores and any vote thereon
Wh~ea, Our present ue and disciplinary provisions the
subject have been vnouy Interpreted ~ cr,,nr,
Providence and Erie Rules and request the next General Con-
to devise such shall clearly prohibit all slave
holding for mercenary or selfish purposes
In Offering these resolutions, the speaker said he had
to grind. But we were too apt to allow politics
to interfere with religion. There was no difference OF
What should be prohibited Why, of conrse that
species of slaveholdng which could not come under
the class OF benevolence; which was distinctly Tor
mercenory purposes.
n 4 I. L. H.
meant TO intimate that he Church did encourage mer-
cenaTy sl6veholdiDgl
The BISHOP would again remind brethren that on
such questions these, where strong conscientious
feelings entertained great care must be taken to
avoid harfh and uncbristian conduct. de earnestly
enreated them 10 assist him In preserving order during
he discussions of the day.
"Tbe Rev. VIZ. H. FERRIS continued He did not
mean intimate that the rule Of the Church encour-
sced mercenary slavehoding but it was liable TO be
so srued. The buy ing of slaves was not neces
earily a crime, but il was the buying, selling, and
transferring Of men, women and children 10 De USED
in Slavery "To be used in Slavery"-what did that
cIsnse meant He proposed himself TO throw his vote
for some rule which would define more distinctly the
evil to be summed Now the rule he proposed to sub
spte for the defunct Erie resolution met the want
Here the speaker read his resolution again. Now,
what brother would not vote for that He thought
great deal of time and strength might be saved II they
Would send TO Buffalo their best men-men OF all
stripes and opinions in whose integrity and conscen-
General Conference would take some action, and send
Il back TO them, which would answer the demands OF
the dav. To stand perfectly still on the subject Of
Slavery, with the tide sweeping all around Them was
impossible He felt it So and should speak the truth
and fear not There came to US the voice OF 3O0OU0O
human beings from the South, waiting in serfdom and
bondage. Il might be easy thing 10 forget their
suferipg but 10 whom would they look fof sympathy
uplese from the Church of God al the North and to
what branch of the Church sooner than that founded
nv John Wesley
Rev. ]. u. Nichols wished to know If motion
would be necessary 10 get this substitute before the
Conference.
The Bishop said the fret question woud be on the
acceptance of the Substitute without any motion being
necessary in Che premises.
The SECRETARY read the record which involved 1t.
The Rev Ira FERRIS thought the Record was
wrong and should be corrected.
The Rev. Mr.. CLARK undertook 10 speak, pet !ne
floor was claimed by Mr. Wood. Some confusion
arose and the Bishops calm voice was again heard
pouring oil upon the troubled troubled waters.
Mr. WooD thought that the Conference had voted to
proceed by calling the Yeas and Nays.
The Rev. l.. w. PICKS said the matter was OF such i'm.
portance that gained time by taking it into full and
calm confederation. The question was now on Bro.
which prompted the offering of this substitute. He
did not design yesterday TO say that this was test
question, but be did mean TO say that free debate
should be allowed and no epithets branded upona
10 be called Pro Slavery, because he was not willing
10 alter the Discipline Of the Church. His brother had
said that the Slavery rule, ii Stood was too in
| definite; that it favored Slavery.
The Rev. WIN. II. FERRIS interrupted the speaker
to say that he had expressly said that the rule was in
tended to prohibit Slavery, but that its construction
| was unfortunate.
Mr. PECK said that il mattered little The saving
claufe of the rule the final one-the words with
the intention to enslave." Nothing but contemplate
quibbIe which would violate the spirit of the English
language, could miscons'rue the rule. The tendency
of all theee controversies was throw further
apart IL 1884, the Church stood about right on this
subject. Since then, the North had gone to one ex
IRENE, and the South driven TO the other. Now,
in few yeaIs Providence would decide this question.
Let leave II to God The union Of the Church hung
upon this point. Ii we 20 more strongly against Sla
very we throw q gloom over the whole Southern
Church They would best subserve the broad interests
of the whole Church. and Of the slaves themselves, by
not attempting to force their views upon brethren
throughout the Southern States For the sake of both
the slave and master he willing TO forbear and TO
eDdeavor 10 harmOniZe all sides.
Tie Rev. A. c. Foss moved that speakers be limited
TO fifteen minutes each Considerable opposition was
made and the motion was finally withdrawn.
The Rev. IRA FERRIS said the Erie )lution came
up for them TO act upon. If they did not act upon it,
their voice would be unheard at the General Center
ence, and they would be nulity there. In the sub
situte offered, there something very congenial TO
his feelings and had it como up disconnected from the
Erie resolution, he and others would gladly 60 for 1t.
ana yet ne ulu not WITH the new 1Ofk OOucIenco 70
stand cipher at Buffalo. For this reason, the
Substitute must be laid aside and the Erie resolution
acted upon separately Then they would pass Bro. w.
H. Ferris's resolution cordially.
DIR. McCLrsrocK made some remarks in relation TO
the Revs. Ira and VIM. Fl. Ferris these gentlemen
brothers only in Christi in which the two names were
peculiarly mingled that was difficult to understand
the Doctors precise meaning.
The Rev. l.. NJ VINCENT thought that, although the
Erie Rule was dead, it was not yet buried, and he
wanted 10 barry it. Alter that ceremony was over, he
would vote for Bro. Fsrrss substitute with cordial
heart They wouldn't know the strength Of sentiment
In relation the Erie Rua md ga vota