Smyrna times., 1860-08-16
Abolition Position of the Methodist
Episcopal Church.
Or. HAvEs on rHn Sew cHArrRR.


Mr.. EoIroR 81 send you. for publication in
your paper, an outspoken. honest expositioR of
the New Discipline, in reference to slavery. by |
DR.. Haven, in recent editorial In Zion's
Herald. DIR. Haven was prominent member
of the General Conferences at Buffalo, and acted
with the majority on this subject.
He says: aSillK IL gSl
/" Now look again at the present cha pier and
note it's direelness, its breyity, its point.
" But we are told I" il is declaratory and adj
visory. True enough, il is !; what lhen!, IT,
does declare the doctrine of the M. E. Church
it does advise ell ministers and societies TO en-
force and obey the doctrines of the M. E.
Church on slavery; what then! sal But IL is
not law II what then is new law necessary
when all the old law that is needed exists r.
The chapter says that buying. selling and
holding slaves, is contrary 20 laos already er-
fstiag. What is the need of new laws then
But why not pass a new law = Because il
would be entirely superhuous to do so. AS
4 much as 10 give man two heads. Had the
General Conference passed new law, il might
have been pleaded as Justification OF church
i divisions; il therefore declared the true mean
Ing OF OLD Law. E N t4ssr5Esfl y 93a0as)9t
A The General Conference 10 she highest ju-
dicatory of the nj. E. Church, and this Supreme
Court has decided that holding human beings
as chattels, OF property, is contrary TO the BIZ
Bile, and contrary TO the fundamental law of the
. church already existing. Ofcourse that dec
laration Itself ID not law, it il a judicial deci-
sion.' 1t is "decaratory and advisory" Il
declares what the old law MEANS and advises
all to obey it. Let them disobey il at their
hazard. Ifanybody now wishes TO know what
|, the OLD LAW according 10 the new CHATTER
. really means, let them get up case. Expel q
/ minister or member for sbaying, selling or
|, holding human being to be used as chat.
TEL" let an appeal be made to an Annual Con-
> ference, and from that TO the General Confer
D ence, and we hazard our reputation on it, the
4 General Conference will decide without hesila.
. ton tnat the expulsion Of minister or member
for buying, selling, or holding slave is legal
. and right. IL can have no other meaning, and
q no body really believes shat IL has.
: We are assonished at the apparent earnest
!, ness with which a few dull minds seem to bs
poring over this new brief chapter, TO find ou
whether it is law or not. We have few ole
9 spelling books and dictionaries that we. wouIs
10 gladly lend them. What difference does I
make what YOU call il? 1t 10 the doctrine 0
the Methodist Episcopal Church. II is par
& of the Discipline. The General Conferenc,
, says, By solemn vote, that that is the meanin.
e of the Bible, that il is the meaning Of the Gold
10 en- Rule, and that is the meaning of our Gen
" eral Rule that forbids doing harm. Now, then
!. if an Annual Conference allows minister {
: buy, SELL or hold slave, or if minister 0
- church allows member to buy, sell or hold
D. slave, they do what the Discipline ofthe M. l
!" Church declares is contrary 10 it's own Rules
ar to the Golden Rule. and to the laws OF natur
). and Of God. What more could the Conferenc
IA tn{.~