Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-11-30
eeM. H. Co

, North. 1t is not our business to discuss the
internal polity of any ecclesiastical associa-
ton. unless that polity breaks through the
legitimate limits of the church, and strays
from the proper sphere of its jurisdiction. =
We believe that cardinal wrong is perpet-
uated by the NJ. E. Church in retaining in
its discipline the chapter on slavery, and
that it is a palpable, injurious and insulting
| (to the South) departure from the true and
only mission of the Gospel to incorporate
within its rules of church government any
feature intermeddling with the political ques-
tons Of the day total disregard of the en-
lightened and catholic doctrines of our Bill
Of Rights, calling for the condemnation of
all true friends Of Bible Religion. We are
we'll convinced that the anti-slavery clause
in the discipline would never have found its
way there could Wesley have seen down the
vista of time to the present; for it has done
more to cramp the energies of the church,
paralyze the efforts of the ministry. smother
the spirit of christian love, and send broad
cast the seeds of dissension, than all other
agencies combined. It originated in that
spirit which Wiberforce sent blazing and
burning through England, whose aim was
the suppression Of the Slave Trade, and the
emancipation of slaves in the Sea Island
colonies of Great Britain. Had it been
''drempt of" Sin the philosophy" Of the
founder of the NJ. e. Church, that the in
stitution of slavery would be recognized in
the fundamental law Of free government,
interviewer into the social fabric of 6, O0O,-
600 Of people, and converted into an agen-
cy of religious enlightenment and christian
un foldment-it never would have found a
Judgement in a canonical cod of any church.
1t was only permitted to remain there,
| from the fact that it lay dormant until 1914.
when few men, who had "stolcn the livery
of heaven to serve the devil in" catching
the spirit of intolerant fanaticism which
originated beneath the miasmatic vapors of
Northern sky, deposed from the Bishop
rie and expelled from the Church, Rev. Mr..
Andrews, of Georgia, because his wife hap
pened to hold in her right and beyond his
control, negro slaves. This divided the
church-crippled its moral power, epgender-
ed the spirit of anti-christ, and raised up
two competing branches, rivals for worldly
glory, and more ambitious for the praises
and Concurrence of men, than the diesemi~
nation of the true doctrine of genuine reli-
gon.
1t is a sufficient reply to our correspon-
dent to point to the oneness of sentiment
that has found expression throughout Vir-
gnia in favor Of separation of the Balti-
more Conference from the General Confer
ence. 1t is the spirit Of insulted loyalty to
the institutions Of Virginia and the South
that is thus bursting forth and demanding
division. The miserable subterfuge that the
chapter Of the General Conference is 'sadvi-
sorry and not Statutory" harmonises with
the insidious teachings and practice of those
who are stealthily seeking to undermine the
institution of slavery. Too timid and un-
candid to declare by statutory provision
(even if this version were admissible) that
Slavery" is an '.evil" and should be "cx-
tirpatcd," they the better accomplish their
purpose by secretly whispering in the ear
that it is an evil, and that they adyise its
''extirpation." We are candid in the opin-
ion that every man in Virginia who subscli-
hes to this chapter, either as statutory or
ado'sorg provision, is subject to a criminal
prosecution, and should be held to stern
and strict accountability to the law.
We are gratifed at the growing dissatis-
faction, within the jurisdiction of the Balti-
more Conference in Virginia, with the anti
slavery chapter in the Methodist Discipline.
The most intelligent and best informed min
listers in the Church clearly see that it is the
great stubbling block in the onward march
Of Methodistism. It is the ''gorgon dire"
whose ''hideous 'front.' is reared at eyerv
step Of advancement, sending back barren
and llfeless the seeds Of eternal truth that
are strewn abroad over the country. No
man. we care not dow &c cca ai and erud;te be
may be, can defend the retention, in the can
ODs of the church of this olious cl.uco r.
is subversive of aud nimical to constitutional
loyalty, and contravenes the whole design
and mission Of the Church of Christ. How
can any man be loyal to the State of Virgil
MIA while, under the sanction and iuiune-
ton of his church ritual, he is sowing the
seeds of instruction, rapine and murder in
IL our midst? To modify these expressions
would be to divest the advisory interpreta-
ton of the chapter Gifts Legitimate meaning,
and probably do injustice to its author!
The time has come for the Baltimore Con-
ference to come out from the communicating
association Of the fanatical ''higher law" dis
ciplcs Of the North-to assume her true DO
sition as a great exponent and repository
Of Bible Religlon-~and not the alder
and abettor Of an unconstitutional heresy.
which sprung into existence at a time when
neither the Constitution of the United States
or the Bill of Rights of Virginia were known
to the Fathers Of Methodism. Let her do
THIS, and the road to her triumphs will have