Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1860-09-15
Church Meeting.

l.. CUuICU, SHc PbCiuS'O""' W N'SSN"C
afternoon, September ~, 1860, the fol
lowing paper was read and adopted -
Immediately after the passage of the
New Chapter. by The last General Con
ference, IT became evident to all who were
al all conversanl with the state Of public
OF ininn that the great ma orily OF the
members of our Church residing in slave
territory, would be satisfied with nothing
short Of secession from The NJ. L. Church
as al present constituted, and the lorna
ton of an Independent Ecclesiastical Or
ganizalion. Public meetings were held
in all sections Of the work, and almost
without exception The suggestion that
Convention be called TO meet before Con-
ference, was fully sanctioned. The Pre-
siding Elders were called upon TO meet
together in connection with tie Lay
Stewards and designate The time and place
for holding said Convention. They mel
and angular indeed was tie result OF their
meeting. They seem 10 have wholly DIS
regarded the almost universal demand for
a Convention TO assemble before Confer
ence, and called one to meet just on the
heel Of the Conference. For reasons
known only to themselves, they selected
place suited onl y TO small portion OF
our territory, and time suited Tor the
transaction Of no business Of importance
whatever. They seem 10 have been anx-
ious that The Conference be presided over
once more IS northern Bishop, and
that for one year more al least we be pla-
ced al the disposal of northern authority.
Whether this was their purpose or not
sach is the necessary result Of the ar
rangement which they effected. The
arrangement was by no means greeted
with applause, for since ii was announ-
ced there have been three earnest calls for
a Convention before Conference. issued
from respectable quarters. The Harrison
burg District Convention called for Con.
venliOn 10 meet on rislmasday, and
and Loudoun Circuits call
Tor one 10 meet on the 9th Of December
These Circuits call for the meeting OF a
Lay Convention for the psrpose Of coming
TO an agreement with regard TO The wants
Of all the Lsyety in Maryla land and Virgin
ia, embraced in The Baltimore, East Bal.
limore aud Philadelphia Conferences, and
for the further purpose Of laying HE re-
suits OF the Convention before :hese Con-
lerences in The form Of a memorial. The
plan agreed upon by the Presiding Elders
gave no room for any general consuIIa-
hon, but Of necessity limited il 10 the
Layety within the bounds OF our own
Conference. This we are not willing 10
agree 10 because as our action is 10 have
with The interests Of other
Conferences we cannot agree 10 act indie.
pendenly of them unleSs they refuse oil
co operation NTH as. Nothing therefore
ran be more appropriate than this call Ior
a Law Convention. The place cannot be
objected TO. for none can deny lis cOnve-
nience to Virginia and The Eastern and
Western shores Of Maryland. The time
cannot be objected 10 because it is sufii-
;ienlly dislan, for all needful consultation,
and further because i, places before the
Preachers The results Of the deliberations
IF the Convention some time before IEeIi
action will take place, thus giving Them
line for mature deliberation.
Objection has been raised to the fact
hat The Convention is TO be composed OF
lay men alone, but we deem this one OF
Is most redeemlng features. The annu'
al Conference is legally constituted bo'
Iy which the Layety cannot approach
IAN in the capacity Of memoralIs;s, and as
he object Of the Convention is simply to-
nemoriaize the annual Conference, ii
would surely be highly improper FOR the
preachers to constitute portion Of 1t.
Preachers ,criting petitions TO them
,elueS would certainly be something new
under the sun. We do not desire TO
share the privileges and powers which the
preachers possess. but we do UiSh TO er-
'rcise our old right to petition and our
oH right TO consult together about the
matter and manner Of the petitions
,Ohich we determine 10 lay before The
ministry. So clear 10 our minds is the
propriely OF The proposed Convention that
we are alta loss TO accoun, for the oppo-
sliion TO it in certain quarters. Does this
grow out suspicion that the
Layety are too intellectually imbecil to
consult together about their own interests
aud wishes without Tie presence Of cIer-
zeal oily TO direct them, or does il ema.
male from desire to slrsngle all efforts
10 brlng out IN form the true feelings ct
the Church upon the important questions
now agiIaling The membership. Oppose
ton must be induced by one or the other
OF these considerations. There can be no
other conceivable motive for lis existence.