Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-05-11


The methodlss General Conference.
The Methodist Episcopal Church in this
country was first organized in 17s4. A
rule was then adopted forbidding "the buy.
ing and selling men, women and children
with an intention to enslave them" The
rule fell into neglect. The Wesleyan Meth
odists seeded for this and other reasons in
ls43. In 1914, a slayeholding Bishop
from Missouri presented himself at the Gen
eral Conference. A warm contest followed
and the Southern Methodsts seeded, The
Methodist Church South became pro-sla
very Church. The Methodist Church Nortl
anti.slavery. The latter still has over .
thousand Preachers and hundred thousand
members in the border Slave States. This
keeps tho Slavery struggle alive. 1t comes
up in every Conference, and will have to be
met at Buffalo.
The Conference in session at Buffalo is
composed of 22o delegates. In the Confer
ence of 1856 a proposition to make non.
slaveholding test Of membership was car.
ricd by decided majority, but not by a
two-thirds vote. By the constitution of the
Church change in its rules can only be
made upon the recommendation of three
fourths of all the members Of the Annual
Conferencespresentand voting, and the sub
sequent endorsement by vote of two-thirds
of the General Conference, or vice versa,--
Under this provision the measure failed
The contest has been going on since.
The present position of the NJ E. Church
on Slavery is this:
l. The General Rule forbids "buying and selling men
Eomenand children with intention to ensave them.
Under this rule portion of the Church
have claimed that the right to hold slaves is
not inconsistent with the discipline.
2. The Chapter defines Slavery be great evi, an,
asks what shall be done to e1trpate it, 1t forbds AM
travelling minister from holding slaves, requiring thei
emancipation il praccable debars slave holders from Of
fetal station in the church where State laws permit
cpaton and requires that slaves be taught to read
Word Of God and allowed time for attending religion
services without reference to State laws.
At present the Church is divided on thi,
subject into the following classes, each o
which will be strongly represented on thc
floor of the General Conference
l. The Erie proposition asks for change Of the Rul
so as t forbid holding, such Interpretation
declared Gpon the present Rule, shall fully carry
this design.
O. The Providence proposition asks for such change
shall declare the "buyng and selling Of men,
children NTH the intention TO eHsaUe them, inconsisten
with Christianity"
3. The Cincinnati proposition asks for a change in ia
vor of non-slaveholdng with this addition that
saveholding shall not be considered condition of mem
bership.
The vote on the propositions in the vari
GUS Annual Conferences has been received
and will shortly be laid before the Genera
Conference. 1t is understood to stand a.
follows:
FOR THE ERIE RULE.
Erie, Indiana, Iowa,
Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio,
Upper Iowa, West Wisconsin, wyoming
FOR THE PROVIDENCE RULE.
Providence. North Ohio, Black River,
East Gcnesee, Minnesota, New England
FOR THE CINCINNATI RULE.
Cincinnati, Maine, New York, Tro,
; Strong Anti-Slavery, but not expressin!
any preference:
Detroit, Kansas ond Nebraska,
New YorkEast, North Indiana,
Northwest Indiana, PEORIA
a Southeast Indiana, South Illinois,
The following Conferences voted agains
7 any change of the rule; but those in Itali
are strong anti-slavery, and regard the pres
ent Rule as sufficient:
Arkansas, Newark Baltimore
! New Jersey, CaiiforHia, Oregon,
Illinois, Pittsburgh Philadelphia,
East baltimore, Kentucky, Virginia,
Missouri, GeHssee.
D Some of the Conferences have endorses
two or more of the propositions at differer
times; one New York, presented an indc
pendent proposition; while most of thos
not endorsing either passed radical resolr
tious on the subject, desiring to sever a
connection with slave holders. There wi
be decided majority in the General Cor
ference under strong progressive Auti-Slf
I very instructions, but no one proposition
! very likely to receive the constitutional mi
jority of two thirds.
!. Four Conferences, viz: Delaware, Roc
o River, Wisconsin and Vermont, have nc
: been heard from.
Eighty-nine memorials were presented o
Friday asking for change in the SLAYER
+ Rule.
/ Three other questions will come prom
II nently before the General Conference
whether the time for which ordained mil
:: listers shall be allowed to remain at any ST
d ton shall be extended to more than tw
IS years; whether the system of Presidin
i Eldership, as it now exists, shall be mod
y , fed or abolished altogether; and wheth,
,e the rules of discipline shall be SO change
a. as to admit lay delegates to Annual ar
g General Conferences.
t The North western Conferences will a,
= that the Book Depository of the church
. Chicago be erected into an independel
10 branch Book Concern, with equal powe
with the branch at Cincinnati. 1t is e
= pected also that an effort will be made
4 consolidate all the publishing interests