Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-05-24

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The slavery Question in the Methodist
Church.
Some of our readers may not be informed
of the exact complexion Of the question
which now threatens another division in this
church. The General Rule of the Church
for more than half century has condemned
"the buying OF selling of men, women or
children with an intention to enslave them"
This is open to ss great latitude Of construc-
ton as the resolutions OF political parties on
this subject. 1t may reasonably be claimed
that it does not prohibit the buying and SELL
ing Of those already enslaved; therefore, that
il refers only to the African slave-trade.
Il has been so construed at the South. The
majority of the Committee on Slavery in the
General Conference now in session at Buff
falo, have reported in favor Of amending
the rule so that it shall read: "The buy
ing, selling, or holding of men, women or
children with an intention to enslave them"
This is intended to prohibit slave-holding,
except that which may be undertaken for the
purpose Of emancipation, or that which it
may be impossible to get rid of Immediately
on account of laws in some of the States which
prohibit emancipation. The Rule with this
amendment would still be liable to different
interpretations but the intent is to prevent
slaye-holding entirely. As there is a ques-
tion as to thepower of the General Conference
to make this amendment, without the con-
currenee of the Annual Conferences, the
action reported by the majority,of the Com
mittee is recommendatory only. The report is
sustained by strong argument. The mi
nority of the Committee also made a forcible
argument against any change in the Disci-
pline. Thirty members out of forty-seven of
the Committee were in favor of the majority
report.
It is difficult to see any good that can be
accomplished by making the Discipline any
more radical against slavery, though it is easy
to see that the extent to which il has gone
before, gives the radical element an argument
ative lever which can hardly be resisted. A
Church which "bears testimony against
slavery Ito use the language of the Confer
ence, cannot exist at the South. If the Church
pits itself squarely against slavery it is the
Church that must succumb while slavery will
not be shaken in the least Therefore the result
of its testimony will be that the Church must
abandon the field. Can any one point out any
good that will be accomplished by that kind of
testimony? Before the Methodist Church
resolves on n course so momentous in its con-
sequences, it had better consider well whether
it is impregnably founded on that authority
which it recognizes as the sufficient rule OF
faith and practice. II would be taking q
stand greatly in advance of the practice of the
Patriarehs when they were guided by in
sirnatia.,s- ,1;s,ootfy nUm neaven; also in ad
vance of Christ and his Apostles, although
servitude, not essentially different from
American slavery, was much more extended
domestic relation in the countries in which
they preached, than it is in this country. WI
are aware that the rule of Ohrist-"All thing
whatsoever We would that men should do unit,
you, do ye even SO unto them," is quoted
against slavery as well as the law-"Thou
shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" These
were the foundation ofthe argument ofthe ma
jority of the committee, but similar applica-
ton would abolish all family discipline and
tha nf oh aAae
by wealth and poverty. An unruly chile
might quote the golden rule against the ap
plication of the rod, and hereditary begga
might arraign the inheritor of wealth for no
doing as he would be done by and sharing
with him. 1t certainly is not doing as one
would be done by for a man of great wealth
to allow his equally worthy brother-man tc
wear out his life in penury, yet would any
religious organization venture to strike sucl
blow at the foundations of society as thi
application would be? Its application t,
slavery is equally f,llacious and aperversion
If the master does what he believes to be bes
for the servant, he truly does as he would b,
done by. The different conditions and dcapaci
ties of the servants must be taken into tn,
account. We do not give to women the SAM
liberty and rights that men enjoy. 1t ma.
quite as justly be said that we do not do I,
them as we would that they should do to us
yet we carry out the injunction of st. Pau
that the woman should be subject to tn
man. A perversion of the rule of Christ, il
order TO make it abolish slavery, would ais,
abolish parental and conjugal restraint, tn
divinely- y-ordained inferiority of women, an,
even legal penalties,
But, if it is the duty of the Church TO bea
this testimony, that duty viii not be fulfille
by abandoning the field, and bearing thei
testimony in safe, place, where ther
is no slavery to testify against. This
is not the way the noble army of maj
tyrs bore their testimony. "The seed (
the Church" would never have been SOW
by that kind of cultivation. When ii
Apostles were commanded not to preacl
they replied, "We ought to obey God rathC
than man, they did not leave the field an
preach from safe distance, but preached an
met the consequences. If it is a Christia
duty to bear testimony against slavery, thi
duty can only be discharged where the ev
exists; and surely no Church is going to tax
the ground that any danger should drive
from its duty.