Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-05-22

cd this agitation; they had nothing of tba
kind there, and heard but little about !, ax
cept from other members, but they were ~,
indifferent on the subject. The next div
sion of the Church would not be asect;onal
division. 1t would be division betwesa
good and evil--betwecn the moral influence
of the Church for good, and its moral influen,
for evil. The factionists would find then.
selves in the condition of the man whose corn
was eaten up by the squirrels. The SOUR.
rels always eat the outside rows, and tho
man finally determined he would not plan,
any more outside rows. Laughter If !,
division took place, there would be no mora
outside rows planted by the Church. He
had found many good fellows here at the
North who were in favor of maintaining tbs
integrity and usefulness Of the Methodist
Church as it is. The people of the border
Conferences were satisfied with the disc;.
plne as it is. They did not ask for apv
change. They considered all who believed
in the doctrines contained in that discipline
true Methodists. They of the border were
the Methodist Church, and intended to r..
main 80. He had been told since he arrived
here, that if they did not like the proposed
change, they might slough off: and he had
replied that it was the rotten part which al.
ways sloughedof:. Laughter. They were
sound at the South, and could not sloughed
off. Laughter They felt that they were
sound on the scipline as it is, and intended
to remain SO.
The Rev. Dr. continued at some length in
a similar strain, keeping the audience in
good humor, and making some excellent
points, which should have been heard to be
appreciated. He concluded BY saving that
the South would not submit to any change Of
the rule in regard to slavery, and had pledged
their lives, their fortunes and their sacred
honors to this effect. 1.-THE proposed action
should be taken, they would adopt the New
Testament as discipline, and he honestly
believed they would soon drive The faction.
lists of the North into the great Lakes
Applause.
Rev. Ames Riddle, of Delaware followed.
He had been converted to new idea recent
~. lie had become convinced that "A Law
delegation was necessary to balance the vag
aries Of the clergy. He did not feel as though
he would like to continue with a church
which was governed by men who would d.
vide it in order to carry out a ianatcal idea.
Would they rend this church in twain? He
hoped not. lie hoped they would be able to
put q layman's prop under it, and yet sustain
it in all its strength. He hoped God would
lead the noble ship Of theirs through the
breakers under brighter skies and into stiIler
waters.
The President, DR.. Kennedy, said il every
one would 20 down and ask the white men
of the South, or the free colored men, who
were their best friends, they would say.
LET things alone AZ they are. Our preach
ers here are now accomplishing all thar can
he accomplished. and we want no change. J"
1t was his souls conviction that this was the
prevailing sentiment there.
The venerable DR.. Alfred Griffith, Of Bal
tmore, the oldest member of the General
Conference, then briefly addressed the meet
ing. He said he had yet to learn, after 4
ministry Of sixty years, that the Bible,
which he had read through many times de-
clared slavery to be an evil. lie could not
find a single paragraph or commandment,
either in the Old on New Testament, which
declared human servitude to be a crime
If any such existed he would be glad to find
it, and if such could be shown 10 be of D-
vine origin, he would at once embrace it.
Rev. DR.. Crooks, Chairman Of the Com
mittee then submitted the following re-
port:
Resolved, that we hereby express our ap-
prevail Of the discipline Of the Methodist
Church, as it is, on the subject Of Slavery,
and would deplore any ecclesiastical action
on the part of the General Conference. which
would endanger the peace and unity of the
Church.
Resolved, That while we do not condemn
or oppose free Christian discussion in rela-
ton to our economy, yet it is to be regret
ted that the Church should expeud it, ener-
gies in "strites of words" and acrimonious
controversies, instead of deyoting itself to
the great objects of its mission.
Resolved. That we sympathlze with the
members of our border Conferences and as
they have the well understood pledge of the
Church that they should remain withns I'M
der the discipline as it was and now Is, We
deem it violation of faith and Christian TEL
lowshp to alter the discipline 80 As TO dis
turb their peace or infringe upon their just
rights.
The resolutions were unanimously adop-
ted. after which the meeting adj urned,
subject to the call of the Executive commit
tee.