Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-03-13

BALmMoRE CONFERENCE AND SLAvERY.-At
the recent session of the Baltimore Conference
the Bishop presented to the Conference memo
rails from the following places: blacksourg
circuit, East Rockingham circuit, Stanton sta
ton, Augusta circuit, Churchville circuit, Lex
ington station and Rockbridge circuit. The
memorials refer to the Slavery question and TO
the unpleasant and unjust position 10 which
they are placed, it being asserted by the South
ern Church that they are tainted with Adolf
tionism, whilst the Northern branch of the
Church, with which they are connected, give
grounds for these charges, in the fact that they
are constantly declaring that the Baltimore Con-
terence is entirely agreed with the Northern
Church in their intense hatred of slavery, but
.re prevented, through policy, from declaring
such hostility.
The memorialists say they have full confidence
in the soundness of the members of the Balti-
more Conference, and will remember through
life the kind lessons of religious instructions re-
ceived at their hands. These charges have, how
ever, weakened the effectiveness OF the Church,
and are daily growing more intolerable. The
New York Christian Advocate is referred to,
and its sentiments on the slavery question de-
olared, in the opinion of the memorialists, to be
)dlous. The memorial concludes with an ap-
zeal to the Baltimore Conference to come out
from the Northern abolition branch OF the Meth
odist Episcopal Church, whose principles are 10
lirect Conflict with the Ministers and members
If the Methodist Church in Virginia, and de-
clares that on the action of the Conference de-
ponds the prospects OF the Church in the Valley
On Wednesday the Committee to which the
memorials were referred, reported preamble
and resolutions, which were unanimously adopt
ed. We give the resolutions:
Resolued, 1st-That we sincerely deplore the
agitation on the slavery question, both in the
Church and State, and earnestly hope and fer
vently pray that this discreditable and disastrous
strife may speedily cease.
| Resolred, 2d.-That this Conference disclaims
having the least sympathy with abolitionism.-,
On the contrary, we are determined not to hold
connection with any Ecclesiastical body that
makes non-slayeholding condition of member
ship in the Church, and that we are opposed te
any inqusition upon the motives underlying the
relation of master and slave.
| Resolced, 3d-That the subject of slavery
should be committed exclusively to the jurisdic
ton of the respective Conference in which il
may be found to exist.
Resolyed, 4M.-That no action of the Genera
Conference can influence US to violate our prn
ciples and practices, as indicated in the forego
ing declarations but that we will stand by The
rights and interests of our people to the last ex
tremity.
Resolued, 5h.-That our mission as Minister.
of the New Testament, is to preach the Gospe
of the Son of God, both to master and slave, and
to devote ourselves wholly to our appropriate
work of winning souls TO Christ
Resozued. 6th-That we solemnly demonstrate
against the continual aggressive discussion of the
slavery question in the newspapers and pe:iod
Gals of the Church.
Resolred, 7M.-That the publishing funds ani
establishments of the Church are common prop
erty, held in tru-t by the General Conference fol
our common and equal use.
Resolred, 8t.-rhat any such use of our com
mon publishing funds, newspapers. periodicals
&C., as precludes our people from the benefits o.
Them, while they are in no false or illegitimatt
relation to the Union, but are faithful to its GOV
tenants, is an abuse of trust.
Among the most important business transact
ed during the meeting was the election of dele
Igates to the General Conference. The following
Ministers were chosen by ballot: Rev. Messrs
Alfred Griffith, John S. Martin, J. B. n. Nor
gan, Thomas Sewell, E. R. Veitch and Norva
Wilson. The General Conference meets in May
next, at Buffalo, N. 7.
a resolution from the Providence Conference
proposing to change the Discipline, so far as t.
forbid slave-holding, was rejected unanimously