Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-03-10
Baltimore Annual Conference.

"lour Committee, 10 whom has been re-
ferred the memorials from several Of the APP
pointments in our Conference on the sub
ject OF slavery, beg leave to make the follow
ing report"
The said memorials relate to Hyee distinct
points, viz: The expunging Of the rule on
slavery, the dissolution Of our connection with
the Northern Conferences, and the ineessant
agitation of the slavery question in our peri
odical literature.
We recognize in all our members the right
to hold, and fully toeXpresS their sentiments
on all these subjects, and we are highly graf
flied with the affection and loyalty to our
Conference which the memorials BREATHE
We also know, and painfully feel the pres
sure which they have lately been made to sui
fer upon the question, which is the main sub
iect Of their appeal % Us. Bot, at tie same
time, our conviction is clear, that We can on
" stand as Church, nay, that we can only
maintain our existence - Conference, on
the ground of the discipline as it is admins.
tered by rs, neither yielding 70 the demands
ST extremists in the North Or South.
We are satisfied, that should we give ex-
preston to some Of the opinions, which our
dear brethren suggested III the memorials re-
/ ferred to, we should produce within the
bounds Of our Conference, and even in Nir-
ginia, dissatisfaction much greater than that
which they now seek to allay.
As to separation from the Methodist
\ Episcopal Church, We beg leave to say that
/ this Conference has already declared what, in
their opinion, would be just cause for sew
| erance yiz-Any violation of our ,Tyhts, as
now held under thfdiscipline. This We have
said, time and again and our brethren, the
memoriaistS, know, that for these rights We
have always earnestly and faithfully cOnten-
! ded Our whole church il the bounds II our
Conference has our solemn pledge, and our
brethren in the North are we'll acquainted
with our oft repeated declarations
| In reference to the character Of our litera-
ture alluded 20, while we deeply deplorc the
fact that it has, in some instances, become
such as We can neither sanction nor circulate;
vet we are glad to know, as far as the news
paper press j. concerned we have an advo-
cate of our own 1T Baltimore, in the ability
on whose editor and In his fidelity To our in
tcrests We can implicitly contide
There is another fact which We beg leave
to mention. The country il now unusually
agitated upon the question II slavery. and the
dissolution of tile Union is spoken of with a
freedom, and even sought III some quarters
with an cagerncss that most painfully shocks
our feelings Of patriotism God forbid that
this confederation 81 States should ever ~
aught to aid Or promote these reasonable de-
signs.
And it is our deliberate conviction that
another division Of the Church would have q
fearful tendency in that direction. a pre-
sent there is not Church in the land, whose
governments strongly conncxiunal which is
| divided by strictly State lines; notone. Ard
We cannot but believe that any such segura-
ton must weaken the bonds which " happily
hold as together as 4 nation
III the two sections Of the Union cannot
bold together as Christians, will they beabe
to do il III citizens and civilians?
While we, therefore, deeply sympathise
with cur brethren, the memorialists, in the
troubles which they aIlegc are upon them,
we would ailectionately remind them that the
General Conference is the place where all
such memorials should be addressed
body possessing the Soie legisiatire authority
Of the Church, the Annual Conferences being
clothed ouiY with ADMINISTRATIVE and jHdisj-
az functions
In view Of the foregoing considerations,
your Committee recommend the adoption II
the following resolutions:
Resolved, lSt.- That we sincerely dcplore
the agitation Of the slavery question both il
The Church and State, and earnestly hope
and teryently pray that this discrclitabie
and disastrous strife may speedily cease
Resolved, 2d-That this Conference dis
claims having the ieaSt xympQtiv with aboli-
tionsm On the contrary, Ne are determin-
cd not 10 hold connection with any Ecclesias-
neal body that makes Notwithstanding con
ditou 81 membership in the Church, and that
we are opposed y any inquisition upon the
motives underlying the relation Of master
and slave.
Resolved, 3d.-fhat the subject 81 slavery
should he committed exclusively to tile juri,-
iicyion Of the respective Conference in which
it may be found to exist
Resolved, 4th.-Ihat nO action Of tile Gen
nrnl Conference can influence ~ 10 violate
our rrinc;nIes ana nractinc. 4. Indicated Il
.l ,,. I,..I,n,;,, Nil .;rI
- 80 IL 80 80
Stahu w VIZ tlSu'S ~" interests " ohv l'eO-
pie 10 tile last extremity.
Resolved, 5th.-Ihat our mission, us min
listers 81 the New Testament, i to preach the
Gospel ot the Son Of God, both % master and
slave, and 70 devote ourselves wholly 70
our appropriate work 81 winning souls r.
Christ.
N4e IF.l " NrvEKkF s.I.,VF1