The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-04-14
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CONFERENCES.

Third Days Proceedings q the New
York Conference Of the Methodist Epis-
copsl Church-ExcAtink Discussion sn
the Slavery Question: lavcholdtng .
Test to Membership I'm the church
Speeehes OF the Rev. Messrs. Ferris,
Peek, Kettell, Brown ana Others-The
Discussien to be Resumed,
&c., &C., SC.
The Conference met yesterday morning, and after the
ransaton Of preliminary business the special order
OF the day called up, namely the following resolu
TONS
RESOLUTIONS
Inc following resolutions we're adopted by the Erie
annual conference, At It's session in BrooSve, Pa, July
Resolved, By the Erie Annual Conference, in confe-
renee tna the Annual and General Conference
be requested 10 concur In 80 amending the rule
slavery, that It shall read folows:-"rhe buyinp
selling holding or transferring OF any human being be
Resolved, That we mend the suspension OF the
fourth restrictive rule, for the purpose specified in the
Resolved That bishops be- and they hereby re-
spec,uy requested present the foregoing resolutions
to all the OF the Methodist Episcopal
church for their concurrence. L. d. WILLIAMS,
Secretary Of the Erie Annual Conference
MEANWHILE, July 25, 1859
was moved and seconded that the Conference
in the above resolutions.
Rev ". q. FERRIS said, in presenting amendment. 70
them that he had friends among the conservative" aud
tive which actuated him in offering the amendment
desire 10 subserve the best interests Of the church and Of
the brethren in bondage. He thought they pre-
pared take direct upon the Erie resolution and
It would be waste Of powder to do After thing
twice dead and pucked up by the roots after some
ferences had had this patient in hand and had admins
tered to until the breath OF life gone it unfair to
press TO VOTE and insist that should administer
another dose after the child was dead He proposed to
offer as substitute the following
whereas, The New York Conference has heretofore
depned s position on the question slavery by repeated
Votes and whereas the Cincinnati, Providence and Erie
rules have failed Of Constitutional majority any vots
present rule and disciplinary provisions on the subject
have been varously Interpreted therefore,
Resolved, That hereby decline scy upon the Erie
rule and reqsest the General Conference 10 devise
such measures shall clearly prohibit AL saveholdng
for mercenary and selfish purposes W FERRIS
Mr.. FERRIS con,inued-H he offered II a. q friendly way
Of settling the whole question: Tor he could why
they could not harmonic for his resolution On
the question Of slavery he very much inclined
70 think that there less difference Of opinion
than would appear on the subject They apt 70 let
side ssues control their action Should not the church
prohibit all that kind Of slayeholdng which was
cenRry in it's character which for the parp0se OF
ganS Was right In them as . Christian Cnurch and
Christian ministers to vote in favor Of sustaining the
ZION 81 savehocer and slave in the Christian church
when Dad 10 believe that that relation existed
based upon purposes OF gan9 He he speake confessed
be could Lot sanction any Of that kind ia the
church, aud be bad supposed that majority Of
the fe~ York Conference would sanction II at ALI Hshad
supposed that their opinions directly the other wav
that cir honest conscientious aim was To strife
out Of the Methodist Church thew had The
TO co IT, all that Kind OF eavehoidng which did come
under tbe Class of benevoence
Rev Mr.. IRA FERRIS inquired if the speaker believed
that the discipline sanctioned mercenary savehoidng
1t die not seem 70 him that the church did sanction mer
cerary slaveholdipg.
The BISHOP suggested that interruption should be
made but that the discussion should be conducted in
bIothNfly and Christian spirit.
Mr.. HRR replied, be Old not say that the rule
save 1o'ang ne never believed It
rule CT the discipline had derent interpretations in dHe.
rent localities They should have distinct rule express
what the original rule intended to say but unfortunately
did Lot say. difficult for him to und srs,and the
meaning Of ,be latter clauEe Did that we were not
TO transfer bohdmen from another or that We
were not to sell men, and children? He confessed
The rule WAS not clear He thought that every member
stNute Annual Conferences the places to esta
blsh rules It was better that the action should originate
the General Conferences, where the whole church was
represented then let go to the Annual Conference for
ceA Of discussion. He would not d,aw n nasSs
lines and select men side Of that
line. but take out OF the Conferences our best men
who delighted to honor God and sought do tina. which
still the question Of slavery where the tide was sweep
ing around out Of the question The prospect of
the question What the Conference ought to do was to
ADOPT tome resolution that would express the general
opinion Of the Conference and send up to the General
Conference Tor action. There 10 voice OF arneu
taon from the South, borne from three millions OF
our brethren ia bondage It might be easy matter
here. amid the Injuries Of this great city, the midst Of
commerce and the business Of le forget that voice Of
wailDg But the Church Of God sent back no respon
answer may come from the ChrissnChurch from what
branch Of The church could with more propriety
than om that branch tina. was honoed BY John Wesley
btcanae The Erie resolution had already failed Of
tutonal majority.
substitute.
Mr. woop inquired Of the President what the motion was
before Mr.. Ferris made hs speech
The BISHOP replied that the first resolution was read
and motion 70 adopt II by yeas and nays carried
Rev. L. W. PECK said that this matter Of 90 much
full consideration. There ,houd be no party lines in the
Conference butevery brother ought to have the privilege
e as co S0
slavery to him or to other brethren he wished to say
that in the latter clause of the rule the words "ntenton to
ensave" fixed the meaning of the rule. The spirit OF It
was against slavery and the spirit Of the Law be
taken So far the meaning Of the words the Discipline
any way this rule wrong purpose he did not
with to charge the fathers Of the Church not knowing
s Ss Of ssrs nas hin
would have = tendency 70 weaken the rule.
the %
vas 70 look 10 the other extreme. The question was
.helher should drive the South into wrong position
by going to an extreme at the North whether we should
take stand middle ground be determined to do
right, whatever be the consequences-that will keep
Of the greatest founders Of anti slavery "n few
years Providence will decide that question" that were
the let WATCH said the speaker the indications of
Providence do let US take wrong action The rule
as was good enough. he was opposed to the sub.
stute on the ground that did not answer the purpose
for which it was proposed This question had treat
bearing upon the country. If the church was divided
again, threw slavery into dark shade at the South,
and we gave up the great Baltimore Conference,
We should take into consideration the welfare Of the whole
church. he could wish slavery botted out and that
thought would subserve the great Of human free
dom more to hold correct sentiments himself but not to
force their Southern brethren into action By 90 doing
would drive them further into slavery The question
was how eha we best subserve the interests the saye
Shall we do by denounciDg the masters without dis
elimination, or by taking legislative policy
that will drive those shareholders already in our church
to desperation, and to extreme acuonP or shall we sub
serve the interests OF these millions Of bondmen some OF
whom already pleased with the light Of the Cospe
We will take our position by the slave, and Is mem.