Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-05-22
Meatipp of the Conservatives.
From the Buffalo Commercial Adrortisc

the Daily Advocate of yesterday morning, a
meeting of the Minister'S and Laymcn's
Union of the Methodist Episcopal Church
was held at the Old Court House, last even
ing, for the purpose tof taking action in OPP
position to the proposed change of the Cen
eral rule on the subject of Slavery.
The attendance was>>qulte respectable,
and comprised many of the ablest minds
among the clergy and laity belonging to the
| NJ f. Church, to be found in the land, inclu-
ding several members of the General Confer
encc. Representatives were present from
all parts of the country.
The Minister'S and Lavmcn's Union was
| formed about year ago in New York, and
is composed entirely of conservative elements.
whose object is to resist the further aglta-
| ton of the slavery question, and to preserve
the Discipline and Doctrines Of the Church
as they now are.
Rev. DR.. Kennedy, of New Haven, one
of the Fice-Presdents of the Union, took the
Chair.
The meeting was opened with prayer by
Rev. James Riddle, of Delaware, after which
Rev. James Merwin was chosen Secretary.
Rev. DR.. Geo. Il. Crooks, of New York
the meeting was an interchange of opinion
in view of the great contingency which was
likely to happen. He thought there was
something almost Providential i'll the organ
ization OF this Union, the original object of
which was the accomplishment of Il purely
local purpose. Circumstances, however,
soon occurred which rendered it necessary
for them to change the composition of the
Union, and to extend the sphere of its oper-
atoms with IL view To resist the proposed
change OF the rule in regard to slavery, and
thus preserve the unity of the church which
they so much loved, and protect as far as in
their power their brethren of the border
Conferences. They had met with much OPP
position and unfair treatment from those
who were in favor of the proposed change,
and it became necessary for them to act with
Il mutual understanding in opposition to tho
wild spirit OF fanaticism which threatened
such serious consequences to the church,
Another four years OF intense excitement was
before them The influence of this Union
had been felt far and wide, and he believed
that II full understanding of the case was
had Il vast ma Iorty Of the church would be
found opposed to this violent innoyation.--
He had no doubt the members of all the Dor
der and Southern Conferences would to u
man sustain them. He had been in all those
localities, and found the people universally
opposed to the rash schemes of ultraism.-
Applause. Whether the majority report
of the committee could be carried or
not, he would not undertake to say, but he
believed that, il the members of the Confer
ence would act independent Of party intlu-
ence and Of selfish aims, they would be unan-
,mously opposed to any dissolution OF the
church. They would be willing to let the
Discipline remain. antlslavery rs it is, and
allow the old Methodist church to stand
where she has always stood. Loud APP
plausc.
GA motion of Mr.. Gilbert, committee
consisting of Reverend Drs Crooks, of n.
Y. Hunter, of Va, J. p. Cook, of Boston,
ministers, and MesSrS Geo. Munman, of
Baltimore, and p. NJ. Eosburgh, of Buffalo,
iaymen, were appointed to report resolu-
tiuns expressive of the sense Of this meeting.
During the absence of the Committee the
meeting was addressed by Rev. DR.. Slicer, Of
the Fast Baltimore Conference, composed
partly of Maryland and Pennsylvania. DR..
5. said he had yet to hear of any man, wo-
man or child in his Conference who was in
favor of changing the rules. Why was the
Constitution of the United States So general
" acgticsced in from Aroostook to the Rio
Grandc, and from the Atlantic to the Paci
tic? Because they regarded it as the palla-
dunn of their liberty. There was not man
in the Union rash enough to propose
change in the Constitution. The discipline
of the NJ. +. Church us it is, was the palla-
dunn of that Church, and it was all-impor-
taut that it should be maintained as it is,
the same under which anti-siavcry Metho-
diSln had been preached at the South for
fifty years. They wished therule to remain
rs it is, without the dotting of an i, or the
crossing Of Il t. More than this they did not
require, and less than this, by Gods help,
they would not submit to. Applause. =
"Them was his sentiments"
Professor Fletcher, of Indiana, followed,
and said he had been shown letter to-day,
by IA delegate in the General Conference, To
IL paper AT the West, in which it was stated
that he prot I. had arrived here to oppose
the change Of the rule, and the writer
thought 1t was great business for Il Republl-
can candidate for the office of Superlnten-
dent Of public Instruction, in Indiana, to
thus favor the pru-stavery canse. lie was
al antl-siayery man to the backbone, ana
represented a strong anti-slayery sentiment
at home; but he was utterly opposed to the
destruction of the strongest anti->layery IN
Huence WI n had ever existed in this
countrywide influence Of the Methodist
Church Applause. His constituents were
mostly people from the slave States, who
had left the South because they were oppos
ed to slavery, and they would not endorse
any action which would separate them from
their fathers and brethren Of the SOUTH
Mr.. /. then reviewed ut some length, the
position of the Church in regard to a lay
delegation, and said that he did not believe
that the clergy of the General Conference
truly represented the sentiment Of the laity
on this question. They had no right to
speak for the great body of the Church on a
question vitality affecting its interests
He hoped the time would come when the
voice of the laity should be heard; when
those who formed the very foundation of the
structure would be regarded as of some con
sequence, and he believed that if that voice
could be heard now, it would be emphatic
against any action which should lead to
division OF the Church, and utterly destroy
It's influence for good in all future time in
behalf of the cause ofhuman freedom.
He was followed by the Rev DR.. Bond, of
10 L.. -. 4.