Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-07-07

Ut"
The Irrepressible Conflict in the Methodist
Episcopal Church, begun in Maryland
and Virginia. '' ~ : :

Ano hrepressiDie COnftct In the MethOdin
episcopal Church, begun in Maryland
TO ve Editors Qfthe Daily Prss,i .f
THE new chapter" introduced into the
discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church
by the late General Conference at Buffalo
declaring slavery to be CONTRARY to the laws
OF God and nature, inconsistent with the
golden rule, and with that rule of the disci-
pine which requires the doing of no harm,
and avoiding of evil of every kind, and adj
,g monlshlng preachers and people to- seek the
exterpatlon OF the great evil by all lawful
and christian means'-is producing a tenn
pest of excitement in the two Baltimore
conferences comprising portions of Virginia,
maryland and the Districtof Columbia.
| have before me three numbers of the Bal
tlmore Christian AdDocdtc, edited by DR., 7.
n; Bond, whose columns are nearly filed
WIN eultorlals, communications and resolu-
tions on the subject, most of which condemn
the new chapter" and look to a Separation
OF the churches in the territory referred to,
rom the Methodist Episcopal Church.
| proposition made in the AdUocdte imme-
diately after the adjournment of the General
Conference, to call Convention of Iaymen
and Clergy to consider the question of a sep
aTfIlon ar seems to meet with general favor.
Lne eultor favors 1t. Communications from
| leading members and ministers approye il and
resolutions adopted by circuits, stations and
quarterly conferences, cordially indorse it.
AS specimens of the sentiment preyailinp I
make the following quotations: Rev. w s.
Edwards, Christiansburg, Va, writes: "The
unanimous sentiment in my own charge, and
IN IN the adjoining circuits and stations, is in
iayor OF separation, and as soon as possible.
from the NJ. r. Church in the United States
There is a settled determination not 10
live under it (the Discipline). at3 ..
One OF the best informed and most influen.
tlal citizens OF this community not member
but supporter of our church said to me in
substance, few days ago: "If your Confer
ence does not purge itself from its now un-
doubted abolition connection, you can not
operate and are not worthy to be trusted on
Southern soil. So say numberslp y,
John +. Pethridge, of Calvert County
Nd, closes communication by saying tie
Maryland Methodists .'would prefer rer1ain-
Ing in the old Baltimore Conference. If in
tins crisis she assumes position to which
they. can unblushingly appeal. But if she
declines thus acting it win only be necessary
ior the Church South to send her men over,
disputed possession of the territory" =,
Inc following declaration, signed by two
hundred and thirty-one ministers and lay
men, appears in the Baltimore AdDocnte Of.
23d ult.: "We, the undersigned, ministers
and members of the M. ID. Church, do hereby
enter our solemn and determined protestagainst
any action had by the late General Confer
enc enee on the subject of slavery, that looks,
directly or indirectly, to a change of the
terms of Church-membership."
The 4dUocate referred to contains resolu-
tions adopted by nearly score of congrega-
tlons or Quarterly Conferences, of which the |
following are samples. Waterford and other |
societies resolve "That we do repudiate the |
sentiments OF the new chapter introduced |
INTO the Discipline on that subject (slavery), 1
and Will not submit to it.'' At a meeting Of |
Accomack Circuit, it was "Resolvsd, That we
lind ourselves under the necessity of dissolv- |
ing our connection with the M. E. Church.
as now constituted, as soon as we con- |
cam -r5 f.sl.I3..I- 1f-- ; -
The official members of the Rockbridge
Circuit "ResolVed, That the time has fully |
come for separation of the Baltimore Con-
ference from the Jurisdiction of the General
Conference of the NJ. E. Church." /
The members of Leesburg Station "Re-
sotced, That we disapprove and condemn the
action of the late General Conference, and
declare it to be unconstitutional and oppres-
sive, and that we will not submit to it."'
At meeting of nineteen "pastors of
churches in and around Baltimore City," res
buttons were adopted expressive ofconfdence
in the Baltimore Conference adherinp to
''not to hold connection with any
ecclesiastical body which makes non-slave-
holding condition of .Church-membership."
A writer in the Rockingham (Va.) Register
closes his communication thus: "Must we still
i've objects of suspicion to our nearest neigh
oors, because OF our connection with church
which openly aVoWs itself the most effectual
lbolition organization on earth, and BIAS
9hemously proclaims itself commissioned'o
1od to Danish from America an institution
olerated by the founders of Methodism and
he purchasers of our liberty answer,
No! Already the tocsin of war has been (
ounded. The standard of revolt has been
aised."
The editor of the Baltimore Christian Ad-
ocate, himself warm advocate for a separa- {
ion from the M. e. Church, being fully per-
uaded that the separation will occur without j
he churches in the Conference being divided, 4
Expresses himself in his issue of the Both ult., t
n the following manner: I
The great danger is passed. The lion we a
0 much feared is chained The cloud has t
cen dispersed, and, though we are bounded I
y a narrow horizon, all within it is clear
nd smooth We shall not be broken to r
ieces. The unity of the churches within the r
baltimore Conferences will be maintained. v
herever we, go we will go together. The v
Inference OF opinion among us is not serious c
kind or extent. There are few who v
pprove the action of the General Conference: n
ut, so far as we know, they might hold a
lass meeting in an omnibus, and give seats
} spectators. Even these few approve the I
ction only because they construe differ D
ntly from others. For the present v
e congratulate our readers and we thank s.
cd that we are in mo- danger of divisio7 q
nong ourseLoes." J'