The gazette and Democrat. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1860, 1860-05-10

to make more stringent the
rules against slaveholding, in the Ms,ho-
dist Episcopal Church, North, has been
agltated in that body for two or three
years past. Mos of the Conferences ia.
vor such modification; but their recon-
mendations to the General Conference.
now in session at Buffalo, do not agree
as to the precise terms to be adopted In
order that the proposed change may be
better understood, we give the following
from the General rules Of the Societies" !"
in which, among the practices held to be
forbidden by the Word Of God. tie fol-
lowing are specified; "7Hs buying and
selling Of men, women and children, with
an intention TO enSlave Mem."
In a chapter in the Book of Discipline.
is the question, "What shall be done for
the extirpation of Slavery" To which
the following answers are given:
|. We declare that we are as much rs
ever convinced OF the grea, evil of slavery;
therefore, no slaveholt er shall be elig;-
BILE to any official station in our church
hereafter, when the laws of the State in
which he lives will admit of emancipation
and permit the liberated slave to enjoy
freedom.
2, When any travelling preacher be-
comes an owner of slave or slaves, by
any means. he shall forfeit his ministerial
character in our church, unless he exc
cutes. if it be practicable, legal emanci-
patton Of such slaves, con ormably to the
laws oil the State in which he lives.
3. All our preachers shall prudently
enforce upon our members the necessity
OF teaching their slavesto to read the Word
OF Godi and to allow them time to attend
upon the public worship OF God on our
regular days of Divine services.
4. Our colored preachers and official
members shall have all the privileges
which are usual to others in the District
and Quarterly Conferences, where the
usages of the country do not forbid it.
And the Presiding Elder may hold for
them separate District Conference, when
the number Of colored local pteschers
will justify it.
s. The Bishops may employ cOlored
preachers to travel and preach, when
their services are judged necessary; pro-
Vsded, that no one shall be employed with
out having been recommended by the
Quarterly Conference.
The foregoing embodies the presen, po-
sition of the Methodist Ep scopal Church,
North, in relation to slavery. 1t will be
observed that, although slaveholding is
made a disqualification for official station
in the church, it does not exclude for
membership. A strong movement has
been made to extent the prohibition to
membership; but there is a difference
among the advocates as the change, some
desiring prohibitory law in all cases,
and others lavoring discrimination where
slavehOlding is only of temporary char
acter.
TIE annual conferences, during the pas
year have had before them three different
substitutes for the general Rule abov,
quoted. They are as follows:
l. The Cincinnati Resolution:--"Tb,
buying or selling of men. women or chill
dren, or holding them with an inlen tiol
to ase them as SLaues"
2. The Erie Resolutions 1.-THE buy
ing, selling, holding or transferring, o
any human being, to be ayed in Slavery.'
B, The Providence Resolution:-"Slove
holding:--'he buying and selling of men
women and children, with an intention tC
enslave them"
These three amendments, or substitute
are now submitted to the General Con
ference for it's action. That body has re
lerred The SUBJECT to committee on sIa
very, consisting of one member from eacl
delegation, and their report will be locke,
for with interest. AS there are sever.
southern conferences connected with tn
church, north, the movement, if carried
will result in cutting off the slaveholdin
portion Of their members. IL is improb
able, however; that it will be successful
as many sincere anti.slayery men DO br
the propriety of severing their connec
ton with those in the slave States VIII
have dhered 10 the northern church
To amend the rule will required the vote
of two thirds of the dele gates to the Gen
elal Conference. and it must af,erward
be confirmed by the votes Of three fourth
Of the members Of the annual conference
0, S. Journal.
GE~A citizen of Lancaster visited III
studio Of Mr.. JONES, the artist, and o
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