Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1860-09-22
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: AND SLAVERY.


large and influential denomination, upon pen '''s'
exciting subject of African slavery, = gpe &
which has excited much feeling and deep ~
terest, wherever the Jurisdiction OF tila'
Church, extended over slave territory
For years it has been regarded with suspicion Z
and its influence curtaiIed and its progress
retarded, because of want of confidence
eugendered by it's disciplinary chapter on
slavery, and nothing but the known Q inserSFa-
tis1n of her ministers and the soundness OF
her laity, has enable the Church to retain It's
power and influence IN Yirginia.and Mary
land: At the last session of the Genera
Conference, held at Buffalo, N. VA new
chapter on slavery was adopted, which IN us
tone and provisions, is still more objechonapie
than the original one in the discipline, when
had directed suspicion to the Church, and
which had caused its position to be subject
| of disagreeable, but not unjust speculation
Under these circumstances, it was thought by
some of the best men in the Church, both OF
the ministry and laity (within the bounds OF
the Baltimore Conference that an immedi-
ate separation from the Northern Church
would be necessary, and meetings were held
preparatory to such asfesult More recently,
however, the Baltinsere GenfeSence has seem
ingly relapsed intq an acquiescenco in the
provisions of this zSrchaPter, and we now
find portion of her ministers teaching that
it is the duty of the Conference, notwith-
standing the insult offered by the abolition
lied portion of the Church, to submit to the
insulting, though insidious legislation of the
General Conference. We find the following
report of the proceedings of preachers
meeting held in the city of Baltimore, in the
Sun of the 10Th instant:
CAT Preachers meeting held in Wesley
Chapel, on the oath instant, the following
Preamble and Resolutions were adopted sign
cd, and requested to be published in the Bal
tiInore Christian Advocate, The Sun, The
Rockingham Register, The Methodist, and
the Christaine Advocate and Journal
WHEREAS, The last General Conference
took such action upon the subject of slavery
as is highly offensive to our ministers and
membership, and has produced much excite
ment throughout the bounds of our Confer
ence; and whereas, premature and dangerous
measures are being resorted to as a remedy
which. if successful will involve in an imne-
diate separation from the Methodist Episco-
pal Church; and whereas, i'll so grave a mat
Ter as sundering ourrelations with any branch
of the Church of Christ, we should proceed
| with the greatest caution, and under full
conviction that we stand on sure founda-
ton. and can command ample reasons for the
severance; and whereas, before separation is
determined on, every possible effort should
| be made to adjust ami settle existing difficult
ties, aud restore former peace, friendship and
confidence and whereas, to consummate a
division without such efforts must be injurious
| to both parties; and whereas, reasonable de-
! lay with full declaration OF our position in
regard to the New Chapter, and a proper APP
/ peal under our circumstances to the next Gen
eral Conference, might result in satisfactory
redress Of our grievances; and whereas, it is
| believed that if the conservative element OF
! our Church were fully developed and concen-
| trated, the subject herein set foTh could be
achieved to great extent: therefore.
RcS0lued, That we adopt for Ourselves, and
recommend to our brethren as the basis of
union and effort, the following plan for Con-
ference action, to wit -
First--The Reputation of tie New Chap
I ter as inapplicable to our circumstances and
lnischievous in its effects to our membership:
and therefore no administrator will be prae-
tised under it.
Secondly-That the CONFERENCE declare its
own position on the institution of Slavery,
and the relation of our members to slavehold-
ing
Thirdly-That we insist upbn the control of
this question being left withthe annual con-
ferences respectively within whose bounds it
exists, that thereby its hurtfhl controversies
may cease in the church.
Fourthly-That We go uF to the next Cen
eral Conference with these declarations asked
them to sustain us therein ;if they decline
granting our request. then todemand of them
respectfully peaceabe separation and the
| guaranty of ourpropcrty.
FifthIy-That as the foregoing basis of ac-
I ton clearly defines our position in regard to
the new chapter, and affords present relief
from the embarrassment which might other
wise occasion, and in view of The great spirit
ual and pecuniary interests that would be
jeoparded by an immediate separation, we are
opposed to any disturbance OF our present re-
lation as a conference until the efforts contem-
plated in these proceedings shall have prov
ed Intellectual, aud we .efectionately entreat
our brethren of the ministry and laity to CO.
operate with us in this course,
L. f MORGAN, President.
j. N. COO4IBS, Secretary.
WIN. B. EDWARDS, J. FL. RYLAND,
N. J. B. MORGAN, j. N. DAVIS,
w. NJ. ID. RYAN, j. r. BFFINGER,
j. LANAHAN, H. n. SIPEs,
B. N. Brown, WM. E. MAGRuDEn,
j. NJ. GRAND1N, J. II, swoPE.
Whether or not this action of the preach-
ers OF tne Baltimore Conference will have
any influence remains to be seen. But in
order that the public may understand pre-
ciseIy what the Church is recommended to
submit to for four years longer, we append the