Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-12-18

less. Their demand for no alteration was simply
in view of the apprehension, since realized, that
any change would be towards abolitionism.-
And they merely acquiesced in the rule and
chapter as peace measures. But those who still
ask for both the general rule and the old chapter.
are equally honest. They have regarded them
as expressions of a sentiment of the church,
which they are 10th to relinquish. Now, then,
who will doubt that the good men who represent
these opposite positions, will hesitate to strike
hands and harmonize on middle ground. The
old chapter has been put out by those whom it
was heretofore intended to ccnciliate. Let it
stay out. 1t is a dead letter, at best. and has
been for nearly half century And as to the
general rule, let it remain; it for nothing else,
as memento of the sentiments of our fathers.
And whether they meant it to apply to the AT
rican slave trade or something else, not very
clearly defined, it matters not. 1t is harmless,
to say the worst. Does any one say that we
cannot live with tie general rule. He is mis-
taken. If we have managed to get along, and
prosper a6ooe all the churches with the rule and
chapter, certainly we may get along equally as
well with the former only.
One more difficulty still presents itself, no
doubt, to some who would otherwise agree to
harmonize on new chf..h organization. They
tear that this would bas.faade a. mere stepping
stone to come other ecclesiastical body-the
church South for lnstance-and, in fact, they say
that 1t is only under conviction of the tendency
of such course, that those who favor the trans
fer to the church South, consent to a third or
ganization at all. But the people of the Bait
Conference are not ultra in any direction, as was
clearly shown in the late division of the church
and who will pretend to say, that an identity
with the church South, has, all of sudden, be
come more dear to any considerable part OF them
than still united church throughout the terri
tory for which they battled long against Southern
usurpation. The writer knows something of the
sentiment and feeling of that part of the Bait
! Conference where it is said the tendency is now
| strongest towards connection with the South
During all the border war. he lived in the valley
of Va, where it fell to his lot to be in the thick
est of the fight, and he cannot forget the strifes
| through which those who adhered had to wade
and their heroic devotion to old Baltimore
Whatever may be their proclivities now, pro-
| duced by the incessant and ungenerous legisla-
| tion of the General Conference, one thing is
certain, they still love the old Conference and
would make no small sacrifice to maintain its
| integrity. What then shall be done in order to
remove any apprehension that may exist in the
minds of some, that if all now compromised on
new organization, it would ultimately land
them in the Church South2 This is the sticking
point. Well, then, in the same spirit of concil
iation, and with the disposition to sacrifice in
dlvidual opinion for the general good, let it be
conceded IN the outset that the ecclesiastical re
lations shall not thereafter be changed without
the vote OF three-ourths of the entire Conference
With this provision, there would be no danger
OF union with he church South, while its po-
in, fo A Slov do
NAMED at all equivocal. And in the meantime
the central Church would in all probability be
so strengthened and enlarged not only by the
cooperation of all the border slave territory, but
| by accessions from other conservative portions
OF the church, especially when the General Con
ference shall lave abolitionzed the rule as they
have done the chapter, that the inducement to
transfer to the South would no longer exist
| But whether this should be the ultimate result
or not, united church even if composed of but
one Conference is more to be desired than the
honor of being attached to either OF the great
Methodist bodies in the midst Of interminable
strife and confusion.
| The foregoing is in behalf of the Baltimore
Conference simply. But there is broader view
to be taken of this question-oEe which effects
the entire border, if not the entire church.
There is perhaps more real division ofsentiment
in many other parts OF the church than in the
Bait. Conference Notwithstanding all the contro-
| versy has been there as yet. In other parts OF
the Border, there are two extreme classes that
can never be reconciled when the question is
once sprung-except by means of third organ
ization. There are, on the one hand those who
prefer the NJ. E. @. as 1t IS, chapter and all, and
on the other those who prefer the NJ. E. O.
South. So then, when the question does come
upon us, though it may be deferred, if there
shall be no middle ground for US to stand upon,
we must expect internal division and all the sad
concomitants of discord in the churches Will
the Bait. Conference spare US this dire calamity,
by setting before the church an example OF mod
Grafton and harmony, and the adoption OF such
a conservative basis as may be acceptable to the
entire Border?
close with one reflection, bearing upon the
welfare of the entire Methodist Church. Whilst
we must denounce and deprecate the abolition
tendencies of the northern branch OF the church,
we should at the same time wish it prosperity
and success in its legitimate work OF dissemlna-
ting christianity, and proclaiming the Gospel to
lost sinners. Let US then, quietly withdraw
from its supervision, so that the incessant tur-
moil among themselves 10 legislating for US will
be no longer necessary. Let US undertake the
government of ourselves under Divine guidance,
and our good Northern brethren will then find
more time for preaching the Gospel, and build
ing up the churches; aud will possibly, too, be
able to ferret out some evils among themselves
which are likely to escape their vigilance, SO
long as they have so much care and concern for
their Southern allies. MEDIATOR.
Near Cambridge, Nov %, 1860. ''
W Western Virginia papers please copy.