Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-03-19

h6SOtCeU llat In the event OF the adoption
by the Baltimore Conference of the plan Of sep
aration agreed upon by this Convention, that
we, its delegates will use our best efforts to se-
cure harmony and unity of action in the whole
Conference, and that we will discountenauce all
attempts to dismember stations, circuits or con-
gregatons within the limits of said Conference.
An amendment to said resolution, that this
Convention will concur in any arrangement made
by said Conference was laid on the table.
On motion the thanks of this Convention were
rendered to the President and Secretary tor the
able manner in which they discharged their re-
spective duties.
After prayer by Rev. Jno s. Martin, the Con-
vention adjourned sine die.
Proceedings Of the Baltimore Conference.
FIRST DAY.
STANTON, March IL, 1861.
The Conference met in the new and elegant
Methodist Church-Bishop SooTT, of Delaware,
presiding.
After reading appropriate Scripture lessons,
and singing the hymn commencing
Except the Lord construct the house
The best concerted schemes are vain"
prayer.
"
Rev. N. Wilson presented memorial from
the late Layman's Convention of Baltimore, on
the subject of separation from the Northern
Conferences. Memorials on the same subject
were also presented from the Alexandria Quar-
terly Conference, from the Light Street (Balti-
more) Meeting, from member of the Kentucky
Conference, and from the Frankfort Circuit
Quarterly Conference. These, after prolonged
discussion as to the propriety of reference to a
select committee, or to committee of the whole,
were ordered to be read. After the Secretary
had finished reading them, they were made the
order of the day for tomorrow at II o'clock.
The hours of 9 A. NJ, and P. NJ, were set as
the hours of meeting and adjourning.
The rules of the last session were adopted for
the present session.
Rev. Saml. Y. Leech was elected Reporter for
the Baltimore Christian Advocate.
The usual standing committees were appoint
ed. These are on Necessitous Gases, Dickinson
College, Semnaries, Temperance, Baltimore Ad-
vocate, and Colonization. They consist, gene
rally, of seven members, taken one from each
Presiding Elders district
The names of the Clerical Stewards were an
nounced, viz; L. 81. W. Monroe, j. N. DAVIS, S.
Cornelius, N. j. B. Morgan, A. Bushman, P. B.
Smith.
The Lay Stewards were announced to the
Conference as follows: J. s. Berry, Robt. Rick
etts, E. @. Brown. J. S. Carson, A. D. Trotter,
A. J. Lucas, Col. Mcpherson. Messrs. Berry,
Carson, and MCPHERSON, were introduced to the
Conference.
The transfer of Rev. W. a. Holiday, from
Upper Iowa, to the Baltimore Conference, was
read.
On motion, the Conference adjourned, with
singing and prayer. lIIv- ess a
SECOND DAY. = a
SrAuNToN, March IA.
The religious exercises were conducted by the
Rev. John Thrush. The journal OF yesterday
was read and approved Several papers were
referred to the S. S. Committee.
The parchmenis of Rev. @. G. Maybee were
ordered to be- restored.
Tie Presiding Elders were constituted Com
mittee on Missions.
W. F. Ward was elected Assistant Secretary
and Statstician. .s ssn..
Report of Publication Committee of Baltimore
Advocate, and financial report of F. Israel, OF
the Baltimore Advocate, were referred to the
Committee on Baltimore Advocate.
John LaDahan said that be had signed the re-
port of the Publishing committee as purely
business paper.
AT 10 o'clock, on motion, the order of the
day was taken up.
The time allowed for speaking on the slavery
memorials was exIened to 80 minutes.
The following questions were propounded to
the Bishop, 10 writing, and answered by him In
the same way:
By David Thomas.-1s there anything in the
new Discipline which would be a bar to the Or
dination of a local Preacher holding slavesa
Answer.-There is not, in my Judgment.
BY N. J. B. Morgan.-Is there anything in the
Discipline to prevent the reception of slavehold-
ing members into the Church?
Answer.-In my judgment, there is not.
By Mr.. j. W. SfarJ.-Is there anything lie the
Discipline to justify an administrator in arraign-
ing and expelling STAKEHOLDER from the Church
Ans.-1n my judgment, there is not.
By W. S. Edwards.-Is there any process au-
thorized in the Discipline, for trying ard expel-
ling member who holds slaves for purposes OF
gain2
Ans.-I know Of no such process.
By W. 7. d. Olemm.-ls the new chapter to
be regarded as containing the doctrine and be-
lief of the Church on slavery2
Ans.-The new chapter contains admonition
and advice, and from its position in the Disci-
pline claims to be the doctrine of the Church on
slavery.
By B. F. Brooke-Is not every man sinner
against God and nature who holds slave, in the
sense of the new chapter on slavery 10 the Dis
cipne2
Ans.-He is, in the sense of the Discipline,
whatever that sense is
BY S. Cornelus.-Is it not, under the Disci-
pline, the duty of each minister to engage in &C
tive efforts for the abolition of slavery
Ans.-Not more SO under the present than
under the former Disciplined
A. Griffith said that the New Chapter was err
roneous. 1t was passed to give offence to the
South. The Oldest Methodist preachers, under
God chosen, but despised of men, built the
Church. Guided by the Methodist preachers
mark-a sapling at each bend In the road pulled
down, and half the top broken to hang down
and wither-they pursued their way. You
young men have come into possession. You
young men did not make it. 1t made you.-
We preached then to bond and Free No quar-
reliDg then. We never knew any doctrine then
like that from Buffalo, thet saveholding is sin.
Twas not in our Bibles Show me it. 1t is
not there. God never put the mark there. |
therefore repudiate it as false, and heretical in
morals. will not be governed by it. Yet
of the spirit of Jesus in trying to avenge
ourselves. Let Us stand by the landmarks OF our
fathers. There shall stand, and there / shall
die.
N. Wilson said that he wished to refer the
Conference to the new Chapter, and to some re
solutions OF the Black River Conference of last
year. Rev. S. S. Roszel read the Chapter and
N. Wilson said that he had confidence in his
brethren of the Baltimore Conference mania
has seized the North. Many there denounce the
Bible, unless it teach the doctrine OF abolition