The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-07-25
HttsfellonD.
Baltimore Methodism.

Church was keeping pace with secession IN
the State, ard that the developments were
something worse in the former than in the
latter for though Church secessionists may
have been guilty Of less thieving than the
State secessionists, they were unhappily
making alliances in the free States, and threat
cniDg a serious division in the Southern por-
tion of our work. The Baltimore Confer.
encc had taken formal leave, and there was
not the slightest prospect Of its ever return
ing. That several other Conferences would
soon follow was almost as certain as anything
could be that was ye! future. But at this
critical moment the war commenced, and Sc
cession was arrested. We take it or grant
ed that there never can be another pro.sla-
very secession in the Nj. E. Church. If slay-
cry remains in the nation 10 any shape, it
will no longer be a snappish, warring power,
ready to tremple preacher in the dust, or
cut of his lead for the slightest ofence-if
the evil continues, it will be a superanuated,
crushed oathsome, powerless, contemplate
thing, which nobody fears or respects, and
which few Will trouble themselves 10 conci-
late or defend The war will surely break
down the enormity which has well nigh bro.
ken down the Church, and leave US once
more to 90 % our way rejoicing in a full
aud Tree gospel for all men, whatever may
be their condition.
In this view the conflict seems TO us one
Of the most bcnefccnt dispensatons that
God has ever granted to Metholism. Our
theology aud cur morals are renewed bay
oncts and canuon are bringing US back to old
fashioned Methodlsm, and they have done
more in two months for the puriicrtion OF
the Church than thousand General Confer
ences could do in ten thousand years. Church
/ legislation wa, not thorough enough to Kill
tie monster--it only provoked secession, but
the sword has reached the seat of the dis
ease. We shall have no more arguments Ill
support of slavery, no more wrestling OF
Scripture for the same detestablc purpose,
no more intrigue and wrigging in Conteren-
ces, no mole buying and selling Of men by
means of official prostitution, no more halt
Jog, half way legislation will the peculiar
institution exact OF Us. Henceforth our
preachers and administrators OF discipline
will make right the standard of their acts,
and not allow themselves to be as heretofore,
mere tools Of the slave power. 1t has long
been our opinion that near y every thiog in
the shape of religion South OF Mason and
Dixon's line was an unmitigated curse to its
possessors The events OF the war do not
tend in the least to unsettle our opinion.
People are waking up, and seeing the atIocl-
ties of the South, they eXclalm savages, saw
ages, sayages "a just aud truthful eAc!ama-
ton iudeed, but comprehensive OF onl y hall
the TACT. for those whom they thus designate
are as truly hypocritcs as they are sava9es
Never were the sacred forms OF religion sc
horribly desecrated as when used BY COM
munity Of slave holders. Prayer and praise
would be quite as appropriate among pirates
1t were Just as well TO connect the ordinances
of religio1 with a brothel as with siaT'
plantation. We look, therefore, upon all th'
attempts Of the Baltimore Conference t
combiue religion and slavery as fatally her
etical Nothing bat moral death could b
'riphtfulIy anticipated from such movemcn
for it was simply an effort to JOIN togefhe
what God mas forever put asunder-sin ant
holiness, Much Of the Methodism OF ou
Bordc. Conferences has been worthless 10
=. years its life has been killed ca; by tn
I~acti Gle corruption which slavery neeess'
tates. When the war is over, and the swor
has DISPOSED Of the corruption which Confer
enccs had refused to touch, we trust GU
Church machinery will come into slceesstr
: oneration in that unfortunate region.
: merciful God has arrested It's functions 10
the time being. We have already had to
much Of Baltimore Methodism That arti
II Gle ike popery, was curse and not bless
,: inr we thank God for the war :
obliges US to make repairs where o.
9 vas destroying, instead Of saving (
That accursod Baltimore MethodisUl s...-
could not only fellowship the slave.holde
bur tear the Church to pieces rather than at
nit. reform is at an eGd. Sevcrai Confer
epces on this side of the line will do we
II 70 ponder these things, or the evil dA
r NAV not be far away from than. SynPa
tby for slave holders and low shameless
anti.christian tone Of feeling on the sui
;ec:. are the sin Of that religion. 1t vi
m, do to trife with crime. The Chur'
should either be cold or hot on questions
this kind. Lukcwarmness only oetrays I'll
cause which it is intended to serve-our vel
r. carefulness spoils the Church more effe
g. tually than the most headlong ultralsm. L