Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-03-26
Baltimore Annual Conference of the M. Z.
Church, Mt Staunton, Va.

The report Of the committee on sermons was
received and adopted.
The report Of the committee on temperance,
recommending that each preacher deliver dis
course upon the subject of temperance and enforce
the rule Of the discipline on the same, was pre-
sented
The report of the committee on the Baltimore
Advocate was presented and adopted, and T. n
w. Monroe elected to the clerkship Of the Advo-
cate Office.
vote of thanks was rendered to Col J. s.
Berry, for paying the printers bill for the Confer
ence; and Rev. Mr.. Mclean appointed agent for
the distribution Of missionary money for domestic
missions.
The order of the day New Chapter) was then
taken up, and after an exciting debate by Messrs.
Martin, Rozell, Sewall, GLENN, and others, the
Conference adjourned.
Tenth Day.-After the usual exercises, the new
chapter was taken up and protest ag ainst the &C
ton of the General Conference presented by Rev.
G. w. Israel.
The Conference now proceeded to consider and
vote upon the paper presented by the Rev. N.
Wilson. The paper was slightly amended.
On motion, the first resolution was voted upon.
The resolution declares the immediate separation
Of the Baltimore Con ference from the isdetion
of the Northern General Con ference.
The result Of the vote Is az follows: For tmnls-
diate separation, 81. Declined to vote, Al. Num-
Der declined for the present. 3.
The repurt as u whole, after some amendments,
was adopted as fellows:
Whereas, A memorial has been sent to this Con-
ference from Convention of Laymen, held in the
city Of Baltimore, December 5th, 1860, represent
ing large majority of the laity of our Church,
and like paprrs from other sources asking this
Conference to take such action will give quiet
to our people. and remove all distractions to the
preaching Of the Gospel among them by the
preac hers Of this Conference
And whereas a similar memorial from the Con-
vention Of Lavmen representing the mem bership
OF the Methodist Episcopal Church. under a call
Of the Presiding Elders, and an equal number of
Laymen, convened In Stanton, March, 10, 1861,
for the purpose Of dscising some Harmonious plan
Of action. to be pursued by the Ministry and
Laty Of this Conference IN relation to the often
SIRE change Of the Discipline Of said Methodist
Episcopal Church on the subject Of Slarery, has
reached the following conclusions and presented
the same for our most favorable consideration, viz:
Here follows the preamble and resolutions
adopted by the Lay Convention
And whereas, This Conference IL cognizant Of
the facts set forth in these memorials that sixteen
years Of contention and strife within our borders
brought about by the continual agitation of the
slavery question: has retarded the preaching Of the
Gospel, Kindred our cooperation in the great mis-
sionary and other enterprises of the Church, and
materially checked the growth Of Methodism In
great part OF our territory.
And whereas, We, the preachers Of the Balti-
more Annual Conference, feeling that we are
called to preach the Gospel alone and not that of
STRIFE and contention, but Of peace.
And whereas the late General Conference at
Buffalo, by its new chapter on slavery, has added
additional burdens which we cannot bear placed
distractions in our way in the forms of doctrines
ALLEVIATE
hearts Of the people from US, and render us OBJ
noxious 20 civil penalty and censure and have
wantonly aspersed the memory Of our pious dead
by representing them as having lived and died in
sin: Therefore
l. Be IL resoLred By the Baltimore Annual Con-
ference, IN Conference assembled. That we hereby
declare that the General Conference of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church, held at Buffalo in Nav
1860, by Its unconstitutional action has sundered
the ecclesiastical relation which has hitherto
bound us together as one Church, so far any act
OF theirs could do so; that we will not longer sub
init to the jurisdiction of sad General Conference
but hereby declare ourselves separate and indie.
pendent OF it, still claiming to be, notwithstand-
ing, an integral part Of the NJ E. Church
= hesotrsd, That nevertheless, If, in accord
ance with the spirit of the foregoing preamble
three fourths Of Annual Conferences to be held
prior to the next session Of the Annual Conference
seeing the great wrong and injury done to the
disavow the act of their delegates and the action
Of the late General Conference on the subject of
slavery, and shall unite in demand that the most
thorough and satisfactory redress shall be given,
and shall instruct their delegates to vote In any
Convention that may be called for the purpose Of
a more perfect union
First, by abrogating the new chapter;
second by transferring the subject Of slavery to
cnces, where Ii exists:
Third That fair proportion Of the periodicals
OF the Church be placed under the charge and
direction Of said Conferences Then and not
until then, will we reunite with them in the or.
ganization Of another General Conference
8. heSo!red, That this Conference has taken
the action expressed In the above resolutions after
mncn long-suHering and reproach, to give free.
dom to our preachers, in the discharge of their
duties In our territory, and cannot refrain from
expressing the hope that the day NAV speedilv
come when agitation and strife shall have ceased
among us, and the great Methodist family East
West, North and South be again united in the
common efforts which engaged the hearts and
lives OF our fathers-that of Spreading Scriptural
Holiness all over the land
4. Ihat Committee Of seven, consisting of g
Register, $. Martin, s. $. Roszel, f.. r. Veitch,
w. u. Eggleston, n. Wilson, and T. III. w.
Munroe, be appointed to prepare Pastoral Letter
Tor our people, setting forth the grounds and aims
Of the action. ~
During the action of the Conference on the
w llson paper the Bishop declined to act, but re-
tanned the chair, and the Conference authorized
the Key Mr. Martin, the Secretary, to put the vote
upon the report.
Upon the conclusion of this action the Bishop,
VINO declined to put the report to vote read the
following paper to the Conference:
Inc whole action just had on what is called
the Wilson proposition Is, in nv Judgment. in
violation OF the order and discipline of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church, and therefore is null and
void, regarded as Conference action; / therefore
90 not recognize the said action as infracting the
Integrity OF this body, and SO proceed to finish
the business OF the present session -
The supernumekry list was called. and sune,.
anaa'ed relation granted all the preachers on the
lpe conference adjourned till * p. m.
Night S.SSton.-A vote of thanks were nv a
rising vote, rendered to Bishop Scott, for the able
ana anecnonate manner with which he presided
over the deliberations Of the Conference in tbe
embarrassing circumstances surrounding II.
The committee on the Metropolitan Church
presented their report In which they confide the
Interests Of said church TO the hands Of the Con-
ference, to dispose Of 1t at its discretion
On motion, the preachers We're appointed a
committee to determine whether free seated or
petoed house should be built, at their discretion
On motion, 1t was voted that the Secretary fuy
nish the Bishops with copy Of the majority's
protest. and they give the Conference their epin-
lon OF It's doctrines and also lay before the next
General Conference
Thanks were voted cordially to the citizens of
the town and vicinity for the hospitality given
the preachers during their soiourn in the place
The usual thanks to railroads, &c, were voted
Conference adjourned till four O'Clock a. m. on
Monday. " ''' VA
Etsrenth Day Conference met at4 o'cl,k m
several matters of minor moment occupied the
first part of the session
protest was presented by Rev T SewaIl
ana after a few remarks was admitted unon the
journal. "PoN 'ne
a motion calling and extra session OF the Gen.
eiai conference was defeated by large majority
Rev. w. g. Coe withdrew from the Conference
After rea ding the various committees. the F,isb
oP proceeded to read out the appointments
he congratulated the Conference upon the oood
temper and christi an courtesy which marked the