Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-03-22
Laymen's Conventions.

! III. Cnurcn WltAln Tue JURISDICTION vi tue
Baltimore Conference assembled in this
place on the 18th, and adjourned on the
evening of the 10th. The object of this
eonvocation was TO. take into consideration
the New Chapter Of the Methodist Discip-
line az enacted by the General Conference,
ard TO give expression to the sentiment Of
the iaty of the Church in tie premises =
Jos. Carson, Esq, Of Winchester, presided
over he deliberations Of the Convention
and j. A Morgan, of Baltimore acted a0
Secretary. The debates were able and IN
terestiug. We regret til t our limited space
forbids detailed synopsis Of the proceed
ings. We can only present the result, as
contained in the following report, which
was adopted by vote of 81 to 50. 1t was
afterwards referred to the Conference, now
in session, as indicative of the wish. s and
opinions of the members of the church:
TO TIE BAIT. ANNUAL CONFERENCE, AT
STANTON ASSEMBLED.
FATHERs BRBrHKns
The Convention of Laymen rerre,enting the mem
the Baltimore Conference, convened in Stauntonl
under call of the Presiding Elders and an equal
number of Laymen, on the 18th of March, 1861,
for the purpose Of levising some harmonious plan
Of action to be pursued by the Ministry and Laity
OF said Conference, in regard 10 the offensive
change Of the Discipline OF the NJ. E: Church on
/ the subject Of slavery, has reached the following
conclus ions, and present the same for your most
favorable consideration
j WHxagAs, The late Gefefsi Conference, witch
assembled at Buffalo, substituted without proper
ot-slayehoIding, making in the opinion ofmany OF
our people, new rule of doctrine, namely, that
slavery is sin, contrary to the lst restrictive
rule, and therefore virtually making non slave
holding test u membership, and utterly closing
all doors Of entrance to the people against the
preachers OF ycar Conference, if they endorse or
Submit to it.
The Baltimore Conference HAS, by lnanimous
vote. again and again assured people, in the
midst OF lie engendered by this agitation, that
it dscaimed having the least sympathy with abo
ltiensts; that, on the contrary, 1t was determin-
7 ed not to hold connexon with any ecclesiastical
body that made non slaveholding condition of
membership in the Church. and that it was oppos
ed to any nauisition into the motives underlying
the relation Of master and The people now
demand a tuifilment of these pledges.
No sufficient reason can be given for the MAIN
tenance OF a connection which we are OF opinion is
not desired by = large majority OF our Northern
brethren except upon terms that would prove
ruin.
We would like to accord to the views Of many of
our brethren await the call Of an extra session
of the General Conference in 1862, did we any
hope Of said session being held any relief frorl
The action of an extra session of the General Con-
ference. IT, however, it would unite all preach
ers and people in combined actiol by waiting until
December 4th, 1881, to give the other Conferences
! an opportunity to declare the fetion OF the late
General Conference uncon stitutiora and to cen
cur with us in the action proposed, we *oad wait
until said date.
We Dc not pretend to conceal that whatever
course you may take to allay the strife and excite
ment amongst US, we will be Involved in some diff
Guilty. After due deliberation, therefore, we have
! determined to ask our preachers OF the Baltimore
Annual Conference, that, for the sake OF quiet in
our boders-for the sake OF the preaching Of the
gospel, that it may find ready entrance among us,
for the ending of controversy, and to promote the
best inter ess OF Methodsm and religion, they re-
deen the pledges given time after time to cur peo
Pile and Sunder q connexion-row merely nominal
-Gne which Is full CT STRIFE and positive death to
all hopes Of peace the advancement Of Christi
snty il midst, in the manner prescribed il the
following resolutions:
1st RESOLVED, That Tie Baltimore Annual Con-
ference ought it's present session to declare that
the Ge-erai Conference of the ~ f.. Church, he'd
at Buffalo, in May last, by its Institutional ac-
ton has sundered the ecclesiastical relation which
has hitherto held together Church and
that the Baltimore Annual Conference does not
and cannut longer recognize its connection with
this jurisdiction.
Id. RESOLVED, That the Baltimore Annual Con
ference DC assert thaC the U5nefat Con erence
has by It's said action, violated the lt tricve
ue which declares the General Conference shall
not revoke, alter change Articles Of keli-
gion, nor establish any new standard or rule OF
doctrine. contrary to present existing and
established standard Of doctrine, and thereby has
separated the several Annual Conference repre-
sented therein and concurring in SAID action from
the Baltimore and other eoncurring Confer
terences, and that the Baltimore and ether nom
cuncurring Conferences, constitute TIE NJ ia
Church proper aud may exercise all HE rights,
duties and powers appai.anlRg properly to their
! positcn,as such.
I'd. Resolved That neYertheless, If ii accord
ance with the spirit of the foregoing preamble
three 70 rths ct the several Annual Conferences,
to be held prior to December 4th, 1851 seeing the
great wrong and injury done to the Baltimore aud
other border conference shall unite in a demand,
that the mott borough and satisfactory redress
shall be given, and shall instruct their delegates SO
to yate in General Conference: First, The abroga-
ton Of the New Chapter. Second, Il Y ignoring
tbs whole subject Of slavery in the D lscipiin..-
Third, That lair proportion OF the periodicals OF
the Church be placed under the charge and direc-
ton OF said Conferences. Then, and not until then,
! will reunlte with them IN the Dond5 OF Church
fellowship.
Nth. K.2oLvHD, That Committee he appointed
by this Convention, to present the proceedings Vt
the same, to the present session ot the baltimore
| Annual Conference through such members OF the
Conference as they may elect, and that they be
instructed Sc to do, at the earliest practicable mo
ment, and that the Conference be requested 10
communicate the action had to the seve. al Annual
Conferences, snd to take, at the proper time, such
action rs thu position we occupy requires.
j. a. S'p M . Secretary.
/ On motion, the thanks CT this Convention we're
rendered to the citizens OF stanton for their hos
pitsli,y, and to the Pastor and Trustees Of the
isaptist Chur,h for the Of their house, also to
the directors Of the Institution for their kind in
yitation to visit theft establishment, and the Sec
rotary directed to transmit copies of these rLsofu-
tiuns. :
On molten, collection was taken up fer the ben
eff Of the sexton OF the Baptist Church.
The Chair appointed Bros. Chas j. Baker, {! oei
Mcpherson and John s. Berry Il comm ittea to pre-
sent to the Baltimore Animal Conference the pro-
ceeaines Of this Conv
The following resolution was offered by Mr.. Eau
: cett, and adopted.
K.soisca, That il the event Of tie adoption by
the Baltimore Conference of the plan OF separation
agre ed upon by this Convention, that we, its dele
gates will use cur best efforts to secure harmon
| and unity Of action in the whole Conference, and
that we will discountenance all attempts to dismein-
bsi sts in.,a circuits congregations within ths
limits Of sgid Conference.
An amendment to said resolution, that this Con.
yeption will concur in any arrangement made By
said Conference was laid on the table.
| On motion the thanks OF the Cow were
| rendered to the President and Secretary for the
able manner in which they discharged their re-
spective duties.
After prayer by Rev. John s. Martin, the Con
vention adjourned sine dse.