Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-03-22
Baltimore Conference.

tons, published 10 another column, adopted
by the Laymen's Convention Of the M. E.
Church, that they have declared in favor
Of the separation Of the Baltimore Confer
ence from the General Conference Of the
Church. This significant intimation Of the
sentiment and desire Of the popular ele.
ment of the Church, we assume, cannot,
with any color Of consistency or justice, be
disregarded by the Conference now 10 ses-
sion, ii were to be, the necessity for the
Withdrawal of the jurisdiction of that body
over the congregations represented in the
Lay Convention, would become imperative,
and total election of the ministry Of the
Baltimore Conference inevitably follow. -
II would be an anomalous instance, indeed,
If tho Conference were to presume to desig-
nate ministers for protesting congregations,
and attempt to usurp authority to disregard
the solewnly expressed will and opinions of
those who themselves constitute TIE church.
There is but one course for the Conference
TO pursue, and that is to adopt the report Of
the Convention without delay.
The discussions in the Conference on the
questions growing out Of the new chapter
have been able and interesting. evidencing
high order of talent in the body, at the
same time manifesting spirit Of loyalty to
the South and her institutions which might
we'll put to shame some Of the partizans OF
the day, who from high places and low, have
attempted to bring into disrepute the char
acter of this ecclesiastical association. The
arguments, on Monday, Of Revs Geo. w
Israel and Isaac Gibson on the point of fact
and constitutional law, were very lucid and
convincing, showing clearly that the action
of the General Conference was an usurpa-
ton. and that, consequently, the Baltimore
Conference is the NJ. Z. Church proper
The positions of these gentlemen were to
orr mind invulnerable, although attacked
with great force by Rev. Mr. Thomas and
others.
But that entire harmony should exist,
could not be expected In body of ITO
members, all of whom have been more or
less aspersed, aud around whom have hedg-
ed the suspicious of the over sensitive, that
there should be few who are in reality "a
menable to the charge of abolitiouism, or
snti-slavery sentiments, is not matter Of
surprise We, confess, however, to no lit
lie establishment that one of that number
should have the efFrontery to assume, in the
face Of an intelligent audience, that the
Methodist Church is an anti slavery body,
and that the sentiment Of the ''New Chap
ter is in harmony with the teachings and
mission Of the church.
While we are not disposed to question
The honesty Of the motives of Rev. j. n
Davis, in arriving at the conclusions TO
which he did in his speech on Tuesday last,
we must express our regret that his respect
to the institutions Of the State, and the sem
timent Of the people of whose courtesy he
is in part the recipient, was not sufficient to
suppress doctrines and views Sc incendary,
aud, if allowed to utter the opinion, so at
variance with the universal practice of the
church. 1t avai!ed not that the Reverend
gentleman raked up from their musty slum-
bers the declarations of public men in 1882,
to sustain his position. Itwould have been
far more becoming in minister seeking to
impress the minds of his hearers with the
truth, had Mr.. Davis, instead Of the opin-
ions of 1882, given the more recent repu.
diation Of those declarations by the very
gentlemen who uttered them AS stump
speech, relying upon the Richmond Wing
as the source Of its ideas and facts, the ef-
fort of the Reverend gentleman would have
been very table-exhibiting vast deal
of industry in cleaning superficial in forma-
ton and buncombe points. AS a logical
and Legitimate discussion Of the question at
issue, it fell far below mediocrity and gave
evidence of mind warped by morosc, con.
tractcd prejudice, rather taan expanded un-
der the action of az ardent desire to pro-
mote the true interests of the Church, and
spread religious truths. FIVE are to judge
from his effort on Tuesday, we think his
tastes and inclinations are better adapted to
the Black River Conference Jurisdiction than
to the soil Of Virginia. Certainly the
church here, under the pastoral charge Of
such ministers, could not do otherwise than
sink, sink, sink, until it became absorbed
in some other denomination and totally ex
tinguished
We do not wish to be understood as ques-
tioning for one moment tho motives Of the
Reverend gentleman These we consider
perfectly apparent. We only throw out the
intimation that his field of usefulness is not
On Southern soil, nor his political senti-
ments congenial to Southern latitude
Rev. John Start made an eloquent and "a
bic argument on Wednesday in reply to Mr..
Davis. aud not only vindicated the church
from the position in which Mr.. y. had plac-
ed it, but demonstrated the urgent neces-
si.y and policy of immediate separation
His tribute to the forbearauce of Virginia
in the premises had hapl y effect.
staunton Station.
Rev. Mr. Veitch, in the Conference, on
Tuesday list, rose to q privilege question,
for the purpose Of denouncing as falsehood
the following statement from the Stanton
Correspondent Of the Baltimore American :