Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-03-26

End. Because it violated the organic law of itf
own existence.
3rd. Because it destroyed the unity of the
Church
4th. Because of its false doctrines upon the
subject OF slavery.
9Th. Because of its erroneous Interpretation
of the General Rule.
9th. Because it presented bar to member
ship and ordination.
Mr.. Wilson moved that the vote upon the pro-
test be taken. The Bishop stated that he would
put the question with the distinct understanding
that nothing contained therein, inconsistent with
the ruling idea of protest, should be considered
as endorsed by him or the Conference, as Con
ference. With this understanding, the protest
was voted upon and adopted.
Mr.. Wilson moved that the "Wilson PROPOSE
ton" be taken up and adopted. AS the Bishop
could not put this question, on motion, j. s.
Martin took the chair. After various amend
ments, and after the 3rd, 4th, 9th and 9th reso-
lutions had been stricken out, the vote upon the
1st resolution was taken by yeas and nays, which
resulted as follows: Yeas SO, nays g. declining
to vote 43, reserving their votes 8. Severa
were absent. The remaining portions were
adopted by ''rising" votes. The followingis
THE PROPOSITION AS AMENDED AND ADOPTED:
WHEREAS, memorial has been sent to this
Conference from Convention of Laymen, held
in the city of Baltimore, Dec. 9Th, 1860, repre-
senting large majority of the Laity of oul
Church, and like papers from other sources ask.
ing this Conference to take such action as will
give quiet to our people, and remove all obstruc-
tons to the preaching of the Gospel among them
by the preachers of this Conference.
And whereas a similar memorial from the Con
vention of Laymen representing the membership
of the M. E. Church, under a call of the Presid-
ing Elders, and an equal number of Laymen, con-
vened in Stanton, March IL, 1861, FOR THE PUR.
POSE OF DEvIsING SOME HARMONIOUS PLAN OF AO-
TON, TO BE PURSUED By THE MINISTRY AND La
ITY OF THIS CONFERENCE IN RELATION TO THE
OFFENSIVE CHANGE OF sTHE DISCIPLINE OF SAID
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH ON THE SUBJECT
OF SLAVERY, has reached the following colclu-
sions and presented the same for our most favor
able consideration, viz:
WHEREAS, The late General Conference, which
assembled at Buffalo, substituted without proper
authority an entirely New Chapter on the sub
ject of slaveholding, making, in the opinion of
many of our people, new rule of doctrine,
namely, that slavery is sin, contrary 10 the LIST
restrictive rule, and therefore virtually making
non-slaveholding test of membership, and ut
terly closing all doors of entrance to the people
against the preachers of your Conference, if they
endorse or submit to it.
The Baltimore Conference has, by unanimous
VOTE again and again assured our people, in the
midst Of strife engendered by this agitation, that
it disclaimed having the least sympathy with abb
olitionists; that, on the contrary, it was deter
mined not to hold connection with any ecclesias-
tical body that made non-slaveholding condi-
ton of membership in the Church, and that it
was opposed to any inquisition into the motives
underlying the relation of master and slave
The people now demand a tulfilment of these
pledges.
No sufficient reason can be given for the main
tenance of connection which we are of opinion
is not desired by large majority of our North
ern brethren, except upon terms that would
prove our ruin.
We would like to accord to the views of many
of our brethren to await the call of an extra ses-
sion of the General Conference in 1862, did we
see any hope of said session being held or any
relief from the action of an extra session of the
General Conference. If, however, it would u
mite all our preachers and people in combined
action by waiting until December 4th, 1861, to
give the other Conferences an opportunity to de-
clare the action of the late General Conference
unconstitutional, and to concur with us in the
action proposed we would wait until said date.
We do not pretend to conceal that whatever
course you may take to allay the strife and ex-
citement amongst us, we will be involved in
some difficulty. After due elaboration, there
fore, we have determined to ask our preachers of
the Baltimore Annual Conference, that, for the
sake of quiet in our borders-for the sake of the
preaching of the gospel, that it may find ready
entrance among us, for the ending of cOntrover-
sy, and to promote the best interests of Method
ism and religion, they redeem the pledges given
time after time to our people and sunder con-
nexion-now merely nominal-one which is full
Of strife and positive death to all hopes Of peace
or the advancement of Christianity in our midst,
in the manner prescribed in the following reso-
lutions
1st, RESOLVED, That the Baltimore Annual
Conference ought at its present session. to declare that
the General Conference Of the M E. Church, held at
Buffalo, in May last by its unconstitutional action
has sundered the ecclesiastical relation which has
hitherto held together Church, and that the
Baltimore Annual Conference does not and cannot
longer recognize its connection with this Jurisdiction
I'd, RESOLVED, That the Baltimore Annual
Conference do assert that the said General Conference
has, by its said action violated the ls restrictive rule
which declares the General Conference shall not
voke alter change Articles of Religion,
tabsh any standard rule of doctrine, contrary
to present existing and established standard OF
doctrine and thereby has separated the several Annu
al Conferences represented therein and concurrng in
said action from the Baltimore and other nonconcur
ring Conferences, and that the Baltimore and other
non-concurring Conferences, constitute the M. Il.
Church proper and may exercise all the rights du-
ties and powers appertaining properly to their posi-
ton as such.
Sd, RESOLVED, That nevertheless, if in accor-
dance with the spirit of the foregoing preamble three
fourths of the several Annual Conferences be held
prior to December 4th 1861 seeing the great wrong
and injury done to the Baltimore and other border
Conferences shall unite in a demand, that the mos
thorough and satisfactory redress shall be given and
shall instruct their delegates to vote in General
Conference: First, The abrogation of the New Chap
ter Second, By ignoring the whole subject of slavery
in the Discipline. Third, That fair proportion Of
the periodicals of the Church be placed under the
charge and direction of said Conferences Then and
not until EN-, will reunite with them in the bonds
of Church fellowship.
And whereas this Conference is cognizant OF
the facts set forth in these memorials, that six
teen years of contention and strife within our
Borders, brought about by the continual agita-
ton of the slavery question, has retarded the
preaching Of the ospel,-hindered our coop
Grafton in the great missionary and other enter
p'ises of the church, and materially checked the
growth of Methodism in a great part of our ter
ritory.
And whereas we, the Preachers of the Balti-
more Annual Conference, feeling that we are
called to preach the Gospel alone, and that not
of STRIFE and CONTENTION. but ofpeace.
And whereas the late General Conference at
Buffalo, by its New Chapter on Slavery, has
added additional burdens which we cannot bear,
placed Instructions in our way, in the forms OF
doctrines, and duties which We all know will a.
lienate the hearts of the people from US, and
render us obnoxius to 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,
NUAL CONFERENCE, IN CONFERENCE ASSEMBLED,
That we hereby daclara that fhe (Iaparal Gonfar