The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1862-11-14
preamble and Resolutions.

.
Resolutions adopted by the Holston Confer
ence, in session at Athens, touching the duty
and relationship of the Church in the revolu
ton and struggle in which cur beloved coun-
try is now engaged. The positions. views,
and arguments embodied are of highly inn
pprtant character, both in religious and
civil sense, and will command general atten-
ton and approval.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE on GER
TAIN CASES REFERRED FOR THEIR
INVESTIGATION.
The Committee to whom was referred for
suitable investigation certain complaints a
gainst the following named brethren: w. Ill.
Rogers, w Ell. IL Duggan, Vim. G. Daily,
Jesse a. Hyden. Patrick II. Reed. Jno.
Spears. James Cumming. Tbos. IL. Russell,
and Thos z. Rutherford, beg le;sye to present
the following report:
Snlemnly IMPRESSED with the duty and res
possibility devolving on this Conference touch
ing the exceedingly delicate and mon.entous is
sues Involved in any rctien which it may take
in reference to It's scriptnal and ecclesiastical
relations to the great aud terrible controversy
now shaking ACCOMMODATIONS of Church and
State. your Committee feel constrained to pre-
face their specific report IN the case Of the
brethren above mentiDned, with the declara-
ton Of few general facts essential, IN their
judgment, to the proper exhibition before the
public mind of the causes and reasons OF such
recommendatory action on the part of this
Conference as is hereinafter set forth.
The Jurisdiction of the General Conference
of the Methodist Episcopal Church having
4 -
in the slaveholding States. in May, 1915. by
Convention of Delegates formally appointed
in pursuance of .sPlan Of Separation"
adopted by General Conference of the Me-
thodist Episcopal Church in 1914, the Church
In the sayehoiding States, IN her primary as
semblies, the Quarterly and annual Confer
ences, with unarimity unparalleled in &c
cesiastical history, approved tire course of
the delegates, and declared her conviction that
separate neutrality-suspicious. Jurisdiction was
necessary to her existence and prosperity.
In the Judgment Of the wisest and best men
throughout the South and Southwest at that
time, "a conviction since attested by the most
overwhelming proofs.) the continued agita-
ton of the subject of slavery, and its actual
and practical abolition in some portions of
the South, not only rendered necessary, but
absolutely demanded, separation from the
Northern portion of the Church. in order to
the successful preaching Of the Gospel in the
South, and the establishment of Christ's
Kingdom in the hearts of both master and
slave.
The history of the Methodist Episcopal
Church South since its formal organization in
lS45, has furnished, and sill furnishes, null
tiplied evidences of the wisdom and fur reach
ing sagacity of the fathers and chief pastors
of Southern Methodism at that time, in ,hav
ing divorced themselves and their hocks from
the ecclesiastical jurisdiction OF those who
came amongst them as wolves IN sleeps
clothing, openly and covertly undermining the
foundations of our social system, stirring up
internal commotion, aiding and cornseling
the sedition and iusurrection OF our slaves, by
alternating them from their masters and DIS
affecting them towards their proyidential al
lotment
1t is with profound regret that it remains
to he written, as the SEQUEL OF this unhoiy
and antiscriptual crusade of abolition tanatl-
cism and higher-law infdelity against the
Southern Church land Southern institutions
generally. that it has eventually eliminated
In the permanent and irrevocable dissolution
of the Federal Government, and has forced
upon the sovereign people of the Southern
States las the case of the Southern Methodist
in 1914, the inerradicable conviction that
the only alternative left them in the Provl1
dence Of God, is to appeal to the Sovereign OF
the Universe for the righteousness OF their
cause, and, under His blessing and guidance,
to organize for themselves a Government
founded upon the great principles OF Justice
and equity, for mutual protection and for the
better security Of all those rights of religion
and good society guaranteed to US and all
other peoples by the God Of heaven. 1t can