Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-12-05
gbe Ohio 6tatesnran
THE M. e. CHURCH, SOUTH,
Resolutions and Pastoral Address
Adopted by tho Missouri Confer
ence.


The following resolutions and pastoral ad
dress we're adopted by the unanimous vote o
the Missouri Conference, of the M. E. Church
South, in conference assembled at Fultou, Mis-
souri,, October 90. 1863.
WhTeas, The unfortunate and unhappy COZ
ditlon Of our country, during the contlnuanc,
of the civil war now raging, presses sorely up
on the interests and prosterity Of the church
and,
Whaeas, The peculiar exigencits Of the time
call for the exercise Of the greatest wisdom and
prudence to preserve unsullied the character
and msintsin the effective power of the church
In her great mssion-the salvation of the world
and. sb
| Whereas, We desire to hold, and publish ia
all men, what we believe to be the true Scrip
tural ground 10 all our relations and actions
therefore,
ResOlued, l That the Church OF Christ, and
civil government, are, aud ever should be-,
separate and disti ct 10 their legislation aud
operation
2. The harmonious operation of these poWer
Is tj be found in the fact, that the individual
members OF each organization are subject to the
rlghtful authority and Coorol OF the o,her in its
legitimate ephere of action.
| 3. These powers are not an agonisiic, but
auxiliary, one TO the other, Ia promoting the
tue happiness of man.
| a. That, while the church, as on eccleaiasti.
cal organism, claims the wo Id as its field, and
10 commanded to "tbrust in and reap" yet, in
Its individual membership, the great Head Of
the couroh prescribes the duty aud obligations
of every soul to the civil authorities, wherever
they may be. "Lst every soul be subject unto
| bn oh Enp Ia
of Gcd. The powers that be are ordained OF
God. WhoaOever, therefore, resiste.h the DOW.
or, resisteth the ordinance Of God and they
that resist shall receive to themselves demna-
tlon. For rulers are not o terror to good wofks,
but 10 The evil, Wilt tbou, then, not bs afraid
OF the poscI2 do that which 10 good, and thou
shalt have praise of the same; for he is the
mneter of God to thee for good. But If thou
do that which lie evil, be afraid; for he beareth
not the sword In vain; for he is the mInieter of
God; Fevenger to execute wrath upon him
that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be
subject, not only Tor wrath, but also for con-
science sake. For this cause pay ye tribute al.
go; for they are Code ministers attending con.
tinually upon this very thing. Render, there.
fore, to all their dues; tribute 10 whom tribute
10 due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom
fear; bonor to whom honor" Rom. XIII l-8.
b. Her ministry, while not relieved from any
of thsse obligations above enumerated by St.
Paul, yet hold position relieving them from
many of the ordinary duties Of the citizen, and
compelling them TO the distinct, separate and
holy work of evapgeizng the world, the motto
Of each being, In the language OF shat great
Apostle, 81 determine to know nothing among
you save Jesus Christ, and him cruciAed."
6. As one of the separate organic ,tions Of
/ nR nat hnRah nA n H.
any of our ministers have even been forgetful
of their high commission, and become Involved
in The affairs Of civil polity-lnore rather
than allayiOE the storms Of civil commoton,
and thus bringing into disrepnte their sacred
vooation-justly exciting the csnsure and sus-
picion of the civil authoritlep, not only againet
themselves but against our whole body.
| 2. We here RECORD an unqualified Ger slre and
condemnation against all guilty Of such offetcss,
and declare chat the cnly palliative for them
Is to be found 10 the fact that the national con.
vulslons were so sudden and over v helminR that
they were carried away, for time, by the tide;
and the only reparation which can be made for
che pact ia In this hearty and full confession
of the wrong, and Feturn and reconsecfa.
tion of themselves TO their proper aud lawful
work.
3. That, IN connection with the FOREGOING,
to which we call the especial and thoughtful
attention OF the church throughout our bounds,
1t 10 also deemed expedient, at this junoture Of
affairs, 10 publish what has been incorporated
among the statutes of our church for nearly
eighty years, as the law regulating the duties
and relations of the citizen to the civil govern
ment, as follows:
"ARTIcLr XIII. The President the oossress the
General Assemblies the Governors and the Oounoils Of
the State, as tie dee0ates of the psops are the rulers
United states Of America according to tho dvsun
power made to them by the Constitution Of the United
States, and BY the Constitutions Of their respective
States And the rad States are sovereign and indie
pendent nation and ought not TO be subject to any for
We seek, by these reao!u iJns aud their pub.
lloation Of church law, simply t. meet, 10
Christian manner, the peculiar trials Of the
people OF God In these time, and remind them
Of their duty.
-
r"As far ss Il respects civil aairs we believe Il the
duty OF Christians and especially OF all Christian min.
isters to be subject to the supreme authority Of the
country where they may re,de and to use all iaudsbe
means TO eojoin obedience to the powers that be- and
therefore, t Is expected that ali our preachers and
people, who may be under any foreign government will
behave themselves as peacesbe and orderly subjects,