Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-09-30
A Card from the Rev. ]. F. Given.

EAe Wv iuhp 9oboiOu VI tu6 OulU COQ-
ference held At Lancaster, the following pre-
amble and resolution were passed:
"WHEREAs, A member OF this Conference
has intimated that action in his case has been
taken on the ground Of his political opinions;
therefore, l.t
"Resolusd, That We wholly disolaim and depy
the allegation, and declare that a member Of
this Conference has right to his political
opinions, and to express them In q prudent and
proper manner" ...-,.. 'Il
l ON the person referred to In this preamble
and resolution. Now that the public NAV Judge
between me and the Conference, I submit the
following Statements for whose truth I youcb
For several years the Conference has been
drifting toward Abolitionism. This have re-
Sisted, believing that 10 was uncalled for by
any moral principle, and that IL threatened mis-.
chief to the Cburoh and State. This subjected
me to some prejudice among the members Of the
Conference, This prejudice became stronger
and more general when the present unhappy
civil war broke out, In consequence of ths
vieWs which held Ia respect to its causes
and the policy TO be pursued 10 mitigate and
bring Is to on end. The existence and growth
OF this feeling could not fail TO perceive. AT
the session Of Conference held year since,
member whose views on the subject of slavery
were very radical, said TO me in reference 10
the action just taken on the report of the COM
mittee on thelstate Of the country: "Given, We
think you fine fellow, but the whole Confer
ence 10 down on you on account Of your views. -
For the last three years have been removed
from my charges, 81. Paul's, Delaware, Darby.
vile Circuit and Pickerington Circuit, at the end
of the fist year, avowedly and solely on ac-
count of my political opinions: though while In
the frst two Of these charges never gave any
public expression to these opinions. For soma
months before the late session of Conference.
in more than one Instance, members of it have
been heard to threaten to have me arraianea
for being Secesh, C0ppsrhead and the lie
30 often did hear Of such threats that I vas
notat oil surprised when difficulty was made
on the subjec.. In anticipation OF IL, Iar-
ranged with my Presiding Elder, Rev. J. w.
White, when my name should be called In IN
annual examination Of chsraoter to make A fas
remarks to the Conference on the subject. But
happening to bs absent from the Conference
room when my name was called, the subjeot
was referred to committee Of Inquiry. Before
this committee were laid short political ad-
dress which had made to some friends. and
which was published by their request ia the
Crisis last June and some private papers and let.
tsrs that had been sent 10 the Bishop and Preald.
iuR elder for the purpose Of affecting INV appoInt.
menI, and which, besides complaints about INV
Political opinions, Contained nothing worthy N
the credit or confederation Of sensible peonls -
For several days, during which the Committee
had the subject under consideration, had ffee
conversations wish various members of Il IN ~.
speos 70 10, and no allusion was made by ihem
to any difficulty In the case but my politics =
Ono Of them. an Influential and excellent man.
reasoned with me much and finally declared
that though I was much esteemed n ,he
Conference, and my lose would be greatly de-.
plored, YET such was the prejudice against INV
views in the church at large, he thought the
beat thing could do would be to Withdraw of
my own accord from the Conference. He
spoke. ] was led to suppose, for the committee,
and seemed greatly grieved when | told him
that l preferred to leave the responsibility Of
sundsring my connection with she ministry on
account Of my political siewa to the Confer.
ence. ] insisted thss the political prejudice In
the Conference and In the church against me
was without good reason and ought to be dis
regarded. That IL was wlthout good reason
was admitted to me BY all the leading mem.
bera with whom convefsed, but they plead
shat 10 could MOI be disregsrded. 4 claimed
tbs; IL was only among the adherents OF GER
tain political party that there was preiu-
dice sgainst me-, and thst the adherents
Of she other party who were my warm
friends and strongly prejudiced against
those minisfers who differed with me, ought
mot TO be disregarded aud could no. be disre.
gafded without great injury 60 the church.
This seemed TO be admitted by them, and yet
10 was.insisted that there were but two Ways In
which the case could be disposed off, must
either withdraw, or else the Conference must
locate me without my consent. This latter was
aeen TO be very dangerous step, inasmuch az
Il would involve clear prescription OF certain
political opinions In the ministry. On the last
day OF the session, the committee made their
reEoit, WhichlWss--" that In their Judgment
Bro. Given would bs unacceptable in any cir
cult or station In the Conference. The ysfy
nature Of this verdict proved that there vss
nothing sgainst my moral or christian ohsFsoS
ter, or my administration of the disoiplIne of
ths church, for II there had been, shev IWould
have reported accordingly. Besides whs, wrong
or impfuper ack could / have COMMITTEES