The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-04-03
Disloyalty of the Baltimore II E Conference

erence the Washington Chronicle has the fol-
lowing, which will be interesting to our read
ers:
The resolutions offered in the Baltimore
Conference expressing the hope that the Gov
=, eminent Of the United States might be sue
oessiul n crushing out the rebellion, were voted
down, but it ought to be remembered that
there were eleven list men 10 the Confer
encc who desired their passage, and atemp-
ted to secure fair and full discussion upon
them We have no doubt that these eleven
patriotic and loyal men are deeply mortified
at the exhibition of pusianimity made by the
majority Of the Conference, and that they feel
keenly the disgrace which is cast upon the
whole body by the disIoyaI and timid action
which appears upon their record. The Meth
odist + plscopa Church has been always looked
upon as the most democratic churc1 organiza-
ton 10 the country. 1t has been the pioneer
OF the wilderness Wherever the adventurous
footsteps Of the backwoodsman and the trap.
per have penetrated, there the Methodist cir
Gull preacher has plodded his lonely way.
Hardship toll aud sacrifices have been his lot,
but his reward has been to preach the word
Of God to men and women removed from the
advantages of civilization, who have no oppor-
tunit.es OF religious instruction except such
as are afforded by these travelling mssiona-
ries. A log hut, where one could be found,
served fer church, but more frequently ma
ture furnished the only temple in which these
primitive Christians could worship God. Dis
daining all form and ceremony, and addressing
their teachings entirely to rustic and unedu
Gated people, they caught the spirit of freedom
and formed the true democracy of the Church
Nowhere but In this country and under this
Government, which tolerates all religions
alike, could they have gained the great hold
which they now have upon the minds and the
affections of the people. LII England, where
they originated, and now flourish more uxu.
riantly than any other dissenting church, they
1--we under unjust disabilities. and suffer from
unequal and unlawful taxes. In this coun-
TRY they are perfectly free. No obstacle is Of
fered to their development, and their peculiar
character so well accords with the spirit of our
institutions that they have grown to be the
largest and most influential church organiza
ion in this country, and the most powerful
free church, dependent on no government sup
port or encouragement, In the world. 1t is
among churches what the American Republic
is among nations-the church OF the people
standing solely on Its own merits, and succeed
isg by its adaptation to the character and the
wants OF the masses.
We look upon the silent but emphatic pro-
tost of the noble eleven who withstood the
idisloyal action of the majority as recogni.
ton Of these facts, and as an expression of
sympathy with the only Government in the
world, that has contributed to their prosperity,
Joy simply letting them alone and leaving them
to their own development. If any class of
people have reason to be grateful to the Gov
eminent Of the United States, it is the Meth
Iodists. Of course they are all jealous in
their cause. They believe their doctrines to
express better than any other church the true
spirit of Christianity; and therefore they cam
not acknowledge tee often, or too emphati-
Ically, their Indebtedness to that democracy
which has so powerfully favored their growth
and increase. Those who feared to adhere to
the Government because that it might injurs
their church, take very narrow view of the
question, BY expressing loyal sentiments
they might, it is true, lose the active supper,
of some few wealthy seCessionbts. They
might lose some Of their pew rents and suffer
a reduction Of their subscription lists. Blu,
every member who might have left the church
because loyal resolutions offered In the Con
terence were passed, would be not loss bu
a gain. The church wsuId be- rid of member
who had no sympathy with their principles