Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-10-04
lFl)e Olhilo 6tates,,tau
Rev. J. F. Given and the Ohio Con-
tn ference. l .. %, T.. - !.
HIS DEFENSE AND vINDICATIoN.
A Valuable Paper Of Great Pablio
Interest at this Time.
RKYNoLDssuRo. OHro, Oetober 8. 1859.

L.. REYKoLDssuRo. OHio, Oetober 3, 1863
D EDITOR OHIO sTATEsMIN:--At the late seq
sion Of the Ohio Conference Of the Methods
Episcopal Church, held at Lancaster, some OBJ
lection Was made to the passage Of my oharac
ter' for reasons rot named; but which were
obviously founded solely on my political views
a Committee of Inquiry was raised, consisting Of
hev. John Steward, Rev. Dr.. 8. Howard, Rev.
Dr.. F. Mersick, Rev. d. D. Mather and Rev.
B, G. Frampton. This committee, after having
had the matter In hand several days, reported
% Monday morning as follows: "ln our judR.
ment, Brother Given would be unacceptable 10
any circuit or station Ia the Conference" With
toet naming the cause of the alleged unaccspta.
billtJ. This Nas nothing more tbSn expected
from the state OF political feeling Ia the Cor,
ferencei aad Ihad prepared myself 10 speak at
some leogth on the case. A motion to adopt
tho report OF the committee would have afford-
cd me the opportunity 70 do this: but this mo-
tion was not allowed to come up, although I
plead Tor u aa . matter of justice 10 myself.
Bat Instead of this, the report Was, CONTRARY 10
al rule, referred to committee TO be raj ed
BY the Presiding Elder, Whenever Il shOuld suis
bis convenience after the adjournment of the
Conference. Not having been allowed the
privilege OF speaking In my own defense before
the Conference, have determined to ask a
hearing OF the public, through the pFesa. The
| following 10 substaniially what had pEepaFed
myself 10 say before the Conference:
l. IF. GIVEN.
| ,a REV. J. ?. GIvEn's DEFERqE
Ma. PaEslDESr:--I much regret that nv
standing In the Conference should for any rsaaon
DO called in question, aud ahDuld feel greatly
humiliated that q grave COMMITTEES shoald rs-
port, after having the case under delibetatlon
Tor several days, that In their Judgment would
not be acceptable in any circuit or station Ia the
Conference, did feel conscious OF anything un-
worthy In myself rendering such report neces.
eary or proper. Nor should Ia that case be
aisposed 10 occupy your time with single word
In my own defenee. But as the case Glands,
justice 70 myself and ap proper regard to The 10.
teres@ OF the Conference demand that should
emDface the opportunity to coy few words.
enall DO as brief as possible and mindful of that
difference which l owe to this body: but lf |
sroaid Do obliged 10 say come things which
VIII not eound gratefully TO your ears--some
things against which your GtronRest preiudices
are srsayed, trust that you will nevertheless
hear me patiently. l cay to you what Themis.
tocles said to Euryhiades Wheh aivluR that Wise
but offensive counsel which won their ,rumnb
| at Salamis and rescued the Grtol States from
the yoke Of Persla--" Strike, but hear me ;,
The committee declare tha. "in their iudo.
ment would be unacceptable on any circuit or
station In the Conference" Now, sir, I nm
pose briefly to consider these three onestInna
With reference to this report: ''-'
/ First. To ichOm would bs unacceptahle9 .
I snswer, to the polical fanatics and biroto ~
the party from whose opinions dissent. Tbass
unfortunately for me and my country, ara mi
small iu numbers; but they by no means com'
prise the whole of the party. rejoice 10 sav
that there are adherents Of that party Who
have breadth Of knowledge and generous feel.
lngs, and who are not 30 enslaved by a single
fanaticsl idea as TO be int0lstalt of ali vbo
differ With them. With this class I have not
heretofore been unacceptable, and should not
be hefeaftefi nay, among them claim anna
OF my most cherished friends. These are tImes
which not only try mems souls---their aluff and
calibfe-but which demand of every .oItiven
outspuken candor and unflnching boldnaas -
These are no times for skulkinR and dodVino
among men who love their country; nav. IheS
are times when honest men are Obliged 10 snoak
out. have done 80; have NOT SHRINK from
taking boldly my position on the grand isanes
now before my oountrymen. could not hear
to Let history told over the great page which
she 10 now writing without asking her 10 record
my humble name among those who have OMEN
~ and fearlesaly stood up for what hey believed
to be for the welfare Of their country in this her
hour Of great peril and sorrow. do not regret
that have done 30: cannot regretit, tho ugh II
has coss me friends and position to do so. Yet
! have SPOKEN with moderation, and think |
have given occasion for ofsnse to none bu. the
unfortunate slaves OF bigotFy aud fauaticism
With these should be ''unacceptab!eO every.
where. They have hitherto carped with lii
natured, yet cowardly malice, AsliukinR from
my presence to hlt me In the dark; they have
hitherto violated every precept of iustice. truth
and charity, and have set aside every principle
Of manly action In their behavior toward me
and whas have ] to expect from them bus q
continuance OF the same treatmenl7 With
these, cir, whether cantiDg hypocrtes In the
church, or the viliainoua dregs Of society out
Of it, have been Unacceptable" and expect
tocoatinue so.- And unhappily such ilIgrained
people exist more or less In ell communities,
and, therefore, to the verdict of your commit.
tee ''That would be unacceptable 10 any cir
cult Or station In the Conference" must yield
my assent. But, secondly, sphy would be
''una nacceptable7" 0ur book of discipline spec.
lies but two grounds on which such charge
may -ineompsteRey and seealarity. "In.
competency" means here weakness Of mind, or
groas lgnorance--mental inability. But is any
one here ready TO allege this against met Am
I alone Of this body 60 weak In intellect, 90
without mental training and power, and 80
without the furnishings of knowledge, as to be
incompetentto to understand, and 90 without COM
msndl Of language % to be incompetent to ex-
plain the simple teachings of that Book over
whose original pages ! have poured daily and
l. xsss