The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-06-09
tF.om the Philadelphia Enquirer, May l7th.l
The Methodist EpiseopaI Church
.. ... And The Ufniou


The proceedings of the National
Conference Of the Methodist, Episcopal
Church, which important body is now
in session in this city, are matters of
interest TO every citizen of the United
States, whatever may be his religious
belief, The members Of the Confer
ence represent over q million of com.
municants, and they are the delegates
from the ministers who officiate in
over six thousand places of worship.
The Methodist Episcopal Church is
empbatically the peoples church. its
organization is such that it naturally
attracts the industrious, hard working
popuiation-tbe bone and sinew of the
country. Its discipline is simple; its
form OF worship earnest and plain, and
its spirit democratic. The iiinerant
system keeps its ministers in constant
communication with its members. 1t
changes the scenes Of their Iabors fre.
quently, and thus its pastors, in their
terms OF service, are constantly leav :
ing old friends to acquire new ones;
and by the necessities Of a change
which they cannot prevent they are
better enabled TO ascertain the spirit
of the people, TO understand their
wants and feelings, and TO impress them
with their own examples.
The small salaries paid their min.
iSters eXclnde the worldly minded from
their pulpits and filltbem with fervent.
enthusiastic men. The planness Of
the forms Of the Methodist Episco.
pal Church, and the equality main
tanned among its members, exclude
those persons who make religion Q
fashion only to be followed, if it ad
mits Of ostentatious display, and fol
the sakcof attaining social distinction
: The sincerity Of the Methodists can
not be questioned, and those who arr
honest members Of their congregation
can at least claim that with them
their belief is principle, and not /:
pretensc.
The influence to be exercised by
such a persuasion is therefore ofth,
utmost interest to the nation, anC
4, when we find that its highest repre-
,, sentative body presents harmoniou
and unbroken front in favor Of the i'm
portance ofthc fact cannot be too high
. ly estimated.
/ The proceedings Of the Nations
y Methodist Conference, since its Assem-
y bage in this city, have been truly pa
y triotic. Much of the time Of the mem
Il bers has been properly given to til
! consideration of matters of moment i
= connection with the discipline an
government of the Church.
But wherever there has been 4
= opportunity for the Conference to e,
!, press its opinion upon the great issue
:, before the nation, its action has bee
, prompt, decisiv and earnest. FroI
: the first day of the session, when IL
- 70 National, flag was ordered to be hois
:, ed over that Union Church, up
/. Monday last, when q resolution WI
- adopted instructing the proper con
mittee to report resolution to I'll
:. effect that no slavcholdar can be
;, member of the Methodist Episeop
!" Church, the action of the Confereno
of upon every National matter has bee
~ y patriotic, consistent, and, to all al
,, pearances unanimous.
% A passage in the address of Il
,e ,e Bishops, read the 9th inst, recon
m M mending decided actionupon the eau
! " of slavehoIding members, was receive
~ by the conference with n spirit of e
~ citcment which spontaneously brol
81 81 forth in exclama,iOns, congratulatiol
= :, and cheers, and was only calmed dow
u , by the singing of that grand old chori
w. ~ "Praisc God from whom all blessing
q flow" JOY was manifested in beal
,9 oe ing faces, tears flowed unbiddon fro
W W honest eyes, and spirit of thankf
: patriotism shone over the assembly,
" a. Last Monday, in addition to Il
!; adoption of resolutions, which we
~ referred to the appropriate committt
i, directing, such changes in the dlst
~ pline as WIRE necessary to control I
subject of slavery among the comm
nicants, another was adopted, and
so referred, declaring that no traitor G.
= be allowed membership in the ChurC
u. These are hopeful, glorious facts. I
u, u influence of the Methodists is thus u
,S' ta animously secured in favor Of the p
-, ~ icy of freedom. That influence W
',o to be felt throughout the free States, a
,;e particularly in tho BorderStates, whe
No No invcteratc prejudice still incited ma
~ to cling obstinately to the errors Of t
~ past. Religious authority will eff
"' its purpose among a class to who
- every civil or political principle mig
u appear in vain The National Met
,t odist Episcopal Convention has enter
v" upon great work, and it will acco
II piish signal good. May the hoT
1s and prayers of its members be atten
Ill ed by divine blessingand assistance
rs. TREASURY DEPARTMENT,