Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-05-26
THE METHODIST CHURCH AND SLAVERY.

On Tuesday last the General Conference Of the Method
ist Episcopal Church, in session at Philadelpha
passed, by vote Of $40 to 8, amendment tolthe rule
slavery This General Rule has hitherto only forbidden
the buying and selling of men, women and children
with the Intention to enslave them the amendment for
bids also the holding of slaves and when it is passed BY
three fourtbs of the annual Conferences it doubtless
will be- slavery will be entirely expelled from this one of
the Christian churches
The body which has thus declared itself in favor of nm,
versa liberty religious duty, meets once in four years
aud consists of delegates from fifty conferences re
presenting 1922 churches societies. and 9lS65O men,
bers who found in every free State in most of the
Border slave States Though eight members voted
the amendment even these did not acknowledge themselves
10 favor of savehodng except under certain restrictions
the minority report which they submitted and advocated
proposed only to amend the general rule 90 a to forbid
the selling Of human beings the buying or holding
them, except for purely humane With the ma
ority forbiddng all saveholdng voted al the delegates
from Missouri and Arkansas and the greater portion Of
those from Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky and West Vr-
gins. aa.,. ..t.
The Methodist Book of Discipline" declares that
we much ever convinced Of the great evil
OF slavery We believe that the buying selling or holding
Of human bengs 20 be used chattes contrary TO the
laws Of God and nature and Inconsistent with the golden
rule, and with that rule in discipline which requires
oil who desire to continue among to do no HARM and
to avoid evil OF every kind We therefore afectonatey
sdmonh all preachers and people to keep themselves
pure from this great evil and seek its extrpaon by all
lawful and christian Bot the General Confer
Of 1860 declared this passage be only ory
Until the year 1874 the Mehodiss in the whole United
States joined in body In that year division
took place. the Methodss of the Southern States seed
ing 10 body and setting up separate orgsns the
Methodist Episcopal Church South The cause Of this
secession slavery and the Southern body became
from time to time and openly slAveholdng
church. It ceased TO bear witness against the evils Of
slavery became next strongly proavery and finally the
influence OF its numerous minister's and Journals cast
almost without exception, in favor Of SECESSION The
Southern Methodist Church was, in fact ofthe most
powerful agencies the work which Mr. Yancsy properly
called firing the southern heart and preciptating the
South into revolution" Mr. Calhoun foresaw this ana
expressed his at the secession of 1874 The influenza
this prosavery organization able to WELD in favor of
treason and rebellion may be estimated from it's Dumbers
1t contained, in 1889, 2l66 travelling preachers 5I77
local preachers and ell Col members 81 colleges for
young and % colleges and "a high schools for young
women, and 10 Journalists Of them weekly. In all OF
Journals the Justice Of slavery aud the righteousness
and necessity OF secession were zealously taught
The Northern Methodist Church, though 1t continued
TO declare the wckedness of slavery still admitted slave
holders to membership until the outbreak Of the
considerable party justified this COURSE while smaller
section demanded greater latitude for saveholders
or Mt least less interference with them by the church. IL
VIII require year to procure the ratification by the
nua conferences Of the amendment just adopted at Pha
depha but this ratification is held to be certain.
a New York Epening Post