New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-11-09
THE CHURCHES OF EAST TENNIS.
SEE,

SEE.
The establishment Of anti-Slavery churches
in the recovered Slave States continues to make
gratifying progress. East Tennessee, which has
so glorious record for loyalty to the Union, Is
especially distinguishing itself in this respect
There, not only are isolated anti-Slavery con-
eregations established, but entire ecclesiastical
associations are returning to union with the
religious denominations in the Northern States,
from which they allowed themselves several
years ago to be separated by the plots OF few
prO.SlavcTy leaders.
On the % Of September, meeting OF the
Union Presbytery was held in Knox County,
attended by three ministers and the lay rcpres-
tatives of twelve congregations, and it was
unanimously resolved TO dissolve their con-
nection with the " United Synod of the Presby-
terrain Church" a pro-Slayery denomination
which originated, in 1851, by secession from the
New School Presbyterians, and to rc-connect
themselves with the New School Presbyterian
General Assembly. This Presbytery embraces
about 80 churches with 400 communicates, OF
which 20 are in the Counties of BlOunt Knox
and Jefferson. The majority of the ministers
of tho Presbytcry had, in 1851, effected an &C.
clesiastical secession without consulting the
congregations. and all of them who had ad.
yocated church secession, with but one
exception, plunged into rebellion. In
May, 1863, the dsloyal majority, at
meeting of the Presbytery, passed a
resolution, neither to license, nor to ordaln, nor
TO receive from another Presbytery, any man
not sympathizing with the Rebel Coniederacy,
or opposed TO Slaveholding. There were then
only four Union and loyal ministers belonging
to the Presbytery, all Of whom were absent
from the meeting and two Of whom soon after
died. The two others, together with one VINO
has recanted hl Rebel sentiments, were the
ministers present at this years meeting OF the
Presbytery. Two new clerical members were
added to the Prcsbytery one by ordination, and
the other Oh letter of dismiSsion from Congre-
cational Association in Michigan. II is hoped
that the New-School Presbyterian General As
scmhIy VIII now have again numerous men,
bership among the mountaiueers of East Ten
nessce.
A still greater progress has been made in the
Methodist Church. At convention oil loyal
ministers and laymcn of the Holston Annual
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
South, held at Knoxville on the Eth of All
gust. it was resolved that the loyal members OF
the Conference have just claim to all the
church property; that they really constitute the
Southern Methodist Church within the bounds
of the Holston Conference; that they propose,
AZ the carles. day practicable TO transfer the
same to the Methodist Episcopal Church in the
United States; and that the ministers be In
struced to propose to their congregations to 60
en masse to the Methodist Episcopal Church in
the United states. There are in the bounds Of
the IIolston Conference one hundred and twenty
preachers known to be loyal, and forty Others
supposed to be true to the Union; and 1t Is
thought, therefore, that the work of reconstruc-
ton will be easily accomplished
The Cumberland Presbyterians of the Confed-
crate States, though very numerous, have never
succeeded in eilecting separate church organ
ization. Tho delegates from East Tennessee, at
the General Assembly of the present year, voted
with the majority for resolutions demanding the
cessation of Slavery in both Church and State.
The three denominations 10 which We have
above referred are among the most numerous in
East Tennessee The religions reorganization
commenced among them We regard as fore
shadowing the speedy emancipation Of tho whole
country from pro-Siaycry views