The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1864-03-18

According to the promise given you in |
my last, now sit down to write for you a re-
port Of at least portion Of cur proceedings,
which, though brief, / trust viii be intelligi- |
BILE.
FIRST DAY.
The Philadelphia Conference Of the M. E.
Church was called to order on Wednesday
morning the 9th inst, at 9 o'clock A. NJ,
Bishop Ames in the Chair. s
Afterthe usual religious exercises, the roll
was called and those present answered to
their names. &
Rev. II. II. Pattison was reelected Secre-
tary, and Revs. G. w. Ley brand and A. M.
Virgins Assistants.
The usual Standing Committees were or
dered to be appointed by the Bishop.
The hall being somewhat damp, Confer
ence adjourned to meet at 2 o'clock in the af-
ternoun.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Religious services by Rev. w. Kenney,
D. d.
The Standing Committees werolthen an
nounced, viz: Committees ON Minutes, Gen
eral Statistics, Missionary Statistics, Educa-
ton, Bible Cause, Sunday Schools, &c.
Some other preliminary business was attend
ed to, when Rev. J. L. Chaplain presented
the following:
Whereas, The unvarying testimony Of The
Methodist Episcopal Church has been against
Slavery, and in favor of loyalty to the Gov
eminent of the United States Of America, and
Whereas, We have reason to fear that some
of our members and ministers have shown
themselves in favor of Slavery and against
the Government of the United States, there
fore,
ReSolUcd, l. That while we make all due
allowance for the influence of education, pre-
judice, and the heat of party strife, as dis
turbing elements in the conduct of even good
men in such times as these, yet we affection
ately admonish every member of onr church,
who gives proof that he is either pro-slavery
or disloyal, that he has fallen into error, and
sus Christ, to return to calm reason and from
his evil way.
2 That, forbear.ng as we desire to be to-
wards all ministers who have fallen into err
ror, either of pro-slaverysm or disloyalty, We
record it as our solemn Judgment, that nj
such man ought to be a relig GUS teacher il
our Church, and if there be any such we dc
hereby request him to Withdraw from among
US.
The first resolution was read and unani
mously adopted. AS some objections weit
made to the second resolution, the yeas ant
nays were called, and of those present three
only recorded their votes in the negative, viz
Elijah Miller, T. j. Quigley and David D
Hudson, which was afterward mldiied by
the change of Elijah Miller's vote to the ST
frmative, and the addition Of j. B. Merritt
in the negative.
"PoLITIcs IN THE CHURCH."
Perhaps it may be proper, at this point
briefly to review the action of the Philadel
phia Conference, in relation to the aboyt
charge, by her enemies, of politics in til,
Church"
In the Spring of 1862, the situation of at
fairs was peculiarly affecting to every patr:
otic heart. The wise and good Governmen
established by our fathers, and from its in
ception, an unmitigated blessing to all wh
lived under its projections was threatens
with subversion. The people within our boz
ders manifested the utmost confusion of sen
timents, men were bewildered and knew NJ
what to think, men hesitated whether the
should be true to their country and their flag
or array themselves among the enemies {
both. And members of our own church wer
ready upon the first show Of success to ban
together with traitors, engage in designin
schemes and midnight plots against their ow
legally constituted authorities. Under eli
cumstances such as these the ConferenC
met. They met as men whose solemn vo'
compelled him to declare the whole cOuns
OF God" They were the religious instructor
Of sixty thousand people; these people wei
divided aud distracted in their views of dut
toward the Government under which the
Lived. Now if the word Of God were silei
e ON this point, then the Conference ought
h be SILENT. but it was not; we looked into Il
Of 18th Chapter of Romans and found thei
words Let every soul be subject unto IL
higher powers, for there is no power but
God. The powers that be are ordained
H. God. whatsoever therefore, resisteth IL
ID power resisteth the ordinance of God, ar
" they that resist shall receive to themsely
B. damnation." Now what must the Conferen,
lg do if its members were honest and faithfi
men? They would have been unworthy
IT. the confidence Of the people, and unfit f
IN their high position, if they had failed to spea
D; at such time. They spoke-spoke words
2; loyalty to the Government, and of condemn
= ton toward the rebellion, declaring it to
ct "the daty of the ministry and membersh
J; of the Church to employ every appropria
d, means for the maintenance and perpetuity
ed good government and to sustain the powe
rs that be-"
AT the next Session the Conference pass
- a short and simple resolution, re-afhrming
I" loyalty to the Government.
!, At the present session, the resolution