The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-08-11
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< YEARLY ADVERTISING.
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Church Reorganization and Reunion.
= In the New Orleans papers which
reach us to-day we find notice from
Bishop Andrews, to the Bishops of the
Methodist Episcopal 'tChurch South, =
requesting them to meet for mutual
CONSULTATION at Columbus, Ga, on the
10th inst. This assembly of the heads
OF the largest religious denomination
in the South VIII, undoubtedly, be
most important one inas1nuchr as the
matter of reunion has probably been
the main reason for calling it.
1t is undeniably true that the diyis-
ions in church, oecasioned by the slav-i
cry question, intensified and fastened
those in State, which eventually led to-
the political disruption and bloody1
strife. Now, however, that slavery has
been efectually disposed of, and the
great barrier TO reunion removed, some
of our religious bodies, it is not unrea-i
sonable to suppose, may come together
again TO a certain extent, and thus ex-
ercise strong influence in recementing
the social and political relations which
once existed between the two sections.
Though slavery had nothing to do
with the disruptions in the Presbyte-
rian Church, which was rendered com
plete at the General Assembly of 1887,
it added more or less to the divergence
between the Old and New School. Ac-
eordingly, when the war came, and adj
ministered the death blow to the s'di-
vine institution leading spirits in
both organizations began to cast about
them for union. Owing to the strong.
difference of opinion still existing in
regard to church polity and religious
tenets the two bodies have made but
little progress toward a union. should
their beliefs, however, ever become so
modified as to permit of more harmony
between them it is very evident the
matter OF slavery will interpose no
difficulties to a reunion
The Episcopal body, which had pre-
Tlously held together, was squarelv GT-
E1ded by the war. In 1861, conven-
1Ol VI GA4C CAA4CASSS III t1lS SO-Cs1llSAl
Confederate States was held at Charles
ton, when formal separation from the
oodY North was Instituted, and a new
Constitution adopted. From that time
the denomination North became more
anfl-slaveTy, and that South more pro-
slavery. Now, however, that the great
question of difference has been removed
we witness a disposition ON the part
OF the seeeders to return. The Episcopal
church IN Texas has already reeind-
ed, IN convention, the proceedings of
the Charleston Assembly. and called
for reunion. Similar action will
doubtless soon follow in the other re-
stored States.
The Methodist Church, by far the
largest IN number of any religious de-
nomination in the United States, has
been exercised and disturbed more
than any of its sister bodies by- that
which its founder, Wesley, pronounced
''the sum OF all human vi1ainies." !" The
steady agitation of the slavery question
occaSlOued the Withdrawal IN 1874 of
aIl the Southern Conferences except
one which organized distinct body
Known as the g Methodist EpiscopSl
tChurch South, - and proceeded to estah-
ish their own ssbook concerns. y Dnb-
| fishing houses, tract societies, dc, :. AS
the time passed on, and the General
/ Conference at Buffalo, in 1850, took stiu
stronger Hnd-slayery grounds, a seces-
SION Of the Baltimore Conference, the
largest and leading one of them. was
threatened DR. Bond and other prom
lAsRt spirits in the church labored siren
uonsly to bring this about, and might
have proved successful, notw ithstand-
ing the efforts of the middle or conciliat-
Ing party, had not the political seces-
sion suddenly put a stop to any such
! movement. However much the Balti-
more conference may have desired to
WIthafaw and unite with the Church
South, 1t was impossible to do so when
between the two sections.
/ The Warhas educated the Methodists
OF the border up to an ani-slayerv stand
I point, and those disa6ected four wears
ago are now, as body, LOYAL to the
Church North, while in various QUAR-
ters OF the South We witness iisposi-
ton toEre-union between thatpTo great
societies. Unlike the Presbyterian bo-
dies the Methodist Church North and
South agree in church doctrines and.
tenetS. The single question of slavery
alone separated and has kept them as
under. The conflict now having settled
this, there is nothing to prevent them,
like the Episcopalians, from reunitfng,
and the whole body of the Church North
viii look with interest to the proceed
Ings OF the Bishops who are to meet at
Columbus next week.
Heh-TOned Rebels
The Petersburg Express considers it
DroneF that an anoIouv SlGuJd no Of