Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-11-23
RUTLAND HERALD.
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1865.
Z nioD.

L
NsA Of harmony and cooperation among
N different denominations of profess
h. christians is not the least important,
There Is no instance in which the dis
trblng influence of slavery was so
MARKED, and we may add so natural and
appropriate, as 1t was in religious
hdes. Mr.. Calhoun noticed this, and
ummented upon it more than twenty
MAS ago. With seeming regret he
renarked that the real ties which had
bornd the people north and south to-
wtber were being one after another
Sc nJered and he noticed as Instances
os this the separations that were taking
pl ce between the MethOdists Buptists,
Resbyterians n Episcopaians
EJm the known character and history
81 the man, We cannot think that he
was sincere in his expressions OF regret
bnt are constrained to believe that 1t
vas a sly and hypocritical way he had
Sso giving an accelerating kick to that
UroN which he saw was already going
d1wN hill.
F2s It's well known that the Methodist
Tscipline" especially condemns the
hlding of slaves and the manner in
Which the pro-slavery ministers OF that
denomination We're accustomed TO slide
oyer this provision in their customary
expositions Of the articles of 'DisCi-
plue" was at once amusing and painful
70 witness. They generally disposed Of
itwith the single remark that it was
0onsidered to mean that Methodists
should not engage in the business Of
sying and selling slaves.
THE immediate occasion OF the separa-
tien OF the Methodist Church into
Nerthern and Southern sections was the
att that Bishop Andrew Of Tennessee,
either by inheritance or marriage had
o0ne into possession of sundry slaves.
Al the meeting of the General Confer
enc all the northern members protested
AeAinst the idea of Bishops being
shveholder, while the southern men,
tkrs favored it. The consequence was
,veparation, and a long series of law
Mnits and arbitrations with regard to
Hhe Book Concern and other valuable
d Enoperty that had belonged to the whole
Erburch.
With regard to the Baptists the only
le1press and formal union in which the
Ewhole denomination were concerned was
ENoluntary association formed upwards
of fifty years ago for the simple purpose
oil supporting q foreign mission, and
EknoWn as the Baptist Trlennlal Con-
EvEltion. The meetings Of this body
ME- variously held in Boston, New
4 tYbrk, Philadelphia Baltimore, Wash
HINTON and Richmond.
III 7Things went on harmoniously for sew
II easl years, but at length a growing un-
Il e3iness began to be felt on both sides
Md about the year 1843 the Alabama
Mptist Convention sent to the Execu'
- Board, located at Boston, the inqui.
+ N whether if STAKEHOLDER, unexcep
al Mnable in other respects should ohel
Il thnself as a missionary candidate tC
Eabor in a foreign field, the Board woulC
osIaecept him. The Board returned fol
d 5Ianswer that they could not receive sucf
aEapne, unless he renounced his slaves
t fT1is was the signal for general "se
II 7Ecasion." AS soon as possible after
wards all the Southern Baptists with
dzsw not only from the Convention bu
iron the Bible Society, the Tract Societ.
N Ane the Sunday School Union, and es
!. MIished corresponding societies Of thei
orn,
Frhe Presbyterians and Episcopalian
oat I'D together for several years longer
De n finally each Of these denomination
y b split on the same "veZed queS
n." We are not at this moment prt
Y ped to state the precise circumstance
vi Ader which the event took place. Thi
e Mbcess of separation reached its Culm
N2tion in the war of the rebellion, whe
- world beheld the spectacle of tw
\. sses of religionists professedly wo
b piping the same God, and oferir
d ayers and fastings in behalf of tv
ses, the object Of each of which WI
crush the other. The result wou
y n to indicate to every truly pio,
Y ld which side received the Divine a
e oation. There are not wanting
a south eminent religious men who
% era 1t. The Rev. DR.. Fuller of Bal
fe mas publicly aud frankly aeknov
ga MS error, in taking such an acti
= ss he did at one time in the Sout
: REBELLION. Others, if not in so op
4 I satisfactory manner, are still sho
ldl signs Of repentance and reconcile
" a. A reunion has, we believe, be
y y ected In the Methodist, Presbyteris
d ID more recently the Episcopal Churc
&C this good work of Restoration q
J eeonstruction,n we consider that It
Oa le duty, and ought to be the privlIe
y northern christians to meet tn
sWnefn brethren" at least half ";