The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-06-24
CONVENTION OF NON-EPISCO-
PAL METHODISTS.
Proceedings of the Third ard last
nay Declaration for FesrO
suGrage--Basis of Union
Of Churches.

in session in the Wesleyan Church in this
city, the past two or three days, met yos-
teEdsy morning pursuant to adjournment,
the President, Rev. DR.. Scott, in the Chair,
aud was opened by religious services con-
by Rev. J. II. Richards.
After the journal had been read, the
Committee on the State of tho Country
submitted tho following report, which was
unanimously adopted by a rising vote:
DECLARATION FOB NEGRO SUFFRAGE.
Assembled as We are, the unofficial repre-
seutatives Of the various nOn-Eplscopal
Methodist bodies in this country, for the
purpose Of effecting aunion or consolidation
into one ecclesiostical hou1chOld, We recog-
nize, with devout Thanksgiving, tho won
derful proVidenceOfGOd mot only in deliver
ing ia from tho peril Of national dismem-
berment and civil war, but in virtually re-
moving from our midst O~urnatonal disgrace
and curse, and the chiefsource Of former &C
Observation-Disclosures and divisions, Amer
lean Slavery. Aud now that slavery has
persisted by the recOil of its v malign
efforts to overthrow the government IN
order that it might ~porpetuate its existence
and extend its sway, thus freeing the slave
in the very effort to make his bondage per-
pstuaI, We cannot but regard it as alike
demanded by his now position as a citizen
of this Republic, by Christianity, natural
Justice, good craftsmanship and the future
peace and well being of the State, that they
who have so long been onsl tyed and robbed
Of all their rights, but whom God has so
suddenly and Strsngclyset free; who have
pioneered our scouts and armies, led and con-
cealed from danger aud aidedtoescap thou
r. III I.IIE,ra naafpu 10 Of1r limos
who have helped to man our iron cladsJ
build fortiications, train our artillery
against the foe, carried iva hundred thous-
and Federal bayOnets, and stained many q
battlefield with their blood who are
henceferth TO bear arms, " real
estate, acquire education, pay taxes, com
maud ships, plead in u courts, edit papers
and preside over banks, benevolent lnstl-
tutiops end colleges-shall be invested also
with that indispensable and most sacred
right Of freedom-tho right Of the exercise
ofthe elective franchise.
While, therefore, we avOW our confidence
in, and purpose to sustain, the Govern
ment in It's ardu0us Efforts TO reconstruct
the nation, and disavow all wish to dictate
importinently TO cur rulers, as to matters oil
State policy, we cannot too earnestly ex-
press our conviction that, TO deny the right
ol nu4AldEb W ~ AZ III SAAfAN@
of the South, thus leaving them IN the
power of their former d~is!oyHl masters to
Cypress them still by discriminating and IN
friendly legislation, would not only bs q
crime against humanity, and justice, and
the flag which these freedmen have helped
10 carry in triumph and to plant anew over
ali tho slave State5-wOuld not Only pre-
vent the healing of tho nations wounds,
but must inevitably lead 10 irritatiOns, in
surrections and civil discord in future.
With these convictions, therefore, VIC can
not but regard the question Of negro suffrage
as the question of the hour, and one upon
the adjustment of which depends the veal
. or woe of the nation for years to come. n
as a convention of ministers and layme1
from nearly all the Northern States Of the
Union, we desire TO throw the weight of our
moral influence into the scale, with that OF
other coordinate bodies, in favor Of she
spoediest and fullest justice to our loyal
brethren of the South, of every color, alike
by according to them all the rights of free
men aud citizens, and giving them an
even chance in the race, untetserec BY the
chains of slavery, or prejudice, or caste, OF
legal or political disability.
Tho following Reverend gentlemen were
formally introduced to the convention
Rev. Mr., Warner, of Hanover Street M,
| E. Church, Cleveland, o Rev. Mr.. White
of the Congregational Church, Providence
Rhode Island; Rev. Mr.. Woodwork, Con-
gregatiopaI Church, Painsyille, and Rev
DR.. Hawks, of this city.
Tho following telegram was received by
the convention:
Boston, June %, 1855.
To the ConUeation of Non-EPiScopaE NeHO
distS at Cleveland, Ohio:
Tho National Council of Congregations
+t--r uurvH uHu U~UvhUhCIVy N IuI'n' 00rutGr
" responds to the f%raternel greeting Of tn
convention ct Cleveland.
WV. A. BUCKINGHAM,
CHAs. G HAMMOND,
jos. ?. THOMPSON.
The Committee on the Basis of UniOi
presented their report which was DISGUISE,
with great enthusiasm and unanimousl.
adopted by a rising vote. The report W,
append
REPORT ON THE BASIS OF UNION OF CHURCHEI
II is not the object Of this Convention I
consummate at this time . union of tn
churches represented by its member5-be
ing unauthorized and without instruction
10 that work.
Neither is it the object of this Convention
TO elaborate the detail of q basis of union
nor to detail the mode of cODsummatiDg
union for the reasons above indicated,
With great caution, and by tho Uss 0
guarded, though hopeful, language, Che cal
for this Convention ventures only to sueges
the possibility of SO presenting tho clam
of Christian union that it may ultimatel.
DO fully consuametsd by the Legitimate au
thority.
We recommend for adoption by this Con
veutiOn-tO bs hereafter forwarded TO al
the Methodist bodies hero represented 70
their information-the following rCsOlu
tious as our full and final report:
l. That the union Of the MethOdi9tbodi,
here represented, 10 respectfully recon-
mended to the early confederation Of tn
Annual Conferences Of the Methodist Pro
testant Church; of tho Wesleyan Methods
Connection; of the FREQ Methodist Church
the Independent Methodist Conference
here represented, aud any others of lik
character who may desire to unite wit
those.
2. That VIC recommend the calling Of
Convention, to be held in Union ChapeI
Cincinnati, on The second Wednesday
MAY, 1868, and constituted on the foliOwiD
basis Of representation, viz: One ministe
and one laYmau for zach five hUndre
members and fractions of over half Of fY
hundred. Said Convention to be fully au
lhorized to fix upon a basis of union, an
tho mode of its consummstiOn-subject {
such confrm0tory action by th
bodies represented, as may DO agreed upO
by said convention.
3. That we recommend that the pla
Of union shall fully and entirely secure th
liberty of the local churches on Ne Tesla
mont principles; that an efficient itinerar
ministry shall DO msintaiaed, and this
annual and general conferences she'll +
maintained, with power to make all need
full regulations consistent with tho primo
pies and institutions of the New HoSes
ment, as may be necessary to carry int
effect the great principles Of Scripture
Christianity.
The Convention gave q hearty vote
thanks to the trustees of the Wesleya
Church, in which their sessions have bee
hold, and to the citizens of Cleveland WI
have extended to them Christian hospita.
ity. A religious service was held in th
afternoon, after which the Convention ad
jOurned.
The PATRIoTIO NAIL MAKERS We lear
that the Cleveland Iron and Nail Compan
propose, on the coming Fourth, to have on
oftheir machines in full operation in tn