Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-09-19
MBUs. OHIO. TUESDAY MORNING. Sc.
QDbllo Statesman, h !,
Methodist Observation-Disclosures
of the Southern bishops = Re-
union with the M. Il Church Re-
mud La ted. '' .' f' '' .''i'

umhOn WIN INC We n NnurCh AAc-
pudiated. ... .-' ,,.... ,' '..,.'' ..,.''
The three Southern Bishops of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church, tO-wit: j. @. An
drew, II. Raine and G. +. Pierce, have
addressed pastoral letter to the preachers
and members of that branch OF the Church,
which is first published in the Mobile .Ad7
vertiSer: M s8 . .,r..rt..T .gra ........ fa..'I
RECONSTRUCTION OF THE CHURCH. ~
On the subject of the reunion of the
Northern and Southern branches Of that
denomination, the Bishops say: ~ 'nl ..e'
Reconstruction or reunion with the Meth
odist Episcopal Church North has, within
the last three months, been brought before
the public by their denominational papers;
and by their preachers and members In
published addresses and resolutions. TheiI
Bishops and Missionary Secretaries held a
meeting in June, the proceedings of which,
embracing this subject, have been PUBLISH
ed by order. Under these circumstances,
some allusion to it may be proper from us.
H. You are aware that at our first General
Conference a delegate was appointed to
visit the General Conference of the North
ern Methodists, and present to that body
our Christian salutations, with 'the offer to
establish fraternal relations and a closer in
tercourse between us as members OF the
same spiritual family. He was, in all re-
spects, most proper and uneXceptionable
minister, and performed the part assigned
him in most proper and uneXCeptionable
manner. He presented his credentials to
that body, and asked and waited their de-
cision. They granted him no hearing in
their presence. They declined to receive
him in his official character. They rejected
his offer. He closed his Intellectual mission
by informing them, in communication
which he assured them was final, that as
they had rejected our offer, they could no
more renew it, We held ourselves ac-
quilted OF any breach of Christian unity
that might appear. But if, at any time,
they should formally and officially make
the same offer to us, the door would be
open for its consideration. This was In
184S. They have since made no such
offer. There the matter rests, and we
might well be excused from ailV further
reference to it, vi ''' "' ..'
We feel bound to say to you, however
that since then the position OF Northerr
Methodists as toward us have been some.
what changed. Having agreed with us or
q ''plan of separation" into two independ-
ent ecclesiastical Jurisdictions, and for an
equitable division of the Church property
they afterwards sought to rEpudiate theii
covenant, and to evade payment and were
only brought to settlement at the end of the
law. This plan, though granted by. them
selves, who were in majority. and subse-
quently confirmed by the Supreme Court OF
the United States as the basis of our legal
and constitutional rights, has been, when
ever convenient, ignored by them.
They have endeavored, by misrepresenta-
tions, to fix on us the inviduous character
of secessionists and schismaties, without
authority or cause from the parent body,
whereas we are, in all respects, cOequal and
cOevil with themselves. | fn" i.
The abolition, for military and political
considerations, of the institution of domes.
tic slavery in the United States, does not
affect the question that was prominent in
our separation in 1874. Nor Is this the only
difference, or the principal one between us
and them. While testifying with pleasure
to the nobler conduct and sentiments o1
many brethren among them, we must ex-
press, with regret our apprehension that o
large proportion,lfnot majority of North
ern Methodists, have become incurably rad
ical. They teach for doctrine the command
ments of men. They preach another gos'
pei. They have incorporated social dogmas
and political tests into their Church creed
They have gone on to impose condition!
upon discipleship that Christ did not i'm
pose. Their pupils are perverted to agita
tionsand questions nothealthful to persona
piety, but promotive to political and eccles
iastical discord, rather than of those end
for which the Church of the Lord jesus
Christ was instituted. Without such {
change as we see no immediate prospects
of in their tone, and temper and practice
we can anticipate no good result from ever
entertaining the subject of reunion will
them. Fidelity to what seems our provi
dental mission, requires that we preservt
our distinct ecclesiastical organization, il
all its yigor and integrity, free from en-
tangling alliances with those whose. motions
of philanthropy and politics Jand socia
economy are liable to give an ever varying
complexion to their theology. Letusabid'
in our lot, and be true to our calling, doinl
what we can to spread scriptural holmes
through these lands, aud TO oppose the tid'
of fanaticism which threatens their over
flow. .t..l yr,t- Lre...-,. f-lf do