Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-11-01
Report on the State Of the Church,
HOlStOn Conference NJ. E. Church,
SOUth.


Held at Marion Va. September 14th, 1866.
The committee on the State of the Church beg
leave to report,
After collecting the facts from our brethren, who
are here from various fields of labor, as to the
condition of Churches within the bounds of the
HolstOn Conference, after reviewing calmly the
events that have transpred in the last four years.
now that the smoke of battle fields have cleared
away and excitement subsidized your committee felt
it to be an imperative duty to examine the official
acts of this body at its late sessions that if wrongs
had been done to any party parties By these acts
they might be now promptly confessed and removed;
and that we might show to all that it is purpose
to cherish the spirit of Christ, and to practice the
precepts of the Gospel. Guided by this view we
recommend for adoption by this Conference the fol-
lowing preamble and resolutions:
WHEREAS Loyalty to the government under
which we live is a christian duty, so taught in the
Scriptures as well as in the Discipline of Church
And whereas, the Federal government has now
established itself over these United States: And
Whereas some Of the acts of this Conference passed
at its sessions held at Athens in 90, Wytheville in
'63, and at Bristol in "a, might be so construed, as
to place in attitude ofdsloyalty tothe govern
eminent under which we now live: And whereas,
duty requires that clearly define our position
touching these matters, therefore,
Resolved, That We and intend to be loyal citi-
zens of the government of the United States; and
which in conflict with this declaration are here
by rescinded
ResoIrcd, That the action of this Conference at
Athens, by which John Spears was expelled, and
W. d. II. Duggan suspended for II months and
the action at Wytheville by which Jonathan L.
Mann, William II. Rogers, VIM. Milburn, and VIM.
II. H. Duggan were expelled and the action at
Bristol, by which James Cumming, Jesse A. Hyden,
and Thomas II. Russell were expelled, was hasty,
and since we cannot legally restore them here, we
do instruct delegates to the next General Con-
ference to ask that body to do so.
Resolved That the taking of the Amnesty Oath,
or the Oath of Allegiance, required by the govern
ment of the United States, is the duty of Christian
Minister'S and have accordingly taken such oath,
that both by example and precept We might teach
the christian doctrine of loyalty.
ResoLUed, Thatif any brother has withdrawn from
this Conference, and connected himself with any
other ecclesiastical body, under msapprehRnsion of
any kind, but now desire to return, he shall be cor
daily received by US.
But while your committee believe that the pas
sage of these resolutions is act of justice to all
the parties concerned they do not forget their rea
tions to the NJ. E. Church, South; nor their obga-
tiOns to sustain her discipline and polity, and to
preach that Gospel which God has heretofore so
signany blest While we mourn the desolations
which war has spread around US we feel at the same
time profoundly grateful to God that not ut
terly consumed. Our Church-the vine which His
own right hand hath planted, and which He hath
caused to take deep root that it hath covered our
hills and valleys with the shadow thereof-set out
her bOughs unto the sea- and her branches unto the
river-thOugh her hedges have been broken down,
and the boar out Of the wood and the wild beast Of
the field have wasted and devoured-our vine thanks
to the Great Head of the Church, still lives. With
Thanksgiving, let there also be heard earnest
prayers, Turn again Oh! Lord God Of Hosts
cause Thy face to shine upon us, and we shall be
saved.
In addressing ourselves to the work of rebuilding
the waste places of our Zion, we must never loose
sight either of the spirit of the principles which
should control Ministers of the Gospel, Christ and
his Apostles are our exemplars. Their spirit we
must imbbe and cherish; their rules of conduct in
the great work of soul-saving, must be ours. If he
who has not the spirit of Christ is none Of his, 50
neither is he who walks not in his footsteps.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ, we firmly believe fur
nishes the only remedy for all the maladies, national
political social and personal which are torturing
our race. But the exhibition and application of this
remedy should be- not to nations and communities,
as such, but to the individuals composing them. 1t
attacks sin whose skirts soever it be found. 1t
assimiates never with iniquity; but, at the same
time it NEEDLES either with the relations es-
tablished by Heaven among men, or with any which
are recognized and regulated by the Divine Word.
It prescrbes the specific duties, that arise in each
relation; so that parent and child husband and
wife governors and governed masters and servants,
may know and do that which is acceptable unto the
Lord. This Gospel is now what it has always been,
! and ever will be "The power of God unto saliva
ton to every one that beieveth TO the jew and to
the GENTLE TO the bond and to the free, the col
ored man and the white man. Changeess in its
nature transforming in its effects. when its power
shall subdue and eaven CHI particle of the entire
moral mass this wilderness will become an Eden
this earth q Heaven.
A minister of this Gospel must be a man Of one
vocation He can neither be R politician an
agent for government. Having received his COM
mission from God, he can neither seek accept
another from Caesar except IN so far as 1t may clear
his way for easier to the hearts of men. He
attempts neither to set up, nor pull down govern
ments-imbbes not the spirit of the revoutioniSts,
nor assumes the uniform Of the warrior. His inspi-
ration kndes not in the sight of martial splendOrs
nor in the sound of martial thunders; but in the
light and fervor of the sublime truths of Him who
said My kingdom is not of this world, and again
" Let the dead bury their dead, but so thou and
preach the Gospel.
That slavery as it existed among US Is dead, IS a
fact which we accept Let US bury it out Of our
sight. The negro race, however, responsible in no
way for this result is entitled to our christian sym
pathies and efforts that he may receive the benefits
of the blessed Gospel.
With such views of our relations and duties, como
we to the work of spreading Scriptural holiness over
these lands With our publishing facilities greatly
crippled, with finances disordered with schools
scarcely alive with blacksldings in the Church and
Christ's words: Lift up your eyes and look on the
fields; for they white already unto the harvest.
Toll and sefsacrifc await the laborer If the love
of Christ constrain him not he will soon leave the
field.
Adapting ourselves and our machinery to the al
tered circumstances surrounding Us, with an elastic
ity for which Methodism has ever been distinguish
ed regarding as did our founder. the world as our
parish we seek the fellowship of those only who
are in sympathy with US; but all such we invite cor
daily TO become co-laborers in our work of faith
and labor of love.
Personal religion is the great want of our Church,
in her ministry and in her membership; with it we
prosper; without it we perish. With all our cner-
GIGS directed to meet this want, cannot fail, with
the divine blessing of the grandest spiritual results
and our Zion may yet become the praise of the
whole earth.
Finally we recommend the adoption Of the fol-
lowing resolution
RcsoLced That as members Of the HolstOn Con-
ference in the discharge of ministerial duties, we
will endeavor with christian submission, TO the
tablished government, and in the spirit of Jesus
Christ, and of his Apostles 10 preach the Gospel in
IFS fulness 10 all men in all fe's relations eschew-
ing all political complications seeking the fellow
ship and help of all who are with Us IN spirit
faith and purpose and beSeeching all Others IN the
name of the God of love, to permit in the unity
of the spirit and bond of peace topersuade men all
over these lands in Christs stead to become recon
ciled to God.
E. E. WILEY,
JAMES ATKINS
W. G. E. CUNEYNGHAN,
T. NJ. TANNING,
c. Lone,
6. TAYLOR.