The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1865-11-04
Methodist ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
of tlIe Southern isllOps---Hkc-
union with the vi. r.. Church
Repudlaaed.

"
Methodist Observation-Disclosures
81 the Southern BishOTss---Hkc-
union with the NJ. y. Church
ReptdlRaed.
The three Southern Bishops of THE
Methodist Church South, to wit j. @
Andrew, II. Paine, and q. Il. Pierce, have
addressed II pastoral letter to the preach
ers and members of that branch of the
Church, which was first published in the
Mobile Advertiser.
REcoNsTRuCrlnN OF THE CHURCH.
On the subject Of the reunion of the
Northern aud Southern branches of that
denomination the Bishops say:
Reconstruction or reunion with the
Methodist Episcopal Church North has,
within the last few months, been brought
before the public by their denominational
papers, ard by their preachers and mem
beers in published addresses and r%esolu-
tions. Their Bishops and Missionary
Secretaries held a meeting in June, the
proceedings of which, embracing this sub
iect, have been published by order. In
der these circumstances, some allusion to.
it may be proper from US.
You are aware that ut our first General
Conference Il delegate was appointed to.
visit the General Conference Of the North
ern M~cthudists, and present to that body
our Christian salutations, with the offer to
establish iraternal relations and a closer
intercourse between us as members Of the
same spiritual family. He was, in all re-
spects, a most proper and unexceptional
minister, aud performed the part assigned
him in a most proper and unexceptional
manner. lie presented his credentials to
that body, aud asked and waited their de
%eision. They granted him no hearing in
their presence. They declined to receive
him in his official character. They re-
iccted his offer. lie closed his Intellectual
mission BY informing them, in u eommu-
lnication which he assured them was final.
that as they had rejected our ofier, we
could no more renew it. We held our-
selves acquitted 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 It's consideration. This was
in 1913. They have since made no such
offer. There the matter rests, and NE
might we'll be excused from any further
reference to ii.
We feel bound to say to sou, however,
that since then the position Of Northern
Methodists as toward us. have been some
what changed. Having agreed with US
ON a plan Of separation . into two indie
pendent ecclesiastical jurisdictions. aud
for an equitable division Of the Church
property. they afterward sought to repu-
diate that covenant. and TO evade payment.
and were only brought TO settlement at
the end of the Law. This plan. though
granted BY themselves. who we're ia a ma
jority. and subsequently confirmed by the
Supreme Court of the United States as
the basis Of our legal and constitutional
rights. has been, whenever convenient
ignored by them.
They have endeayored. By mlsrepresen-
%tations. to fix on us the inyilious charac.
ter of sec~essionists and sehismatics, with.
ont authority or cause from the parent
body. whereas. We are. in all respects, co
equal and eoeval with themselves.
The abolition, for military and p%olitica.
considerations, of the Institution OF doues
tie slavery in the United States, does no
affect the question that was prominent in
in our separation in 1911. Nor is this
the only difference. or the principal ono
between us and them. While t~estifyina
with pleasure to the nobler conduct and
sentiments ofmany brethren among them
we must express, with regret, appre
hension that a large proportion, if not /;
majority Of Northern Methodists, have
become incurably radical. They teach fol
doctrine the commandment Of men. They
proach another gospel. They have incor
PORTED social dogmas and political test
into their Church creeds. They have
gone on to impose conditions upon disci
pleships that Christ did not impose. Their
pulpits are perverted to agitations ane
questions not healthful to personal piety
but ~prolnotiye to political and ecclesiasti
cal discord. rather than of those elds fo
which the Church of the Lord Jesui
Christ was instituted. Without such
change as we see no immediate prospee
of, in thoir tono, and temper. and pfac
tice, we can anticipate no good result from
even entertaining the subject of reunion
with them. Fidelity TO what seems GU
5 proyidential mission. requires that VI
, preserve our distinct ecclesiastical organi
cation, in all its vigor and integrity, fire.
: from entaugling alliances with thos
whose notions of philanthropy and polite
and social economy are liable to give al
5 ever varying complexion to their theolo
r gy. Let us abide in our lot, and be tru
: to our calling, doing what We can to sprea'
| scriptural holiness through these lands
and to oppose the tide of fanaticism whiel
| treatens their overflow.
\ SroRMING.-The ornate and learned scho