Smyrna times., 1865-07-05
Methodism and Reconstruction.

The slavery question, which, before the re-
bellion, claimed a share Of the attention of al
most every convention convened in the inter
ests OF either the State or the Church. tin the
sue ha> been finally and permanently settled.
Having iuaugmated a war that ended in IT'S
own destruction, and nearly ruined the section
that tried TO sustain it, it is row presumed that
II viii be allowed to rest in peace"
Among religious bodies none, perhaps, have
been more vexcl by the slavery question than
the Methodist Church For number ofvears
this Church has been divided in organization
and government purely on this issue the BiSh-
ops North having no control over those South,
and cce rcrso. Since the suppression Of the
rebellion, however, many prominent Southern
MethodistS have expressed desire for reunion
and reorganization. For the consideration of
'hIs question private men;ihg Of the Bishops
was held at Erie last week. The main qucs-
ton was whether to admit their Southern
hreth"rn as al incohcrcnt body under lhe iu-
rlSdlction Of the Church, or to reorganizc the
Southern Church by itself. on loyal basis,
and then make a common Union Of the Church
both North and South. The following was
their basis of future action as expressed in q
series Of resolutions they declare that the
Methodist Church will support the adninistra
t0n OF Andrew johnson 80 long as it maintains
honorable peace with foreign nations, sustains
the adjustment Of human slavery, and acts in
general with equity. and renders Justice to ALL
Those members Of the Southern Methodist
Episcopal Church who apply to be received
under the jurisdiction of the loyal portion of
church. on the ground of undnubted LOYALTY and
antl-slavery principles and action, will be wei
come, and every proper effort made to have
the Southern church members so apply.
There are also other denominations of Meth
odlsts IN the loyal States which owe their sep-
aration 70 the slavery question Among them
are the Methodist rrotcstants, Independcnt
Methodists &c, the first named being the
mo. '.o"-. his denomination has been
regarded as a strong adhcrent of slavery, Dp.
fln" rho W. "r"rT religious denomination. So
la strong grounds against
avery 49t TINS. From this cause, in Siarv- /
land and Delaware, and other border State.
pro-Slayery and Southern sympathizng mem.
hers oi the VI. f. Church have. and are .tIl |!
JOINING 1t IN large numbers Though it has
rcifalned from speaking Of National fairs n
% @yol1 political ISSUES, men daily join it from
purely political motives It's Increase in mem
bers' since the war, which must be ver., ora.t |
IS mainly from this cause Tbounb . ,@r,;nn
ot the denomination, it seems. bayo ,o..,, .Ia
most radical views on the political questions of
the day. At convention of the non-ecisco.
pal Methodists, held at Cleveland a wn.L =.
two since, for the purpose of forming 70
union OF all the denominations of Metbod;.ts
the action Of the Government was SUSTAINED
AM, anu negro suffrage strongly urged, iSee our
iast Issue This will evidently not suit the
method'st Protestants in this State.
A reunion of the Northern and Soutborr
Methodist Churches, (and all other Chnrcbe.i
would tend more to the establishment ,,f frond
ship between the two sections thar ~, i'l'"u
method. And that is the most .n,,-s.";e am' o:uer
- 'N''''0u friendship to bcgin-be-