Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-06-14
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4slytse 81 MAJOR Clark G. IL fot Z C,ssss a ID
hstA ssta re Legally n tAs 0tf ~ r. G&szh
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petfssf Saasrs-- Tie Helsioa Conference Lovat-A
Decentralization Of Trsasoaabis Fersasr Aets.
RKYoarEn br RKv. i. n. rkARrh
= : ATnzRs, Tenn, June d fbsssS
Tho Holzisn confefsaea u tbs Mathodia Episeo.
pei Church has been organized under promising aus
pics, Bishpp Clark presiding. 4 largo sadenes
was present At the opening and succeeding sessions
abe exercises were opened Nish The utai religious
services, conducted b. The Rev Bispp and also Rev.
James Cammings and Rev. DF. Pos II Ginetnnasl.
The Bshop then preceded 70 remark upon the sol
sanisy Aae raponaibilitl@ Of the hour and Of the
eeaases that bad summoned us together. Hs con
unued II Ind that the Holston Conference was
ergsnlEed 10 1874, with membership Of 1854 and
fotty-one ministers. Prom that Time forth there was
gradual Increase Of members until In ls44 there
was membership Of aeo69 and ministry OF sav,
snfysthFec Twenty yaAfs ago tie iasl entry ia The
rainutes Of the Methodet kplscSpsl Church, Of the
Holston Conference, was made. But hncs that
time what scenes have transpired the division Of
Tho church, o. rather The saparahon from lie COM
munion OF large number o. 90 msfnbaFs SlFHnRe
coineidenees, or rather previdences sometimes oe-
eur see that twenty Yeas ago, according 70 those
minutes, the Holston Conferences was 81 have 81
ssmbls in this place Before The time arrived the
separation had occurred. But here, In ths very
place whore Il disappeared we meet 10 reorEaniss
IT, do moi know whether It was designed or not,
A voice, 10 was, but the coincidence h marked
remember well with what reluctance the old Hob
ston Conference went out Of the old Methodist Epis
copal Uhurch--how tenacious the Quarterly Con-
ferenoes were for adhssing. And In connsctipa
with this, let me say that not only the whole Moth
odiqi Church bai the whole country has ia eye 10
East Tennessee Your love Of country was we'll IN
harmony With yonf Ieve fof tiie old Church And
1aarIu that l., - A..
Government b afford you the protection you need
cd, and that you suffered deeply from your devo-
ton But, thanks DO 10 aod, aeliveFance came to
the Nation, and trust deliyeranee win come Alse
70 the church and A. yoa have taken your places
under the stars and stripes that you will also take
your places under the old banners Of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. a voiee-"we WILLY
why am here at this boaF7 Last year, after
our General Conference was held, . convention
largely representing your lAity and ministry was
held at Knoxville, and there and then you Annognc-
Cd the purpose 10 unite with NJ. E. Charch and in
woke our sid Daring che last year We have done
what we could TO aid you in your work, and am
here % organize your Conference touch upon 3
point which had not intended 10 name bat Il eczema
proper, from facts which have come 10 my knowl-
edge with regard 10 this organization. The ques-
ton has been asked Why reorgAnize7 The plan
that hss been suggested Ia that Il would be better to
leave the Southern Church territory uhdisturbed.--
Let us leave this ground untouched and bold Gen.
erRi Conferences 81 both churches, and Feenits the
entire Church South, by 3 single act 20 the NJ. E.
Church. do not say this proposition has been
made in formal manner for no conferences have
bosn held in the Southern Church 20 mSks It bat
II has been made by prominent members and min
bters of the NJ. E. Church South with singular con-
eurrence and ananimity cite one reason Why
think this proposition that should stay cut Of the
South cannot be entertained II refuse 70 respond
to this call from East Tennessee and esew here for
the calls are from daeraat parts Of che SOUTH the
effect would be TO leave 10 the men who have not
been with tho Government Of the United States in
lie fearful struggle against rebellion the work Of
organization Of the Church. Nov. II there Il any
class Of men in the South who should take part In
the rebuilding Of the Church and tho State II Is
the loyal portion. do not feel that We should sub
ject them 10 this deprivation.
tTThe division of the Methodist Episcopal Church
had ono single ground, and that was slavery. You
cannot find any other. No man under heaven can
find Sny other We preach the same Gospel have
the same organization Of conferences and districts
and circuits and the same alotments Of labor; and
no man .hs eSea ~ the earth fasten upon any
otnsf TACT than slavery anu sat fs hains taken tt
OF the way. What reason, then IA there for keeping
apart! There Il Rome / can conceive Of oshar than
pride Of position, pride Of place and power the
maintaining of power Ia hands that have welded
y other than for the peace and perpetuity Of the
Government.
why, sgain, am hero 70 organize the Holston
Conforencef At our last General Conferences, held
In May, 1864 provision whs made specially for the
reception OF ministers and members Of the Church
South with the M. T. Church. IL was provided
that they should be received the came conditions
as those on which we received them from the Brit
ish and Canada Wesleyan Conferences. with the
provso that they should give assurance Of their 10y
Atty 30 the United States aud Of their agreement
with us on the subject Of slavery.
The old Methodist Episcopal Church has been All
through this struggle loyal TO the United States
II har ianauaaa tx.
direction. Conferences, ministers, and members al
most without exception, have all cast their influence
on the side If the Government; ard Il vas the pur-
pose that In the reorganization and extension Of the
Church, as we foresaw its extension no clement
should enter into the Church that should disturb rs
harmony on the question Of slavery OF Of loyalty 70
the Government. We have DO dOubs that thogsands
all through the South have been led into this re-
eellion by the influences well nigh Irresistible
thrown around them, and that perhaps tens Of thou
sands have been conscientiously led into this But
believe that with the dawning Of the signs Of the
times there must come q conviction THAT they were
in the wrong-snd With that con-
viction, II they are good men and true men, that
they will be with in these matters Of loyalty aud
slavery; and cannot see any other reason fofther
aloof from cur Church, unless IL be the
want of loyalty or adhesion to system now nearly
defunct.n
In addition 10 the provisions for receiving min
ster the General Conference authorized tho organ
lzAtion Of Conferences in the South, when, Ia the
Judgment OF tho Bishops, Il should be deeued i'm
portanti and at meeting Of the Bishops they saw
that the time had fully come 10 organize Confer
encs In East Tennessee The Conference was thea
organized by the trsnsfeF u ". &. Daily, @. A. |
Gown, and r. g. Guthrie from he Kentucky Con. |
ference. They were formerly Of Tennessee. I. |
St!eyer was transferred from the Ohio Conference
Thomas II. Pearsen rom Oregon, and +. W. Spanes /
from Cincinnati
On the hrst dsy's ,essian ..,n,s 6faasn ,r ih,.n
persons who had been members Of the Holston Con-
srence OF the NJ &. Church South, aud on the sue
,eCding days sundry Others 10 the number, In an /
If forty-one were received. They had for the most /
art renalnea true 70 the Gag Of THAR country -
lured In consequence Of that devotion was thrilling
a the extreme.
The Conference unanimously adopted tho follow /
ng principles 10 govern IN tho admission q Inlnis-
ers who had been in sympathy with rebalhon
- = ! u.