American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1865-11-16
From the Clarion.
DIR. Marshall's Letter ON Churches.
THE REUNION OF THE NORTHERN AND
SOUTHERN CHURCHES.

offer few remarks on the subject OF the
re union Of the separated churches OF the
North and South. These remarks spring
from the discussion of the topic in the col
umns Of your paper during the week. l
cannot speak for other churches. They
have their own pens. But. being on
visit to this metropolis. deem it due to
nv brethren of the Southern Methodist
Church to offer few remarks on the pres.
ent aspect Of the question. as under
stand it.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was.
BY common agreement, divided into two
great bodies, the Northern and Southern,
tpeuty one gears ago. Since that period
they have respectively grown. in many
les poets, quite unlike. So unlike, indeed,
that, for one, deem the reunion an ut
Ter impossbilily. The attempt, If forced
upon the Southern people. would result
in their total dispersion into other
churches, or new organizations.
1t should also be borne in mind that
the peculiar structure of the Methodist
Church does not make mere "union" es-
sen,ial to the accomplishment of its great
spiritual mission. After the separation OF
the church into two great bodies-the
Northern and Souhern-it is historical
fact that the both prospered more lhan
at any former period since The days OF the
sainted W LESLEY. Nor is there any reason
to suppose their reuniting would in any
manner increase the usefulness of the
body. And there is as much reason 10
requiring the restoration of the Methodist
Church Of Canada, or the union OF The
British Wesleyans with the Northern
Methodist Church. as for the reunion oil
, hat church with the Southern Methodist
Church. All Ihe courtesies of Christian
. intercourse can as easily be maintained
between The three former churches, with
out consolidation.
Beside. the Union" would make the
body too unwitldly in many respects Tor
The free exercise of its own functions.
Already the qpadriennial assembl J.
known as the General Conference in The
Northern Church, must number two
hundred and fifty members. That o'
the Southern has, perhaps. near two
hundred. cannot now pause to reie'
to statistics. If united, the body, IN
, few wears, would number several hun
e dred, and the expensiveness OF holding
Yuch an assemblage would compel III
division. Indeed. at no very remote
day it may be found necessary to set OF
. The Pacific States into separate church
and probably others, by the Nor'herr
Methodist Conference, for the above am
> other rea, ons then the Southern Church
|, would again lind il essential, also, to re
. establish her independence,
Nor is this all. The Church Soutt
feels the necessity Of making several I'm
b. poriant changes in her general eeonom,
to meet the changed conditions Of societ,
and extend her usefulness, and she doe
not wish. nor mean to be embarrassed
n bv those who never did, do not. ant
never can appreciate her character claim
and obligations.
The Evangelical Methodist Churcl
knows nothing politics. She wi
spread no fags for her sacramental solem
., mites. Nor will she bedizen the sacre'
n: n. pulpit with the symbols of politlca
power: no not even with
"The Star Spongled Banner
ilS though. she will sincerely pray that
'e may
"wave DER the land Of the free
And the home OF the braye.'
/. ~. A. ..IT,;onD wara desire
on the part of the Southern Churcl
the spirit and temper Of the leadin
officials of the Northern Church are sue
as TO forever repel her advances. Wi
!, ness the Episcopal raid over the Soui
2 "fanking" the houses Of God, as horse
9P we're sometimes "fsnked" by loos
Is foraeers WHO we're foot.sore. and preferre
ed to rde.* Witness the sanguinary d.
'e' mands in the leading journals for Il
hanging Of eminent rebels, confiscatlo
Ia. and penalties. Political journals exhib
' for more of the spirit Of the gospel tha
. these Met odist journals. to say nothln
ly of magnauimity. The Christian peop
lis of the South simply desire to be left
IN quiet. They understand their situation
= and by the grace of God they will 60 TO
ward in the performance of their du'ie
They will support the government, d.
fend the constitution, observe the law
render TO Caesar the things that are "a
sars, and to God the things that a
:. Gods.
ss, The Southern Methodists would 500
20 er seek repose and spiritual eonsolatl,
in the bosom Of the Roman Cathol
church, thousand times over, than
III enter the bosom of the Northern Meth
"a dist church. :. /,
re- Indeed, we have been more kind
treated by the Catholics than by u
Northern Protestants for the past TWEEN
'' Eve years.