Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1866-01-19

ties and partizans. The former Will ne
represented by the Baltimore Conference,
to be held in Alexandria, Va. commence
ing on the 9TH February, 1866.
Is5i5ss5 .ssd.l igs SD A METuoDIsT.
[From the Episcopal Methodist.
7g2 28 ADDRESS. ~
TO The Preachers Of the Baltimore Annual Con-
ference as constituted at its session in Stauss-
ton, Virginia, in March, 1861, and TO the
members and friends Of the NJ. f.. Church
pithin The bounds Of said Conference and else
@Aere; ~da ala2 ee
DEAR BRETHERN- undersigned
would most respectfully beg leave to
call your attention to few facts promi-
nent in the history of our noble old Con-
ference, aud to deduce ,tberefrom the
lessons tina. should govern community
of high-minded and conscientious min
listers aud people. In the division of
the Church in 1874, our Conference
maintained her position in the M. r.
Church with the understanding, that,
the then existing stotus Of our legisla-
ton touching slavery acds not to be DIS
turded. s..l
Subsequent to this, certain Northern
Conferences declared by vote, that no
change was desired, or would be sought.
These official declarations--accepted as
offered in good faith, assured almost our
entire membership. Contrary, however,
to this understanding, and in violation
of our confidence. agitation Of the ques-
ton supposed to be at rest, was revived
and went on increasingly, till in the
Buffalo General Conference of 1860, it
resulted in the passage of new
chapter " on slavery.
This I" chapter enacted by an un-
warranted assumption of Legislative pow
ers, had all the form and force of doctrine
. not taught in the sacred Scriptures,
but contrary thereto. y and gave wrong
Interpretation to one of the general
rules" and thus sought to do by indtrec-
ton, what could not then be done in a
constitutional way. These points were
elaborated in the - Protest" which was
{" adopted as the sense and judgment q
the Baltimore Annnal Conference o.
1861 In view of these facts, and also
of the oft-repeated and solemn pledges
given by the Conference, it was felt to be
duty which the Conference owed to it.
self and to our people to meet the crtsi,
that was upon US; and this duty was dis.
charged with an unfoleriag fidelity tc
the confidence reposed in us by ru,
and confdfng membership.
The Baltimore Conference of 1861
therefore. by very large majority,
joined issue with the General Conference
on the question of authority, and repudi.
Ated the jurisdiction Of said General
Conference, assuming that the General
Conference were Trustee or AGENT Of
the Annual Conferences, had Transcribed
the trust of its delegated authority. But,
at the same time, the Baltimore Confer.
ence vindica.ed its rights as g Confer.
ence " iq, and as an q integral part Of
the ~ E. Church" Thus, the Confer
ence, in 1861, became "independeu y
Of the General Con ference, but not sepa-
rate IN form, from the VI. E. Church
Therefore, although Bishop Scott con-
tinued to act as President of the Confer
ence till its close, he was alto,ced to dc
so only by the courtesy and concession Of
the body, and in Difference to the wishes
Of the minority and for the sake Of peace
and unity, and not in virtue of any
acknowledged authority vested in him by
the General Conference of 1860, whose
Jurisdiction had been Mroun off: his
decision that the /" action" of the Con-
ference was null and void " to the con-
trary notwithstanding The right in-
herring in the majority (Which is the
body itself 10 law) to determine its status
and external relations Immediately and
definitely, was waived in view of the
fact that the plan of action involved 10
the compromise with the minority Gas
may be seen by reference to the second
resolution OF the - Report of the Peace
Conference page A. Annual Minutes)
looked to the close Of another Conference
year, as the period of ats consunnaotion
In pursuance ofthis plan the Con-
ference adjourned to meet 10 Baltimore
iu 1862. Bot alas. as is too well known,
a civil war of terrific proportions followed
soon after the adjournment Of the Staun-
ton Conference, and continuing till April,
1865. made it impossible for any con-
siderable portion Of our brethren to meet
in Annual Conference. and to pass an