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

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offer, for the Conference to take her pro
per and natural position with the great
conservative Methodist family, for the
present chiefly within the Southern
States and | am persuaded she will do
SO, with calm and solemn reference to
the glory of God, and the efficiency Of
1Hethodisnl as are received IL from our
fathers. .9a
In taking this step, we shall not be
understood, by fair-minded men, as adj
herring to any dead political institutions,
questions or issues. But, while actual
ed by sentiments of sincere loyalty to
the Government of the United States,
and to that of the States respectively,
within which we may be appointed to
labor, the motives influencing our pur-
pose are of far higher and holier cha
racter than any Of mere worldly kind.
Usefulness among the people whom we
sefve as ministers of the pure Word Of
God, and the best Interests Of the king
dom Of Christ, aohose headship alone we
acknowledge in things pertaining to sal
walton, are the grave and awful conside-
rations that constrain US.
Towards our brethren of the minority,
who entered their ''Protest" at Staun-
ton, in 1861, against the faction" of the
Conference, we have no unhiad feelings.
We hail them as our former fellow-la-
borers, and regard them still as "bre-
thren beloved" The ''mode" and the
time" of redress alone constituted the
difference between them and US, accord
ing to their own declarations, they be-
ing "as much opposed to the New Chap
ter" as we are-the failure to obtain the
reiief sought, in. the way indicated in
their "Protest." Nay more, the triumph
of abolition doctrines as incorporated in
the Discipline of the Church, makes
them, Jy the terms and conditions of their
"Protcst," stand upon the same ground
substantially as the "maority." Their
action" however, in 1862, as a ''mi-
Notwithstanding to be "the Confer
ence," (and in the constrained absence
of the majority in striking off the names
Of the "majority" brethren, by formal
vote, from the roll Of the Conference,
reJ,as the presumption of sincerity in the
attteranccs of their faction" in 1861.
But, Notwithstanding these seeming in
consistencies, assure the brethren who
have taken the course referred to, that,
for myself, and on behalf of the majo-
rity of the Conference, there is no de-
sire to resent the wrongs done US. We
desire that "brotherly love continue"
between them and us. They have the
same right that we have to determine
Uhere and among whom to cast their
lot. Let there be no strife between
them and us, save as to who shall do
most in promoting the cause of God,
and of our common Methodism.
We have noticed, however, with feel
ings of pain and surprise, that the ami
mus and aims of the Northern church
towards us, as openly ayowed by those
high in authority and position, are not
such as we had expected They ignore
the organic existence of Methodism in
the South, and have divided the South
ern States into five great missionary de-
partments, making to them emo, nous APP
preparations of money, to aid the work
of dividing ard destroying, if possible,
the Methodist church, as such, in the
South; and have already succeeded in
estranging thousands of colored people
from the church of their fathers, whose
conversion TO Goo was brought about
through the ministry of Southern Me-
thodist preachers Thus saying, in ef
feet, to their brother ministers in the
South, "Stand aside, you are not fit to
preach the Gospel"
To accomplish their ends more effectu-
ally, they seek to disparage our motives
in declining to accept their terms of
Church Union, as proof Of "latent rebel
lion against the Government" This
charge is as untrue as It's unkind.
Let those brethren husband their re-
sources of money and zeal, and cease
their vain and harmless vauntings. By
Gods blessing the Southern church will
continue to live and prosper long after
the excitements of the present shall have
passed away.
God has greatly blessed our ministry
in the past few years-whilst they have
toiled on in His service midst privations
and hardships unknoWn to our brethren
of the North Even now revivals of
uncommon power and scope are crown
ing our labors throughout the extent Of
our territory. We most heartily invite
urge our brethren, who, under the
pressure of peculiar circumstances, for
med themselves into " independent
churches, and who are one with us in
feeling and sentiment. tojoin us in main
tanning the connerional unity Of Episco-
pal Methodism in the South and else
,chere.
We have field of labor within our
legitimate territory, which needs only to
be faithfully cultivated, to make it all
beautiful with the fruits of evangelical
Christianity Besides. we are looking
forward TO an out gros0,h in other fields
where kindred sympatbies will greet our
coming,