Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-04-24

StltutionS OF MethOdlSm North and South, SO
far as the principles which our christian asso-
ciation requires, will still cherish this princi-
pie above any church and state in which, and
| under the inspiration of which | have for years
as sincerely served God as [ ever expect to
serve Him when [ reach the Kingdom above.
| make this statement because [ feel and know
from communications | have received both here
and at the North, and from recent criticisms in
the New York papers upon me for words ut
tered in a recent lecture that was called upon
to deliver that there is in some degree such a
disposition to so regard my position and views.
But, when [ hear that telegraphic request that
we should join them in prayer; although as
| my venerated brother from Virginia says all
should pray, yet it is not always expected that
we should join with people seemingly almost
on the other side of the globe, but for the rapid
communication by telegraph, yet on such an oc-
| casion as this, under such circumstances, after
Church and Union have been so widely sun
dered, after they had once repelled us from
their doors, and when through that illustrious
man, the pride of Georgia, who may be this
day lingering at the doors of Paradise, who was
cutfed and driven from their doors with rude
ness not becoming a Christian people. Yet
now | say with my whole heart, that for the
honor of God, for love Of His people, | never,
With all my prejudices against those who have
50 deeply wronged the South and the Southern
Church, will refuse to unite with all true Chris
tians who believe in extending the Christian
religion over this and other lands throughout
the globe. When that message, in so simple,
beautiful and touching terms as those which
have been conveyed over the mysterious wire,
| comes, as if with the inspiration and burning
voice Of light, [ may truly say, with all my
heart, let us forget the past let us pray.
! amen. l thank God that it was In their
| hoortc to capd TIC hot rr,occara | mon l-that
with all my political and religious prejudices
heretofore, [ have it in my heart to say, "Oh
thou searcher of the heart! Thou knowest how
/ glad | am that the hearts OF our brethren on
the other side have prompted them to send us
this message, through this mystic agency I
say let us accept it. If it shows anything indi-
cative of evil, let us not be the first to suspect
it. I will mott cannot say it does. | care
not who offered it-whether it was that vener-
able Heman Bangs or the Youngest member of
| the Conference thank him for it. 1t has
the ring of Methodism and of true piety, and l
wish to say to the members of that Conference
that when tomorrow morning dawns upon my
eyes, as God sends His light into my room, |
will say let this day be sacred to that true spirit
of divine conservation that shall bind the hearts
of those brethren to us; and will pray that we
may be united in the true spirit of religion
The war is over and the sword is already turn
ing the turf to make it ready for the seed corn.
Let the past be buried and let the spirit of re-
Ggion reign. The spirit ofthe fend has reigned
long enough, and if those whom we deemed to
have manifested an ungenerous wicked and
worldly spirit towards the South, are not so bad
as we had conceived, and are ready to extend
the right hand of fellowship and brotherly love-
let us receive it. | am for the continuance of
our church as it stands. | never will and ssnev-
er can consent, under any circumstances, to
combine churches so widely dissimilar in their
interests. This is an independent Southern
church. That is it's name-South-be because
there is a South, and always will be a South
for God is in the South and always will be-
Therefore | say, as the Church South, let us
pray.
DIR. w. A. Smith, of the Virginia Confer
ence-I am tempted to speak in the hope that
[ shall see a unanimous rising vote on the ques-
ton. [ differ with DIR. Lee with the greatest
reluctance had rather differ with almost any
other man, but L am prompted to speak with
the hope that even Dr. Lee will unite with us
| in a rising vote on the subject. l know that
! have been ultra enough and probably am still
ultra enough on this subject, but l shall consd-
er it as a part Of my record, and j am willing
| that it should be so considered | should re-
gret if it were otherwise, that took part in an
affirmative rising vote on this resolution And,
again repeat, that hope that we shall not
be without brother Lee S vote, because [ think
he overlooks very slight distinction that he
should have before his mind. L will state it
| IF this proposition came to us from the body of
the Northern Church, which occupies such a
hostile position to u.s. l would pause. [ would
do more than pause; l would say may" l
would say purge yourselves Of the iniquity of
occupying our territory, and infringing upon
law, justice, sympathy and everything else
/ Of of
against right in taking our property and hold
| ing it, and seeking to subordinate the military
authority of the United States to carry out your
| plans. Purge yourselves OF that iniquity, wash
yourselves OF that sin, and when you have done
that, come and ask us to pray and we will unite
with you in prayer. We are praying all the
time, but do that and we will unite in praying
with you. Now, l suppose, that is the real
animus of DIR. Lee ON the subject. But that is
not the proposition It is proposition from
the East New York Conference that commits
itself by that act to declare sympathy with us
| Methodists South. Shall we say to them
''nay?' No sir. heartily and cordially unite
| with the brethren in saying with uplifted hands
''Let as pray.' Applause and responses of
Amen
Rev. DR.. Deems, of North Carolina Confer
ence Whatever we do on this subject must
! be done promptly. | do not feel at liberty to
detain the Conference one unnecessary moment.
| am for the passage of these resolutions unan-
imously, and [ unite with DR.. Smith, of Viz
gnia In hoping that every man will vote for
them. have lately spent several months in
| the North, and | have received the most cor
dial attention from the brethren there When
| ever an invitation was extended to me to preach
that l could accept consistently with my rela-
ton to the church, | accepted it, and more in
vitations were extended than | could possibly
accept. The last sermon that | delivered there
was probably in the very church in which this
Conference is now in session. There is now in
my possession a standing invitation, within the
bounds of that Conference, that every time a
minister from the South reaches New York he
is invited to go and preach there. III supposed
there was trick in this thing, do not know
what would do l think should pray then.
! Laughter and applause. We cannot be in
jured, dear brethren, even if they try to play a
trick on us, if, in the simplicity of our hearts,
we adopt this resolution; | hope the resolu-
! ton will be adnnted and to thnir oord;ol aa4