Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1866-05-30
ConaIct OF Churches.

w. nublish in our paper this week the list of ap-
,o;r,ments made out by Bishop Clark Tor the loyal
uolston Conference organized year ago, al the re-
ouoe. of the loyal Methodists Of East tennessee,
who previously held Convention in this CITY, ane
called upon the Church North to effect such organ
ization, declaring their fixed purpose not to remain
any longer under the care and control OF tne reOo
Church which had acted so conspicuous part !"
bringing Oh the late wicked rebellion, ana "hooe
ministers had acted with such cruelty towards all
Mebodists who dared stand by the stars and stripes
of their country. 1t will be seen that tnS nc" VT
qanizstion has stationed some SIXTY minister's ana
that they will occupy field OF labor East len
nessee proper, Western North Carolina, and por-
ton of Southwestern Virginia, with purpose 10
extend its operations and enlarge its borders AS
matter of course, we look for fine conflict between
this new organization and the old rebel Holston
Conference Several malignant little papers within
the bounds Of the Conference plainly indicate this
and the same is confirmed by letters recently writ
ten by ministers of the rebel Conference, some OF
which we have seen. The proceedings of their Gen
eral Conference, recently held in New Orleans,
plainly indicates spurposeto fight the loyal Church.
and to attack it as political organization. Already
within the bounds of the Holston Conference some
of the more interruptions and demoralized Of their
ministers are raising the mad-dog cry of Abolition
Church." Negro Equality Church" &c. If they
propose 10 fight us with the weapons of prayer ana
faith and to use the artillery of argument should
invite the conflict in confident expectation Of VIC
tory. But falsehood and misrepresentation, back
biting and SANDER are 10 be their implements o.
warfare, and upon that line they will fight it out
The part they took in the rebellion has schooled
them in the use Of these weapons, and they find ii
the use of them the "fath hope and charity of thu
Southern Confederacy, which will always be an &C
ceptable offering to the god of secession.
| Let every minister who has received an appoint
ment at the hands OF the loyal Church take frn
and decided stand, and show quarters to traitor
and treason. In other words, let mono of our mel
occupy middle grounds, but march boldly up IN de
tense of the TRUTH and RIGHT, and show themselve
worthy of their positions. Unfurl the banner o
Methodism as taught by Wesley and cherished By
| the Methodist Episcopal Church in America, and
don't suffer star to be blotted from its folds unde
the false pretense of Southern rights. Let no sta
represent a vanquished territory, whose people ar
| Joined to the idol of Southern province; but lie
every star represent circuit or station, whose peo
pie devoted to TRUTH and RIGHT, entitled to al
the rights and privileges OF Christians laid down il
the Bible, and under the Constitution Of this gres
country.
Those ministers, if there be any such, who ar
disposed to back down when confronted by one c
these Southern champions, or who, for the sake Q
favor among the "enemies of all righteousness,
yield the great points at ISSUE had better so over
the South at once. We want no go-betweens in GU
ranks, no towards who will shrink from a mani
conflict; but we want bold, fearless, upright mel
who will contend for the faith, and dispute ever
inch of ground with the enemies of religion and II
Federal Union. And that class of ministers WI
attempt to conciliate traitors, and win the goo
opinions of both Church organizations, will fa
themselves in few brief years, if not months whel
the same class of men stand who took both sides i
the rebellion-hated and despised by all true loyi
men, and objects of scOrn and contempt in bot
Churches. Let us throw obstacles in the way
any class of men doing good, whether they are
the North or South. Let us rather rejoice to ST
them doing good. Let US give them fair trial
and as long as they act out the spirit of the Hol
Gospel they profess and act in subordination TO Il
Federal Government, let pray for their peace an
success.
But as this great conflict has grown out of tie la
rebellion, and as one of these Churches is emphat
cally rebel organization, dangerous to the peace
the country, and at war with the spiritual interes
Of the people, it will he the duty of this Journal
notice it's movements, expose its falacies, and Wind
cate the right. This We shall do in no half-ws
style, but with that frankness of manner and plail
ness of style that the Methodist people have rgl
to expect from the KNOXVILLE WHIe-a paper
more than a quarter of centurys standing, whiC
has grown up with the Churches of East Tennessc
and whose editor knows the leading men Of th
: country of all parties.