The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-05-21


Marquis de Bourbel, England, and Peter
Higgins, Boston, are at the Metropolitan.
A. N. Crane, Winchester, Va, Is at the
National.
Proposed Methodist Rsunion- The
N. Z. Chareh and tho Church ssuth
-CorFcspopdeneeb etweea the Bish-
ops - Rcuuion Declined BY the
Church south.
The 81. Louis Christida Idpoedt., an organ
Of the Methodist Church South, has pub
lished some interesting correspondence In re-
gard to Methodist church reunion move
ments, from which II Ia learned that on the
Sth instant Bishop v. q. James and NJ. simp-
son, by appointment, waited upon tho bish-
ops Of the Methodist Episcopal Church
South, at St. Louis, formally proposing the
reunion. A good deal Of preliminary cor
respondencc Is given In the publication,
showing that at a meeting Of the board OF
bishops OF the M. Il. Church at Meadville,
Pennsylvania, last April, Bishops Morris
and James were originally deputed as the
delegates to the bishops Of the church South,
but the former being unable to attend, his
place was supplied BY Bishop Simpson.
This meeting at Meadyillo declared that
''as the main cause Of the separation has
been removed, so has the chief obstacle to
the restoration" and that "it Is fitting that
the Methodist church, which began the dis
union, should not be the last TO achieve the
reunion, aud 1t would be reproach to the
chief pastors OF the separated bodies II they
waited until their nocks prompted them to
the union which both tho love Of country
and Of religion invoke, aud which the proyi-
dence OF God seems to render Inevitable at
no distant day"
On appearing before the St. Louis body,
Bishops James and Simpson presented letter
signed by Bishop Morris Sin behalf Of the
bishops Of the NJ. z. Church" conveying the
above, and naming them as authorized to
confer as to the "ProPrls,sy' Pract practical
also read from Bishop Morris, urging his
personal approval OF q reunion, aud declar-
ing his belief that 1t accords with the action
Of the last general conference OF the NJ. E.
Church.
REUNION PROPORTIONS.
The following proposal for reunion was
| presented and read, addressed "To the Bish'
ops Of the N. z. Church South, convened al
St. Louis, Mos"
| Reverend and Dear Brsthren! At q meeting
OF the board Of bishops Of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, held In Erie, Pa, In June,
| 1865, we made and published the following
declaration;
"That the great cause which led TO the
separation from us Of both the Wesleyan
Methodlsts OF this country and OF the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church South has passed
away, and we trust the day Is not far distant
when there shall be but one organization,
which shall embrace the whole Methodist
family Of the United States"
This declaration was made In good faith,
| and shows what were then our sentiments
and feelings, and was deemed by us as the
utmost we were authorized to say or do on
the subject at that time. Although our late
| General Conference did not directly author
| lie US to take further specific action In the
matter, yet we Judge that some OF Its act
Justify advanced steps on our parts.
In our quadrennial address to the Genera
Conference We referred TO the declaration
above quoted, and no exception was taken h
II by that body. The General Conference, l.
appointed commission, consisting Of eigh
members OF that body and the bishops Of tn
church, who were empowered TO treat witt
| q similar commission from any other Meth
odist church" that may desire union will
i US.
| We have understood that there were In tn,
minds Of many Of the members and minister
OF the Methodist Episcopal Church Soutl
reasons why they consider II unsuitable 70
I tutin " lultllttt mChbuIoo W OutCt u IUuulOi
| OF the two churches Believing, as we do
that II they were one In both spirit and or
ganizatlon, much more could be accom-
plished for the interests Of humanity and 70
the glory Of God, we are deslrous Of doing oil
| we consistently can to promote q reunion Of
terms alike honorable TO both churches AM
In the spirit Of our divine Lord.
We therefore ask your attention TO tb,
commission above referred to, and we OK
press to you the opinion that should you
approaching General Conference soc prope
| to appoint similar commission, they will
| be promptly met by our commission, who
we doubt not, will be happy TO treat will
them, and TO report the result 10 our mex
General Conference.
| Praying that infinite wisdom may guild,
| both you and US In this Important matter, 9,
that our Redeemer's kingdom may be ad
vanced and His name be glorifed, we ar
yours, In the bonds Of the gospel Of Chris,
Z. 3. JAMES,
NJ. SIMPSON.
In behalf Of the Bishops Of the Method,
. Episcopal Church.
ST LOUIS, No. Mays. 1897
REPLY OF THE BISHOPS OF TuB CnURc
SOUTH.
The following Is the response OF th
: Bishops OF the Church South, declining
| oh hut NSihb pioPoochs
To he Bishops Of Tie MsthOdiSt Episeopt
Church-Reverend and Dear Brethren:
has afforded US pleasure to receive In perso
, your respected colleagues, Bishops Jane
and Simpson, deputed by you 10 confer wit
us: and we cannot forbear to express our n
gret that one Of the delegation appointed
you 10 us (the venerable Bishop Morris) wa
not able 10 be present. We desired to Sc
him again face to face, to enjoy his soeiet
and to renew 10 him the assurances OF GU
affection and regard. Our senior superiu
tendent, Bishop Andrew, though In the city
was hindered by the feeblensss and infirml
ties incident to age from being present a
the reception Of your colleagues and enjoy
Ing with US tho interview.
Your communication, together with tina
laid before US BY your commission, has bee
considered, and We entirely agree In you
estimate OF the responsibility In the premise
resting on the chief pastors Of the separate
bodies Of Methodism. ....asa
We would approach. dear brethren, tn
matter OF your communication with the III
most candor and love, and so meet the ad
vanced steps on your part that nothinl
shall be wanting on ours TO bring about
better state Of things, becoming and beneh
cial to US both. We deplore the unfortunat
controversies and tempers that have pre-
vailed, and that still prevail, and our earnes
desire and prayer to God Is that they ma!
give place, and that speedily, to peace. Ii
evidence OF this, we are ready not only I,
respond to, but to 20 further than your com
munication, and from our point Of view Il
suggest what may help to remove the dim
cuities and obstacles that are In the way.
Permit US, then, to say In regard to "re
4 union" that, In our opinion, there Is another
subject to be considered before that can b.
entertained, and necessarily In order TO. II
We mean the establishment Of fraternal feel
lngs and relations between the two Churches
They must be one in splrR before they car
be one In organization. ,oncord must b
achieved before any real un on. Heart divi
sions must be cured befor, corporate dlvi
slons can be healed.
You will not consider II as unfrlendly tc
the freest flow of Christian sympathy evoked
by your overture, II we remind you that We
initiated the measure TO effect fraternal rela'
lions some years ago and, as was declared
then, and as We do now declare, In good
faith and with most Christian purposes
Our General Conference sent one Of Its most
honored elders TO your General Conferenc.