Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-05-25

your overture, if we remind YOU that we mi |
tiated the measure to effect fraternal relations
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 Conference to convey their
Christian salutations, ard through him to "of-
fer to you the establishment of fraternal rela-
tons and Intercourse. 1t pains us to refer to
the fact, but 1t Is matter Of history that he
was not received.
The closing words Of DR. Pierce to your Gen
eral Conference, upon being notified of the fail
ure Of his mission, are in your possession:
You will therefore, regard this communi-
cation as final on the part of the Methodist E.
piscopal Church South. She can never renew
the offer OF traternal relations between the two
great bodies OF Wesleyan Methodists in the
United States. But the proposition can be re-
newed at any time, either now or hereafter, by
the Methodist Episcopal Church and if ever
made upon the basis of the Plan of Separation
as adopted by the General Conference of 1874
the Church South will cordially entertain the
proposition.
His language to our General Conference in
submitting his report was:
''Thus ended the well-intended commission
from your body. Upon this noble effort YER
lily believe the smile Of divine appreciation will
have ceased to shine. We did affectionately
endeavor to make and preserve peace, but our
offer was rejected, as of no deserving
The evils that have followed this rejection we
suffer In common with you; we lament them
| in common with you; and, Notwithstanding all
that has since occurred, we are ready, On terms
honorable to all, to join heart and hand with
you to stay, and as far as practicable to remedy,
them But you could not expect US to say less
than this-that the words of our rejected dele
gate have been ever since, and still are our
words
1t may help to the moe speedy and certain
| attainment Of the ends we both desire to keep
| distinctly in mind our mutual positions and to
| hold the facts involved In our common history
in clear light.
You say that the great cause which led to
| the separation from US of both the Wesleyan
Methodists Of this country and Of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church South has passed away
If we understand your reference, we SO far diff
fer from you in this opinion that it may help
any negotiations hereafter taking place to re-
state our position. Slavery was not, in any
proper sense, the cause, but the occasion only,
of that separation, the necessity of which we re-
GREETED as much you. But certain p. inciples
were developed In relation to the political as
poets Of that question involving the right of &C.
clesiastical bodies to handle and determine mat
| tiers lying outside Of their proper jurisdiction
| which we could not accept; and in a case ari-
sing, certain constructions of the constitutional
powers and prerogatlves Of the General Confer
ence were assumed and acted on which we con-
sidered oppressive and destructive of the rights
of the numerical minority represented in that
highest judcatory of the Church That which
you are pleased to call. no doubt sincerely think
ing it so, ''the great cause" Of separation exis-
ted in the Church from its organization, and
yet Tor sixty years there was no separation.
But when these theories incidentally evolved
In connection with it began to be put into prac
tice, then the separation came.
We cannot think you mean to offend us when
you speak OF our having separated from you,
and put Us in the same category with a small
body of schismatics who were always an &C
knoweged secession. Allow us, in all kindness
brethren, to remind you. and to keep. the i'm
portant fact of history prominent that we sep
arated from you in no sense in which you did
not separate from US. The separation was by
compact, and mutual and nearer approaches
to each other can be conducted with hope Of a
successful issue only on this basis.
1t is our opinion that the controyers les and
tempers which SO disturb the Churches, and
are so hurttul to the souls of those for whom
Christ died, are due in large measure to irri-
tatlng causes which are not entirely beyond the
control Of the chief pastors of the separated
bodies. 10 this end we invite your concurrence
and cooperation
And we take this occasion frankly to say that
the conduct of some Of your missionaries and
agents who have been sent into that portion Of
| our common country occupied by us and their
avOWed purpose to dsintegrate and absorb our
societies that otherwise dwell quietly, have
been very prejudicial to that charity which we
desire our people to cultivate toward all Chris
| tans, and especially those who are called by the
endeared name of Methodist; and their course
in taking possession of some Of our houses of
worship has inflicted both grief and loss on US,
and bears the appearance, to dlsinterested men
Of the world, of being not only a breach of
charity but an invasion of the plainest rights Of
property. Thus the adversary has had occasion
to speak reproachfully, and the cause OF our
Master has been wounded by its professed
friends
Brethren, these things ought not so to be,
and we propose, until some action more formal
and authoritative, and advanced in this direc-
ton, can be taken by our highest judicatories
to unite with you in preventing them. We do
not say that our own people have been in every
instance fthese unhappy controversies and tenn
pers without blame as toward you. But this
We say if any offences against the law Of. love
committed by those under Our appointment
any aggressons upon your just privileges and
rlghts-are properly represented to U.S. the rep
resentation will be respectfully considered, and
We shall stand ready, by all the authority and
influence we have. to restrain and correct them.
These are our views; and we are sure that
We represent the sentiments OF our ministers
and people We have no authority to deter
mine anything as to the property, practica
bility, and methods" of re- union of the Church
es represented by you and ourselves.
With sentiments of Christian regard we are,
dear brethren, very truly yours,
r. PAINE, Chairman.
IL " lHcIyrere. Secretary
St. Louis Mo, May II, 1861
Alexandria has a real bona tide would be
suicide, named Edward Edwards. One days
last week he was picked up near lime kiln, in
the suburbs Of the city, with his throat cut in
two places, and was bleeding profusey. On his
person was found a small sum of money and
letter post marked Washington, and addressed
to Mrs. Elizabeth Edwards, care of Mr. Skin
ner, Rectortown, Va. lie was taken to the
almshouse and medical attendance rendered,
but from that time he has steadily refused to
eat, and it is surmsed that he intends to ex-
ecute by starvation the design frustrated by the
failure Of his first attempt. He is very retlcent,
and no information Gan be elected from him eX-
cept that he has Il wife somewhere IN the State
of Virginia, that he is unable to support his |
family and does not care to live.
Is Music PART OF RELIGIOUS SERVICE? |
La the suit of the Session Of the Walnut street
Presbyterian church. Philadelphia, against the |
Board of Trustees, to prevent the latter from
inir0dncinc into the relirious services of the |