The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-05-18
VI
In behalf Of the Bishops of the Methods
Episcopal Church.
81. Louis, Mo, May S, 1869.
To the Bishops Of the Methodist EprScop0
lNurCI.

To the Bishops Of the Methodist Ep'Scopo!
Church:
Reverend and Dear Brethren,-It has
| Afforded us pleasure to receive in person your
respected colleagues Bishops James and Simp.
son, deputed by you 10 confer with us; and
we cannot forbear TO express our regret that
one of the delegation appointed by you 10 us
(the venerable bishop Morris) was not able TO
be present. We desired TO see him again face
10 face to enjoy his society, and 10 renew 10
him the assurances of our affection and re-
gard. Onr senior 'perintendent, Bishop An
drew, though in tn" Hity, was hindered by the
feebleness and infirml les incident to age from
being present at the reception OF your col
leagues and enjoying with us the interview.
Your communication. together with that
laid before us by your commission, has been
| considered, and we entirely agree IN your es-
innate of the responsibility In the premises
resting on the chief pastors of the separated
bodies of Methodism.
We would approach, dear brethren, the
matter of your communication with The ut
most candor and love, and so meet the 3d-
vanced steps on your part that nothing shall
be wanting on ours 10 bring about better
state Of things, becoming and beneficial 10
us both. We deplore the unfortunate contro-
verses and tempers that have prevailed, and
that still prevail and our earnest desire and
prayer 10 God is, that they may give place,
and that speedily, to peace. In evidence OF
this, we are ready not only TO respond 10, but
| TO go further than, your communication, and
from our point of view TO suggest what may
help to remove the difficulties and obstacles
| that are in the way.
Permit us, then, TO say in regard to are
union" that in our opinion there is another
subject TO be considered before that can be
entertained, and necessarily in order 10 IL
we mean the establishment of fraternal feel
ings and relations between the two Churches.
They must be one in spirit before they can be
one in organization. Concord must be achieved
before any real union, Heart divisions must
be cared before corporate divisions can be
healed.
You will not consider it rs unfriendly 10 the
frcest flow Of Christian sympathy, evoked by
your overture, il We remind you that We mi
tiated the measure 10 effect fraternal relations
some years ago; and, rs was declared then, and
rs we do now declare, in good faith and with
most Christian purposes. Our General Con-
ference sent-one of its most honored elders 10
your General Conference 10 convey their
Christian salutations, and through him 20
/" offer 10 you the establishment of fraternal
relations and intercourse" 1t pains us 10 re-
fer 10 the fact, but IL is a matter OF history
that he was not received.
The closing words of DR.. Pierce 10 your
General Conference, upon being notified Of
the failure OF his mission, are in your posses
sion
You will, therefore, regard this communi-
cation as final on the part Of the Methodist
Episcopal Church South. She can never re-
the two great bodies of Wesleyan Methodists
in the United States. But the proposition can
be renewed at any time either now or hereaf-
ter, by the Methodist Episcopal Church; and
if ever made upon the basis OF the Plan of
Separation rs adopted by the General Con-
ference of 1874, the Church South will cor
daily entertain the proposition"
His language to our General Conference in
submitting his report was:
"Thus ended the we'll tended commission
4 hic No nfY.N
rily believe the smile of divine appreciation
will rest when the heavenly bodies them
selves will have ceased to shine. We did
alrectionately endeavor TO make and preserve
peace, but our offer was rejected, as OF no de-
serving"
The evils that have followed this rejection
we suffer in common with you; we lament
them in common with You; and, notwith-
standing all that has sine occurred, we are
ready, on terms honorable 10 all, TO join heart