The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-05-25
CHI A r T. E. S TON.
TUESDAY MORNING. MAY as. 1869.
Proposed Reunion OF tine Methodist
Chu1 chcs.

Proposed Reunion OF the Methodist
Chul chcs.
In April last meeting Of the Board Of
Bishops Of the Methodist Episcopal Church
was held Of Meadville, Pa, and Bishops
Morris and James were appointed delegates
to tho Bishops Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church South for the purpose Of effeoting
a reunion Of the churches. On the 9th
inst. the delegates waited ON the Bishops of
the Methodist Episcopal Church South, at
! st. Louis, and made their formal PROPOSE
tion. In this they say that at the meetip q
Of the Board Of Bishops Of tho Methodist
Episcopal Church, held in June, 1866, the
| following declaration was made and pub
| lished: "That the great cause which led to
''the separation from US Of both the Yves
"leyan Methodists Of this country and Of
''the Methodist Episcopal Church South has
''passed away, and we trust the day is not
''far distant when there shall be but one or.
sganization, which shall embrace the whole
''Methodist family In the United States. {"
and that If commission be appointed by
the Methodist Episcopal Church South at
the General Conference, it will be met hy
their commission, s'who, we doubt not, will
t'be happy to treat with them and to report
''the result to our next General Conference. I"
The Bishops Of the Church South de-
clined the reunion, and in their response
say: eve deplore the unfortunate oontro
''versies and tempels that have prevailed
''and that still prevail, and our earnest de-
''sire and prayer to God is, that they may
'give place, and that speedily, to peace
''In evidence of this, we are ready not only
"to respond to, but to go further than your
communication, and from our point of
''view to suggest what may help to remove
s'the difficulties and obstacles that are in
''the way. Permit us, then, to say in re.
''gard to reunion. that in our opinion
''there is another subject to be considered
''before that can be entertained, and neces-
''sarily in order to it,: we mean the estab.
''lishment Of fraternal feelings and rela-
''tions between the two churches. They
'smust DO one in spirit before they oan BE-
'sone in organization Concord must be
''achieved before any real union. Heart
divisions must be cured before corporate
''divisions can be healed" They remind
the delegates that DR.. Pierce, one OF the
''most honored elders" was cent by their
General Conference to ''offer to you the
establishment Of fraterna1.gelations and
intercourse" and that he was not received.
r.. n M od he d.
communication was final on the part Of the
''Methodist Episcopal Church South. She
'scan mover renew the offer Of fraternal re-
Citations between the two great bodies Of
s'Wesleyan Methodists in the United States
''But the proposition can be renewed at any
slime, either now OF hereafter, by the Meth
''odist Episcopal Church, and if ever made
"upon the basis Of the plan of separation as
''adopted by the General Conference of
"lo44, the Church South will cordially en-.
certain the proposition" and, "the words
"of our rejected delegate have been ever
''since, and still are our words" The
reply concludes as follows:
1T may help to the more speedy and certain
attainment of the ends we both desire to keep
distinctly in mind our mutual positions, anG
to hold the facts involved in our common his
tory in clear light. You say that the great
cause which led to the separation from us of
both the Wesleyan Methodsts of this coun.
try and OF the Methodist Episcopal Church
South has passed away II we understand
your reference, we SO far differ from you in
this opinion that it may help any negotiations
pola ~
slavery was not, in any proper sense, the cause.
put the occasion only, Of that separation, the
necessity OF which we regretted as much as
you. But certain principles were developed in
relation to the political aspects Of that cues.
ton involving the right Of ecclesiastical bodies
20 handle and determine matters lying out
side OF their proper jurisdiction, which we
could not accept; and, in q case arising, cer-
tam constructions Of the constitutional powers
and prerogatives Of the General Conference
were assumed and acted ON which we consid-
cred oppressive and destructive Of the rights
OF the numerical minority represented in that
highest judicatory OF the church. That which
you are pleased to call, no doubt sincerely
thinking it 80, the great cause" or separation,
existed In the church from lts oreaaization
and yet FOR sixty years there was no separa-
ton. But when those theories incidentally
evolved in connection with it began to be put
INTO practice, then the separation came. We
cannot think you mean to Offend us when yO,,
speak OF our having separated from you, and
put as IN the same category with small body
OF schismattcs who were always an acl1nowl-
edged secession. Allow us, In ell kindness,
brethren, to remind SON, and TO keep tho Inn
portant fact Of history prominent, that we sep
arated &rom you in no sense In waioh Won d,d