Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1869-10-29

In coming to the subject as now present
ed for our consideration and action We ear
nestly desire N the spirit Of Christ 30 to
act and 80 recommend action on the part Of
others that peace may speedily ensue
throughout our entire works and that all
uusettied questions Of property in dispute
between rs may be 30 amicably and sstis-
factorily adjusted, that brotherly love and
fraternal feelings may both exist and
abound between these two branches Of
MethOdism and that If God so will Il organ
ic union may soon succeed this oneness OF
spirit.
The propositions Of our brethren Of The
Church, South contemplate the settlements
Of questions occurring only within the
bounds Of the HssstOu Conferences. Our
first convictions were that this report should
have references TO these cases only, but the
more We considered the subject that our
Methodism Is one, aud that ths settlement
Of the questions here should be npon the
same principles as similar questions else
where, aud when we understand that more
church property clAimed BY the M. Z.
Church is In the possession OF the South IN
the States Of Virginia and Maryland, than
they claim that W. occupy of theirs within
the b0Hads OF the HOlstOn Conference, we
thought that it wOuid bs better ant wiser,
and we trust quite ~ acceptable to our
brethren on the other Committee to base
our action and reeomme ndation on some
general principle, which might be adopted
throughout the churches IN every case
here similar difficulties have arisen or
may arise ia the hnal settlement OF the
right To church proper rty, and We hereby
declare our enthe willingness to settle so
far as we have power all the questions
within the bounds Of the Holston Confer
ence, on the same basis which our brethren
of the Church South will agree to iu Vlr-
guia and Mary land where the churches
claimed by Us are occupied by the Church
e. South, which We have no reason to
4 ,ubt will meet the views of our brethren
of the Chuch S nth who, as well a. We,
will rejoice To observe the Goldf Rule
" All things tchGtSoeUer you tcouLd that men
should do unto yOu do ys eueR so to them.
The plan Of settlement which your Com
mittee recommend is this As pacific and
fraternal measures were recommended by
our last General Conference and bolrd Of
Commissioners appointed to treat with
ike board which We expect will be sppo nt-
ed by the NJ. z. Chuch South at its sp-
preaching General CoafeI snce, ia prefer
ence, to a prospective rcGnion of the two
churches aud the satisfactory settlement of
these property questions is nee, ssarily in
volved and must be Effected prior to any
reunion and as the response OF the Bishop
# the Caurch South to the fraternal letter
nf our Bishop, officially informing them OF
the action aud desire Of our General Con-
ference, breathing 4 kind christian spirit,
aud indicated the same strong desire on
ihsir part to have the existing difficulties
properly adj justed, 50 that there might be
peace between Us, and as we do not wish in
any manner to increase the difficu ties In
the way Of their prospective action, your
Committee therefore recommend the refer
snce 0f this whole question for a unifor m
plan of adjustment 10 that board Of Con
mn s-ioners Of the two churches, and that
this Conference nov pledges itself, 50 far IS
It may be concerned and may have power
and inhaence to abide by and conform to
a1y plan or principle which tina, jS'nt COM
mission shall agree to recommend, and that
as members Of the Conference We will use
cur Influence to induce all our people to
AIRY out the same plan in the sd lstme ut
Of any d fii:ulties which may then remain
unsettled.
In thef.meantime we earnestly recon-
mend tbs meHib-r. Of our church holdjcg
property claimed by the Church S0ufh,
I % amicabiy adjnsi all existing Disagree
ment SO far IS 10 their power upOl the
/ highest principles OF eql lity and Christian
charity, aud we earnestly hope that our
brethren in any attempt at adjustment treat
/ With the mambers OF the N. L. Clurch
/ South, ia the true spirit Of christian eour-
tesy ant msgnanimity.
NE. COBLE-Gu,1
F.M. FANNING,
J. B LIrrLE, C0nHs2tee.
J. A HYDEN,
I X EAnS