The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-05-22


Brief Remarks from Sabbath School
Workers.
Adjournment.
PROPOSED REUNION Of THE
METHODIST CEHU RICHES
Overtures for the reunion Of the
Methodist Episcopal Church of the
United States have been recently
made, and the question will undoubt-
eddy be agitated in both divisions,
and may ultimately be successful.
On the 9TH of May, Bishops James
and Simpson, of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church, being at 81. Louis, where
there was session of the Bishops
of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
South, addressed a letter to the Bish-
ops. stating that they had commu-
nication from the Bishops of their
church to deliver to the Bishops of
the Church, South. The latter re-
piled, fixing the 9Th for receiving the
same. Bishops james and Simpson
attended and delivered letter from
Bishop Morris, President Of the Board
of Bishops of the Northern Church,
stating that conference was asked
with a view to reunion of the two
churches as one; also a statement of
Bishops james and Simpson reciting
that at meeting of their board, held
in Erie in 1865. the following declara-
ton was adopted:
THAT the great cause which led to
the separation from us of both the
Wes'yan Methodists of this country,
and of the Methodist Episcopal Church
South has passed away, aud we trust
the day is not far distant when there
shall be but one organization, which
shall embrace the whole Methodist
family in the United States"
They stated also that the General
Conference had appointed a commits
sion of eight members aud the Bish-
ops empowered to treat with a SINH
lar commission from any other Meth
odist Church that might desire a
union. They therefore asked that the
Conference of the Church South
should appoint similar commission,
that the two might promote a re-
union on terms alike honorable to
both churches, and in the spirit of
one Divine Lord"
To this address and this friendly
overture the Bishops of the Church,
South, responded in a lengthy state
ment They reciprocate the kind and
paternal spirit which had suggested
the communication. But they sug-
gest that the two churches must be
one in spirit before they can be one
in organization. Concord must must
be achieved before any real union.
Heart divisions must be cured before
corporate divisions can be healed. Z"
They then reminded the Northern
Church that the measure for reunion
was initiated by the Church, South,
and their General Conference sent
DIR. Pierce, an eminent elder, to the
Northern Conference. That Confer
enee of the Northern Church had re-
fused to receive him. DR.. Pierce, in
| leaving, had announced that the
Southern Church would not renew
the offer, but that if the Northern
Church should make the offer of re-
union on the basis of the plan of sep
aration of 1914, the Church, South,
would accept it. While lamenting
the evils of separation, they feel i'm
PEELED to remind their Northern
brethren of the necessity of keeping
the facts of history in a clear light.
They thus answer the declaration OF
the Board of Bishops at Erie:
You say that the great cause which
led to the separation from us of both
| the Wesleyan Methodists of this coung
try and Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church South has passed away If
we understand your reference, we so
far differ from you in this opinion,
that it may help any negotiations
hereafter taking place to restate our
position. Slavery was not, in any
I proper sense, the cause, but the occa-
sion only, of that separation, the
necessity of which we regretted as
much as you. But certain principles
were developed in relation to the poll
! teal aspects of that question, involving
the right of ecclesiastical bodies to
/ handle and determine matters lying
outside of their proper jurisdiction,
| which we could not accent: and. In 4