The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-06-03

Corrcspondence between zEethodlsr
.Moresaeaf booking to q Union betissem Che u. E
CAauch and che II. 4. GhsrcAs 6oath--No-
bic letter from Bishop Pdfner
To the Bishops of the N. E. Church. South,
Convened in St. Louis NO.;
Reverend and Dear BTefhrsns -
At meeting of the Board of Bishops 81
the Methodist Church In Erie, EennsyIYa-
MIA, In June. 1866, we made and published the
following declarations:
THAT the great cause which led 70 the
separation from as of both the wesleyan
Methodists of this country and Of the Meta
ofIist Church, South. has passed away. ana
we trust the day il not far distant when
there shall be but one organization, wnich
shall embrace the whole Methodist famHy
in the United States"
This declaration was made in good faltD,
and shows what were then our sentiments
and feeling, and was deemed BY us as the
utmost we were authorized to say or DO up
on the subject at that time.
Although our late General Conference did
not directly authorize us to take 1urtner
specific action in the matter, yet we judge
that some of its acts justify advanced steps
on our part.
In our qnadrennial Address to the Gener-
al Conference, we referred to the declaration
OF that body
The General Conference, to promote the
union of the Methodist Churches appointed
a commission, consisting of eight members
of that body and the Bishops of the Church,
who were empowered to treat with SIM
liar commission from any other Methodist
Church. that may desire union with us.
We have understood that there were IN
the minds of many of the members and min
listers of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
South reasons why they consider It insult
able tor them TO initiate measures to effect
reunion of the two Churches.
believing as we do that If they were one
in both spirit and organization, much more
could be accomplished for the interests of
humanity and the glory of God, we are de-
sirous of doing all we consistently can TO
promote reunion on terms alike honorable
to both Churches and IN the spirit OF our
Divine Lord.
We. therefore ask your attention to the
commission above referred TO. and express
to you the opinion, that should your APP
preaching General Conference see proper
TO appoint similar commission, it, we
doubt not, viii be happy to treat with them
and to report the result to our next General
Conference.
PRAYING that infinite wisdom may guide
both you and rs in this important matter,
vanced and His name be gloritied, we are
yours in the bonds OF the gospel OF Christ.
E. S. JAMES,
NJ. SIMPSON.
III DSllstil VI Tic DAShOPS VI NbN ~AANeAOAASb
Episcopal Church.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, May 18th, 1860.
To the Bishops of the
Rereread and Deer Brethren:
It has afforded us pleasure to receive in
person your respected colleagues, Bishops
James and Simpson, deputed by you to con-
fer with us; and we can not forbear TO ex-
press our regret that one of the delegation
appointed.by you to us-the venerable Bish-
op Morris-Syas not able to be present. We
pesired to see him again face to face, to en-
joy his society, and TO renew to him the as
sueances of our affection and regard. Our
own senior superintendent Bishop Andrew,
though in the city, was hindered by the fee
bleness and infirmities 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
estimate of the responsibility, in the prem
Uses, resting on the chief pastors of the sep
arated bodies of Methodism.
We would approach, dear brethren, the
matter of your communication with the ut
most candor and love; and SO meet the adj
vanced steps on your part, that nothing
may be wanting on ours, to bring about a
better state of things, becoming and bene-
fetal to us both. We deplore the unfortu-
prevailed, and that still prevail; and our
earnest desire 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 60, farther than
your communication, and, from our point of
view. suggest what may help to remove the
difficulties and obstacles that are in the way
Permit. us then, to say, in regard to ire
union" that in our opinion there is another
subject to be considered before that can be
entertained ami nPpQSSaFilV in 0rrlar 10
we mean the establishment of fraternal feel
fngs 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 d.
visions must be cured before corporate di-
vision can be healed.
You will not consider it as unfriendlv to
the freest flow of Christian sympathy. evo-
ked by your overture, if we remind you
that we Initiated the measure to effect fra
ternal relations some years ago; and, as was
declared then, 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 salutati0ns. and
through him to "offer to you the establish
ment of fraternal relations and intercourse
L. pains us to refer to the tact, but it is mat
ter of history, that he was not received.
The closing words of DR.. Pierce to your
General Conference, upon being notified of
the failure of his mission, are in your pos
session:
You will, therefore, regard this commu-
nlcation as final on the part of the M. E.
Church. South. She can never renew the
offer of fraternal relations between the two
great bodies of Wesleyan Mcthodists in the
United States. But the proposition can be
renewed at any time. either now or hereaf-
ter, by the NJ. E. 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"
IEs language to our General Conference
in submitting his report was:
Thus ending the well-intended commits
sion from your body. Upon this noble eff
fort verify believe the smiles of Divine an
probation will rest, when the Heavenly
bodies themselves will have ceased to shine.
We did affectionately endeavor to make and /
preserve peace, but our offer was rejected,
as of no deserving.
we suffer in common with you. We lament
them in common with you; and. notwith-
standing 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. Bat You
could not expect us to say less THAI this
that the words Of our rejected delegate
haYe been ever since, and still are our word.
Ii may help 10 the more speedy and GER
tain attainment OF the ends we both desire,
to keep distinctly in mind our mutual posi-
TONS and to hold the facts Involved in our
common history in clear light.
You say, sthat the great cause which led
to the separation from us of both the Wes-
leyau Methodists Of this country 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 IL may help any negotiations
hereafter taking place, to restate our posi-
ton. Slavery was not, IN any proper sense.
no N.nnk -
separation, the necessity OF which we re-
GREETED as much as you. But certain prfn-