Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-05-04
lCoMMUEICATED.l
CHURCH REUNION.

1t is impossible for US, a layman, to SCI
any reason why the Northern and South.
eTn Methodist Churches should not unite
and including, indeed, all the Methodist
family of every name and color. We
fhave read carefully every article we have
a seen in various papers against reunion
and have not seen one substantial obiec.
ton to It. We must also express our
surprise hat while a lumber of the
Church papers of the South oppose it, the
Northern Church papers, as far as we
have seen, are mostly in favor oft.
Our Judgment is that there is bad blood
and hot blood on both sides, and that
neither has yet attained such a state OF
grace as to prepare them for a perfect and
harmonious union. Toexpress our senti-
mems fully, we would record that the
North is too arrogant and the South too
proud, and hat mutual confessions alone
can accomplish aconsummatiOn for which
hundreds of thousands III both sections
are now praying.
The destruction of slavery removed
every potent cause for sectional ranches
of this great church. Il would be useless
and Improbable now to review the cause
CT separation. II is certain that a very
large number of southern iaymen and a
respectable umb of Southern Meth
odist preachers are earnestly and jealous
ly IN favor of healing up the breach be-
tween the two bodies. 1t is equally as
certain too that If the Southern church
represses honorable Overtures that it will
cause disintegratiOn. In making this
statement. we vow that we are a member
of the M. =. Church South, and expect to
stand by its action, but we know Of
preachers and laymen who will dissolve
their connection with il if our church de-
clines a reunion. Some of our preachers
are blind to the heart-yearning in favor
80 - nhA- 49, IL
there Is power in the sentiment which de-
mands a settlement of this most unfortu-
nate matter.
1t Is all important that the people of
this Union should be Homogeneous and
harmonious. The very name of ourchurch
Is sectional, and an effort to make il 9th
erwise tailed. No sect OF party can live
on sectional issues, and while there is
nothing of them in our church we will be
judged as having them as long as we hold
our present name. After an honorable
reconstruction the reunion OF these two
churches will do more for good feeling
between the " sections han any other
human agency.
1t is high time thai all animosities
should die. This nation has a destiny to
accomplish, and must work it out. 1t
was hard for MS, a rebel after the strictest
sect, 10 realize our discontinue, but we
done so and now as ardeDtly desire
TO see common country made as glo-
Tious in peace as il has proven itself great
in war. Every cause of dissension or i'll
nature between the sections should be
removed, and the one under consideration
has been a most potent one. It does not
look well TO see ministers Of the gospel re-
fusing to extend courtesies to each other.
and for one we have little patience with
any such exhibition. If a preacher should
be an example he should practice that
which never faileth; indeed, if
be feels tina he has been injured, he
by the exercise of Christian viz
Tue, heap Goals Of fire upon the head of
his opponent.
The Northern Church did not act with
rue charity toward the Southern Metho-
lists at the close of the war, Let them
the churches that belong tOSouth-
srn Methodists. Let them do Justice to
he southern Church in the plan of re-
and then they can come with clean
hands to a work which will accomplish
more good to Methodism than much
preaching.
The unity of the great Methodist family
3 needed to meet the h~erculean efforts
being made by the Romish Church
obtain control of this government. Al
Is the power of Rome being shown
n excluding the Bible from schools. Her
Priests are active, vigilant and untiring.
Their church regards all governments as
unfortunate to their Pope. Thew are the
most bitter opponents of the public school
because they know the power to
10 obtained by controlling the education
4 the young. The Methodist Church
Is best able to meet these encroach-
nents int TO defeat them. In union
here is strength, and 1t is nonsense to
ay that the two branches could accom-
lish as much while separated as they
ould united.
Its useless to urge that without reunion
ofolal relations will be re-established as
Don AS the Northern Church gives up
ne properly held by 1t which belongs to {
ne south. Ihere can be no true cordiali- I
y or courtesy as long as there Is rivalry ]
the Two branches, because while
ney remain separated, the aid sora SyiII I
e constantly breaking out afresb1 i
The Northern Church already has {
roi of the colOrod people, and as lonv ~ {
his is the case, il will serve to keep alive q
lese prejudices against the Southern {
Give US reunion and it will do '
luch to establish good feeling from them
,ward those with whom their destiny Is !
But It is best that the colored peo-
should havetheir own churches, under !
le direction, however, of the Conferen- /
We sincerely hope Dat our next Gene
1 Conferences will take steps looking TO c
reunion, and that the Northern church t
will press IL with Christian zeal, and Q
at the plan of reunion will also take In i
| branches of the Methodist family. 4
will give praise to God for such I
contamination. II
aa elat. LAYMAN, ?