New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-12-11

AA0 V0OoUAS - 49, o14 VIVA 49, ' ~sAsS -
If Christianity consists, as we have no
doubt it does, in long suffering, in hui
mility, meekness and a pure conscience,
the Christian Advocate in this city is not
an ornament to the profession. And we
say this with great regret, after long con-
sideration; first, because there is sort of
hedge about religious journal which re-
lieves it from criticism; and, further, be-
cause the church which it represents is a
powerful institution for good, and its
shortcomings should be borne with long
while before they are given over as too OBJ
durate to be cured by silence.
The Christian Adrocdte is the organ of
the Methodist Church South, having its
editors elected by the conference Of that
denomination. What it says, therefore.
has sort of official voice which makes it
an echo of the church membership. This
should impress its editorials with that
careful relation to the truth which BELTS
the cause in which the paper is engaged,
and the important testimony that its
editorials offer to the world. Nothing
should be declared in anger, much less
should anything be written in spirit of
malice and scandal And yet the Advocate
has not held to these self-evident PROPOSE
tons. 1t has used language that is not
tolerable in speaking of brother; and it
has made charges that the world will re-
peat to cast reproach upon the church.
For all of which it is blamable, not the
more for doing the wrong, than for being
actuated thereto by prejudice, which is
the author Of so much evil.
In speaking of the proposed conjunc-
ton of the two branches Of Methodism in
the United States, the Adrocate insists
that the Methodist Church ''stole" certain
places of worship from the Methodist
Church South, which it refuses to surren-
der, and the Southern body refuses to
unite with the great Wesleyan Confer
ences of the world until this act of 'theft"
is atoned for. We use the words as we
find them in the Advocate. ''StOlen" and
s'theft" are the terms which one body of
Christians uses toward another on which
it sometimes relies for favors. In the first
place, the editor does not fully appreciate
the use Of terms; and, secondly, he does
not understand the facts about which he
puts on SO much indignation. If the
property was stolen, there would be no
difficulty about its recovery; and if the
Methodist Church had committed the
larceny through any of its agents. the
thieves might have been arrested. As the
claimants of the property have not pur-
sued, it is proper to infer that the use of
such terms and charges is not justified by
the facts.
Let US relate the details of this diff
Guilty in as brief manner as possible, and
then come to a conclusion. Certain
churches were built in the city of New
Orleans, and dedicated to the service of
God These buildings were built by sub
scription, and were designed for the use
of Christian congregations. 1t was never
intended that the titles should vest in any
body of men as a fee but rather as a
trust, they being the property of God,
and held for his praise, worship and
glory.
The congregations in attendance at
these churches accepted this view of the
case, and during the war they came under
body of trustees, and under pastor
different from the one they had had be-
fore the war. 1t Vas natural this should
be the case, for the conference which had
formerly supplied New Orleans abdicated
its work, while the city was in possession
of the federal forces. New trustees and
a new pastor were obtained, and
the congregation ultimately transferred
its relations to a different conference, as it
had right to in all conscience to do. The
Methodist conference supplied preacher
to the congregation as it was bound to do.
And this is all the relation the Methodist
Church has with the three churches in
this city, namely, to supply their congre'
cations with ministers. It would do this
if the buildings were burned down OF
were delivered over to the Southern Metho
dist Church tomorrow. Souls must MOI
be allowed to perish while the spirit o.
vexation grasps at mere temporal affairs
So that the charge against the Metho
dist Church falls entirely to the ground
that denomination having no claim what
ever, on the churches in dispute. Tit
parties who hold and dispute the titles te
these properties are congregations, ove1
whom the Methodist Church has no con
troll or jurisdiction, except to see thai
they are provided with preaching. And
the LAWYERS of the Methodist Church Soutf
know this very we'll, for in all oftheir pro
ceedings they have acted against the
trustees in possession.
Of the controversy in other States We
desire to have nothing to say. 1t is no
pleasant even to bring this notoriety upor
what is disturbing great Christian body
unfortunately divided, at our own doors
But rather than submit to see weak ant
querulous quarrel continued by the use
of misrepresentation and bad language
we feel constrained to tell the whole trutl
to those who esteem the truth as above al
things. The present division i'll thu
Methodist Church is great drawback OF
this State, for while the ministers ant