Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-03-13
BALTINIoRE CONFERENCE.

bAAL A1ORE OONI Il MN OG'
Methodist Episcopal Church south
%kFhe following is a part of the proceed
mgs had in this Conference on the 10th
inst. and may be of interest to many OF
our readers:
tsThe committee TO whom was referred
the papers relating to fraternsl intercourse
with the Baltimore Annual Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church respect
fully report the following preamble and
resolutions, viz:
s'Whereas a written communication has
been received from Rev. Henry Slicer
and John Bear, informing US that they
have been appointed committee of the
Baltimore Annual Conference of the NJ
E. Church TO tender TO this body the fra
ternal greeting of that, wishing 70 know
at what time it viii be convenient for us
to hear them for this purpose; and where
as the General Conference of the M. L.
Church, 20 which the ecclesiastical body
now approaching us by committee is
amendable, has declined to receive fra.
ternal greetings or to enter into fraternal
intercourse with the General Conference
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South,
under whose jurisdiction we are; and
whereas, this attitude on their part is
still maintained toward us, and for which
history shows VIC are not responsible;
therefore
''ResolYed by The Baltimore Annual
Conference assembled, That it is not prop
er or competent for the Baltimore Confer
ence of the NJ E. Church, South, 10 en-
ter, at this time, into any official CORE
spOndence and recognition as is proposed
or implied in the communication before
US.
''Resolyed, That in view of the con-
nectional form of government of both
Methodisms, we consider the General
Conferences of the two churches the
proper and only competent authorities to
initiate and arrange terms of official in
tercourse between the Annual Confer
ences, and to these Chief judicatories we
remit the subject.
''Resolved, That while we cannot, as
matters now stand, by the act and choice
of the constituted authorities of the NJ.
E. Church, receive officially the delega-
ton announced, yet that personally we
hold Rev. Henry Slicer and Rev. John
Bear in high esteem as Christian men and
ministers, and as such this Conference
will be pleased 10 receive them at any
time.
''Resolved, That We desire peace and
harmony with all, and especially with
those who are called Methodists, and we
regret the failure of those legitimate
measures which have been used for this
end by the NJ. E. Church, South, toward
the N. Z. Church, and that our oVertures
of peace and fraternity on terms alike
honorable TO all, have been rejected by
them and stand rejected still.
"ResolveG, That in making this dispO-
sition of the aforesaid communication, we
are actuated by no feelings of personal
hostility 10 the ministers or members of
the NJ. Z. Church, but by what we sin
ceKely consider to be pre-eXisting ques-
tons of primary and fundamental impor-
lance in the present relations of the two
great bodies of Episcopal MethOdIsm of
the United States. Those being settled
between the proper authorities of the two
Churches respectively, we shall rejoice to
cultivate those reciprocities which our
common Christianity and our common
birth-right require.
''Resolved, That as a Conference we
fully endorse the reply which the Bishops
of the NJ. i. Church, South, made to the
Bishops of the NJ. +. Church at their
interview in ST. Louis in the month of
May last.
''Resolyed, That a copy of this pre-
amble and these resolutions, duly authen-
ticated by the Secretary of the Conference,
be forwarded by him to Rev. Henry Slicer
and Rev. John Bear
Signed by A. w. Wilson, Chairman,
5. S. RossELL,
Z. w. MASSEY,
w. T. CONWAY.
On motion of Rev. John S. Martin, it
was resolved TO take the question on this
report without debate, and by yeas and
nays.
The vote on the above resolutions was
quite unanimous, all the ministers and
laymen present voting in the affirmative,
viz: Clerical, 142; lay, %; total, 165.
The Baltimore Conference of the Mctho-
dist Episcopal Church, assembled in Fred
crick City, Nd, resolved:
'That in view Of the former intimate
relations existing between ourselves and
the brethren composing the Baltimore
Conference Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, the Bishop be, and hereby is, re-
quested to appoint, as frateTnal visitors,
two of our brethren, to convey to them
our assurance of Christian fellowship and
good will.
In accordance with the foregoing reso
luton, which was adopted unanimously,
Bishop Ames appointed Rev. Henry Sli
Ger, d. d., and Rev. John Bear, TO con
vey to you our assurance of Christian
fellowship and good viii.