The Van Buren press., 1871-01-24
Colored M. E. Church in America.

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It will be remembered that, ut the last
session Of the General Conference ofthe
M. +. Church, South, held at Memphis
in May last, d resolution was adopted a,l-
thorizing the holding ofa colored geners
al conference of the NJ. f. Church, South,
at Jackson, Tenn, on the 10th Dccem
Der, 1870, Under this authority, a gencr
raj conference Of the colored churches
was held, at the place designated. Bishs.
ops Paine and McTyeire being in attcnd4
ance. 1
The committee on church organizat'on
reported that after careful considera
ton Of the subject, and acknowledging
the obligations they were under to tho
NJ. f. Church, South, the time had come
for them to have a separate and distinct
organization---and this having been am.
ply provided for. by the geneml confer
ence of the NJ. +. Church, South, the
eight cslored conferences thus represent-
cd, adopted unanimously the following
resolutions
WHEREAS, "The Methodist Episcopal
Church in America" was the name hrst
given to the Methodist Church, by its
founder, Rev. John Wesley and
WHEREAS, We are part OF that SAME
church, never having seeded or separa-
ted from the church, but in the division,
of the church by the general conferences
of 1914, we naturally belonged to tho
south, and have been in that division ever
since, and now, as We belong to the col
ored race, we simply prefix our color to
the name, as we are in fact part OF the
original church. rs old as any in Ameri-
Gu; therefore,
Rcsolred, That our name be Tie Co'-
ored Melhedist Episcopal ChurcA !"
America.
2. That while we thus claim FOR our
selves an antiquity running as far backas
any other branch of the Methodist fami;
y on this side of the Atlantic ocean and
while we claim for ourselves all that we
concede to others Of ecclesiastical and
civil rights, we shall even hold in grate-
full remembrance what the NJ. +. Church,
South, has done for us; We shall ever
cherish the kindest feelings towards tho
bishops and general conference for Civ,
ing to us all that they enjoy Of religious
privileges, the ordination ofour deacons
and elders, and at this conference our
bishop or bishops rwili be ordained BY
them to the highest Office known in our
church. No other colored organization
has thus been established in the land. We
most sincerely pray, earnestly desire and
confidently believe that there win cverbe
the kndest feelings cherished towarda
the NJ. +. Church, South, and hopo our
conduct will be such as to merit and re-
ceive the warmest sympathy and support
OF the Church, which acted so kindly to.
ward us in aiding us in this our time OF
need ATN
3. That we request the bishops to or.
ganize our general conference on the
basic of the discipline Of the NJ. e.
Church, South, in its entire doctrine,dis-
cipline and economy. making only such
verbal alterations and changes as maybe
necessary to conform it to our name and
the peculiarites of our condition. I8sq
This report was unanimously adopted
and the general conference organized by
Bishops Payne and McTycrie. The cor.
ference then proceeded TO elect two bish-
ops, the choice falling on VIM. II. Miller,
OF Ky, and X. II. vanderhorst, Of Ga
And thus the first Independent religious
body Of the colored people in this coun-
try has been inaugurated. Great credit
and honor is due TO the NJ +. Church,
South, for this result. Il. Gazette.