The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-06-12

hesOIVeQ, moreover, That If this distiI
gulshed commission were fully clothed wit
authority to treat with us for union it is th
| Judgment of this conference that the true ir
| terests of the church of Christ require an
demand the maintenance of our separate an
distinct organization.
Resolved, That we tender to the Re,
Bishop Z. S. James and the Rev. w L. Harris
d. D., the members of the commission no,
! with us, our high regards as brethren believe
| IN the Lord, and express our desire that tn
! day may soon come when proper Christia
! sentiments and fraternal relations betwee
/ the two great branches of northern and south
ern Methodism shall be permanently estab
| lished.
Thus stood the case when the distin
guished delegates of the Methods
| Episcopal church, duly authorized b,
us their fraternal greetings. We hal
them with pleasure, and welcome thu
opportunity, at length offered US, of en-
tering into negotiations to secure tran
guilty and fellowship to our alienateC
communions upon permanent basis
and alike honorable to all.
We deem it proper for the attainment
of the object sought to guard against
all misrepresentation. Organic union is
not involved in fraternity. In our view
of the subject, the reasons for the sepa-
rate existence of these two branches oi
MethOdism are such as to mako a cor
pOrate union undesirable and impracti-
cable. The events and experiences OF
the last thirty years have confirmed us
in the conviction that such consumma-
tion is demanded by neither reason nor
charity. We believe that each church
can do its work and fulfill its mission
most effectively by maintaining an indie
pendent organization. The causes which
led to the division in 1874, upon plan
of separation mutually agreed upon,
have not disappeared. Some of them
exist in their original form and force,
and others have been modified but not
diminished.
The size of the connection, and the
extent of territory covered by it, had
produced on some thoughtful minds, be-
fore the events of 1874, the impression
that separation would be convenient and
otherwise advantageous. The general
conference, upon any proper basis of
representation, was becoming too I'M
wieldly for the ends originally designed.
If this reason was of force then, it is
more conclusive now: The member
ship of the Methodist Episcopal church,
south, exceeds six hundred thousand.
Our northern brethren have more than
twice that number. Our general con-
ference is now composed of nearly three
hundred ministers and laymen /; theirs
is proportionately larger.
1t will be remembered that the last
formal deliverance of the southern rep
in the united conference,
was protest against the power claimed
for and exercised by that highest Judi
catOry of the church. The northern
M mbers, who were a controlling major
ity, claimed for it prerogatives which
seemed to us both dangerous and un-
In their view the general conference
is supreme. Although restricted in the
exercise of its powers by constitution,
it is the Judge of the restrictions, and
thus practically unlimited. In our view
he general conference is a body of linn
ted powers. 1t cannot absorb the func-
ions of other coordinate branches of
,he church government, and there are
by which all constitutional
questions NAV be brought to a satisfac-
ory issue. Each church still retains
is own construction of these fundamen-
al questions. They are not theoreti-
,al, merely, but very practical in their
Dearing. We're the two MethOdisms or
yanically united it wouldlead to serious
collisions, and expose the minority to
legislation, if not oppression.
The existence of slavery in the south
,rn states furnished an occasion, with
is connected questions, fruitful of dis
- h. L,
,een mainly attributed. The position |
# southern MethOdism on that point |
vas scriptural. Our opinions have un-
.ergone no change. We held ourselves |
n readiness to carry the gospel to the !
,ond and free. Missions to the slaves |
Onstituted a large pant of our work. |
Tany of our ministers labOred in this !
eld, and much of our means was ex-
ended on it. These labors were emf
emily owned of God. At the begin
ing of the late war quarter of mil
ion of negroes were in the communion
f our church, and thousands of their
hildren were receiving catechetical in
truction. The societies organized in
he southern states during the last ten
ears by our northern brethren, and
be members of which swell their statis-
les, are made up largely of those who,
4 slavery, had been converted by our
The colored preach
RS, exhorters aud class lea lers by whom
hey have principally carried on their
Outhern work, and some of whom have
cen counted worthy of seats in their
nnual and general conferences. were
hristianized and trained under our
linistry in other days. Following the
ldications Of providence We have,
ithout abandoning this work, adapted
ur methods to the changed conditions
the descendants of the African race
the midst of us. Many of them had
cen drawn away from us by appliances
lat we were not prepared to counter
It but a remnant remained. At their
,quest we have set off our cOlored
embers into an independent ecclesias-
cal BODY, with Sur own creed and
Dlitv. We have turned over to them
le titles and possession of the church
roperty form, rly held by us for their
Sc and benefit, and we propose to con-
nue. to them such moral and material
d as we are able to give.
This method has met with encourag-
e success. We believe it to be the
1Sb lOE DOIu races. Lucy nave now |
teen annual conferences, four bishops,
Y travelling preachers, SIS local
'eachers, "a, 500 members, 525 Sunday ]
hools, 1,102 Sunday teachers,
I'd 1855 Sunday-school scholars.
hey dwell in the land side by side with
and between US and them exist the
ndest relations. ,
Our northern brethr n have pursued '
fferent plan, and they seem commit |
d to it by honest and conscientious
nvictions. They have mixed confer i
ices, mixed congregations and mixed
hOols. We do not ask them to adopt
IT plan. We could not adopt theirs. ]
We refer to these things in order that
If position may not be attributed by
" to prejudice, resentment or other
0tives unworthy of christians. But, a
Mist we are clear and final in our q
clarations against the union of the l
o Methodisms, we welcome measures /
oking to the removal of obstacles in
e way of amity and peace. Tho ex- +
-ence of these obstacles is generally l
own, and they are frankly recognized g
the address of the delegates sent to l
Our brethren of the Methodist Epis- c
pal church will, we trust, appreciate i