Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-05-30

senting voice, affirmed its validity and our
| rights under it.
| When the representatives of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church asserted before that
| tribunalth that they were the original Church,
| and that we were q secession the court
said!
vt Can 10 more be affirmed, either in
point of fact or law, that they are travelling
preachers in connection with the Methodist
Church as originally organized since the
division, than those in connection with the
| Church South. Their organization covers
but half Aof the territory embraced within
that Of the former Church, and includes
| Within Il but little over two-thirds of the
travelling preachers. Their General Con-
ference is not the General Confer
| ence Of the old Church, nor does it repre-
sent the interests or possess territorialls the
authority OF the same, nor are they the body
under whose care this fund was placed by
It's founders. 1t may be adnitted that,
within restricted limits, the organization
and the authority are the same as the
FORMER Church. But the same is equally
true in respect to the organization of the
Church South"
When the same parties attempted 10 set
aside the plan OF separation, on the ground
that 1t was made without proper authority,
the court said:
"But we do not agree that this decision
was made without the proper authority.
On the contrary, we entertain no doubt
but that the General Conference of 1874
was competent to make it; and that each
division of the Church, under the separate
organization, is just as legitimate, and can
claim as high Observation-Disclosures and
temporal-ss the Methodist Episcopal
Church first founded in the United States.
The same authority which founded the
Church in 1854 has divided it and estab-
lished two separate and independent Or
CARNATIONS, occupying the place of the old
one.n
However Others may regard that instru-
ment, the plan of separation is too impor-
tant in its application TO our status and Sc
curity to be lightly esteemed by us. If it
should be said that its provisions, touching
territorial limits, have been violated by
both parties, We have this to say: We are
ready to confer with our Northern breth-
rem on that point. A joint commission
having this feature of the compact under
revision might reach a solution mutually
satisfactory.
Measures preparatory to formal ffaterni-
ty would be defective that leave out of
view questions in dispute between the NJ.
Z. Church and ourselves. These cues
tions relate to the course pursued by some
Of their accredited agents whilst prose-
cutting their work in the South, and to
property which has been taken and held by
them to this day against our protest and
remOnstrance.
Although feeling ourselves sorely ag-
grieved in these things, We stand ready to
meet our brothers of the NJ. E. Church in
the spirit Of Christian candor, and to COM
pose all differences upon the principles of
justice and equity.
1t is to be regretted that the honored rep
resentatiyes who bore fraternal greetings to
us were not empowered also 10 enter upon
settlement Of these vexed questions. We
are prepared to take advanced steps in this
direction, and, waving any considerations
which nigh justify greater reserve, we
will not only appoint delegation to re-
turn the greeting so gracefully conveyed to
US from the NJ. Z. Church, but we will al
so provide for a commission to meet a sim
liar commission from that Church for the
purpose of settling disturbing questions.
Open and righteous treatment of all
cases of complaint will furnish the only
solid ground upon which We can meet.
Relations of amity are with special en-
phasis demanded between bodies so near
akin. We be brethren. To the realization
of this the families of Methodism are
called by the movements of the times. The
attractive power of the Cross is working
nightly. The Christian elements in the
world are all astir in their search for each
other. Christian hearts are crying to each
other across vast spaces and longing for fell
lOwship. The heart of Southern Method
ism, being in full accord with these senti-
ments, your committee submit the follow
ing resolutions for adoption:
RESOLUTIONS.
Resolved LIST, that this General Confer
ence has received with pleasure the frater-
nal greetings of the NJ. E. Church conveyed
to US by their delegates, and that our Bish-
ops be and are hereby authorized to appoint
a delegation, consisting of two ministers
and one layman, to bear our Christian salu-
tatiOns to theiI next ensuing General Con-
ference.
Resolved, I'd, that in order to remove all
obstacles in formal fraternity between the
two Churches, our College of Bishops is
authorized TO appoint commission, con-
ssting of three ministers and two laymen,
TO meet similar commission authorized
by the General Conference of the NJ. E.
Church, and to adjust all existing difficult
ties.
A. W. WILSON,
L. PARKER,
II