Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-05-27
ECCLESIASTICAL.
The Great Presbyterian Meeting in
st. Louis.
Methodism North and South.
A Union for the Present Deemed mex
pedient.


pedient.
ST. LOUIS, May 20.-The Presbyterian
Grand Assembly commence their annual
session here tomorrow. Three hundred
delegates have already arrived, and nearly
as manv more are expected. The Presby-
terrain Sabbath Institute, or Convention,
well attended,, .1 Bsnnnteatd ay yeY h 81 ff6ia
delphia, presiding.
COLUMBUS, May 23.-A communication
was received from the Northern Assembly
on the subject of fraternal correspond.
enee, which ELECTED quite discussion and
was finally referred to a standing commit
tee.
ST.. LOUIS, May 2s.-The Committee on
Home Missions recommend chat the church
he color blind.
LOUISVILLE, May 23.--In the Con ference
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South,
to-day, the minority report on temperance,
which provides, as amendments to the
general rules, that any person making,
buying, selling or using as a beverage in
toxicating liquors shall be, upon cOnvic.
ton, debarred from membership in the
church, was adopted by a vote of 335 to rs.
The question caused very animated and
protracted discussion. This action will be
sent to the annual Conference, and three
fourths concur therein, it will pass into
a law.
LOUISVILLE, May 23.-In the General
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, yesterday, the Committee
on Fraternal Relations with the Northern
Church reported that it is deemed proper
| for the attainment of the object sought to
guard against all misapprehension TO de-
| clare that the organizations are not in
volved in fraternity. In our view of the
subject the reasons for the separate exist
ence of the two branches of Methodists
are such as to make corporate union UNI
desirable and impracticable. The causes
which led to the division in 1874 have not
| disappeared.
| Reference ia made to the inconvence of
recognizing proper basis of rePrese nta-
ton TO General Conference and to the
difference in power claimed by the two
branches 81 inherent to the General Con-
| ference.
On the subject of slavery the report
| says: The position of the Southern Meth
odist Church, is scriptural. Our opinions
have undergone no change. u refers 70
the fact that many coiOred persons who
had been converted through their instru-
mentality have gone over 10 the Northern
Church, and says Following the indica-
ton of Providence, we have without
abandoning this work adopted our methods
tOthe changed condition OF the African race
Many of them have been drawn away
from us by appliances that we were not
prepared to cOunteract, but a remnant
remained, and at their request we have
set Off our colored members into iudepen
dent ecclesiastical bodies. We have turned
over to them the titles and possession O
Church property formerly held by us
Our Northern brethren have pursued 6
different plan, and they seem committed
to it by honest and conscientious convic
tions. They have mixed conferences
mixed congregations and mixed schools
We do not ask them to adopt our plan
7 We could not adopt theirs. The repOr
theA gives the details of the effort made by
the Southern branch in 1916 TO reconcile
the differences, and the refusal Of TIN
Northern branch to receive commission
I, ers. Also. the renewal of the effort mad
in 1870. The report then says: " Thu
, stood the case when the distinguish he'd dele
, gates OF the Methodist Episcopal ChurCl
: OF the Conference Of 1872 brought III thsi