New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-08-24
THE ADDRESS.
To tie Bishops, Ministers, and Members o. ne hfWoo'S'
Episcopal Church and Of he 4e"od'Sf Lp'Seof"'
Church South.


10 remove all obstacles 20 formal fraternity and TO adjust
all existing difficulties between them, deem II proper IN
advance Of report 10 the General Conferences OF our
respective churches communicate to you In general
terms the results Of the recent harmonious session Oh our
Pursuant previous appontment, we convened AZ a,
Cane May " j. the 10Th day or AUGUST Is aug
favored by the attendance OF ali the lemDers oi
both boards OF commissioners Anor written coinu!
nication from the Commissioners OF the Methodis, Es
copa Church south was received and ans Esred by nc
Commissioners OF the Methodist Episcopal Church both
boards met Joint sessOn the labors OF when were
continued during seven DAYS. We nave had Iuii nu
free conference and Interchange OF views resp ennS
the important matters that claimed our united
consideration. II any In the chntehes ehtei-
tanned the fear previous TO our lug t"n sorch
ing the mOmentOus questions TO be dcterir leg Nln
be rfloecd 70 learn mat al'er a1 ns tr u OF
platform Of complete fraternity between the Two great
We have arrived at tho settlement every matter af
ectng as we suppose, the principles OF @shS anu
declare that our aspirations for the harmony
of views on vital points have been Iea ahid
BY Divine guidance, as We trust we nave Deen apo'
after frank interchange Of views and prayerul en-
beavers 10 harmonic all differences aud to arrive nj the
desired contamination OF unanimous agreement oi
complete fraternity. We believe that principle OF
honor either side has been invaded We struck tne
keynote OF brothery love until II sounded ls ara GEAR
aud have been enabled 10 reach the elements OF perfect
picte nIanimity OF the Joint commission touching The
essential principles OF iiaIernizailon'
THE GREAT QUESTION.
At the beginning Of consultations one great ques-
seemed to OYCTsnadoW All OthtIN III NoAs''oS INV
relation OF the two churches to each other and TO
Episcopal Methodism to this important matter our most
earnest thought aud prayerful elaboration were d.
reoted aud the result attained occasoned the inter
change OF rejoicing congratulations between the mem
beers OF the joint commission. We adopto1 Without "
dssentieut voice til following: declaring OASIS oil
fraternity as 10 the status OF the Methodist Episcopal
church and Of the Methodist Episcopal Church South
and their coordinate relation az legitimate branches oi
Eniscnuol Method,sm each OF said churches " eai
hr4ug a
States, having common origin IA the MethpulsL tl,s
copal Church. organized IN l7si ana since the orGah
ton OF the Methodist Episcopal Church so"th was
consummatcd 1si5, by the voluntary exercise OF thG
right OF the Southern annual conferences iGuiS'Is an"
members To adhere to that communion, Al ts Jeh an
evangelical church, reared On serpHIiI innhi,i,s
and her ministers and members VIVA lh1'c OF We lo"
dist Episcopal Church. have constituted one AetAOHst
family III distinct ecclesiastical connections. a..
Ii was next incumbent on IA Ia consider the qnesuphs
concerning conflicting claims to church pfop,- 1nh
special cases that cond not oCn;ehI,ltS DC 70
ferrcd 10 the operation OF genera, run -. y, -
two principal questions 20 DE considered WIN rtiad 20
t , tn Sd cgc rt a. 70 The legal ovrerhp o.
said property; second, ~ TO whether II VII consist "i,l
s ,ie' cs saS' Of or I ga%So to dpo'
soccs now c5 u,%f for frG ase and Gccauy sa
Of which they have acquired rpair7,om, tro,sn v,rS
nhiircb 70 auotAer We have considered the papers IN
ali cases that have been brought o. our notice tI.,c
arose IN The following named states virginia West Var
gnia MARYLAND. Tennessee. Louisiana, No.ia Carolina,
and sOu Carolina. In respect 20 some oi IN, sc ci-,s
We have given particular directions ON oT ail prf
cases the iont commission unanimously adopted he o-
lowing rules inc adjustment u adverse Claims -
Rife l. in cases not adiudicnted npon by the Joint
commission, any society OF elmer cnI!tL ,p,'1;,u,'
according 10 !is ciscirlne nov oc.-ISlnS - ,,d
property shall remain in possession Thereof roSded
that where ,hefe Is NJ" g., ~ pIrr rhnrcil aud witch
more members attached 10 'he v.A'l 'li t,. Iil
has hitherto med TIE Of the property, the lacE
Ede . ForIfmuch ~ We have power 10 anuul
decisions respecting church property made ny tne s,a,o
FIRST N c',gs W WIZ, %Hgn there scr cy.Is on agree
lI,,ffI lac rTts1 OI Al ia %
StoVn III ,i yotiGii.t Tnsr0pqI Church AMI
the other % the Methodist Episcopal Church south
Which have adversely claimed The church property II -
recommended that without drl.y they omcLDIy com
moe mir differences Prospect We OF the strict cul titc
and settle according To Christian principles ahu
The equitics Of the particular case, aud 30 is as practice
bic according to the principle OF the foregoing rule Bnt
II such settlement cannot be speedily made thon the
question shall DE referred for equitable decision 10 lfe
irblaors 10 be- chosen by each claimant nom thcII
respective societies, aud the TWO ns chosen shal select
a third person not connected win tlihrr Ii sad ch9I,,
and the decision OF any two OF them sha be maj lhrd
IL communities IN which there ~ Dnt one society fn.e
first shall be faithfully observed In the Interests oI peace
and fraternity
rule, into effect legal ~ TO the church property SHAH Lc
Rue 4. These rules shall take effect Immediately.
ACCORD AMONG MINISTERS
In order 10 further promote the peaceful results con
templacd by this Joint commission and TO remove as far
az may all and especially TO forcstdl al fr-
Their occasion hostility between the two churches,
recommend the members Of both as wise rule OF set
Element where property Is in contest and one or both are
weak that they compose their differences by uniting IN
the same communion and In all that ministers
members recognize each other IN an relations Oh irhit
nifty and az possessed Of ecclesiastical rights and priv
iegcs OF equal dignity and validity. They should each
receive from the other ministers and members Ia Eg"d
Handing with the same aacrity and credit IL coming
from their own church and without interference with
each others Institutions on mssiobh Ihy shOnu LSN
erihelcss cooperate III all Christian enterprises
tits not be supposed In respect or some matters m
mere opinion that all ministers and members IN either
church viii be Ia accord but trust ana believe tnat
spirit OF fellowship aid mutual regard VIII pcrNadc me
rcconciled ranks OF the entire ministry and the mem
bersnp of both churches. We believe, alsO. that their
supreme glance TO the OF the Great Master VIII
triumph all variations OF personal sentiments, ana
will so exat claims OF brOtherly affection that from
gin brighter history, that We snail know no unira
terna Mcthodi,m in the United States, or even In the
10 all we commend the wise counsels given in 1920 TO
missionaries and members Of the MSth9dsr Episcopal
Church. OF the Wesleyan connection III the tanadas
by Bishop McKendrec and the Wesleyan Committee,
namely, feel that you are one with your brethren en-
baked in the same great cause, ana enihehlJ OF the
same religious family, and any warm spirits rise M
and trouble yOu remember that you are 70 ACT on the
principles now sanctioned and ayowed by the two con
the expression OF united congratulations TO both OF
the great churches, whose commissions we have
affection and Droihery fraternlaton benceforth they
may hail each other, from the auxiliary RANKS of
be those friendly rdlies thai spaing from earnest tn
beavers to further 70 the w utmost The , tI
Is made by the one church or by the other, viii
occasion general Joy cd ay g" % and rSf s
the thousand glorious memories OF Metiodism, they
viii go to hs hse Gne WORK OF
the Apostles began the PRONUNCIATION OF Christianity
IN the World ihey Ns,e ooinp,nion y, , % @
in spirit, purpose, and fellowship Their etant sue
restored fraternity will vie win each other wave the
banner OF the cross In this western world ahd hence
forth will proclaim that these churches ale one ia
spirit, one In purpose, one In fellowship.
Astronomers tell us Of dual sars revolving together
IN mutual relation aud harmony, whose dlnrrln1 cJor~
uluc Of ~