The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-09-14
The Reconclled Methodist.

The diligcnt and protracted efforts of
the brethren of the Northern and South.
era divisions of the Methodist Episcopal
Church have not been in vain. For II
long while the prospect Of bringing the
divided sections together seemed both
dark and distant. The project was re-
garded even by some Of those whose
feelings were thoroughly fraternal, rs
but little short of clIimerical. Persist
ent push and prayeriul prosecution of
the project Of reunion have at last nc
complished II result which marks the
most important era OF MethodiSm in the
present century. 1t was ofall things the
most appropriate, that this year, so full
of happy results, blessed memories, and
occasions for graduation, should witness
the declaration of fraternity which took
place under the genial influences of the
sunshine and the surf of Cape May, on
Wednesday, the 23d of August. For II
week, the whole body of Commissioners
delegated by the two Conferences, five
from each, had been in harmonious and
busy session ut Congress Hall.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was
sundcred in 1874, owing to alienation
between the members Of the North and
OF the South, growing principally out of
diverse views on the slavery question.
Doctrinal disputations were not intro
duced as they were into the discussions
which had a few years previously split
the Presbyterians into Old School and
New School. For years the strife ran
high on both sides, and the gulf was as
wide as ever it was between jew and
Samaritan. But the tendency of relig-
ious as well as political feeling throug-
out the country, in its reconstruction,
has tor halt dozen years been keep.
ing up the old alienation, that leading
men on both sides have been earnestly
engaged in the good work.
The successful accomplishment Of re-
uniting the divided Old and New bands
of Presbyterianism, which took place in
1869. showed a possibility for the recon-
struction of the Methodist bodies, and
encouraged hope in the hearts of those
who believed that the Northern
and Southern Churches could be brought
together. The determination. in May
last, OF the disunited Northern and
Southern Presbyterians lett the Method
list Church the only one of the great
bodies divided by s%ectionalism. AS in
PresOyterianisnl, so in Methodism, mos,
Of the surviving warehouses who took
part In the struggle of forty years age
are in full harmony with the plan Of ira
termination, and have cheerfully len
their influence to it. The principal OBJ
stacle In the way OF reunion was thu
property question. Happily the com
mittees were composed o only of theo
fogians, but also of sound lawyers II n
/ able business men, who found ways O
, overcoming oil difficulties in this res
: pect.
The address of the Committee Is
hearty and earnest appeal for goodwill
and peace, kindness and concord. 1t
Christian spirit is such as 10 ensure II
, cordial reception by evry intelligen
Methodist In the land. When this IN
3 ion shall be finally and completely cor
!, summated, and the Methodist Episcops
Church shall go forth In all its consol
dated glory, with renewed strength fo
Its share OF the work Of taking Americ
for the Lord. an influence will be e'
! erted a th~oasandfold greater than eve
could have proceeded from two disjoin
ed and alienatsd bodies o fbelievers.
y All honor 10 the faithful men throug
o whose agency and devoted labors th
result has. thus far, been accomplished