The Van Buren press., 1876-08-29
THE METHODIST CHURCH.
Basis Of Union Agreed Upon By the
Joint Conference

Siou ueic hoi ehc iast len uayst lucy
concluded their labors this evening and
issued an address to bishops, ministers
and members of the Methodist Episco
pal church and of the Methodist church
South, in which they say "You will be
rejoiced to learn that after having given
due attention to all questions involved in
fraternity between the two great branch
es Of Episcopal Methodism in the Uni
ted States we have arrived at settlement
Of every matter affecting US and We sup
pose the principles Of II lasting and cor.
dial adjustment We have the satisfac
ton TO declare that our aspirations for
harmony Of views on vital points have
been realized by Divine guidance As
we trust we have been able, after frank
interchange of views and prayerful en-
dcavors, to harmonize all differences and
to arrive at the desired consImation of
unanimous agreement of complete frater
nifty. At the beginning Of our consulta
ton one great question seemed to over.
shadow all others. 1t concerns the re-
lation Of the two churches to each other
and to Episcopal Methodsm. To this
important matter our most earnest
thought and prayerful deliberations were
first directed. and the result attained oc.
casioned an interchange of rejoicing and
ongratuatons between the members of
thejoint commission We adopted with
out dissenting voice the folio wing dec.
laration and basis of fraternity as to the
status of the Methodist Episcopal church
and the Methodist Episcopal church
South and their CO ordinate relation as
legitimate branches of Episcopal Metho-
dism. Each of said chu' ches is legiti-
mate branch Of Episcopal Methodism in
the United States. having common or
igin in the Methodist Episcopal church,
organized in 1854, and since the organi.
cation of the Methodist Episcopal church
South was consumated in 1S45, by vol.
untary exercise of right of Southern an
nual conferences of ministers and mem
bers to adhere to that convention, it has
been an evangelical church reared on
Scriptural foundations, and her ministers
and members with those of the Metho-
dist Episcopal church have constituted
one Methodist family though in distinct
ecclesiastical connections. 1t was next
incumbent on US to consider the question
concerning conflicting claims to church
property and some of the special cases
that would not conveniently be referred
to operation of the general rule.
There we're two principal questions to
be considered with regard to church
in dispute between local socie.
ties of the two churches.
FrH-As to legal ownership of said
property.
Second-As to whether it will consist
with strict equity or promote Christian
harmony or the cause of religion, to dis
possess these societies now using church
which was originally intended
for their use and occupancy and of which
they have acquired possession, though
they may have lost legal title to it by
their transfer from one church to anoth.
er.
We have considered papers on all cas-
es that have been brought to our notice
These arose in the folio wing states: Vir-
ginia, West Virginia. Maryland, Tcnnes.
see, Louisiana. North Carolina and South
Carolina. In respect Of some Of these
cases we have given particular direc,
tons, but for all other cases the
joint commission unanimously adopted
the following rules for adjustment of ad-
verse claims to church property:
Rnle In cases not adjudicated by
the joint commission, any society of eth
er church constituted according to its
discipline now occupying church proper
ty, shall remain in possession thereof,
provided that where there is now in the
same place a society of more members
attached to the other church. and which
has hitherto claimed use of the property,
the latter shall be entitled to the posses
sion.
Rule 2. Forasmuch as we have no
power to annul decisions respecting
church property made by state courts.
the joint commission ordain, in respect
thereof, first, in cases in which such de-
cision has been made or in which there
exists an agreement the same shall be
carried out in good faith second. in com.
munities where there are two societies
one belonging to the Methodist Episco-
pal church and the other to the Metho.
dist Episcopal church South which have
adversely claimed charch property, it 10
recommended that, without delay. they
amicably compose their differences irres
pec.ive of the strict legal title, and settle
the same according to Christian princi-
pies, equities of a particular case, and so
far as practicable according to the prin
ciple of the foregoing rule; but if such
settlement cannot be speedily made, then
the question shall be referred for equita.
BILE decision to three arbitrstors. one to
be chosen by each claiment from their
respective societies and the two thus cho-
sen to select third person not connec-
ted with either OF the churches, and the
decision of any two of them to be final
Third, in communities in which there 10
but one society, rule first shall be faith
fully observed in the interests Of peace
and fra..nrnitv.
Rule 3. Whenever necessary TO carry
a foregoing rule into effect the legal ii.
tie to church property shall be according.
ly transferred
Rule 4. These rules shall take effect
Immediately.
In order to further promote the peace.
full results contemplated by this joint com.
mission, and to remove as far as may be
all occasion for hostility between the two
churches, we recommend to members Of
both as wise rule of settlement where
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