The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-08-24

CAPE MAY, N. Y, August 2S.-The
conference Of delegates elected by the
Methodist Episcopal Church, north and
south to effect reunion OF these bodies,
has resulted in satisfactory understand
ing; the basis Of the union which will be
made public, in n day or two, has been
agreed TO. l..... ~
The Board Of Commissioners appointed,
by the Methodist Episcopal Church
North and the Methodist Episcopal
Church South to remove all obstacles TO
fraternity between the two churches have
been in session for the last ten days.
They concluded their labors this evening
and issued an address to the bishops,
ministers and members OF the Methodist
Episcopal Church North and OF tue Meth
odist Episcopal Church South, in which
they say:
"You will be rejoIced to learn that after
having given careful attention to all
questions in connection with the proper
construction Of a platform Of complete
fraternity between the two great branches
OF Episcopal Methodism in the United
States, we have arrived at settlement Of
every matter affecting, as we suppose, the
principles Of a lasting and cordial adjust
ment. We have the satisfaction to de.
clare that our aspirations for harmony Of
views on the vita! points have been real
lied. By Divine guidance We trust,
we have been able, alter. frank
interchange Of views and prayer
full endeavor; TO harmonic all the
differences, and to arrive at the desired
contamination Of a unanimous. agree
ment Of complete fraternity. At the be-
ginning OF our consultation one great
question seemed 10 oyershadow all others.
It concerns the relation of the two
churches to each other and 10 the Episco-
pal Methodism. To this important mat
ter our most earnest thought and prayer
full deliberation were first directed, and
the result attained occasioned an inter-
change Of rejoicing and congratulations
between the members Of the joint com.
mittee. We adopted without a dis
senting voice the following decla.
ration and basis OF fraternity az
to the status Of the Metdonist Episcopal
Church North and Of the NJ. E.
Church Southland their coordinate rela-
tion Us legitimate branches Of Episcopal
Methodiam. Each Of said ehurches'is. q
legitimate branch OF Episcopal Meth
odism in the United States, having
common origin in the Methodist 'Epis-
copal Church organized in 1884, and since
the organization OF the NJ. E. Church
South was consumated in 1916, by yolun-
tarS exercises Of the right Of southern
annual conferences, ministers and mem
bers, to- adhere to that communion,
it has been an Evangelical Church
reared on Soriptural foundations, and
her ministers and members with those
Of the NJ. E, Church have constitutional
one Methodist. family though in distinct
eccleiiastical connection. It was next
incumbent on Us to'consider the question
concerning the conflicting claims to
church property, and some special cases
that could not conveniently be referredto
the operation Of q general rule. There
were two principal questions to be con-
sidred withregard TO the church proper
ty in the dispute between the local so-
cieties Of the two churches.
/. Asto the legal owner ofsaid property.
2. As to whether II will consist with
strict equity or promote Christian hatmo-
ny or the cause Of religion to dispossess
those societies now using church proper
ty which was originally intended for their
use aud occupancy, and OF which they
have acquired possession, though they
may have lost the legal title to II by their
transfer from one church to another,
we have considered the papers in all
the cases that have been brought 10 our
notice. These arose in the following
States: Virginia, West Virginia, Mary
land, Tennessee, Louisiana, North Caroli-
ma and South Carolina. In some Of these
particular directions are given, but for
all the other cases the Joint Commission
unanimously adopted the following rules
for the adjustment Of adverse claims to
church property;
Rule LIN cases not adjudicated BY
the joint committee, any society Of either
church, constituted according to It's dis
cipline now occupying the church prop.
erty shall remain In possession thereof,
provided that where there Is now In the
same place society gilmore members At
tached to another church and which has
hitherto claimed use Of the property, the
latter shall be entitled to the possession.
Rule 2.-Inasmuch as we have no pow
er to annul decisions respecting church
property made by State courts, the joint
committee ordAin in respect thereof: 1st.
In cases In which such 4 decision has been
made, or in which there exists any agree
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