Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-09-08

Gilo toOutIltiH UciltIdl OOnIoG0llC6 WIFI
met in Louisville in May, 1874. The.
We're fraternally received and the respon
SEES on both sides were of the most affec-
tionate character. Fraternity, however
was not formally instituted thereby.
FRATERNITY.
In response the Southern Conference ap
pointed fraternal delegation consisting
of Rev. DR.. Lovick Pierce of Ca, Rev. DR.
Jas. A. Duncan of Va, and Landon G
Garland, LID. of Vanderbilt University
and went further than the North, mas
much as they appointed commission to
remove all difficulties in the way of a for
NAL and full fraternity which commission
consisted Of Dr.. &. III. Myers Of Ga, Dr.
Haynes of Tenn, and EX-Gov. Truste1
Folk Of No., but Mr.. Polk dying Mr.. Vance
Of n. G. was appointed in his place. These
| delegates met the Northern General Con-
ference in Baltimore, except DR.. Pierce
who was detained by sickness. They were
cordially received, a resolution offered by
Gen. Fisk in the same language as that of
| the Southern Conference, appointing COM
| missioners, was adopted, and DIR. NJ. D. G.
| Crawford of n. Y, Dr.. j. P. Newman of
| Washington and DR.. Fuller of Atlanta,
Ca, and Gen. Clinton B. Fisk were appoin-
! ted commissioners.
SETTLEMENT OF THE CHURCH QUESTION.
The Joint Commission met at Cape
| May in August and after sess. on of one
week arrived at a conclusion. 1t ; LIST rec
ognized the title of methodist Episcopal
| Church, of the Southern church I'd, it
recognized its status as coordinate and CO.
equal with the Northern church, one Meth
odism as to its origin, of one family, and in
every respect an NJ. e. Church. equal with
the North, this had been denied before
and we had been branded as schlsm and
a secession, and on that ground our mess
engers had been reiected.) This having
been done the settlement of all other ques-
lions was easy and practicable. Nothing
seems to have been said about the plan Of
separation in their address, but simply the
Northern church recognized the Southern
as an equal to itself thereby cutting the
| Gordian knot.
| THE PROPERTY QUESTION.
Reporter-How was the disputed church
property disposed Of?
DR.. Martini have just received, Mon
day. the circular from the joint commits
sion, relative to the disposition of church
property in dispute. The settlement of the
matter takes effect Immediately. The
agreement is that:
LIST. In ali cases where church property
is in dispute, and not already decided by
law. it shall be awarded to the members of
that denomination which are in the ma
jority.
I'd. Where the title shall have been de-
cided by law it is recommended that they
submit the matter to three arbitors, one
| from each congregation, and the third not
| connected with either church.
The circular is signed by Mr.. d. c..
Crawford, D. D., Chairman, and Clinton
B. Fisk, Secretary Of the Northern Com
mission, and E. II. Myers, Chairman, and
M. n. Finney, Secretary OF the Southern
| Commission. All we haYe to do now is to
apply to arrange the legal title.
Reporter--How much church property
is in dispute in Augusta county.
DR.. Mar tin--Not a great deal. There is
our church and the Augusta church, that
I know Of 1t is only the churches that
were erected prior to 1851, that there has
| been any dispute about. There are about
400 members Of my church in Staunton,
and about l 800 in Augusta county: The
NJ. E. Church has about $50 members.
NOT AN ORGANIC UNION OF THE
CHURCHES.
Reporter--Is this union Of the North
ern and Southern churches.
DR.. Martin--No; it is not an organic
union. We are separate churches, neither
having any control over the others affairs
1t is simply fraternal Christian recog
. nition Nor is there any likelihood tina
there VIII ever be any organic union be
tween the two. The body would be to-
large and unwieldy. The Northern Chucl
has l ,500 900 members, and we have $50.
: coo, and the Northern Church covers al
imme nse territory. It is dong wonder
full mission work, and has conferences il
Europe, India, Africa and all quarter
of the globe. One of their missionaries il
VIM. Taylor, of Rockbridge county, from
whose work a conference has sprung il
India.
AN ECUMENICAL COUNCIL.
It is much more likely that there vii
be other divisions instead of an union, ant
that all may Join in an Ecumenical Council
of the III. E. Church, an advisory bod,
but having no authority. | was standing
in front of the Academy OF Music in Bal
timore, talking with a minister of th
Northern Church, and he illustrated hi
idea of the future by drawing square Oh
the pavement and dividing it into four an,
''there in the CENTER" said he, 81 woul'
put an Ecumenical Council" Hate die
l out and fraternal unions arise of it.
THE ADVANTAGE.
Reporter.-W side has the advantag
in the settlement, Doctor?
DR.. Martin.-There is no advantage owe
either. We have one advantage certainly
, that OF having our property III quleG III
, stead of with annoyance, which we nigh
have even though we had the legal RICH
: to it. The great advantage, [ think.
with TIL Northern Church in having wo
: the love of the Southern Church, but tn
!, great advantage of all that has been gain
ed is in the general joy that has spread al
over the continent, in all the churches @
whatever denominations, at witnessing
the spread of brotherly love among Chris
tians. The winning side in this matter
the side that has won the great advantage
to the cause of Christ.
, THE TWO CHURCHES IN AUGUSTA.