The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1876-08-31
METHODISM.
The Joint Commission of the
Two Churches Reach a IMAM
imOus Agreement.
Adoption OfRuIes in Reference
to Church Property.
Earnest RecOmmendatiO of
Mutual federation.

CAPE MAY, N. j., Aug. 23.-The
Boards of commissioners appointed
by the Methodist Episcopal Church
and the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, to remove all OBJ
stacles to fraternity between the two
churches, has been in session here
for the last ten days. They con
cluded their labors this evening and
issued an address to the Bishops,
ministers and members of the Meth
odist Episcopal 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 branches of
Episcopal Methodism in the United
States, we have arrived at a settle
ment of every matter affecting US,
we suppose-principles of lasting
and cordial adjustment. We have
the satifactiOn to declare that our
aspirations for harmony of views
in vital points have been realized,
by divne guidance, as we trust. We
have been able, after frank inter
change of views and prayerful en-
deavors, to harmonize all differences
and to arrive at the desired consum-
nation of a unanimous agreement
of complete fraternity.
At the beginning of our consulta
tions one great question seemed to
overshadow all others. It concerns
the relation of the two churches to
each other and to Episcopal Meth
odism. To this important matter
our most earnest thought and pray
erful deliberations were first direct
ed, and the result attained occa-
stoned an interchange of rejoicing
and congratulations between mem
bers of the joint commission. We
adopted, without a dissenting voice,
the following declaration and basis
of fraternity;
THE BASIS OF FRATERNITY.
AS to the status of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church and of the
Methodist Epicopal Church, South
and their coordinate relation as
legitimate branches of Episcopal
Methodism, each of said churches
is a legitimate branch-of Episcopa
Methodism in the United States
having a common origin in the
Methodist Episcopal Church or
ganized in 1884, and since the or
ganization of the Methodist Episco
pal Church, South, was consum
mated in 1845, by the voluntary
exercise Of the right of the South
ern annual Conferences and minis
ters and members to adhere to tn,
convention, it has been an evangeli
cal church, reared on scriptura
| foundations, and her ministers anC
members with those of the Metho
dist Episcopal Church, have consti
tuted one Methodist family, thougl
in distinct ecclesiastical conven
tions.
1t was next incumbent upon u
to consider the question concerning
the conflicting claims to churc
property, and some special cases tha
could not conveniently be referre
to the operation of general rul'
There were two principal question
to be considered with regard t
church property in dispute betwee
local societies of the two churche
f the first as to legal ownership c
said property, and the second as
whether it will consist with striC
equity and promote Christian hal
. mony or the cause of religion {
5 dispossess these societies no
using church property which wa
originally intended for their us
: and occupancy, and of which the
have acquired possession, thong
/ they may have lost the legal title
!, it by their transfer from one churc
to another We have considere
4 papers in all cases that have bee
brought to our notice. These aros