The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-08-25

pEL-THE
CAPE MAY, n. j., August 23.-The boards
81 commissioners appointed by the Method
lat Eniscopal Church and Methodist Episco-
nal Church South to remove all obstacles 10
fraternity between the two Churches have
been in session at Congress Hall during the
last few days. They concluded their labors
this evening, and issued the following
Address
TO the Bishops, the Ministers, and the men,
hers of the Methodist Episcopal Church
and of the Methodist Episcopal ChuTch
South:
Dear Fathers and Brethren, We, the com
,nissioners appointed by authority: OF the
General Conferences respectively OF the
oboyc-nalned Churches to remove all oDsta-
Giles TO formal fraternity and to adjust all eH-
istino difficulties between them, deem IL
nroner. in advance OF our report to the ten
cral Conferences of our respective Churches'
TO communicate to you i'll general TERMS Ins
results OF the recent harmonious session OF
our Joint commission.
| Pursuant to previous appointment we
convened at Cape May, \. D., on the iotn
day OF August, 1876, and were 1aVore9 ny
the attendance OF all the members OF pom
n0lfGS
communication from the commissioners OF
the Methodist Episcopal Church South was
| received and answered BY the commission
ers of the Methodist Episcopal Church both
boards met in joint session, the laDors OF
which were continued during seven days.
we have had full and free conference
and Interchange OF views respecting the I'M
nortant matters that claimed our united
| consideration. II any in the Churches en-
| tertaincd the fear previous TO our meeting
| that we could not attain complete harmony
| If sentiment touching the momentous ques-
tions TO be determined, they will be relolced
TO learn that after having given due atten-
ton 10 all questions involved in the proper
construction OF platform OF complete IRA.
tcrnity between the two great branches OF
Episcopal Methodism in the Onlted
States. we have arrived at settlement OF
every matter affecting, as we suppose. the
principles OF lasting apd cordial adjust
mcnt. We have the satisfaction 10 acclare
! that our aspirations for harmony OF views
on vital points have been realized. by dl-
vine guidance, as we trust, we nave Dccii
able, after frank interchange or views ana
| prayerful cndcavor to harmonic all dlf-
| fcrcnccs. to arrive at the desired consum-
nation OF an unanimous agreement 10 COM
plete fraternity.
We believe that 10 principle OF honor on
| either side has been evaded. We struck the
KEYNOTE OF brotherly love till it sounded
| high and clear, and SO have been enabled to
reach the element OF perfect harmony. No
divergence of sentiment mars complete una
| nimitv Of the Joint commission touching the
| essential principles OF determination.
At the beginning OF our consultation one
great question seemed to overshadow all
| others. 1t concerns The relation OF the two
Churches to each otherand to Episcopal Me-
| thodiSm. To this important matter our
most earnest thought and prayerful deliber-
atoms were first directed, and the result at
tanned occasioned the Interchange OF reioic-
| ing congratulations between members OF the
| Joint commission.
STATUS OF THE TWO CHURCHES.
| We adopted without disscntient voice
the following declaration and basis Of fra
ternity as to the status Of the Methodist
Episcopal Church and of the Methodist
Episcopal Church South, and their co0rdi-
nate relation as legitimate branches OF Epis-
copal Methodism:
Each of said Churches is legitimate
branch OF Episcopal Methodism in the
United States, having common origin in
the Methodist Episcopal Church OF -anized
in 1884; and since the organiZatio !. Of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South was con-
summated, in 1916, by the voluntary eXor-
else OF the right OF tic southern annual
conferences, ministers, and members to adj
here to that communion, it has been an
evangelical Church reared on scriptural
foundation, and her ministers and members,
with those OF the Methodist Episcopal
Church, have constituted one Methodist
ul, in n ri ns,ti o,1
nccticns.
CHURCH PROPERTY.
1t was ncN5 incumbent on lis to consider
questions concerning conflicting claims to
church property and some special cases that
could not conveniently be referred to the
operation or general rule. There were
two principal questions to be considered
with regard to the church property in dis
putc between local societies OF the two
Churches-First, rs TO the 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 diSDoSseSS those societies now using
church property which was originally in
tended for their use and occupancy, and of
which they have acquired possession. al
though they may have lost legal title to it by
their transfer from the one Church to the
other.
We have considered the papers in all
cases that have been brought tC our notice.
These arose in the following States: Vir-
ginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee,
Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Caro-
lima.
RULES FOR ADJUSTMENT OF CLAIMS.
In respect OF some OF these cases we have
given particular directions, but for all other
cases the joint commission unanimously
adopted the following rules for the adjust
ment Of adverse claims to church prop
erty:
Rule l. In cases not adiudicated by the
Joint commission, any society OF either
Church, constituted according to its dis
ciplinc, now occupying the church prop
crty, shall remain in possession thereof;
provided, that where there is now in the
same place society OF more members at
tached to the other Church. and which has
hitherto claimed the use of the propertv,
the latter shall be entitled to possession.
Rule ,. Forasmuch as we have no
power to annul decisions respecting church
property made by the State courts, the Joint
commission ordain in respect hereof-First.
In cases III which such decision has been
made, or in which there exists an agree
mcnt, the same shall be carried out in good
faith. Second. In communities where there
;lre two societies, one belonging to the Me-
thodlst Episcopal Church and the other to
the Methodist Episcopal Church South,
Which have adversely claimed the church
property, it is recommended that without
delay they amicably compose their differ
ences irrespective OF strict legal title and