The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-06-12
A Reunited Church.
Editors OF the Register:


In travelling through West Virginia
I find your paper generally circulated
and read, and venture to ask room for q
few thoughts which are suggested BY the
recent reunion of the severed branches o!
the Methodist Protestant Church. The
REGISTER, am sure, visits very many
families of this den 2minstion in this
State, and other denominations, as well,
must rejoice with US, in the consumms'
ton of union which brings honor to
Christ, and dignity, usefulness and power
to large fellowship of kindred belle, ers.
The Methodist Protestant Church, or.
gsnized nearly fifty years ago, was the
pioneer branch of Methodism, in this
country to introduce lay representation.
It's policy, was from the beginning, one
which made room for lsymen in all the
Conferences, and in equal numbers and
like powers with the ministers. Doc.
trinally, there is no difference among
Methodists, the world over.
Nineteen years ago, slavery divided
the METHODIST Protestant church; and
subses suently, and inevitably, the war
widened the breach. The Southern
branch maintained its name, pursued
its legitimate work of saving
souls, and grew in numbers and
increased in all the essential ele-
ments of Gospel service. The Western
branch, while maintaining its distinctive
princip , modified its name, IN COM
promise effort to unite, in 1866, with the
Americsn Wesleysns, and dropping the
word "Protestant," WAS known as the
Methodist" church. This branch also
grew IN numbers, held fast to first prin
clples, and prospered in every depart
meut about in equal ratio with the
Southern branch. Within few years,
raLernal intercourse has been observed,
and this led TO a proposition TO reunite
the unfortunately severed parts of the
same historic body. BY proc SIS of time,
aud throu : h regularly appointed methods
the two branches, in JOINT convention in
Baltimore, last month, completed the or
ganlc reunion, and now the long sun.
dered churches are one again. Your
readers, thanks to your attention, have
already been apprised of this happy re-
suit.
A few noble Christian ministers
and laymen In West Virginia,
however, have been ali along
honestly opposed to the reunion; aud
they were manly enough to say so openly
and to give reasons tor their Course. Two
overlapping conferences in the State
made the friction all the more keen and
potent. The border territory be-
tween the separated churches, OF
course, was the ground where,
most OF all, the aIienatlsg causes were
discussed, and where local and personal
feeling would be most intense, No doubt
some things were said and done on both
sides which might better have been
avoided. But all that Is now past The
churches have been officially cor soidated,
and TO the praise of the West Virginia
opposition be it said, they have accepted
the result nanlully, like sllegisnt ad-
herents to church which recognizes in-
dvidual conscience and honOr's private
Judgment; and this commune -tion is
ouered to your columns, Messrs. Editors,
with the hope that 1t may reach the homes
OF many Methodist Protestants in West
Virginia, bidding them all hail! Your
representatives to the Convention in
Baltimore proved themselves worthy of
the trust committed to their hands and
hearts They spoke and voted ~ sin
cere, iorbearing, generous Christian men.
The great desire OF tue charch to be one
is achieved. The blessed work %! unIfca-
a. Lot hn al
unity OF spirit in the bonds OF peace. Let
not any mere local or personal
difficulty disturb the harmony OF
the whole. TO those who may
have borne peculiar burdens, or en-
dured special grievances in West Vlr-
ginia, let one who esteems the brethren
as sincere and loves them rs kindred In
Christ Jesus, say-"Let by-gones be by
cones forever" We now enter upon d
new era; the past Is reconcied, the iu-
ture smiles and beckons Us aIl forward in
common toll and common joy. Brethren
of West Virginia, we look To you who
have stood in the place OF trisl-to you
through all these yesrs-we look to you
for examples in zeal, in courage, in
brotherly love, and in Gospel service.
If this waysIde word, dropped in
passing through your State, and
permitted to reach you by the courtesy y
OF the secular journal to which you turn
for the news OF the day shall In any wise
contribute to the peace of the beloved in
West Virginia, or bear to them the as
surance that their opinions and their
work are appreciated by al who know
them, and the writer's object will have
been fully attained.
ALEXANDER CLARK.
White Sulphur Springs, W. Va, June s,
1877.