West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1881-12-07
FRATERNAL ADDRESS.
Delivered before the West Virgin
ia Baptist General Association,
at ParkerSburg.
BY REV. w. NJ. WEEKLEY,
EraternaI Delegate from the United
Brethren Conference.

Mr. MODERATOR AND BRETHREN :
At our last Annual Conference
which was held in this city, Bro.
J. w. Carter, Of this Association,
bore to us your christian greetings.
assure you that we were glad to
have him with us, and with special
interest did we hear his eloquent
fraternal address-an address full
of cheer and encouragement to us.
By appointment of the Conference
it falls to my lot to reciprocate that
visit.
Ireioice that | live in the last
quarter of the 10Th century, time
when the christian churches Of this
country are more nearly approx
mating "the unity of the spirit in
the bond of peace" than ever before.
| am glad, too, that the thought has
been conceived of exchanging broth
erly greetings at our respective
annual gatherings, and it is hoped
that the courtesy extended, and the
good will shown on these occasions
will secure a still better under
standing between us as members Of
the great brotherhood of believers.
In ecclesiastical policy, we differ
materially. In form of government
you are congregational while we
are itinerant. Each local church
with you, if I am rightly informed,
is competent to manage its own af-
fairs, such as the choice of officers,
and the reception, dismissal or dis
eipline of members. | do not I'M
derstand, however, that this prin-
ciple of local church independence
among you is law of isolation, but
that it is followed by the principle
of inter-communion between the
churches which binds them in one.
This being true your local societies
may associate in council, and in
the organization Of general benevo-
lent, educational and missionary
enterprises.
With us, whether the pastoral
charge consists of one or more or
ganized churches the Quarterly
Conference held for that charge has
Jurisdiction; but the Quarterly
Conference is subordinate to the
Annual Conference, which may in
elude number of circuits, stations,
and missions,
The highest judicial body with
US is the General Conference, which
meets quadrennially, and is com
posed Of ministerial delegates from
all parts of the church.
1t is not necessary to speak fur
Their of oar differences on questions
relating to church government.
These are generally understood. No
doubt some of your churches feel at
times that ours is the better policy,
while we, under some circum-
stances, are led to confess that yours
is preferable. But after all when
we rise above mere forms and meth
DDS in which human judgment fig
ures largely, we are a unit on the
fundamental doctrines of the Bible
the essentials in religion. For
this we devoutly thank the "God
and Father of US all"
We alike accept the Bible as the
work OF inspiration. In our theo-
logical seminaries and in our pri-
vate libraries it occupies a place
above every other book. We cher
ish it as "a lamp unto our feet, and
light unto our path" We believe
that through Adams transgression
sin and death were entailed upon
his entire posterity, and that
through Jesus Christ and him only,
man may be pardoned, cleansed
and saved We hold in common,
opinions relative to the resurrec-
ton of the dead, future retribution
and eternal rewards
In our opposition to intemper-
ance, Sabbath breaking, profanity,
covetousness and worldly amuse-
ments, we stand together; then, l
ask, are we not ready to extend
to each other a cordial grasp of
brotherly fellowship and to enter
heartily together into the one great
work Of saving souls? We deem
it a waste Of time to speak Of organ
ic union.
Certainly, I believe in thor