Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-03-30
CLOSE THE BREACH.
Proposed MON Between the Two Great
Branches of the Methodist
Church-A Question
That is Now Agitating the Brethren
Throughout the Country, More
Especially in the South.

The Methodist papers, especially Of the
South, are at the present time devoting
| much space TO the discussion OF various sub
! jects which are likely 10 come up before the
| General Conference of the Methodist Episco-
| pal Church, South, which meets here on the
| Sd Of May. One OF these questions, and
one that is considered of great importance,
is proposed union between the two
great branches of the Methodist Church, which
divided in the year 1874, the present Methodist
Episcopal Church then seeding because of the
continued agit1tiOn OF the slavery question
by the Northern Methodists. This plan in
question was suggested by the Rev. \. Scar
rett, of st. Louis, and is TO allow the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church and Methodist Epis-
copal Church South form but one church in
the United States, but let this union be eff
fected on the following plan:
Let the whole territorial domain Of the
United States be laid off into three general
conference jurlsdIctions-two east OF the
Mississippi river and one west of the same.
The church existing in these several juris-
dictiOns be designated, respectively, the
Methodist Episcopal Church North; the
Methodist Episcopal Church South; the
Methodist Episcopal Church West.
Each jurisdiction TO have General Con-
ference OF its own. Each General Conference
to elect its own bishops and General Confer
ence officers; TO make and amend Its own dis
cipline; and to manage the work within its
bounds in its own way-subjsct, however, to
the provisions OF this plan, and to such re-
strictive rules as may be agreed upon.
Each college of bishops to have exclusive
jurisdiction within their own bounds: but all
the bishops 10 have an equal and common
Jurisdiction in all fields outside The territorial
domain of the United States provided, howev-
er, that when the bishops in one jurisdiction
need the episcopal services of bishop from
another jurisdiction, and believe that his
services will be acceptable to their people,
they may invite him to perform the needed
services; in which case the official acts of
II done by one OF their own college.
Let there be a general council for the
whole church. Said council to be composed
!. OF all the bishops of the church.
=. OF the chief missionary, secretary and
treasurer of each General Conference. These
to be er-ofici0 secretaries and treasurers OF
the General Board of Foreign Missions.
8 OF one clerical and one lay representa-
tive for, say, every 500 travelling preachers,
in full connection in each of the jurisdic-
tons. A fraction OF two thirds of this ratio
TO be entitled to an additional clerical and
lay Representatives.
l. Said council to elect its officers except
its er-ofleiO officers.
>. Said council to constitute General
Church, and to have the exclusive manage
ment OF said missions, subject, however, to
the provisions of a constitution to be adopted
by the General Conference for its govern
ment.
3. Said council to be charged with the
duty of providing common hymnal for the
whole church.
4 Said council 10 sit as 4 court of UNI
pirage TO decide in the following cases:
LAY In ba (ranaral
not agree touching the ratio TO be fixed as
the basis of representation in the council.
(b) 10 case ssid conference cannot agree
touching the constitution for the government
of the General Missionary Board.
icy In such matters as may be referred to
its decision by any one or by all the General
Conferences.
5. Said council to meet annually in May.
q. In connection with the annual meeting
of the council, all the bishops, as one of the
college, shall hold meeting OF their own in
order
(al To plan their foreign mission work,
and to arrange for supplying the same with
all needed episcopal service.
(b) To pass upon such legal decisions
made officially by the several bishops during
the preceding year-as may equally concern
the whole church.
(c) To decide such legal questions and to
attend to such business matters as may be
referred to them by General Conference.
A bishop can transfer from one jurisdic-
ton to another only by the consent and
approval of the two General Conferences con-
cerned,
A travelling preacher in full connection
may be transferred, by one of his own bish-
ops, into another Jurisdiction, provided said
bishop has the consent of the annual confer
ence to which the transfer is m ade.
The credentials of local elders and dea-
cons, the licenses Of local preachers, and the
certificates OF members moving from one
place to another TO be equally valid, and
to receive equal credit in all parts of the
church. Here endeth the plan.