Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1886-07-31

dependent existence, that would con
vince. ut least, any Southern nan. A
some future time may give them: No
wishing to consume SD much OF you!
space as | believe you would give me,
now proceed 10 the Cape May C0mmls
sion.
The General Conference M. E. Church
South, at Louisville KY, i'll 1874, au
tloriztd the College of bishops at theil
annual meeting III May 1875. to apDoin,
Il commission, consisting OF three min
listers and two laymen. to meet sim,
liar commission authorized 10y the Cen
cral Conference of the NJ. +. Church
south. and to adjust I'LL difficulties, IN
the way Of formal fraternal relations;
Accordingly the latter body appointed
It's commission In 1876; and the com
missioncrs of the two churches met 10
Joint session ut Calie May M. Aug. IL,
1876, at 10 O'Clock A. NJ, and closed
their deliberations Aug ODD, ut night
The result Of their lalors is the follow
ing. adopted without IL diSsentlent voice:
"DkCLARAIION AND BASIS OF ERA
TERNITY.
STATUS OF THE METHOD IsT ErIsCo-
Pal CnURCII, AND OF THE METH
oDIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH SOUTH.
AND THEIR COORDINATE RELA-
TIONs AS LEGITIMATE BRANCHES OF
EPISCOPAL METHODIST.
Each of said churches is a legitimate
branch of Episcopal Methodism III the
United States, having common origin
in the Methodist Episcopal Church, Or
g;mized in 1884, and since the organiza
ton of the M. f. Church. South. was
consummated in 1876 by the voluntary
exercise of the right of the Southern
Annual Conference. ministers and
members, to adhere to that commission
it has been an evangelical church. reared
on script ural foundations, and her min-
listers and members with those of the
NJ. E. Church, have constituted one
Methodist family, though III distinct &C.
clesiastical connections.
1t WAS next incumbent on uS to con-
slider the questions concerning conflict
ing claims to church property, and some
special cases that could net convenient
" I've referred to the operation Of q gem
eral rule. There were two principal
questions to be considered with regard
to church property i'll dispute between
local societies OF the two churches.
/. AS to the legal ownership OF said
property.
.. As to whether it will consist with
strict equity, Ut promote Christian har-
mony or the cause of religion, to dis
possess those societies now using
church property which was originally
intended for their use and occupancy,
and Of which they have acquired pos
session. though they may have lost le-
gal title TO it by their transfer from the
one church to the other :,
We lave considered the papers Ill all
cases that have been brought to our no
tice. There arose in the following
states: Virginia, West Virginia, Mary
land Tennessee, Louisiana, North Car
olina. and South Carolina. In respect
to some Of these cases we have given
particular directions; but for all other
cases the joint commission unanimously
adopted the following.
RULES FOR THE ADJUSTMENT OF AD-
VERSE CLAIMS TOCHURCII PROPERTY.
Rule l. III cases not adjudicated by
the joint commission any society OF either
chulcll, constituted according to its
discipline, now occupying the church
property. shall remain in possession
thereof; provided that when there il
now, i'll the same place, Il society OF
more members attached to the other
church. and which has hitherto claimed
the use Of the property, the latter shall
be entitled to possession.
Rule IL. Forasmuch Hs We have no
power to annul decisions respecting
church property made by the State
courts, the Joint commission oIdain i'll
respect thereof:
i. In cases in which such q decision
has been made, or i'll which there exists
all agreement, the same Shall be carried
out In good faith.
.. In communities where there are
two societies, one belonging to the
Methodist Episcopal Church. and the
oller to the Methodist Episcopal
Church. South, which have adversely
claimed he church property it is recon-
mcn,.etl that without delay, they AMIGA
by compare their differences irrtSpec-
tive of the strict legal title and settle the
same according to Christian principles,
the equities IF the particular Case, and,
80 far 8 practicable. according to tue
principle Ut the aforeg0ing rule.
But II such settlement cannot I've
sp' eddy made. then the question shall be-
referred for an equitable decision to y
a.bitrators, one to be chosen by EACH
claimant from their respective societies
and tile two chosen shall select third
person not connected with either Of said
churches and the decision of any two OF
them shall be final.
8. ncommunities where there is but
one society. Rule shall he faithfully OBJ
served in the interest OF peace and fra
ternitY.
Rule III. Whenever necessary to
carry the aforegoing rules into effect the
legal title to the church property shall be
accordingly transferred.
Rule ". These rules shall take ef-
feet immediately"
The foregoing proceedings were rati-
fed by the General Conference OF the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South, i'll
May 1878, and by the General Confer
ence of the Methodist Episcopal Church
in May, 1850. Weare willing to stSlid
by the above rules and hold that The
other side is sacredly bound to do the
same. Jos. IL. ANIss.
Salisbury Nd .July 81 ,a6.