Year: 1865

the past, was not on account OF any
hatred we entertained against ct or its
rulers but was the result of false in
struction, 10 which we gave too ready
an ear, and the absence Of power to
counteract the evil of such teachings
This will give us the character of man
illness, and thus declare to mankind,
christians need only know what is right
to perform it, and what is wrong to
avoid it.


have thus briefly alluded to the
course of action we should follow, and
it has been with the design Of attract
ing your attention TO a subject SO long
neglected, to awaken your reflection,
and to urge immediate energy and ac-
ton. And the policy which feel due
you to say I deem better for us all as 3
church, and calculated to result in more
good to our country, IS to reorganize
our church polity, to do away with the
invidious distinctions of church South
and church North, to go back to the
old landmarks of our ancient Method
ism, unite our church North and South
into one harmonious society of chris
tain, brethren and friends. It cannot
be denied, successfully, that the divi-
sion of our church had vast influence
in creating and widening the idea of
the division of our common country,
in scattering the seeds Of sectionaIisn
and separation, in fomenting strife and
bitter contention between the two sec
tons Of the Union, which has grown so
rife. And to allow the greatest degree
of strength to the arguments of the
opponents of this view, it may be safe
ly averred that it has furnished an oc-
Casion to the enemies Of our church to
denounce our doctrine az destructive
to good government and calculated to
impair the stability and order Of socie-
ty And here as in other matters, we
should have avoided the very appear
ance of evil.


This matter let it receive our earnest |
attention, and let the inquiry 6e made |
without prejudice and with fairness and |
candor, whether it should have con
tributed to the general good, in larger
degree, if we had remained united as
one-whether we could have command
ed more resources, enlarged the sphere
of our operations, sent out more preach
ers, erected more circuits, established |
and endowed more schools of learning, |
where the weary and fainLing travel |
er Of Time could have come and gath
cred lessons Of Immortality and life
sent forth upon the world a mightier
tide of influence, which, like the rest |
less waves Of the sea, would have rol led |
on and on, until the remotest iuhab- |
liant OF earth should have awakened /
from his dream Of idolatry, and turn |
and kissed the hand that bore the !
glad tidings Of salvation But divided, |
our strength was gone, and some Of the |
precious hours we ought to have deyo-
ted to action were uselessly spent in
1t was manifestly the de
sign of Providence we should have re-
NAMED one and indiyisibIe It is the
of his love to unite, not to di-
yide--to cement in one bond of frater-
nal feeling and fellowship, all kindreds
and tongues, nations and peoples. The
subject that divided US is now, thank
God, happily for us and posterity, re-
moved is now taken out Of the way
1t can no longer form rock offence to
the one, nor cause of complaint to the
other Slavery being thus removed,
the hindrancs and barrier to successful
cooperation, ere lies a smooth pas
sage between the two, easily passed
over by both. What, then, easier for
US to do than to unite the broken
cords and live henceforth as one great
brotherhood Of Christians


l remain your brother in Christ,


w. B. CmCuLow.


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