Year: 1864

The recent appropriation of thirty five
thousand dollars for the extension of our


work in the far South is likely to be follow,
/ ed by important consequences Almost ST.


multaneously with it appears the proclama-


ton of the President offering to the people
of the States now in rebellion an amnesty
upon certain conditions which he thought
fit to prescribe No doubt the President
has acted upon information in relation to


the disposition of many of the people of tho
/ South to return to their allegiance. He is
in a position to know the facts, and we NAV


be Hdre that he is acting understandingly.
Measures have already been taken to car


~ out the plans of our church. Bishop
AneS, at last accounts, was at St. Louis,


preparing to start upon his tour down the


Mississippi. Bishop Simpson will soon pro-


ceed to Tennessee. \ prominent and pop


ular Methodist minister now stationed In


Now York city, has been designated for the


city of New Orleans; and though the ap-


pOmtment demands of him not Il little sac


rltice, his acceptance is nevertheless hoped


for. An order has been given by the Sec


retaTy of War permitting the occupation Of


deserted churches within our military lines,


and the use of them temporarily for religious


services. No questions of ownership or pos


session are to be raised these can be deter


mined only when the several States arc


brought back to their allegiance and civil


rule is once more established over their
people.


Many facts iii the condition of the South
crn States encourage the hope of the return
of the vast majority of MethUdists in the
South to the old church-the church of As
bury and Mckendree from which many of
them separated with the greatest reluctance.
The Methodist Episcopal Chu crh, South, is
shivered to atoms 1t is doubtful if its Gen
era Conference will ever meet again; or if
it shall meet, it will be shOrn of its former
proportions The publishing house in Nash
vile is in the hands Of the United States
authorities its finances were impaired be-
yOnd remedy before it was closed by mill
tary order The members of the Louisville
Conference; at their last session, avowed
their loyalty to the government of ths
Union, and by that avOwal severed them
selves from the rebel part of Southern Meth
Odism The Southern Methodist Church,
which was one of the chief moral supports
Of the rebellion, will inevitably share its
fortunes and 90 down with it to common
ruin. As the rebel statesmen have made
slavery the cornerstone Of their Contede-
racv. so has the Southern Methodist Church
placed under that corner stone the New
Testament. 1t did its best to give the sane
ton Of religion to the political measures
which terminated in secession.


But the rebellion has proved failure,
and the institution for the sake of which
it was attempted is passing away. The in
eXUrable logic cf events is rapidly cOnvinc-
ing tie people of the South that the fate Of
slavery is sealed As surely as our armies
occupy the territory of rebelliOus States,
slavery will perish Many already accept
this as inevitable d6stinr, and they are pre-
pairing to adjust themselves to their altered
Thousands will-perhaps
slowly at first, yet surely-return to their
allegiance; for with slavery removed what
is to prevent their return to the UniOn?-
Our government cannot and will not adopt
a vindictive policy in it's treatment of the
masses Of the Southern population; that.
would be contrary to- all the precedents of
Christian civilization. IT MUST and does
already open the door of reconciliation for
all of the common people who will repent,
lay down their arms, and return 10 their al
legiance again.


In THE work of restoration our church
may yet act an important part For as the
one Methodist Church led the people astray
from the Union, so may the other help 10
bring them back to it once more. As the
people return to their duty let them be gath;
cred into loyal churches. Let Southern
Methodists be invited to enter again the
church both of their fathers and of ours
As We are alike in doctrines, in church gov
1rnment, and in MethOdstie Usages, let us.
show the world the spectacle of restored
church in which, as in the States, there shall
be neither a STAKEHOLDER nor slave.