Year: 1866

the Lately RebelIiOus StRtes-The


Policy of Southern Me thOdISm.


The following is the address of the Bish-
ops of the Methodist Episcopal Church
South to the General Conference now in
session at New Orleans. 1t will be read
with interest by Methodlsts and by all per-
sons who are watching the progress of re-
ligiOus reconstruction South:


DEAR BRErHRgN:-We shall hail with feel
ings of devout gratitude the opening of
the General Conference OF the Methodist
Episcopal Church South. Circumstances
connected with the late unhappy war have
prevented us from an earlier meeting; and
now that we are permitted by Divine Prov
idence to assemble, the important interests
that will engage our attention demand
that with all sObriety and prayerfulness,
we address ourselves to their consideration.


We have to review the operations of the
church for eight years, embracing a peri ID
during which important and startling
events have crowded on each other In rapid
succession. When the last General Con-
ference closed, we anticipated an earlier re-
union in this city; but the well known
condition of things, at the time appointed
in regular order for our meeting, preCluded
our cOnyening here. And ever since, until





practicable TO call the Conference together.
When it was definitely decided that the
Conference could not meet ct the proper
time and place, there being no law in the
discipline authorizing the Bishops to con-
vene the General Conference, and the state
of the country also being such as to render
It doubtful whether any considerable num-
ber of the preachers could be collected to-
gethcr for the purpose of holding such
session if called, the Bishops, feeling the
Importance of wise counsel in the emer-
gency, published a card inviting a meeting
of the Bishops, book committee and others,
to consult together on divers important
subjects connected with the immediate in
terests of the church. Such meeting was
held, first at Atlanta, atterward at Macon,
Ga, and then at Montgomery, Ala. In
August last the Bishops alone met for con-
sultatiOn at Columbus, Ga. These various
meetings were seasons of interest and profit
to those who attended them, and the results
of our deliberations, as exhibited in the
resolutions which we published, tended
greatly, as we have reason to believe, to pro-
mote the peace and prosperity of the church.


In order that the character of those meet
ings may be clearly appreciated, we would
remind you that when they were called it
was distinctly stated that all of the acts of
such meetings would be simply advisory
We disclaimed all authority to take any
action that should be binding on the church,
only as it might be approved as wise and
godly. We gave such advice as we judged
best for the church in her Strengthened cir
cumStanCeS. Ii the annual conferences ap-
proved it, then they acted in accordance
with their own convictions; if not, then they
simply took their own course in all matters
that came before them, without reference
to our advice. 1t is for the General Con-
ference to decide whether we transcended
our authority in cOnyening such advisory
councils.


Early during the war the bishops bad to
contine their Episcopal viSitations to the
territory east OF the Mississippi river. This
we deeply regretted, but in our circum-
stances it was unavoidable. The GOnse-
quence was that the conferences west of the
Mississippi were deprived o! Episcopal SUI
pervisiOn during nearly the whole period of
the war. We would not, however, fail to
mention Bishop Kavanaugh, residing as he
did within the Federal lines, was able to
visit the Missouri, the st. Louis and the
two Kentucky conferences, and was also
able to extend his visitatiOns to the Cali
fornia work. The rest of the bishops were
able to extend their labors to the various
parts of the work within the Confederate
lines. Notwithstanding the fact that our
Episcopal supervision of the work has been
necessarily partial, we are gratitied to be-
lieve that the preachers have been faithful
generally to the interest of the church of
God. With but very few exceptions, the
annual conferences have been regularly
held. The presiding elders and preachers
have filled their appointments as of old ;
and, with humble gratitude to God, we
mention the fact that during the trying
years through which we have passed,
gracious revivals of religion among our
people have attested how the Divine pres
ence has been with us. g. a


We do not attempt in this brief address to
enter into detailed account of the general
state of the work. Thank God that we have
so safely passe through most painful and
fiery ordeal that the church has preserved,
under His blessing, her integrity; that she
has in nowise become complicated with
political affairs; but, keeping in view her
own high mission, has been satisfied to per-
torn her legitimate duties.


1t is proper to state to Won that we found
it, in our Judgment, needlul to the interest
of the work to depart in some respects from
the strict letter of the law of the church in
our Episcopal administration. EXtraordi-
nary eXigencieS required us to take this
responsibility. In the journals Of the an
nual conferences which will come before
you, the particular instances in which we
have Judged it best to assume this grave
responsibility will appear. In all such in
stances we wish it understood that we do
not regard such departures from the law as
establishing precedents for future guidance,
but only as illustrating how extraordinary
eXigencies may make it necessary to tran
scend the provisions ofeven the most whole
some human regulations. From this ex-
perience, however, the General Conference
may find suggestions that are valuable to
guide it in providing, as far as practicable,
for contingencies in the future. ....g


1t would have been gratifying to us if
we had been able to bear the expense of
more extensive travel through tue work;
but, in the impoverished state of the church,
and especially in the absence OF any pro-
vision for more than a bare support OF the
bishops, this was impossible. This fact, we
hope, will be suggestive to your body.


In August last we deemed it prudent to
issue pastoral Address to the Preachers
and Members of the Church," reminding
them of their duty as Christian citizens,
and giving such advice as seemed to us ap-
propriate to the peculiar circumstances of
the times. AS that address has been ex-
tensively published, we deem its formal
transmission to you with this communica-
tion unnecessary, and will only ask your
attention to such parts of it as we may find
it proper to recapitulate on particular points
at this time. 10 T5g1u -al 20 srg ai f


The publishing interests of the church
suffered greatly in consequence of the war.
The book concern will require your care
full consideration, and some important
change in your plan of operation may be
nnndfnl for its fntIIra afficiencv. of This