Newspapers / The Biblical Recorder (Raleigh, … / Sept. 13, 1855, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of The Biblical Recorder (Raleigh, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
-n.i.in- -..v.- - . v - y ' ,;.;';-! I, HO W -, u) hlVl n :i .-iwo nYi: P J ill IT i-U'!, i THE BIBLICAL RECORDER; i a xisugiuus auu juibariuy. papers Pttblislied weekly, ai Raleigh, N. C, at DO pe? annttin, payable iir all cases ix ajvakc. -7- 'V All letters oo - busiaess $hould be directed io G. MsASMTtf &.0.,Raleizh:NCv ; -4- : S&T Au letters COlitaininsr comrnnniratinnii. Gr in I be addressed io RevJ. Jaxes, or Editor of tho " t Biblical Recordert, v, if!tvivtftp fZF, All co'mtauaications, to insure attention, must . " be directed to Raleigh,-2. & pott-paid. . -t . -j ' ' For further particulars see last pagei x j. . THE LAWOF; NEWSPAPERS, v '. j I " Subscribers - who do not gl ve'express notice to the eoatrary are considered -wishing to continue their 2. If., the subscribers order the discontinuance of their papers, , the, publishers may continue to .send them till all cash charges are paid.. :V 3. If subscribers neglect or refuse to tate their pa. . pers froua the office towhich they 'are directed, they are held responsible until they .have settled their bill, and order their paper discontinued. ' " ; 4. If subscribers remove to vothr places without inlorming the publisher, and the. is per Is sent to the lormer direction they are held fesponsible";'':.-' 5 "Thexdarts have decided that refusing to take si paper or periodical from the ofBceor removing and leaving n uaiauw ?jr prima xacie eviaence of intentional CraudW --" - Puilisbed .by Request.! The Elements and JKeanS of Cburch Pros- Tfo Introductory : Smoiijff-JF7atiIliiet',: Astocialinnl iLliterti aJjX.; MolriaTi;Qr-: 1. .Dixisi:fubluedteif'pfi the As- .ind the VDord of the,Lord 'increased ' and the number of (he disciplestniiltijlied in Jerusalem greatly. 'Acts 6 : 7. 4 i;p,;.; ;X- Sr'vi . .rThe Chtistiaa CJibrch .ia a peculiar Organi- Zition--lt is; tot Jike -any btber 80ciet70 ' earth. ; 1 1 jraa" instil" utedrbv ; 1 its great ; .head ytoy c pread the gospel over the earth tjmd multiply the number of ? disciples' BtlleverV'are7 'tflf-'be -Wit up ,ra their "uiost lmly; faithand Einnors . are to be converted to God " and the church .is : the mstrcmentality.to be eiHployed in this great' work. The New Testament, as the.: perfect: standard f belief and practice Tintsj .the particular ibrtrj i of cbureh polity, brdcrnd disj cipune. : itaesignates tua coaracierana quail Scat ions of those who . may- becduie lnt-uibers, of the ebureb the' onieersbow .tnerobera are to be received and excluded, and - tha-.various laws and regulations by which if is governed : ."The-first church at Jerusalem, formed by the directions and .under the eye of the Savior, and the . a postolio churches," organiz: by- the ' apostles, are" the authoritative- models ft r jbe -ft rmation of churches for all future tim In pentecdstal times, the 'Jerusalem - Vhurcb flour ished ereatlythe gospel had a powerful ef-: J feet upon the people, and multitudes were re COn f verted and added to the. number of believers. In the present discooree7we propose to con- aider tht elements and means of thurcb prjosper r I.- Firsiy we will notice 'several items which , e ) stituti some of the essential - elements .of church prosperity. t, , - ' '- -1; Genuiqe piety lies at the "very foundation of the Success? of any church. 1 1 is the chris' tian's brightest ornament, the secret of his, use' fulness, and tho source of lis highest Joys.'.- By -piety, we meah spiritual fellowship with God, or in other words,supreroe loveto God; Num bers, wealth, eloquent preachers, and fioehous es of worship, if piety be wanticg,. will - t-ffct but little,' - Outward show, and parade canoot advance the cause of pure religion in the world. The . kingdom of Christ is i spiritual kingdom. The trua worshippers of God worship biat in spirit and in truth Ko person 4ias any claims to church ' membership,; but" a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. The people of God are i: feculra? y toftt 't '?J(.fVr-'::' They have." been regenerated by the! Holy Spirit. vlhejr khow "?fr"om .expenenc,7what.it: is to Tepent aDd believe. ' Tbeir, hearts have been filled with love ktp . GToore7pietj7: the members of auy church possess; the better" prepared are' thev to be useful to their fellow , men, and the mwe good can" tl-ey. accqmpli&b - m me cause OI c-nnsu t uo . pniuuivo tians were sd perfectly imbued- with the spirit, of eatire consecration, "that they were willing to make any sacrifice,1 or 'perform - aay labor, to advance the interest of the Kedeemer's king dom. ' l"hey eyinccd the jdepth of. their devo-. tion, by the cheerfulness with which they suffrr ed for the name of Christ; Iet us, my breth ren, catch that holy ardor which animated and.: nerved the-apostles and early; christians. jJTbeh;." may, we expect the churches p nourish as tney. did in the early times. ' If the hearts of chris tians, were entirely swaye by the love pf God, they would be willmg'to i forego ;f any pleasure make aoy sacrificei. or endure any privation to glorify God. and save sinoers,: ; What the churches need more than anything else, in order, to their real prosperity, is pieti- ?fcwei jwjf7cThat:Wiirmake beras fair; as the moon, clear as the sun, ana as lemuie as army with bannrsT:,-;v;: fr wii'v'N ": 2, Another imporwnt'eloment' in the; prov perity of a church, is an intimate and practical' acquaintance who me wora oi ,wu- o. an age of Bibles," but Hotritis 'tpbe feared, o Uible reatfw. -It i lamentable to see: wua a -small amount of biblical knowledge, is possess ed generally by. even professing christians. v There is no excuse .tor nma aenciency. uioies ; are abundant and any.' person who - wishes to ' do sorcan . 'procure a -copyi'Gorjkl - religious Books are numcrousand coa&tintly uiultipljinir,' which "are well adapted, to throw light upon "the .: holy Scrjpturesr. -But human composuions. ore good, - only sa far,- as they - illustrate divine. truth7Ve : are com tuandf d toy search the 4 Scriptures. -There we must' go to ham ?bat is - truth- We : c uilt to search " tli e . sacred Tecorts rjraverfu'i'v, and; t'liak inde-- pendently, and think ,r cvrt:.'vc$. HT professors of religion crs fana. Ilo.r rna ' ir ivit'a all, .1 :rlooJ in . . - . r j , . j the gossip of tbe. tDwni Ci a- 3 eft': Which tbey live, the r- ..:r ii - - IT. TliB'Bibla h a book that nmt bread;$tud ted aud uarchedi, if we would uoderstand iii grfat and sublime truths if. ohurcb members would be qualified Tor usefuln?!s, bl to doV fend trotV and Taoquish "error, tbev must bhv m familiar and practioalacaaalntunce witli th ScripturesrX: It i the sword ofjhe Spirit the "weapoi with which oar eroies are n h K.: ; j . " 4ued,.arjd tho. -world conquered U ChlBt.' r. . f , 3.jAgainjt ht$ amdmnien antopg tha menP bers of a ?uurcbj are, necessary to it& Advance i 'mentandvpiosDeritv.irv It; iatli Cbmf'thaibfoilowe&ahnnlil..-i my disci Alulual TTeal christians ' The carlv christiaha man? ';td so ucbaflcticro7for-eacb' other1 that it 'calledfortb expressions of admiration and as .Jto&ishm'ent See bowtheW christians lovo one another,' and bow tbey are ready to :die for' each.otbe'r. No church ican- flourish unless : its members are united io love. JJnitm is in- dispensable to tha welfare of Zion. . Tho apos lUa'Paot settsibly felt .Jtf unportance, wh'n.ha7 - penned the last message he vcr sont to tha pu? rintbian brcth wiUor of 4ne7iuind live io7 rT?i$ - 7: b : 4NciiooVloilie f E pheslsmsV : wtT-e-, eHdeaVorrtoskep tlie unity of- ths spW itln th bond .of peace rDavidJexelatined lhold5 Iww'-jrood irid uWpjeasariHt is fori breihrru-to dwe!F together jin unitytnel bf thovprineipalrausts.'of the" great Isriccrss" which attended the reaebin? of the irosnel at? C Jerusalem f and ; he-2ypre3: accessions " to f tho church, was that believer"- werek of vni Atari 1 land, ofjme mind. X: - " X ':1'&T'' covinia.riVohJiatjbns to libiir for the prosp'srityv1. "pfZion.7 Jhat union wbjcb vo ibhuld strire7 4or)naintiiint'hQuld ;not 1 aft mptyhiii-. Truth yittst.never-'bi sacrificed ereihdutd7 tbe bfWo'm promise T betwe Aruth and eiror -i- ? j Wtil8; we-seel: . forpromote barinony : aong brethren, we roust, at thsalae-timeontcotr? eaiBc-stJy for-theifaLihoO sain s.a '. Om of t he most serious hindrances to - the ' progress f. th gisplt i t ho . divisions among prof s:ng clirUtiaBf'Vebsyheart it epjcsjiit, as i)iwz fhajtli cnrtstiaa -wprld was divided into various denominations : r braueles of th cliarch! solhVt.eff lo7lv inav jt. .cuvl:4u ji mji: ciiurcu uol's not corrfspona Sritli your vt?ws,"there is ariotberand another,', aiid yon wilf od onc-at1' lenrh7th at-will "ah wer A . H w straDge i lid Ch ml 6rgn nixVv a trious antagotiisf ie jchaVches tp suit the" whlii-ipf jdcpiayed ro n 3 VOur I bUssed Savioprated tthat-all.his. peopla might . be jaae. JohnriTj -V arctla J?tin .ywddpg--lI;CorlDtbiw 7 an. cuureli, says, " IS o 1 beseech You bn.-th- "reniy thV name' of qur Xord Jesus Cbriit.that . ye,auBp4.aK . tue saiiie toiug, ana toat tuero oe if W.ns among you ; ijut that yo fce nerleOr V - '"nn-f u vuc miiuc juiuu, huh iu me the . 6aiue jadgmeiit tt"In order that f chrirehbe flourishing, the members tnust have one infer tcst and r one feeling- ObevLoid,' one- faiib' 'one bapUsm:-4 $htiitee zn That principle recognized in the adage, union is strength is not- more beautifully -rand forci' iMjf: 'u?.,e?i'nJWaere 'j thanin iheuuiouf;of' ichristiana. v m ex pectlth blessing of, -God to- rest upon t bat '"church" .whose members. are united together in brotherly love and cbris tian" affection rt V-;5 f - Out Iear3 "bur hopes, bur aims, are one '""- '"'T". Ottr" comforts "and- our f;".'' J 4t Another ca use, as Veil as thevldehce" of the success :of a eburcfirii '(be 1 'addition'of triia believers: vyhile it7is I true', we should not judge "of .the -b-altbful condition oT a ' church siiupIy oiVaccouot of DumbersJ still the - iiiflu ence of a church depends, in: a - good - degrce, : opoh the - increase ot" her mcmhershirii The svidition;of truly' converted - porsous;. give it .more Btrength. But :. the. incroa-i Jof J nurabc; s Only j with outTcgard to piety, will prqve-a curse" instead of a blessing,ta any church." Bat stiift ho church eari be 'said i "to be".; in" a flourt-hin. s'taie, wbeii no ioerease is made to her number.'". The Ways of "Ziou often 'mourn, because but ; few -couitf tov her sohrmn feasts, and -- her; gat cs are de8olaTe.! 5 ' AVhat an' impetus was giveri tj; the. Jerosikm chufcn.;Twbeni ihree thposand ; were :Couvertedand ,ad Jed ' ttf their -u umber. AVhile; we should seek for the cuIji g ?inmt of (het churcbesi to;wb'B jwe - belong, full the inera item, of nambwFi should have but little weighti "be important point is the accession pf rea chrisiian s The great question to be settlld iu - the' reception of lueiubirs is, dt5 they believe on, tlii Lord Jesus' Christ.'-!4 The Lord addatf td tb eff church .tailjf suchas ' sliould be ( were f saved.?' When: any one knocks" at the door of the church for-' admission tho ahswer "retuf ued should bo, if thou bdievest with all thy heart tbou mayest.n v.- w.";,-: S'Z'i -, ; i ( Ta 6c tontmueiLX - Dtfsa Thoughts. What urjtnbcr of bpuIs -says the dying man, there are now in the worlds Jn ny condition f urpriscd at jhe Wmmons' ta the other world ; some, taken frouilheir sbopa and farms, other from their - spuria and plea7 ores j those at suits of law, those "at gaining ta-y bles ; some oh tbe road, others at their fire" ::side ; and all ; seized at an "hour, when Jthey. j ' thought not of itTrgbtened at the approach of ' dt;ath ;'-confoonded at the vanity cf ' all their la bors, designs, and projects,' astonished at the : folIyofLtheir past livesi and not koOtvingwhich. way.tr turn their- tb oughts to find any oomfortp their conscience: fiying in their sins to rumem "brance.-presenting them with 'the': sight of the 1 . tj .- .l . '. j;.- augry wuugei.ine worm , mat nevc -oies, ujo fire that ris never -quenched.' the gats.of hell,, tbe powers of darkness, a'ad the bitter pains of eteriial deaths - - Abamrjic-llrd niet a'tuttcrnr. and being pleased witlr its beauty cf person and tbe splen uor y'i us iu"s, maae an u-r . iupciu u rnada an m nr.ot think cf it,'.wa t ? re- r. j a t.-Jt s you once sr-rr.c i n. tr. l c..z 1 -i - It: t'.3 1 tr oy tuis voaiL ail rartn Know that vr plea, if je baye love one to nbther, ill! - r Methodist Cbureh Property Case., "4 i Tub 1 StiN. and . Mooii" or our Epis- i-COPACT 8LI0HTLT lbICUP8COAw' INTth" 7-; JCSTIN0 ENaAQEMSNTBZlWtEIf THB-TwO -,WtNo's orf th ."Teuhibls .Army with v j3ANM)t88VK8TMAT5DxWa UPOM.XC: SIDS-i-MORC A0UT.H1H 4 DEMOCRATIC EtEMET.M "V;."-:' - yow,' tbcrcfoi, tbero is ; utterly a fault among youi because you go to law, one with 'another. Wbv do jo not rather take wrong & JiWby doiiyo inot rather suikr yourselves to e -defrauded, 1 Cor.-Ti.'7. r V i Money. is a dofence.!,5ooiff i i H ;It is proper tbati we again state the precise question !at issue iu this discussion.' It is im portant tuat the . Teadcr should have it always idiatitiotljl i before his mindThe question this ; I Mttkodbit Epivopacy in itiwxturtfwd tendencies anti-JDeTnocratte aud anti-Rtpitbii' can ?i.jJ taliuj the aHinuaUve, v ibis pr)po . . sit jjQ ;wo have , d istiuct fy s ta ted fro in t h o c o a f " luucmeut,' that Wd are ttot.attackiug the put-, "riotisai of hec&utt&stttj a prmcipU Io ecclesiastical poll; ty, which baa iu ail ages of. the wo Id tended, to abuse'and cOi rubtioQ We have beeu at tempt ing to Wow that there is nothing in the Metho; : dist complexion of Kpiscopacy , 'Which has in cHued us to change our opiuiou vf its uaturo aud !-. practical rvsulta jts tdrigin4 and history up q l this time sofaras cyur ' laeatis' of Jnforiuatiob ; extend, poiut, vumibtakably to tho same spirit-, uul aud temporal tyrauny. which bus marked its rprogfess iu every aa of ine orld, siuQu it first rextiuguislild the lights of the churches in , the third and fouith cntuVies; Aud iu pursuing ; "!ur nhjeotf we1 have fouhi it necessary' to briug . to - light- some ' pum and startitOg lac alt of -wukju uny iMitui uoua wttu uu uuaiuu icuitug to I a iiviug souL : That there U a com plexion of vaarrowiudedi religious prejudice, wbioh can Lnot eoaipreiiend. how pUtn truths told in v plaia way in Regard, to ah organiu priucipla vf Oytrnuiouui ecouotny, can. comport .witn per aoual gooU will and ChriatUn charity, is byno 'rheimf suipfising. r. But' then to yivdd to sacb !' ah iuflueuce, would ba , to sacriSce principle to poll cy th" 'author! ty, of G tid o the authority of man-and practically n 'declare thatlVery reformation which has ever been attempted iu religion j moral and civil government, has been ; curse tcr the wor;d- jf Aud tha wo are not pre pared to admits even) out of complaisance of 44thev largest, denomiuatioa of. Christina' rit) this couutry. The iiiore ' extensive and wide aud decided iu the Oui ted States Circuit Court for the 8outhmn"Diriet0f Ncw;Yoik, print td and circulated under th u-pioos of th ; M, "JsLChurch, bouth' We--shaii ry aid b s brief as possible, so as to dispose oi "it in a n gle article, though; we assure lhe reader that a J yolpme could , be profitably written upon this .j A ud letus premwa Jbere, lht u the dem ; oeratic eloment ?,eally exw!sfiu the system',. it certainly could n have ud jd . the porceptiou of iheIerheeuuda'Vni courtwh arga7d - ami adjudicated -that case. If ever an occasion ; offered itself in whieh (olucidare7tbe;araBi, tf kour episedpac-y surtly this was the occa sion.vThe vrhoie s history-of its tstablishmfeni 'and practical workings foe nearly three quarters : of a century, was placed -in evidence bet'ore- the ; court, and expounded; .with distinguished, abi ity by most of. tbe learned couns'l en both'- sides; r T4e poicees of JAe clergy' fAer bishops and iravl l elrftg preachers, yaMAf point toje argusd apd v decided bufore that august tribunal. v VV e shall j recoguiii .the k Property Ca!ict,, . .then, as iu' ; Volviug 'an authentic,- reliable exposition vof I Episcooal MethodittiK 'i , r - Lv! ;rS?' jWticnthe miufsteref any dihoiufnatioh as- . lerty, they' not only-adoptfc tbcV yeryi. prinoipltj wuicn au ciru aeppoia nave aone xo ensiave tue people; iut iara guilty at the lame time of di4' i parting fromltbe great work to which tbey proi fe-a to have becap ailed by the Holy uhost, I her I triba of Livi, who were the-spiritual teachers ot 'religion; were not allowed to: own one foot of lana, or inuoca anyotuer Kiua pt property.. ji oe l ApostlJs tKemselvesTwould hot so much asconi seut' trj disburse the i bent-factiohs ef the' Church at Jerusalcin'rftmongf thd 'poof but 'asked ; thi i phurch tuelect aeyen deacons a kind of board -oi managcrsv- to attend to this business so' that tbey t'could ffiva theuaolrct entirely to the word1 - of God ndi praj'er,? sivObserve, thoyidid nott : appoint these deacons fheinselres, but requested, the Church do t Wo beg tbe reader 'til Observe th liso principles as we proceed to aua- Iyze'thiicaie..' 'HP--7 7.'!.' ; In 1844 the f General -Conference assembled jn the city of New7York;; A caso was carried np to ' it tfroml tb9; itate bf;Marlihd to thir effect? VAV Mr' llaidini,' a traveling preacber. had been deposed .frorri the ministry by the Ma-V rylaod Conlerence becausi be wus.a slave hold-; er : Possetsing : the fight of appeal, be applied' to the General Conference for reliet. jTbat body by very larg'e majority, confirmed tho action of i tbej MtrylaDdiCoofercneOt.ia, deposiug jMr Harding jmmediately the questioo. recurred, ; Cwe;depose Ajcboimonj circuit rider iot hein i a slave ; bolder, what shall we do with i 2p ; j who ii guilty of tbe same crunt tj; Bishop Asr'! n'ttEw, of Georgia, (than whom a'morejatnia? fblc, tne.-k, ; and piou ioan perhaps never eradurll red the mitre) was knowu to be a slave holder. This was tbo great quesdoa of the occasion It I brought orj'thoCDgfigemntfbetwacn tha tvfof wius of the terrible army with banuers.''' '.And Diver, witbia tho history of this llepoblie, . has aa ecclesiastical domitutipn xuadj such arro ' - gant assumptions to mterfure with the civil, social ".aud doiucjtic iusiitutious of tha country; Uciof .b ."in". tp ct cf I-jpic.-ija3y7wh!c!Voy;wcl a a m tLe fears of the Christinn u i the patriot. - A Genera 1 Cocrcrcnse cf theM. I,. Church of lbs United Mutts crnn r'. c"9 cf ;i'S Cist cTi- 0 J rs, t: I IMi ovt r biri the penalty of tlegra st read the evil, the greater the cause for alarm j rTVe 0ow-prvpoae-o caOTrivfW-wiit j EptscoplKCliurcQ Ptoperty Case l&nflivSii t ii a S l . 1 ! r ; it . 1 i r I .t rnt . . t ... r .'.. it ? . i r l',t t.rtir.c of lc-it .... , ! , i. membcri of the CoufcrenW, brought in a sol- j emn protest agamstt the measurei as extra -j a- dicial.,Ji jThat protest was answered by a com- , mitteo appointed on thoy part, of the majority; . Dr , Capers, ( tbe lat Bishop); introduced u. aeries of resolutions ."contemplating a peaceful', separation of "the South 'frbuiithe i jortb,and thoorganliatibn of i Southern General Confer ehce.r:' jl"heit rcs ceded' to the. Southern members; provided they should form . iueh in organization 11 ill the churches, schools, oollges OBmeteries,'? &e.V lying;wiibin : their specified territory, aod authorised the' mangers of -the ii Book Ccam" to negptiato an equi 4tahle division of itr fnnds.i withfuch comtnis - fioners .si saigbt be appointed from tbe Sontb. Tbese resolations were passed by 'a decided ma-' jority,, , And here let it be distinctly noted,' that the Bibops and 'eWgy Vt jhia Conference assumed an absolute propriotoi ship iu w all the ' churthea, ischools, colleges, Book Concerns," te belonging Aa; the; M.'E. Church io the HTnited States ITime and again the firipressioQ' has boen sought to bo made daring this discus- ' sion, that' with regard to the busincsc in which 't aba laity are equally interested with1 tbe minis try suoa business as, conntitutes the sphere of operatioun of Baptist Conventions' Stato and ? general, they (tho M. l'U Cburcb) 'have.al-: ready lay diilecation. and JavrmanawmentJr- and that it is only " the privilege i of scattering ; the "'ministers to tbo four ..winds,"-appointing i Hem o their'respective fields of Uhor, that the - Uity have no voice. See Brb. Hamill's third better, fourth column. 1 Are the i Uynieh of that church 41 equally. foiteTCSted with the ministfyv',? 'iu the ' churches, schools," colleges cpmeterwa, 'Book Concern ? &o. ? Brother Haniill will hot deny this. And yet, wheu tle Bishops ; and clergy a General Conference assembled asert t,an abstluto proprietorship in and -a 4 right to dioposiof t' all thiaj immense aggregation : of jcburcu property in the .United f States, not a , single layman's 'voice, was ever heard in tho council that argued.lor the yote. that decided the fate of thw measure l' Nay lurthe--in the pardca lifigant in the famous lawsuit we propoKo reviewing, as appears upon the faca ' of the Bill,,I there W not tbe name of a single lay man upon either side ! : ' ? ' .-;T: w But to proceed.: After the Cohff rence ad journed, sundry scwples suggested themselves -to themiuds ot the Northern managers of the Book Concern,'. a to whether, the seceding, party, (tho Southern division, .jsould ha legiti ftuateiy reCtigiured. as .'a Methodist J2p"ispopai Cburchwlthv'rtbe admissioupf such a prin ciple Would not destroy the u nity of the church -wbetLer the church bad the "right tn' cut itself In twain, aud thus commit a kind of "moral sui cide, See , &cT'hey ? therefore refused t6 pn- Uo-nUtWwir om- miasiooerg, as directed by the General Confer ence. Under tlie leadership of Ht-nry B. Bus comb, than whom tbey - could not have, chosen a inpre . chivakous geueralissimo, tbe iiouthern wirrg ot the 4 terrible army with bartners,T or ganbvd r its forets nd, immediately issued a summons to the 'iVorthern winj of he, " t--n i ble army with banners," lo f mect (hih at Ph'U ippi PI when and where wi weapons: of warfare tlwt" were1" 44 'tar 'nnf they should rda cidwbowastd heifthe' iniag'es and saner- acriptions of TJbcle Sahi,? -if.-- We wisH that time and spaee would allow S ' to voter nto the full, merit pf. this casdJ-We bayo only time to establish ' two points ' which directly, bear upon the question we arc discuss- 1DS- 1st. That the. Methodist Miriscop il Church of the XJnitad SlaUa in i7 government 'aonmyi s . nothing more nor leu than the Iiishop.and trae elUhs rckrlv. " ' ' " - : , . 2:ldly.7M AT THET HA VE 80 COSSTi rUENTSV They are sovereign, and are, accountable to no ; power on eai tb but their owh .'cphscierieeW.7 . Now for" the Tproof of these propositions. M r." Loid, one of the counsel for, tb claimants',: spoke as follows i''Mn vain ypti i look iatb this Methodist systeni piioiro to ;1 80S, fof any res trictions on tbr General s Coufereijce bf thal Church. 2lf .that: body bad chosen tofe" bcoouio Socinian j if it had chosen to ndjpt the Pres-' by teriao or Baptist forins cither of goref riinent Or of doctrine, it was 'in its powef "todb 3tJ There was .ttoJimitThey ;fresQiited$ th Church j thoy'wera the Church, The; Church , . dispcrsod ito light . frornje proachers;v,jTbl laity I'xivriiJ iio "'". knbwn.w in 7'tbo governing ' bodyf - Maitera of 7loctrfne evefything: wcra inl the gowning'. body. If that was' 5sh' uptot!8D8V whatas lhnt body after that"5 period ? It' was the 'same General ' C0nferenet.i PropCssepI63: 7?J; , & j jjlVhiy Hon- Reverdt Johssok, who was alao wprctcntod ' tbe Southern : commissioners io thatucase.t spoho thus J uTbis &Cburch;,b it 'remembered, even unto the present lima, and 1 speak U Jn , no offitiro-iensijfjrds. its government, has boon absolutely, sinoe the days, of Wcsh'y.an aristocraoy., Lav'men. have had. t and now have no vol 30 in V . f . thcr i is a lay-, man within the sound of niy .Voice be. knows" I he bis ho voice now.: Heretofore "they have ' Ihccn satisfled wittbe covernuicnt, They have ' acieu upon ine saying or ,rope, . . r For forma of finv6rnmni let fools contest. , ' i tt'Thai which Is best sdailnlsiered is besu Tby ; perhaps willi bs found Icbanglng their "opinion, when they find it is not always best ad liniBUtersd.V-fi!ns-ri' .T . 5 f INowjJ uwaot, to know. If the) entire "sov jereigh power,of tbe. Church waa in the minis tcrs, the prcaoheri, what 5, other ba ly J on j the:: jface of God's; earth "' waa there Jn". lOS upot. ; which to devolvo the power of dividing tho tCburch. wMch must have been in tho minis ters, than tbe Conference of 1808. Tho mia liters made thepburch. . The ministors, in the" "governmental lensOjUro the ,Clmrchv The' sovereigns are the mlnisteia; and if it be a part of the sovereign power, in a' body f this dcs ' ctlptioQf to divlda Itself, then that pmcr exist ed m the ' Conference of ministers of 1803, or it Is gone. , The admission is th-t it cannot be extinguisbcd iTt is absolute, 'i inherent,- add alienable, a: niy brother, Mr. Cboate,- adtnit ted.' : A body unlimited la theauthoiitv ta ere" a i equally; Uuliinlicd ia t!ia authoiify to dc-troy, tc; pcsbiUa cr.ly to t!.. !r e r. -ciii f r will be obliged to admit one for tbe good of the church They resolve for 'themselves and for i.temseivea' aione, aa me possessura ui vuju KCCLiiSlASIlCAL POWER lenowtf to the Methodist Church; to carry out the particular organization authorized by ; John Wesley with- Oaf any otber authority than his, and tbeirj own conviction that the good of the Church demand xled such a special and particular organization;,!?! Ahd still furtAierVbn;;page 329 Mr j:icbhtiu- nes, Jio modicum of power was" left" else wlM.1 Tht Church was not to look elsewhere! for any portion of authority. "We could quote' much r more ' to the same purpose,' but tbia is- snfficieht'f-e?! m:imtjttfiX:f if Now; letns aom up the avidenceiE Herctarei two.of 'tbe first lawyers in the Union, employed5 by the complainants, tbe : commissioners of .the,' Methodist . Episcopal Church, South'; to defend -theirright to an equitable division of Chnrcht Drbnertv " 'beforb the United .'"fitates Circuit- Court, telyipg, wholly upouUhe; evidence w tney lurnisnea w tueir nana aecunug wuaii That tbe Conference of 1784, composed7of; sixty travelinw preachers," with Messrs. Asbury . ,and Coke at their be'ad,-in; adopting the dop rtrinea. snd "discipline of thatchurchv admit no ' consisteccy- mat uot- oue pvviiv - mm jiuwci Was left elsewheje that laymen have had? and now have, ! no voice init-tbat the ministers compose the V Church -that in-jsi governmental ; acuao .i utvj mv tue, vuuisu.i .-mi .1 .1.. rat.k 11 tUi la mUttl': lUteiy an:ABI8TOCB4i---uai.k , pwscwtcb uu- limited Wwer 44 to create, and ' to $&rpv? '---tuat j .it couiu nave . oeconieoaiuian nau chosen to do bdr and that it is respousible-td no' tribunal on earth but the couscicnces . of those who wleltl! lis authority !Alllhis, and tnuchore ot; like 'haraetcr, was solemnly pro .noaiee4'i already intimated byftwo xrihe ablest lawyers of; the Ubitccl Sta'tesbefore one of the highest - judicial functiuuariesof jthe country as an .exposition of. Methodist Episoo picy, and published to the world uuder the aus pices of j. the MJClurcbv.Soath!: And yet' for diribg fo question ifc fepublicanism, we are; U oe. ueiiijuuceu ujr va patiutcu. juuruaia.aa a d iiiaogue,'a bigot, an ignoramus, a legitimate ;ciiid of jthefather of He! f fr 7 But we bavc -highbr evidence tli ah all this to; sustain 9ur' position. After; the cas.was'elabo rately areaed by such men pi J phhsoh,LChbai e Lord anj Wood, Judge-KEidrr delivered tlie opinion jof the Court,? from-which wo make the ' following.extracf fe:2. As to the power ot thblGerjerarConferl ence to authorize a separation of the Church orgauiza&oriKy'e";. The 1 Methodist Episcopal, Church v of the United States was established, in its govern ment, ddctnner snd .discipline, by; a General Cnferetiee. "of the' traveling 7Prchers1n'this commuhieh, in 1784. Down, to that tiuie the Alethodist Soeietics in A merica bad been gov erned by John Wesley, the founder of this de nomination of r Christians, through the agency of; his assistants - During this year the entire government was jtakea intoJ the bauds -of the traveling preachers with .his approbation and ) assents! They, organized ''4tv-established its does trioes ana aisoipune appomiea . up several iai tbprities superintendents or bishops; ministers and poachers tosdmihisterits ; polity, ud; pbmulgate itsldbctriufls ahdteachinglthrough out the Uand. 7d?rom that; time tov thlsV the Jsburee arid fountain of all its temporal power arp me traveling prcacuera in mis connexion iu General Conference assembled-i;The "bers of the Chuich have no part px connexion with its governmental organisation,- and, never; badl heti-avelhng ' psreachers ;comnse theV embodiment f of -its; power, ecclesiastical; aud tempera I j and when; assembled in General Coutcret.ce accord ing to the, usages.and discip-, tine of the 7cbfirch, represent themselves, and . have no constituents i and thus the organization continued until the year 1808, when a modifi-; cation took. Tplace.! Appendix Prop. Cas.', ppflO, 11. , " 7V v. ' ; - The7;? modification" to TWhich Judge Nelson "alludes, relates to the organization of a General ; ; out of the Aunuat Conferences which becor- V red in 3 1 S08. - ;1 he J adgo -; then, proceeds tof show that that modification did not affect in slightest degree the principle be had laid down : to. wit i v That the bishops and clergy in Gene-; ral Conference assembled embodied all the pow . erecclesiastical and tempcral,'.V known ; in : - their governmentalscouoroy..-. - 7 1 t Tbe decision . of thp Court, then, sustains every position take,n by the counsel, We, will state these, positions aeaiu in still fewer wordsr, 'confirmed by. thecxtract ;from the opinion of the Court t - All theertretf power whieli the Bishops and' clergy pf the M E Church ever ( knrf ...t.. k m if f 'fjun' 't' f?AL?Kt t tint ft-nm ytlU VUlUw, IH'ff J C m - mmww' v.wv, w w . W . f Jobh Wesley--they established its doctrines ! and dicipUne--reated its rxxfliceralto adminis ; te its polity they are the sourca and fountain ; of all its power-- laymen have, . no connection with its governmenul organization and never had .nd when assembled in7Generaltonfer ence according to the usage, and dUcipline of the Churchy represent themselves AND HAVE no CONSTITUENTS I No bill of deceptions was filed to r thdecisibri."JTbevJ Methodist Episcopal Church7 F outb , accepted , the award. -Both divisions of the Church Vstand committed, to this decision, as containing a true and faith fit exposition of the governmental economy of tbat cnurcb.; - Vyhy have we never heard these , lawyers and Judges denounced ui idttnagogms and oi0.s--and - as ignorant of ; the subject Uhcv were adhiditiatinff i, -?Tbey , aver, that so far as government is concerned, (and " that is' the only subject we are discussing,) the Bish ops and travelling clergy, ;aro, dc fact the; CHURCHthat io its legislative and administra tive economy, i's lay members are- unkown ' that it is an aristocracy. and has no conslUu,- tuts. " Now; If all this were untrue, can any" man "suppose for one. moment, that the North Would have yielded its claim to four hundred thousand dollars, and that the South would have accepted it ? Is the "democratic clemeDt" la the M. E Church, South, if it tver exUt tJt worth only fjuf hundred thousand dollars?. cd yt-t, to gecuro' that pitiful rua,th3 mx .u;;r.-d t! :u .""nd frivab j.;-ntcri n lis . . ; a i-.vi on Cf t' We dotiot design to introduce degrtd'-'g c:.i-! parisofts ; but we must bo 'permitted 'ta what more humiliairag laEiae could 1 3 zzii in recard to the subjects of the most ab:;Ita despotisms on earth;-than . that -tbey 4,are e: -.- slitnents ?" Methodists! local creachers tzl prirate members I lovers of God, of truth," cf lihsTty; and of your cbuntrv '! '.---- ',"" " ' . HkTf yomhave nature in you.bJarit not!" T-'L8, unit . . y ' . - .-. - . ' i- -' - 4e traycuiwg preacners comprtse Iht em!0Zt- : , wktfif- its vovct ecclesiastical and TEM ," ConferenuaixordtngJ Unt f the C&urck fcpresenl' themselves :uni;."?rJ ; .HAVxvKO eoxstiTCENTS ! " j What more h av 3 ' t ' rjasti i iYityAyfiMfl 1 r li iia,t nJ " . V . - IvotA 'per, said -7-Why is,ltirwe again ask, that5--: . .. . 3 t ' 1 . . -m ' eruy johnson ana. nis colleagues, navo never- . - - . been held to' account for uttering'VuchlanguageU. ? as thiaVns ivheuss fohr bnudred tbon sand dollars depended npon5 tu7maintainanca-? pviiV" Ml these doctrines.,. Or j-athr was it not be--.- cause THE 5p0KETHE i Tit ifTH if ' i Why Is it lie ! ecclesiastical lashrof that they have escaped the litical, while "an obscure local.1 organ ,' to us 2 v. w the; very djelicate, and .Tuf language of a "''- ..lYtetuouisb. cotemporaryr ior aiieagmg noiiimj- . 'tnore.than this; is to be' denounce(as guilty of ' " .1 1 j;tbeJowet piece otfdejnagogUfism and tar- r -row;minded bigotry thaihas yeVtranspired ? ' Vr-tjC' The United "States pbnft; was'certainly.bapa- V- 4 ble of inflicting more 'serious in j ury upon - : bur 'episcopacy tjtha anobscure local or-1 gan.": 'And yetL when: thai 'decision was aa-' " nouhoed; the editors of all'tbei Methodist jour-'. bals Sonth, 'congratulated themselves; . and r' r : their church "upon ;th.e Successful termination tf -' ' ' -the.aniVah : without so much as questioning a inglerpr'ncL, r pie upon 1 which it jwaa"madei4OurEpiscopa-T' cyV gn'ia Our Episcopacy 'at'bne of the high- 7) l. st 1 udistal rrihhnals of - the country . The p ar- ; ties iitinl prove fto lhcTsatisfacdoh .cf.;the counsel ana juagesuias.jpi&uupa uu iraTcnug , nreachcrs "made Ihe Church"rthat the B ish- jdps shd.' ia'thegov ' ern mental sehie,? HJCtiVRcai.1' Church ever bas benl nd is; liow absolute- Lr an ABtSTOC.RACvV-that 4they "admit no :-. , onstituency-and -r have;iio ccnUtaency.7 "-. 1. A nd the solemn'claiih is set up; byjhese chaa--s -J7 pionsvT hat ikfethbiSEpcopacy as ; a dis-" 'i--7tinc.tfo;bfyernme'nt. npt only harmonirss - ;witht but wonderfully ilmstratesJand strength- -$N Jins those great,; f constitute 4h6 iubatratum jot jaugloribus Re"; V7; -ipublic--That til men- are created equal -That t 7- : tall powW ii inherent irj theebpletandTbat V -; - ' the wilt of the people, constitutionally cxpress-f l-ed j w th la wiot the land y I ;Her that can tx--; t i lieve it,' let bim i A 11 ra7have tp7isay is we"- VA "envy not the; huge dimensions of that crcdulit; t ; which can . swallow bt camcl . -V.-, . : t Such was thi-Vngsgcmctl-'pe'teeh winra of this rJ emwe ai my wjiti cbanncrs-; army"-lost a circuit riaer.l ttarainir, ana naa i, Kbishop ("Andrew)" put h0Ts. du,' combal &xnon- ffj jet "us now suryey toe u ia,t panirf, .xtinis- - U rtterriblev cpunict;jud try) tptuiate the 4loss nd gajnhprm'cuch iidei of ' the comhat-;' 'jf ntsJThevSoutherh ioar of theOterrible ". t tht,' lvoniar'-htheeni 6f :thft-IinAi-- I he Northern -vt?'.-- .wing lost about four hundred thousand dol'ars, jf -whichVof ermrsegaiuedd)ythe Southern wiLg,V.v'.; iind which, to ihat extent 7compensatedfor the? i.V; Ios of their officers But how as to the "rauk ' iand file;" upbh'eitheiri aideTthe heart ;sickena 'X--i' -M awvv v, qv . -r - f-ff '--? If yon have tears,-prepare to shed thpn 1--. now 1 Up to the'time of the eomtnencement of this oV; engagement, it "was understood; by the ofHaial "? Tt organs of the two wingsf thaV the "constitut n- .' r -y,? the common rsoldiers . of "-the "Terrible ;'r J- army amounted ln' theaggregate to .about one t miliioh two or; vthree i hundred thousand' - B at - Si- alas ! from the dispaCchea" which have reached 7"' j ui frpm .watscehe oflcenfl ed by the propor ofiicers, not one common sl-- -fa ;diefc survives,' tp'cbnemorate in ycrse or 'his- .T itory, the deeds of valor" which were performed ;4at PhilUplT" Tbe'disatch reads '4TH E Y ? H AVE-KO ;CONSTITUENCV:i; They r Vad elaimed np tb that date 'a constitueney';.. lof between a million and a million and a half. 2 Af the close of tbe engagement, Judge Nelso ; declares there is none ! no;not,"one ! .Mara--; .;; thou, Actiura, and ' WaterlooSarafbtt, New ;'-- " 'Orleafis, and Scbastopol- bide ' your dirabisb- 7 ;ed heads ere is a V terrible army with ban-- 7 rnepfwhichVatoneKfelI swoop,, annihilates a "-f' oustitnency'of almost a.miliipn and a half i :S: fTidut look atianotheraspectiof ?thispower 7S ' claimed for the Bishows and travelling elenry 13 -11 general conference assembled.iifcays Mr. Lord ''Si .one of the counselj fpricomplainants and cf -eourse gooa authority with the Methodist Epfs-" copal' Church , South,"1 1 f that; bbd (the Gen. " ;CotrV)'had ; ehbsenl bbme;Socii-Arr - if it 'had cbosed to adopt the Prsbtterj ak cr'BAP : ;TtsT forms either -of go vefnmentoV doc tri- rU waainita powerW do it.7 What char ttheVwhoierIethoas denomination ia tr wUnited States into a;Socinian body Or intjz 'Presbyterian" or r Baptist organization, beta ia 'disijpline and doctrine :?iVes, says Mr. L " "iThero . was no imit.7;7Theyt represent t' 7' -church ; thet ,webe the CHCscH-'7't,7c7 "tbeyjiavehdbmtitnency eaysth, Ccurt ' 'l vNow so far as we know, none of. the cr::u3 cf ot tne eounsei ana court; : x indeed uh.i vucuutaiuiiace aepenaed thf , t a AAtn I Wk eAik - . . the depending suit.-If ibe t orerei -3 r;r aia noB ne;ong to; tae: Jiishops !and -cleA inat unurch; toeyjiad no right toe property. But if the sovereign ' ",7 c sma mere ; 11 .mot a vmdi-un of i. -- 1 ;. . roTer. ,icn eeu(.rc. tnca as a matt that power could bo .'ex ercisnj t r cf t". : :a'- i'l r ixons ct d :ctriss fcr resj.onsiU ta any ac tli: aa crity fir :3 e; the tr own- cor?c:;u:cs. tli tr.ost stttl' :rn 1 tliisbeafiii'-fulc-r: fa!:tT -Uoncf ; it is a svstem cr CLIIH!' TIS.'I. j . . . A" 4J - -SH ,-, A. , -v. --4 ' : -J 1 r - '-;-. j. : cr-'. hu:; est 4 V we tews ct v. q,J3iLtar.c2 x '. . ebsdtb t aref:-- -cf tv? - ' ' n?.; , ,,r ki.u:r.u;;j to i:;ki:iO i i t!.J ' ' v. ' I l.o-u,v. :.' .' (' ;;... t... ,. ..t (' ) ...... , , t ! : : V -1 f ; 1 t .! c: i;i tba rnntiDT j.i wl.i 1 t. .IV r . u 1 1 1 ; 1 it v h cr.. r cu ia t. it Cr 'at. . i il rc . :,ci 1 c 1 t.. 3 U illty, tLcy - . .a t.. I A kl tl.. 1 1 i . - . . - , . . '. L3 c; . -r " - A' . tfv?.'-.-'.' v ?ry rV;'-:;;';-'ir.C-V:;'-'. -; i:-. w. V 1 "it :. ' , v II ., tllahr .-.l.r
The Biblical Recorder (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Sept. 13, 1855, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75