METHODISTS. 



433 



The bisliops intimated that the commission 

 spoken of would probably be ready to treat 

 with a similar commission which might be ap- 

 pointed by the Southern General Conference. 



The reply of the Southern bishops was 

 quite long. It recited their regret for the con- 

 troversies that have prevailed, and their dis- 

 position to cooperate in bringing about a bet- 

 ter state of things, even greater, they intimated, 

 than that of the Northern Church. It suggested 

 that the establishment of fraternal feelings 

 and relations between the two Churches would 

 be a necessary precedent to reunion. It called 

 attention to a measure to effect fraternal rela- 

 tions, which was started several years ago, 

 by the Southern Church dispatching a visit- 

 ing delegate (the Eev. Dr. Pierce), to the 

 Northern General Conference, to offer the 

 establishment of fraternal relations and inter- 

 course ; to the failure of his mission, and his 

 declaration, consequent thereupon, that that 

 effort was the final advance that would be 

 made by the Church, South, toward reunion, 

 but that it would be ready to receive a re- 

 newed proposition for fraternal relations at 

 any time, and cordially entertain one based on 

 the plan of separation adopted by the General 

 Conference of 1844. The Church adhered to 

 the words of his declaration. It continues : 



You say " that the great cause which led to the 

 separation from us, of both the Wesleyan Method- 

 ists of this country, and of the Methodist Episcopal 

 Church, South, has passed away." If we under- 

 stand your reference, we so far differ from you in 

 this opinion, that it may help any negotiations here- 

 after taking place, to restate our position. Slavery 

 was not, in any proper sense, the cause, but the oc- 

 casion only, of that separation, the necessity of 

 which we regretted as much as you. But certain 

 principles were developed in relation to the political 

 aspects of that question, involving the right of ecclesi- 

 astical hodies to handle and determine matters lying 

 outside of their proper jurisdiction, which we could 

 not accept ; and in a case arising, certain construc- 

 tions of the constitutional powers and prerogatives 

 of the General Conference were assumed and acted 

 on, which we considered oppressive and destructive 

 of the rights of the numerical minority represented 

 in that highest judicatory of the Church. That which 

 you are pleased to call, no doubt sincerely thinking 

 it so, " the great cause " of separation existed in the 

 Church from its organization, and yet for sixty years 

 there was no separation. But when those theories, 

 incidentally evolved in connection with it, began to 

 be put into practice, then the separation came. 



We cannot think you mean to offend us when you 

 speak of our having separated from you, and put us 

 in the same category with a small body of schismatics 

 who were always an acknowledged secession. Allow 

 us in all kindness, brethren, to remind you, and to 

 keep the important fact of history prominent, that 

 we separated from you in no sense in which you did 

 not separate from us. The separation was by com- 

 pact and mutual, and nearer approaches to each other 

 can be conducted with hope of a successful issue only 

 on this basis. 



It is our opinion that the controversies and tem- 

 pers which so disturb the Churches, and are so hurt- 

 ful to the souls of those for whom Christ died, aro 

 due in a large measure to irritating causes which are 

 not entirely beyond the control of the chief pastors 

 of the separated bodies. To this end we invite your 

 concurrence and cooperation. 

 VOL. ix. 28. A 



It reprehended the conduct of the Northern 

 missionaries and agents who have been sent 

 South, and engaged (as it alleges) in disinte- 

 grating and absorbing their societies, and have 

 taken possession of their houses of worship, 

 and expressed readiness to remedy any of- 

 fences u against the law of love " committed by 

 those under the appointment of the Church, 

 South. It concluded by saying : 



"We have no authority to determine any 

 thing as to the ' propriety, practicability, and 

 methods ' of reunion of the Churches represent- 

 ed by you and ourselves." 



The commission appointed, in pursuance of 

 the action of the late General Conference of 

 the Methodist Episcopal Church, to confer with 

 the representatives of other Methodist bodies, 

 met by appointment, in the city of Phila- 

 delphia, November 23, 1869. A commission 

 from the African Methodist Episcopal Zion 

 Church also met in conference with this com- 

 mission, and presented a paper containing a 

 proposition for the union of the two churches 

 represented, with a draft of the terms and 

 conditions upon which it should be made. 

 Most of the terms and conditions proposed by 

 the commissioners of the Methodist Episcopal 

 Zion Church were accepted by those of the 

 Methodist Episcopal Church, when, at the 

 suggestion of the latter, the paper was with- 

 drawn, for modifications. 



At the subsequent meeting the paper was 

 presented again, modified. The subject was 

 canvassed, and both parties seemed to feel that 

 there would probably be found no insuperable 

 obstacles in the way of consummating the 

 proposed union, But, as neither of the com- 

 missions had any power either to consummate 

 the union or to commit their several churches 

 to any definite line of action, and as the time 

 of the sessions of the General Conferences of 

 both bodies is somewhat remote, it was deemed 

 not advisable by either party to proceed further 

 at this time, but to adjourn, to meet again at 

 or before the sessions of the two General Con- 

 ferences in May, 1872. 



The spirit of the proceedings on both sides 

 was kind, conciliatory, and frank. It was 

 conceded by the commission of the African 

 Methodist Episcopal Zion Church that, in case 

 of a union being consummated, their organi- 

 zation, as the lesser body, would be absorbed 

 into the greater, thus losing its identity. To 

 this they did not object, provided proper as- 

 surances were given that the colored element 

 in the consolidated body should be duly rec- 

 ognized in all the departments of the Church, 

 and to that condition the commissioners of the 

 other party made no objection. In separating, 

 the members of the two commissions seemed 

 to feel assured that, unless some unforeseen hin- 

 derances shall arise, it will be found possible at 

 their future meeting to satisfactorily arrange 

 all the terms of union, and to bring the two 

 bodies into one, by the concurrent action of 

 the two General Conferences. 



