47G History of Methodism 



Conference assembled, That they disapprove in the most unqualified 

 sense the conduct of two members of the General Conference whe 

 are reported to have lectured in this city recently upon and in favoi 

 of modern Abolitionism. 



2. Resolved, That they are decidedly opposed to modern Abo- 

 litionism, and wholly disclaim any right, wish, or intention to inter- 

 fere in the civil and political relation between master and slave a.s 

 it exists in the slave-holding States of thi3 Union. 



o. Resolved, That the foregoing preamble and resolutions be pub- 

 lished in our periodicals. 



The same General Conference (1836) adopted the 

 report o£ the Committee on Slavery as follows : 



The committee to whom were referred sundry memorials from the 

 North, praying that certain rules on the subject of slavery which 

 formerly existed in our book of Discipline should be restored, and 

 that the General Conference take such measures as they may deem 

 proper to free the Church from the evil of slavery, beg leave to 

 report that they have had the subject under serious consideration, 

 and are of opinion that the prayers of the memorialists cannot be 

 granted, believing that it would be highly improper for the General 

 Conference to take any action that would alter or change our rules 

 on the subject of slavery. Your committee, therefore, respectfully 

 submit the following resolution: 



Resolved, by the delegates of the Annual Conferences in General Con- 

 ference assembled, That it is inexpedient to make any change in our 

 book of Discipline respecting slavery, and that Ave deem it improper 

 further to agitate the subject in the General Conference at present. 



All which is respectfully submitted. 



Accordingly, at the end of a tortuous and incon- 

 sistent legislation, we find in 1840 in the book of Dis- 

 cipline, Part II., Section X. : 



Of Slavery. 



Question. What shall be done for the extirpation of the evil of 

 slavery ? 



Answer 1 . We declare that we are as much as ever convinced of the 

 great evil of slavery ; therefore, no slave-holder shall be eligible to 

 any official station in our Church hereafter, where the laws of the 



