492 History of Methodism 



silence We know the work as a cross-bearing service, and as such 

 Ave love to accomplish it. It pleased God to take the life of the 

 first missionary sent to the negroes, but his successor was instantly 

 at hand. And in the name of the men who are now in the work, 

 or ready to enter it, I pledge for a brave and unflinching persever- 

 ance. This is not braggardism. No, it is an honest expression of 

 a most honest feeling. Life or death, Ave will never desert that 

 Christian Avork to which Ave knoAV that God has called us. We ask 

 to be spared no trial, but that the Avay of trials may be kept open 

 for us. We ask to be spared no labor, but that Ave may be permitted 

 to labor on, and still more abundantly. Add, if you please, to the 

 amount of our toils. Pile labor on labor more and more. Demand 

 of us still more brick, or even the full tale of brick Avithout straAV 

 or stubble, but cut us not off from the clay also. Cut us not off 

 from access to the slaves of the South Avhen (to say nothing of 

 "concessions to the South") you shall have finished the measure of 

 your demands for the North. 



The resolution was adopted by yeas 111, nays 69. 

 Dr. Capers then introduced the following resolutions, 

 which opened the way to the plan of separation which 

 was finally adopted: 



Be it resolved, by the delegates of all the Annual Conferences in Gen- 

 eral Conference assembled, That Ave recommend to the Annual Con- 

 ferences to suspend the constitutional restrictions Avhich limit the 

 poAvers of the General Conference so far, and so far only, as to alloAv 

 of the folloAving alterations in the government cf the Church, 

 viz. : 



1. That the Methodist Episcopal Church in these United States 

 and Territories, and the republic of Texas, shall constitute tAvo Gen- 

 eral Conferences, to meet quadrennially, the one at some place South 

 and the other North of the line Avhich noAv divides betAveen the 

 States commonly designated as free States and those in Avhich slavery 

 exists. 



2. That each one of the tAvo General Conferences thus constituted 

 shall have full poAvers, under the limitations and restrictions Avhich 

 are iioav of force and binding on the General Conference, to make 

 rules and regulations for the Church Avithin their territorial limits, 

 respectively, and to elect bishops for the same. 



3. That the tAvo General Conferences aforesaid shall severally 



