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The attitude of Methodism toward slavery
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The attitude of Methodism toward slavery
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The Atti tttde o-f . ethodi em oward Slavery A Th~ei s Presented to the De~artment of History University of Southern Ca11forn1& •r1ttAn in conn ction vith Course 1~. Fistory of tpe U ited ~tatee. by ero,y ic ol . - - ri 1 5, 1014. I 1rABLE O F CO Chapter Page I Attitude before 1807 ---- -- ---------------------1 1. British M ethodists and Slavery. (a} In England (b} In the British Colonies II Attitude from 1807 to 1834 ---------------------15 1. Activity of Wesleyan ethodists in Abolition and Emancipation. 2. Slavery takes new lease on life in t he Methodist Episcopal C hurch III Abolition and the Methodist Episcopal Church----26 IV The Great Secession----------- ---------------v9 V From Secession to Emancipation--- ------------ - --53 Bibliography------------- -------- - --- ---------64 Introduction--------- --- a Introd ction luet odism is broad t er , incl din u re at any c r c 1es and societies. In order to lin:i t t e f .:.eld to a ,rork · n basis for a pa!)er oft is ··na, it is our urpose to deal pri arily with the M et odist Eptscopal C urc, • owever, we m ust r elate a brief history of t h e atti t de of t e i/e le an l' 1 et odists to\vard slavery, as a back - ground for t e attit1 tde of t he .. et - odist ~)>iscop al C urch , s ince t he fore-runner oft e .et odist Episcopal Churc waa t e fesleyan ethodist Societies, planted in this country as early a s 1760 . These Societies \ere e ten sions of t ~e English Wesleyan ~ et odist ocieties , t e f irst one, of ,v ic a~ organized by irr. esley in 173. 11r. Vvesley early recogniz ed t e need of a c urch organi zation in ~er ca and so, in 1784, ordained Dr. Coke of England as Superintend . t (or i shop) of 11 t e American Societies, wi t . . power to organize a c .. urch. Dr. Col e came immediately to An1erioa and in Dec., 1784, at what i s . u ually kno,vn as "The Christuas ~onference," directed t he organization of t 11e 1 reth odist ~piscopal Churc. Other · ethodi t C hurches have been organized since 1784 ' but we will mention t em onl y where t .eir or nization or at- titud~ toward slavery as Church. affected t he et odist ~ iscopal b In thie attempt it ie my ~urpoee to eesroh ~ut the rote · :rroM the beat sources &VBilsble, dr w unbie.e d. cone ue one from the fscts, &nd praeent them in a wsy thst will le o~fen eive tq no one. I realize that there are eome church members wli.o consider the eubjeot of slavery a eort of a - ~ethodi t Skeleton in the Cloeet, and. they very much pret'er tha,t no one delve therein. However, I think the field worthy of honest exploitation for ite historioal value and I do not hesitate to nreeent this pa. er, which I have incer·ely An~ deavored to make authentic, THE ATTITUDR OF ~ ~ETHODISM TOWARD SL!'1.V'ERY. " TTI U D 0 Chapter 1. ttitude before 1807. 1 y." In order to under tand the attitude of ~ 1:ethod ism toward slavery it ia necessary tu begin wit_ the foundin g oft e C urc _ and note its attitude from that time on. Since t e organization was born in England it will be only fair to begin wit t e attitude assumed byte ethodists there int e early years. And not only fair, but profit~ble to note t h art t hey played -in the enactment of laws to abolish the ritish slave-trade, and later, laws to emancipate all - British subjects held in bondage. In no chapter of it history does ~et odism deserve more credit. Althoug founded in 1739 the first rules for the ·etho dist Societies were drawn up and published by John And Charles lesley in England, I ay 1st, 1743. "Amon t em wa one for bidding 'buying or selling the bodies ana souls of men, ~omen or ohildren with an intention to enslave them. n No action was taken for abolition of the slave trade or for emancipation ~ but~rules then drawn up, so incor orated justice and t e love of freedom that i"' fol - owed rigidly, t ere is ground for grave doubts as to -~ ether 0 lavery and ' et odi m could lon thrive side by side. "T ese'~ say t ey, "are t e general r lea of our societies; 1 ;. • E. C urc and t e Civil var--' weet-- age 15. a.11 f which , e are taught of God o Arv , v n in his written word , th.e only rul a nd th uffici nt rule ot our faith and our practice , 'doing no harm' , avoidi1 p:, vil of very kind ' , 'doing ood' , 'b P-in ... 1 v ery k1 a _ 9 oi ful 1 after ou po er . " To ra t/sl, A onto rule Aed e an interpretati on o-r them :for the ocoaeion . rorn their orifin until the ye r 177~ thA eooi~ 10 ~ took no stand aga.1 st the ela, e tra.de. _ Jot beoA.us of 1ndi enoe or leek of knowl dge ut becaus e t e insti tution of el ~very had e~ in 0xistenc e for so long tat t ~ e churc fa thers had not seen ite evil ei e • . ve Geer~ accepted th s av r syete as just a f 1 t r o pa, P- s b ... c~use of the elavee o· ed . For May yea.re ' ethodi ts had been eendin~ mission riee to preach t o pel to t e f blacks: in ~act , ~ had beAn so busy carrying religion to the unfortunate race that they seem not to have thought seriously -of their bondage until a good Q uaker plnc d a t r ac t in r. esl eys hand about 1772,which later ro g:: y6 t .r . eelej' e book," Th ughts n Sls.very" , 1 uttera oe to te worde that ave ~c~ 1 ~ a ou ehold ~hrae in retho ie . "The ela r tradP. ie the exeora le u o~ al~ Villainies". In eaki g o-ft pa hlet of hi ua.ker fri.end , tr. 1 ealey said of .. egro c1a.v ~ rY, 'I h v r like it in th heathen orld hath ✓r ano ent or c rn and it inf n ta y oeed, in v ✓r tnet c f bar arty, 1 e o . t 1 R V • Vol. 40, a. w at V r C slave U . er i . 0 1 a 0 tri n i • " r t t t · , nev lo t t t e n:a t er ~ , r r 0 1 - ted at • t r 1 • ;v n n u .e nt t OU t a f·ttin occ - • . t · t it. f 1 • sl tr s1on 0 Jnl. g e on a n V e wa tl1e evil at I • for -- 1C r rs er ot ik n ro1 n 1772 t 11 1 8C 7 · b t · . r. eol t a te art.r1 Jr i n • ''Thou nts lS • 1n on 1 ver " \Y ... ic e a vocated abol tion of a 1 slaver • few lead in s t ~tes n of t 1 --- e time v re also earnes 1 endeav- • to t sl de. , ri t to • d or1.n sup re , ... e ve r a r1e on t bject, i n 178 7, ~ e s • l e 1 • 1 , " \ a ever assis- tance I can ive t genero • . t o t } e 0 e men 0 J01 ... 0 e execr ble tr e I certainl 11. I av rinted a lar e edition oft T g ts on 1 rery, ' and dispersed t em all parts of Englan • ut t er ·1 be ve ement o· p 0 ition nae bot by slave m ,rc 1 - ant an slave nolder an t ar i t - men ; but o r co 1nfort is , e t !1at d ell t 0 11 1 i 0 i mi g tier . "~ ix day befor h i s deat 1 1 Jo 1 • e le ·rote t e · ollowi letter to ·r. iilberforce, w o was t hen tea knowl de leader o - t _ e boli tion move l.e t i ~n land. 'February 24, 17 8 . u_ y Dear ir: - T les t h e di i ne newer nas raised T ou p t o . l tl1anas" us L;ontra • dum, I ee not ow ou can· y oar glorious enterprise, in op osing t hat execra 1 et odist uart rly Revie • , et odist ~ a terl Revie , Vol 40, "ol 40 , e 49. a e 1 • o t rou villain ~ w ich is tle scandal o reli io, of Englan, of hllillan atur. nlesc od a d o u or t V .. t hin, you w·11 be ~orn out byte o position of m n and devils: but if God be for you w o can b a ain t you. Are all of them toget er stronger t h n God. 0, be not weary in well doing. Go on · n ten e of God nd in t ie ower o his mig t, till even American slave y, t evilest tat ever· saw the sun, shall vanis awa before it. That Mew o has guided you from your yout up, ay oonti ue t o strengt en you in this and all t ~ing, i t prayer o, "Dear Sir, your af ectionate servant , 'Jo n . esleyn. This lette seems t o upho d t e t heory advanced earlie tat ) r. Wesley and other et odists ad not re lized t e evil of the slave trade and slavery as an institution unt·1 4 the latter part of ~trr. esley ' life. e h ad visited .America more than alf a centu.r before t h e letter was written , d had preached to t he slaves t he , b t ad not at that tim e t ou 0 to destroyi ai it seems safe to rema kt at t e e,il wa too near to be seen in 1 ts true li t until attention was dra"""n to it by t11 aler ~uaker about 1772. It i~ certain at slavery wa not a pre- ciably worse when nr. e ley · ote t e letter tan en had visited the colonies in 136. Evidently • e le 's attitude ad c .anged. Tot on '.'\ • I • esle b tall ·et odist were aroused. The letter to ~, · • lilbe force ired t e to action and this fire a ·ncre sed b a lett r f 01 • il- berforoe in 1791 , tote r~t Conference al ort y 5 after ~- ~esley' death , in v1 ic e co pli. nted t e d t11eir zeal for t e aboliti on o t e slave trade. and appealed tot em to secur and send si ed petitio s to arl jam nt praying for sue abolition. e als o sent one undred and two volumes of "The vidence tat ap eared before a . elect Committee of t h House o Commons elative tote Slave Trade." These were iven tot e preac ers and it increased their zeal for t h e fig t. affixed his signature to e arly ever •et odist in England petition wit h w ic Par iament was flooded from every corner oft e Island s . Althoug t ese petitions did no t i mediately bring t e desired results still t h e 1eth odists did not ive up t eir efforts. They were stron inn bers i n Yorks i re, t e county from w ic :.r ir. 'ilberforce as returned to Parli ent for twenty ei h t years and thu t e ~ethodist votes helped to keep h i m in is seat . his, wit t _ e aid of t he flood of petitions sent to Parliament by t h e ethodiste and ot}er religious bodies, created such public sentiment t hat Parl i ment could no longer resis t and in 180 7 pas ed a ·law t abolish for ever. after Jan 1st, 1808, t e British $lave Trade. Rev. fillia .. J. Sh rews bur esla an ~is 0 i onary speaks of the success of t he bill. "It was t he r eligious influence" h e says , "the C ristianity of t he nation, tat a t er many a 1 hard fought battle wond t h e day. Among t h e center 0 t hat 1 ·uarterly eview, .c .. pr . 1 1 858 . 1nf111ence ~ tho v . ry consi rahle if not the Jhi f• for though le a on piou 1an om t l1. r o 1 e mor ener otic than moet: ~nd it wrought ·Tond re by m n ite dif-ruei vanes 9,mong the m see, i te uni ormity of nrin- Ci pl e, it onene9s of actic , it h a.rt nee o-P 0•0 r . t () 9.nd i v 8 i Tin 0 ..Ir with God." One cannot omit frOT!l m ntion th or . of the .ethodi ste . in the .fe t I iee a ong t e s l av , where e hapa the vil syet~m of slav ry that ~ver exit ed was ov t hro a ge tion before th t 11111e vile ·nstit tion our own o ntry . For to no one i e mor er~~ ov r/tJ1 rown i n (l 9 f' r t et freeinp- o:r the neg r e in tJ ~ st n ies t an to t ~ e . etl1n- dieta,~ho were al ost univere~ll active :ror anv - r,ation . It is with regret that w cornpa thi e ~c ti v t v with t l ethargy o:r the A ric9,n 1••ethodists n t ie portu_ n ty arose to free th.e nAgro in our own Sunny . o thland . ' Althoufh the Xet odiste had miesionariga in the m rican Coloniea before 1760 yet they had pi en bu t ittle atten t on tot .e n~eds o:r the ~eat T ie. r h aps thi as 1uA to th 1 ack of' inf or · tion o t h e ub ,1 ect or t rth or v i miss onaries . Butte i 1 as ._uddenl in 1758 when r Gilb rt, , e ker f the 1 n t ua, • brought t . vo lav i t _._ h im to H'np:1 an · re al l thre we~e c nverted under t preachin o~ J n al . all three b pti d by the~ a der of thod m. r t at t ~, unti .,rna.n ina.t on came ·n 1 ~4, the t ..,._ ... :i r t ott~ a . mi asionari e r . l e A teac .. ers in t t heir work did cannot t hemselves with ant• lav • ey iri n ovemAnt . o 0 • th ~O tiee t hey believe that they ooul1 bat cn'r!i 1 i eh 11 ei r An h y t eaching and ~aining onverte tot eir ~li ion both amon~ t he slaves and master. How very eff otive as their nla and how eucceeeful was their work ill b . notic ed in next pagee . In t he islands . r Gilbert to whom he immediat ly c~rried the _oe~ 1 at'ter he return from RnF, l and . For ao e yea.re he and hi t'ai th til slaves er missiona.r iAe for the ielande , but lik:e -"r iV~sley,nt th hi s t hought s were to eave th8 ne~ro rathe~ than free him . At t he deat h of 'r Gilbert fr Jnhn Baxter r~tuitouely ti ' , . t ook hi e place~ d oontin ~d his work . But it was not until t h e Conference of 178 6 that ~ r ~ esley BAn t a is ionar. an d est~blished a mission n the i la.nds . rn . Narre I • n and , sl t },.ough t he :firs , mi ssioary sent out , h e fo " n rl t hat at er Me t h odists h a d done eplendid work . there,and at t ua nore t l1a.n one t housand slaves were in th eeion ... ariee followed and the work of christia.nizing el~v e and mas t res r~ad rapidly and e f ct vely . ,. n 110n D o e • ent to th i sll:l.nde and di j a very p - . tab e ork . I n 70 e foun he mi sion in ST. "P)let t U8 9 r n 1:"'0 the 0 .... 1 T)09i i of the Dutch f'/OV n r. re 1 r tr 1 - 1 - H r of Th • t d 0 al Chur u t -- 0 • 7, • ~ • • a.t t.V~ CA ts rvic , re egr d preach ng to the negro • w r . fi d r a.tt ndin P' the i ei r, a a,d b en im i on r Cok ~ ad t ia har la annul l by the Bri ti h Parliament and a ,,.arnin govenors." Thus often id the iseiona · 9nt t~ the colo ial r "" r~ecut on. 179Q"Th iesleya.n i sionar, Soci _,ty" t ok entir oontr 1 o~ t e est -ndie i ssio nd oont n n the euoo . a it had known when direct0d from ~n~land. 1 ver~ d Ri ~a~ ~atson bec~~e one of t h leadi m~nt,th&t t h e enllg tenm n t which attended t he .etho s t miesione made t~e negroe lees efficient and less ma agea he wrote his c~lebrat defenae,of whi h ., r Hur t a~vs;"It had oubtlees a very large influe o, in the ~or atinn of public opinion in England that l l ed , ef re any years ha 1 paesed , fo r t he abo l i tion of lavery in th e eat n ·ee." Thue ,rare t he et odi t miseio a.riee in t e "e~t d no t only teachare but gr~at ~m nc _store t he larg~r iesue . t out a.imi g at The earl .{ ethodi t mis nnar'!es ere a p.:r'3a.t ble s .n to the negro in America and many ver intere. t - i noi ri might uld u r _ t, u _ y work ie to deal with th att1ttd .. ft~ c 1 c1 , n or~anization rather ta 1 .le t · p ; 8 • J • i A it d 1 ly t , ry . Americ n a. U . til C. r '?r t e colo 1 - ' . f.)o l , _ th Ai:' in 9 n . ~ C f t o ther -r)U • .~ v t ., t br ertlr th thodi t 1 .rtoa 1 n t Ch~ 1 FI . ' r a. t ti.tud ... to rd e tt . r t Vi l" . a it i s () 1. w r 9gr~t t·hat we arA co 0 9 , a t i s 'P r d e , t h A ch.an A i r atti ude to rd thi Vil, VT ,iC Jo 1 f _; . woul d h ,ve d~nou_ c ,d WJ. h 11 + " e nc i ,.J I na sion '\1iriC d rl unjust. Th e :t'iret e ica Ccnf e C h l d ir. ·hi 1 ad .1 n 1 1 a in 177~ and annual co er ..,nc 8 r h .ld t _~r a:rt ~ For 0 ,0 year A the, were controll '3d by , . sci r,li a. d mi u e 0 t h A British Cht. re , a ot t .1 1704 t e ' 1 "" - I t .ri Church orga 1 z ed, an eve thA r so . - ye • ✓• rs thA ri t I rul e. ' r e onl~r lig tl :r chan d . A. s earl y a , 17P 0 9 of the snci t i es had t a k en dee .ded s t . g . i st ~1 avP.r:y . " And nowhAr el ee ae that f Alinp: mor ~ cl e rl .' .ani f' st t han in Virgini • I 17~0, t e Vi r~i ia Co fer e a,ck l e dp: ed el a ,er t o ;oontrar t thA la - f God,a and natur e , an hurtful to oc et , ....... - ·ccnt r r y to h , di ctatee of on ci ence P'J.nd u r rel ..:- i o ; and t 1 c c - mended to all t ~ir ri 13nde to err, nci f> t0 t i sl~. r ~ • " The ea eyer t e Balti~ore C nf to the effect that slav r is contrar to C p ed r r.lu in 1 s -------------------------~-~_ ,, _ _____ __,. __ _ 1 etho 1 t Qu .rt rl ~ · ri . . , ol . ,.., I • God, an and a r, to con ci nee and religion and to society. It furt er pas ed r olu i ons of di rtf obati n on all slave elders, and ·nstrt t to free t eir slaves. s1 ve oldin preachers The Conference of 17 4, whi ch orga ized t .e ocieti s into a Church , beside adopt·ng a ru 1 orb.ddi g slev r in t he church, gave attention also tot whole system." : .uestion Forty-two o t e mi te reads: 1 what met ads can we ta e to extirpa e sl verJ !' " his qu s ion is • then answered b sw eping ndictmen o t e whole system, which is followed b six special rules designed com pletel 2 to destroy slavery wit i t e churc ." he following is a summary of t hose rules; (1) ver slave- 01a·n memb r, within twelve mont sis required to exec tea deed of ffi n - mission, gradually givin is slaves t eir fr edom. ( ) All infants born after t ese r le went into force were to ave immediate freedoffi . (3) Members who c ose no t to compl wer allowed to wit draw within t~elve mont .s. (4) The Sacram n o ~ the Lord's Supper was to be de ied to al slave olders t ence forwarc. (5) o slave- elders wer to be ad~itte t ere fter to church members ip. (6) Any memberswho ~ ought, sold or gave slaves a ay, except on urpo o free t h em, r - l. - mediately to be 1 1 Rule ado _ted by John resley, iven on a e 2. i• et odi t Episcopal C ur and t e Civil ar, ~ eat pp 1~. l "T • b d is 0 ion, tak n b t C urc at itC! b - ning, beg t b r C ro t ov,eve b 178f9 • t , ·or 1 Disoipli e of t at year ~et ,odisto are forb i dden to b y and sell sl ves, but noth.1n · i said out sla.v ol . t a - l u .... , 1 perm·tti g it b i ence at least. I n 179 noth r r cedi utep i taken omitti g th la in 17 • • y a e t re ain g only t he prohi bition againot slavery in t he genera rules ." In 1 96 a neVi attem 4 t wa · made o drive sl very f o~ t church and some new r t l er ad opted, lo ol{.:, g to t .at end. In part t hey provide 1 tat "no s l a -holder all be r ece ved i nto t he society t ill t e pr a c o s.s t e o~ersight of the circuit h as spoken to him freely anc! fa : t fully on t e subject of slaver. M ember sell ng slave~ ~ er~ to be ex cluded from t he sociat. a nd in cas e of member pure as ing slaves t e quarte r l y conference was dir, cted to determ· et a number cf year ' t e slage should work for is purchase price, and to determine t e penalty for failure to ign t he a er 2 of manumission." The slave question wa~ greatl a gitated aft r 17 a muc l pro-slavery commotion had been effected. -owever, t e fourth gener 1 conference w ic met in altimor in 1800 took a strong sta d agai at t he "sumo · All Villainies." It appointed a committee t o pre re a affectionate addr to t l e et odist pisco a Societi i t e nited s t ate , 1 et odis p copal C urc and The Civil ar pa 17. ·· anua of • ~. C urch i t.-Curt·s-- a ~ e 62 12 stati ., he ev ls o t irit n r ct c slave , t neces it 0 doin a a ·t t • f r as la s e evi a e tl1e respective st te il C 1 0 • (} ovid t t . ddre s b laid befor t onfer nces 0 t • ation , e1r con and , if a 'reed to, be i ne y t e bi . op b 1 0 ~ t onfer ce. ddre : ... \a rep r an nt ort as or er d. e nn -1 con ere e c ~er dir cted to a o t co .. i tt e to n:emoria ize t t ate e _islat r - fr o~ ear · o for a -r"ldual abolitio o~ 1 ver ." ti 11 t e "' ... ur , as V t., ~ortnil foll ii · n t J e ath s re i b ·nging r latures fr emancination of slaves • .. r o bear le i - B 1804 a note of discor tote general conference , ic a fo n a Ao ~ t e d le ates et in a ti rnore . o e.v a t tormy see e t e ol O\vi ,,.,. resol1 1tion were ad on ted . ( l) nT e Confers J.ce ·ts contin ed convict·on f t1 e great evil of lavery . (2) . lave- ol er rea ter, in cas of ad1 iscion to offi ial statio .L ' m t ive sec u.rity for t e emancipati on of t ir 1 ,-ves eit r ·m · ediatel - or -r uall . (3) Tr avelin rea rs on ecom n ov.ner of lave, must ema cipate t m, if os i le, or orfeit t ~ir i ister·a1 c arac t er . (4) lave- olders are not to b admitted t o f 1. memb ~ r ip into t c urc until t e preac er oft car ~e has spokJn tot m fait f 11 on t es ect o ( ) en lti ver to be au or ia an ere f • ix d for s llin ·lav • ( ) n d i ort r oli a, o t a e n ee n con o t . t 1 ver. e r 1 0 tate law. T ~ preac e slaves t be respect wer re uentl to qd~o is t and be ie 0 t 1 co 11 nd terests oft eir rs e c ive maste " • T u0 tis confer n e receded fro t e earlie str n anti- lavery pos tion of e c 1urc b a m t· emb, int e Carolinas , Geor i and ennessee from all t er les respecti g s lavery, und rte exc ~e o s tr·c In tli s m e year t e receded still anot er ste r ·t- ting merr.bers t o ell s1 ves under t es pe vision of a com- mittee oft e male members o t d b t} -4 • t y e m-4.n1s • One can scarcely keep from e:xpre sin - contempt at t h i change of attit1de . I n 17 11 me ber were re ire t emancipate t heir slaves und r penalty o e ul ion 1804 only monetary penaltie were ·xed for elling 1 ve, and no ment ion ;as ad e o emanci ati n ex t for of ic i 1 m~mbers ~nd ministers and exce t·ons were made or t, em in t e soutl ern states --that i ,slaver ~a reco n·z d a a fixture there. Regardles , owever, oft e c urc es, Congres to ad- vant a e of it constitutional ri and na sed la 1 07 .... Jtk, pro ibitin ~ slave trade foreve " after an 1 O • not a striking co-incide t tat t e 'execr o e' trad old ave been abo i bot in ~n -1 r a a .eri ca in t e s ont? ut a to ~et _ odis i t _ t co tr· e c- 1 ot a l ,1 1 anual of n • r 1 _ i tor.- u ti 14 ·~ erence. ile t e ritis Jet odists ~ere per aps t e leading force in getting sue action t r oug Parliament it was enacted in Congres --not exactly i i spit of t1e rican .~et 1 1odists,- but •ith little, if any, elp fro , t er. Chapter .• Attitud e o , 1807 • 1F ~4 The y ear of 1807 is wortly of ny hi o narrative deali11p: "1th ala. ery a.na s Acia.Jly t n h by a pap r on Lethodi et . ii story ei CG the t \TO r at count wher . etho ism prevtti l ed, En land Fl. t e United Ftat e , P. .oh pa.esed laws to aboli 9h t A lave trade. J V notic d t pa.rt pl ayPd in such l ~p: i sln t io• by th A - t ho , i t h P, t I n . • - ~ count!"i es and now I will ~a view o the cont e 'P ra nus mcvemPnte or th.e 1 ,ethndiete in t h.sir activ:1.ti eA for co 1 Ple abolition of slavery in their re s c ive cnuntri • England's new elav e 1 w by n o me s acco pl is d it purpose of aboliehing t e slav -trad . It aa ~ l Agal c ck anr4 in ·some places 1 t a.11 but radica,t d th e trade, but in others it went on 'With seemingly li G l inconv Anienc e from Z J iee 0 th~ law. But sincA thA \Veeleyan .ethodistA had P, n v ry act1. .. in securing its passage they now set a out to mak it effecti v-,. Th.e elave.-.trade. in "Grig·land prnPAr ad b ;n ef f Pc - ively prohibit ed sorn~ tiMe before 1 J07 , t thl di ot check tbP- z~a.l with wnic t hA Brit1a ~ ,t od ts lahor A d to abolish the trad e in th~ Coloni · • Af er , 08 i t a s c r r -,rl on in th~ West Indies under fals~ flag f or Aver l y re . PrnrrAse was made. elnwl y apainst ·t , .ut ~ae broken down. na. 1 " t In th e .. r etru~E!l e to mak .J t e l a, ag in cit t .e l~v .• trad e etf~ctive th~ A olitio 1ste o C a. t" t men reali ~e thi s :ror 07, ut it u t i e ore c flt on. t j C! due in rocf?es th~ to its in PA ac vo. '• A me.de men ion of ei ork i t e w_ t nd quite well agr0ed th t P nci ~tio co11 1 nt re 1 t i _, ta e so effect v ly had ot tr J among th~ blacks and f~r e . an ionar e 1 t~o uc od li o to t P n 11 ... the 1~m ,nta of fre de t at ruP- r li o ca p- :1. v .,, . , 11 • th ed cat o p~tion the mis a::-i e .1rc 11 ~ s convincin . t P sl~v j C ... wnere of th ab11--t.' of t e lack race to ev e n n p... o citiz ns. Often the ownA~e th, selves ~ere cnnv rt d d t uo b came 0re susc ptible tot A cryi g e d of~~ edo . Jn i history of ethodi r Huret s ye of thP. 1 esle)a 1 that," they w .,,~ almo t th first ray of 1 ~l tat cc ✓ to the hopeles and benight d slavA pop lation o t e t Indi~e. In 1815 t nurnb J of Co u icante int e iel ~nd had risen to twenty thou.ea d. Some o-f th pla. t _re fin 1n that their ela,v were rat. er jm r~ve th religion' beoa . 1·b9 l au port the tie .1 n. Th p,ff c~ on the loyal y of the sl v Ja e aleo stron~lf b nAfi ial, n 1 the go em 8nt re arde the work it " . vor. During the v _~r of strife overt e anti•s}av t 1 a.w the mi l ion • r1es the i. 1 a. ei t V, opp d eygtem. A :re,• f t em er not i f or e r u held tin bu wer 1 llin to by t ctu t ~ ohu o ·tu I _____ , ___ ......,. __ _... __ r __________________ __ ....,. 1 i, E. Uh re 1 t r t--Vol. 7, fl ✓ ,;, . 4 • Wesle C nf e c e 1 1 07 for res ee e la.v , t her b ~urchase, t h~ pr~aohP_ e or i thdr J . fro th This lack or out.spok • nh rt i rnouely ,/ 1 tl rt mov ent by the ~est ndies : ini t for a l a ck of vigorou activity a on t h e cause. In England, P,r elav .ry h abolish d, t e t etho i ts .., C f!O i d e.nd nrosecu ! ed thA emanci ati on ro .._ r of zeal, e.nd in thie way they w re sympathy by the eet Indie 1 em r e. 17 y 0 e, arr a , r t P, r 1 V th A c l tt n t .u t n t _ 1 tak Br1 _ sh ;t odiete lonp: or J ~n t valu f J f 11 rt 1 h 13, rA t dA , l y C (i n Soon a t r t he ac o~ 1 _ 87 h d P n ~~sed n iz a.tion as fo r e , c 11 n "mhe Af rican I sti 11tt,on." te p·ur-po se was "to watch th .; working of th ,I A oli ti on Bi 11, ~d and th e carryin . out of th e ork of .ercy and justic r - begun. Thi was the more n o ossarv as t he n t i ~ boliti~ 1 . t s were till violent, and ven thr~aten d th r peal o t at m asure. To thi a publi shing its first rP.port, an0 occ ei o proceedings. The cause f fr e o~ n v r f r 2 Community and the pu 1 .1 d." extra ta f ty 1 one a; t .. n In rocees of ti m th9 Afr . ya more xt nd d n co . r~h ns v Ineti tut o e f llow _ ; r ------- .....-- ··-----------~---"""'!~---~~-~-------- 1 • Chur 1. 7, thr th rew. ~ ~tH" iat u rt ,rl vi ' 1. 4 , r, l 1 ' Th A ti - el v .ry .o plete a o itio of 1 , ' ho VO t h co ... 1r1inions, at t ~ rl ,,art .. ri d conei tent 1 cone rn a." B f .,, t n , t he wel -being of all p rt Ae ~r W ilb ~ rforce h ~on th j 1 e d rig ol t"' c i i the f i ght f or a ti - el v e tr d 1 i 1 tio ,eo L ~ conti u t h a head of th arty in its fi t fer ee n that h k w th value of reli~inus . c i p t io • 1 t .. 8 and how h e valu d the fforte oft cog oni tio of them inl701. ~ was to i ts y i r - 11 ncqu t d . n t th . o y cf th~ leading chu.rchmen and at time co . . ult p robl em.s of stat • The Quarterl y R vi ,.,,w ha i t h l l o'Ni g to say of r Mi lberforc nd f .olition; "Bein~ ~ta lo s to know what step s to t ake in thie r~lexi ~ uestion ~ eound r-9d the qeel ya i, ethodi ate," ect. He di ot al wa.ys find them a . active and ag r ~or abolition as he coul av d aired bu 1 n hie lett~re he ltav s muc vi e c v t at he found hearty sup ort . Joseph Butterworth, a •L et oniet . emb ~r of re,rl .. _ am nt,wae called 'Hon at Butter orth. alto h f or some y ar aft r le 7 r Butt er orth as onl . il d 01·t1 - 1st. Ho re er a. th~ agi tati ont · u t e e.troc· 1 0 pro- lavery en .ad him a st1 1r abol1t1oniat V 11 t 1 ead r of th C'\U • t e 1 A 0 ~ rrf Co mon • ... ea () - ~ a ,,, -- l Metho Vol. 40 , . o . 2 " " ff " " ff ~ • ~ i; .. for abo I sa s' 't i t ot ition. spe ki e wer convert d ( afte1 ' 0) • ir • 1 e t I d s n le er , u. · t a t . 1 n od 0 ,· :. et to earne t abo eve slack t eir _A i t e , tar re or 0 it oni a . d . till s al be no more." 1 1 r- ol dl ev. r b r r t l ir C U C".I an f - om t .a t i t e 1 0 t ,e 1 nd declared, 1 ve " · ro ~tat t·m especiall earned, slav r as doo d. It o far s ad nei t er • r1e s con no ad v oat in all our borders. ear to year anc r e Conference 0 took u t ~ ma it before t e societie ·n t 1 r fro m. e of re olutions, or advi e, or reco ea tions ~ resolutions, adoptea in 18 0 are i .ilar tot o e ollowi -_ ad t - by ot r conf rence ot pr vi o s to nd aft r i time. ''T Conference taking into consider ti t e la dable e forts w1.ic are no ., a 'inB to · pres t e ublic it a due sense OT t .e injustice and inl~umanity of continuirg t Jat st n o slavery, ic ex s t 0 i na - oft e colonies o t e riti . Crown and to in i ta a general application to arli, ame t, b petit·on, t s1 1c me""' ur s a , in its ,,isd , be d t as shall speedily 1 a t uni er 0 1 r n ~ i a t i on of t ron in lioted o so 1 re a orti n of o .ll o • r1i , re~·olve a follow : 1 , ,: . ~. uart 1 eve~, vo 40, pa 01. "That, s lv , callen upo 0 t dprr, t,t t olding of hu in et t J of s av ry n op . osi ti n to 11 e T'ri ci ls of tural rip-ht, to t benig r l i -,. i o of C r t • " irit of The e werA ix at 1 enp:thy t ell : r cted res- olutions, all nenouncing sla ery ad urgi t he eyet m. Th. . '"esnon A of the A ple ,, a ti q, a nst u ul tunu __ • Th l'e'tnodiAt ministerA thro~J ) _ out • gla s ok out a 4 e t evil of slavery, a~ thousan of eti tion . er ent to Parliame t b e odist, as well ss oth~re , 1 a ing f ,r en t ire a olition of sl av ry. It i e r k l e o o t th t while ~ny ro-sla ery etitio e were ent tc a 1 t his tirne not one was aA t on e sign~ by a ~ethodi t . e hodiste ad prn a ly r-, t e.t t In l ~~ Parl a _ ent -na tAd 4 la to o ietely oli . 1 s 1 a,rer-y in t .e Eri ti sh do in~on • t a ttM cf ref'or • .h.e ~rAa.t Pa.rl P.. en tar R for o-r 18 ~" p:, e ~ 1 ,, t of - suffrage to ma.nv thcus !-1 ,nds of eo 1 e , .it fl t u f 11.nch 9 .d, and now many -r t A .ethodi ts .~us nf' anc i ~d .R, th irst vot~ f e .1re to a lia 0 t 0 OU e Ci te . I th~ n ~ro l 11" s . The rAa_t P. A.:r' r rumor Q, of n (!r'O 8 4ft r . d r an1moe1. ty as a,r. ocat d V t 8 rro- Pl A, C ema.ncipatio ' • utter V di 1 • Tn -~t, t . a o , r0und ~ r u fe r a t r 8R e t '3 h - rov , t , t e re t i e. rtl, ter broke out ~tw P- ~ la a el a. es of Ant1p.u d t he cager as pa ~t t r turn d to their bond ge an mig t ~asily a~ gRi e t ra. C i 0 e. e r in 0 t 1 n v . i on , . f' t eir ar A C a r ou tnur .1.1 b er e d t hi t e eedo V f r at l e Bhristian la,r~q roved t eir lo al ty y refu~ g o strik ~ for freedom wh n oppor un + As r s e e t . es ~ vee . • anci - ration took lace in u u i ti es was di ST' ell erl w h'9n o t . nig t all alk f n ~r a t ,f' ore fr eedom cam , all t e ethodist :ission , atch m Pti g ere eld r e - the. negroe~ gavE vent to th eir ha pi e s t rnuP- nr . r , son~ and mingle ~ - tears . ~.any of th~ ma.stere did ct mis t eir opportunity ut gave t a. ks ith t e eoo. - to - _e-li , rat, A r a A . There ie o c a.r,ter i n J etho iat Hia 4 r .orP i nir t r1an the chap t er on - ,riti sh ernancipa ion o n~gro la"1e y. While many A e ca _ ethodi t e emanci pation , yet the church as ject ana it 1 with aomet ing ot' e eq all, anxiou for dely 1 vidPd t e s - a that we now c t h~ attitud e of t _ e c urch e in 1 RO 7 to 18 r:r:4 . glad and A er ca fr m I h~ve alr~ady notic d tat sla ~ -: a s a i g q ti in the church an hat at t e G n ral o f er and 804 thA ro - sl v e r p rty , ar r .so ~ AUCceeded in . a n 0 u l a of discipline 1c P- a e ' t - --------------------------- ---- - ---- 1 · 1. F. . h u h 1 t -- Jo . com romi e t _ e f r i , A . 0 tr C e d nunc1at1.o 0 lnv ery . The xt Aa 9 nothin to ha moaize t _ e otione, but on the ontrary ~ en onferP. CA met i lRlA t r.~ er found pro-slav ry, a Lt - erv , a.n 1 d _ :.1 e rou ri f ctio s . " A ef ort ae mad~, ut wi OU ucceas , to t 1 r,u first two naragra~h of th eeotion on ala erv in th d sci~ line , but the Gen~ral Conf rence a.uthor1 ze ., c a.nnu .1 conferAnce to form it s oa rAgulatione rel ti re to uy g a 1 selline slaves." Alto t ~ r0-slav ry rennle di ot u_ - c eed in striking out t:'f th discipline t . e rul i: on slavery, yet thy on a great victory becausA the ru en t strick~n out were ade dead le tere--the aut nrit 1 4 give to the annual conferences . It wa ore than a o ro a urrender of auth0rit . byte G n ral Co f re ce t t nual conf~renc e . _at a CO --tr st bet een t he attitttd e of - nart li. A and me ican , ethodists ! 1 . \'hen the -pro-sl avery attemn e::.d o annul the la forbid • sla trade,anrl atte vd to ChA k inp: e t _e tide of f '"'el inp: ur~i g over th '3 countr , for pe aona1 rreedom , the British ~ tho 1 sts arose in t -. eir mi$! t de- er ed t h'=' evil u til it as a nli erl -for Aver . u r C t. ~ _ El la na , (::! d only seemed t divi the C rch fur r the gr Pat ue. tion and ir V ted_ the rn- 1 v~r in nd out of t e u}1u ·ch, to efforts to n t tio of ela Ar • ------ ------·------------ - - - --------- 1 r. • • it r , --Curti ~ --n ~ A P • ' a. b t i ee tr 11 to a c~rtain , egree ch dA d 1 tt r . as rewritten, b t o at rial cha 1 " ~lherea.s the la of eo et .es do n r I t tio l ~ t h 1 ~ o slav r as ma e . Jt ead : ad t e tion of slaves, wtthout as cia.1 a.ct _ft e l.,f!' . la urp • a l conf re ce authoriz 8 each nual conference to for the r own re~11latio rAla ti e o buy n nd In R o, n . la ' t a.r ~ d eAl l in . of AlavA . an ual () :f ...,!" enc A sas rescind Pd . " n lR~ t 8 ct on on R 1 a"' "' ery w ~ a . end d for t _ e a.at until lRBO . section A of t h • , ci Pli mm y 0 e o that Aar ( lP ~4) eari g n lavAry iA a. ±'0110 ~: ( The J n i convinced of t e great evil f ~la e y , and s l , _.- nl rl er~ are proh · ited fro holding official ,_ oei tio A in th church , whAr ~ the atatA law. wi l l admit a c i pat o • ( o i 1i 10 beer, . es a 1 e - holder u t ei t 18 !" c .aRP t or ~ --ancipate i , slav s . (?:) The r~acr..ers A ' 0 9 t . r t .at t e slave -preach p.:i VP, .. r lip:i us in t:r ctio • ( olor d off ial mber e ar to VA t he Aa .~ ri ct rs int . A ietric ad uar erly Co ferenoee . ( ) n 1 on f r n a s ar~ gi• J ~ the priv lee of e lo 1 ~ c J r 1 ----- ------------·------------------- 1 ' t 0 t · i C f 0 n ,, • • • 1onc n 1 wer n 1 v s do · a t t rt er r n c rist ni z i nG t e a re Conditi ons of or al aver i • r C • En 6 land and dou · nst· t ti 1 no i -"f . Cl 1 t t o r ow • 1 rnor ver 1 • odist t t t . 1 r t al en e - 1 u n '8 e C er J.e t e red v but · t is al • ere diff rent f r rvo 1 l V J be - r:: C • t 1 e C .. c ,es , -e . val ~e. t in a ose t t o • t o t a t d t e id t r ·ti • '"I r ea r r e, OU aS brot her s • t • ct t o b at t 1e ou.t c o ld a n e 1 C nJ re a been . l i • "ion r epar ed t s lave • t e ave s n o : r e l e .es Ir~aie o • ation . • slave d been • l i or emanc 1 .. J.e r can 1 V n e educatio l i !. i ous t r • • t ar , ::, or a n r 1n1 a w '0T E, p r fr -edou .• 1\ • • ~ ia-nin ..f-. t i ti sh n , "'"" C an • c.r cc '°"' s eem "' . OU. e10 if tr re l i • • ose d 0 1 . a. 0 t o lav r- as earl· ) T .... . e 1 od i st b li eve c 1 i t r ~a t rtL l . t o ·as , e urc a 0 )-:) • ... . It ad ~TO\ s ro· n- enOllg ve f'Y'r tl t ~ e L "' t n d a ·ns t 1 V J - •· \VO -: ave · n t t 1 1 er 0 t 1 • . t 11 . t 1 . I . n ·n t L a .. o .... l n e ~ a "' 1 u 1 4 11 1 • ~ • • .,_ • 11 · t 0 '"' l t con n ( .,_ l v 0 .... a orr e -or not - ... r of t r (.i :Jn t .n t ' m ill ..0 . 0 I n - a 0 ,. l. • cti on 0 t • l <:. V . oot l r a C~ • l ori .. . t ~ ) e 0 • • ' ' an y our _ th i.ts w .re . tur j 0 of ✓ - y , and any ct re , t A 'hO ld t d 1 9 i t church , lioved it t a grAa.t ✓Vil, u.t rt> _c " A 1 conser ati e in rt'.1::3,k np: a P:. A of which th V .(" not f orecaet th r sul t. Abolition o:r laver 1 olv,d such ~ - lar~e economic qu 9ation, and t e talk o 0088 on BO threatened the !et hodiet rk ~ Safe t y t~at the . e oonser ~ tives tr embl , with f~ar , and th moral qu ✓stion w ~ enti - strengt of 1 y emo t ., r Ad • t e churc w their cry. ttern t , y t e anti - ala ry element, t in~ uen e legjel ion or anti--lavAry 4ctio were decr t ed , by th con erva 1 ves , a L poli t cal a d t _ u heretical. But rny _ Axt c apt r deals it abolitio , which b e~a.n in America i n emancipation in 18~4 . J. nest about th.e time o list. an t • te • sue it n n 1 a er. a • a a 1 • C 1 4 reat d ~ t • . ve a . e in er ca . ~ e1 )efor 1 t e _l t h i n 1 n ad r ac,1 a t h t .1e • art ~ m cor , C n ar -- ...,_ " as 1 3 t, first abol "tion ociet. "Na 0 r s - 11 ..l 'J soon , ul:1t · 1 8'7 r :n r 100 • OC 1 tat n an. I J a:r 1 '"" l ,.. • 1 · s • lf · . .. r r • I 0 . 1r "' 1S :r' ..... • .u ' per , . t :1 v ow., • iate rna a • f 1 p V n rr.e C 1 n sls:v • 1 . reber t.1- e c::- l 0 l e 0 ..L.. s ear u . , l a 1ti-s l V s iet or 0 f c · t i z 0. t n . ca l ed t ~ " a ~ l a ti - 1 ve- 3 0 i - t . A ., . ., t, 0 J.. - + · . ·tat .,d t . 1 . b, . 1..·l. O e 4- 1 re ,-, an 1 n: - n- , be s t 1 by 1 -re, 1 nd r a 1 l ; e . t ... 1 Anti- -- ulaver-- oc i etie dred 0 t ·nto . ► • us L s .., r n , ~ exi - ~ + • ort '"' ,I ce i n V0I e ~ afore ·e not · ce t l attit d ..p t n en t t 1e • C C1- cties 1 t 1 e f r at t e t o • e on ti t""J. ti 1 1 o· lf • t nti - Sl So iet· " a.s (. r - ' b- l 1 r ._,, ver r i-..., ... ~ ' ject o · Societ s 1all be t o procur 1 a 0 iti n 0-C all t 1 and sto • de • ortion 0 fe ose C ,n C. ri e an r low n n , in t .l se nite ~tate , 0 ., · bert- n er 1 ' 0 1 e n joy nt of n 4' t 0 e rivile e f e t· J. ' ________ ___ _______ _________ __ , _ _________ _ r t ecev ion, lliott - 7 or \V i . by t e r 1 1 t t 1 · v a-""e al fie .n Art. ., • o · t e Am ri an An-'-.!IIBlav r y f ol obje t o t 1is C . t i t}- of slavery int. e un ·tet tate • il 7 i it reeds a s tire aboliti on a i t ... t e l ·nited States tle exclusive i. t ~o legislat i r it abolition i n ai t nte, it s 1 11 • 1 o ~onv c r t all or fellow citizens by ar uments addre sed toter er t inous er~ .. • in and co sciou nes , tat s l ve-1 ol d nb · Q a t ' c i lt o~ od , nd tat t · e d ty, afet b + . t n i..;, .... 1 re of all concerned require its i rcrn ia.t e ab n om-:e t ,~it ou-' xtir ation. Te ociety w·11 al no · n endeavor t o influence Con~re~ s to t n t o t ~ d stic slave trade ad to aboli sl very · n all t1 s ·. orti ns of our cor on co ntr c 1 come under its contr 1 , es . c ·a11J int, e Di~trict of Colu.rn ia: an like ise o prev t tee - ten ion o~ i t to any state tat m ay be ereafte admitt ed to t l e Union." These are ty ·c 1 art·c1 so t econ i t t· ons o - e nc. societie • T , • Vere 0 ten fre e fro ... 0 1 r er or part af -iliation, but i:rect • t some 7 re snr n 0 - e 4,. C re ., • I n t : i t e 1 etlodist , c 1urc .... contr·bute a l embers as an deno ination. article • t . bolitio i n er 0 . s e;{treme . t eir den • t·on 1 of in C1 0 ver ver n t tion t at • not confort to t eir octr· n l • - peech s V r ~ ... c1 e t ro co t ' Abo on i t> ii ften t y attacked t } 1e ch re a 1 lder o · t J s t ,n of slav J .y . A t pi al s 1a . o+' .: e C. cel"r • ,_ . • of I T w - o . t t t • sar ... evv aven . w n s ing r ann o_ erican Ant: -;jlav oc i et - said: • ca e C C old t e key o t } e reat r is n of o. _r ssion, d r fuses t o unlock it aoor. doe i at t h e so t l r general exam 1 ; by er deer i n d sc ssion : by r r el · i o s press. h e ~et_odist c urc ·nits conferencec , an t e Preobyterian c,ur c in its 8 eneral en bl y , a1e sanction d- slavery--t e .ethodist 0 1 urch , by alterin ~ saluta d i s - cipline: t he resb terian c ur c , otting out ·n 181 er nobl e test· mony against o pre sion." 1 r. any etl odists be · n_ ardent ._, bolitionists it as not lon until t e c urc a in o· n ruptu.r wi t n t em • . c ief argum ents of t 1 e ch re for sue opposition ere t at t11e Abolition .ove should be shun ed b t ~ vere political an c nseq ,nt1 - t e c urc : and t t t e agitati on • 1 not relieve t e vil of s l avery~ tr ~ 1er incre sed it by creat ~ng ne1 disorder and anarc to tak# drastic mea ures toke • it T did no esitat ro a cti ab- olit·on . •eneral denunc·at·on of abolition soc· t~es b t e nnual conference in t at ear t"' 1 Great ece • \V t tt · t 1.1a on- ord e oft ·ott-- da, b o e ~· 6 t stal1.ze · A o. • t e action o t General Conference w and adopte t e oll r b 0 et ·n nn i ' ( t delegates)" di approve i t . e o t ( 1 " ualifi en }1 co duct oft e tw m~ m be o ~ 1 General vonfere ce ported to ave lecture inti cit recentl UJ O favor o I odern bol"tioni ; ( 0 tat t ey ar arc r - a n decidedl opposed to odern Abolitionism and w1 oll disclai an rig t, wis or int nti o to . · terfere in t, - civil an olitical rel ation between aster and la s i ist in t h e lave old i stat es oft is non." Te two men re erred t o i t 1 e resolut·ons ,ere Gear e 0torrs QT t e ew am.s ·re Conference and -, I • ... orris ro 1~ine , w o, ad delivered addre e0 a t an abolition ~ et· on <lay 1 ju,t previous t o oi g tote eneral confe en , ese resolutions ere der warm di !'( u • ion or two daJs before t ey were ado ted. Te votes '120 i favor of a11d 14 against t e fir t resolutio ' a 137 or a one • a 0 ·ainst t seco1 du t a.t t n • t to do m abol t • • s ,.. l o 1on1 V was not sectional, t s owe t1 e nort to be a horo nl y • 1 conservative slaver~ 1 e sou-4-_ stron • favor. on as was n 1 s T e a tion of t i con erence di 0 a e t J1 ,, d ·r> d result of silenc· n t n )o it·o . t st 1 t 0 t e AJ to greater action Thus f l 1 8 3 ,:- to 4 t e ga b tween Jon~ erv tives abolitionists, · t h e c .. urCJl , 0 re wider ,vide • 1al I , C .... . ~ . r J ... . t 1 '\ - .1 . . - rti -- • I' ...... .... ... • "'-A • A ear a 1 8 '3 bol·ti ist ad .. t w - • ·n t . al c o11fe t idi bi u l0o e ence 1 0 ad set a ne\" rec& e nt n r i a n v; q e tion o ch la-r b fu • t o t q ebti o ta • to abo i io r n n - t , to t .I. feren 0 otc. 0 e 0 e ea t C e • t • . • C u 1n e e~1 a ire c on .... r ce l a dec·aedl anti-slavery re l utiono b t t presidi c • 1.sno - ad r f · e t u t t em to v o e • t h e A olit · onist , ere aw e o t 1e os · t o t e ... ';70 ld eet in " e c n e after t ~ ~eneral Co er ~ ce o 183S. ... o eve t 1e nt out deter ine t o mac od and s oon fo need for C s.irit . e e ◄n ·l ~n Con r e ce an t e fi~: t be n. .,Ant. ro se to u t ~ otion in 1 · n / t t t"· e bi , o lavG r an • C t w 1 • 10n , C be prepared for t he er erfl'en t h e A 0 iti nist ad m i ng t e da be ore conf ren e et and deter c i -, t at .... t J e ea Il j_ oul c1 t priv· 1 e ~re e, tin , • . .... s ave 0 r e L.0 r emor1.a 1.. ' an ferr t i n t a l t 1 loc ~ . r g e. e - ~a in C'\ ,.., ' 0 and ad j o rn +'r 1 1 : 0 t · t 1e·r dem n ("i r ac- ' ceded t o · a n i for . a • ua f • ut l 0 81 - ' e . e I ' ... -· ot t n l etter, nr ) 0 [; . a 0 11 I] ' ,A,: res et·ti n to t ne~ e 1 enc t n elt r d i.self ac lon 1 t I 1 C .D Abol·t· . di . • ..L. ., r C • no acce l 0 (' r I ~ l f'e 44 .• re (') e ., t ci u do t tro n - la.very r nr 1 t ir oci , i t Zion 's Herald. • Co ] (. .. l C 4" llP A courAe with t r . t 1 e . " Ot ~A C0 C 9 a t r etrup: _ ver t q e i r la v, . (' • l v ~d 8 I . _ v " "Conf e ~n e ~ · ip: e. Som e evAn un c r .J on 0 - , missed, by utocratic B 0 .I ore the u . , ~ of t A oonf r ence wa v r. Gen ra.l 1 .r0vA.ded · o f t he ,hurch 1 t .er~ e 801 • s o dorr 1·1ated itn 1:1.:f t hat t e o lv r.,rn lA t s to kAA t , l, I north~ n alolitioists i et. Nhi l e t abolitioists ere ~ re . y o eans diacoura d, ad con 1 to hold conv ntio sad to orga i t - sla ery soc A - J i es. ha oticed t t bolt tio A tar ed in T .,w _ • p:la d , but econ after 8~o it bP.~an to ~pr ead e t. ,ecture 8 a id ritera did ot esi ta e to i SC e/rreel , con er e ce rig nor t he consti tt1ti naltt of t e rAs is ' rAfU ' to put question to vote whi ch t ev on d :F3d -per .j_ to the work of th~ s r'sion . Thi ar used t _ , ti re· 0 greater effor e to restr 1 t e a oli t o iete . The a t - s 1 r.:t-v n ry Ac t i on~ in th e di c 11 r1 , cc a 1 r ~ )ad j t j 1 qt e , h ad b c 0rne a d r,act letter and. erP, ot c a (le yearj 18?4 ad lPAO . Th disc inr-:, ec ar et. Pen the tr t "'1 a e y a g r eat evil an man O J. t J _ _ A "0 sPrva t v s ere sin Are th.ei r bel:1 ef that .c nt ov rt e, ing ._.nt i 1 • rro sugge t tri ing ut t i ~ d le t~r al . ,, . Y'() ) a i:::c a storm t h t the pro- L v~ry p 0 le wer cont t to 1 t 1 11 e dorma t. ow~ve,: in th Ge r 1 Conf e c~ of' lP rx7 t follow! g action a tak n. "fuerea.R, the e 1 a cl 1: l e i th di sci l. . , 0 our church whioh statee that Vi arA a much a ever ovi e of the great Avil of slavery: and, ereas, the ai cl~ se s been p rverted -by ome eed such a ann r 49 to the ir.ipresAion that the _ ethodi t Fn acopal - ' · urch 9] 1 t? .., sl4very to . A. moral 9Vil • ther r • .. e 1 ved , t i • . . a A th 9 Ren A 0 the Geor~ia nnual r~onf er nee t at lavArv, a, ,_ 1 it exists, in. t .~ eUni ti3d : t at A ir not a r A 11. " I Al tho gh the freedom-lo i fI !. 1 etho ists of t _ ~ orth took such. T) ins to outJa t e a olitioniAts ho decried t (:!I, tf ... , .P:r eg, evi l"- which their ~ urc di set nline denou e ' TAt t AV too . - ,. peaceably by an 0 f r , riot a wor 1 ~r1,1 i a tion of t conf ..,rence which dar9( t o . __,c 1 ar ✓ ORAT t e ery in t tuti · J. held by trte disc • l~ne to b il. a re A I t wa.a onl r r 8 or ti ·~ , n il ot sou hArn con e P._ ce~ arlor,ted rule s , imil Y I to t f) GA ~gi () el . Agai _ o ev .,r , , the actio ::til d to 1 ~ n, oT quie th 0 a () i tin 9 t on th A contr r . q, 8 outherne ho f t • ~'1 s, ]_ con idered elaverv a evil hut a.n ✓Vil C coul t e r'ldi ca ted, tn th ,, i u ~e . - 1 i t0r ' n -- t e -- J e ~ • In ctob r, 1 ~7, ahor lv ter o e e '3 1ue tion a was iA is ed , t e i et u e co vention ~as ~1 in ynn ae . ? h J rof ess d cc aio o it ras, that t e an .i - Hl ery ove. n thA c uro s ob - structed by the bisho , u ed t U t V t 9 UC _ qu estioae as t he abolition te is _ d to ·ntra u oe . Their ce edi nge ere puplishA 1 and sca.tter ed broa ca.at wit tellinp: ffect forte cause . anl other olitio onventions were hAl r t year just previoue t th e General on r A nce o 1~40. Pea.c _ conventi ons , so c lled , were al o el occ eio all by the coneervati ve membore of t e churc in an end _,avor o ha ~moniz e the warrin forces . -eitl_ er side oul d riv 1 so i.t wae like t r ying to hq,rmoni e t . o cyclones . ,R-Ch Rirl scattered pam~hlete a paper s throu~hout t h ~ country , each one denounc · nf! t other. nd al l this oise was not b AA el~ve and free states but hA tw n two f _ctic Aection of ou~ cou~try. of' the free '111~ Ge eral vonf . nee of 1 0 as appr0ac e a faction 1th a ~reat dAal o fAar. very one k P. that t e - t or.ic of th day ,-,ou d ,e ala. .. ery, n nc P o SP, 0 l occaA - 1 na the pre i is ops o:f annual c o f eren s a . 1 rAfu s d to put to vot , res olutions pertaining to al ~Ar , t~~ t U tin Of CO f 8!'9 CA 'ae eur t co A • I n f,ic ' 9() annual co fr ~ e ha u r i o" on ct, " t G ,, p,r 1 ,r, r • ~ven ao r t oli • • t • rterl confer t 0 q n t to • it · • J.On 0 0 n . 1 n C r cite one n ance ao on C e settled ~ t eral nfer o"TT e e oe oul settle t e cue on OU 0 t 1 e odi ' . 0 f ar a la~ • re l cone r e • t ad ee C sto ry' befor abolition da 1 t C .! - erence dale a es t ·iv t eir e ti ent on .. ornl est i on \Vi t out n =" .Drom s id in , • to ance pr 0 1 er, e t i pra tice "' ro n a r tl 0 v·a a .L. 0 oc t a d alJ f r . .. ea· ate dee • . Dani 1 , a id" n } eld an 1 0 • e • r r · e ~- glnnd Con r e e , a no 0 1 ref ed t o J U..l- t o ote cert r .! abolit·o resoluti -'-- even djourne a uar - L, tely co fer nee t rest .1 . eld r _: t out a ot , an . t -a n remon t _ance 0 t · e ., er • e n xt n 1 C r n . tr ·e victe . of alad . • str tio de i . . an C 1 m n ro . ' 0 • e e nled to t e n I &l on erenoe 0 184 t . ed _.1. J.C r dec i . irt • t i . ~ e 1 0 a JU 1 cour e . c on r en , . .. 1 'a r ove d • s trat i 0 t is 0 e l n e op . r . a .L- • 1 vl. -...., av r a ti n, t le V • t 1 ·,'i t . n n con r nee t t 10 • t acti .• ate , t i d 0 riu 0 on n C .,. r 0 t t r1 t -t () t · ose .. • ..... re e Il "' r o l l, • ... a tr ul 0 0 rt rl on e " ne e, : y r .. r r a to t b • r• ·cr i be t an i . e i n s 0 ,; r e r in der t • to close t t . a · s cr e er a or i z 0 s ir - t · t bo t b t a • on 0 0 0 10 • 0 0 ... n n • a n 1 C n n t r • -1 • tor 1 0 :et . odi ortc -- 41 -- 79 I i not r nge t at r 0 1 bee ad pte i.: re ' r a i z t ,Vll O c- e ver e r e)ris t . • st a olve mor 1 tion An 1 0 e , e . t er 0 t e c' urc ever been to ke ·ree fr ~ 1 ·t· ' • • trang t at t 1 .ave oll ov,ed 1 l 4 0 e C L s 0 s losel • t ute f C t olitica n .I -re s e • C n 0 .,_ ad .. f } b c1 over l, ' \V 0 OilJ. e or e an1 most obnoxi l 0 t e di r bl f r 1 " ,, • . ra 1J ... • t . · 1 . a t . t le':- a 1.on on er .no ""n .· BS n a r -- ... t 1 . d ·e"1er C C 1 C r e a u C , , t ~ lea . • rtal ' se ""' l (' m J 0 .L ~ till t e cti o n b n c 0 l ' oti ce • • t r t · t , 'Y) ev . • • .I. • rt1 ern de ., ,... . • .c ' e C • .i.1 ur .l.. I e f al l . ti . t · t ;-; e 0 0 e r- r ra , ' rc 1 ·tr i c a .. c - 1 d t e , ca ... • t -:ev . Fe • ..L. od ced . 1 ta· t... 1 ' VI a argue e 1 . 11 • t - t or-L; r ·u n - e • m r l st r at e t ro r o- 1 V r ·, "' ar t 1 a t t "\ r "ll : 1 ,1c 1 na ted , .L t llow • e • , - ff lved , t t · t • +- n j 1 S e \., or a re • r ,0 r • 0 er r r 0 0 1 e ' t n • st ·t • a l r n .... e -L r ' n ~ 'l "' "' ~ t • il . lit t t C r , ~ 1 J te li -tl nd , ... ,. ,..il l . t o C r .4 J . ,·1 ., ·a re ' t 0 0 · n j r it tren t . . rl t n ~ t n ethodist n ... i 1 t ot • ~ra · .L.:J 0 r r o .in 0 s ~ 0 t· at t ie . r m e on 1 ver t f t on ste earer t r t • 1.0 0 1 .t. - • r 1 • t t e t .. ul e V t • cessio acti , t e ' ca oe C / e .L1 0 · s t S C t e t i _ce. t er was f e t o f c ·o t ~rn -al o ·t - e t 1 no : it was f c i . t e ordeal o ke i gt n rt er f to et er. 1 ven before 840 t er acco nt - abolition . a been s o e 'A' earl · or sece ·sionb o 1 8 9 m 11 one a rred at Clev l u.n , io; a ot r t onro e , ✓ ; i n 1 t er at . "illi fi 1 , . i 0 i t inc · vi u cla ,~ C n .a ne nt se c e e • an met ~n co ve t·on a~ 13 , 1841 " . e t · . e _' 0 . S t S • ' ' e ,.r e c. t e nt·-s -ver con e r 41, s "' ld i n e 1 o • " .J. I 1\ i i ar t t In e . 1 41, e eed r . l 11 t elveo t o o I. e , o · s , o a . • ti -- c -- a d a ( oonati tution the ~eoond article of ~ ,, i c r ad : "T ooject of t his society are t he ent· e ext i ction of slaver i t e , 'ethodist Episco al C rch in rio and t hereoy to id in that great national enterprise no\ in succes ful progress- its entire extinction int e United tates." .:)eces ~ion frorr: t he church was advocated but not carried. 3 7 On Dec 8, 1842 t h e 0 1urch wa reatly surprioed and cri - pled bJ the withdrawin from it· r anks of Jot a. ort t Orange Scott and Leroy Sunderl and tree o _ i e cl urc ~ · most influential ministers. ·ev. Horton and Rev . cott i mmediately establis ed a new abolition paper called t e "Trae resle an." In t e first isoue they gave t heir reasons for \"ii t drawal fro1n t e c 11rc • (1) "The Lethodist Episcopal C urc is not only a sl l" ve-holdin but a slave defend i n c11urc • ( 2) T e o-overnn: nt of t h e · et3.1- odist Episcop~l Church contains principle 0 not laid do,m in the scriptureo nor reco .nized int e usage oft e 4 rimitive church-:-principles 1vvhich are subversive of t h e ri r.-1 1t of bot· ministers and layrnen ." These resolutions are stron indictments but I wonder if anyone can find good argrunent to substantiate t -- e plea t ~1at r t hey were not waranted t I\ Te next year t ese t hree leaa· ng seceders called a con vention at Utica, .... Y~ and organized t he '' , esleyan ~ et odist C hurch ." The ma bers were person w o wer ~ di tisfied it 1 anual of • E. Churc istory--Curti ge 152. 1 tl A a.tti , de e ch re .o ~ e ft J t Q, 1' t i t . T'i 900 _ ._, u ' u very stringent rul e ~ai st alav w r a.dented . After this , elav ry a itati n 1 e oint~d to rd t General Conference to be ld in 1 44, w1 t .. t g ho J t eom8 solution mi t b reachP-d nd ui t res or d . ~ain many resolution s e e r ea y , vin~ r~Par d b an u 1 con .. ere-noee and ~- nti - la.vArY conventinne . Th '"' on s dra up by the V rmont O onve tion in Ja uary 18~4 are t . ~ical. (1) " ~ at t h section on sl very n ou di cipline i eu vereive o-f the spiri of the ~e e al rules . (? )~f:t 1 ie u _cnn~t tu tional. (~ ) That it is t he sole pro o , lavery n t e 1 ' ethcdiAt Episcopal Church." ' ere op o ed to s a ry To e ~eneral rul J , t r.ause th ey enjoin sue octri n a ," oing o rm''," a oi in evil of ever. kind" , "doing to other a th vy ~o ld us to to tl1 ar:1." Furth 0 r th A l ai tain t at th~ eneral ru1, s were constitutional ad the pro vi sions of the disci~linA only tatutor.y and t hus sin e the two ~o f11 t t .l e di s c i Ji e is unconstitutional. While t~h J nor th a . r A ari p.:. for a 1 ep: .. J ttl on con t i tutional stion , ad () he mai n issu~A , t e unite south ae a ~ rat .Pr pAr ti to force , in 'ih - eneral Conf ~r ce of l P . , the 8 f3 tioa -P . t oro u,e- r t 1 f!-r _. a t est u , 1 t . t 0 o , 1 ev r n • • 39 Chapter 4. h e reat ecession . ~e have noticed t h e different factions at ork int e church by 1844: one faction making a last de perate effort to sanction slavery throughout t he cl urch : another aking a strug gle, ju~t as great, to abolish tat institation altoget er; and still another making a. last atternpt t o har1 .onize t e war- ring factions and save t he unity oft e church . ach factio n was well represented in t he Gener 1 Conference of 1844. The south, or t n e party wising for t he extension of slavery, was represented by about ifty six delegat es. Principally fro· New England came t h e abolitionists oft e progres -- ive type. They had thirty delega.tes w h o vrere ready t o conde n and cri·pple slavery by all reasonable me~ns. v The consarvatiP, from t h e ,. north and west were repre~ented by about ei ~ ty five delegates who wished to maintain t h e long establis en di cipline and 1 usages of t h e c urch on t h e subject. It will be noticed that the consarvati ve s froin free territory eld t h e dee id i nf; votes on all questions of slaver y : t hus t e old ar 0 ~ent t hat slavery was kept in t ~a c urch byte southern majority is not well founded. Rather it vas kept in the ch urch by t h e conservative votes from t he nort ,h o had cast t heir lot wit t he aout for some years before 1844. gain let u repeat tat it was not because t ese men (conservatives) believed in t he institution of slavery, but rathe r it wast eir fear of t he dissolution of 1 History of ·ethodism--Porter- - page 457. 40 the 1 .1ethodia't Episcopal C uroh. They preferred slavery as it existed to what t hey considered a worse evil, t h e spoilation of their O urch. ' 1 any of t h em oved to belong to so owerfu.l a.N organization as t h e ~ethodist Episcopal C hurch and wer ready to go to any length to keep it intact. However, many were sincere in t h e belief t hat emancipation oft e slaves ould be a greater sin and hardship for both slave and master t han t h e bondage o the south . All conservatives were very muc opposed to t he rabid (as they said) abolition oft e nort east. owever, by 1 44 t he Abolitionists were ready to force t he hands of the conservative~ by threatening seces s ion. In fact, severals all seoes ions have been metnioned a having taken place between 1839 and 1844, and no,v to have all t h e north eastern conferences talking secession, if slavery le islation did not please them,was aL~ost ar serious as t he dissolution of the south. The greatest problem for t h e -en~ral onference of 1844 to solve was the exact position of the ~piscopacy and slave holding: t hat i s , should bishops be allowed to hold slaves ? If the question had been a ked some years earlier no doubt ever~r ~a hod 1st in the lan would have answered i n t e negative. In former days t he most i m partial men of t he s out h and their friends declared t hat slavery could not be connected wit t e Episcopacy without untold mischief. pr do bted event e 1 ·rat od iat uarterl 1evie, for 1870. page 172 . heart of a man w ho should cons ent t o be a bishop, he own · slaves: and ~ish op Soule declar ed before t e Baltimore in 1844, t at such a t h i ng coul not be." 41 nf erence "The persistent refusal of t he north to el ect a slave- holder to t he Episcopacy had lon been a source o om nious discontent. Conservatives h ad been seriously ch a r ged 1ith in- consistency and e ven • hypoor~9, for defending slavery as it existed in t he church , and re sisting t e abolitionists as t hey had done, and t hen refusing t o elect a man t o t h e Episcopacy who was ackno\ ,rledged to be a dmirably adapted to t he o:'fice, si1nply because h e wa t he OVi ner of slaves. Th ey argued t hat if slavery was good enough fo r ordinary inisters it was ood enough for a bishop." 1 The South had no t been dis couraged by t he attitude of t he North but had been gaining ground in t heir fi ght. As early as 1836 t hey had asked for a s l ave-holdi n 0 bishop and t heir persiste nce was sure to lead to a ru1)ture. "In 1836, ''\/Ir. V\ r: . A. Smi t b. , in his private circ·t1lar, after expl aining t hat t he election of bishops had been controlled oy abolit : ~ prin ciples, proscribing competent slave-holders; says; ' · .Hill t h e Southern vhurch s ubmit to t his? Can t h ey , in justice to themselves submit to a con t i nuance o ti s pro:C,riptive system ? 1 .l· reth odist Q.ua.rterly -qeview for 1871, page 2 9 . They will not; t ey cannoti ~eanin plainly t hat t h e settled policy oft e church r egar i g s l ave-holding as a di s al ifi cation for t he off ice of Bishop proscribe slave- alders , and be must be abandoned: t hat t he country co~ld settled onlJ by adn:itting slave-holdin in t e Episcop a cy . " io i t s uch a spirit extant among t e delegates t e pis copacy soon bec ame t he .. ,reat c ont est round f or t h e conference o_ 1844. The te~per of t he delegates was ascertained w en at an early date s l avery w as i nt r oduced by "an appeal of a m ember of t he Baltimore c onference, ~~o ad been suspended from his ministerial standin . for ref using t o m numi t certain slaves , .rhich had com e into i s posses ion t hrough marriage. After a dis cussion w hich co,ered f ive days t e Jeneral Con ference sustained t h e acti on of t h e alti ore C nferenc e by a vote of 117 to 56 . u This a ction was roof t hat t he anti- slavery part gained strength i n t h e past f our years since 'I the north were voting solidly to uphold t he doctr ine of t he .,. 1 discipline so far as t h e laws of t he state would perrni t. h e question on Episcopacy was raised i n a way s urpris ing to most of t he delegates . Instead of t h e question of e~eoting a slave- old er f or Bi sh op , am oh more vi t a l one was suddenly i ntroduced as ; fuat t o do wi t l1 a _ i sl 1op who h old s slaves ? 1 ~ethodist pisco al C hur ch and t e Ci vil ar - we et-- p 24. 43 Int is tryin o ition , a str on t e e o Oa. ed to bis o s olc ·ng 1 ve , t econ ervative· ere o t e o· nt of surrender tote sout, as la t heir cu~to , ilien t e abo litionists of · aw Engl nd c ec d t e proceed· n an finall succeeded in carr in a b"l l w ich wa not a dis race tote churc. I 1832 J es Andrew o rt is said tat perhaps eorgia ad been elected • 1S O. is strongest recommendation as a Southerner as that e did n t old laves . Iowev int e reeantime he had acquired slaves t ~rou h a second ~arriage a e was now called upon to make a statemJnt to t 1e co ~ ittee on Episcopacy, as to t he fact s i n t e case, since t h e r umor had been set afloat t hat h e owned slaves. Te followin re port t he ish op submitted tote committee and they in turn 1 submitted it to t e conference . '' In re ply to your ing 1.1iry, I sub.it t e following st·tem nt of all t n e facts be ar in - o my connecti n with slavery . everal years since, an old l ad u of l~gusta ~ .orgia, bequeat. ed to e a m latto .;irl in trust, " tat Is ould t ke care of er t·11 shes o 1 be nineteen year of age : tat vit her consent Is ould ten en er to Liberia: and, tat ·n case o~ er refusal, I sh ould keep her and a e er as fre e as t e lawo of t he state o G eor ia ;ould per it. lben t e time arrived she refu ed to ~o to ~iberia an o her own cnoice re· ai pecuniary profit 1 legall ~y slave althoug I derive no The reat eoession--~lliott-- page 2 7. 44 frorr. er. u e con t inues to i , e in h Jr o,n ou eon lot· ' nd as been and i at presen - at erfect libert to go to a free state at er -pleasure: butte laws of t "e state will neitler permit er emanoip tion nor adrr.it sch de ed of manu m 1 ~~ 1on to record, an . she refu e t o leave t 1e state. In er ca~ J . t ere~ore, I have been made a slave-holder legally , but not with my own consent. "Secondly about five years since, t e mot er of rr.y for mer wife left to herd ughter, not t o me, a ne ro boy: and as my wife died without a will, more t han two ears since, by the laws of the state he becm es legally my property . In t his case, as int e form er, emancipation is i m practicable in the state: but h e shall be at liberty to leave testate Vihenever I shall be satisfied t hat e is prepared to provide fo r himself , or I can ha ve suff icient security tat he will be protected and provided for int e pl ce t o which e may go. "Tl irdly, Int e month of January l as t I married my present wife, sh e being at t h e t i L e posses ed of slaves in heri te f ~· orn er f ormer usband ' E estate , an be.1. ongin o- to er. ~ ..,h o.rtl" after my marriage, bein , unwilling to becom e their ovmer, regardin - t he as strictly hers, and t he la not permitting t heir emancipation, I secured t . e~ to he r by a deed of trust. "It v:ill be obvious to ": 1 ou , f om t e above statement of facts, that I have neither bou h in the only circumst , nce in\ ich emancipation i i mpracticable . nor sold a slave: t hat am le g 11 a ala e- older s tote s ervants o ned by 46 my wife I have no legal respon~ ibility in the pre1 ises , nor could m y wife emanc i pate t l em did e desir - to do o. I ave t us plainly stated all t he facts int e case , n sub mitt e statem en t forte consideration o t he General Con- ference.1 Yours r s pect ully,' "James o. drew." Thus t e rwnors t hat t h e c urch po sea ed a sla ~ 1 i Il f? bioh op wer brought to a matter only needed a l e der. c~ ana t take act·on i n t _e e ras ·ound in t o pers on of Jo n Davis of Bal ti 1 ore v; o in trod ced t 1-1e followin g resolu- tion: nResolvea, tat t e Rev. James o. Andre e nd e i s hereby, affectionately requested to re s i gn is offic , as one of t he Bishops of t he I eth odist ~ is copal C urc:t 1. n This res olution waR debated unt·1 t e next da v en a ubstitute , of milder ter ns, w s i t raduced by L ev. J •• Finley of O io. It read. " esolvea, t hat it i . t he sense of t i · General Conference t b.at h e ( isho_, Andrew ) desist from t, e exercise of i s off ice so long as t is i mped irnent ( sla,,~ y) remain . " Durin c;_, the next t en d a"' s very able and spirited debate took place. Bishop .Andrew wished to resign his of ficial position bu t tbe sout ern rrembers , believing t 1 ~ _ is to be a fight forte existence of t h e c urc , persua ed i ~ t o ....... ren:ain fast. ome oft e ort ern en who dre ded dissolution 1 Great eces ,ion, page 297 . 2 Confere1ce eports 1 ·44, page 147 . oft e c uro offer d t o a t h e • 1 0 i ric, forte slaves eld by i To t his propo i Te, i f anum1ssi on apers were i ned. t he louth stoutly ob je cted as it wa t e 46 princi. le for h ie t hey ou ~ t. he i r i nfl u nee was o grea t t hat t e ishop could not break wi t ,j t e· , i ndeed, if e ad any de ire to do so. It was evident t hat the Southerners intended to carr their point or sec • In f ace o t ·s opposit i on t e ish o s and some of t he conservative dele gate s began to aver nd a ne\i resolution was introd uced. "Res olved, t hat ish op Andrew be, and hereby is, affecti onately an d earnestly reque s ted to take t e necessary measure s to free himself fr o ~ connection • 4+'V witl sl very at t h e earliest period practicable wit ~teen- suing f our years." This resolution a ~ aled to some oft e Conservatives,as t ey oped to settle the q est· on eaceabl and r et ni n t e unity of t e c urch . ,rAs t . e Conference s ee .ed to be ab out to vote on t h e quest i on ray 30, Bis" ... op ad ding s uggested t l1at t h e conference ave no a ternoon session, and t hu allo T t he Bishops tiree to c onsult t ogether, with a ope t hat t h ey mi ~ t be able to present a pl n of adju tin 6 our pre s ent difficulties. 1 1 Th e sufestion was received \.vi h general and great c ordialit . " ~ "Abolitionists regarded t J i s as a nost alari..inc; a sure. Accor~in -1~ t e delegates of the New England Confere nce ere called toget er, and a ter due de ··ber a ion un ni. ousl ad opt d 1 Journal o · 1844. page 74. • 47 a paper, declaring i substa ce tat it was t }ei · ole n co - viction t at if · isl1op Andrew should be left b t e Confer rce in t h e exercise o · Episcopal functiontit 1 ould reak u most of our c, uro es in etv n land; and t at t e only "t1ay t ey could be olden toget er would be to oecede in a body, and inrite 3ishop adding t o reside over t } em. .~ co n ittee o two was appointed to communicate t neir action o ishop adding before he houla. meet vri t h his colleag es.' ut so rr.uch tim e was consumed by the meeting , and in copying the document, that we ~ere too l ate, and, did not see i m, dee rin r it dangerous to our interests to oall h in: out, believing it would be con strued and used in a way to defeat ou- object. ~ e next morn itg t, e is op reported unanimously, 'recommending t he post ponement of furt er action in t he case o_ Bishop Andrew, until the ensuing ~eneral conference~ This report was laid over one day. ·on t he morning of June 1st a op edd. g invited one of that comrcittee to t he vestry of t h e c re , where he was full informed oft e afore aid action. e t h ought our fears well founded, and deeply regretted t hat , e ad not lrn own of t e action before he signed tat report, ~nd s id e would go right 1 into t e Co. nference and wi t hdra,v • 1 name. ie did so, statin tat e had signed t e docurn,nt presented yesterda a a eace m easure, ut tat facts a come to i knowledge since • 1C led him to elieve t hat it wo 1 ld no t riake .eace, nd t at it e a id so vti th t he consent o t e ot er is ops. 4 i Q t be rod ctive o a leng ened ·debate, and instead o • re iovin ~o a onl increase t e difficult. J o i pared t e influence of t he ish o s ' recomm -ndation tat t e ~onference laid it on t e table by a vote of ninet~-five to eig ty-four, hewin g very c early t h tit ould ave carried h ad not is op adding withdrawn i s name." 1 Thus un~oubtedly t e church would ave again compromised ,vi t 1 slavery ad t e Aboli t ioni t s not interferred . I owever, t he defeat of t ni s compromi s e brou ~ t t e conservatives bacl into t e fold and soon after, t e Finley ubstitution ras br ou ht d d td , t f d d d 1 t 1..,. . up an a ope oy a voe o . one un re an e even o s x~y-n1ne. "On _-rune 3rd , a series of resolutions a s offered by Dr. Capers of South Carolina , provid i g f or a separation of t h e C hurch , l ort and South , and t hese resolutions were referred to a sp cial cor~ittee of ni e , w ic was to repoit as soon as pos sible. O n ·une t t e committee reported in a eries of eleven resolut ions. e resolutiono provided forte separation of t ne c urch i n t e la.ve- old.in. States, from t e C hurc in t a orth , s ould t e A nnual Conferences i n t e slave-hol ding s t ates .., find it necessary to nite i n a distinct ecclesiastical c na c ,#ion 1 his incident i s no t related in t h e secondary sources available but it is told b t he Rev. James Porter in an article int e _ethodist Review for 1871, page 246. ince Rev. orter was a m ember of t he co e nee of 1844 and a member oft e abolition caucus, and s i ~, I : ave found his books and magazin e articles very aut antic I -- not hesitate to credit it it face vale. ~ .. , et odist Episcopa Church and t e i vil rrar--pa e 2~. 49 .lt ou : t ese re olutions ere n v r ubmitted tote out ern nual Confer e ceo, t ill t e out later ch o e to call em a " lan o .:;e arati on" and t us attem ted to s , ield t eir sece s ion b 1naJrin , t e nort equa1· 1 res on ible \ ,r i t t em . ne ot er Viort y ac t on wa~ taken by t h e Conf rence, be f ore ·t adjourne, int rescindin o t eeo ut.:.on" w ic ad been adopt di 1840. It pr onounced it 'u justifia 1 for any preac er 1 .. on ! u to per it colored ers ons to i ve te timony again t , i te persons "etc. h e day after t he General Conferenc e adjourned t h e outhern delegateo eld a rr.eetin - in w ic t ey decide a t o h old a co - ,,ent · on s ofl etime i n t e near future nd it wa c.• generally Known t hat t e u.r 4 os e of sue a convention w to org nize ne c urc. c onvent · on l a i:) held at o i svil le, I"y. r:·a~ r 1, 184 , · ost oft e out ern conferenceo ere . repre . ante d and wit onl~ t hree dis s entin~ votes it :a s aintained by t i e delegates tat t he y h ad ufficie t reas on to orga ize t hus con:pletely s ever t heir connection ~it t h e mot er c "lr c • 1 h e work of organizing ne ed not be d 1elt u Jon in a pa er o t .11 i kind , e--ce t to say t at t e ne ~i c }1urch r etained t e for and a -e of t ne ot er c 1rc but c -n ed t e name to to , 'ethodist E iacop al C urc ' outh . i s o Andre and o l e ··e t it t e d urc out an rema·n d · it it, -ince 1 4 h t h ch rch e ave re ined e arate lt o g various attem t 0 ve been de b ot to r e nite. Te se r ation did not end t eir strife , h o ev r, as on of t e most dis raceful event of t e entire C.i _ cl1 , i tor took place, after t 1e secessio , in law s i ver t e c ~ r ropert. Te c urc owned a publish ·ng ous e nd o~e ot er public propertJ to 1 ic t e sout laid claim t o t heir hare per capita. A long bitter str --- le fol owed : ic cost a uch , in litigation, as t e property was orth . The exact effect oft i s ·ecession u~ on t e country and especially up on t e ~uestion of slaver cannot be compute d , 0 but it is not too rr.uc to say tat it influence as far re ter tan eit er warr ing s ide had ever dre amed. It i s our c ndid opinion t hat t h e •riters w o ave said t hat t Li~ seces s ion waste first s te of t e seces ~ion by te Sout ern Stateo from t he Union in 1 60 , or event ose w o have aid tat t e latter ~1ould not ave taken place but for t e for : er, ar jus- ' tified in sue sup ositions bT virtue oft e id 1c., found . It is certain t hat the entire s ut wa ate . in ' r., • t reucn eagerness , t is C re str gle and ,,, a t ... us cons ciousl~y or • 1 influen b · • Ct C . llTCn es followed t e unc onscio u e • er e :; ample of our C urc t inti n r ctic o. 1 · l of t .1.: ott.e ,., h ad split. T i t • C ·· ., ~ c}· c en in - . \ . .. .... tilled t e i .1d s 0 t e best eople, t he most conserv tive, n c1 t 1 03t reaso ·b l e l e t sout to believe t 1a t • an i n e ecession ./ 8 .ro ,er or er • t could ot ,•et . 1 nt o t _. er -.~i , 1 ey . , • , , V'i t .r1 S l ~L a 1 r J j rcent t e ---. u r eo .,l ,J ffe t ea b , t se var i o C r e di 11nion ' ce t.)sio ii. b C ea ile we a , t oro g 1 con i 1 ce t at b 1 to e 0 i f C urcl the eces ion o 1 O wo 1 a e e n ract·call i 4 os 1 . 5 It 1 s ry r rnba ly that some o tel 1 . cutl1 rn 1 rge at in th churc sec , io s . Some et odists think t t thA gr at "~tatcA t " , John c. Cal ho ITT pJayed no littlA part in th~ ~thodiRt ec e s i on. Jo dou. t ea , or t an a . o er man , aw t e outcom P- s 11 ch a e _ . l i t rAali 1 P-d th t t ~ fir t ove o arn · a g rF; te sAc ~eion ha~ taken nlace . In the freat d 9b t~ in Con~re~e . over t he compro ise of 1P50 he sai d 1 speal-!in~ oft e cordA that bind the stat~s toget r that;" ome ~r~ spi~i ual or ecclesi~stical, o • ln he said; " The stronp tie . hie hAld each d e omination toR:ete er fo rmed a trong cord to hol t h e whol~ union togetrer, but as powerful as t V t ere , th A , have not b An able tor sist 1 the explosive eff Pct e of sl v ~ry a~i tation." These unconstitutio al chu~c secAsAions had su ch a psycholop'.ical eff ct unon th~ ~01tth ern \ in , :t n and out of t ~ chu oh , th t by lP ~ 0 t ~r N"a8 o c onAti t tiona.l .. estr~i t , abovA or hen e . t , t at colld ha e h~ck d their for eece sion . :! chargP -•~ r tev Ans , thA e inent chitrch istori , in h ' 1 story of _ m rican ethodis " say~, " }·et odism had co e t C . pf r ,11 iou denomination of t h South r n State~: tis . tu~e do rupture, i'tpannot 011 te a the eff ecti v J ~P' of th~ r reat er stfl,rtled the world wit J freatest civi l war of . od~ n Y • 1 I • l • Chtl C t r f ' o . i --1 P' r • LJven in t h e debat s over • S 0 drew' ca e it wa su - gested tat a c 1 re spar tio n·g t aff ct or ·ati onal c aracter, \ en 1 •r. C rovvder said , "Let ·t o a "Oa tat tis eneral Confere ce re uested ish op ndre 1s to resi 0 n , and t e division of our c urch .ay f ollow--a civil dis nion of t h e is ~ reat confederac m ay fo l lo ~r that. ul "T e C cLrleston r,~ , ercuryn , a ro-s J a ver JT pa er sa s i spe ttl{ing of t e secession, " i t mark an e oc ,--t ~ e fi r st 2 dissolution oft e Union ." " T e ,va ge s of s i i d ea t .1. • " e inevitabl e ha pe ed. tte ·pting to co. ro ise \ ·it ev ··1, in order to s ave it worldly p ower nd influence and con equently so it paid ta pennlt , by sufferin · t ever division it ~ c fe ared. 1 T e Great ~ecessi n-- lliott- page 327, Te reat becession--~lliott-- page 357 . Cha .1 t r , • ... o .. ec :1 n t The et i t 0 1 Jh C C j,l A t - ~a. _ i zation at it f'irst 1 co ' B I d i 1 4l-1 . ... t a 1 i ~ A lav r a A t A n ro r th Ar t Ji y : t clo~A of ... e . 1 r d j J pe 1 to . thP. Bl VP evs em . 0 P. A i ju i ti - l , t i t, ~ - tl1 , ... t ~re as or t e r 0 el 1 er 0 • curse a er dA irous - 1 te ,x irr, tion . e att1. tud -· of ~ e t od t 1 0 1 C re 1 to rd ala ery aA ot , 0 0 ight r0ad ly t .L Jr' r atly e - after t e ASCeAein of thA south rn 0 fA e. C id not isplay ny i V n~ C n ~ - it J ) t al l to Nard t e ~reat . V 1 . - e c .urc ad i tt J ' p 11 ' t o too an of t e dAmand of o - . n . n · d t ·hen tak n a, Ptand ;ra.; ' -- f'urt ro 9 no :i ideal s , but it did ot de . and of its e b~rs t A abo11tion of all slave-holding until ore than fifte~ A rA lat r . Such a . tap at this t m ould haVA manta grA t ln s ~~ members and power as t e sece son oft e sout n no ~ .. t th t aken with t 11 ft re - lav . r . - Alements wAre foun n t ~ c urch aftAr t e sec es n b~for e . Th nr .. l very pep le ere leAA um u d d em an din~ , it :1 9 true, but A r-t. P- ._, ey f actio 0 t urch . 0 it t . () r wer e not mater :1 al 1 ' t an d in n n, re r eir • 9 1 a e Te ,eneral Confer jnce o 1 4 J refu ,d o receive fra- ternal reeting fro rr. t e re o t , o t e r ou d t l_ a t the C urc . o t sa ctio a 1 ver • Durir: -, t r e deb te over t l e question, one delegate s id; "T e .,.; .atnie o t _i ener Confere ce re entirel on t .1e c • de o i bert -- - -- out are and t e revailin . sym 1 on t e side o _ · slaverJr • u ies o t e urc 4 T is ap ears t o be n ste in adv ce fo t } e ti-slaver eler.ent of t e c urch . But \~ i e t .otio ~ , ose to strilre out 07 t e disci liL t : e rule ~er. i ttin conservativesim ediately voted it d o~ , l ave- ol i n G, t l e o i G t .J.at t e pas ive to slavery nd leavin g t e i nression tat t e re- jectea t ne fraternal reetin ~ s because oft e ani ~ osit felt toward t n e C re South . s ani osity ~ · s ca sea largely by t' e legis l ation ten pen ing in court overt e c urch pr opert , nd 9 0 t e bitter strug let en ~ain ; on between ten o churc es for control of t e border st te • To specif· c acti on wa taken on t h e subjec of sl avery, in t } e General Conference of 1 02. Again t h e conservat i ves refused to c ange e discipline, but, t hey did agree tat furt er extension o t e c re into sl ve territor - wa u - desirable. ere wa also . sorre agitation for a lan to re- fuse slave old r ~ , tee-after, admiss i n to embers ·p. :E,ollo"wiin _ t is g neral Conference t ere bega n a -ro, i sentiment in fa vor oft ✓ anti-sl ver arty . 1 · :et odist Episcopal hurch and t h e Ci•il ar a e · 4. 65 Te church papers, re rese ng t e Abolitionists, cnrri .d on a bitter controversy wit . t e paper o . t e conservatives during t J.e years 855 and 1 6 overt ques t ion oft e c .urc withdrawing f ro1 slave territory or asuin a r le en- tirely prohib i t i n slave-holdin b c uroh r e~bers. e annual conference6 ~ ere als o discussin \ t his question and twenty-nine o · h em, out of t hirty-ei ht , memorialized t ~ e General Conference of 1856 in favor o anti-slavery action. A very large majority oft at b ody -ere nti-slnvery in senti ment and expres cc ed t hem elves t hu in t .1 e vote on t h e subjec t 1 of sl avery. "The minor i t y of t hat body, however, had on t eir side t he restrictive rule, whic re q ired the concurrence of t1ree fourtbs of t h e ~embers of t h e annual conferences, wit two-thirds of all t e member s oft e Gener 1 Conference, to change t he rule on slavery and exclude slave-holder · . No such concurrence a d been ·ecured. ut t h e Conference nut ... on record a vote of one u.ndred and twenty-two yeas to ninety six nays in f avor of such a c ange. n The Bishops in t heir Episcopal address t o t he General t) ..., Conference of 18 r 6 said, r, e ave s ix annua l confere nce Y ic are wholly or in art in slave territory , a ving a iember ·h i p of 143,000 (white) ana 28,000 colored------In our judgment the existence of t es e conferences and churclle under their present circumstances does not tend to extend or per etuate 1 ~1ethodist "'uarterly 1.e • 1 e··u . Vol 50, page 2 8 • ~ · Jethodist Epis copal hurch nd t e Civil ~, ar . ge 37 . 56 slaver. 8 r e novvn tc be organ i zed nder a dis cipli e w ic c araoterizes slavery s a ereat evil--- -w1 ich pro ibits the buying and selling of a an , roman or c ild , it an in ten- tion to enslave t hem, and i ire at all be done f or t he extirpation oft e evil of slavery .n Thus t e i s ops gave, for f our year 0 ore, t eir action to t h e churc slave progr am , as it ad exit ed for an years. owever, t he chur ch members ere ar oused ag ins t e evil of t e system and t h e anti-slavery party was unti ing in its ef forts to gain sufficient strengt h to win a victory at t e General Conferenc e of 1860 . ~ en tis conference convened in uffalo, • Y. in may 1860, "t e committee on slavery was well nigh swamp ed wit memorials. There v1er e 811 petitions, i ,ned b rr 4 5 , 857 names, asking fo r a en nge of t he rule ~n slavery , nd 137 , ,it 1 3,999 signe s a kin t hat no c l c. n 5 e be m de . '' Afte rr. ch dis cussion a ne , provision wa~ adopted int e discipline Vi ,. ic be came kn own a t .e "~ ew ul e " on slavery. It deserves copying because o f it l anguage and becaus e ·t was t h e first o ange i nce 18(j4. It reads, " e declare t _ at v-e are a much as ever convinced of t he )re t evil of s laver y . ~e believe tat t e bu ing, sellin ~ or ol din . of to be used as c attels, is contrar y tote la~s of G od and nature, and inconsis tent ,it t e old en r ·l e , a nd :it t hat rule in our Discipline L ie require all w h o desire o cor - 1 •ethodist Episcopal C urch and i . 1 .. , e 1 ... ,, r pa e 3. 7 tinue amon us to 'd o no r , ' an to avo ev 1 of ever k · na.' ,le t ere . or a. fecti onatel admoni h al our re c ers and people to e t em eve pur fro t h i evil, and to eek i ts extirpation by all l awful and c ristian ean . n 1 hus i .·teen :tears , ad a sed after t e seces ► ion o· t e South, bei ore t e 1 etl odist ~ i co al Charc' exp nge f 1om it disc·p1·ne the rie t of sl ve- ol ing . Tar· ou rea ons fort i s delay mi g t be menti oned. irot, the fear of furt er desertion o~ its member. any sla.re- alders, i t e bord er states, ad remain ed int e C ur c n 1ort, aftor t e seces ·ion, but wis ed to r et a i n t11eir sl ve ~. 1 P-T.J t ~any of' t er. with - drevv after t he " -e·,. le" 011 laver \;--ent into e feet in 1 60 . Some joined t h e nhurch ~o, t and ot ers staid out o_ 1 .et~odism. nefore 1860, t e churc~ wu_ too nti-slav r T forte ro slaver part~ nd to cons rv tiv o for t 1 e Abolitioni ts. Conse uJntly s~e was between t ·o ir ~, wit one s ide t hreat- ening s eces ion i~ more ri - id r ule ~ on l aver '({ere ado tea , and t e ot er side t hreatening sece ion i L st ·cter r ules were not ad outed • ... h is ver~ natur 11 ,p,- ke ) t t 1e .lain b od oft e c urch conservative. ~econd, t tle str·fe, in t . e border s t te 0 , betueen t he C urc1 ·ort and t he C urc 0 t _ lso t J de to a e t e C urc ort c onservative. I t felt t at t e C re So t · .:. ad brok:en f ai t i n not kee~ in · er rt 0 t ~ e TT l an 0 ... -. e r t 0 and t .. U .J elt ree t e te t 11e ora a ~~ tate s l & t oc·eti t l ere. C ur~ l1 out ad a l ar merr.b er i in t oc e sta es and r c• e ted t e v nces of ort • and e i.l air 1 · t ~ i c al n· ci 1·n 1' 8 unjust. Consequent1 ~ a c urc border war-fare ens ed. T ird, t e "est ictive ule' ke t t e old rovi c:•ion, o slavery, int e discipline for a number o year after a lar e majority oft e annual conferences were oting to c ange it. The rule also, kept t e eneral Conference from c anging t e general rule on slavery so as to denou ce slave- olding as well as t e buying and selling of slaves. A majority oft e General Conference of 1856 , ·ish ed to ,alee such a c ange and in t e General Conference of 1860 t e anti-slave party lacked only four votes oft , required t v,o-t i rds neces sary for uch a change. The general rules, t at :rr. des le drew un, as early as 1839, denoancing t e buying and selling of slaves, ad ever been retained by t :e ~et~odist 3ven went eir Discipli e sanctioned t h e evil . under certain con itions. All churc ~en recognized the inco sistency, but t h e ti- 1 ver .. , party i n t e .i.Urcn North was never stron g enough to remedv it until t e discipline was altered in 1860. In its Fourt General Conference held in 1 5, t e C urc ~outh re1noved t e inconsistenc;i \lhen it expun ed f' 0 1 1J it .... Jeneral Rules t 1 e one pertaining to slaver. The did it be cause, as t .. e · said, "th e legislation i n reference to it ( t e general rule) was contradictor~ and as rd. il . deno ncin slavery a an evil, and pledgin ~ e c re to its extir ,at·on, it provided by statute for it allo ance a nd per_et atio . 11 1 1 1 he Illustrated i t r of · at od · • ge 5" . 69 T e onf> res ional deb te and 1 . i 1 t · on bet ,reen 1 O and 1 O d a tendenc, 1 to s trengt en t e nti-slaver - en- na uro. ~sp eci 11 Via tat d l a t r ado tion of • ;r. Clay ' timent in t e ~ _.:et odis t ~ true of t he great debates compro i se mea re, o 1s ~ o. debate overt is com - pro .ise were in progres ~ t he church papers almost univ really t 1 t d ~ t t 1 ., . ... o o r a s an o o s r . - ~ ~ -'V • J.. J . • I_; , ·r. Ola and even · .r. ·/ ebster, ft e r h i Sev t h o~ j arch spee c , were bitterly ttacked by t, e l.iet odists ,v ... o so fev1 ear~ before ad ro. ul ~ at d imilar com.roiaises i n c urc le islation. -eit er ere t _ese comn r - ~ rnises, of state, lore discredit ble nor disastro- tote nation t han aa t ne forr er one been discre itable and isaotrou to t i-- e c_ urc1 1. ell ot t le t 11e uestion of kne,v t .:. at sue 001 ,_ ron: · se slavery b t "ould at bet o l· ostpone , for as ort ti~ ~, t e final settlement of t l at re t • 1So e. Later t e Kan ° - .ebraska bill call a f ort~ t ie best ef ~orts of t e en ~lB ders oft e c re , in invective aga·nst 0quatter Soverei nt , and again~t t e sy te~ of ext nsion of slaver- to new territory. us, t e tactic ased byte l e -is l atur in an att mpt to keep t e ~nion intact, alt OUbl t e ~ere very si ilar to t hose earlier us ed by t ~e eneral Conferences i n an atterept to keep t - churc toget er, ere ver b o iou int e e e of t e c urc men. o ,ever, t hev ~ d t e laudable ef ect of olid - if in se me t i t e nort ern c urc e , 'n es eci£11 . 1 t e l · et odist a i nst t e entire sl ve sy ten . 0 e i et e Civ·1 n r b o 0 n 1 1 t o is y iscopal urc 1 t _ o ou r· 1 o J o e to lav nd ~as j st u ort · n .f"' t e over .ent nd t he nion. fe ro-~1 V y ,I b rs t· rem a i t e ·border t a t ~ t but t ey were o O far in t e inorit t at even t h e " .. e s trictive Rule" av t 1em no el • e ,J ad no ·nfluence , b t on t e contr ub er . ed b t nt i -slaver fe eli . g . . r y ere e I lC .1... . t swee _ 1nc C urc • e c urc es erves . c 1 cred i t or t . -e ~rt it too in o posing sl ve , and in sa · f e bord er st :_- te o t e nion. In~ ir i _ia t e ~et odists ad long been stron - i t e estern countie nd m n o t e old re s ident ~ claim tat t e dis e - bared t h e ~t ate, ~n d s aved rest lir~inia to t . e nion. One writer sai in 1 61, "If Vest ,. ir i nia i ved, s e vill o w e er salv tion ore to ¥et odi m, nder t od, t an to a - ot er a genc • 1 " 1 ~ ,, ar~ 1 n \Vas -"ort n te in aving an exec t · . e in .rover or icks-- "" o ~as a co rr Jn nicant of t e ... ,.et odi s t .u i co~ al C vv o '\,as t ~ ·.orou ~ .. 1~ loyal to t e Union, and it ~ as lar ely re t roug. i ~ ef orts i r fusing to call a ec i a l ses in o t e Legislature t, at ~ raryland was aved to t ~ e Union. " ("\ ~ I t . e ew tate N, e s ec·a11 Calio ia nd ·ansas, an ·n spite o t e bitter o osition o t e C1 urc C ll t , t e Ch rel orth di ver effective ork , t hr oug t e v lia t er ioneer reac ers, in savin . t ~os states \"iOT 0 1 ric 11 i -I i toric 1 evie r 1 1 910 . 70 '( e t . .1 o d i t ~ . i .... c o 1 C u r e a d ... e i y il . ~ ar 4 • 1 tote Union. The contributions of t e et odiat piscopal urc to t h e success of t e Union r rt and t 1e Governrcent at ·las, in ton were very considerable. o au.port t 1 em t e c rch gave nobly , grandly, of her m en, m one , su plies and pr yers, nor did s e cease er support until tel st l ave ad been set free and t _ e union secured. M any of t he Annual Conferences and Conventions sent emo rials of ood will and encouragement to Pre ident i ncoln during the war. Te ·eneral Conference of l 64, w ic met in Phila delphia, after revisin t he general rul e on slavery to for- bid slave-holding as well as slave-buying and selling , gave its attention to formulat i ng uc an address t o send tote ?resident. As finally dravm up and se t to L r. incoln, by five conference delegateo, t he addres vas quite e~tende d, so I will quote only t hat part be rin ~ u on slaver y . It says, "We believe tat our ational sorrows and calamitie have resulted in a great de ree fro~ or for ret ulnes o · i Od and oppression of our fellow men . C astened b affliction, reay t e nation humbly repent of er ~ins, la aside er , au~ t pr i de, honor God in all future legislation, and render jubtice to ~11 who have been wronged. "~Je honor you for your proclamatio o liberty, and r ejoice in all t e aots of t he Government desi ned to sec re freedo to the enslaved. l • ethodist Episcopal Discipline 1864. "Ne -pray that t h e tim e may speed' be trul a repub ican and free country , ·n o State or Territory, s all slaver be know." t _ it.J all of art w .Lich eit er The entire ad ress resounded wit, lo lt tote union and ostility tote slave system. In reply ~r. Lincoln said : "Gentlemen: I n re s · onse to our address allow me to attest the accuracy of its is t orioal statements , indorse t e senti ment it expresses, and t hank you in t h e nation' name for t he sure promise it gives. "!Jobly sustained as t e 0. overnment as been by all t e ohurc es, I would utter nothine v/hic might in th e least appear invidious against any . Yet wit out t his it ma fairly be said t hat t h e 1 ethodist ~piscopal c urc, not less .devoted t han t e best, is by its greater numbers, t e most important of all. It is no fault in t h e ot ers t l1at t e II et odist C hurc sends more soldiers t o t he field, more nur ► . es to t he o itals, and more prayers to eaven, t ·n any. G d ble .;;:) t he ~ ,ire ~ h od ist Church: bless all the c u.rchea; end bles ed be G od; w o in t l is our great trial giveth us t 1 e C urche s . ( ..)igned) • Linc ol • " This address to 1 1 ' r. .A,;incoln and i s re 1 took l ac e al most a year after t e "Emancipatio Proclamation" w hic lib erated t . e negroes in 11 oft e rebelling st te. ~ince t l is i roclamation ad no effect on the slave in t he oorder or north ern states, t h e General Conference of 1864 expressed its de- sire for an amendment to t he ederal nstitution to pro 1bit slavery t hroug out ta 111 its of t h e nation . or did s e relax er ef orts until the t irte nt mendment be came a a. Evan the Chu.re out ec e convinced that t emanci at on was just and very nobly et ab out to provide f or the s-iritual wellfare oft e liberated black man . In conclu 0 ion: t he rethodist ~piscopal C ur c , fro her founding in 1 784 till t e earl years of t ~ e 19t Cent r , denounced slavery as a great evil. About 1 09 slavery took on a nevv lease o life in t h e s outh , and a. d so fastened its insidious fangs upon the c urch b 1840 t a.t t he c urc v ;as ruled by it. en came the 'Gre t eces s ion" in 1 ·4 ich enacted so vital a part in t e life and istory oft e nation as well as t he• c urc • It v. as t e er cial period in t h e life of t he church and she stood t e test. It t ok so~e years ' after t he secession, for er to enact effe ctive anti-slavery legislation, yet , from t hat time slavery was doo■ed ao far as tl1e .. et odist .upiscopal C uroh as concerned. The result of he r efforts . r emancipation . ay be judged by t h e great in- • fluence she 1- ~ 1e l ded in t e enactment of t h e hirteent end- ment tote Federal Cons t ituti on whic became part of t h e su preme aw of t h e land Dec., 18t h , 186 and forever prohib" te d slave nolding wit in the 11 its o t, e United tates. ,, . '. 64 i bliograp y. Original So~rce Elliott, C harles, istory of t h e G reat eces ion from t e i 184~ worrnsted t an oe, Cincinnati, 1 855 Th - __._.___ - Emory, obert, istor y of t h e Discipli e of t ~e ~ethodist ~piscopal Carlton and ~orter, 1856 r.- • 11 "'I •, err1 , ~. · • _ Digest of Tethodist Law Cranston and towe, Cincinnati. Sibley, I- . L. The Or anic Law of t h e ~ aethodist EpiSC(?E?l Jhurch , u.nt & Eaton, N. Y. 1894. Fleming, \l. L., Documentary is~oq of econstr1ction, 2 vols. The Arthur 3 , Clark Co. Cleveland, 1 907. econdary ~aterial. Steven~, Abel, ! Co pendiou~ istory of __ e_r_i_c_a_n ____ _ Carlton and orter • . ' 1 6 . s,veet, l ~. ,1arren, The ·ethodist Episcopal Church and t h e Civil •ar ethodist ook Concern Pres. 65 Curtiss, Geo. L. , 1 , anual of ____ _1st Episcop 1 Church istorl · I u.nt and Eaton, N. Y., l ·93. Porter, James, ~itchoock and vralden, Cincinnati, 1 8 76. Bangs , athan, a istory oft e ~et odist Episcopal Church 4 vols. Carlton and orter, ~. Y. 1857 .:;tevens, Abel, istory .2.__ t e Let odist ~iscopal C urc_g in t e nited States o America 4 vols. ----- Carlton and orter. I . Y. , 1 866. Potts, J. . ' ,ethodism in the Field. 2nd ed. illips and unt, J . Y. 1 ?9. Yiise , Daniel, opular Cbjections to ~ ethodism Cons i dered And Ans ·ered. Rand and Avery, oston, 1856 . tevens, Abel ., 1 emorial arly rogres of odism in t he Eastern States . 2nd Serie. c and Co. OS to , 1 2. 6 Daniels, i . . ' Th e Illustra t ed i n re a t r i t a · n and Ameri ca , Phillip ~ nd unt , 1. Y. 1 80 . Sout, ern ethodi t ub . House, ashville, Tenn . 18 9 · J!cTyeire, ~ IIistory of '· ethodism. outhern ~et odi t ub . o e, as ville, enn . 1 87. Pike, G. - • t Preao ers . T. Fisher U nwin , London, 1903 . Faullrner, J . A., Te otory oft e C hurches, ~ e 1 ethodists, Baker and Taylor Co. • Y., 1 90 3 . Buckley , J. 1~· L• , ! His tor~ of _ __ o _ d _ i s rn i n _ t _e _ U _n_i_t_ e_ d _s_t_a_t_e_ s t.., vols C hristian Litera t ure Co. • . ' 1 97 • Crane J, T. , ~ reth od i m and its ods. ,elson ana hilli • • . , 1 76 lieely , T . . ' ! l istory oft e Origi and Development of !_~ overning Conference i n eth odism. unt and Eaton , • . ' 1 92 ~ u.rst, J. F., The istor~ of ~ethodism 7 vols . Eat orl and ~ra in , • • 1 904 . Finley , J. . ' ketches of les t r n teth odism. - ..uet odist ook Concern, c ·nc i nnati, 1 854. Lee, J. w . ' uccock , Di xon, James , . . T • t 1 al . e Illustra t ed 1 ,tory of !,' et odist ' agazin ub . o . t. L i · a d • • 7 Stevens, . A.bel, __ e Centen ry of odism Carlton nd orter, • . , 186 .:>tevens, Abel, istory .2__ th eligious ent of ul e Eig teent Centur~ called ~ethodism. n vols. Carlt on and Porter, J. y. Porter, Ja es, • a nd , ost on, 1 ...,4. edford, i. I . , .,.!istory .2__ t h e Orga n i zation of ~e · .~ et odist ~ · copa~ C hurch • • I .... . • - edfor , ashville, Tenn . 1 8 71. Bancroft, I_. ~~ ., ... istory of t _ .. e Pacific States, of __ _ ' erica, Cali ornia 7 vols. · e istor:y o . an ·rancisc o, 1 890 . i 1 agB:zines ~.i _ethodist ,uarterly RevieVi • 1 • , etb.odist Review , L'et odist ~·,1 agazine. er's . ar agaz1ne . .American istorioal • J. 0V l ev;·. Annual ublication o I istorical ciet o out ern valif or ia .
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Nichols, Leroy
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The attitude of Methodism toward slavery
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College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
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History
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1914-06
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04/25/1914
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04/25/1914
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Los Angeles, California
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