This branch of the Methodist family is fearfully involved in the sin
of slaveholding.--Slavery has silenced the voice of the church organ.
Slaveholders have free access to its communion. The discipline contains
a very disgraceful clause in relation to colored members. Article 12,
Sec. 1st secures the right of suffrage to all male members who are
WHITE. Article 7, Sec. 3, gives to each annual conference power to
make for colored members of the church "_such terms_ of suffrage" as
they may think proper. In the same article the apparently neutral, but
really pro-slavery character of this church is seen in the following
words: "But neither the General Conference nor any annual conference
shall assume power to interfere with the constitutional powers of the
civil governments, _or with the operations of the civil laws_." The
civil law is the highest law recognized in this article, and where that
makes _chattels_ of men, this church is forbidden to interfere. In
these quotations the principles of _caste_ and _lower-lawism_, are most
clearly inculcated. It is with surprise and sorrow that we find such
odious features in the discipline of a church which boasts of MUTUAL
RIGHTS.
WESLEYAN METHODIST CONNECTION.
This denomination of Christians stands boldly and unequivocally upon
the solid bible anti-slavery platform; and although not a large body,
its influence has already been widely felt. It comes behind in no
anti-slavery gift or grace. Its pulpit and press _speak out_ earnestly
and powerfully. The Syracuse Conference recently adopted the following
resolutions, which are such as all the conferences of the connection
pass unanimously:
"_Resolved_, That we hold--as ever--in abhorrence the _system_,
esteeming it as ranking first in the dark list of systematized
piracy, and all intelligent supporters of the abomination as being
nothing, less or more, than willing pirates.
"_Resolved_, That to ask us to fraternize with any of the thousand
and one organized or unorganized influences, going directly or
indirectly to sustain the system, prominent among which are the
principal churches and the great political parties of the country,
is to offer direct insult to our sense of Christian propriety and
gentlemanly courtesy."
BAPTISTS (REGULAR.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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