r.
^iPHWiii^ix^iriii
4-\r^r-\
1
tne
university of
Connecticut
ibraries
^S
1
BOOK 287.N835 c. 1
NORWOOD # SCHISM IN METHODIST
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
3 T1S3 0D07Dfl37 2
'b
^Z"
Digitized by tine Internet Archive
in 2009 with funding from
Boston Library Consortium IVIember Libraries
http://www.archive.org/details/schisminmethodisOOnorw
The Schism in the
Methodic Episcopal Church
1844:
A Study of Slavery and Ecclesiaitical Politics
BY
JOHN NELSON NORWOOD. A. M., Ph. D.
Professor of Hiftory in Alfred University.
Sometime Fellow in American Hiftory in the
University of Michigan and in
Cornell University
Published by Alfred University
The Alfred Press, Alfred, N. Y.
1923
Copyright 1923
Bv J. Nelson Norivood
ALFRED UNIVERSITY STUDIES
VOLUME I
CONTENTS
Chapter I. Early Methodism and Slavery 9
Chapter II. Agitations and Secessions 23
Chapter III. Division Becomes Inevitable 58
Chapter IV. The Plan of Separation and the Establish-
ment of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
South 82
Chapter V. The Methodist Church Repudiates the
Plan of Separation 102
Chapter VI. The Border Conflict 126
Chapter VII. The Settlement of the Property Question. 147
Appendix I. The Constitution and Government of the
Methodist Episcopal Church in 1844 177
Appendix II. The Report of the Committee of Nine, or
The Plan of Separation 182
Appendix III. Political Implications of the Schism 187
Bibliography 195
Index 218
Map
PREFACE
The original plan of this work contemplated trac-
ing the disruptive influence of slavery in all the
churches, but as the work progressed and a need was
perceived to limit its scope, the study was confined to
that church which, of them all, was most severely torn
by the slavery conflict. The experiences of the other
churches also present problems deserving of study, but
their problems differ from those of the Methodists.
The Catholic and the Protestant Episcopal churches
had strong organizations, but they lacked the emotional
element to which the radical abolitionist movement
most appealed. The Presbyterian and Baptist
churches possessed the requisite emotional element,
but they lacked the strong national organization. The
Methodist Episcopal Church combined both factors; it
had the proper material for an emotional appeal to act
upon, and it had a well-knit polity. In it were united
explosive material and rigid structure. The result
was that while other denominations had suffered in
slavery struggles, nowhere was the issue so clear-cut
or the outcome so destructive to the historic church
as among the Methodists.
The disruption of the Methodist Episcopal Church
is a conspicuous incident in that great drama of Ameri-
can History, with slavery in the center of the stage,
which preceded, and produced, the Civil "War. Regarded
not merely as a theme in ecclesiastical history, but as a
proper field for the secular historian, a study of the
Methodist schism should reveal its significance for the
political and social life of the time, and help us to
determine to what extent Clay and Calhoun and Web-
ster were right in their judgment of the effect that a
division of the churches must have upon the continu-
ance of political unity in the nation. It should bring
out, too, many suggestive parallels with the political
secession that was eventually attempted. The rise of
radical abolitionism in the political field is faithfully
reflected in the ecclesiastical story; the stormy scenes
in the national legislature find their match in the ses-
sions of the General Conferences of 1836, 1840 and
1844; as the Civil War was precipitated by the de-
termination of the South to carry slavery into the ter-
ritories, thus securing both vindication and political
weight, while the North was equally determined to
keep them free from slavery, so the Methodist schism
was made inevitable by the entrance of slavery into
the episcopacy, the South being determined that it
should stay there, both as justification and as a source
of power, with the North equally determined that it
should not. The same quarrels over constitutional in-
terpretation, the same charges that the whole trouble
arose from the evil designs of a few leading con-
spirators, the same inability on each side to understand
the opposing point of view, the same division into
northern radicals, southern radicals, and moderates, in
short the same intense sectionalism appeared in the
ecclesiastical as in the political crisis. The church
crisis is, indeed, the political crisis in miniature. And
it is more. For the church proceeded to an actual
Plan of Separation, an agreement to let the South set
up ecclesiastically for itself. The consequent quarrels
over the boundary line and the division of the church
property suggest by analogy some of the possible
consequences of Confederate success. And it may be
that the ecclesiastical border struggle in western Vir-
ginia, by intensifying sectionalism within the Old
Dominion helped to pave the way for the erection of
a new state when the civil conflict burst forth.
The psychological side of the denominational con-
troversy also has received attention. The way that
well-meaning, earnest-minded, religious men conduct
themselves in tense and trying circumstances is a source
of unending interest to those who enjoy the study of
human nature. The inevitableness of the division, the
impossibility of moving in any direction at the General
Conference of 1844 without damaging some great in-
terest and dividing the church, placed good men in a
fearful dilemma. On the whole, and we are glad to
say it, they acquitted themselves as became their stand-
ing and profession.
The problem here studied bristles with moot ques-
tions. The writer has not hesitated to express his own
judgment on men and measures, but no one realizes
more fully than he, that all of the questions are two-
sided at least, and that another, using the same ma-
terials might come to different conclusions. He hopes
that the materials here embodied may aid the reader
in correcting those errors of judgment which the writer
must unavoidably have permitted to creep into his work.
Throughout, a lively and charitable appreciation of the
tremendous difficulties which faced the men prominent
in these controversies has been allowed to mellow any
harsh criticisms that may have come to mind. Certain-
ly naught has been set down in malice.
In the production of this study a mass of news-
paper and pamphlet material has been used which, it
is believed, was never before utilized for a similar pur-
pose. The prominent Methodist weeklies, especiallj-
"The Christian Advocate and Journal" (now "The
Christian Advocate"), "The Richmond Christian Ad-
vocate" and the "Advocates" published at Cincinnati,
Pittsburgh, Charleston, Nashville and elsewhere, to-
gether with "Zion's Herald," "Zion's Watchman," the
May Collection of Anti-Slavery Pamphlets in the Cor-
nell University Library, and the extensive collection of
pamphlets, periodicals, documents and general works
in the Drew Theological Seminary Library at Madison,
New Jersey, furnished the chief sources of this work.
The only previous book that has made large use of the
church newspapers in dealing with the same topic is
Charles Elliott's "The Great Secession." Prepared
under the authority of the General Conference, as an
official account of the events from the standpoint of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, it is in reality a docu-
mentary history of the schism by one of the chief par
ticipants, consisting largely of newspaper clippings
with some analysis of, and running comment upon, the
same.
The author wishes to express his appreciation
of the assistance given him in a multitude of ways by
Professors Charles H. Hull and Julian P. Bretz of Cor-
nell University under whose guidance the work has
been brought to completion, and by Professors Claude
H. VanTyne, and Frederic L. Paxon (then a col-
league of Professor VanTyne at the University of
Michigan), who watched over the earlier stages of the
task. The author cannot speak too highly of the kind-
ly consideration and courteous assistance he received
at the hands of Samuel G. Ayres, then Librarian at
Drew Theological Seminary (now Librarian at Gar-
rett Biblical Institute), where the bulk of these investi-
gations was made. Thanks also are due to the author-
ities at the libraries of Cornell University and the
University of Michigan, the Detroit Public Library,
the Methodist Book Concern at Cincinnati, the State
Library at Charleston, W. Va., the Library of Con-
gress, the Boston Public Library and the New England
Methodist Historical Society Library in Boston for
their help. Finally he must not forget the painstaking
work as a copyist performed by Mr. Lloyd R. Watson
of Alfred, N. Y., to whose careful investigations also
are due many features, and the first complete draft, of
the map.
This work was accepted by the faculty of the
graduate school of Cornell University as a thesis for
the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
J. NELSON NORWOOD.
Alfred, N. Y., February 10, 1923.
Chapter I
EARLY METHODISM AND SLAVERY
The Methodists have always and justly considered
their church a pioneer anti-slavery institution. John
Wesley, its founder and early leader, together with
most of his associates, was outspoken in his denunci-
ation of slavery and this original bias was a powerful
influence in shaping the policy and sentiments of the
rising denomination. In his ' ' Thoughts upon Slavery, ' '
written in 1774, Wesley struck "at the root of this
complicated villany," denying that slavery could be
in any degree consistent with natural justice. He
placed man-buyers on a level with man-stealers, and
called on God to pity the poor down-trodden blacks.^
In 1787, writing encouragingly to the newly formed
Abolition Committee, he expressed the hope that it
would attack not merely the slave trade, its prime
object, but also "the shocking abomination of slavery"
itself.2 Only a few days before his death, he wrote
Wilberforce, rejoicing in the glorious enterprise of
destroying the execrable villany, which he character-
ized as the scandal of religion, of England, and of
human nature. "Go on". . ., he added with emphasis,
"till even American slavery, the vilest that ever saw
the sun, shall vanish before it. ' '^
1 Wesley, "Thoughts Upon Slavery," "Works," (First American
Complete and Standard Edition), VI. 286, 292, 293.
2 Clarkson, "Hist, of the Abolition of the Slave Trade," II. 63.
3 Tyerman, "J. Wesley," III. 650.
n
10 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
The good Dr. Coke, one of the first bishops of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, was in full sympathy with
the anti-slavery views of his chief, and got himself into
trouble in America by his outspoken references to the
subject in the pulpit and in private conversation.*
Like-minded was Bishop Francis Asbury, as may
readily be seen from his interesting "Journal." In 1776
he wrote, "After preaching at the Point, I met the
class, and then met some black people, some of whose
unhappy masters forbid their coming for religious
instruction. How will the sons of oppression answer
for their conduct when the great Proprietor of all shall
call them to account ! " ^ Four years later this entry
occurs, "I spoke to some select friends about slave-
keeping, but they could not bear it : this I know, God
will plead the cause of the oppressed, though it gives
offence to say so here. 0 Lord, banish the infernal
spirit of slavery from thy dear Zion, ' ' ^ Freeborn
Garrettson, one of the first and ablest native American
Methodist preachers, was born and brought up in slave
territory. Though for a time a slaveholder himself, he
became so impressed with the wickedness of slavehold-
ing that he liberated all his blacks, and was known
thereafter as a strong anti-slavery advocate. '''
Such was the spirit of the men ^ who molded the
life of this virile young church. Other forces aided
them. A new spirit was abroad in the world. Anti-
slavery fitted admirably with the humanitarian feeling
that accompanied the era of political revolutions. The
4 Drew, "Coke," 138-41.
5 "Journal," I. 187, (June 23).
6 "Ibid.," 374. (June 4, 1780).
7 N. Bangs, "Life of Garrettson," 34.
8 Rev. George Whitefield was an exception among these early
leaders. He bought slaves for the benefit of his Georgia orphanage.
Tyerman, "Whitefield," II. 169.
EARLY METHODISM AND SLAVERY 11
inconsistency of claiming natural rights for the white
man while denying them to the black man was bound
to be appreciated more and more, especially by Ameri-
cans. 9 The Methodists personified the new spirit.
Early Methodist immigrants appeared in America
between 1763 and 1776. Two centers of activity were
established at about the same time — one in Maryland,
and the other in New York City. '^^ As the work
grew, Mr. Wesley was appealed to for direction and
counsel. A definite organization was evolving and
the first formal conference of American Methodist
preachers was held in Philadelphia (1773) ^i. In
spite of the strong feeling of the leaders, and partly
perhaps because the people were not ready for it,
no action on slavery was taken before the Baltimore
conference held in April, 1780. Its minutes contain,
in the familiar catechetical style of primitive Method-
ism, a vigorous declaration on slavery as follows : —
"Quest. 16. Ought not this Conference to require
those travelling preachers who hold slaves to give
promises to set them free ?
"Yes.
"Quest. 17. Does this Conference acknowledge
that slavery is contrary to the laws of God, man, and
nature, and hurtful to society ; contrary to the dictates
of conscience and pure religion, and doing that which
we would not others should do to us and ours? Do
9 Locke, "Anti-Slavery in America. . .1619-1808," 1-2.
This feeling showed itself in the wave of opposition to the con-
tinuation of the slave trade, and in the emancipatory laws enacted In
the North where slavery had its weakest economic hold. "Ibid.," 74-80
and chap. V.
10 For discussion of these beginnings see Wakeley, "Lost Chap-
ters," 34-36.
11 "Minutes of the Annual Conferences," I. 5.
12 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
we pass our disapprobation on all our friends who keep
slaves, and advise their freedom ?
"Yes." 12
In 1783 a conference dealt particularly with the
local preachers. They were to be faithfully warned,
with the intimation that at the next conference it might
be necessary to suspend the recalcitrant slaveholders
among them. ^^ Equally advanced was the action
taken at the spring meeting in 1784, It dealt both
with the preachers and with private members. If
Methodists bought slaves to hold and use, they might
be expelled after due warning, and under no circum-
stances could they be permitted to sell slaves. The
local preachers in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania
and New Jersey, who would not free their slaves when
they could legally do so, were to be suspended, while
the local preachers of Virginia were to be given an-
other year in which to comply. Traveling preachers
refusing to comply with the rules were to be employed
no longer. ^^
The year 1784 marked an epoch in the history of
American Methodism aside from the slavery question.
The growth of the societies, together with the newly
attained political separation of the colonies from Great
Britain, ^^ necessitated a more formal and complete
church organization. To this end Mr. Wesley ordained
Dr. Coke as superintendent or bishop and sent him
with two companions to the United States. ^^ At the
12 "Minutes of the Annual Conferences," I. 12.
13 "Ibid.," I. 18.
14 "Ibid.," I. 20, 21.
15 See Wesley's letter, "Ibid.," I. 21-22.
16 Drew, "Coke," 73. Wesley's "Journal," VII. 15-16. (All
references to Wesley's "Journal" are to tbe Standard Edition). Ty-
erman, "J. Wesley," III. 426-30.
EARLY METHODISM AND SLAVERY 13
famous Christmas conference in Baltimore (1784) Am-
erican Methodism began its independent existence, i'*'
With the constitutional system then set up we are
not here concerned, but we are interested in the stand
the conference took on slavery. A new requirement
for church membership was written into the first ' ' Dis-
cipline' ' or authoritative rule book of American Method-
ism. Every slaveholding member must within a year
execute a legal instrument agreeing to free all his
slaves at a time depending upon their age when the
document was drawn up. Pastors must keep a record
of these transactions in their respective circuits, and
members must comply with the new condition within
a year or withdraw from the church. Applicants
must accept it before being admitted to membership.
An exception, which be it said limited somewhat the
sweeping character of this legislation, was made for
those residing in states where manumission was pro-
hibited by law. The declaration was still further toned
down by the proviso allowing the Virginia brethren,
on account of their peculiar circumstances, two years
in which to accept or reject it. ^^
This legislation sets the high water mark of Metho-
dist anti-slavery opposition in the early days. The
trend of the church for a long time thereafter was
17 Of course American Methodists always loyally acknowledged
the leadership of John Wesley.
At this Christmas conference, Coke and Asbury were unanimously
elected to the superintendency (episcopate) and Asbury was ordained.
Asbury, "Journal," I. 486.
18 "Discipline" of 1785, 15-17.
These old "Disciplines" are now rare. Very few full sets are in
existence. The set in the library of the New England Methodist
Historical Society in Boston, counting two reprints, and the original
of 1785 which belongs to Dr. Nutter, the librarian, is complete.
The set at Drew Theological Seminary Library, Madison, N'. J.,
is nearly complete.
14 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
irregularly, but surely, away from this high standard.
Although spreading more rapidly in the North than in
the South in subsequent years, Methodism was stronger
at the South at the time this radical stand on slavery
was taken. ^^ This fact made it especially difficult for
the church to stand boldly erect on its vigorously ex-
pressed anti-slavery platform. Compromise seemed
needful if peace was to be maintained and the grand
purpose achieved for which the church existed, i. e.,
the spreading of scriptural holiness over these lands.
It is not unlikely that the rigid anti-slavery views
of Wesley, Coke and Asbury were thrust, in a sense,
upon an unwilling or indifferent conference. It is
hinted that Wesley's plans were unfolded to the
conference, ^^ and that the decisions were arrived at
hurriedly, ^i It is certain that the proceedings evoked
energetic opposition among the laity. Both Coke and
Asbury encountered bitter hostility in many localities.
While preaching in a barn in Virginia in April, 1785,
Dr. Coke made his audience so angry by his anti-slavery
utterances that several individuals withdrew determin-
ed to do the preacher bodily harm. A fashionably dress-
ed lady urged them on by offering a large reward if
they would treat the offending minister to a hundred
lashes. ^^ Bishop Asbury referring to the same inci-
dent remarked how agitated the people were over the
19 "Minutes of the Annual Conferences," I. 20.
In 1784 about 80 per cent of the Methodists lived in Maryland,
Delaware, or the states further south.
It will be noted that this anti-slavery legislation appeared near
the time of the passage of the famous Northwest Ordinance of 1787,
and also while many states were freeing or providing for the ultimate
freeing of their slaves.
20 Drew, "Coke," 102.
21 Asbury, "Journal," I. 487. But it is also said that the gen-
eral principles involved in the plans thus unfolded were approved
unanimously.
22 Drew, "Coke." 138.
EARLY METHODISM AND SLAVERY 15
new rules on slavery. ^^ Coke met with much persecu-
tion. Members withdrew from the church, houses
where he had been wont to find friendly entertainment
were closed to him, the assassin's bullet was levelled
at him, he was indicted by a grand jury and chased by
a mob. ^^
This violence had the desired effect, ^^ for at a
conference held early in June, 1785, less than six
months after they were enacted, the objectionable rules
were suspended. ^^ This proved to mean indefinite
postponment, but the friends of the negro covered their
retreat by a reiteration of their abhorrence of slavery
and their determination to labor for its destruction by
all wise and prudent means. ^^ It was impossible, how-
ever, to hide the fact that they had suffered a severe
defeat. ^^
23 Asbury, "Journal," I. 495, (April 30, 1785).
He wrote, "I found the minds of the people greatly agitated with
our rules against slavery .... Colonel and Dr. Coke disputed
on the subject, and the Colonel used some threats : Next day brother
O'Kelly let fly at them, and they were angry enough ; we, however,
came off with whole bones, and our business in conference was fin-
ished in peace."
24 Drew, "Coke," 142, 182-3.
25 "Ibid.," 144.
26 "Minutes of the Annual Conferences," I. 24.
27 "Ibid."
28 It is interesting to note that Mr. Wesley and his English
associates and successors did not always conduct themselves as belli-
gerently in the presence of the "evil" as their professions might lead
one to expect.
In 1758 Mr. Wesley baptized a Mr. Gilbert and two of his slaves
in England. He did not require that the blacks be freed, nor did he
prohibit his followers in the West Indies or on the continent from
holding slaves. For the baptism see Journal, IV. 247-8 (Jan. 17, '58)
and 292 (Nov. 29, '58).
In 1817 English missionaries sent to the West Indies were warned
that their sole business was to promote the religious and moral im-
provement of the blacks without interfering publicly or privately with
their civil status. Scarritt, "Position of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, on the subject of Slavery," 19-20.
16 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
For over ten years little was done in the conferences
about slavery. The suspension of the rules of 1784
practically struck from the Discipline all reference to
the subject. ^^ Interest in the colored man took the
form of zealous work for his spiritual salvation rather
than for his bodily emancipation. ^^ At the General
Confterence of 1796 ^^ there appeared a temporary re-
vival of the old anti-slavery spirit. Supplemented by
some acts of the succeeding Conference ^^ jt was de-
clared that the church was more than ever convinced
of the great evil of slavery, that all slaveholders obtain-
ing official position in the church must engage to
emancipate their slaves, all slaveholders seeking church
membership must be spoken to by the ministers about
slavery, and slave sellers must be expelled. Slave buy-
ing was to be permitted solely on condition that slave
and offspring be kept in bondage for a limited time
only, traveling preachers forfeited their positions at
once if they refused to free their slaves in states where
it was legal to do so, and annual conferences were
directed to petition their state legislatures to legalize
gradual emancipation where it was not already legal. ^^
While inferior in rigor to those of 1784, these rules
betoken a new zeal after a decade of coolness. This
revival may not be unrelated to the activity of the secu-
lar abolition societies which at this time (1794) began
29 In the "Disciplines" of 17S6, 1787, and 1788 there is no men-
tion of slavery at all. It is also of interest that the rule against the
use of liquor was dropped out in 1786.
30 It was about this time that the first independent negro
churches arose. See Turner, "Negro in Pennsylvania," 134-135.
31 By 1796 the General Conference had been evolved, beginning
with the organic legislation of 1784, and had been given the chief
place in regulating the affairs of the church.
32 This Conference (1800) rejected a proposal to exclude all
slaveholders from the church and thus restore the high standard of
1784. "Journals of the General Conference," I. 41.
33 "Journals of the General Conference," I. 22, 23, 40, 41, 44.
EARLY METHODISM AND SLAVERY 17
to unite in an annual convention at Philadelphia. A
good deal of anti-slavery enthusiasm was thus de-
veloped, and a campaign was planned which included
memorializing the state legislatures and Congress on
the subject. For a dozen years the work of this con-
vention was kept up, when a decided slackening of
interest could again be observed. ^*
It is naturally difficult to determine just how effec-
tively the new church rules were enforced. We get
glimpses of their operation in one locality, at least, by
means of some extracts from "an old smoky MS.
'Journal of the Quarterly Meeting Conference of Dor-
chester Circuit, Md.' " These minutes cover the period
1804-1829 and show how the rules of 1796 were en-
forced among the local Methodists. From the extracts
it appears that at the April meeting in 1805, provision
was made for the freeing of five slaves; at the March
meeting 1806, ten were freed ; in September, one ; Feb-
ruary 1807, six; and so on. At one meeting a member
was expelled for having sold a negro for lifelong ser-
vice although he pleaded ignorance of the rules. The
last transaction of this nature occurred February 23,
1816, and while the book contains the minutes for
thirteen years more, no emancipations are recorded. ^^
34 Locke, "Anti-Slavery in America," 101. See also the "Minutes
of the Proceedings" of these conventions, passim.
35 In Mattison, "Impending Crisis of 1860," 25-28. The follow-
ing will indicate more exactly the nature of these "Minutes" and the
method of doing business in the conference : "April 6, 1805, — The case
of Joseph Meekins, who has purchased a negro woman and child,
was considered. Resolved, That the said negro woman shall serve
eight years, and the said boy named Ben shall serve until he is twenty-
six years old. Expelled for non-compliance."
"October 1, 1808, Roger Cooper's case, who had purchased a
negro man, aged 37 years, for whom he gave $250, being submitted.
Resolved, That the said negro may be held to serve for seven years
from next Christmas."
See also the vigorous attempts to enforce the anti-slavery legisla-
tion indicated by the action of the Philadelphia conference (1810 and
1814), and quoted in the same old "Journal." "Ibid.," 31-32.
18 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
The revival of 1796 was relatively short lived.
The implication of the Dorchester minutes, that the
rules ceased to be enforced and that the anti-slavery
spirit soon waned again, is borne out by the acts of
the General Conference of 1804 and its immediate suc-
cessors. In that year the enactments of 1796 and 1800
were materially weakened. The plan of memorializ-
ing state legislatures was dropped, and slave selling
under certain conditions was legalized. Moreover
three southern states, North Carolina, South Carolina
and Georgia were exempted altogether from these at-
tenuated rules, and as if to show how strongly the
wind was blowing from the South, the preachers were
instructed to admonish the slaves to render due respect
to the commands of their masters. ^^ What a change
in tone since 1784! The practical requirements of
ecclesiastical statesmanship were making inadvisable
a rigid stand against the powerful interests of one sec-
tion of the church. Outside the church, also, anti-
slavery zeal was on the wane. In 1803 South Caro-
lina had reopened her ports to the foreign slave trade, ^"^
while in 1806 the Philadelphia anti-slavery conven-
tion, already referred to, began to meet triennially
instead of annually. ^^
The spirit of compromise was further manifested
in the General Conference of 1808. It eliminated from
the Discipline every syllable on slaveholding among
private members. The internal slave-trade was rele-
36 "Journals of the Gen. Conf.," I. 22-23, 62-63.
Compare pages 22-23 with pages 62-63.
The subject of slavery aroused great interest in this Conference
and was referred to a large and representative committee with the
avowed purpose of satisfying both sections. "Journals," I. 60, 61.
37 DuBois, "Suppression of the African Slave Trade," 86.
38 Locke, "Anti-Slavery in America," 101, note 7.
EARLY METHODISM AND SLAVERY 19
gated to the annual conferences for control and a
special, expurgated edition 'of the Discipline was or-
dered printed for the sensitive South Carolinians. ^^
Feeling ranMgh. in that state on account of the anti-
slavery position of the church. The strong anti-slavery
"Address of the Conference of 1800," written by the
bishops and widely circulated through the denomina-
tion gave great offence there. It was denounced as a
disloyal and incendiary document. Bishop Asbury met
with this dissatisfaction frequently, and commented on
it in his "Journal." He said the address certainly armed
and alarmed the South Carolinians. ^^ He met a cer-
tain Solomon Reeves who objected to the views ex-
pressed in the address, and who used with Asbury the
familiar arguments about slavery not being repugnant
to the Gospel. The bishop observed cautiously that
this man appeared to have no more grace than was
necessary, and perhaps no more of Solomon than the
name. ^^ A member of the state legislature told Asbury
that the document was much "reprobated" in the state,
and that it had led to the passage of a stringent law
forbidding ministers to teach colored people behind
closed doors. The law permitted the authorities to break
fopen the door and flog the offending blacks. ^^ The two
39 "Journals," I. 93.
According to Dr. Nutter of the New England Metbodist Historical
Society Library no copy of that expurgated Discipline has ever been
found.
Dr. Tigert denounced this exception as the entering wedge which
finally split the church. "Constitutional Hist.," 323.
During the year 1808 also, there culminated a series of minor
changes in the General Rule on slavery which while doubtless mostly
accidental were made much of later by the Methodist abolitionists.
Matlack, "American Slavery and Methodism," 32-36.
40 Asbury, "Journal," III. 7 (Jan. 30, 1801).
41 "Ibid.," III. 9-10. (Feb. 13, 1801).
42 "Ibid.," II. 490 (Dec. 21, 1800) ; "Acts of the General Assembly
of the State of South Carolina," II. 351-53.
20 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
Methodist preachers stationed at Charleston had a very-
disagreeable experience growing out of the popular
hostility to anti-slavery utterances. One received a
few copies of the address and showed them to some
friends. The fact got out, and the city authorities came
to see him about it. He then burned the offending
papers, but that was not sufficient to allay suspicion.
On the following Sunday a mob gathered and he es-
caped serious harm only with the greatest difficulty.
Balked of its prey this time, the mob came again when
the other preacher was officiating. They dragged him to
a neighboring pump and soaked him with water. One
of his church members, a woman, ran and thrust her
shawl into the pump spout, just as a man came along
armed with a drawn sword and rescued the preacher.'*^
Bishop Asbury was much grieved at the increased
difficulty of access to the negroes. The position of the
church on slavery made the slaveholders fear the
effects of its teachings on the blacks. Brooding over
this matter, and seeing the increased numbers the
church might enroll if it had freer access to the slaves,
the bishop confided to his diary the query whether it
would not have been better to work for the amelior-
ation of the condition of the slave rather than for his
emancipation. He doubted if society was ready for
the latter. It certainly was ready for the former. ^*
"With misgivings like these finding lodgment in the
mind of the staunch old anti-slavery bishop, we need
not wonder so much at the general decline of radical
anti-slavery feeling.
In 1808 also there came that change in Methodist
polity by which the General Conference ceased to be a
43 "Meth. Mag. and Quarterly Rev.," Jan. 1830, 21.
44 Asbury, "Journal," III. 298, (Feb. 1, 1809).
EARLY METHODISM AND SLAVERY 21
mass meeting of all the eligible preachers and became
a representative body. ^^ ,The first session under the
new constitution (1812), while adding a rule closing
the local eldership to slaveholders who could legally
free their slaves and would not, made no substantial
change in the antislavery regulations of the church. ^®
Four years later, the committee on slavery while
deploring the tendency in the South to make emanci-
pation legally impossible, and the easy acquiescence of
the church membership in such unfriendly legislation,
came to the pessimistic conclusion that the Conference
could do nothing to help matters. Impressed by the
anarchy consequent to leaving the control over slave-
holding so largely with the annual conferences, the
committee did however actually get enacted a pro-
vision that in the future no slaveholder should be ad-
mitted to church membership in states where emanci-
pation was legal. ^"^ In 1820 the right of the annual
conferences to make their own rules on buying and sell-
ing slaves was withdrawn altogether, ^^ and in 1824 the
slavery section was amended for the last time until
1860. To the two clauses still left in the old rules,
there was added a new one making it the duty of
the preachers to impress upon church members the
necessity of teaching their slaves to read the Bible and
of allowing them to attend public worship. ^^ Appar-
45 "Journals," I. 89. Tigert, "Constitutional Hist.," cli. XVIII.
See also Appendix I. of the present work.
46 "Journals," I. 110.
47 "Ibid.," I. 167-70.
48 "Ibid.," I. 205.
49 "Ibid.," I. 294.
Two minor sections were also added now, regulating tbe church
administration relative to slavery. (1) The colored preachers and
officials were to have full privileges in all places where local cus-
tom would sanction it; and (2) annual conferences might employ
colored preachers to travel, when necessary.
22 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
ently the church was now able to look without serious
protest on the slavery — that "execrable sum of all
villanies, " ^^ in its midst. By 1828 so keen had opposi-
tion to any Conference action on slavery become that
even a simple resolution providing a method of deal-
ing with inhuman, slaveholding members was tabled. ^^
In 1832 there was no action on slavery. In 1836
the session of the General Conference fully reflected
the new abolitionist controversy, with which we shall
have occasion to deal in the next chapter. Perhaps we
may trespass a little on the field of that chapter to
record a last downward step in the anti-slavery feeling
of official Methodism. At the General Conference of
1840 there was adopted, somewhat hurriedly indeed,
a declaration that the simple holding of slaves should
hereafter constitute no bar to the various official posi-
tions in the Methodist Episcopal Church. ^^ Doubtless
few saw the full bearing of this sweeping resolution ; or
realized that it might open the way even for a slave-
holding bishop. But with this act on the records, it
would seem that not only private members but min-
isters of all ranks might hold slaves, and the contrast
with the early official testimony of this great church is
most striking.
50 Wesley, "Journal," V. 445-46. (Feb. 12, 1772).
51 "Journals," I. 337, 357.
52 "Journals," II. 167-71.
Chapter II
AGITATIONS AND SECESSIONS
The tasks of the present chapter are easily defined.
We must give our attention to the revival of the old
anti-slavery sentiments in the church in the form of
radical abolitionism ; the collision of this new movement
with the official church; and the resulting secession
of thousands of the abolitionist members in the north
and northeast.
By 1830 the old anti-slavery spirit seemed to have
spent its force. The voice of the churches was no
longer heard in protest, the old anti-slavery societies
were languishing, there was hardly an abolitionist mili-
tant in the field, the Colonization Society absorbed
most of the public interest in the subject, and it
apparently was doing but little for the slave. ^ This
condition was not destined to continue. Even then
forces were at work that would aid in producing a re-
revival among the friends of the oppressed. A world-
wide movement was under way, that would make
smooth the path of this revival. It was an age of isms.
It was a hysterical age the world was entering. It was
an age of humanitarian impulses, of a new social spirit.
Prison reform, reform in the treatment of the insane
and the poor and the defective showed a growing sense
of social responsibility. Mesmerism, Fourierism, ad-
ventism, spiritism, Mormonism and other isms were
1 Hart, "Slavery and Abolition," 165-66.
24 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
making, or were about to make, a strong emotional
appeal. How natural to find abolitionism among these
movements. The world was growing tired of slavery.
Serfdom was disappearing in Central Europe, a wave
of emancipation was passing over South America, and
the agitation in England for the freedom of the "West
Indian negroes was at its height. Finally deepseated
economic changes were working against slavery, as for
example the sudden development of new economic
opportunities due to the industrial revolution, which
was calling for a kind of labor that slavery could not
furnish. This change emphasized the differences be-
tween the North and the South and urged on the sec-
tionalization of the country.
Whatever the causes the anti-slavery spirit
did revive. Benjamin Lundy the first journalist of
the new abolitionism touched the stem soul of William
Lloyd Garrison who became the great apostle of the
radicals. Garrison began publishing the "Liberator,"
January 1, 1831. Next year he was instrumental in
organizing the New England Anti-slavery Society.^ In
December 1833, the American Anti-slavery Society was
born in Philadelphia. ^ It issued a platform declaring
slavery contrary to justice, to the ideals of our republi-
can government, and the Christian religion. It said an
organization ought to be formed appealing to the hearts
and consciences of the people and aiming to reawaken
sentiment against the intolerable evil. ^ The aims,
progress and intensity of this movement are known to
every school boy.
2 Garrisons' "Garrison," I. 277-83.
3 "Ibid.," I. 380-419.
4 3 "Liberator," 198. "Constitution of the Am. Anti-Slavery
Societyj" preamble, and p. 6.
AGITATIONS AND SECESSIONS 25
Such, a revival of opposition could not arise with-
out finding quick response in a body with the anti-
slavery traditions of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
That great institution was soon quivering with the com-
mon excitement. Methodist anti-slavery societies
sprang up, and powerful champions of the cause, both
lay and clerical, came to the front. Among those so
aroused few had a more interesting career, or fought
more valiantly than did Orange Scott. Born of poor
parents, ^ he got little formal education, having re-
ceived but thirteen months schooling by the end of his
twenty-first year. He interested himself in religious
subjects and soon combined preaching for the Metho-
dists, and working on a farm. In due time he became a
regular traveling minister widely known as a successful
and influential man. ^
When the abolition agitation began he was drawn
into it. He had known very little about slavery,
scarcely realizing that it existed either in church or
state. In the summer of 1833 he chanced to visit a
brother preacher who had some knowledge of the new
movement, and for the first time Scott heard of the
"Liberator" and the Abolition Society. He at once
purchased literature on the subject and began an in-
vestigation on his own account. For a year he said
little, then declared his conversion to the cause of free-
dom, remained a recognized leader of Methodist aboli-
tionism, until he withdrew to aid in forming the anti-
slavery Wesleyan Methodist Church in 1842-43. "^
5 He was born in Vermont, Feb. 13, 1800.
6 "Autobiography of Orange Scott," chs. I. -III. (dictated a few
days before his death), in Matlack's "Life of O. Scott." The two
parts are paged consecutively.
7 "Autobiog. of O. Scott," chs. IV.-V.
26 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
Convinced of the righteousness of the new move-
ment, Scott began to work for it energetically. At
the regular meeting of the New England annual con-
ference in 1834, he succeeded in getting tabled a reso-
lution approving the old Colonization Society which on
account of its respectable and safe conservatism was
always an object of attack by the radicals. "Zion's
Herald, ' ' the official organ of New England Methodism,
was opened to discussions of slavery, * and Scott was
chosen to champion the radical program. He was a
persistent propagandist. He subscribed for a hundred
copies of the "Liberator" and had them sent to the
members of the New England conference with the re-
sult that most of the preachers were made over into
aggressive abolitionists. ^ In 1835, this conference
elected a large majority of its delegates to the coming
General Conference, from the ranks of the radicals. ^^
Already the first Methodist anti-slavery society
had been formed, at a meeting in New York City in
1834. LaRoy Sunderland, another active champion of
the cause, presided. Bishop Hedding of the Methodist
Church was chosen president of the new society but
promptly declined the honor. ^^ In June, 1835, the
New England conference at its Lynn meeting formed
8 "Zion's Herald," (referred to hereafter as "Z. H."), Jan. 7,
1835. O. Scott's articles began in the same issue and for the next six
months the subject was much discussed, Scott and Sunderland (see
below) leading on one side and W. Fisk and Dr. Whedon on the other.
9 This was in 1834 or 1835 and before Garrison had won the
opposition of the churches as he had to so great an extent by 1840.
Garrisons' "Garrison," II. 289.
10 Scott, "Autobiography," 34-35 ; "Journal of the New England
Conference," (Manuscript) June 10, 11, 1835. (Referred to as MS.
"Journal New Eng. Conf.")
11 The New Eng. Meth. Anti-slavery Soc. invited Geo. Thomp-
son, the English agitator, to address it. Matlack, "Anti-slav. Struggle
and Triumph in the M. E. Church," 85.
AGITATIONS AND SECESSIONS 27
an anti-slavery society, ^^ and the New Hampshire con-
ference followed suit. ^^ At this time a prominent
Methodist church in Boston opened its pulpit to aboli-
tionist speakers — a move which called forth warm
praise ^* from Garrison.
In December (1834) some members of the New
England and New Hampshire conferences united in a
strong "Appeal" to their fellow clergy on the subject
of slavery. They emphasized those well known argu-
ments of the party which it was thought would appeal
to the Methodists. The writers dwelt especially on two
aspects of the subject : Is slaveholding a sin against God
in all circumstances, and must emancipation be im-
mediate and absolute? They answered both questions
in the affirmative, ^^ and worked out most elaborately
arguments from scripture, from the Discipline of the
12 "Z. H.," June 10, 1835.
13 "Ibid.," Aug. 12, 19, 1835.
14 Garrison's letter of praise is in Haven's "National Sermons,''
p. VII. of the Introduction. Here is the extract : "In these days of
slavish servility and malignant prejudices, we are presented, occas-
ionally, with some beautiful specimens of Christian obedience and
courage. One of these is seen in the opening of the North Bennett
street Methodist Meeting-House in Boston, to the advocates of the
honor of God, the salvation of our country, and the freedom of en-
slaved millions in our midst."
15 "An Appeal on the Subject of Slavery addressed to the Mem-
bers of the New England and New Hampshire Conferences of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. ..."
In "Z. H." this is called "Appeal to the Members of the New Eng-
land and New Hampshire Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal
Church."
It appears in an undated Extra of the "Herald" issued in June,
1835, as well as in pamphlet form.
The question at issue they said was, "Is it a sin against God to
hold property in the human species?'' The Bible, they claimed, condemns
slavery in the same way that it condemns many other things which
Christians admit to be sins. A polygamist "might explain with pre-
cisely as much consistency — 'there is not one command in the Bible
against polygamy' as the Christian enslaver does — 'There is nothin;;;
in the Bible against Slavery.' " p. 7.
28 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
church, from the testimony of the Methodist fathers
and from the utterances of contemporary English
Methodists. They pointed out significantly that some
of the regulations of the General Conference were
opposed in spirit to the general rule of the Discipline,
on slavery. These regulations, they asserted, seemed
to imply that what was an evil in one state might not
be an evil in another. ^^ These thrusts indicate some
obvious inconsistencies inherent in the attempt of the
church to straddle the issue. The "Appeal" concludes
with a suggestion that appropriate petitions be sent to
the General Conference of 1836.17 The "Appeal"
called forth a "Counter Appeal" written by the able
Dr. "Whedon, a prominent 'Methodist preacher and
teacher. He adopted the moderate views then popular
among men of his class. Attacking the two chief prop-
ositions of the "Appeal," he advocated the practical
view that slavery was not in every instance a sin, since
it might do all concerned a great deal more harm to
free the slaves at once, than to retain them in bondage.
The very principle of the golden rule would prevent
the freeing of a helpless old slave, and thus turning
him out to starve. He met the assertion that no slave-
holder could be a real Christian and therefore should be
deprived of membership in the Christian church, by a
simple reference to Bible precedents. The church at
Colosse, under the apostolic eye permitted the relation
16 The general rule of the Discipline referred to is : "The buy-
ing and selling of men, women, and children, with an intention to en-
slave them." "Discipline" of 1832, 78. Suppose, they said, in-
stead of relating to slavery the exception (permitting slave-holding
in states where slaves could not legally be emancipated) should
apply to drunkenness and read as follows : "When any travelling
preacher becomes a drunkard, by any means, he shall forfeit his
ministerial character in our Church, unless he can show that the laws
of the state in which he lives. ..." etc.
17 "An Appeal on the Subject of Slavery," 24.
AGITATIONS AND SECESSIONS 29
of master and slave. If all cases of slaveholding repre-
sented sin on the part of the owner, why should the
early church have permitted it even for a moment ? ^^
The authors of the "Appeal" replied with a "Defence"
of their position. ^^
The "Ooiinter Appeal" is indicative of the opposi-
tion which the violent agitation of the radicals was
arousing in the church. Such opposition was inevit-
able. Note the situation. Here in one corner of the
church are groups of ministers and members issuing
stirring pleas, organizing anti-slavery societies bearing
the name of the church, preaching, lecturing, writing,
and urging that the issue be carried to the larger arena
of the General Conference. Nor is all this done in the
spirit of brotherly love, charity and calm reason. On
the other hand stands the great far-flung Methodist
Church with its diversified interests, including at the
same time these rampant radicals with their intolerance
and immediatism, and the southern ministry and mem-
bership, willingly or unwillingly entangled with the
slave system and all it implied. Obviously the aboli-
tionist method of attack was not calculated to make the
southern Methodist love his northern brother more
loyally. The sectional cleavage was bound to become
more marked if these agitations continued. The dec-
ade of agitation prior to the unfortunate schism of 1844,
centered in the clash between the apostles of uncom-
18 "Counter Appeal to the Ministers and Members of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church in the New England and New Hampshire con-
ferences." "Z. H." Extra, April 8, 1835. Both "Appeal" and
"Counter Appeal" may also be found in Elliott, "Great Secession,"
Documents 16 and 17.
19 This "Defence" is included with the "Appeal" in the pamphlet
already referred to. It also appears with the "Appeal" in the "Zion's
Herald" Extra mentioned, (June 1835).
30 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
promising emancipation, and those who felt that the
extravagances of the agitators must be checked if
harmony was to be maintained and ecclesiastical con-
vulsions avoided. Thus the issue was joined and as
is inevitable under such circumstances neither party
was able to understand how the other could possibly
be honest in what it did and thought.
Naturally the bishops came early into conflict with
the disturbing elements. They tried to discourage dis-
cussion and soothe excited feelings. In 1835 two of
the bishops united in a pastoral letter to the New Hamp-
shire and New England conferences. They pointed
out the pernicious results already achieved and the still
more disastrous consequences that must follow both in
church and state if the conflict went on. They recom-
mended that members and friends of the church should
refuse the use of their pulpits to those preachers who
persisted in leaving their own charges in order to
divide and agitate other societies. ^^
In May, 1836, the General Conference met, and in
its proceedings abolitionists found ample ground for in-
creased enmity toward official Methodism, ^i The two
northeastern conferences most deeply tinctured with
radicalism sent almost solid delegations representing
these sentiments. While a very small fraction of the
whole General Conference, it was an earnest and de-
termined group that Orange Scott led, and it did not
20 "Cliristian Advoc. and Journal," Sept. 25, 1835. The two
bishops were Hedding and Emory. The letter is dated Lansingburg,
N. Y., Sept. 10, 1835. ("The Christian Advocate and Journal" will
be referred to as "C. A. and J.")
21 The Conference met in Cincinnati, Ohio, May 2, 1836.
"Journals," I. 425. The delegates on the way to the Conference were
warmly discussing the slavery question. "Z. H." May 11, 1836.
AGITATIONS AND SECESSIONS 31
need to be large to provoke excitement at Cincinnati
especially in view of the feeling outside. ^^
The usual greeting from the representative ^3 of
British Methodism and the official address from that
body touched significantly on the dangerous issue and
brought it before an assembly supremely anxious to
avoid it altogether. ^4 The Conference refused to
print the address in the church press. A report
adopted on recommendation of a special committee
pointed out to the English brethren the complex way in
which slavery was entangled with the government
under our federal system, and intimated that if they
had understood better the difficulties of the American
Methodists they would have addressed them in a tone
of deeper sympathy ^5 — a polite way of telling them to
mind their own business.
A most heated discussion was precipitated by reso-
lutions censuring two members of the Conference, both
New England abolitionists, for addressing a meeting
of the local Cincinnati anti-slavery society. ^^ An
22 As was the case throughout this whole controversy, three
different strands of opinion appeared at the Conference : radical aboli-
tionists, radical pro-slavery men, and the moderates. The latter be-
lieved the church could occupy an intermediate position and avoid
extremes. Stevens, "Life and Times of N. Bangs," 315, 316.
23 In this case the Rev. William Lord. He urged the abolition
of slavery at the earliest possible moment that it could be done with
safety.
24 The official address pointed to the success of emancipation
in the English Colonies and counseled opposition to slavery on the
ground of its repugnance to the law of Christ. "Journals," I. 427.
The Wesleyan address to the M. E. Church appears in "Minutes
of Several Conversations between the Methodist Preachers in the
Connexion established by the late Rev. John Wesley, A. M.," 1835,
203-206.
25 "Journals," I. 431-32, 434-35, 438. The reply to the Wea-
leyans may be found in "C. A. and J.," July 1, 1836.
26 Messrs. Storrs and Norris.
32 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
angry pro-slavery man ^'^ wanted the names of the cul-
prits included in the resolutions in order that they
might "be brought forth in all the length and breadth
of their damning iniquity." ^^ His attempt failed.
Orange Scott moved that the Conference also express
its disapproval of slavery at the same time that it con-
demned the acts of these brethren. Some one suggested
that the words of the Discipline ^^ be inserted instead
and Scott agreed at once. This shrewd manoeuver
put the majority in a serious dilemma. They must
either appear to go against the Discipline or they must
nullify the purpose of the original resolution altogether.
Of course the amendment failed and the resolutions ^^
of censure were passed by an overwhelming majority.
On the other hand the anti-slavery cause was being
thoroughly advertised, much feeling was engendered
and the breach between the parties was widened. A
new wave of bitter feeling appeared when, later in the
27 Rev. W. A. Smith of the Virginia annual conference.
28 "Debate on 'Modern Abolitionism' in the General Conf. of
1836," 6. This is a reprint in pamphlet form of the debates and
proceedings of this Conference from J. G. Birney's notes reported to
the "Philanthropist."
29 "We declare that we are as much as ever convinced of the
great evil of slavery...." "Discipline" of 1832, 191,
30 "Debate on 'Modern Abolitionism.' " 5-28. "Journals," I.
445, 447. Two of the resolutions are as follows: "Whereas great ex-
citement has prevailed in this country on the subject of modern aboli-
tionism, which is reported to have been increased in this city recently
by the unjustifiable conduct of two members of the General Conference,
in lecturing upon and in favor of that agitating topic ; and whereas
such a course on the part of any of its members is calculated to bring
upon this body the suspicions and distrust of the community . . . ."
"Resolved, 1. That they disapprove in the most unqualified sense
the conduct of two jnembers of the General Conference, who are re-
ported to have lectured in this city recently upon and in favor of
modern abolitionism.
"Resolved, 2. That they are decidedly opposed to modern aboli-
tionism and wholly disclaim any right, wish, or intention to interfere
in the civil and political relation between master and slave as it exists
in the slave-holding states of this Union."
AGITATIONS AND SECESSIONS 33
session, Scott's pamphlet ^^ on the resolutions of cen-
sure called out more resolutions, gave him a chance to
debate the whole anti-slavery issue and allowed the
majority to inflict another crushing defeat on the re-
formers — at least in so far as votes could defeat
them. ^^
Everything seemed to go in favor of the moderates.
The more extreme pro-slavery men were unable to get
the Discipline modified as they wished. Unable to
gain a wider statutory toleration for their peculiar in-
stitution, these southerners gave a striking sign of what
might be in store for the church if it persisted in oppos-
ing them. W. A. Smith of Virginia headed a move-
ment for a separation from the North and called a
caucus of the dissatisfied ones. Peter Cartwright of
Illinois, ^3 the famous backwoods preacher, and a mild
anti-slavery man, was invited to one of these meetings
and reported that while some hotheads would go with
Mr. Smith, most of those present would never consent
to a division. ^* The matter soon dropped but it showed
the increasing difficulty of pleasing all the factions
within the church.
In the pastoral address which the Conference
issued to the church this perplexing subject was dis-
cussed. In it the official body reiterated the hostility
of the church to radical movements and most earnestly
counseled the brethren ''wholly to refrain from the
31 "An Address to the General Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, 1836," by Rev Oranf?e Scott, a member of that body.
32 "Journals," I. 479, 486. For the debate see "Debate on
'Modern Abolitionism,' " 65-83. Some of the more pungent personal
references appear on pages 73, 82-83.
33 "Journals," I. 426.
34 Peter Cartwright, "Autobiography," 361. "Z. H.." Sept.
21 and Oct. 26, refers to this idea of Dr. Smith's. See also "Zion's
Watchman," ("Z. W.") Sept. 7, Oct. 12, 19, and Nov. 2, 1836.
34 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
agitating subject" of abolitionism. ^^ Next day this
much troubled Conference adjourned. ^^
The conflict was now transferred to the annual and
local conferences. These had already begun to express
their views rather freely and boldly. In 1835 the Ohio
conference passed resolutions expressing its confidence
in the existing anti-slavery position of the church and
regretting the proceedings of the abolitionists with the
feeling these produced at the South. ^"^ Resolutions to
the same effect were passed from time to time by the
Baltimore, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Michi-
gan and other conferences. ^^ On the other hand the
radicals who dominated the New England conferences
were trying to get themselves on record against slavery
and for abolitionism. It should not surprise us that the
bishops undertook to silence these disturbers. Attempts
to do this led, in the northeast, to the struggle on con-
ference rights, a conflict between the bishops and the
preachers as to what was and what was not legitimate
business for the annual and local conferences. Differ-
ences had arisen even before the sessions of the Gen-
eral Conference of 1836, as for instance when the pre-
siding bishop, Emory, in the New Hampshire con-
ference of 1835 refused to put a motion to adopt a com-
mittee report on slavery, although he allowed the pro-
posed action in committee of the whole. ^^ A good ex-
35 "Journals," I. 487. The pastoral address is in "C. A. and J.,"
June 17, 1836.
36 "Journals," I. 499. Some excitement was produced also by
the necessity of dealing with the anti-slavery petitions that came in.
"Journals," I. 440, 475. "Debate on 'Modern Abolitionism'," 86.
37 Elliott, "Great Secession," Document 20. "Z. H." Sept. 30,
1835.
38 Elliott, "Great Secession," 141, (Baltimore and N. T. resolu-
tions). Matlack, "Anti-slavery Struggle," 83, (Extracts from Phil-
adelphia and Pittsburg resolutions). The N. Y. resolves also appear
in "C. A. and J.," July 1, 1836.
39 Matlack, "Am. Slav, and Meth.," 40-41. This is perhaps
"the first innovation upon Conference Rights."
AGITATIONS AND SECESSIONS 35
ample of this problem in its extreme form is afforded
by the proceedings of the New England conference in
1837. The preachers were determined that a strong
expression of their anti-slavery views should be placed
on record. Bishop Waugh was equally determined
that it should not. Since he was a stranger to their
conference they thought it would be a courteous thing
to correspond, or confer, with him beforehand. He
was told that numerous petitions had come to them
asking for action against slavery; that they desired to
present these and have them referred to a committee.
They threatened that if this request were rejected the
conference might refuse to do business at all. The
bishop did refuse, arguing that conference action on
slavery was unnecessary; that the church was anti-
slavery; that the General Conference had condemned
abolitionism; that it was not conference business; that
their proposed action would unchristianize the South;
and that the conference, not being a legislative body,
could not receive petitions. He expressed regret at
having to antagonize such a body of men, but felt that
he must under the circumstances. Appealing to them
not to persist he asked: ''Will you, brethren, hazard
the unity of the Methodist Episcopal Church. . .by
agitating those fearfully exciting topics, and that too,
in opposition to the solemn decision and deliberate con-
clusion of the General Conference ? . . . Are you will-
ing to contribute to the destruction of our beautiful
and excellent form of civil ^^ and political government,
40 One of the commonest ideas running through this whole
controversy, is that somehow those who are endangering the unity of
the church by their agitations are also threatening the unity of the
nation. Such thoughts are expressed, for instance, in the following :
"Debates," (1844), 90-91, Remarks of Mr. Bowen. "Ibid.," 95, 237, Mr.
Crowder. "C. A. and J.," Aug. 7, 1844, Letter of W. A. Booth, and pro-
ceedings of the Wesley Chapel Station, Washington, D. C. Cartwright,
"Autobiography," 420. Smith, "Life of Bishop Andrew," 371. Mass.
Anti-Slav. Soc, Annual Report, (1845), 53.
36 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
after it has cost the labor, treasure and blood of our
fathers to establish it?... I would that it [slavery]
were obliterated from the earth ; but in view of the
terrible consequences that are likely to follow the
agitation of those exciting topics at the present I can-
not consent to be participant in any sense or degree,
in those measures which are advocated by modern aboli-
tionists." The preachers were unconvinced by this
pleading and demanded equal rights with the Ohio,
Baltimore, New York and other conferences in the ex-
pression of their opinions on slavery. ^^ It grieved
them to see that theirs was the only class of opinions
denied free expression in the conferences. ^^ No com-
promise was reached and when the conference met at
Nantucket, the petitions were presented, but the presi-
dent refused to put a motion referring them to a com-
mittee, or to allow an appeal from his decisiion. ^^ The
conflict was resumed at the next annual session with
the same negative results. Scott made several at-
tempts at this session to get resolutions through but
failed (1838). Finally, he sat down evidently grieved
and oppressed by the proceedings. The bishop then
called on him to close the conference with singing and
prayer. He declined, and Horton, another staunch
abolitionist was called on. With a certain grim humor
41 This episode with correspondence between the bishop and the
abolitionists is reported in "Z. H.," June 28, 1837.
42 For instance, aside from the opposition to abolitionist tactics
expressed in the resolutions of various northern conferences, that of
Georgia was allowed to say (1837) : "That it is the sense of the
Georgia Annual Conference, that slavery, as it exists in the United
States, is not a moral evil." Copied from "Charleston Mercury" into
"Z. H.," Jan. 10, 1838. This partiality the radicals naturally resented
and it evidenced to them the pro-slavery leaning of the official church.
43 "Z. H.," July 5, 1837 ; MS. "Journal New England Conf.,"
June 14, 1837.
AGITATIONS AND SECESSIONS 37
he gave out the following verse which reports say, was
sung with remarkable fervor :
"Come my partners in distress,
My comrades through this wilderness,
Who still your bodies feel.
Awhile forget your griefs and fears,
And look beyond this vale of tears " etc. **
The same conflict showed itself on a smaller scale
in the quarterly meeting conferences. The Meadville
district of the Erie conference, (1838), Duxbury, Mass.,
(1838), and Cleveland, as well as others reported
trouble. The experiences of Duxbury are typical. At
this meeting one of the members offered a set of resolu-
tions of the usual import but the final one of the set is
of more than ordinary significance. It declared that
''while God gives us the exercise of our reason and the
use of our tongues, we will continue to plead for the
slave and will not be silenced by civil or ecclesiastical
bodies." Here is a thinly veiled hint at rebellion
against the church, Methodist opposition to slavery
showed ominous signs of expanding into opposition to
the government and constitution of the church.
The presiding elder refused to put the resolutions
to vote because he believed them to be opposed to the
advice of the General Conference and a reflection on
the administration of the bishops. The members re-
fused to do any other business until the vote was taken.
The presiding elder then left the chair thus bringing
the session to an abrupt close. One of the preachers
44 Matlack, "Am. Slav, and Methodism," 60-61,
38 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
took his place, called for the vote on the resolutions
which were passed unanimously.^^
The impossibility of getting their opinions ex-
pressed through what they thought to be natural chan-
nels led the Methodist abolitionists to go outside the
official bodies and act through unofficial conventions.
Several such were held during this quadrennium. ^6
The first '^'^ in New England assembled at Lynn, Mass.,
October 25 and 26, 1837. It issued a declaration of
sentiments and discussed thoroughly the question of
conference rights on which it set forth its views in a
special report. ^^ Another convention met at Utica,
N. Y., in the following May. Here it was decided to
45 "Z. H.," Oct 31, 1838 ; MS. "Journal New Eng. Conf.," June
5, 10, 11, 12, 1839. See also the case of D. Dorchester at the same
session. Mr. Sprague, the mover of the resolutions, remarked signi-
ficantly during the discussion, that it was just such arbitrary meas-
ures that were alienating the membership from Episcopal Methodism,
and disturbing the peace and harmony of the church. On the
oppressors of the abolitionists, he believed, rested the responsibility
for this alienation. At a quarterly meeting at Duxbury the follow-
ing year a similar clash occurred. "Z. H.," Apr. 24, 1839, Oc-
casionally there appeared in the Methodist Episcopal Church press
extreme reactionary views, against the talk of church oppression and
conference rights. For instance in the "C. A. and J.," Feb. 2, 1838,
this thesis is maintained by a correspondent signing himself "Doulos :"
"The will of the church in all things indifferent — things neither
required nor prohibited by some Scriptural precept, example, or neces-
sary inference is the will of God : and designed, of course, to be
the rule of our conduct." The controversy over conference rights
may be followed further by means of a plentiful correspondence in
"C. A. and J.," and "Z. H." In the former every issue from Dec. 1,
1837 to April 1, 1838, except those of Jan. 5 and Feb. 23 gives more
or less space to the subject.
46 1836-1840.
47 The first convention of this sort appears to have met in
Cazenovia, N. Y., August, 1837. It is referred to in "C. A. and J.,"
Mar. 2, 1838. (Editorial and Fisk's letter). The official proceedings
appear in "Z. W.," Aug. 12, 1837.
48 See "Z. H.," Oct. 11, 18, Nov. 22, 29 and Dec. 6, 1837. The
declaration of sentiments appeared Nov. 22, the report of the com-
mittee on slavery a week later and the report of the committee on
conference rights appeared Dec. 6. See also "Z. W.," Nov. 11, 1837.
AGITATIONS AND SECESSIONS 39
send a delegate and an address to the British Metho-
dists. Although nothing came of it ^^ this plan was
hailed with joy by abolitionists in the church as they
hoped thus to get a fair hearing in England and more
sympathy in the grand work of emancipation. ^^ A
third convention at Lowell also encouraged them in
their work. ^^
Another policy which the church felt obliged to
adopt in self defence proved a source of great irrita-
tion to the agitators. Great care was taken in some
conferences to exclude abolitionists from the traveling
ministry. The experiences of Rev. L. C. Matlack ^^ of
the Philadelphia conference are illustrative. In 1837
his quarterly meeting conference gave him a unanimous
recommendation to the Philadelphia annual conference
for reception as a traveling preacher. Just before that
conference met he helped in the organization of a small
"Wesleyan anti-slavery society of which he was made
secretary. For this act the conference rejected him.
Some of the preachers knew him and were friendly, but
the bitter feeling against the abolitionists kept him out.
"When it was urged upon the conference that he was a
49 Scott, the delegate, decided not to go fearing forestallment
and embarrassment from the representatives of the regular American
Methodist authorities. "Anti-Slav. Struggle," 126.
50 "Z. H.," May 9, 1838.
51 "Z. H.," Dec. 5, 12, 1838. These numbers contain the min-
utes of the convention (held Nov. 21 and 22) and its address to the
church.
52 Mr. Matlack was born in 1816. He connected himself with
the Sunday school at Union Methodist Episcopal Church, Philadelphia,
where he was soon promoted to an official position. He was licensed
to preach but being unable to enter the Philadelphia conference he
went to New England. He seceded from the M. E. Church to join
the Wesleyan Connection in 1843, but later in life returned to his old
church allegiance, and wrote the history of the struggle therein for aboli-
tionism. He also wrote a history of the Wesleyan Church and a
biography of O. Scott.
40 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
young man of piety and talents, one member exclaimed
in reply: "If he were as pious as St. Paul and as
talented as an angel, he should never enter this con-
ference as an abolitionist if I could prevent it." He
was allowed to act as assistant at West Chester and
spent the year there. In the following year his appli-
cation was again refused although he was continued as
an assistant. Circumstances now brought him into
touch with Orange Scott. He attended the Utiea and
Lowell conventions and became associated with Scott
in the pastorate of the Lowell church. ^^
Similar in its irritating effect was the persecution,
as it seemed to its victims, of abolitionist preachers
already in the traveling connection. Immediatelj^
after the General Conference of 1836 Scott was re-
moved from the presiding eldership of the Providence
district. After a year of successful work as pastor at
Lowell, he spent the two following years on the anti-
slavery lecture platform, then returned to Lowell
53 For a full account of these transactions see Matlack, L. C,
"Narrative of Anti-slavery Experiences."
Just before the annual conference met, Matlack met his pastor
on the street and the following dialogue took place : "So you attended
at the formation of the Abolition Society the other night."
"Yes, Sir, I was present with others."
"And you was [sic] made Secretary, I understand."
"I was."
"Well, were not all those persons members of an Anti-slavery
Society already?"
"I was not aware of the fact."
"Why, were they not members of the Methodist Episcopal Church?"
"They were without an exception."
"Is not the Methodist Church an Anti-slavery Society?"
"Perhaps it is. So it is a Temperance Society, but all admit the
propriety of forming Total Abstinance Societies, and joining with
them."
"Well, a set of Tomsonian quacks have as much right to get to-
gether and form a Society, and call it the Medical Society of the
Methodist Episcopal Church," etc. "Narrative of Experiences," 3-4.
AGITATIONS AND SECESSIONS 41
where Matlack was associated with him as we have
seen. ^^ LaRoy Sunderland was another to feel the
heavy hand of authority. Soon after joining the
ranks of abolition, he was made editor of "^'Zion's
Watchman " ^^ a radical organ. The conservatives in
the New York conference stung by the sort of gospel
he preached through his paper condemned it by reso-
lution and during the discussion the most violent
charges were brought against him. He was accused
of publishing profanity, of slandering every minister
in the church, of being unfit to edit a religious paper,
and unworthy of the confidence of his brethren. Dr.
Bangs prosecuted him on charges of slander and mis-
representation before the New England conference
of 1836 ; but his many friends in that body won his
exoneration. His foes returned to the attack at each
annual session, until in 1840 he was convicted on one
of many counts, that of having slandered Bishop Soule,
by approving editorially a pointed piece of pungent
poetry applied to him. Considering the position
of the bishop it was decidedly daring and outspoken
and showed how intolerant and exasperating the radi-
cals could be. The poem was apropos of the bishop's
declared refusal ever to advise anyone to free a slave.
The last stanza is as follows :
"Receive this truth — deep, dark thy stain!
Thy very soul is tinged with blood!
Go, do thy first works o'er again;
Go, cleanse thee in the Saviour's blood."
54 Matlack, "Life of Scott," 109-111, 115-118, 121. "Am. Slav,
and Meth.," 158.
55 See MS. "Statement" of Sunderland's p. 6 for some facts on
the founding of the "Watchman." (This "Statement" belongs to the
New England Methodist Hist. Soc. Libr., Boston.) Sunderland car-
ried the whole of the first issue to the post office himself, in a
pillow case.
42 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
The only penalty was that he publish the decision in
his paper without note or comment. ^^
A little incident at the trial at which he was thus
convicted brings out the extreme bitterness between
the two parties. Bishops Soule himself was presiding
(very unwisely under the circumstances, one would
think) and his rulings on his own case brought sharp
words from the defendant. These seemed to Soule
to require a stern rebuke. He tried to administer it
thus: "In all my experience," he said, "and in all
my intercourse with my f ellowmen, I have this to say,
that LaRoy Sunderland is the first man that ever
dared to speak to me in that manner." Sunderland
almost screamed in reply, "I thank God, Sir, that you
have lived long enough to find one man who will tell
you to your face what many others say of you behind
your back."^^^ The several trials under these
charges were too much for Sunderland. He with-
drew from the traveling ministry and from the church,
and later in life repudiated orthodox Christianity al-
together.
Thus the struggle went on and in spite of rebuffs
abolitionists continued for a time their policy of boring
from within the church. Considerable activity was
56 For other cases of alleged persecution see Matlack, "Am.
Slav, and Meth.," ch. XIV.
56a These trials may be followed in "Z. W.," Aug. 3, 10, 17, 24,
31, 1836, and on through year by year to 1840 ; also in MS. "Journal
New Eng. Conf.," 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839, 1840. The account for
1840 is very full. The poem is in the issue of "Z. H.," Aug. 15,
1840, and the required statement of the findings of the conference
against Sunderland is published in black faced type with a heavy
border, Aug. 1, 1840. A general statement of the trials by Sunder-
land may be seen in his MS. "Statement," 7-17. The poem and
introduction appear at pages 11, 17. The defiance of the bishop is
on page 16. The dialogue is somewhat differently stated there from
what I have stated it in the text. The text statement is from
Matlack, "Anti-slav. Struggle and Tri.," 132 n. See also Matlack,
"Am. Slav, and Meth.." 250-54.
AGITATIONS AND SECESSIONS 43
being manifested in western New York, western Penn-
sylvania, Ohio and Michigan as well as other places
outside New England. ^^^ Many members also both
lay and clerical, had become thoroughly disgusted
with the pro-slavery, or merely nominal anti-slavery,
position of the church, with what they regarded as
the tyranny of the episcopal administration, and with
the undemocratic polity that would tolerate it. In
the light of the harrowing experiences of recent years
Avhat could be the mutual attitude of the two wings
of the church at the approaching General Con-
ference ? ^'^ Orange Scott had again been elected a
delegate and had spent some time trying to answer the
abolitionist's part of this question. A very significant
correspondence was going on between him and some
friends about it. One writer fearing that Scott's
name might be stricken from the list of members at
the first meeting of the Conference, asked what the
other New England delegates would do in that con-
tingency. Another hoped that if any proscriptive
action was taken it would be such as to drive all
abolitionists in the church to sustain their leaders. If
they could not stay in the old church and oppose
slavery, they did not want to be absorbed into other
denominations, but preferred to remain Methodists, in
an independent denomination with some modifications
in church government. In other words a new church
was clearly hinted at. Scott himself had no idea that
the Methodist church could hold together after the
Conference. Writing to Cyrus Prindle Jan. 1, 1840,
he said, "I have no expectation that the Church will all
remain together after the next General Conference.
There will either be a split between the North and the
56b "American Slav, and Meth.," ch. XI.
57 Of 1840.
44 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
South, or such measures will be adopted as will render
it inconvenient and inconsistent for the abolitionists to
remain in the Church, should the doctrine be set up at
Baltimore, [themeeting place of the General Conference]
of which I have no doubt, that Bishops and Presiding
Elders are the annual and quarterly conferences — i. e.
that no business can be done except as they please and
if in addition to this, oppressive measures should be
adopted against the freedom of speech (aholitionism) ,
I, for one, could not longer remain in the Church."
Rumors were rife of proscriptive measures to be taken
by the General Conference, and the unequal contest
within the church was making the once dreaded alter-
native of separation appear quite bearable. ^^
With the radicals in this mood and their foes con-
sidering anything but concession the Conference met.^**
Petitions for moderate episcopacy, lay representation,
anti-slavery action and petitions condemning any anti-
slavery action poured in. A committee was appointed
to consider them. Scott presented a petition from New
York City, which cost the Conference much time and
temper. It was claimed that the petition had been
padded, and an elaborate investigation by each party
succeeded only in convincing each set of partisans that
it was right. The episode showed how keen each side
was to find something damaging to the other. ^^ We
58 Matlack, "Life of Scott," 161-164.
59 It met at Baltimore, May 1, 1840. The twenty-eight annual
conferences were represented by 143 delegates. "Journals," II. (1840),
4, 7.
60 The episode may be followed in "Journals," II. (1840), 14, 82 ;
Matlack, "Scott," 166-173; "Z. W.," June 27, 1840; "Z. H.," June 3.
1840 ; "C. A. and J.," May 15 and June 5, 1840.
The conservative investigators claimed to find that 813 of the
1154 alleged signers were women, that 100 names were entered twice ;
that many names were forgeries, that many of the signers were not
Methodists, that it contained names of young children and that some
AGITATIONS AND SECESSIONS 45
may note in passing that the Conference unlike its
predecessor, was unable to get on the records any clear
cut condemnation of abolitionism. There was one
question before the Conference, insistent, transcendant,
threatening, on the decision of which hung the future
unity of the church, and that was the question of con-
ference rights. Little doubt existed as to how it would
be decided. It came up during the Conference in two
ways, and first through a case of appeal. Eev. Daniel
Dorchester, a presiding elder in the New England con-
ference, had been condemned for exceedinghis authority
in suddenly ending a quarterly conference in the midst
of business he had permitted to come before it, ®^ thus
abridging its privileges. The appeal was admitted
and after a hearing it was resolved that the decision of
the New England conference imposing censure on him
should be reversed. ^^ This resolution clearly fore-
shadowed the action Conference would take on the
problem that had so irritated the abolitionists. The
second time it came up through a direct request from
the bishops for an authoritative ruling for their own
future guidance, ^^ Toward its close the Conference
whose names appeared had absolutely refused to sign. The anti-
slavery people took up the affair and proved to their own satisfaction
at least, that except for some slight misunderstandings it was all right.
Two petitions, one on slavery and one on temperance, it was said, had
been mixed up. One of the fictitious names, a Miss Patten, who
could not be found at 219 Allen Street, the address given, was found
at 129 in the same street, etc. Some who were reported to have been
imposed upon in signing said so only when aslied if they had signed
a petition for amalgamation, for a division of the church, or for a new
Discipline, and of course they could truthfully say that they had
signed no such petition, that if their names were on it it was only by
imposition. (How human! !)
61 "Z. H.," Oct. 2, Nov. 13, 20, 1839 ; MS. "Journal New Eng.
Conf.," June 13, 14, 1839.
62 "Journals," II. (1840), 46-48; "Z. H.," May 20, 1840; "C.
A. and J.," May 22, 1840.
63 "Journals," II. (1840), 138.
The address of the bishops in which this request was made is in
"Z. H.," May 20, 1840 and in "C. A. and J.," May 22, 1840.
46 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
decided that the president had the right to decline
putting a question which in his judgment did not
relate to the proper business of an annual conference,
provided that, on request, he must insert in the joiirnal
his refusal and the reasons therefor, and, if the mem-
bers differed from the president, they also might
record their dissent. It was decided further that the
president of an annual or quarterly conference might
adjourn it when in his judgment, all its proper business
had been transacted. And here again if its members
took exception to his course, such exception might be
entered in the journal. ^* Thus the whole contention
of the abolitionists was denied. The presiding officer
could fully control their activities in the local con-
ferences. The thing that Scott most dreaded had
happened. ^^
The abolitionist outlook was now decidedly cloudy.
It was a period of great discouragement especially for
those in the Methodist Church as they had just wit-
nessed the sweeping victory of their opponents in the
highest legislative body of the denomination. In the
summer of 1840 Scott, by the authority of the Utica
convention, called a new convention to meet in New
York City the following October. The call gave the
doings of the late Conference as sufficient reason for
meeting. Numerically it was a great success — the
largest convention ever held by the Methodist radicals,
• — but its results were disappointing. It organized an
64 "Journals," II. (1840), 111-112, 120-121; "Z. H.," June 10,
1840; "C. A. and J.," June 12, 1840.
The proceedings are naturally given more fully in the church
newspapers than in the "Journals."
65 It will be recalled that it was this Conference that passed
the resolution noted at the end of chapter I. which marked the
furthest step of official Methodism away from the high standards of
the early days.
AGITATIONS AND SECESSIONS 47
American "Wesleyan Anti-Slavery Society which failed
to survive its first anniversary; and its plan for a
separate anti-slavery missionary society met with little
public favor. ^'^ The radicals, both in and out of the
Methodist Episcopal Church had fallen on evil days.
It was a time of reaction, lethargy and disappointment
among them. The Garrisonian party had split on the
rocks of internal dissension. Personal disagreements,
differences over the Bible, the status of women, non-
resistance and politics had divided them fatally. ^^ The
annual income of the older society fell from $47,000 to
$7,000, and the number of local societies and members
declined greatly. The new society formed in 1840 had
no such galaxy of speakers and writers as the older
one ; the western societies never united with it, and rad-
ical abolitionism appeared to be waning before the more
practical political anti-slavery movement connected
with the proposed annexation of Texas. ^^ Many
Methodists formerly active fell out of the fight. Scott's
health failed and he dropped his work at Lowell, Mass.,
retiring to Newbury, Vt., where he occupied himself
with manual labor and the writing of an occasional
letter to the press. Meetings were held in various
parts of the country, and formal activity kept up, but
the loss of interest could not be concealed. For the
Methodist abolitionists there was no more prospect of
winning the church over to their views than there had
been in 1836. "Zion's Watchman" was forsaken and
interested itself in mesmerism. '^^ ^'Zion's Herald"
67 Matlack, "American Slavery and Methodism," 223-5. An
official account of the proceedings appears in "Z. H.," Nov. 4 and 11,
1840, taken from "The Watchman." The Convention sat October 6, 7,
8, 1840.
68 Hart, "Slavery and Abolition," 197.
69 "Ibid.," 201.
70 See articles appearing Sept. 11, 1841 and succeeding issues,
also material in the issues of Oct. 23, 30, 1841.
48 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
almost ceased to print anti-slavery articles. In the fall
of 1842 Bishop Hedding could say that the radical
excitement in the church was at an end. The editor
of the "Herald" said that the abolitionists in turning
the war from slavery to the episcopacy had contributed
to the general depression. Doubtless the clearer
appreciation of the alternatives before them led many
to pause in their course. Scott summed up the situation
candidly in 1842 when he remarked that there was
no choice "but to submit pretty much to things as they
are or secede." Secessions were no new experience
for the Methodist Episcopal Church. They had oc-
curred at intervals almost from its foundation. Since
1839 secessions of individuals and small groups of
abolitionists had taken place in Ohio, New York, Michi-
gan, Pennsylvania and elsewhere. "^^ This was the
net result of the clash between the radicals and the
church officials and press during the preceding decade.
When these fragments came together we had a new
denomination, a purely anti-slavery secession — the
Wesleyan Methodist Connection of America.
"While Scott was in retirement the Lowell churches
managed to get into trouble with the bishop (1841).
They had petitioned for a preacher, then stationed in
Ithaca, and had been refused. They next adopted the
revolutionary course of choosing a pastor for them-
selves regardless of the episcopacy, the only legal
appointing power in the church. Scott, whom they
called to their pulpit abetted them. A bitter fight en-
71 This account is made up from the following :
Matlack, "Am. Slav, and Meth.," 233 ; Matlack, "Scott," 185 ; "Z.
H.," June 15, 1842, (Letter of Scott to the "Herald") ; Luther Lee,
"Autobiography," ch. XXV. ; Matlack, "Wesleyan Methodist Con-
nection," 301-306, (part of his "Am. Slav, and Methodism"). The
quotation is taken from the letter to the "Herald."
AGITATIONS AND SECESSIONS 49
sued during which the churches were declared outside
the connection. Shortly a compromise was effected
which appeared to satisfy all parties. '^^ The sig-
nificance of this incident, thinks Scott's biographer,
lies in the part it played in reviving his radicalism,
which for a time he had restrained. His funda-
mental dissatisfaction with the church and the steady
stream of correspondence '^^ urging him to blaze
the way for his friends caused the movement toward
secession to proceed more rapidly.
A meeting at Albany in November, was suggested
to talk things over. In September Scott wrote to
Prindle that after hesitating and hesitating he had at
last decided to leave the church. He asked if Prindle
was willing to join with Horton, Sunderland and him-
self in an anti-slavery, anti-intemperance, anti-every-
thing-wrong church organization. He thought that
within a year they could have over a score of ministers
and one or two thousand members. As a general plan
72 The Lowell affair can be followed in "Z. H.," Aug. 25, Sept.
15, 22 and Oct. 6, 1841 ; MS. "Journal New Eng. Conf.," July 2, 1842,
July 3, 4, 5, 6, 1843. Strange to say Scott was never punished for
his part in this local revolt. In a letter to three of the bishops and
the editor of the New York official paper, while claiming to stand
firm on fundamentals, he retreated somewhat on questions of method
and detail. This may have had something to do with his escape.
The nature of this letter can be seen from editor Bond's letter to
Scott in reply, Matlack, "Scott," 194-95.
73 Matlack, "Scott," 196-201. Before the Conference of 1840
a preacher had written to him : "We must have a new church."
Another in 1841 said, "The time has come. . . . We must have a new
connection on Wesleyan principles." One who had already seceded
wrote, "How long are you going to hold on? We have created an
appetite among many lay members for liberty. . . . Now, Bro. Scott,
does not duty require that you should look after the scattered sheep?"
In the summer of 1842 his friends were telling him that abolitionists
wondered what had become of him. "You have been," said one, "the
leading spirit in the mighty war for principles that has been going
on . . . and all eyes are turned to you .... Our enemies however think
you have submitted and begged for favor."
50 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
of government he suggested that of the English Wes-
leyans with improvements. ''^ At the Albany meet-
ing '^^ they decided definitely to withdraw. They
discussed the principles of the new connection,
and planned a new weekly paper, the first number of
which should contain their reasons for leaving the
Methodist Episcopal Church. '^^ Briefly summarized
their published reasons were as follows: (1) The
Methodist Church makes itself responsible for slavery
by having no rule forbidding slaveholding by private
members, by declaring slaveholding to be in harmony
with the golden rule, and by allowing annual con-
ferences to say it is not a moral evil; (2) it is aristo-
cratic in its government and no logic can make it appear
democratic; and (3) it has adopted an uncharitable
attitude toward the dissenting brethren. '^'^ Obviously
the only real cause of the secession was dissatisfaction
with the position of the church on slavery; the other
grievances were incidental to this.
A preliminary convention was held at Andover,
Mass., in February, 1843, which approved the forma-
tion of local Wesleyan Societies pending the establish-
ment of a general organization, and called a great con-
vention to meet at Utica, May 31, 1843. '^^ A special
74 Matlack, "Scott," 202.
75 Not. 2, 3, 1842.
76 Matlack, "Scott," 202-204; Luther Lee, "Autobiog.," ch.
XXVL The new paper was "The True Wesleyan."
77 Scott, "Grounds of Secession from the Methodist Episcopal
Church," 10-13. See also Matlack, "Wesleyan Meth. Connection,"
308-17. Luther Lee, "Autobiog.," ch. XXVII.
Scott's pamphlet is an exhaustive study of the circumstances of
the secession.
The MS "Journal New Eng. Conf.," 1843, 1844, records several
withdrawals of individual preachers and of societies.
78 Matlack, "Wesleyan Methodist Conn.," 325-32.
AGITATIONS AND SECESSIONS 51
invitation was sent to the Michigan seceders to attend
at Utica, and local conventions everywhere were ad-
vised in anticipation of the May meeting. At the
Utica gathering the Wesleyan Connection was formally
organized. Excepting Maine, all the New England
States were represented, together with New York,
Pennsylvania and Michigan. The new Discipline, dif-
fering considerably, as one might expect, from that of
the mother church, prohibited slaveholding, and the
use of intoxicating liquors. It provided for lay repre-
sentation in the conferences, allowed conferences to
elect their own presidents, and formed a stationing com-
mittee of six, whose chief duty was to confirm as far as
possible arrangements made between pastors and
people. Geographically, the new church was divided
into six conferences stretching from Maine to Michigan,
and from the lakes to the slavery line. It started with
a membership of about 6000. "^^
Meantime this movement had not been unnoticed
by the officials, press and loyal membership of the old
church. Its aims had been ridiculed, its leaders mis-
judged and misrepresented in the most violent manner.
Neither side could claim a monopoly of bitter personal-
ity and the tendency to impute the lowest of motives to
its opponents. Certain it is that the whole movement
can be adequately accounted for from the viewpoint of
either side without resorting to individual selfishness
or love of place and power as explanations. Yet all the
way through it was apparently an axiom with either
79 "Ibid.," 334-37. At their first General Conference, in the fall
of 1844, the membership had more than doubled and four new con-
ferences were added. "Ibid.," 338, 349 ; "Life of Scott," 220 ; "Dis-
cipline of the Wesleyan Methodist Connection of America," 22, 26,
27, 29, 31, 91, 94-96 ; Luther Lee, "Autobiog.," ch. XXVIII,
52 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
party that the other must be actuated by unworthy
personal motives. ^^
80 This is the saddest revelation that comes to the student of
this division. Scott freely admitted that his methods and language
and personalities had been too violent, and in his calmer moments he
deplored his failing. See his letter in "Z. H.," June 15, 1842. Illustra-
tions of the extravagances of his opponents are plentiful also. Here
is a Southern minister's opinion of Sutherland and "The Watchman :"
"Did you calculate to misrepresent the Methodist Discipline and say
it supported abolitionism, when the General Conference, in their late
resolutions, denounced it as a libel on truth? '0, full of suhtlety, thou
child of the Devil!' all liars saith the sacred volume shall have their
part in the lake of fire and brimstone." "Desiring no further acquaint-
ance with you, and never expecting to see you but once in time or
eternity, that is at judgment, I subscribe myself, the friend of the
Bible and the opposer of Abolitionists." Parker Pillsbury, "The
Church As It Is," 18, (edition of 1847).
The most sinister motives are suspected as seen in the follow-
ing extract from an editorial in "Zion's Herald," Nov. 2, 1842, when
it came to the editor's ears that secession was brewing : "What is the
precise form of the proposed movement, we cannot say ; but we can
say, that it is riot to be an honest effort, ty discussion or petition, to
alter our economy, but a revolt, in which the leaders Ml their secret
correspondence and preparations, are to carry with them all the spoils
they can. As improbable and iniquitous as such a project may seem
to our readers, we now assure them that such it substantially is. ..."
The following editorial extract from "The Christian Advocate and
Journal," Nov. 9, 1842, is still more to be deplored : "The agents of
this great enterprise are, certain preachers who had grown so big
that, as we had long ago foreseen, we poor Methodists, could find no
place among us large enough for their accommodation. They have,
at length, resolved to make a place for themselves, and we predict
that they will, in the course of a year or two, be sweated down to
naturalsized men or be crushed to death by the fall of the building they
are erecting. . . . They will now hazard all for revenge. ..."
See also "Christian Advocate and Journal," Nov. 30, 1842, for an
editorial headed "The Denouement. Wonderful Explosion. Sunder-
land, Scott & Co. Again." This is a very sarcastic reference to their
leaving the church, in the course of which occurs the following
sentence : "But, the truth is, this ultra abolitionism is only the mask,
the thin disguise, which has been made to hide an ulterior purpose for
a long time past" — a statement as far from the truth as the con-
tinual abolitionist assumption that the course of the bishops in the
northeastern annual conferences was inspired solely by a desire to
retain power and authority.
There is ample evidence that party policy played a prominent role
on both sides. It was intimated that the authorities wanted to
drive the radicals out for effect, and that the radicals hoped for
violent action against themselves as that would unite them and make
AGITATIONS AND SECESSIONS 53
The "Wesleyan secession had an immediate effect
on the Methodist Church especially in the northeast.
Abolitionists who wished to stand by the old ship were
aroused from their inactivity. It was necessary to
develop the anti-slavery spirit among loyal Methodists
in order to stem the exodus from the church. Loyal
Methodists began to employ the previously much de-
nounced convention for their own purposes. Several
were held in the winter and early spring of 1843. It
seemed as if New England were moving en masse, and
the utterances of these gatherings were the most radi-
cal ever heard. It was determined to convince Metho-
dists that no one needed to leave the church in order
to be a thorough abolitionist. Immediately after the
withdrawal of Scott and his companions, the first con-
vention was called by a group of Boston preachers, to
meet in that city January 18 and 19, 1843. Its object
was to preserve the unity and harmony of the church.
Many, including the editor of ''Zion's Herald"
approved it upon this ground and upon this ground
alone. The convention voted that slaveholding was
sin, and that nothing short of speedy separation from
slavery could satisfy abolitionists and save the church
from serious division. ^^
them look more like martyrs. See letter of Moses Hill, (Matlack,
"Anti-Slavery Struggle and Triumph," 145), for intimation of a plan
to drive the radicals out. See also letter of Horton, (Matlack, "Life
of Scott," 191-92), for an intimation that the radicals realized the
value to themselves of expulsion by the church.
81 For the Boston Convention see "Z. H.," Dec. 28, 1842, (call
for the Convention and a brief approving editorial) ; Jan. 4, 11, and
18, 1843. Jan. 25, 1843, there appeared the full official proceedings.
Its "Address to the Slaveholders of the Church" appeared serially in
the issues Feb. 1, 8 and 15, 1843.
There is some evidence that the Boston Convention was packed
by men who had already decided to secede. To the extent that this
was true it militates somewhat against the significance of its utter-
ances. See editorials in "Z. H.," March 8 and May 31, 1843.
54 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
Other conventions took equally radical ground.
At the New Market, (Lamprey River), N. H., meeting,
held March 8 and 9, 1843, it was emphatically declared
that in order to prevent the entire dissolution of the
Methodist Church in New England, complete separa-
tion from the South and slavery was necessary; and
they planned petitions to the next General Conference
asking either the formal division of the North from
the South along the line separating the slaveholding
from the free states, or that the northeastern anti-
slavery conferences be set off by themselves. ^^
These meetings produced great excitement in the
church and the slaveholder was denounced with all
the vigor of the early days. There is abundant testi-
mony to the influence of these movements on the
church. ^^ It is significant that the strict episcopal ad-
82 The official proceedings of the New Market Convention
appear in "Z. H.," March 29, 1843.
There was also a lively convention at Hallowell, Me., Feb. 22
and 23, 1843. See "Z. H.," March 15, 1843, where the proceedings and
"Address" are given. There is also a letter by M. Hill on this con-
vention in "Z. H.," April 12, 1843.
For a convention held at Claremont, N. H., March 28, 1843, see
"Z. H.," March 15 and April 19, 1843. The latter copies an account
from the "Claremont National Eagle."
On the conventions see also "Autobiography of Luther Lee," ch.
XXIX. From April 19 to July 5 inclusive every issue of "Z. H."
gives space to the conventions or the secessions.
83 That the troubles of the church would have become over-
whelming without the secession of the Scottites is likely but the im-
portance of the secessions as the events exerting a deciding in-
fluence on the schism of 1844 is freely recognized in contemporary
and later writings. The secessions greatly stimulated the anti-
slavery feeling among those who maintained their allegiance to the
old church. The editor of "The Richmond Christian Advocate" (to be
referred to as "R. C. A.") recognized the jeers and jibes of the
Scottites as a cause of the calling of radical conventions in New
England. Issue of Dec. 28, 1843.
A reviewer (Matlack says it was Dr. Whedon) writing in "The
Quarterly Review" expressed himself in no uncertain terms : "We
honor and love those men," he said. "Their secession, as we believe.
AGITATIONS AND SECESSIONS 55
ministration in the sessions of the annual conferences
was relaxed, no ^^ form of anti-slavery expression being
any longer objected to there; and that "Zion's Herald"
again took up the cudgels as of old. At the same time
other events were influencing moderate anti-slavery
men to co-operate more freely with the abolitionists re-
maining within the church. Not the least of these was
the Slaveholders' Convention which forced upon the
attention of the country the more aggressive pro-slavery
attitude of the South. The convention had sat Jan. 12-
14, 1842, at Annapolis, Md., and had recommended to
the state legislature a long list of amendments to the
slave laws, one effect of which would have been to
make more miserable the lot of the free negro. Many
colored Methodists would have been affected, and when
a bill embodying the convention's recommendations
passed the lower house of the Maryland legislature,
Dr. Bond of "The Christian Advocate and Journal" did
valiant service in procuring its defeat in the Senate.
This pro-slavery plan aroused his ire, and for a time it
looked as if the columns of the great official paper
saved our Church in 1844 from accepting a slaveholding bishop."
"Methodist Quarterly Review," Oct. 1865, 612.
Matlack reports a conversation between himself and Bishop
Thomson, in 1866, in which the bishop assented heartily to the view
that by leaving as they did, the Wesleyans "constrained a develop-
ment of anti-slavery activity within the 'old church,' which they could
not have accomplished by remaining members of it." "Anti-Slavery
Struggle," 144.
Dr. James Porter in his "Compendium" (p. 185), referring to the
Plan of Separation and the situation at the Conference of 1844 said,
"Our choice was between having a slaveholding bishop, the transfer
of our churches to Wesleyanism, so-called, or a general New England
secession...." He thus appreciated the influence which the radical
secession had exerted on many who did not actually secede, but who,
nevertheless insisted on a more definite anti-slavery policy on the
part of the church.
84 This was increasingly true even before secession had begun.
See O. Scott's letter in "Z. H.," June 15, 1842.
56 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
might be pried open to anti-slavery discussions. In his
righteous wrath Dr. Bond promised that since the
slaveholders themselves had removed the ban from sub-
jects hitherto thought surpassingly dangerous, he
would "discuss them to the heart's content of the
Slaveholders' convention." ^^ Other editorials fol-
lowed in which Dr. Bond adopted a modified anti-
slavery tone. He objected to the new southern radical-
ism, which was as dangerous in his eyes as that of
abolitionism, a radicalism which insisted not merely
that slavery must be endured, but that it must be
purposely propagated. This he could not countenance.^^
The new position of the conservative editor of ' ' The
Christian Advocate and Journal" naturally alarmed
the South. Press and conferences began protesting
against it. ^'^ Dr. Wightman of ' ' The Southern Christian
Advocate ' ' ^^ reviewed the whole affair with special
reference to the new attitude of the New York paper,
and he concluded that Dr. Bond's change of view
represented the feeling of that section of church opinion
which would hold the balance of power in the coming
General Conference, (1844) ; that it registered an
ominous growth of the sentiment that slaveholding
was sinful. ^^
The southern editor was only partly right. While
it would be idle to deny that anti-slavery feeling was
increasing in the North thanks partly to the "Wesleyan
secession. Dr. Bond had no intention of going over to
85 61 "Niles Register," 58, 322-23, 356-58 ; "C. A. and J.," March
9, 1842.
86 "C. A. and J.," Aug. .30, 1843.
87 See a typical set of resolutions in "Ibid."
88 Referred to hereafter as "S. C. A."
89 Matlack, '"Anti-Slavery Struggle," 154.
AGITATIONS AND SECESSIONS 57
Scottism. His outburst over the Slaveholders' Con-
vention was but temporary, and he hastened to reassure
the South of his safety and sanity. He admitted that
his remarks had been rash and misleading. His policy
was to remain the same as of old. ^^
This, then, was the situation: The northern seces-
sion had brought confusion and fear to that section of
the church; pro-slavery radicalism, created in part
perhaps, by the denunciations of the abolitionists, had
aroused the moderates and pushed them in the direction
of the radical position. The South feared for her dis-
ciplinary rights, and all far-seeing lovers of Methodism
were trembling for the unity of the church. Truly
the General Conference, now but a few months off,
would face vast problems and disquieting possibilities.
90 Commenting a little earlier on southern opposition to his
supposed new policy, Editor Bond had said, ("C. A. and J.," April 20,
1842): "They infer... "The Christian Advocate and Journal" is to
assume a new position in the Church, and is hereafter to open its
columns for the discussion of... slavery and abolition. We assure
them that we meant no such thing". "We do not intend to depart
from the editorial course which, as we have said, we consider pre-
scribed to us by the Church".
Chapter III
' DIVISION BECOMES INEVITABLE
The outstanding facts in the situation just prior
to the fateful Conference of 1844 were the increased
radicalism of both the abolitionists and the southern
partisans and the shifting of the moderates toward the
position of the former. ^ There was every sort of
speculation in the church as to what might happen at
the Conference. Some saw the real meaning of the
problem and feared the worst; others felt that, since
the firebrands of New England had seceded, a quiet and
harmonious session might be anticipated. Still a third
class, while alive to the seriousness of the crisis, main-
tained an optimistic feeling and vigorously repelled the
bare suggestion that schism was a possibility. ^ In
general it may be said that the approaching meeting
was awaited with anxiety not only by the church but
to some extent by the whole country. The slavery
issue was prominent enough in 1844, through the agi-
tation of Texan annexation and otherwise to make any
controversy involving it a matter of general interest.
1 This situation corresponded rather closely with that confront-
ing the nation in 1860, politically speaking, although by that time
the abolitionists had ceased to be an effective force and their place
was taken by the so-called anti-slavery men.
Strange to say the real fighters in the Conference of 1844 were
neither pro-slavery men nor abolitionists, but moderate anti-slavery
men.
2 In "Z. H.," Ma3' 1, 1844, the editor expressed his amusement
at the thought that unity was at stake.
The "C. A. and J.," May 1, 1844, had no "foreboding." "We
confidently look for a peaceable, harmonious, and eminently useful
session".
DIVISION BECOMES INEVITABLE 59
The Conference met in the Green Street church,
New York City, May 1. There were 180 delegates from
the thirty-three annual conferences. ^ A gathering of
nearly two hundred Methodist preachers made rather
a striking appearance. Few young men were elected
to the General Conferences. The body was composed in
part of men in the prime of life, at the high water mark
of intellect and eloquence and, perhaps in greater part,
of hoary-headed, venerable appearing men who had
given their best years to the cause. * Naturally the
Conference included most of the leaders of mid-century
Methodism. There was Dr. Stephen Olin of the New
York conference who had lived both North and South,
and who more fully perhaps than anyone else under-
stood and sympathized with both sections. He saw
vividly the difficulties that threatened his beloved
church. At this time he was president of Wesleyan
University, at Middletown, Connecticut, There was
Nathan Bangs, a conservative Connecticut Yankee —
editor, teacher, pastor, missionary enthusiast, and
historian of the church ; Peter Cartwright, the pictur-
esque backwoods preacher from Illinois whose "Auto-
biography" is a frontier classic; and Charles Elliott,
who had entered the ministry in his native Ireland and
had come to America to play a prominent part as
editor and preacher. He became the historian of the
great schism. These men represented the moderate
party in the Conference. From New England came
the abolitionists James Porter and Phineas Crandall.
From the South came Henry Bascom of Kentucky,
.3 "Journals," II. (1844), 3-5. Volume II. contains the "Jour-
nals" of 1840 and 1844 and the "Debates" of 1844, each part being
separately paged. See map for the names and boundaries of the annual
conferences as geographical nnits.
4 The reporters for the "New York Tribune" were much im-
pressed with this appearance of wisdom, kindliness and venei'ability
in the Conference. "Weekly Tribune," May 4, 1844.
60 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
friend of Henry Clay, ^ peerless pulpit orator and con-
fidant of southern statesmen ; William Winans of Mis-
sissippi; the rugged Capers of South Carolina who
''spoke in Italics and wore no cravat;" ^ and the brace
of Pierces, father and son, of Georgia; George F., the
younger, destined to be a bishop in the southern Metho-
dist church, and both prominent champions of their
section in 1844. Last to be mentioned, but by no
means least, was "William A. Smith of Virginia, the
versatile stickler for the letter of the church constitu-
tion, exactly typical of the theories of his section,
political and otherwise, one of the most powerful men
in the Conference. "^
No sooner was the simple work of organization
completed than the burning issue of slavery arose. Peti-
tions to deal with the slave question and the appoint-
ment of a committee on slavery ^ brought it up incident-
ally. It thrust itself right into the center of the stage,
however, when the Harding appeal from a decision of
the Baltimore conference was presented.
Mr. Harding was a traveling preacher who had
been suspended by his conference for refusing to free
5 Henkle, "Life of Bascom," 105-106.
6 McTyeire, "Hist, of Methodism," 624 ; Smith, "Life of Bishop
Andrew," 125.
7. Thirteen of the members subsequently became bishops. Alex-
ander, "Hist, of the M. E. Church, South," 15.
8 Dr. Capers objected to these discussions of the subject from
General Conference to General Conference as though it were a proper
matter for legislation. Mr. Collins of the Baltimore conference, (by
geography and otherwise a moderate) on the other hand, thought it
would make matters worse and increase the agitation if the subject
were not taken up. It must be managed so as to create the least
excitement possible.
A committee was appointed whose subsequent report showed
petitions from nine annual conferences and others from the people,
containing in all 10,000 signatures. "Journals," II. (1844), 13, 112;
"Debates," 5, 6.
DIVISION BECOMES INEVITABLE 61
some slaves obtained by marriage. Now he appealed
to the General Conference to reverse that decision and
restore him to his old place. The case was taken np
with Mr. Collins as counsel for the Baltimore con-
ference while W. A. Smith appeared for the plaintiff.
The General Conference acted as judge and jury.
Several days or parts of days were occupied in reaching
a decision. ^
The debate rambled widely, involving the whole
slavery issue and the policy of the church. It was
urged in Mr. Harding's behalf that under Maryland
law he did not own the slaves at all, that they belonged
to his wife ; that, under the same law, if he had owned
them, he could not legally have emancipated them.
Thus he claimed protection under that rule of Discipline
which exempts from the emancipation clause those liv-
ing in states where it would be illegal to emancipate.
The resolution passed by the General Conference of
1840 was also referred to as favoring him since accord-
ing to that action ownership of slaves was not a bar
to any official grade in the church. In opposition, it
was contended by the Baltimore conference that Mary-
land did practically permit manumission of slaves for
they could go to Africa or to the free states and that
there was no provision for returning them to servitude.
It was pointed out also that the disciplinary rule apply-
ing to traveling preachers was more severe than that
applying to local preachers or private members, and
that nothing was said against freedmen being
allowed to enjoy their freedom, A colleague of Mr.
Collins supplemented his remarks with the statement
that slaves were constantly being set free in the state. ^"^
9 "Journals," II. (1844), 23; "Debates," 18.
10 "Debates," 19, 22, 31, 32, 33, 41.
62 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
After extended debate in which several other mem-
bers took part, the Conference voted overwhelmingly
against reversing the decision of the Baltimore con-
ference. ^^
The significant fact in the trial and decision of
this appeal was that it revealed the inevitable clash
between the two irreconcilable views on slavery repre-
sented in the Conference. It was this larger issue
which they were actually debating, while the Harding
affair was merely the temporary focus. Harding had
become a slaveholder with his eyes wide open. He
could probably have freed the slaves had he so desired.
The point was that neither he nor his friends thought
his acts morally wrong or ecclesiastically illegal. The
decision showed unmistakably to the southerners what
they had more than suspected already, that their
opponents were in an overwhelming majority in the
Conference and that they were disposed to use their
power. The antagonistic parties stood clearly revealed
to each other. One delegate expressed his opinion on
the situation thus : ' ' The great question of unity is
settled, division is inevitable. ' ' ^^ Others also saw and
were grieved. ^^
11 The vote stood 56 to 117, and the chair's subsequent decis-
ion that this virtually confirmed the action of the Baltimore conference
was sustained by a vote of 111 to 53. "Journals," II. (1844), 33, .S4.
12 G. F. Pierce, "Debates," 110. Myer's, "Disruption of
Episcopal Methodism," 42. Myers asserts that the Harding case
presented a question of similar import to the later Andrew case,
which was already looming up before the Conference, and that it
had been debated and decided with that case constantly in view. There
is no doubt that the relation of Bishop Andrew to slavery, i. e., that
he was a slaveholder, was generally known in the Conference from
the first.
13 "R. C. A.," May 23, 1844. In his editorial correspondence
from the seat of the Conference, Mr. Lee said : "The decision in this
case [Harding's] is a virtual declaration of the opinion of the Gen-
eral Conference that slaveholding constitutes a disqualification for
DIVISION BECOMES INEVITABLE 63
This desperate situation could not but call out
some attempt on the part of loyal Methodists to save
the church. A committee of six was appointed to con-
fer with the bishops and if possible, report some plan
for permanent pacification. It was also determined to
observe the next day as a day of fasting and prayer
before God for his blessing on the efforts of the com-
mittee. 1^ While these measures were pending some
speeches were made which admirably expressed not
only the dilemma in which the Conference found itself
but also the spirit of the occasion. Dr. Olin, whose
fitness for such a task we have already noticed, arose
and under the mellowing influences of that sad hour
spoke in a strain of tenderness that moved the whole
body. We can not do better than to quote from his
speech. ^^ "He had feared for these two or three days
that, though possibly they might escape the disasters
that threatened them, it was not probable. He had
seen the cloud gathering, so dark that it seemed to him
there was no hope left for them unless God should give
them hope. It might be from his relation to both ex-
tremities, that, inferior as might be his means of form-
the ministerial office. It Is regarded here as the knell of division
and disunion." "There is no unkindness, no anger, in the body." He
hoped that unity would still somehow be maintained.
Dr. Capers wrote mournfully in "The Southern Christian Advo-
cate," May 24, that he knew not which way to turn. The secession
of Scott, Sunderland and others had led the church to lean to the
radicals in order to keep them loyal. "It is not worth while to split
the hair which divides the present 'consem^atives,' as they call them-
selves, from the abolitionists of a few years ago. Anything short of
the most rabid and fanatical abolitionism is called conservative."
14 "Journals," II. (1844), 42-43. The preamble hit the nail
on the head. "In view of the distracting agitation which has so
long prevailed on the subject of slavery and abolition, and especially
the difficulties under which we labor in the present General Conference,
on account of the relative position of our brethren North and South on
this perplexing question ..." etc. Drs. Olin and Capers were the
authors.
15 "Debates," 55.
64 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
ing conclusions on other topics, he had some advantages
on this; and from an intimate acquaintance with the
feelings of his brethren in the work, he saw little ground
of encouragement to hope. It appears to me," ^^ he
continued, "that we stand committed on this question
by our principles and views of policy, and neither of
us dare move a step from our position. Let us keep
away from the controversy until brethren from opposite
sides have come together. I confess I turn away from
it with sorrow, and a deep feeling of apprehension that
the difficulties that are upon us now threaten to be
unmanageable. I feel it in my heart, and never felt on
any subject as I do on this. ... I do not see how north-
em men can yield their ground, or southern men give
up theirs. I do indeed believe, that if our affairs re-
main in the present position, and this General Con-
ference do not speak out clearly and distinctly on the
subject, however unpalatable it may be, we cannot go
home under this distracting question without a cer-
tainty of breaking up our conferences. I have been
to eight or ten of the northern conferences, and spoken
freely with men of every class, and firmly believe that,
with the fewest exceptions, they are influenced by the
most ardent and the strongest desire to maintain the
Discipline of the Church .... The men who stand here
as abolitionists are as ardently attached to Methodist
episcopacy as you all Your northern brethren,
who seem to you to be arrayed in a hostile attitude,
have suffered a great deal before they have taken their
position, and they come up here distressed beyond
measure, and disposed, if they believed they could,
without destruction and ruin to the church to make
concession I look to this measure with desire
16 This change back and forth from direct to indirect discourse
appears in the speech as reported in the "Debates."
DIVISION BECOMES INEVITABLE 65
rather than with hope, (With regard to our southern
brethren ... if they concede what the northern brethren
wish — if they concede that holding slaves is incompat-
ible with holding their ministry-^they may as well go to
the Rocky Mountains as to their own sunny plains. The
people would not bear it. They feel shut up to their
principles on this point. . . . But if our difficulties are
unmanageable, let our spirit be right. If we must part,
let us meet and pour out our tears together ; and let us
not give up until we have tried. ... I can not speak
on this subject without deep emotion. If we push our
principles so far as to break up the connection, this
may be the last time we meet. I fear it ! I fear it ! I
see no way of escape."
Without a vigorous use of the imagination, we can-
not picture to ourselves today the scene in the Green
Street church when Dr. Olin sat down. It was typical
of a great religious assembly. The deep emotion, the
tears, the subdued chorus of amens suggest only an im-
perfect picture of the occasion. In a sense the spirit
of this speech lived through the whole Conference, and
showed victoriously in the famous, if illfated, Plan of
Separation. Other speakers followed in much the same
strain. The dominant note was dread and deprecation
of division. ^'^
17 Dr. Smith said that the South certainly did not desire
division. "What, sir, divide ! Never !" Nor did he agree that civil
war, as has been intimated, was likely to come upon them. He had
no fear of civil disunion and war. . . .
"No sir.... We have higher and more appropriate reasons for
wishing to preserve our long cherished union. The days for civil
war in this country have gone by." "Debates," .57, 144.
Just a little later L. M. Lee, editor of the "K. C. A.," preached
for a friend at Norwalk, Conn., and had a chance to learn how people
there felt. His letter to his paper showed that he had received con-
siderable light. He realized how difficult the situation was for the
northern Methodists. He wrote: "But this question [Bishop Andrew]
66 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
The committee on pacification worked for four
days. At its instance separate caucuses of the north-
ern and southern delegates were held to see what could
be done. At last, all efforts at settlement proving fu-
tile, the committee reported its failure to the Con-
ference. ^^
Terrible as was the situation exposed by such a
report from such a committee, the Conference had yet
to face its most trying ordeal. Rumors, current even
before the opening of the sessions, had developed into
a general understanding that slavery had invaded the
episcopacy — that Bishop Andrew was a slaveholder. ^^
May 20 a resolution was passed directing the committee
on episcopacy to investigate the rumors and report the
next day. ^^ This was the first official notice taken of
the disturbing stories.
The question of a slaveholding episcopacy was not
a new one in the church. It had been discussed with
involves more than the South may at first perceive. It is not so
much an effort to injure or oppress Methodism at the South, as it is
to preserve its life at the North. The truth is Northern Methodism
stands on the crater of a heaving volcano. . . . Our Northern brethren
are exposed to evils that justly entitle them to the commiseration and
sympathy of the South. If they do not do some great thing to
rid the Church of all connexion with slavery why then their people
will do a great thing to rid themselves of all connexion with the
Church. Secessions, divisions, strifes innumerable and uncontrollable
as a summer storm stare them in the face. . . . But what a dilemma
for good men to be in. If they move forward they destroy the unity
of the Church ; if they sit still they destroy themselves." "R. C. A.,"
May 30, 1844.
18 "Journals," II. (1844), 54.
19 There is a very brief outline of Andrew's career in Simpson,
"Cyclopaedia of Methodism," fifth revised edition, 36-37. See also
Smith, "Life of Andrew." James O. Andrew was born in Georgia in
1794, was licensed to preach in his nineteenth year, and joined the
South Carolina conference in 1812. Until 1832 he was busy with his
duties as pastor and presiding elder, and in that year was elected
bishop.
20 "Journals," II. (1844), 58.
DIVISION BECOMES INEVITABLE 67
increasing interest as the differences on slavery deep-
ened. ^^ The North believed that it was contrary to
usage to elect a slaveholder bishop, while the South
held that it was not contrary to usage, but that it
merely had never occurred. ^^ Owing partly perhaps
to his modesty. Bishop Andrew had never felt quite at
home in his elevated position. This feeling combined
with poor health and the worry of enforced absence
from his motherless children had led him niore than
once to contemplate resigning, ^s In January, 1844,
he had married a lady who owned a few family slaves,
and the fact became known in the church. Having
reached Baltimore on his way to the Conference, he had
been surprised to find that his connection with slavery
had caused great excitement, and that his affairs
would probably be investigated. ^^ Allowing his
natural inclinations, irrespective of the slavery issue,
to rule, Bishop Andrew had resolved to resign, think-
ing thus to allay excitement and prevent a dangerous
and protracted Conference debate. Before putting his
resolution into effect he had decided to lay the whole
matter before the southern delegates, as his proposed
course would directly affect them. He had arranged a
meeting and had asked for their candid opinion, ^s
This had occurred on May 10, ten days before any
21 "C. A. and J.," Dec. 20, 1843, Oct. 9, 1844 ; "Z. H.," Oct.
2.5, 1843 ; Myers, "Disruption," 32-34 ; "R. C. A.," Oct. 26, 1843.
22 There is good reason to believe that Bishop Andrew got some
votes in 1832 on account of his freedom from connection with slavery.
On the other hand his moderation in the dominating controversy of
that time between the High and Low church parties, also won him
many votes. It was believed he would be a peace-maker. Smith,
"Life of Andrew," 229-30.
23 Smith, "Andrew," 324-325.
24 "Ibid.," 340. The rumor had caused consternation in New
York. It appears that Dr. Bond had discussed the matter with Bishop
Soule there before the Conference met. "C. A. and J.," June 11, 1845.
25 Letter of Bishop Andrew in "S. C. A.," copied into "R. C.
A.," Sept. 12, 1844.
68 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
official action had been taken by the Conference. The
southerners had requested the bishop not to resign. ^^^
A committee from the caucus had informed Bishop An-
drew of its action and had assured him that resignation
would probably lead to a secession of the greater part
of the southern churches. He had then promised that
he would not resign.
When the delegates from the northern conferences
met pursuant to the call of the committee on pacifica-
tion, they also had taken up informally the bishop's
case. A committee of five had been appointed to have
a friendly interview with him to learn his views and
feelings and ascertain if mutual steps might not be
taken to avoid a general, public debate. Dr. Bangs had
headed this committee and had attempted to make clear
to the bishop the feeling of the North regarding a
slave holding episcopacy. Bishop Andrew had refused
to communicate with the committee except in writing
and the committee in turn had declined to confer with
him in writing on the ground that their errand was
purely informal and fraternal. They had left his
quarters deeply grieved and mortified. ^"^ Bishop An-
drew's view of this meeting was slightly different.
He felt that the northern delegates were conspiring to
deal with him as the offender who had brought all
these calamities upon them. He felt that they were his
enemies and that it would be unsafe to confer with
26 They set forth by resolution the facts, and requested him
"by all his love for the unity of the Church, which his resignation
will certainly jeopardize, not to allow himself for any consideration
to resign." Smith, "Life of Andrew," 341-43; "R. C. A.," May 23,
Sept. 12, 1844.
27 Elliott, "Great Secession," column 295. See "Western Chris-
tian Advocate," (referred to hereafter as "W. C. A.") Oct. 25, 1844,
for comment on Bishop Andrew's having put himself under the con-
trol of "the mistaken portion of the Church."
DIVISION BECOMES INEVITABLE 69
them secretly and orally, ^s go far negotiations con-
ducted by private, unofficial parties ^9 have been con-
sidered, but official action was coming. The Con-
ference committee on episcopacy had interested itself in
the case almost immediately upon appointment. A
sub-committee, headed by Mr. Crandall, a New England
abolitionist, had had a talk with Bishop Andrew, May
8, and on the following day he had appeared before
the full committee and made a complete statement. ^^
It was learned that he had a mulatto girl, who had been
bequeathed to him in trust, ^^ and a negro boy left to
him from the estate of his former wife. ^^ His second
wife had a few family slaves from the estate of her first
husband and these Bishop Andrew had secured to her
by a deed of trust. ^^
Thus when the mandate of the Conference came to
the committee on episcopacy to investigate Bishop
Andrew's affairs, it had already done so and was pre-
pared to place the facts before the Conference. When
they were duly presented Griffith and Davis offered a
28 See the letter noted above in "R. C. A.," Sept. 12, 1844.
29 Sincere attempts appear to have been made by the
northern delegates to get the difficulty removed by compromise or
otherwise. One scheme was to buy the slaves of the Andrew family.
It was promised that if consent to such a course were given the money
would be ready within forty-eight hours. "C. A. and J.," June 11,
1845.
30 "R. C. A.," Sept. 12, 1844.
31 She had been left by an old lady of Augusta, Ga. The bishop
was to care for the girl until she was nineteen, when he must send
her to Liberia, if she would go, and if not he must make her as free
as the local laws allowed. She had refused to leave the country so
was living in her own house on his lot. She was of no pecuniary
benefit to him and was at liberty to go to a free state whenever she
pleased. "Journals," II. (1844), 63; Smith, "Andrew," 311-13.
32 This boy was given to Bishop Andrew's wife by her mother.
It was illegal to emancipate him but he was free to go North as soon
as he was able to care for himself. "Journals," II. (1844), 63-64.
33 "Ibid. ;" Smith, "Andrew," 336-38.
70 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
preamble and resolutions, stating that a bishop em-
barrassed by connection with slavery could not serve
acceptably in all parts of the church; that it was a
very inopportune time to allow such an innovation ; and
proposing that Bishop Andrew be affectionately re-
quested to resign. ^^
As we have seen the southern delegates had em-
phatically objected to his resignation ; but now, in the
interests of the North, that resignation if this resolu-
tion passed, was to be officially requested. Apparently
resignation was the big issue. Why did not the Bishop
voluntarily resign? Why was he willing to be the
occasion of a protracted and disastrous debate? He
has been most severely criticized for refusing to act
upon his first impulses. ^^ There was an evident dis-
position to think that holding the key to the situation
he refused to say the word that would have meant peace
and unity. Did he hold the key? There were really
two questions in one here. In view of his position,
was he to blame for connecting himself with slavery";
and would his resignation during the sessions of the
Conference have solved the great issue confronting the
church?) A very sympathetic critic, Gross Alexander,
answers the first question in the affirmative, ^^ and his
34 "Journals," II. (1844), 64.
35 See the indictment drawn up against him by Abel Stevens in
"Z. H.," Oct. 9, 1844 : "On that one man, we repeat it, rests the chief
responsibility of our deplorable condition. A word from that man
in the outset could have forestalled all dangerous excitement and
saved the Church, but clothed in the highest power of the most
responsible religious body on this continent, that man sat day after
day, week after week amidst the anxious consultations, the tears and
prayers of his brethren. . .and refused the only word that could have
spoken peace to the palpitating heart of the church, and now it is
broken and must bleed."
See further for the idea that resignation would have solved tlie
problem, "C. A. and J.," May 29, July 31, Sept. 25, 1844.
86 "Hist, of the M. E. Church, South," 20.
DIVISION BECOMES INEVITABLE 71
biographer, ^'^ a strong southerner, is willing to say that
if the bishop had reason to suppose that the results that
did follow, would follow, his marriage should have been
preceded by resignation. Mr. Alexander believes,
further, that if Bishop Andrew did not know the situ-
ation in the church well enough to surmise that his
connection with slavery would cause trouble, his ignor-
ance was inexcusable. ^^ We feel inclined to agree
with these judgments. With the second question it
was different. The opinions, quoted from northern
sources, ^^ to the effect that he could have allayed the
excitement with a word, viewed the problem too ex-
clusively from one side. We must keep in mind the
situation on both sides. True, if he had resigned, his
word would have calmed the North and insured peace
there, but what about the South? It would have
appeared to the South that the resignation had been
forced by abolition agitation, and immediate division
would most likely have followed. ^^ This we may infer
from a study of the resolution asking him not to resign,
keeping in mind the intensity of feeling already en-
gendered. One other thing should be noted also in
any discussion of Bishop Andrew's responsibility: that
from his own personal point of view resignation would
have been the most welcome course. ^^ How much it
37 Smith, "Andrew," 338-39.
38 "Hist, of the M. E. Church, South," 20.
39 Above p. 70. n.
40 Neither is it certain that after his second marriage and be-
fore the General Conference, resignation would have avoided the
crash.
41 In a letter to his daughter, (May 14), after recounting the
events of the session that touched himself, he said : "I would most
joyfully resign, if I did not dread the influence on the Southern
Church." Smith, "Andrew," 355.
In a letter to his wife two days later, after referring to the pro-
test of the South against his resigning, he said : "and for the sake
72 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
would have saved his feelings ! He was able to endure
those harrowing debates only by the conviction that his
course was for the benefit of the South, and that he had
its support — moral, religious and political. From this
point of view he was a hero, suffering for a cause, and
the South looked upon him as such. The problem for
Bishop Andrew is not half appreciated so long as we
think of it as a personal one. Obviously it was more
than that. His course seemed marked out for him by
disagreeable duty. ^^
Let us return to our narrative. The Griffith and
Davis resolution and a substitute presented later,
occupied the chief attention of the Conference for the
greater part of eleven days, ^^ and the officially re-
ported speeches fill about a hundred very closely
printed pages. Moved by the force of the criticism
of that Church I have resolved to maintain my position and await the
issue " "Ibid.," 356-57.
His statement to the southern delegates when he promised them
that he would not resign voiced this same note of personal suffering
to he endured for others. "R. C. A.," Sept. 12, 1844, copied from
"S. C. A."
The feeling in the South is amply evidenced in those resolutions
passed with so near an approach to unanimity by conferences and
primary meetings after the General Conference. The Virginia con-
ference said, for example: "Bishop Andrew, therefore. .. has taken
a noble stand upon the platform of constitutional law, in defence of
the Episcopal Office and the rights of the South, which entitles him
to the cordial approbation and support of every friend of the Church."
"Hist. Organiz. of the M. E. Church, South," 141. (Referred to here-
after as "Official History.")
42 An incidental controversy growing out of this question of
Bishop Andrew's resignation, and typical of so many similar by-
products of the bitterness of this unfortunate conflict, raged around
the alleged advice of Dr. Bond, verbally given to Andrew, that he
resign. Dr. Bond said he never so advised him. Luther Lee and
W. A. Smith each alleged that Dr. Bond did and that Dr. Bond him-
self had told them of it. The fact was that Dr. Bond advised him
indirectly through friends and through the press, but not personally.
A tempest in a tea-pot arose out of this incident. "R. C. A.," July 11,
Aug. 15, Sept. 12, 1844 ; "C. A. and J.," July 31, 1844.
43 May 22 to June 1.
DIVISION BECOMES INEVITABLE 73
levelled at certain features of the original resolution,
Mr. Finley offered a milder substitute. ** Instead of
asking the bishop to resign, it requested him to desist
from the exercise of his episcopal functions as long as
his connection with slavery continued. *^
It is out of the question within our space to attempt
any detailed account of the prolix debates. ^^ We
shall content ourselves with a brief summary of the
primary arguments, all of which recurred again and
again. Naturally the real issue — the attitude of the
.two sections toward slavery — dropped into the back-
ground, and the legal, constitutional and practical as-
pects of the immediate problem — the position of Bishop
Andrew — came to the front. Three phases of the
legal and constitutional issues were prominent, namely,
the relation of the bishops to the Conference, the inter-
pretation of the Discipline, and the nature of the con-
stitutional^''^ effect of the rules about slavery. The
southerners held that the bishop was beyond any such
44 It ran as follows : "Whereas, the Discipline of our church
forbids the doing of anything calculated to destroy our itinerant gen-
eral superintendency, and whereas Bishop Andrew has become con-
nected with slavery by marriage and otherwise, and this act having
drawn after itself circumstances which in the estimation of the General
Conference will greatly embarrass the exercise of his office as an
itinerant general Superintendent, if not in some places entirely pre-
vent it ; therefore, Resolved, That it is the sense of this General Con-
ference that he desist from the exercise of this office so long as this
impediment remains." "Journals," 11. (1844), 65-66. (May 23).
45 Evidence crops out from time to time that vigorous efforts
were continually making to reach a compromise. Sometimes it is shown
by the rather common accident that a controversy was stirred up,
the lie given and a newspaper war precipitated. About the time the
Finley substitute was introduced, one such arose, which incidentally
showed that the idea of buying the bishop's slaves was still alive. "It.
C. A.," Oct. 3, Oct. 17, 1844 ; "C. A. and J.," Oct. 9, Oct. 30, Dec. 4,
,1844, and June 11, 1845.
46 There is a useful summary of the debates in Buckley, "Hist,
of Methodism in the U. S." (Am. Church Hist., Vol. V.), 416-38.
47 Church constitution.
74 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
interference as the Conference contemplated, that the
episcopacy was a body co-ordinate with the Conference,
and they subscribed to the theory "Once a bishop,
always a bishop." Their opponents held that the
bishop was a mere officer of the Conference and was
therefore amenable to it in every respect. The South
adopted the strict constructionist view of the Discipline,
declaring that the bishop had violated no rule, that
his connection with slavery was perfectly legitimate
under the resolution of 1840 which practically legalized
slaveholding in all grades of the ministry. The North
replied that the silence of the Discipline was no argu-
ment against dealing with him and that the general
phrase "improper conduct" appearing in the Discipline
gave a basis for the proposed action. It was pointed out
that if he had married a colored woman he would have
been as unacceptable to the South as he was now to the
North, and just as incapable of performing the duties
of a bishop, yet he would not have violated the letter of
the Discipline. Some of the southern brethren,
especially W. A. Smith, were inclined to see in the con-
stitution of the church a document instituting a govern-
ment similar to the national government, a compact
among the annual conferences, a government of enumer-
ated powers, a compromise between the sections on
slavery adopted after a protracted struggle. This view
the North denied absolutely, claiming that the so-called
constitutional contract consisted of mere rules, change-
able in a few minutes by vote of Conference.
Finally, there was the more practical argument
that it was not a matter of law at all but of expediency.
Here the Conference struck close to the fundamental
deadlock underlying the whole quarrel. We have seen
it before. The North said that if the bishop retained
office, the church in that section would be broken, per-
DIVISION BECOMES INEVITABLE 75
haps destroyed. Bishop Andrew could never preside
there. /To this the South replied with equal truth that
to depose him and admit that slaveholding disqualified
a man for an episcopal or any ministerial position in the
connection would work untold disaster in that section.
If one alternative would ruin the North, the other
would wreck the South. In brief, the southern dele-
gates felt that the strict letter of the law was on their
side and that the northern majority was acting in an
extra-legal and high-handed manner. There is a
striking parallelism, as regards the fundamental issue,
between the situation in the church in 1844, and that in
the nation half a generation later. In the church the
northern Methodists were opposing the extension of
slavery to an office hitherto free from it and with
the strict law perhaps against them, and just before
the Civil War we had the Republicans opposing the
extension of slavery to territory hitherto free, with the
law again perhaps actually on the side of the South.
As the two weeks' debate dragged on, it still
further illustrated the dilemma the church was in.
Before unity was absolutely given up a final, brave
struggle was made to reach a compromise. On the
morning of May 30 Bishop Hedding suggested that no
afternoon session be held, in order to give the bishops
time to consult together and if possible, adjust mat-
ters. *8 The great debate was suspended until the
next day when Bishop Waugh presented the results of
the episcopal conference. *^ Their proposal was to
postpone the whole question until 1848. They felt the
danger of any present action, i A decision either wa}^
would disturb the peace and harmony of the church
48 "Journals," II. (1844), 74.
49 A consultation of all the bishops except Bishop Andrew.
76 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
some where, i Bishop Andrew's embarrassment might
be removed' before the next Conference. They con-
cluded their report with the hope that the novelty of
their suggestion might be excused by the seriousness
of the crisis. ^^ This proposal later provoked a violent
attack from a northern partisan who also pounced up-
on Bishop Soule, the alleged author of the idea. ^^ The
suggestion was referred to a committee for further con-
sideration. ^2 Soon after the plan was given to the
Conference Bishop Hedding had an interview with
the New England delegates which exerted a decisive
influence on subsequent events.
There could be no doubt of the seriousness of the
situation in New England. Abundant evidence on that
score has been presented. Where then were the aboli-
tionist delegates, and what were they doing ? We have
heard practically nothing of them so far. Were they
too discouraged to take part, too few to count, or too
indifferent to the future of the church to care ? Not at
all. They were very much interested and were numer-
ous and influential enough to play an important role.
But they were not needed in the open fight. Their
work was being done in the present Conference by
their erstwhile enemies, the old conservatives. The
situation that had developed, in part through the Scot-
tite secession, had driven the conservatives and the
abolitionists into practical harmony. An incident is
50 "Journals," II. (1844), 75-76.
51 Elliott, "Great Secession," 308. This partisan was Elliott
himself who said in part : "But Bishop Soule's new-fangled course,
without Discipline, without precedent, but contrary to all usage, rule,
justice, right and prudence, to send a circular to the societies and
conferences with the facts, and thus appeal to the multitude, and,
therefore, produce general agitation, exceeds anything the world ever
yet saw in the annals of ecclesiastical matter. ..." and so on in the
same vein.
52 "Debates," 185-186.
DIVISION BECOMES INEVITABLE 77
related which, while none too well authenticated, per-
haps, fits admirably into the situation. During the
Conference a southern member asked an abolitionist
why he and his brethren had so little to say. ' ' Oh ! ' '
he replied, "we have nothing to do now. The Balti-
more Conference is doing our work for us. And they
will get all the odium; and we all the benefit," ^^
In order to understand the interview between
Bishop Hedding and the New Englanders we must go
back a little. One who took part in these proceedings
recalls some of the secret history of the time. On
reaching New York the day before the Conference
opened, this man, James Porter, an abolitionist dele-
gate from the northeast, had been invited to a private
interview with a prominent representative of the con-
servative party, ^^ and asked what New England
wanted. In reply he had demanded, in order that the
Methodists in that quarter might preserve their peace
and unity, that Bishop Andrew free himself from
slavery or resign, that the Baltimore conference be sus-
tained in the Harding case, and that the resolution of
the previous Conference, against allowing colored testi-
mony in church cases involving whites, be rescinded.^^
He had added that they wanted action of a more pro-
nounced anti-slavery character but could hardly expect
it under existing circumstances. He had thought that
if this program were carried out New England Metho-
dism could maintain itself, although not without some
losses. His conservative friend had assured him that
53 "R. C. A.," June 26, 1845.
54 A member of the Baltimore annual conference, probably Mr.
Collins.
55 He also demanded that abusive language against abolitionists
should cease.
78 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
his demands were reasonable and would command the
support of the Baltimore delegation. At a later meet-
ing other conservatives had committed themselves to
this tentative bargain. It had been at the same time
agreed that because of the prejudice against the radi-
cals, the conservatives should take the "laboring oar"
and allow the former to play an inconspicuous part.
This plan was for the most part carried out and in-
cidentally explains the inactivity of the New Eng-
landers. ^^
During the debates on the Harding and Andrew
cases the abolitionists had been conspicuously silent.
Everything had been going to their satisfaction.
Orange Scott, looking down from the visitors' gallery,
must have been stirred to the depths of his heart to see
his cause championed by men who had been his bitterest
enemies. All had gone well until about May 30, when
the proposal had been made to postpone the whole
Andrew question and omit the afternoon session to
allow a consultation of the bishops. Thi,s had broken
up the composure of the abolitionists. They had im-
mediately convened and unanimously adopted a minute
declaring it to be their solemn conviction that if the
bishop were left in office, it would break up the New
England churches, and that their only recourse would
be to secede.') This view had been concurred in by some
prominent laymen present, and a committee had been
appointed to make known their action to Bishop Red-
ding before he should meet his colleagues that after-
56 James Porter, "General Conference of 1844." in "The Metho-
dist Quart. Rev.," April, 1871, 242.
It should be noted that this article was written twenty-seven
years after the event. But as its explanation fits admirably into the
situation and is apparently accepted by one side and uncontradicted
by the other, we have regarded it as true.
DIVISION BECOMES INEVITABLE 79
noon. Too much time had been consumed at the meet-
ing and they had failed to see him. Next morning, as
we have seen, the episcopacy reported unanimously in
favor of postponement. A belated consultation was
had with Hedding, at which he was fully appraised of
the action of the New England caucus. ^'^ He was con-
vinced of the justice of their demand, expressed his
regret at not having seen them before signing the
episcopal report, and promised to go into Conference
and withdraw his name from the report advising post-
ponement. This he did at once. Under rather dra-
matic circumstances, with all the bishops on the plat-
form, he arose and asked permission to withdraw his
name. ^^ He was allowed to do so. The other bishops
let their names stay attached to the document as a
testimony to their efforts for peace, even if those
efforts failed. The bishops being no longer unani-
mous. Dr. Bangs moved that the communication
be laid on the table. The ayes and noes were called
for and the motion was carried by a vote of 95 to 84. ^^
Two unsuccessful attempts were made later to get post-
ponement and these caused the abolitionists momentary
anxiety. ^^
57 Matlack, "Amer. Slav. & Meth.," appendix 3 ; Clark, "Life
of Hedding," 592 ; "Meth. Quart. Rev.," April, 1871, 246-47.
58 "Journals," II. (1844), 81; "Debates," 188. He explained
that he had signed the report as a peace measure, and in the belief
that it would be generally accepted. In this he found he was dis-
appointed, so desired to withdraw his name.
59 "Journals," II. (1844), 82-83. In the "Debates" of 1844,
(188-89), the vote is erroneously given as 95 to 83.
60 First, an attempt was made to combine the bishops' plan
with a mild resolution regretting Bishop Andrew's connection with
slavery, and requesting him to rid himself of it as soon as possible.
"Debates," 189. Secondly, a little later, resolutions were introduced
stating it to be the sense of the Conference that its action against
the bishop was not judicial but only advisory, and putting off final
action until 1848. "Debates," 192 ; "Meth. Quart. Rev.," April, 1871,
247.
80 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
The episcopal suggestion of postponement em-
bodied the last faint hope of unity, and the abolitionists
in self-defence had effectively blocked it. Postpone-
ment was generally satisfactory to the southerners, ^^
and many others. If adopted it probably would have
satisfied them. Had the bishops remained unanimous,
it undoubtedly would have been adopted, ^^ and they
would have remained unanimous but for New England,
Secession and fear were rife in that section, its dele-
gates reflected that fear, and a different direction was
given to the course of events, ^^
This proved to be the turning point of the Con-
ference, The Finley substitute now passed rapidly to a
vote. Amid the profoundest silence the roll was called.
The result showed 111 yeas to 60 nays, ^The resolution,
asking Bishop Andrew to desist from his episcopal
labors while connected with slavery, had passed by an
enormous majority, ; Analysis shows that 110 of the
affirmative votes came from the non-slaveholding con-
ferences, and only one from the others ; ^''^ while 52 of
the negative votes came from the latter and 17 from the
61 "Debates," 189. Dr. Winans remarked that, "the southern
delegates were of one mind to entertain the proposals of the super-
intendents."
62 A change of six votes would have resulted in its adoption.
63 So says Matlack, "Am Slav, and Meth.," appendix, 4. In the
main it is true. Looking at this episode in the life of this fateful
Conference as the actual occasion of the defeat of postponement, it is
interesting and important, even crucial, but we must be careful not
to overestimate events which, while actually crucial, would in their
absence have left tTie ultimate outcome unchanged. The schism was
inevitable before May 30 ; as a matter of history the New Englanders
blocked the last plan that offered hope of peace. That is all they did.
64 The other conferences (slaveholding) were Ky., Holston,
Tenn., Mo., Memphis, Ark., Tex., Miss., Ala., Ga., N. C, S. C, and Va.
The lone vote for the resolution from the slaveholding conferences
was that of John Clark of Texas, and he was a northern transfer.
He was born in New York State. Hall, "Life of Clark," 19, 224-30 ;
"Journals," II. (1844), 83-84,
DIVISION BECOMES INEVITABLE 81
former. No sooner was the Finley substitute passed
than the minority gave notice that they would enter
a solemn protest. It was read June 6, and while con-
taining little not found in the ' ' Debates, ' ' forms a con-
venient summary of the southern case. ^^ Four days
later the North read a reply to the protest which ably
summed up the case from that point of view, ^^
The Conference and the church now stood squarely
at the parting of the ways. Everything had been done
that could be done to preserve unity. Confronted no
longer by the haunting shadow of division but by
division itself, unable longer to avoid dealing directly
with it, what would the representatives of American
Methodism do?
65 "Journals," II. (1844), appendix Doc. H, 186-98.
66 "Ibid.," 113 and appendix Doc. K, 199-210. Mr. Crowder, a
southerner, remarked that he would not be surprised if it lead to
war. Great excitement was reported at the South.
IXoOibf
Chapter IV
THE PLAN OF SEPAEATION AND THE ESTAB-
LISHMENT OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL
CHURCH, SOUTH
By a chain of circumstances over which neither
party had much control the northern section of the
church found itself master of the situation in the Gen-
eral Conference and the southern section found itself
defeated and helpless. Obviously, continued union was
out of the question. Would the victors attempt to sad-
dle the whole burden of the common woes on the van-
quished ? Would they say coldly : we could not agree ;
in the contest the North won; you must either accept
your defeat in silence, or go out as seceders leaving us
the name and prestige and the property we have all
worked unitedly to build up ? It is to the credit of the
Methodists of that day that the best ideals of their Chris-
tianity prevailed in such a crisis. In a sense the spirit
of Stephen Olin's speech still lived. They recognized,
in effect, that neither side was entirely to blame. There
was no desire to follow any but a mild and equitable
policy. Indeed, so far did this spirit prevail in the final
proceedings, that it may well appear that too much was
conceded to the southern desire for ecclesiastical inde-
pendence. Perhaps they erred nobly on the side of
too great self-sacrifice.
Dr. Capers brought the issue into tangible form
June 3 ^ by the introduction of a set of resolutions
looking toward partial separation. He would provide
1 "Journals," II. (1844), 86, 87.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH 83
for two General Conferences instead of one, with the
line dividing the free from the slave states as their
geographical boundary. The two conferences were to
be equal and co-ordinate ; foreign mission interests, and
the Book Concerns, — the great denominational publish-
ing houses, — were still to be carried on in common.
The resolutions were referred to a Committee of
Nine.2 The northerners on the committee deemed it
impossible to get sufficient votes in the annual con-
ferences to authorize such a change. ^ A more serious
objection, if possible, was their feeling that, constituted
as the committee and the Conference were, with a big
northern majority in each, it would be inappropriate for
them to originate any divisive measure before it was
definitely demanded by the South. Dr. Capers ^ says
that Mr. Hamlin proposed the form of their report, and
the convening of the southern delegations to memorial-
ize the General Conference in favor of division. When
such a petition should be received and referred to a
committee, a plan of separation should follow. The
first Committee of Nine unanimously accepted these
suggestions and reported verbally June 5, to the Gen-
eral Conference that it had found no plan which would
be generally acceptable. ^
Whether or not Dr. Capers is correct in his recol-
lections, the course he says was proposed was actually
2 "Ibid.," 90. The committee members were. Capers, Winans,
Crowder, Porter, Filmore, Akers, Hamlin, Davis and Sandford.
3 The North also objected to partial separation. If it must
come at all it must be complete.
4 Chairman of the Committee of Nine.
5 "Journals," II. (1844), 103.
For some light on the inner history of this first Committee of
Nine see : Capers' letters in "S. C. A.," June 21, 1844, and Mar. 28, 1845 ;
letter of Dr. Payne to "Sw. C. A.," Oct. 25, 1844, copied into "R.
C. A.," Nov. 14, 1844.
84 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
pursued. The southern delegates met and were told
that if they really wanted division they must ask for
it. ® A caucus committee ''' was appointed to draw up
the necessary declaration. The committee at first
clung to the idea of a partial division, but were over-
ruled by the caucus, and the famous declaration finally
presented was substituted. ^ On the same day
that the old Committee of Nine reported its failure. Dr.
Longstreet presented this document to the Conference.
It is simply a statement that the action of the Con-
ference in the Bishop Andrew case rendered a continu-
ation of its jurisdiction over the southern conferences
inconsistent with the success of the ministry there. It
was signed by the delegates from the South and was al-
most immediately referred to a second Committee of
Nine. ^ This committee was instructed by the General
Conference if unable to compose the differences other-
wise, to devise a constitutional plan for a friendly divis-
ion of the church. A motion to exclude the word consti-
tutional failed and the instruction was allowed to stand
6 It was a most doleful session. Fitzgerald, "Biog. of J. B.
McFerrin," 157.
7 The committee was Payne, Smith and Longstreet. See
Payne's letter referred to in note 5 above.
8 Payne's letter as above. "Journals," II. (1844), 109; "Great
Secession," 314 ; Hurst, "History of Methodism," (American
Methodism), II. 941. The declaration is as follows: "The delegates
of the Conferences in the slaveholding states take leave to declare to
the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, that the
continued agitation on the subject of slavery and abolition in a por-
tion of the Church ; the frequent action on that subject in the Gen-
eral Conference ; and especially the extra-judicial proceedings against
Bishop Andrew, which resulted on Saturday last, in the virtual sus-
pension of him from his office as Superintendent, must produce a
state of things in the South which renders a continuation of the
jurisdiction of this General Conference over these conferences incon-
sistent with the success of the ministry in the slaveholding states."
9 This committee was made up of : Payne, Filmore, Akers, Bangs,
Crowder, Sargent, Winans, Hamline, Porter. The italicized names
appeared also on the first Committee of Nine.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH 85
as introduced by Mr. McFerrin. ^"^ The committee
completed its labors and presented its report June 7. ^^
This was the famous Report of the Committee of Nine,
or as it is more commonly called, The Plan of Sep-
aration.
While the plan was still in the committee stage,
considerable excitement was aroused by the report that
John C. Calhoun had been consulted and had confirmed
the worst predictions of the southern Methodists as to
the results, political and otherwise, of the Conference
action on slavery. ^^ There was some excitement also
in New York, the seat of the Conference ; a mob was
talked of and some members feared an outburst of
pro-slavery feeling that might force a reversal of the
action in Bishop Andrew's case. ^^ It was in the midsfc
of these new anxieties that the Plan was produced, and
the feeling of Mr. Porter, of the committee, may have
been shared by others. He felt that they had looked
too complacently on secession, but he knew at least
one member of the committee (himself?) who voted
for the Plan to prevent the reconsideration mentioned,
and consequent secessions in New England. ^* The
10 The history of these two Committees of Nine and tlie
circumstances surrounding their appointment and instruction, are
none too clear, and are the subject of controversy. On the whole
the version in the text seems to fit best all the conditions. See
"Nashville Christian Advocate," ("N. C. A."), Oct. 2, 1846 for one
point in controversy. McFerrin's letter in that paper, and the Con-
ference "Journal" ought to settle the question on the presence of the
word constitutional in the instruction. See Tigert, "Const. History,"
447-48n for the other controverted point ; and Hibbard, "Life of
Ilamline," 138, 139. Mr. Hamline voices serious opposition to the
instruction and there is some evidence that it was modified in Con-
ference though the change did not get recorded in the official "Jour-
nal." See also his remarks, "Debates," 223, 226.
11 "Journals," II. (1844), 128.
12 In appendix III. we have considered the influence of Cal-
houn and other statesmen on the Methodist problem.
13 "Methodist Quarterly Review," April, 1871, 248.
14 "Ibid."
86 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
next day the Plan ^^ was taken up by the Conference.
Deeming separation a probability it expressed a desire
"to meet the emergency with christian kindness and
the strictest equity." The twelve sections of the Plan
designated a method of establishing a boundary be-
tween the two Methodisms in case separation took
place, allowed ministers to choose without blame the
church to which they would adhere, recommended to
the annual conferences a modification of the constitu-
tional restriction to permit a division of the property
in the Book Concerns, laid down rules for the division
and transfer of property and for the joint use of exist-
ing copyrights.
A running debate developed. Dr. Charles Elliott
who moved to adopt the Plan, expressed his strong
approval. The church was too large, he said, and aside
from the question of slavery, must divide sooner or
later for convenience. This was not schism but di-
vision for greater mutual prosperity. In later days
Dr. Elliott changed his mind about the expediency and
constitutionality of the Plan, and this speech often
came home to plague him. The debate showed wide
differences of opinion as to the intent of the document,
and what its effects, and the manner of its operation,
would be. Some were sure it did not provide for
division, some seemed to think it would prevent di-
vision, and still others, uncertain what it would do
were sure the South could base no positive action on
it until the scheme was sanctioned by the annual con-
15 The plan in full is too extensive to quote in the text, but
may be found in appendix II. It is of prime importance and should
be studied carefully before the reader attempts to understand the
remainder of this discussion. It has been reproduced many times.
See "Journals," II. (1844), 135-37; Elliott, "Great Secession," Doc.
56 ; "Official History," 91-93 ; Redford,, "Organization," 368-73 ;
Buckley, "Methodists," (Church Hist. Series), app. III.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH 87
ferences. These differences were prophetic of the
debate which arose on the same points throughout the
length and breadth of the church. ^^ The Plan came
to a vote the day it was debated and was accepted by
an overwhelming majority of the delegates. ^'^ Having
thus given the South its Magna Charta — so-called — the
General Conference adjourned sine die. ^^
Long before final adjournment, the problem that
had monopolized the Conference was agitating the
church. In the South, particularly, the people were
going emphatically on record against the alleged ty-
ranny of the northern majority. The news of the fail-
ure in the National Senate of the Texas Annexation
treaty, and the whole background of the Texan con-
troversy in the political life of the time of course added
to the fervor of opposition to the Conference action in
the Bishop Andrew case. Meetings, both lay and clerical
were being held throughout the slaveholding section.
16 Mr. Griffith said he would oppose it if he stood alone. He
denied all right to divide the church. Peter Cartwright said he
would rather die than kill the church, the proposal was a wicked one.
Let the discontented ones go. The door was open. God had always
provided a "trash trap" to take the scum away. He could
trust Him now. (Later replying to a question he said he was not
applying the term trash trap to the South). Mr. Filmore said the
plan simply provided for a contingency. None would wish to with-
hold from the southern brethren a cent of the common funds. Dr.
Bond, who was not a member of the body but had been granted the
privilege of the floor, asked why this committee had not adhered to
conference lines in fixing the boundaries. Allowing a shifting border
would provoke war all along the line — a prophetic remark. Dr.
Sandford opposed the measure since it invited separation. "Debates,'"
219-25.
1% The first resolution passed finally by a vote of 146 to 16,
actual count, allowing for one change made at the General Conference
in 1848. "Journals," III. (1848), 67. The second received 139 to 17 :
the third 146 to 10, actual count. The fifth received 151 to 13. The
other votes are not reported. "Journals," II. (1844), 130-35; Tigert,
"Const. Hist.," 450 ; Myers, "Disruption," 99.
18 June 11, 12 :15 A. M.
88 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
Between July 4, 1844 and March 1, 1845, ''The Rich-
mond Christian Advocate" printed at least sixty-seven
sets of resolutions passed by such meetings. This
action was often unanimous and the laity appeared to
be as much enraged as the ministry. So wide-spread
and spontaneous was this movement that it is dif-
ficult now to see how doubt could arise whether the
southern delegates truly represented their people. Yet
both at the North and at the South the opinion was fre-
quently expressed that the pernicious activity of the
other section was due to a conspiracy among a few
designing leaders. ^^ This suggests the similar view
common at one time, of the origin of the Civil War.
A little study of abolitionism as a popular movement,
of the southern opposition to it; and of the situation
immediately preceding the "War will easily convince
one that the conspiracy theory is not needed to account
for the events in either ease.
There is a marked similarity of tone in these
southern resolutions. The authors eulogized Bishops
Soule and Andrew, repudiated the idea that slavery
is a moral evil, denounced abolition as a "foul spirit
of the pit, whose mildew breath" would blast the
church of God. They demanded a separation from the
North in the interests of the southern church, approved
the work of the Committee of Nine, thanked the south-
ern delegates for their manly stand for southern rights,
and, since "The Christian Advocate and Journal" was
edited by an abolitionist, they pledged themselves to
diminish its circulation in the South by all honorable
19 This theory is suggested in Cartwright, "Autobiography,"
416, 436 ; remarks of W. A. Smith, "Debates," 16 ; "R. C. A.," May 30,
1844; "C. A. and J.," Mar. 12, 1845, April 8, 1846, Jan. 13, 1847.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH 89
means. ^^ Sets of resolutions varied from one another
in details, but as a rule through six, eight or a
dozen articles, ranging from fulsome praise of friends
to vitriolic denunciation of foes, the feelings of the
South were expressed. The unnecessary violence of
language had its natural effect on the North ^i and
was regretted by the more sober spirits in the South. ^2
The correspondence from different parts of the country
that formed so common a feature of the old news-
papers religious and secular, is of some value as evi-
dence of local feeling. It fully corroborates the
opinion formed by a study of these resolves. '^^
So great was the importance attached to the action
of the General Conference that the general citizenship
of the South as well as the churchmen took an interest
in it. During the summer there was widespread agi-
tation for a southern convention to consider the status
of their "peculiar institution" and to urge the an-
nexation of Texas. Such a meeting in Alabama ^^ took
cognizance of the doings of the Conference. It de-
plored the transfer of the current agitation into the
20 See resolutions passed at a meeting of several Methodist
congregations in Princess Anne Circuit, Virginia, June 22, 1844,
"R. C. A." July 18, 1844. For other sets see especially "R. C. A.,"
July 4, 25, August 1, 22 and Sept. 5, 1844.
21 For illustration of its early reception at the North see "C. A.
and J.," June 26, 1844, where the editor advised them to consider
more gravely and in the fear of God whether there be necessity for
separation. July 10, he dwelt on the revengeful, implacable hateful
tone, in the southern resolutions. He hoped the South would cool
down before the Louisville convention met to consider the question
of a new church.
22 Regret for this extravagant and unchristian language was
expressed in the resolutions of later southern conferences. See
"Official History," 124-27 (Missouri conference) ; 132-.34 (Memphis
conference) ; 135-37 (Mississippi) ; 137-39 (Ark.)
23 See for example "R. C. A.," Sept. 12, 1844, letters of D.
Culbreth and R. J. Carson.
24 In Russell Co., June 8, 1844.
90 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
chureli which ought to be sacred to charity, peace and
goodwill. The members were indignant at the sight
of a Georgia bishop tried as a culprit for marrying a
slave-owning wife — an insinuation that he thus became
unfit to teach the word of God, They urged the
southern Methodists to secede if the bishop was de-
posed, and promised them the unalterable support of
every sect and denomination in Dixie. ^^ Later in the
year the governor of South Carolina in his annual mes-
sage to the legislature, referred to the alleged deposi-
tion of Bishop Andrew by the Methodist Episcopal
Church, telling the law makers that the Methodists of
the South were entitled to honor for the spirit with
which in reply to this insult they had dissolved all con-
nection with their brethren in the North. ^6
This surely was soil for the southern delegates to
grow sentiment for an independent church. Before
leaving New York these men convened (June 11, the
very day Conference adjourned) to consider plans for
the future. This action they defended against north-
ern criticism on the ground that it was necessary to
prevent ecclesiastical anarchy in the South. A definite
direction must be given to the popular movement and
a program of action worked out. What concerted
action could be planned after these delegates, who best
25 66 "Niles Register," 312-13. For other such meetings see
"Ibid.," 256, 288.
At a Fourth of July meeting in the M. E. Church at Marlon C. H.,
S. C, strong political disunion sentiments were expressed. After
toasting Bishop Soule as the kind of soul the South wanted, other
toasts were proposed. "Texas ; Its speedy annexation at all and
every hazard." "Texas; Let us have her now, (she has freely off-
ered herself) aye even at the hazard of disunion." "Disunion — Startle
not at the sound ! To this complexion it must be at last." "Ibid.,"
345-6.
26 "Journal of Senate of S. Carolina," 1844, 18-19. See also
appendix III, of the present work.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH 91
of anyone in their section knew the situation, had
scattered to their homes? Then, too, according to the
Plan, on them alone rested the responsibility of decid-
ing on the necessity for disunion. Was it not the
logical thing to meet and make plans? The criticism
of the northern Methodists was that, having intimated
in the Conference that the passage of the Plan would
calm the slavery section and tend to make separation
unnecessary, the southerners were now met in caucus
to plan a complete separation from the old church.
At this meeting the southern delegates after due
deliberation decided, in order to find out definitelj^
what their constituents wanted, to propose a convention
which should meet at Louisville, Ky., May 1, 1845. To
this gathering the annual conferences should send dele-
gates properly instructed on the question of an in-
dependent church. These instructions should as near-
ly as possible reflect the wishes of the members as well
as of the ministers. '^'^
The next step in the formation of an independent
church was the action taken by the southern con-
ferences on this question of the necessity of dividing
the church. The Kentucky conference beginning in
September was the first to meet. As its action was
imitated by the succeeding conferences, it may be taken
as typical. In the first place we find the inevitable
assertion that the action taken in the Harding and An-
drew cases was not warranted by the Discipline. The
pious hope was expressed that separation might yet
27 For copious extracts from the minutes of this meeting, see
"R. C. A.," June 27, 1844.
Myers thinks that the Civil War is sufficient proof that the
southern delegates understood the wishes of their people. "Dis-
ruption," 92.
92 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
be arrested, the proposed convention was approved,
and May 1 was set apart as a day of prayer and fast-
ing for its guidance. Kentucky's delegates were
instructed to insist that the new connection should not
be considered as a secession from the old church, but
as a co-ordinate branch of it; that no material change
should be made in the Discipline ; and that if respect
and security could not be obtained for the rights of
the South, they would consider the separation un-
avoidable. These were the chief items in the resolu-
tions and they were passed almost unanimously. ^^
With little deviation the other conferences followed
the lead of Kentucky, Several added their sincere
regret, as we have already noted, at the violent langu-
age used by some in the South and also at the radical-
ism of the North. They reiterated their brotherly
love for the Methodists at the North. Many references
were made to the unanimity of feeling in the annual
conferences as to the need of division. This unanimity
was naturally less noticeable in the border and western
regions. Especially in the mountains of Virginia and
North and South Carolina was the feeling of unity
with, and love for, the old church strong. This region
had and still has a set of economic, social and political
interests separate in many ways from the lowlands to
the east. Slavery was less profitable in the hills and
a distinct cleavage in the states covering mountain and
lowland territory was evident. It is noteworthy that
this was the area where union sentiment revived most
quickly during the later months of the Civil War. ^9
The Holston conference occupied much of this region.
28 For these resolutions see "Official History," 109-11. For
the "Address" they issued to the membership see "Ibid.," 111-24.
29 Other references to this fact will appear as we discuss the
boundary and property phases of the Methodist schism.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH 93
While strongly ^^ leaning toward the South it felt
called upon to make one more effort to prevent
division. It asked its neighbor conferences to agree
to a joint meeting of a small number of delegates (one
from each annual conference, North and South) at Louis-
ville, at the same time as the convention, to devise a
compromise. It also requested that if this failed a
plan providing a body representing each of the two
General Conferences be tried, which should adjust dif-
ferences in the interval of the quadrennial sessions — a
kind of common executive committee. If both of
these plans should fail the Holston delegates were to
support the official Plan of Separation, ^i These well-
meant suggestions met with no real response. They
were significant however, for the reasons already men-
tioned.
The Virginia resolutions appear to have been
drawn up with little dependence upon others. In
them we find expressed an idea that received con-
siderable attention in some quarters at the South, name-
ly, that the Southern conferences should not dissolve
connection with the Methodist Episcopal Church, but
only with the General Conference. This sounds like
the constitutional pedantry of W. A. Smith who was
on the committee to draw up the resolutions. ^^ It was
a position highly distasteful to the North, and utterly
unwarranted by the letter or spirit of the Plan. ^^ The
first Committee of Nine, as we have seen, clearly
repudiated the idea.
30 Meeting Oct. 9, 1844. See map.
31 For the Holston resolutions and recommendations in full see
"Official History," 128-29.
32 "Official History." 139-41.
33 The Plan contemplated "a distinct ecclesiastical connection,"
"Debates," 218.
94 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
It should not be supposed that the South was abso-
lutely a unit. There were discordant notes in the
chorus of approval. Besides the border and mountain
districts already mentioned the Baltimore conference
showed serious division of sentiment. Elsewhere also
there appeared sporadic cases of dissent, but compared
with the vast body of favorable opinion, when every
possible allowance has been made, they were relatively
insignificant. ^*
This strong movement for the establishment of an
independent church was not perceptibly checked by
the various compromise plans proposed after the ad-
journment of the General Conference. Methodists
would scarcely have been typical Americans of that day
and generation had they not tried their hands at com-
promise. It was that same spirit of compromise which
saved the nation until nationalism was strong enough
to care for itself. ^^ The annual conferences were not
the only, or even the chief, sources of these plans. Min-
isters, laymen and local societies or churches in the
West and on the borderland were anxious to prevent
strife by preventing schism. A church at Washington,
D. C, showing strong northern sympathies and wishing
to avoid conflicts in which it and its neighbors would
be the chief sufferers, proposed that a boundary line
be established in the united church north of which the
34 For the division of sentiment in the Baltimore conference
see "R. C. A.," Dec. 26, 1844, Jan 2, Jan. 23, 1845; "C. A. and J..'"
Feb. 12, 19, March 5, 1845. For minority activity elsewhere in the
South see "C. A. and J.," April 23, 1845, (Kentucky), Dec. 11, 1844,
(Alabama and Louisiana) ; "Pittsburgh Christian Advocate," ("P. C.
A."), July 9, 1845, (Va.,) ; "Western Christian Advocate," ("W. C. A."),
July 11, 1845, (Ark).
35 These ecclesiastical compromisers may be compared with the
political compromisers of 1850 as well as with those who made up
the Constitutional Union party in 1860.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH 95
bishops should be non-slaveholders, while south of it
episcopal slaveholding might be permitted. Each side
was to select its own bishops, but otherwise the super-
intendency would remain general as the rules and tra-
ditions of the church demanded. ^^
A correspondent of Bishop Andrew's had sug-
gested the postponement of the coming convention
at Louisville, to give the free-state conferences a
chance to elect a delegate each to attend the conven-
tion, and to co-operate with similar delegates from
the South in solving the common problems. The
results of this meeting were to be submitted to an
extra General Conference in 1846. ^'^ Still another
suggestion was that the differences be referred to
the English Wesleyan Methodist conference for arbi-
tration, each side agreeing beforehand to abide by the
decision. ^^ Perhaps the most widely discussed plan,
however, was one that appeared at various times and
places in slightly different form, and consisted of sev-
eral elements, according to which steps should be taken
to free Bishop Andrew from all connection with slavery.
Farther, if there was an abolitionist in the college of
bishops he should resign; and both sides should agree
that hereafter neither slaveholders nor abolitionists
should be elected to that high office. ^^ Dr. Bond
seemed to find hope in this proposal. **^
36 "R. C. A.," August 8 and Sept. 5, 1844. Compare tins
curious idea with Calhoun's later suggestion of a dual presidency of
the United States to solve this selfsame sectional problem in the
nation. Calhoun, J. E., "Calhoun's Works," I. 392.
37 Smith, "Andrew," 370-71.
38 "C. A. and J.," March 12, 1845.
39 A prominent advocate of this plan was W. A. Booth of
Tennessee. "N. C. A.," August 23, 1844, quoted in "Great Secession,"
367-68.
40 "C. A. and J.," Oct. 2, 1844. "Upon the whole, it would
seem that the basis of a safe and righteous compromise has been laid
96 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
While a multitude of such plans was offered, and
old plans appeared again and again in slightly differ-
ent dress, they had no chance of acceptance. If
received favorably by one side they were inevitably
rejected by the other. Some rejected on principle
every form of compromise suggested.*^ The South
was pretty sure the time had passed, and New Eng-
land opposed compromise because she was anxious
to get all slaveholders out of the church. ^2 The
episcopal proposal of postponement for four years,
made at the General Conference, was perhaps the
most practical and simple compromise plan offered
during the entire controversy, and that had failed.
Doubtless even that would have meant but a respite,
not a cure. *^
Just a year after the convening of the General
Conference of 1844 the convention of the slaveholding
conferences met at Louisville, Ky., to consummate
the work of separation. They regarded the Plan of
Separation as their Magna Charta, and on it they
down. Let the Southern Churches consent to preserve the Episcopacy
free from all connection with slavery, as it has heretofore been."
Commit all action on slavery to the annual conferences. Buy Mrs.
Andrew's slaves.
41. "R. C. A.," Sept. 5, 1844. In this issue Editor Lee said, "Talk
of compromise now ! It is a mockery of the tears and prayers poured
forth so fully and so freely in the Lecture Room of the Greene Street
Church by the Southern delegates.... It adds another curl to the
proud lip of Abolitionism !"'
"S. C. A.," Aug. 16, 1844. Editor Wightman said, "The time of
compromise has gone by forever."
"W. C. A.," Nov. 29, 1844. Editor Elliott, while praising the
friends of compromise and wishing them God speed, saw no hope of
success for them.
42 "Z. H.," Oct. 9, 1844, quoted in "Great Secession," 372 ;
"Z. H.," Jan. 15, 1845 ; "R. C. A.," Feb. 1.3, 1845 (copied from
"S. 0. A.").
43 For other material on compromise at this time see also
"C. A. and J.," Aug. 7, Sept. 4 and Oct. 9, 16, Dec. 4, 18, 1844 and
Sept. 3, 1845 ; "R. C. A.," Sept. 5, 1844 and Jan. 9, 1845.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH 97
built, carrying out the unmistakable will of southern
Methodism. It was a harmonious occasion — a real love
feast. There were nearly one hundred delegates pres-
ent ; and three bishops, namely Soule, Andrew and Mor-
ris, attended the opening. On the first day of the
session they were asked to preside. Bishops Soule and
Andrew accepted, but Bishop Morris felt he must de-
cline. ^* Early in the session a Committee on Organiza-
tion was appointed to consider the propriety of a sep-
arate church. The committee was composed of two
men from each annual conference represented and upon
it fell the real work of the convention. ^^ No sooner
had its work begun than its enemies in northern
Methodism began (as the southerners thought) to mis-
represent it. A reporter for "The "Western Christian
Advocate" informed his paper that the combat in the
convention had commenced. He represented the leaders
as determined on division, which they thought would
come easily, but the great question was arising. Would
the leaders be sustained by their people in this work? ^^
This same paper learned somehow that a private move-
ment was on foot to see who, in Louisville, favored the
old church. The ministers of the city sent a memorial
to the convention calling its attention to this allegation
and denying knowledge of any hostile activity. ^"^
44 "Official History," 169-71, 173-75. There is an extensive
account of the convention in 68 "Niles' Register," 167-68, 187, 201-
202. See also "R. C. A.," May 15, 22, 29, June 12, 1845. In "R. C.
A." there are summaries of the debates.
45 "Official History," 176-77. The chairman of the committee
was Henry B. Bascom of Kentucky.
46 "R. C. A.," May 22, 1845, (editorial correspondence of L. M.
Lee) ; "W. C. A.," May 9, 1845.
47 To be sure these denials prove nothing alone but they are
backed by the enormous votes which the proposals to separate received
in the convention and in the South generally. Most of these reports
appeared in the early days of the convention.
98 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
Other stories equally, or more certainly, groundless
were abroad.
On May 5 several resolutions were passed instruct-
ing the Committee on Organization on various points.
One resolution asked the committee to inquire if any-
thing had happened within the year to make continued
connection with the Methodist Episcopal Church pos-
sible ; another suggested leaving the road open for a
later reunion on proper terms; a third requested the
committee, in case no sign of the receding of the North
from its position should appear, to report in favor of
renouncing the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the General
Conference. *^ For eight days this last proposition
was debated. Old arguments were dressed up afresh
and given again and again. There was practically no
opposition. Some delegates thought that a little opposi-
tion would have been a helpful diversion, creating a
healthy excitement and interest in the body. *^ May
13, one member, fearing that wrong impressions had al-
ready gone out from the long debate, asserted that the
subject had been sufficiently discussed; the public
would think the debate meant wide differences of
opinion when really perfect harmony prevailed; and
unless some delegates from border conferences wished
to speak he would move that the debate stop. ^^
48 "Official History," 178-79.
49 "R. C. A.," May 22, 1845. The Editor in his correspondence
to his paper said, "As yet, not a breath of opposition to separation
or a doubt of its absolute necessity, has been heard. Indeed, a little
opposition, if from a source entitled to consideration, would have the
effect of producing a healthful excitement in the body. . . . Everything
is progressing quite harmoniously, and with regular and certain
steps to a plan of distinct ecclesiastical jurisdiction."
50 "Ibid.," May 29, 1845. "Official History," 183. It was
said that the long debate was to present to visitors both lay and
clerical the true state of affairs.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH 99
Several border members took this opportunity to ex-
press their views. They were in general accord, they
said, with the South but reported their fields to be
greatly agitated; they feared that, if they adhered to
the North where slaveholding conferences were not
wanted they would be intruders. Others were sure
the border would throw in its lot with the South but not
without much local dissension and discord. ^^
On May 15 the report of the Committee on Organ-
ization was read. The address which forms a part of
the report fully embodies the views of the convention. ^'■^
Of the seven resolutions at the end of the report the
first is most important. It is the formal declaration
of independence of the southern portion of the church.
It solemnly declared the jurisdiction of the General
Conference over the annual conferences in the South
entirely dissolved, but adopted the Discipline of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, with all its doctrinal,
moral, ecclesiastical and economical regulations with
such verbal alterations only as were necessitated by the
fact of a distinct organization. The style and title of
the new church was to be : The Methodist Episcopal
51 "R. C. A.," May 29, 1845. In this issue the remarks of
several members from border districts are reported. See especially
the remarks of Messrs. Kavanaugh, Stringfield, Patton, Monroe, Har-
rison, Pitts, Brock, Crouch, Harris and Brush.
52 This report appears in full in "R. C. A.," June 5, 1845. (11
columns). It is also in "Official History," 207-33; and in Redford,
"Organization," 434-82.
Its leading ideas are very familiar to the reader by this time ;
separation would be legal as it was based on the Plan ; it was morally
sound as it would save the church in the South ; neither side could
recede as each acted on principle ; Christ let civil matters alone and
the Discipline had always allowed for the civil law ; now the North
refused to do this ; the South could not agree that the six short
restrictive rules in the Discipline were the whole of the constitution
of the church ; recent General Conference action made the southern
ministry an inferior caste ; all favored continued union of the states,
but the North had departed from its old conservative policy.
100 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
Church, South. This important act passed by a vote
of 95 to 2. ^^ The second resolution in this set, express
ing a hope for fraternal intercourse between the two
churches, passed unanimously. ^*
Thus another momentous step was taken in the
disruption of American Episcopal Methodism. A new
church, similar in all important respects to the parent
church was set up in the South, as the logical and in-
evitable consequence of the forces we have studied.
Like the later Confederacy which adopted the United
States Constitution almost without change, the new
church made verbal changes only, in the old Discipline.
Changes would have been inconsistent as the South held
in both instances that the fundamental laws, civil and
ecclesiastical, if correctly interpreted and understood,
fully guaranteed their rights, vindicated their claims
and sanctioned their acts. In the southern General
Conference, ^^ Petersburg, Va., (May, 1846), futile at-
53 "R. C. A.," May 29, 1845 ; "Official History," 187-88.
54 When the report was taken up as a whole, the vote on it
stood 90 to 2, (five absent). Redford, "Organization," 486. The
two negative votes were from Kentucky, (Messrs. Taylor and Har-
rison). Mr. Taylor tells in a letter to the "Southwestern Christian
Advocate," ("Sw. C. A.") June 20, 1845, why he voted as he did: "I
voted against division because I was opposed to it in any form. I
believed that we needed such checks and balances as the South and
North afforded each other, to prevent innovations on the doctrines
and especially the usages of the Church. Had the South waited till
another General Conference, and that General Conference had refused
to make the necessary reparation, I would have voted unhesitatingly
for a separation of jurisdiction." He denied being a northern man.
He gave his vote from the viewpoint of the church, not from his own
personal views. He settled the question of his personal allegiance on
personal grounds and adhered South.
Note here the similarity of ideas between the southern opposition
to ecclesiastical division In 1844-45 and political secession in 1860-61.
In both cases it was rather a matter of time than of fundamental dif-
ference with the majority. The time to separate or secede had not
come yet, but in the minds of these conservatives it might well come.
55 For some account of the organization and early proceedings
of the Conference see "Journals General Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South," (1846), 3-8.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH 101
tempts were made to modify the sections on slavery.
The border was especially hostile to change. Its dele-
gates had promised that none should be made. ^^ This
promise was kept, but not without a struggle. ^"^ In
succeeding General Conferences of the southern church
— 1854, 1858 — the struggle against changing the rules
on slavery continued against ever-increasing forces, but
on the whole successfully. ^^ In 1854, however, they
agreed upon a very strained interpretation of at least
one part of the disciplinary regulations on slavery. ^^
The superintendents present at the convention were
requested to join the new church, and Bishop Andrew
immediately complied. Bishop Soule felt that he must
help to carry out the episcopal plan of visitation
adopted by the bishops, until the first General Con-
ference of the Church, South, when he would feel free to
join them, ^o On May 19 the convention completed
its labors and adjourned. ^^
56 "W. C. A.," May 29, 1846.
57 "Journals, South," (1846), 20, 28, 70-72, 73-75, 96, 100-101.
58 There is practically nothing on the suhject in the minutes of
1850. Certainly no action against the rules on slavery was taken.
See "Journals, South," (1854), 296, 299-300, 300-301 ; "Journals.
South," (1858), 383-85, 431, 443-44, 444-45, 447-49, 456-60.
At this first General Conference (1846), a delegate was appointed
to carry to the approaching General Conference of the old church
(1848), the fraternal greetings of its new relative; and an official
history of the separation was approved. "Journals, South,"
(1846), 73-74, 100-101. Matters of finance, editors, publishing house,
were also considered and legislated upon.
59 "Journals, South," (1846), 300-301.
60 "Official History," 200-201. How that decision of Bishop
Soule's would appear to the Methodist Episcopal Church is quite easy
to imagine. We shall have occasion to refer to it more fully at a
later time.
61 "Journals, South," (1846), 103.
Chapter V
THE METHODIST CHURCH REPUDIATES THIi:
PLAN OF SEPARATION, 1848
There were three distinct classes of happenings
growing out of the Plan of Separation and the found-
ing of the new church, namely, the evolution of Metho-
dist opinion leading to the repudiation of the Plan of
Separation by the General Conference of 1848; the
struggle over the boundary as laid down by the Plan;
and the final settlement of the property question in the
civil courts. These will now be treated in separate
chapters and in the order mentioned. In this chapter
attention will be given to the repudiation of the Plan.
As we turn from the course of events in the South
to study contemporary conditions in the North, a very
different situation confronts us. After the Conference,
the path before the Methodists of the South was plain
and easy. There was the Plan of Separation, enacted
in a fit of christian generosity during the dying hours
of the General Conference; and there was the sub-
stantial unanimity of the South, both lay and clerical,
touching the necessity of separation. To assemble
the convention at Louisville with delegates nearly all
instructed for division, to organize the new connection,
and set its wheels spinning were easy and grateful
tasks. In the North everything was different. The
delegates returning home from their strenuous labors
in New York City, met with anything but enthusiastic
PLAN OF SEPAHATION REPUDIATED 103
approval. They ^ had sanctioned, if they had not
produced, a cruel rent in the glorious fabric of the
beloved church ; they had surrendered to the pleas and
demands of slaveholders and schismatics. Their con-
stituents needed a little time to adjust their thoughts to
these surprising developments. ^ The more they
thought about it, the more certain it appeared to north-
ern Methodists that they could not approve the Plan,
and soon there broke forth a heated newspaper con-
troversy over its expediency and constitutionality.
Every aspect of the question was discussed and most
of the northern leaders took part.
Accustomed to the conflict of interests around
constitutional interpretations in the political life of
the country, we should expect to find similar conflicts
in the church. Such questions were intricate enough
in the political field where judicial interpretation had
given a certain definiteness to constitutional principles,
but in the church the field of constitutional law was
a trackless wilderness in which one could easily get
lost. Thus the widest possible differences appeared,
without the faintest hope of an authoritative solution.
In the first place, the old question so familiar in our
political affairs, arose in the church. What was the
nature of the Methodist constitution? Had it founded
a government of limited powers like the national gov-
ernment, or a government of general powers subject
only to a few specific restrictions — ^the six restrictive
rules? In form, at least, it was of the latter type, re-
pugnant as that was to American political instincts
1 A small minority had vigorously opposed the policy of the
Committee of Nine in the Conference. See again the remarks of
Griffith and Cartwright, "Debates," 219, 220.
2 For a bitter and unfair attack on the General Conference see
letter of Dr. Emory in "Z. H.," Dec. 4, 1844, copied (extracts) from
"C. A. and J."
104 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
and habits of thought. ^ Obviously it made a great
difference when they discussed the powers of the Con-
ference and the validity of the Plan whether the church
government was assumed to be a limited one, like our
federal government, with powers distinctly specified,
or one of general powers with a few stated limitations.
Dr. Bangs of New York, a believer in the constitu-
tionality of the Plan, held that the church government
was of the last-mentioned type. ^ Yet he did not fol-
low out this thought with complete consistency, for he
believed that the Conference had no right to divide the
church, although it is nowhere specifically prohibited
from doing so. ^ Dr. Bangs' view was strongly con-
troverted by an anonymous writer who expressed his
alarm at such loose doctrines. He urged the next Con-
ference promptly to rescind and disavow the act of
the last; he had never intended to join a church with
the sort of government Dr. Bangs interpreted the
Methodist Church to possess ; and he urged his friends
never to yield acquiescence, ' ' no not for an hour. ' ' ^
3 The constitution adopted in 1808 when the mass meeting
General Conference gave way to the present limited body provides :
"The General Conference shall have full powers to make rules anil
regulations for our Church under the following limitations and re-
strictions." "Discip." of 1840, 21. Then follows the enumeration of
six specific acts the Conference must not do.
4 "Our constitution" he wrote, referring to the church constitu-
tion, "differs very materially in some respects from most others.
In other constitutions distinct powers are granted, and those thus
granted are specifically enumerated and accurately defined. ..but in
our constitution certain powers which are definitely enumerated, are
withheld, and all the rest are fully granted." "C. A. and J.," Dec. .3,
1845. For a similar view see Harris, "Powers of the General Con-
ference," 21-23.
5 He held that the Plan did not profess to divide the church,
so he was consistent in thinking the Plan constitutional. See his
letter in "C. A. and .T.," Nov. 27, 1844.
6 He exclaimed, "Do I hear aright? Is it possible that, in
this land of Protestant liberty, such a proposal has been seriously
advanced by one of the fathers of the Church? I had always sup-
PLAN OF SEPARATION REPUDIATED 105
Very few people in the North were able to agree with
Dr. BangsJ As the North grew more confident in its
belief that the Plan was unconstitutional the South
was not slow to charge it with inconsistency in exalting
the power of the Conference in the Bishop Andrew
case, and minimizing it in discussing the constitution-
ality of the Plan of Separation. ^
Another argument relied upon to discredit the
validity of the Plan, was that it contravened the fifth
restrictive rule, which prohibited the Conference from
abridging the rights of trial and appeal guaranteed to
ministers and members. ^ This objection was one of
the most difficult for the friends of the Plan to meet.
Dr. Bangs probably voiced the best answer they could
find to it. He argued that the Conference had not
abridged the privileges of anyone, nor had it expelled
any one ; it had simply directed that members remain
in the church in their own section. The southern
church would still be a Methodist Church. He added
also that the church could say where ministers should
labor, 1^ and that minorities in any case must abide by
the decisions of majorities in the church as elsewhere.
posed the General Conference to be a body of delegated and limited
powers. But now we are told, in effect, that they may do what-
ever they please ; for who shall assure us that the day may never come
when even the few express restrictions in the Discipline will be over-
ridden by virtue of that supreme 'law of necessity' of which the Doctor
speaks?" "C. A. and J.," Dec. 24, 1845.
7. In general, the venerable Dr. Stephen Olin supported the views
of Bangs. "C. A. and J.," Sept. 10, 1845.
8 "R. C. A.," Dec. 26, 1844. Of course the argument worked
both ways. The South made the opposite shift in emphasis in dis-
cussing the two cases.
9 "Discipline" of 1840, 22. The conference "shall not do away
the privileges of our ministers or preachers of trial by a committee,
and of an appeal ; neither shall they do away the privileges of our
members of trial before the society, or by a committee, and of an
appeal."
10 "C. A. and J.," Aug. 13, 1845.
106 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
Further he warned that some individual distress would
necessarily follow any solution of so complex a prob-
lem.
Another focus, of debate was the third restrictive
rule, which withheld from the General Conference the
power to destroy the general superintendency, that is
to say, modify the ecclesiastical arrangements so as to
hinder the bishops from traveling freely over all the
connection. ^^ The opponents of the Plan said it
clearly violated this article ; the bishops and preachers
were prevented from serving in all parts of American
Methodism. On the other hand, it was said that the
church had already restricted the episcopacy when it
abandoned its jurisdiction over the Canadian Metho-
dists, 12 and had not then thought it illegal. Moreover,
would not Methodist bishops and preachers be travel-
ing over the South doing their regular work as be-
fore ? 1^ It was standing on a mere technicality, they
said, to see in the Plan a violation of this restriction.
Closely related to this objection, was another frequent-
ly heard, namely, that the Plan limited the field of
ministerial activity contrary to the divine commission
which Christ gave to his disciples that they go into all
the world and preach the Gospel.
As the argument went on, its inconclusive charac-
ter grew more apparent. On no recognized authority
11 "Discip." of 1840, 21. They shall not "alter any part or
rule of our government, so as to. . .destroy the plan of our itinerant
general superintendency."
12 See below, pages IIO-IS.
13 Supporters of the Plan might well have added that the gen-
eral superintendency was more a theory than a fact anyhow. Bishop
Andrew had never appeared or presided at the New England con-
ferences between 1832 and 1844, as the ideal of a general superintend-
ency required him to do.
PLAN OF SEPARATION REPUDIATED 107
in the church was there imposed the task of passing on
the validity of Conference acts. Every sort of opin-
ion arose as to who might exercise that function. As
Dr. Bangs observed, it was much easier to say who
should not than who should. Slyly rapping his edi-
torial opponents ^^ who had already passed adversely
on the Plan and were fighting it tooth and nail, he ex-
pressed himself as quite sure that editors, who were
the servants of the General Conference, had no author-
ity to declare its acts null and void. As far as he
could see, the Conference was the sole judge of the
validity of its own acts. ^^
Some men guessed that the annual conferences
were the true and final judges placed over the General
Conference. The Illinois conference was especially
sure of the correctness of this guess, stating its
views thereon very emphatically. ^^ Others were quick
to point out the anarchistic tendencies of this particu-
lar attempt at improvising a supreme court or rather a
series of supreme dourts. '^'^ Incidentally also the
reader will recognize here an obvious echo in the
ecclesiastical controversy of the issues involved in the
Virginia and Kentucky resolutions of 1798-99. The
state rights philosophy made the Illinois suggestion
14 Drs. Bond and Elliott, editors respectively of the "C. A. and
J." and the "R. C. A."
15 "C. A. and J.," Oct. 22, 1845.
16 Since the Discipline omits to mention where the final judicial
power lies, "it follows," says this conference, "that the annual con-
ferences, being the immediate constituents of the General Conference,
constitute the natural and proper tribunal and exclusively possess
the right to determine as to the constitutionality of the acts and do-
ings of the General Conference."
Then rising to the full height of the dignity and authority thus
newly assumed it declared the Plan invalid. "C. A. and J.," Oct. 15,
1845.
17 See "Pittsburgh C. A.," Oct. 22, 1845.
108 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
seem natural. The great need of such a court is shown
by Dr. Bond's partial endorsement of a scheme to sup-
ply the lack. A correspondent ^^ suggested a new
court to be composed of twenty members, including the
bishops, equally divided between the two sections. It
was to have an absolute veto on the acts of the Gen-
eral Conference. Another suggestion was that it be
given a suspensive veto, which might be overridden by
a two-thirds or three-fourths vote of the Conference.^^
Dr. Bangs and his followers were waging a losing
fight. The weight of opposing opinion gradually over-
powered them. Some very interesting instances of the
evolution of individual opinion appeared. In 1846 Dr.
Bond was much more certain of the inexpediency and
unconstitutionality of the Plan than he had been in
1844, 20 while Dr. Elliott executed the most spectacular
intellectual somersault exhibited during the entire de-
bate. Dr. Elliott had come out very strongly for the
Plan when it was before the Conference. It would not
hurt the church, he had said. It was scriptural. It
was in keeping with good precedents in the ancient
church and in the Church of England. It was not
sanctioning or condoning a schism but providing for a
friendly separation for mutual convenience, ^i He
18 "Conservator" in "C. A. and J.," Oct. 15, 1845. He suggested
the high sounding title : The Federal Court of the Methodist Episcopal
Church in the United States.
19 "C. A. and J.," Oct. 22, 1845. It is interesting to note
that this plan made such an impression that an unsuccessful at-
tempt was made in the General Conference of 1852 to get such a court
established as part of the permanent machinery of the church. "Jour-
nals," III. (1852), 195-96.
20 Compare for example his remarks at the General Conference
of 1844 ("Debates," 223-24), and his editorial in "C. A. and J.," June
26, 1844, with his editorial of June 4, 1845.
21 "Debates," 219. See also his editorial in "W. C.
A.," Aug. 16, 1844. In the latter be said : "We are persuaded that
PLAN OF SEPARATION REPUDIATED 109
was also more willing then to give a wider interpreta-
tion to the powers of the General Conference than he
was later when the bitterness of feeling between North
and South had more fully emerged. ^2 The tend-
ency to move with the current of opinion setting in
against the Plan affected him along with other northern
Methodists, and soon he was as much opposed to it as
was Dr. Bond. By April, 1845, he was washing his
hands of the separation because of the bad temper and
unchristian spirit of the South. His growing disgust
at their excesses led him to criticize severely the Louis-
ville convention and to repudiate entirely the Plan he
had once praised. ^3
Dr. Elliott's somersault was a source of amuse-
ment to the southern editors. ^^ Perhaps he has been
too severely criticized for changing his mind. If
distinct organizations must exist in the Methodist Episcopal Church
in the United States. We believe the General Conference did right
.... If the question came up again next week our vote would be the
same."
A little later he said : "For ourselves, we are now unwilling to
consider them [the southern Methodists] either as schismatics or as
even seceders from the Methodist Episcopal Church, and we shall
continue so to think and act until we are compelled by the necessity
of the case to think and act otherwise."
But note that there is a hint of wavering in this editorial. He
continued : "We write not these things because we are in favor of
separation, as some may suppose. We are not in favor of separation
now, nor for the causes on account of which it may now take place."
"W. C. A.," Sept. 27, 1844.
22 In controverting a narrow interpretation of Conference
powers he practically adopted Dr. Bangs' view of the matter, which
opened the way for someone to ask him where he found any restric-
tion prohibiting the Conference from dividing the church or at least
sanctioning the division. "W. C. A.," Dee. 13, 1844.
23 See "W. C. A.," June 13, 1843.
24 The editor of the "R. C. A." had already charged him with
being a turncoat. For a very striking comparison of his earlier and
later views see Scarritt, "Position of the M. E. Ch., South, on
Slavery," 36.
110 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
circumstances change, a man's opinions may legitimate-
ly change also. ^^ It is not necessary for our purpose
to decide whether or not Dr. Elliott was right. Let
us simply note that his change of view was significant
of the wider change going on in the attitude of north-
ern Methodism toward the Plan of Separation, ^c
Since there was no supreme court to settle the dif-
ferences on constitutional interpretation it was natural
for the debaters to ransack Methodist history for pre-
cedents. The incident which seemed to offer the great-
est number of elements paralleling the current strug-
gle was the relinquishment of jurisdiction over the
Canadian Methodists by their American godfathers in
1832. Soon after the formation of the Methodist Church
in the United States, it developed a missionary interest
in Canada. In 1812 Upper and Lower Canada had
appeared as parts of the Genesee annual conference.
During the "War of 1812, a number of American workers
had come home and their places had been taken by
English Wesleyans. With the growth of the two
branches of the Methodist family there, and the rise of
a Canadian patriotic feeling, friction had developed to
an extent making new arrangements imperative. After
considerable hesitation the General Conference, in 1820,
had transferred Lower Canada to the Wesleyans.
25 He frankly recognized his change and attributed it to unex-
pected developments in the spirit, attitude and aims on the part of
the South. "W. C. A.," April 23, 1845.
One might say that Elliott was the Greeley of the Methodist
schism. Greeley at first would let the erring sisters (states) go in
peace, and later turned to favor a policy of forcing the same erring
sisters to remain in the Union. "N. Y. Tribune," Nov. 9, 16, 19, .30,
1860, and Jan. 14, Feb. 2, 1861.
26 For sample resolutions, correspondence, etc., see "Great
Secession," 499-514, where a considerable body of material is brought
together.
PLAN OP SEPARATION REPUDIATED 111
The same divisive forces, added to some personal
difficulties, kept alive and increased the discontent in
Upper Canada, which had become (1824) a separate
annual conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Petitions had poured in for and against a separation.
In 1828, while the Conference had doubted its constitu-
tional authority to divide the church, it had decided
that it could allow Methodists on territory outside the
United States to form themselves into an independent
body. ^'^ Temporary arrangements had been made
until Canadian financial claims could be permanently
adjusted. In 1832 at the urgent request of the repre-
sentatives of Canadian Methodism the Conference had
sent around a resolution asking the annual conferences
to suspend the sixth restrictive rule of the Discipline to
permit a division of the Book Concern property with
the new Canadian church. In due time this request
had been refused, the opposition having been especially
strong in the South. ^^ When this vote was reported
to the General Conference of 1836 it had provided a
mutually satisfactory plan for extinguishing the claims
by granting the Canadian Methodists, for sixteen years,
a liberal discount on all books bought by them from the
publishing house. ^^
27 The resolutions embodying this decision -were passed as a
whole by a vote of 108 to 22.
28 In nine typical slaveholding conferences the vote totalled 59
to 384 — over six to one — against suspending the rule.
The total vote was 599 for and 758 against. "Journals," I.
(1836), 461. The southerners' vote on this occasion was an uncom-
fortable bit of history for them in 1845.
29 The details of this series of transactions are not easy to
unravel, owing partly to errors and ambiguities in both sources and
secondary writings. For the material on the subject see : "C. A. and
J.," Dec. 6, 1849 (a good general account of the Canadian separation) ;
"C, A. and J.," Nov. 22, 1849 (letter from Dr. Bangs, correcting an
error in his "History," III. 389-90, relative to the Canadian affair) ;
Bangs, "History," II. III. and IV. passim ; Sutton, "The Metho-
112 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
Each side seized upon this episode as furnishing
argument that would crush the opposition. Dr. Bond
was sure that it could not aid the friends of the Plan.
In the first place, he said, the Methodist Episcopal
Church never had had a legal existence in Canada.
Political exigencies — conditions beyond their control ^'^
— had forced Canadian Methodism to sever its connec-
tion with American Methodism. Then, again, it was
said that Canada had been a missionary field, so the
church, not having been under the ordinary constitu-
tional limitations there, could allow withdrawal, with-
out establishing a precedent for the separation of in-
tegral parts of itself as the southern conferences ad-
mittedly were. ^^ The fact also that Canada had been
only by courtesy a part of the Methodist Episcopal
Church m the United States, played a role in the con-
troversy.
Those who felt that the incident furnished a con-
clusive argument for the power of the Conference to
pass the Plan of Separation, could make out quite a
respectable case. Especially telling was their attack
on the missionary field idea. Could the Conference,
they asked, cut off members in mission fields without
the right of trial secured by the fifth restrictive rule?
If such an exception had been intended, it would have
been clearly expressed. Suppose Canada had been mis-
sionary ground, had not most of the United States also
dist Church Property Case," 34-42, 166-75, 280, 320, 343 ; "Journals,"
I. (1824, 1828, 1832, 1836), see indices.
Dr. Bangs' statement at the Conference of 1844 that the Canadian
church had been given $10,000 is erroneous. See "C. A. and J.,"
Feb. 7, 1850.
30 "C. A. and J.," Feb. 5, 1845. He noted also that the Cana-
dian Methodists had not set up a new organization taking the name
of the parent church as the South had done.
31 "Z. H.," Dec. 18, 1844 (Porter's letter).
PLAN OF SEPARATION REPUDIATED 113
been Methodist missionary ground at some time? If
that sort of argument made the Canadian separation
constitutional it would seem to do the same for the
present division. The argument, too, advanced by Dr.
Bond, that the grounds of separation were not of Can-
ada's making, but grew out of political conditions be-
yond their control, ^^ came very near to describing the
situation in the South in 1844. Dr. Bangs scored a
strong point when he said that in transferring Lower
Canada to the Wesleyans in 1820, the General Con-
ference did, as a matter of simple fact, find itself
possessed of sufficient power to sanction a transfer of
societies and buildings to the jurisdiction of another
body, 2^ even when some of those thus cut off strongly
opposed the surgery. The wail from a forsaken south-
ern minority, which was evoking such melting pity
from certain editors in 1845, seems to have been quite
bearable when coming from Lower Canada in 1820. ^*
We know it had been disregarded in 1836 when it came
from Upper Canada. ^^ Thus each faction professed to
find in the Canadian case just what it needed.
This deep difference of opinion on a constitutional
question showed itseK in more practical ways, through
the action of the bishops in drawing up a plan of episco-
pal visitation ^^ for the ensuing four years ; and in the
voting in the annual conferences on the recommenda-
tion from the General Conference, that they concur in
32 "C. A. and J.," Feb. 5, 1845.
33 "C. A. and J.." Aug. 6, 1845 (letter from Dr. Bangs).
34 I have found no direct evidence that objectors abounded iu
Lower Canada. The statement is based on the pretty safe assumption
that no such transfer could have occurred ■with the unanimous
approval of those concerned.
33 For a clear case see "Journals," I. (1836), 452.
36 The regular itinerary of the bishops among the annual con-
ferences.
114 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
the suspension of the sixth restrictive rule to allow a
division of the church property. The Conference
action on the Bishop Andrew case had created a deli-
cate situation for the bishops. It had expressed its
sense that Bishop Andrew should desist from the labors
of his office as long as his connection with slavery con-
tinued. ^'^ In almost the same breath it had said it
considered him still a bishop, and free to choose
whether or not he would comply with its wishes. ^^ In
trying to discharge their duties in view of these
somewhat ambiguous actions of the Conference, the
bishops found an unfortunate difference of opinion
among themselves. They met in New York, June 11,
1844, to arrange the itinerary. All attended but Bishop
Andrew. Since the latter had not, apparently, asked
for a share of the work or signified his decision on the
question the Conference had left to him, most of the
bishops did not feel free to include him in their pro-
gram. 2Q From this view Bishop Soule dissented, *^
and an alternative itinerary was prepared to include
Bishop Andrew. This was entrusted to Bishop Soule,
with the understanding, it is alleged, that if Bishop
Andrew applied for work Bishop Soule would publish
the second plan and explain the delay .^^
37 "Journals," II. (1844), 83-84.
38 "Ibid.," 118.
39 They resolved, "It is our opinion in regard to the action of
the late General Conference in the case of Bishop Andrew, that it was
designed by that body to devolve the responsibility of the exercise of
the functions of his office exclusively on himself." Since he had
not applied they must leave him out. "C. A. and J.," Feb. 19, 1845.
40 "R. C. A.," Mar. 6, 1845 ; item copied from "S. C. A." Also
Smith, "Andrew," 362-66.
41 "R. C. A.," Feb. 27, 1845. This explanation, published here
over the signatures of the four northern bishops, in order to clear up
a misunderstanding, agrees substantially with Bishop Soule's letter on
the same subject in "R. C. A.," Feb. 13, 1845.
PLAN OF SEPARATION REPUDIATED 115
Without publishing this document, though he al-
leged that Bishop Andrew expressed to him preference
for episcopal work, ^^ Bishop Soule invited him to assist
in the regular work with the southern conferences to
which Bishop Soule had been assigned. ^^ Bishop An-
drew accepted, and concerning Bishop Soule 's act a
lively debate arose. . Had he kept faith with the bishops ?
Had he gone against the definite wishes of the Con-
ference ? ^* It is clear that Bishop Soule placed himself
in opposition to his northern colleagues, and while he
was doubtless convinced of the complete rectitude of
his course, he certainly took the law into his own
hands, ^^ — an act which was in notable contrast with a
theory he expressed a little later.
The expression just mentioned came about in this
way. Soon after the meeting of the Louisville conven-
tion the bishops, who intended to remain with the old
church, voted not to attend or preside at, the southern
42 "R. C. A.," April 17, 1845, (letter of J. S. Mitchell at the
Baltimore conference to the "Nashville C. A.")
43 Soule's letter of invitation is in "C. A. and J.," Dec. 4, 1844.
Before receiving this letter, Andrew had decided not to engage in
regular work (due largely to the rumors as to the feeling and action
of the bishops), but the invitation changed his mind. "Ibid.," see
letter copied from "S. C. A."
44 See Dr. Bangs' letter in "C. A. and J.," December 11, 1844,
and Dr. Bond's editorial the following week. Soule denied the im-
plication of bad faith, or of a stretch of power. "S. C. A.," Jan. 17, 1845.
45 He appears not to have cared really whether Bishop Andrew
had asked for work or not, and here a fundamental difference be-
tween himself and his colleagues crops out. "Now suppose," he said,
"it were admitted that he did neither [ask or demand work], what
then? Why the questions are asked, who required that he should do
either the one or the other? What obligation was he under to do so?
By what authority was he required to ask or demand work of me, or
any one of his colleagues? Who gave me or any one of the bishops
any superiority or pre-eminence over Bishop Andrew, that he should
come to us to ask for work, as if we had a right to withhold it from
him? Was I not under as much obligation to ask work of him as he
was to ask it of me? I know no difference." "C. A. and J.," May 21,
1845.
116 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
conferences. ^^ This was an eminently sensible meas-
ure, and showed a tendency to guide conduct by reali-
ties rather than by abstractions. Bishop Soule could
not accept this apparently plain and straightforward
view of the case. In due time he got a notice ^"^ of the
action of the bishops and also a suggested plan by
which Bishop Morris might take his northern appoint-
ments if he chose to change his field of labor. Bishop
Soule, however, was unable to see the situation as it
really was, and based his refusal to agree to the plan
upon the ground that it would be something new for
him as a Methodist preacher to decline to work where
he had been sent by the constituted authority and to
choose to work elsewhere ^^ — a very fine, loyal senti-
ment to be sure but rather amusing coming from him.
These same constituted authorities had carried little
weight when they asked him to give Bishop Andrew
work only when he applied for it. Bishop Soule 's per-
sistence in carrying out the original scheme of visita-
tion in spite of the action of the Louisville Convention
and his relations to it, led to at least one very painful
episode when he attempted to preside at the Ohio an-
nual conference. ^^ His was a course hard to reconcile
with consistency. On the other side the stand of the
majority of the bishops on the Plan of Separation was
46 This action was talien July 3, 1845, ("C. A. and J.," July 9,
1845,) and greatly pleased the southern editors, ("R. C. A.," July 17,
1845.)
47 From the other bishops.
48 "R. C. A.," Aug. 14, 1845. "Now," said Bishop Soule, "the
truth is, I neither 'choose to change my field of labor, or decline at-
tending' conferences assigned me by the 'college' of Bishops. ... To
'choose to change my field of labor, or decline to attend' the work
assigned me by the constituted authorities of the church ... would
form a new era in the history of my life as a Methodist preacher."
49 "W. C. A.," July 4, 1845 (letter from Peter Cartwright) ;
"Ibid.," July 18, 1845 (Bastlan, Weed). The opinions expressed in
these letters were evidently general and at the Ohio conference (Sept.,
PLAN OF SEPARATION REPUDIATED 117
in striking contrast ^^ to the swelling tide of nullifica-
tion menacing it in the North.
The other series of events which measured this
veering of sentiment on the constitutionality of the
Plan was the voting in the annual conferences on the
recommendation to change the sixth restrictive rule.
The voting began in the sessions of the New York an-
nual conference the day ^^ after the General Conference
adjourned, and continued well into the following
spring. ^2 A most interesting development revealed in
this series of votes was the gradual stiffening of senti-
ment against the Conference recommendation as each
annual conference in order, acted on the question.
Those voting first emphatically favored the proposed
suspension of the rule, those voting in the intermediate
period wavered, while the later ones, including the
great majority, decidedly opposed the change. ^^ At
1845) the disagreeable episode referred to in the text occurred. "W.
C. A.," Sept. 12, 1845.
On the other hand it should be said for Bishop Soule that his
course was sanctioned by the South. "S. C. A.," June 20, 1845.
50 See Bishop Morris' letter to Bishop Andrew, February 19,
1845. Smith, "Andrew," 362-66.
51 June 12, 1844.
52 That is, it ended with the voting in the New Jersey con-
ference in April, 1845.
53 For instance, three conferences voting in June and July stood
as follows : June 12, 1844 the New York conference voted 143 yes, 38
no. ("C. A. and J.," June 26, 1844). July 3, 1844, Providence, unani-
mously yes. ("C. A. and J.," Aug. 7, 1844). July 24, Rock River
conference, 45 yes, 10 no. ("C. A. and J.," Oct. 30, 1844).
Three meeting in August and September acted as follows : Aug.
14, Maine conference, action postponed. ("Z. H.," Sept. 4). Aug. 13, N.
Ohio conference, 2 yes, 86 no. ("Z. H.," Sept. 18, 1844). Sept. 4,
Illinois conference, 22 yes, 38 no. ("W. C. A.," Oct. 4).
The three conferences voting in March and April, 1845, after
hearing eight or nine months of heated debate on the constitutionality
of the Plan, stood : March 12, Baltimore conference, 40 yes, 148 no.
("C. A. and J.," Mar. 26). April 2, Philadelphia conference, 12 yes,
104 no, absent 21. ("C. A. and J.," April 16, 1845). April 23, New
Jersey conference, 2 yes, 110 no. ("Minutes of the New Jersey Annual
Conference," 11).
118 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
first it looked favorable for the South, then rather
doubtful, and finally it became certain that the con-
stitutional change would not be authorized. When the
total vote was tabulated there were found to be 2,135
for and 1,070 against it. This was almost exactly two
to one in its favor, but the constitution required a
three-fourths majority of the delegates. ^* This result,
it should be noted, included the nearly unanimous
affirmative votes of the southern conferences. The
northern conferences however gave a clear majority
for the change— 1164 to 1067.^5 The outstanding
fact, however, was that the recommendation to change
the rule had been legally rejected.
Why did the preacher-voters in the northern con-
ferences refuse to authorize the change ? Primarily be-
cause they were opposed to dividing the church. ^^
They were unwilling to have even the appearance of
favoring it by lending their sanction to any atom of the
Plan. ^'^ Another influence of unquestioned import-
54 How should the majority be ascertained? This was a con-
troverted point. For the controversy see "C. A. and J.," Nov. 23
and Dec. 11, 1844.
55 "11. C. A.," July 13, 1848. Report of speech by Dr. Durbin
in the General Conference of 1848.
56 For one of several hints that the Methodist Episcopal Church
was "one and indivisible" — hints suggestive of later developments —
see Monroe's Compromise, "C. A. and J.," Sept. 3, 1845.
57 Some opinions expressed by the conferences themselves were
as follows :
The North Ohio conference refused to sanction the proposed
alteration because (1) the church could only be divided by secession;
(2) there was no real necessity for division ; (3) the Plan restricted
the church to the North in opposition to Christ's command to go out
into all the world and preach the Gospel ; and (4) to vote the desired
change would give the General Conference a permanent power alto-
gether too extensive. "W. C. A.," Sept. 20, 1844.
The Illinois conference opposed the division of the church, but
admitted that if division actually occurred, the South ought to have
its share of the common property. "W. C. A.," Oct. 4, 1844.
The Baltimore conference gave the following reasons for its vote
against suspending the restriction : (1) It wished to do nothing that
PLAN OF SEPARATION REPUDIATED 119
ance in achieving this outcome was the violent langu-
age employed by the southern primary meetings against
the North while the organization of the new church
was proceeding. The feeling crops out in the northern
Methodist press that it would be highly inexpedient to
encourage in any way the formation of a separate de-
nomination so bitterly hostile to the old church. ^^.
Furthermore, the belief that the South was violating
the Plan in several respects, especially the boundary
provisions, ^^ and the fear, naturally strongest in the
old abolition conferences, that the southern church
appeared to favor division ; (2) to remove the restriction permanently
(and there was nothing in the recommendation to show that it was
to be temporary) would clothe the Conference with dangerous power ;
(3) the proposed action would not accomplish the result aimed at,
since it authorized merely the apportionment of the proceeds, while
the Plan contemplated the division of the capital ; but, finally, (4) it
disclaimed any wish to cheat the South. "Great Secession," 408-09.
The reaction of the South to the sort of talk found in the fourth
item of the Baltimore list of reasons is shown by the editor's com-
ment in "R. C. A.," April 3, 1845 : It Is due to the Baltimore con-
ference to say that all who spoke denied any intention to prevent a
just division of the property, if it should be necessary. Yet how can
this be? "There is but one constitutional mode of doing the thing,
that mode was submitted to them and they have refused to concur in
it by a vote of 151 to 42." (The church newspapers differ slightly
as to the exact vote).
Referring to the certain failure of the vote the editor of the
"R. C. A." continues at another time : "But will this stay or prevent
the division of the church? Not one whit! There is something more
than money involved in this question. And dollars and cents can
never be suffered to mingle in a question of principle. The Southern
Conferences will unquestionably separate, money or no money, — they
go for principle not interest." "R. C. A.," March 27, 1845.
58 "Z. H.," July 3, 1844. The editor very well stated this
feeling : "But the late unqualified recklessness of the South is fast
rendering questionable whether it will be morally proper for the North
to sanction by liberal largesses, a schism which, however desirable,
if properly conducted, is evidently to be... a battery of unceasing
hostility and abuse against ourselves." He does not know but that
New England from self respect will have to defeat the resolutions.
Later, editor Stevens ("Z. H.," July 17,) advocated the approval
of the property division, but not of the Plan.
59 See chapter VI. of the present work.
120 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
would perpetuate slavery, were influences tending in
the same direction. ^
Two effective arguments frequently advanced
remain to be noticed. It was pointed out that
the removal of the restriction as recommended by
the General Conference was permanent rather than
temporary and would affect the entire future relations
of the Conference with the Book Concerns. ^^ While
possibly the result of an oversight on the part of the
f ramers of the Plan, this consideration led many to vote
against the recommendation. The other matter (also
an oversight?) was that the conferences were asked
to authorize a partition of the proceeds of the Book
Concerns, while what the Plan really contemplated was
a division of the capital. "Whatever may be our
opinions on the relative weight or influence of particu-
lar arguments, it is clear that such as they were the
mass contributed to one concrete result — the defeat of
the General Conference recommendation.
In this state of Methodist opinion, what must be
the attitude of the General Conference of 1848 toward
the Plan? Coming events cast their shadows before
them. "We have seen that Editors Bond and Elliott
had gone over to the ranks of the nuUifiers, the former
60 Stevens voices the fear that the new church was to be a
slavery stronghold. "Z. H.," July 3, 1844.
On the other hand this fear had another effect that tended to
neutralize the one mentioned. The abolitionists often were willing to
vote the suspension of the restriction in order to facilitate the sever-
ance of the Methodist Episcopal Church from slavery altogether. This
influence may help to account for the favorable votes in New Eng-
land, New York and Michigan, strong abolition regions. Gorrie, "Hist,
of the M. E. Church in the U. S.," 111-112.
61 "R. C. A.," April 24, 1845. Letter of William Wickes ex-
plaining his vote in the Baltimore annual conference.
PLAN OP SEPARATION REPUDIATED 121
more or less consistently, ^^ the latter with a somer-
sault that amused his foes. In January, 1846, Dr.
Elliott was writing the Plan down as possessed of no
authority whatever, and that, in his opinion, officials
of the church should act as if it had never existed. ^^
A year later Dr. Bond asserted that the next Conference
must repudiate it altogether, that they would not repeal
it — for that might be admitting some original validity
in it — but that they would declare it unconstitutional
and a nullity from the first. ^* It was evident, too, from
later developments, that the preachers were with the
editors and that the South was by no means blind to
the signs of the times. Perhaps the outcome was so
unmistakable that Editor Lee was not quite such a
marvel as a prophet as he seemed to be in an editorial
written about the time the General Conference of 1848
was assembling. He had just had a visit with Dr.
Lovick Pierce, the fraternal delegate, elected by the
Southern General Conference of 1846 ^^ to attend that
of 1848. As a result he was convinced that Dr. Pierce
would not be received. From this he concluded that
the Conference would refuse to confer with southern
representatives on the property question. ^^ The Plan
of Separation would then go by the board, the bound-
ary would be erased, and to add new streams of evil the
62 He was never enthusiastic over tbe Plan.
63 "W. C. A.," Jan. 30, 1846.
64 "C. A. and J.," Jan. 13 and April 21, 1847.
In January, 1848, ("C. A. and J.," Jan. 12,) the editor asserted
that nothing was left of the Plan on account of the false interpreta-
tion attached to it by the South, so the North might as well abolish it
as illegal from the start.
65 "Journals, South," (1846), 100-101.
66 See chapter VII. of the present work.
122 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
southern church would be compelled to appeal to the
civil courts to vindicate her property claims. ®'^
The General Conference of 1848 assembled at Pitts-
burgh, May 1, and was soon grappling with the prob-
lems bequeathed to it by its predecessor. Of course
there were no delegates from the southern conferences,
but on the third day Dr. Pierce presented his creden-
tials and stated that he had been appointed to bring to
it the christian greetings of the southern church. ®^
The Conference thought it unwise to enter just then
into fraternal relations with the South, although it ex-
tended to the delegate all personal courtesies. ^^ Var-
ious phases of the separation question came up from
time to time, but the important one for our present pur-
pose was that which concerned the validity of the Plan.
A committee of the Conference had had the matter
under advisement for some days and on May 24 it pre-
sented its report. "^^
Although the Conference was overwhelmingly in
favor of nullifying the Plan, a notable debate on vari-
67 "To this complexion It will come at last," he concluded. It
is a very keen, clear visioned but pessimistic editorial. "R. C. A.,"
May 4, 1848.
68 "Journals," III. (1848), 16.
69 The report embodying this decision was passed unanimously.
"Journals," III. (1848), 21-22.
The essential paragraph is as follows : "Resolved, That while we
tender to the Rev. Dr. Pierce all personal courtesies and invite him
to attend our sessions, this General Conference does not consider it
proper at present, to enter into fraternal relations with the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South."
This decision almost broke the heart of Editor Lee. He felt it
was a great blow to spiritual Methodism, and exemplified anything
but the spirit of Christ on the part of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
"R. C. A.," May 18, 1848.
A week later he said he was a much mistaken man if the time
was not soon coming "when some of the tribes of this confederacy
are constrained to cry out 'to your tents. Oh ! Israel !' "
70 "Journals," III. (1848), 68, 73-78, 80-85.
PLAN OF SEPARATION REPUDIATED 123
ous aspects of the question occurred. Three or four
men from the numerically insignificant minority
strongly stated their views. The Plan had been en-
acted in good faith by Methodist preachers for Metho-
dist preachers. It had been approved by an enormous
majority of the chief organ of American Methodism.
It had been accepted and acted upon in good faith by
those for whom it was intended. Could the church
now fairly repudiate it? Perhaps, as some claimed,
the Plan was unconstitutional, but that was a matter
of personal opinion. '^^ There was no authority that
could legally declare it invalid. The minority also
denied that its validity depended on the votes of the
annual conferences with respect to the sixth rule as
was sometimes asserted. That vote had sole reference
to the division of the property. That the church had
persisted in mixing the issues on this point, did not
change the facts in the case. Finally, these men denied
that the church could act on the supposition that the
necessity for separation, alleged by the South, had
never arisen. They recalled that the South had been
expressly clothed with the right to decide the question
of necessity, and insisted that the church must not
take back in 1848 what she had given in 1844. "^2
But these views made no impression on the equal-
ly good men who honestly believed that the Plan should
go. Strong men stepped forward to vindicate the pur-
pose of the majority who believed in the right of the
Conference of 1848 to judge whether the fundamental
conditions upon which the Plan depended, had been
71 Some of tbe opponents of repudiation believed the Plan illegal
and inexpedient.
72 For reports of the speeches containing these sentiments see
"C. A. and J.," June 7, 1848. For L. M. Lee's argument for the
validity of the Plan see his editorial in "R. C. A.," July 6, 1848.
124 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
met, and whether its practical operation had deprived
any members of the church of their constitutional
rights and privileges. They held that if it should
appear'''^ (1) that there had been no necessity for
division, (2) that the South had violated the Plan, (3)
that the annual conferences had failed to authorize a
division of the property, or (4) that its workings de-
prived worthy people of their rights as members of the
church, then it would not only be right but necessary
for the Conference to revoke or nullify the Plan. '^^
These views won and by a very large majority the Plan
was declared null and void. '^^ The feat was accomp-
lished. The billowing tide of opposition had embodied
itself in a concrete declaration against the great act
of 1844. What judgment, if any, must we pass upon
this repudiation?
While it is easy to explain the action of the Con-
ference of 1848, it is not so easy to justify it. True,
the church loved its unity and power. It was a pity
73 No doubt existed in the minds of the majority that these con-
tingencies had arisen.
74 "C. A. and J.," July 19, 1848. Dr. Peck summarized these
views in an editorial in this issue. (He had been elected by the Con-
ference of 1848 to succeed Dr. Bond as editor.)
The views of the majority are more extensively set forth in the
report of the Conference Committee on the State of the Church,
printed in "Journals," III. (1848), appendix H.
75 "Journals," III. (1848), 85. The declaration that it was
null and void was carried with only nine votes in the negative. The
largest opposition vote on any item in the set of resolutions was 15.
The rise and fall of the Plan of Separation, like the experiences in
connection with the Andrew case, bore results which embedded them-
selves in the legal principles of the Methodist Episcopal Church. To-
day it is expressly declared to be contrary to the Methodist constitu-
tion, either to cut off members without trial or to divide the church.
Cooke, "Judic. Decisions," 104-105, (1908).
For a good modern southern discussion of the legal points in-
volved in the question of the validity of the Plan see Tigert, "Const.
Hist.," revised and enlarged, appendix IV.
PLAN OP SEPARATION REPUDIATED 125
to disrupt such a mighty aggregation of christians.
True, the patience of northern Methodists had been
Sorely tried by the bitterness of southern partisans.
True, some in the South adopted too selfish an inter-
pretation of the boundary provisions of the Plan. '^^
It may be true, that in the long run repudiation worked
go'od rather than harm in simplifying the situation for
both branches of American Episcopal Methodists. Nay,
even while we admit for the sake of the argument that
the Conference of 1848 had a strict legal right to
nullify the Plan, still we find it impossible to con-
template its act with complete approval. The Plan
was a wonderful exhibition of christian charity, mani-
fested in a situation as baffling as any that ever con-
fronted a great religious assembly. In that sense the
Plan was the glory of a self-sacrificing church. In
agreeing to it the church followed closely in the foot-
steps of its Head. When removed from the mellowing
influences of that trying session the North took a more
cold-blooded view of the issue; northern Methodists
concluded that their delegates had gone too far. Re-
pudiation was born and grew lustily. If the southern-
ers wished to leave let them leave as seceders. This
feeling marked a violent reaction from the noble ex-
pressions and acts of the General Conference of 1844.
Then in 1848 when the partner most vitally interested
in the Plan was unrepresented, the other half of the
supposedly dissolved partnership, assuming to act as
judge in its own case, declared the act sanctioning dis-
solution unconstitutional, null and void from the start.
Admitting the difficulties of the problem, and speak-
ing in all charity, we cannot help feeling that it was
a mistake to repudiate the Plan of Separation.
76 See next chapter.
Chapter VI
THE BORDER CONFLICT
In the preceding chapter it was necessary to refer
frequently to the boundary controversy that sprang up
along the tentative dividing line established by the
Plan of Separation between the two sections. It is
now time to study this phase of the subject more syste-
matically. In regard to the border the Plan laid down
three fundamental principles. ^ (1) The line between
the slaveholding and non-slaveholding conferences
should be the starting point for all adjustments pro-
vided for in the Plan. (2) Societies, stations and con-
ferences on this line, should, by vote, choose the church
to which they would adhere, and when this choice had
been made, neither the Methodist Episcopal Church nor
the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, might exercise
any jurisdiction within the bounds of the other. And
(3) this power of choice should belong only to the
units on the border.
The trouble which this arrangement was likely to
provoke was clearly foreseen and pointed out in the
General Conference of 1844. For example, Dr. Bond
expressed his wonder that the committee should pro-
pose such a boundary, for it would foster strife from
Delaware to the Ohio River. Several conferences in-
cluded both free and slave territory, and they were
sure to be torn by bitter strife. Since the Conference
must abridge rights in any case, let it fix the line once
1 For the provisions in full see appendix II.
THE BORDER CONFLICT 127
for all on the existing conference boundaries. ^ The
doctor's pessimistic predictions proved only too true,
for within a year after he had spoken the border quar-
rel was rocking the churches.
When we read the claims and counterclaims of
the parties as their differences grew warmer, we are
depressed anew by the obvious impossibility of either
side appreciating, even in the slightest degree, the
position of the other. The South unquestioningly be-
lieved that the North was consciously, openly, wilfully
and maliciously infringing the plain provisions of the
Plan of Separation regarding the boundary; and the
North was equally confident that the South was guilty
of similar wickedness. Hence each kept printing-
certificates of character for the other based on this
distorted view of the facts. ^ From the calmer stand-
2 "Debates," 224. A glance at the map will show how the con-
ference boundaries cut across state lines.
3 Here is a specimen opinion held concerning members of the
Church, South, by the Kanawha Quarterly conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church.
It resolved, "That we are deeply pained and mortified, that the
name of Methodism has been so stained by the unchristian and the
immoral means used or sanctioned by some of the adherents of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South among us, to effect their ambitious
project of pulling down the Methodist Episcopal Church to build up
a pro-slavery Church, and we can not hereafter have fellowship with
those of them known by us to have been engaged in this business,
either actively or approvingly, until we have evidence of their con-
trition and reformation." "W. C. A.," June 19, 1846.
On the other hand a committee of the southern General Confer-
ence (1846) reported, that the Ohio and Illinois conferences de-
liberately violated the provisions of the Plan. "In at least two in-
stances, Presiding Elders, belonging to those Conferences, have in-
vaded the Southern border, and sent preachers to dissatisfied minori-
ties of societies.... And thus the wise and pacific policy of the
General Conference of 1844 has been impugned, and its purposes
thwarted. And, finally, to cover these revolutionary procedures a
hue and cry has been all the while kept up against the Episcopal ad-
ministration of the South. To say that we are utterly surprised,
and deeply mortified at the course which things have taken in
128 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
point possible today it becomes evident that in very-
few cases did either North or South resort to deliberate
misrepresentation and deception to gain its ends.
Looked at from its own angle of vision, pre-
supposing the ideas, standards and unconscious local
interest which each side brought to the determination
of specific border disputes, it is obvious that there was
no more double-dealing than appears in other and less
exciting human differences. Before taking up the
facts in any one of the local controversies, let us look
for a moment at some of the divergent interpretations
which conditioned the local quarrels. The Plan of
Separation stated how the boundary should be run.
What did that statement mean? How should it be
applied? It was capable of more than one interpre-
tation.
The North held that circuits were not included
among the favored units of a conference that were per-
mitted freely to choose their section. Men said that the
Plan studiously avoided naming them in every enum-
eration of the favored divisions. Only conferences,
societies, and stations were meant, just as it said. ■* To
this the South answered that circuits certainly were
included because in Methodist usage, circuits, stations
and societies were synonymous expressions. No single
society, except it be a station, is a pastoral charge to
the exclusion of other units in the circuit. The entire
circuit is a single charge. ^ Another question arose as
reference to this subject, is but feebly to express the emotions pro-
duced by a view of the facts in the premises. ..." "Journals, South,"
(1846), 53.
4 The bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church acted on this
view at their meeting Mar. 3, 1847. "C. A. and J./' Mar. 24, 1847.
5 "Journals, South," (1846), 50-31; "R. C. A.." Jan. 21, 1847
(editorial).
THE BORDER CONFLICT 129
to whether niorthern conferences on the border must
definitely vote to adhere to the North or to the South
in order to comply with the Plan. The South was sure
that it was forbidden to plant churches north of the
line of division only when the territory in question had
formally voted to adhere to the North. ^ This was their
sole justification for entering a place like Cincinnati
for instance. Their opponents replied that the Plan
correctly understood, did not require the territory out-
side the slaveholding conferences to vote at all. If the
northern units of the southern border conferences
wished to make their choice by vote, well and good,
but the southern units of the northern border con-
ferences were not required to vote on the question of
adherence. '^ If they did nothing their northern loyalty
would be presumed. ^
Dr. Elliott propounded an interpretation which
succeeded at least in amusing the South. He said that
in order for a conference to separate legally two dis-
6 "Sw. C. A.," Jan. 23, 1846. "Law and Order" writing in this
paper expressed the id-ea summarized in the text. It was accepted by
the General Conference, South, "Journals, South," (1846), 48-49. In
"S. C. A.," (copied into "W. C. A.," May 8, 1846), the editor sanc-
tioned the same interpretation, adding : "it being understood that the
ministry of the South, reciprocally observe the same rule in relation
to stations, societies, and conferences, adhering by a vote of a ma-
jority to the Methodist Episcopal Church." He thought that Ohio
being a border conference and having refused to vote one way or the
other was open to southern colonization. See also "Sw. C. A." clip-
ping, Feb. 20, 1846, in Elliott's "Scrapbook," IV. 204.
This southern interpretation seems inconsistent with a resolution
passed in the Convention of 1845 ("Official Hist." 206) which says
societies and stations south of the line named in the Plan would be
assumed to belong South, if they neglected to vote.
7 Some Methodists believed that the smaller units north of the
line could not, under the Plan, vote to go South, that the voting
privilege was confined to the southern units.
8 See letter of "Junius," "C. A. and J„" Nov. 5, 1845.
See Dr, Bond's ridicule of these southern interpretations, "C. A.
and J.," Jan. 13, 1847.
130 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
tinct sets of decisions must be made. First, the lay
members in all the societies of the conference must
vote affirmatively on the proposal, and secondly, the
preachers must agree, voting as a conference. ^ The
two parties also differed on the minor point of a time
limit after the expiration of which voting to change de-
nominational allegiance could no longer be alloAved. ^^
Another moot question was. What is a border
society, and what is an interior society? Is the line
relatively fixed or can it change indefinitely by so-
cieties, once interior, becoming border through the ad-
herence of the original border society to the other
church ? For instance, a border society A in a northern
conference might vote to join the southern connection.
Would that make its neighbor B immediately to the
north a border society with the privilege of choosing
under the Plan? And if B adhered South could its
neighbor C still further north then take its place as a
border society or unit claiming border rights, and so on
indefinitely ?
The North thought the provisions of the Plan ap-
plied only to the first unit on either side (some, we
noted, said only the south side). The first society or
9 For the Doctor's idea fully elaborated see "W. C. A.," Aug. 22,
1845.
Often the South thought It detected serious inconsistencies in the
attitude of the North on this border question. The North insisted
that the South conform strictly to the Plan, while the North made no
secret of its own intention to repudiate the Plan at the first oppor-
tunity. "In a case of litigation," continued the editor of the "Sw.
C. A.," "before a civil tribunal, a party would hardly be permitted
with one breath to repudiate the authority of a given law, and the
next to bring up that same law to operate against the adverse party."
"Sw. C. A.," Feb. 20, 1846.
10 See "R. C. A.," Aug. 14, 1845 ; "C. A. and J.," Mar. 24, 1847
(view of the bishops). See also the Harmony Church case below.
THE BORDER CONFLICT 131
station or conference could choose and that ended it. ^^
The South was sure that southern units could choose
a northern affiliation one after another until stopped
by some unit voting to adhere to the South, and that
the northern border societies similarly could vote to go
with the South until stopped by some society voting to
cast in its fortunes with the North. ^^
As in the ease of the dispute respecting the con-
stitutionality of the Plan as a whole there was no
recognized authority which could decide once for all
the correct interpretation of the border provisions. So
the theoretical conflict continued without hope of an
authoritative solution. Each stuck gallantly to his
chosen view. Neither side could convince the other.
Hence honest, well-meaning men unable to appreciate
the grounds upon which their opponents acted, came
to believe each other dishonorable, and a disgrace to
Methodism and Christianity. ^^ Possibly Dr. Bond had
been right. Possibly the fixing of the boundary defi-
nitely along existing conference lines would have pre-
vented much hard feeling.
There were almost innumerable local quarrels in
connection with this border controversy ^^ but they
were most violent in three or four districts. Eastern
Virginia, or the territory along Chesapeake Bay; west-
11 Editorial comment on the letter of "A Local Preacher" in "C.
A. and J.," Feb. 4, 1846.
12 This was the capital contention of the whole boundary
controversy. It had less practical significance than some others but
it filled a large place in the religious press.
The point appears very clearly for instance in "Sw. C. A.," Feb.
20, 1846.
13 For an official summary of several of these theories see
"Journals, South," (1846), 47-54; "Journals," III. (1848), appendix I.
14 The newspapers are the chief sources of information for
these local quarrels, and it often happens that one report flatly con-
tradicts another. By sticking to the statements of fact about which
132 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
ern Virginia; St. Louis and vicinity; Cincinnati, Ohio;
and Maysville, Ky., were especially strife torn. The
bitterest animosity developed on the Eastern shore, or
the peninsula of Virginia, including Accomac and
Northampton counties. ^^ The struggle took various
forms. Sometimes it arose from differences of local
opinion as to the legality or fairness of meetings called
to decide northern or southern affiliation ; sometimes it
arose over the rights of a given society to act on that
question ; sometimes it f ocussed on a legal fight for the
ownership of the church building and parsonage ; and
sometimes non-Methodists mixed in the frays and com-
plicated them, especially where the pro-slavery opposi-
tion to the Methodist Episcopal Church was strong
owing to its alleged abolitionist tendencies. In the
latter form the local conflicts simply offered a con-
venient storm cradle for the broader political agitation
of the day.
A typical case will bring concretely before the
reader the situation in this eastern region. The Metho-
dist Church in Salem, a small place on the Eastern
shore, was uiider the pastoral care of Rev. Valentine
Gray. These peninsula Methodists had been torn
for months by the quarrels of factions working for
the North or the South. Both theories and interests
clashed, ^^ A turbulent element outside the church
both sides agreed, it is believed that the accounts given in the text
are reasonably accurate. Though the material is often scrappy and
always controversial, it would never do to omit these sidelights, on
which there is as much material now avaialble as there ever will be.
15 On the mainland the three counties of Westmoreland, Lan-
caster, King George, and the villages of Warrenton and Fayetteville
in Fauquier County, were involved as well as some others, but to a
less degree. As a rule the conflicts did not grow serious until after
the Louisville Convention, 1845.
16 On the whole the peninsula Methodists seemed to be loyal to
the Methodist Episcopal Church. In August, 1847, that church still
refused to admit that more than one of its societies in that part of
THE BORDER CONFLICT 133
was trying to force the hands of the loyal members
and compel them to join the South. This element
used mob violence at Salem. On Saturday, July
11, 1846, Pastor Gray met a man from near Salem
who told him that trouble was brewing there for
the preacher the next day. "When he reached Salem
Sunday morning he found this to be true, for there
was an unusual crowd around the church. Members
of the congregation told Gray that they feared trouble.
He decided to proceed with the regular services after
the Sunday school closed, but had scarcely started
when the leaders of the mob entered the building,
approached the pulpit and ordered him to leave.
He refused, and after some parley, they seized him
by the coat and hair, and dragged him out of the
meeting house. He was ordered to leave the place
and not to return or the consequences would be
serious. The next day he went to Eastville where the
county court was in session, in order to seek redress.
While in the court house he was ordered by some of the
mob to leave the vicinity within fifteen minutes. He
asked for more time and they allowed him an hour.
Thus he was driven off without redress or protection, i'
Accomac County attached to the Northampton circuit, had joined the
new connection. See preamble and resolutions from Northampton, Phil-
adelphia conference in "C. A. and J.," Oct. 6, 1847. Later there were
evident differences of opinion as to what these societies had done.
See letter of B. H. Johnson in "R. C. A.," Aug. 24, 1848, for some
certificates purporting to tell when and how various societies voted.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was also inclined to ridicule the
southern claim that the Eastern shore was border territory. It was
divided from the Virginia conference of the southern connection by 35
miles of water. Why, they asked, if this is border, is not Nantucket
also border, as only a water boundary separates it from Virginia?
(Editorial footnote to Gray's letter "C. A. and J.." Oct. 21, 1846.)
17 See his calm letter in "C. A. and J.." Oct. 21, 1846. It should
be read in full to get the true spirit of the occasion.
134 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
The mob represented the common belief that the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church was an abolitionist church and
dangerous to the safety and prosperity of the South,
A few weeks later a similar act of violence occur-
red at Guilford in Accomac county. When Rev. James
Hargis was in the midst of his sermon at that place, a
mob compelled him to stop by shooting, throwing
stones at the building and shouting. He was per-
mitted to leave the church without violence but was
warned that if he returned he would be ducked in a
neighboring pond. The grand jury, though cogniz-
ant of the facts, refused him any redress. ^^ This sug-
gests the atmosphere on the eastern end of the long
18 See letter of one of Mr. Hargis' parishioners in "C. A. and
J.," Jan. 6, 1847.
In the spring of 1847 a similar outburst of mob violence in
Accomac County resulted somewhat differently. Rev. .Tames Brindle
was disturbed at his appointment at Bruton's Chapel. By quick
work his friends got him into the building, and the baffled mob went
away to gather increased strength and return the following Sunday
at his next appointment (Garrison's Chapel). There was plenty of
excitement through the week and bloodshed was feared. Again,
however, the mob was outwitted. The Methodists had gathered a
crowd much larger than the mob could muster, and at the critical
moment the mob dispersed without doing any damage. See letter from
Northampton Circuit, quoted in editorial, "C. A. and J.," May 19,
1847.
By autumn the opposition had grown so strong that Mr. Brindle's
own flock reluctantly advised him for his own safety to leave the
circuit. "C. A. and J.," Oct. 6, 1847.
Incidentally there is some evidence that as time went on the
southern church was making conquests in this region. See resolutions
against the ideas of "Anti-Secessionist" passed in Gloucester circuit,
Baltimore conference, and published in "R. C. A.," March 20, 1845 ;
also the Eastville circuit, Philadelphia conference, resolutions in reply
to the Methodist bishops' decision as to the correct eastern boundary
of the Va. conference, in "R. C. A.," June 3, 1847 ; and resolutions of
affiliation with the South passed by the Fredericksburg, Va., society
and published in "R. C. A.," Aug. 24, 1848. The determined southern
stand of King George circuit, Baltimore conference, is seen in resolu-
tions printed in "R. C. A.," May 6, 1847.
THE BORDER CONFLICT 135
boundary. The spirit of the conflict was significant
of the political controversy then rising between the
sections. It also affords a more adequate explanation
of the repudiation of the Plan of Separation by the
General Conference of 1848.
In western Virginia the situation was such as to
make that region the real "dark and bloody ground"
of the church conflict. Its political and economic
relations to the rest of the state, its comparative free-
dom from slavery, its border character, and its terri-
torial distribution among Methodist conferences ^^ com-
bined to make it a district where differences would
be acute and complex, ^o As the ecclesiastical con-
troversy raged we are not surprised to see the very
significant suggestion made and advocated that west-
ern Virginia should disconlnect itself from the ex-
tremists of both sides, and establish an annual con-
ference of its own extending from the Blue Ridge to
the Ohio River ^i a prophecy of the new state to be
bom into the Union there during the Civil War. With-
out doubt the religious schism intensified the existing
sectional feeling in Virginia and paved the way for the
new state of West Virginia. ^'^^
19 See letter from "A Friend of Peace," Barboursville, Cabell
County, Va., in "R. C. A.," Aug. 7, 1845.
20 For a brief analysis of opinion in that area, see communi-
cation by "W" in "R. C. A.," Aug. 7, 1845.
21 Quoted from the "Lynchburg Virginian" in the "Kanawha
Valley Star" and copied from that paper into "R. C. A.," July 17,
1845. The suggestion was made by the "Kanawha Republican" and
the editors of the "Star" and the "Virginian" both expressed the hope
that Virginia would not be divided.
A western Virginia annual conference was formed in 1848 by
the Methodist Episcopal Church. Journals," III. (1848), 97-98.
21a Ambler, "Sectionalism in Virginia," 298-99.
136 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
Parkersburg ^^ in the Ohio conference was a focal
point of discontent. The region up and down the
Ohio River from that place, and the Great Kanawha
and the Little Kanawha River valleys also experienced
much agitation. Mob violence paralleled the similar
outbreaks in the east. The question of affiliation
North or South came up at Parkersburg, and was
decided in favor of the South, Two meetings were
held. At the second six resolutions were passed, the
most significant one of which (approving the Louisville
Convention) passed by a vote of 45 to 17. This was
a small vote and a house to house canvass later, under-
taken by the minister in charge, ^^ indicated 102 mem-
bers favoring the South and 82 the North. ^4 When
Mr. Brown went to the regular meeting of the Ohio
annual conference in 1845 he reported the society as
about equally divided, and the Methodist Episcopal
faction as desirous of a preacher as usual. The Rev,
John Dillon was sent, and his arrival added to the
existing excitement. An old board of trustees was
called together, some members of which, it was alleged,
were not at the time connected with the church. ^-^
This board refused to receive a preacher from the Ohio
conference, and closed the church against Mr. Dillon.
But he forced an entrance in spite of the hostile crowd,
and preached. Next day an indignation meeting of
the citizens was held, which appointed a committee of
22 Parkersburg reported 207 white members in Sept. 1844.
"Minutes of the annual conferences," III. (1839-1845), 515.
23 Rev. Arza Brown of th« Ohio conference — a friend of the
North.
24 Eleven others voted to remain as they icere.
25 These boards of trustees seem often to have been rather
somnambulent bodies, which after regular Rip van Winkle slumbers
suddenly awoke in times of crisis, and under new circumstances
plagued the church they purported to serve, or at least plagued some
faction in it.
THE BORDER CONFLICT 137
sixty to wait on Mr. Dillon and order him out of town.
The preacher deemed it wise to obey. His predeces-
sor, Mr. Brown, who returned to get his family was
threatened with a coat of tar and feathers, but he man-
aged to escape before the humiliating garb was quite
ready for use. ^^
This region well illustrated that southern theory
of the Plan of Separation which would permit society
after society to become border territory with the right
to choose its affiliation until stopped by some society
voting to affiliate with the other connection. On the
theory accepted by the Methodist Episcopal Church,
Parkersburg could not possibly be border territorj^
for it was situated seventy-five miles from the border.
The South asserted that one society after another, be-
ginning at the original border, had adhered to the new
connection, so that Parkersburg had become thereby
border territory and possessed of the right to choose.
The same charge and defence were used in regard to
the Guyandotte society. ^'^ Years of turmoil were to
26 See "Marietta Intelligencer" accounts, reprinted in "W. C.
A.," Oct. 3, 1845. See also "Sw. C. A.," Oct. 10, 31, 1845.
27 For arguments, assertions, charges and countercharges on
the legality of action by the parties in western Virginia, see the fol-
lowing : "N. C. A.," Aug. 28, 1846 (depositions regarding the taking
of the votes on affiliation in the Kanawha district) ; "R. C. A.,"
Aug. 24, 1848 (Is Parkersburg a border station? — letter of W. D. T.) ;
"R. C. A.," Aug. 3, 1848 (letter correcting the Report of the Con-
ference of 1848 on the State of the Church, respecting the Leesburg,
Va., vote of affiliation ; "Sw. C. A.," Nov. 7, 1845 (editorial on the
southern affiliation of Guyandotte circuit) ; the same subject is dis-
cussed in a letter by "Old Guyandotte" in "Ibid.," Mar. 13, 1846 ;
68 "Niles Register," 360, Aug. 9, 1845 (evidences of strong Methodist
(North) feeling in Guyandotte, Walnut Grove, and Longbranch in the
Kanawha district) ; 68 "Ibid.," 334, July 26, 1845 (strong northern
feeling in Wytheville, Va., and in Tazewell, Russell and Scott counties,
in southwestern Virginia) ; "R. C. A.," Aug. 7, 1845 (letter from
"Friend of Peace" illustrating northern feeling in western Virginia) ;
"Journals," III. (1848), appendix I. (infractions of the Plan) ; "Jour-
nals, South," (1846), 47-54 (justification of southern border policy).
138 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
ensue before anything like equilibrium could be reached
in this distracted corner of Zion. ^^
The situation in Cincinnati, Ohio, a border city,
caused the spilling of much contentious ink. Here
again one cannot feel safe in speaking dogmatically as
to all the facts. Nevertheless, it illustrated further the
nature and possibilities of the strife. The particular
issue concerned the legality of the establishment of a
society of the southern church at Soule Chapel. As
Methodism had flourished in the city, new societies had
been formed to accommodate the membership. In 1844
a city missionary was appointed ' ' to carry the Gospel to
the destitute." By permission he exercised pastoral
authority over the three small societies formed shortly
previous. New chapels were built for two of them.
In 1845 the missionary, G. W. Maley, was reappointed,
but his pastoral activities were to be confined to Maley
Chapel. This limitation was put upon him by the
decision of a post-conference council, and as the bishop
had to hurry away it was left for the presiding elder,
Michael Marley, to inform Mr. Maley. Some three or
four weeks later the city missionary board at an in-
formal meeting gave Maley leave to preach in Vine
Street Church, an old, deserted edifice in the heart of
the city. He received no episcopal permission to form a
society, but there was evidently a difference of opinion
as to just what authority he had received. A number
of Cincinnati Methodists obtained transfer certificates
and joined Maley 's Vine Street group which, when it
had grown to ninety-eight members, voted unanimously
to adhere to the South. The proper papers were pre-
28 The friction resulted in a lowering of the religious tone of
western Virginia, a fact which was mourned by earnest men discussing
the situation. See letter to editor, "R. C. A.," July 6, 1848.
THE BORDER CONFLICT 139
sented to Bishop Andrew, who, believing the change
perfectly regular, recognized it as a society of the
southern church under the name "Vine Street charge,
a border society." It proceeded then to buy a meeting
house 29 in the heart of the Wesley Chapel charge, thus
placing itself in such a geographical position in the
city that the Bethel charge of the Methodist Episcopal
Church separated it from the border.
Regarding these complicated movements the North
held (1) that Mr. Maley had acted irregularly as a
Methodist preacher in forming a society at Vine Street,
(2) that he had no official authority to use Vine
Street Chapel for anything but preaching, and (3) that
the society not being on the border could not, accord-
ing to the Plan, select its denominational home. It is
evident that there was chance for misunderstanding on
the first two points, since the action of the post-con-
ference council limiting Maley 's charge geographically
was not directly communicated to him ; and, regarding
the use of the Vine Street house, it was quite possible
that the informal action of the local missionary board
had been misinterpreted. Let us note that in Cin-
cinnati we have an application of that aggressive
southern interpretation of the Plan of Separation which
allowed the South to enter any unit north of the tenta-
tive line which had neglected to declare its continued
allegiance to the old church. Since the Ohio con-
ference had omitted to do this, it was therefore legally
open to southern enterprise. It would not matter to
the South whether Soule Chapel was a border unit or
not. Thus, though relatively a small affair, the Cin-
cinnati wrangle clearly illustrated some of the cross-
29 Soule Chapel ( ?)
140 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
currents of opinion on the boundary provisions of the
Plan. 30
At St. Louis, 31 Mo., and Alexandria, 32 Va., notable
dissensions arose but they bring nothing new to the
picture already before us. Incidents of a different
character that illustrated the bitter feelings of the time
were the presentments of "The Western Christian Ad-
vocate" and "The Christian Advocate and Journal"
by grand juries, with the object of prohibiting their
circulation in certain counties.33 With this passing
reference we shall leave these episodes and close the
30 The foregoing account of the Cincinnati affair is made up
largely from Infractions of the Plan, appendix I. "Journals," III.
(1848). That recital has been checked by the parallel though briefer
statement in "Journals, South," (1846), 51, 52,
A good idea of the newspaper dispute may be obtained from the
following : "W. C. A.," Sept. 5, 1845 (account of meeting to consider
the schism) ; "Ibid.," Oct. 24, 1845 (editorial review of the affair to
date) ; "Sw. C. A.," Nov. 21, 1845 (Andrew's letter recognizing the
Vine Street Chapel) ; "W. C. A.," Nov. 28, 1845 (letter from Marley,
showing that the M. B. Vine Street Mission was still loyal and active
even if the South had a charge of the same name) ; "Sw. C. A.,"
Jan. 2, 1846 (letter from Maley to the "Cincinnati Gazette" about his
rights in the various charges in the city) ; "N. C. A.," Feb. 20, 1846
(editorial on legality of Vine Street affair under the Plan) ; "W. C.
A.," June 26, 1846 (letters from Marley on the informal permission
given Maley to use the Vine Street edifice) ; "N. C. A.," Sept. 15, 1848
(a correspondent, Latta (?), reviews the final report of the Con-
ference of 1848 on the Cincinnati matter).
31 A southern version of the facts in the St. Louis troubles may
be found in "Sw. C. A.," Feb. 20, 1846. A northern view, very ably
and clearly stated, may be found in "W. C. A.," Mar. 6, 1846. See
also a letter by Joseph Tabor in same. There is a general account of
the troubles in Missouri told with marked southern bias, in Leftwich,
"Martyrdom in Missouri," ch. V.
32 The facts in the legal case arising at Alexandria, Va., are
stated In a letter to "C. A. and J.," Dec. 13, 1849. The appealed case
and decision are found in "Ibid.," July 18. 1850. See also "R. C. A.,"
May 24, 31, June 7, 14, July 12, 1849.
33 Under a Virginia statute passed March 23, 1836 under the
influence of the early reaction against abolitionist agitation, a grand
jui-y in Wood County presented "The Western Christian Advocate" as
a dangerous and incendiary publication, and warned postmasters and
THE BORDER CONFLICT 141
present chapter with some study of the Maysville, Ky.,
quarrel and its outcome. It is worthy of particular
attention for two reasons: (1) it involved a legal con-
test over the ownership of the local church edifice, thus
marking an advanced stage in the history of these un-
fortunate differences ; and (2 ) , the decision of the court
foreshadowed the point of view adopted by the Su-
preme Court of the United States in the final settle-
ment of the larger property question. For these
reasons also it affords us an easy transition to the dis-
cussion of that larger question in the next chapter.
In those days Maysville, situated in Mason County,
Kentucky, on the Ohio River, was a community with a
total population, black and white, of 2,741, (1840). ^^
The Methodists there reported 281 white members in
1844, ^^ This society seems to have lived in perfect
harmony until after the meeting of the Louisville Con-
vention, Then its troubles began, ^^ Just prior to
that convention a vote had been taken to instruct
delegates as to local desires in the premises. Only two
members had voted for separation. After the events
at Louisville, a number of the Maysville members
caught the separation fever. Among these were the
others against receiving and distributing it. See "C. A. and J.,"'
April 29, 1846; "Acts of the General Assembly of Va.," (1835-1836),
44-45, For the presentment of "The Christian Advocate and Journal,'
by a grand jury of Accomac County see "C. A. and J.," April 21, 1847.
34 "Compendium of the Sixth Census," 72.
35 "Minutes of the annual conferences," III. (1839-45), 522.
If the church roll were properly sifted probably it would not show
more than 260 members.
36 In dealing with the Maysville matter we are on much safer
ground as to evidence, than in dealing with some of the local affairs
discussed in the pages immediately preceding. A complete record
of the arguments, and the decision of the court are found in Waller,
Hood and Stanton, "The Methodist Church Case at Maysville, Ky."
From the facts which each side admitted a reliable narrative can be
constructed.
142 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
presiding elder, the preacher, and the bulk of the offi-
cials. The southern sympathizers were greatly en-
couraged by the appearance among them of J. Stam-
per, ^"^ from the Illinois conference. The other faction
was inspired by the arrival of Dr. Tomlinson, president
of Augusta College. A notable debate ensued and
excitment arose to white heat, the proceedings mani-
festing the common characteristics of the stormy polit-
ical contests of the time.
On August 31, 1845, came the regularly called
meeting to vote on the subject of affiliation. Previous
to the meeting sundry petitions or declarations had
been circulated for signature. Some northern sympa-
thizers, it was alleged, had misunderstood the force
of these documents, thinking that by signing them
they had voted. Owing to this misapprehension they
stayed away from the meeting, the formal vote of
which was 109 to 97, a majority of 12 for the new
connection. But it was not a majority of the whole
society. ^^ This fact led a northern sympathizer to
get the secretary's report and, before it was forwarded
to the Ohio conference, to add the names of thirty-three
absentee northerners. This addition, he said, made a
majority of the whole society favoring the old church.
Now each party had some basis for claiming a ma-
jority— the South a majority of the formal meeting,
37 A strong adherent of tbe southern church.
38 There are slight discrepancies in the accounts as to the
total number actually voting in the society, and entitled to vote.
Some said 256, others 259, but the point is immaterial.
Each side made the most of its advantages in its attempts to win
over the waverers. "Do you wish to leave the M. E. Church?" "Do
you prefer an abolitionist preacher from Ohio to one of your own
kind from Kentucky?" Such were some of the questions.
A brief announcement of the vote is found in 69 "Niles Register,"
72.
THE BORDER CONFLICT 143
the Methodist Episcopal Church a majority of the
whole charge.
The annual conference was in session when the
amended report arrived, but the bishop, ^^ finding the
proceedings irregular, refused to send a preacher.
Nevertheless, Dr. Tomlinson remained to preach for
them. Meantime the Kentucky conference receiving
the report of th,e vote in the formal meeting sent Rev.
Mr. Grubbs to shepherd the southern flock. Notices
appeared making it evident that unless someone backed
down, both Dr. Tomlinson and Mr. Grubbs would be
trying to preach in the same church at the same time.
A serious clash seemed imminent. Representatives
of the Methodist Episcopal Church suggested a division
of the time, in order to avoid turmoil or worse. The
offer was rejected and Mr. Armstrong, a leader among
the old Methodists, acting on the advice of counsel,
closed the meeting house, securing both doors and
windows. Mr. Grubbs and his congregation "quiet-
ly" ^o reopened the building and held their services.
Obviously, now, if the Methodist Episcopal Church
retained what it thought to be its rights in the Mays-
ville edifice, it must appeal to the courts. To make a
long story short, a decree was granted ordering the
two parties to use the property jointly. ^^ An appeal
39 While refusing the request, Bishop Hamline suggested that
they get a formal meeting and make it clear that they had a majority.
They did this, at least to the satisfaction of Presiding Elder Marley
of the Cincinnati district, who admitted them into the Augusta cir-
cuit of the Ohio conference, and sent Rev. Mr. Lawder to minister
to their spiritual needs. Letter of John Armstrong in "C. A. and
,T.," Feb. 25, 1846.
40 An aggrieved party, telling the story of his persecutions,
always reports himself as having done things "quietly."
41 This decree made permanent an injunction to the same effect
obtained earlier by Armstrong. His opponents had tried to have it
144 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
was then taken by the defeated party to the highest
court of the state. There the decision of the lower
court was set aside, and the exclusive use of the meet-
ing house given to the South. ^2 This decision was
handed down July 27, 1847, and in it practically for
the first time the whole question of the relations of
the two Methodisms, and the validity of the Plan on
which so much nebulous and inconclusive argument
had been wasted, came under careful judicial review.
Reviewing the earlier history of the church, the
schism of 1844, the definite southern choice registered
by the Kentucky conference, and the formal vote of
the Maysville society to go with its natural geographi-
cal section, the judge concluded that the General Con-
ference could legally change the name and organiza-
tion of the church as circumstances dictated, and that
the separation sanctioned by that body in 1844 was
valid. He cited illustrations, which, he thought,
proved that self-created bodies could provide for their
own dismemberiment. The Virginia legislature, for
instance, was able to dispose of part of its territory
even without asking specifically the consent of the
people. The General Conference had sanctioned a
quashed on the ground that they were the legal church in Maysville,
according to the Plan of Separation. Letter in "W. C. A.," Feb. 20,
1846.
42 Gibbon vs. Armstrong, 7 "Ben Monroe," 481 ff.
Sidelights on this case may be found in "W. C. A.," Oct. 24, 1845
(editorial comment on the vote of Aug. 31) ; "C. A. and J.," Feb. 25,
1846 (long letter from Armstrong) ; Armstrong also has a letter in
"W. C. A.," copied into "C. A. and J.," Aug. 25, 1847, expressing his
feelings on the final decision.
Frankfort and Augusta were having hard times trying to decide
their church affiliations. The fact that Augusta College was located
at the latter place, and that it was presided over by the energetic Dr.
Tomlinson, made it a lively center. The southern side of the Augusta,
Ky., story is exploited by A, H. Redford in "Sw. C. A.," April 18, 25,
and May 2, 1845.
THE BORDER CONFLICT 145
division similar to the one in question in the eases of
Upper and Lower Canada. *^ The only condition
placed upon the southern conferences was that they
should find it necessary to separate, and of that neces-
sity they were made the sole judges. The distribution
of the property in the Book Concerns was intended to
be a consequence of separation, not a condition on
which it should depend. Incidentally the court
pointed out that the complainants, by attending and
voting at the meeting called to decide on the question
of affiliation, implicitly recognized the validity of the
provisions under which the proceedings took**
place. *^
43 See above pages 110 ff.
44 The Maysville church in this case spent a large sum of money
testing a principle of great importance to the southern connection ; and
in the earlier stages of the contest it had petitioned the General Con-
ference of 1846 for aid. The Conference had replied by advising a
group of border conferences to raise $100 for the relief of the Mays-
ville congregation. "Journals, South," (1846), 12. 21, 34-35.
The Methodist Episcopal Church also made provision for its fac-
tion. "Journals," III. (1848), 117-118.
45 The border controversy gave rise to a whole crop of local
church property cases. The Wesley Chapel, Warrenton Circuit, Fau-
quier County, Va., controversy gave rise to one — Diggs vs. Hume —
decided Oct. 8. 1850. See "C A. and J.," Oct. 24, 1850 ; and the
editorial in "R. C. A.," Kov. 7, 1850, with the article copied from
"Piedmont Whig." In this case the court refused to sanction the
Plan of Separation and decided in favor of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.
The churches at Salem and Rectortown in the same county, gave
rise to the cases of Brooke vs. Shackett, and Carter vs. Wolfe, (18
"Grattan," 301), decided together May 23. 1856. In these cases
the court upheld the Plan adopting the reasoning of the Maysville
case and that of the United States Supreme Court in the case of the
Book Concerns.
In 1879 the Harmony Church dispute in Loudon County, Va.,
produced the cases of Hoskinson vs. Pusey, and White vs. King,
(32 "Grattan," 428). The Baltimore conference staying in the old
connection in 1844-46, seceded in 1861 and remained independent
until 1866, when it decided to affiliate with the South. The mi-
nority of 1861 meantime had organized a new Baltimore conference
loyal to the old church. In 1S66 Harmony Church voted to adhere
146 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
As was natural, since the court accepted so many
common southern arguments and reasoned so directly
contrary to northern interests and predilections, the
Maysville opinion was widely denounced in the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, There were hints that the
court was prejudiced through the excessive influence
of certain well-known southern Methodists. *^ Per-
haps the fact that the views of the court were later so
largely adopted by the Supreme Court of the United
States may tend to offset these assumptions of im-
proper influence. It was something, at least, for a
state court to have sketched the broad lines along
which these unfortunate differences were to be
authoritatively composed.
to the South. This status was maintained until 1871 when the Har-
mony Methodist Episcopal minority (northern) asked the courts for
relief and for possession of the property then in the hands of the
other faction. The southerners professed to act under the Plan of
1844. Their contention was denied by the court and the relief asked
for by the minority was granted, on the ground that the Plan had
provided for but one separation and must not be made to do duty
indefinitely. It also said that the congregation in question was not
a border society. The court followed substantially the reasoning of
the Supreme Court decision.
46 "Great Secession," 464-66. 612, 613. Dr. Elliott brings to-
gether here some facts tending to show that the decision was due to
excessive southern influence. H. B. Bascom was president of Tran-
sylvania University at Lexington, M, M. Henkle was pastor of the
M. E. Church, South, there, and Judge Robinson, ex-chief justice of
Kentucky, was professor of constitutional law in the University.
Dr. Elliott thinks that these men furnished the line of argument, and
influenced the court to adopt it.
Chapter VII
THE SETTLEMENT OF THE PROPERTY
QUESTION
A large fraction of the Plan of Separation con-
sists of directions for dividing the property of the
church. It recommended to the annual conferences
that they suspend the sixth restrictive rule in order
to allow the distribution contemplated ; ^ it authorized
the diversion to the new church of all notes and book
accounts, real estate, presses and stock in the South,
and all rights in the church printing houses, as soon as
the constitutional limitation should have been removed.
It arranged for the sharing of the Book Concerns
(publishing houses) with the southern Methodists and
appointed commissioners ^ to administer these pro-
visions of the Plan when the time should come, and
a new connection should have become an actuality.
Copyrights were to be used in common and the Char-
tered Fund was to be appraised and a fair share in it
paid over to the new church by the Methodist Book
Agents in New York.
Thus in meeting with "Christian charity"^ the
grave crisis that had come upon it, the church, or at
least the General Conference, seemed to admit the
1 "Journals," II. (1844), 135-37. See also appendix II. of
this work.
2 Nathan Bangs, G. Peck and J. B. Finley were named.
As far as the General Conference had the power it freed all
southern meeting houses, parsonages, colleges, schools, conference
funds, cemeteries and property of every kind from any future claim
on the part of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
3 The expression used in the preamble to the Plan.
148 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
equity of the southern claim to a share in all the joint
property of Episcopal Methodism. We get the im-
pression that the claim was already recognized and
that the annual conferences were asked to readjust
the constitutional machinery to allow this claim to
be met. *
On reaching home the General Conference dele-
gates soon found that the question of dividing the
property had merged with the larger questions of the
constitutionality and expediency of the Plan as a
whole. The resulting clash of variant opinions bore
4 For a very brief history of the Book Concerns and the
Chartered Fund see Whitlock, "The Story of the Book Concerns," 49-
51, 58-65.
The Methodist Book Concern was started in 1789 when the
American preachers decided to print their own literature instead
of importing it from England. They also desired to make the profits
of the book sales aid the church. From very humble beginnings the
business grew, experiencing many vicissitudes of fortune, moving from
place to place for a time, and suffering almost total loss by fire in
18-36, after it had been permanently located in New York City. In
1844 its value had grown to three-quarters of a million dollars. The
Conference of 1820 had established a Western Book Concern at
Cincinnati, Ohio, which also had prospered being valued in 1844, at
about $200,000.
The Chartered Fund had been started in 1784 when the preachers
originated what was called "The Preachers' Fund." Its object was
to aid superannuates, and the widows and orphans of deceased
preachers. A board of nine men administered the Fund and reported
the earnings to the Conference.
In 1797 it was incorporated as the Chartered Fund of the
Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States, still retaining the
objects already stated. It was comparatively a small item in the
property question, amounting in 1844 to about $45,000. For the
origin and management of this Fund see also "Journals," I. (1796),
20-22 ; "C. A. and J.," July 27, 1832 ; Bangs, "Hist.," II. 44-51.
The sixth restrictive rule which prevented the General Conference
from exercising full control over these funds runs as follows : "They
shall not appropriate the produce of the Book Concern, nor of the
Chartered Fund, to any purpose other than for the benefit of the
travelling, supernumerary, superannuated and worn-out preachers,
their wives, widows and children." It permits the suspension of this
limitation by a three-fourths vote of the annual conferences.
"Discipline" of 1844, 22.
SETTLEMENT OF THE PROPERTY QUESTION 149
upon the subordinate question of property as well as
upon the larger issue of which the property question
was but a part. As on the questions of boundary and
the legality of the Plan, so on the question of
property, two radically antagonistic points of view
appeared and were vigorously propagated. One
northern faction held that the church was morally
bound to carry out the agreement implicit, at least, in
the Plan. The other held that there was no shred of
moral or legal obligation to mutilate the property of
the church for the benefit of the South.
All through the quadrennium (1844-1848) and
longer this conflict raged, contributing generously
to the confusion. ^ Of those who consistently held
that the church was bound to divide the property,
none put his case more forcibly than did Dr. Bond.
Although, as we have seen, he believed the Plan
to be unconstitutional, inexpedient and a huge
blunder, he had also reached the solemn conviction
that the church was not thereby released from the
implied promise made in its name in 1844. He ex-
pressed his view in an editorial late in 1846. ®
Just before the Conference of 1848, he explained
his views more fully. These may be summarized as fol-
lows: (1) The act of 1844 passed the Conference with
so near an approach to unanimity as to give reasonable
assurance that the annual conferences would comply
5 Some of the Scottite seceders were ready with reams of free
advice to the mother church. They sympathized with the South,
asserting that good faith required a division, and deploring the ten-
dency of the church to put the issue on a legal instead of a moral
basis. "R. C. A.," Nov. 4, 1847, item copied from "The True Wes-
leyan."
6 "C. A. and J.," Dec. 2, 1846.
150 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
with the request. (2) The annual conferences, while
failing to give the constitutional majority, '^ did give
a very substantial majority in favor of suspending the
rule. (3) The reasons given in some of the annual
conferences for refusing to comply just then were such
as to encourage in the South a belief that the property
would not finally be withheld. ^ (4) The benefici-
aries of the property in the South had, through no
fault of their own, been deprived of the benefit of that
property. (5) The southern membership had been
deprived of the aid they had previously received for
the support of their dependent pastors and pastors'
families, though these members had had no direct voice
in deciding the question of separation. And finally,
(6) the Book Concerns were after all the product of the
joint labors of both wings of the church. ^
7 A three-fourths vote was required.
8 The Illinois and Baltimore conferences especially, while vot-
ing heavily against suspending the restriction expressly stated that
they were not opposed to dividing the property, but did not wish to
agree to it before a new church was set up as that would appear to
encourage division.
9 "C. A. and J.," March 1, 1848. Dr. Bond wrote: "After
calm, deliberate, and prayerful consideration, we have neither seen
nor heard anything to change our original opinion, that the property,
known as the 'Book Concern' ought to be divided...." The Char-
tered Fund ought also to be divided.
He used the following illustration : "If my neighbor held with
me an equitable interest in a tract of land, and he was to commit
upon me an assault and battery, it would not abate by an iota his
right in the land, or justify me in keeping him out of the possession,
if I had the power. Nor with a Christian, should it make any dif-
ference, though there were a legal defect in my neighbor's title, pro-
vided justice was on his side. A Christian must be more than law
honest...." In "C. A. and J.," for Mar. 8, 1848, he suggested a
plan for solving the property question. He would have the next Gen-
eral Conference send to the annual conferences another recommenda-
tion to change the sixth restrictive rule.
Editor Lee thought this last a hopeless proposal. In his sight
the chances for an amicable division of the property were very small.
"R. C. A.." Mar. 16. 1848.
SETTLEMENT OF THE PROPERTY QUESTION 151
At another time Dr. Bond asked ^^ whether the
traveling preachers of the Methodist Episcopal Church
could conscientiously take pecuniary advantage of the
wrong committed against them by their representatives
in passing the Plan of Separation. He thought it clear-
ly impossible to do so and escape the imputation of
mercenary motives. For himself he would rather a
thousand times that the property should be consumed
by fire and his children remain penniless than that
they should have bequeathed to them property so
tainted. ^^
On the other and more popular side a great wealth
of argument was poured forth to prove that no obliga-
tion existed to divide the funds. In Dr. Elliott's mind
there were four chief obstacles to a division. (1) The
funds were placed in the hands of the church for spec-
ific objects, and justice required that there should be
no perversion of the trust. (2) The South was using
10 "C. A. and J.," April 19, 1848, editorial comment on letter
of J. K. Hallock. See also the strong views of "A Member of the M.
E. Church" favoring division of the property. "W. C. A.." May 8. 1846.
11 Bond's views were attacked by a writer in "C. A. and J.,"
April 26, 1848. He asked. What if the South did get the idea that
the Conference of 1844 favored division? Was it not due to the
erroneous representations of the South as to the southern conditions
to say nothing of their being "false, hypocritical and dishonest"?
He asked if the North was bound to pay the South for cheating it.
The same misrepresentations got the big vote for amending the sixth
rule, in the annual conferences. The church would never pass the
Plan now that their eyes were opened to the real aims of the South.
If the superannuated ministers of the South wanted to get aid from
the Book Concern why did they not join a northern conference? True,
the membership in the South had had no share in division, so if we
divided the funds we should make them content where the southern
preachers have put them. Those preachers would then say to us. Well
done, good and faithful servants. He attacked Dr. Bond's statement
that the South helped to build up the property by reminding him that
they had also enjoyed their share of the profits.
They had also, he asserted, left the Methodist Episcopal Church
and so had forfeited all claims to its funds.
152 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
the funds to produce through their press an unscrip-
tural division of the church. The funds of the church
were thus being used to destroy the church itself. (3)
If the funds should be divided with the South, then
earlier seceders would put in their claims, and future
divisions would be encouraged. ^^ (4) These funds
might be needed to replant true Methodism in the
South after the new church should have corrupted and
perverted it. ^^
Mr. Finley, i* who will be remembered as a
prominent figure in the General Conference of 1844,
was a strong opponent of division. On two dif-
ferent occasions at least, he had formally expressed
his views, which were briefly as follows: (1) The an-
nual conferences, by voting against the recommenda-
tion to suspend the sixth rule, had vetoed the authority
of the commissioners so that he as commissioner could
have nothing to do with the matter. (2) The General
Conference had neglected to give authority to the com-
missioners to collect the votes of the annual con-
ferences on changing the rule. (3) The official fig-
ures could not be obtained since the secretaries of the
annual conferences need not (some dared not) an-
nounce or disclose the votes. (4) The South had not
complied with the conditions of the Plan. (5) There
12 See note 5 page 149. Is it possible that this secret hope deter-
mined in part the sympathy of the Wesleyan seceders? We doubt it.
13 "W. C. A.,"' Jan. 16, 1846. In the same issue of "The West-
ern Christian Advocate" Mr. Finley expressed the hope that the church
would think on this idea, that recognition of this secession might
lead earlier seceders to enter their claims. Peter Cartwright also
wrote regarding Dr. Bangs' arguments favorable to the legality of
the Plan at this time, that the West was growing tired of Dr. Bangs'
"sickly peace."
14 Mr. Finley was one of the commissioners appointed under
the Plan of Separation to supervise the division of the property.
SETTLEMENT OF THE PROPERTY QUESTION 153
is no constitutional power either in the General Con-
ference or in the annual conferences to divide the
capital of the Book Concerns for any purpose. (6)
The proceeds should go to the poor of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. They were depending upon them.
(7) There was no real need for the South to secede.
Secession was the work of ambitious men. (8) Their
object in leaving was to maintain the great evil of
slavery. ^^
Other arguments appeared in the church press the
columns of which fairly bulged with the pros and cons
of this and the larger controversy. A few desired that
the church should wait; time was a great problem
solver. It would be time enough in 1848 or even in
1852 to take up the property question seriously. ^^
Some individuals would assent to division if it could
be done consistently with Christianity and without
endangering the church, ^'' but the unconstitutionality
of the Plan of Separation was argument enough for
many who had strong conscientious scruples against
doing anything unconstitutional. ^^ Dr. Peck said
15 These arguments by Dr. Finley may be found in "W. C. A.,"
Nov. 13, 1846. See also letters of his in opposition to division in
"Ibid.," Jan. 16, 1846. Note also an item copied from "W. C. A."
into "R. C. A.," Sept. 16. 1847.
16 "W. C. A.," Jan. 16, 1846 ; "Z. H.,"' March 18, 1846.
17 "W. C. A.," Jan. 16, 1846.
18 "S. C. A.," May 14, 1847, editorial.
This idea was frequently expressed in the North, and extorted
sarcastic comment from the South. "We are told that intelligent
and kindly disposed brethren at the North are beginning to be pressed
in conscience about the matter [the constitutionality of the division
of the property]. Ay« conscience; but then it is a tender conscience
which sees how awfully wrong it would be to violate the constitu-
tion of the Church ! ! Certain Organs have been grinding dolorous
ditties ever and again about constitutionalitii, and un-constitntionalitp,
until men of tender conscience begin to be alarmed at the idea of
doing an unconstitutional thing ! This constitutional difficulty hung
154 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
there could be no moral obligation to violate the con-
stitution. Others pointed out that the Canadian case
had established the principle that the church could not
divide the funds even with the consent of the annual
conferences, as no change in the rule could make it
apply to carrying property outside of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. ^^ Matlack, a leader among the
Wesleyans, said that the real objection to dividing the
funds lay in the reluctance of the Methodist Episcopal
Church to recognize in any way a slaveholding
church. 20
This selection of representative views will suffice
to bring before us the chief contentions of the two
parties in the North. On the one hand, we see the
issue placed squarely on the moral obligation laid upon
the church by the passage of the Plan regardless of
its expediency or even its constitutionality; on the
other, we find a variety of arguments, some valid and
constituting a real problem for the church, others trans-
parent and unworthy of the great Methodist people
and leaders of that day. We can respect an argument
based upon a horror of slavery. We can honor men
who loved the church and refused to connive at its
disruption. We can sympathize with men who feared
that schism in the church foreshadowed disunion in
the nation. We must recognize, too, the difficulty
up in the sheets of the Christian Advocate like a Medusa's head has
been 'shaking its gory locks' at them until they have got so be-
wildered as not to see that conventional arrangements, mere agree-
ments of human policy and interest, can never come legitimately in
bar of the eternal law of moral rectitude. When men talk of con-
science, in this way, we give up in despair."
19 Stevens in "Z. H.," Nov. 10, 1847.
20 "American Slavery and Methodism," appendix, 13. See also
Finley's article in "W. C. A.," copied into "R. C. A.," Sept. 16, 1847,
where the same idea appears.
SETTLEMENT OF THE PROPERTY QUESTION 155
created by the failure of the annual conferences to
change the rule, whereby they absolutely tied the
hands of the church. "We can admit a certain validity,
from their own point of view, in the contention of those
who had succeeded in eliminating the Plan entirely
from their thought, and who could thus reiterate the
otherwise absurd argument that the southern Metho-
dists had simply seceded, and being thus ordinary
schismatics, were entitled to no share in the property
of the church they had forsaken, ^i We say that we
can respect these arguments, but when we turn to
others we feel less respectful. When men argued ser-
iously that the funds should go to the needy preachers
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, dependent upon
them, we may ask how that need gave them any right
to double their original income by taking the share of
the southern preachers. When they could say that
1848 or 1852 would be soon enough to consider a divis-
ion of the property; that there could be no moral
ground for violating the constitution; or when they
could say with Mr. Finley, (in answer to the southern
commissioners in 1846) that he and his fellow com-
missioners had no power to collect the votes of the an-
nual conferences on changing the rule and so had no
official knowledge of the result ; ^^ when men could
21 To this same class, also, the view was perfectly tenable that
if they divided with the South all previous secessionists were likely to
apply for their share. One would like to remind those people of the
fact that there really was a Plan of Separation, and that the mere
mention of it absolutely bars the claims of all who had been so un-
fortunate as to leave the church without such a charter from the Gen-
eral Conference
22 Note the inconsistency of this argument with another used
by Mr. Finley. First he said he would have no part in the division
of the property as the annual conferences refused to change the rule.
Secondly, he said, in effect, that the commissioners not having the
power to canvass the vote did not know how the conferences had
voted. See page 1.52 above.
156 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
talk in this strain, we conclude that consciously or un-
consciously, they were quibbling. Any admirer of the
Methodist Episcopal Church could well wish that these
arguments had not been used. Plenty of critics arose
to chew scornfully on so tempting a morsel — a church
arguing lamely and inconsistently, apparently in order
to retain money. ^^
With the refusal of the annual conferences to sus-
pend the rule, which rendered it impossible to divide
the property legally, the church was placed in a very
difficult position. Although it had admitted in 1844
through its representatives that the South had a just
claim against the property, it was now legally unable
to act on that admission. Hence the church was un-
ceremoniously dragged by the South into a lawsuit,
and the legal limitations, which it had itself refused to
remove, were ruthlessly removed for it by the civil
courts. The steps leading to this consummation we
must now study.
For some time there was nothing for the commis-
sioners appointed under the Plan to do, as the new
connection was not immediately formed. The Louis-
ville Convention ^^ decided not to appoint similar com-
missioners just then, but it advised the coming Gen-
eral Conference (1846) to appoint them ^^ as soon as
they could be useful. When the southern General
23 A strong feeling of church unity and a desire to save it had
much to do, as we have said, in defeating the General Conference
recommendation to change the rule. The sturdy unionism of the Old
North-west both ecclesiastically and nationally is well typified in the
"Autobiography" of Peter Cartwright, the rough and ready old
traveling preacher, whenever he touched on slavery, the schism, the
national union, or the property question.
24 May 1, 1845.
25 "Official Hist.," 180-181, 189.
SETTLEMENT OF THE PROPERTY QUESTION 157
Conference met ^^ the New York Book Agents (man-
agers of the Book Concern) advised it that they would
be unable longer to apportion any part of the profits
to the South, ^'^ This decision called forth ^^ a protest
and some free advice to the Agents by the Conference.
The finance committee to which had been referred the
question of property and the task of suggesting the
best means of securing to the South her property
rights, ^^ recommended that three commissioners ^^ be
appointed whose duty it should be to act with those
appointed by the Methodist Episcopal Church ^^ to ad-
just all matters pertaining to the division of the church
property and funds. They were to notify their north-
ern colleagues of their readiness to act, and, if no settle-
26 Pittsburgh, Pa., May 1, 1846.
27 "Journals, South," (1846), 14. They proposed to retain
and invest the money pending the action of their General Conference
in 1848.
In October, 1845, the Book Agents at New York decided to send
to the South its quota of the proceeds, since these had been appor-
tioned in the previous January, and before the meeting of the Louis-
ville convention. "W. C. A.," Nov. 14, 1845.
28 See "Journals, South," (1846), 30-34, for the reply of the
Conference to the Agents, regretting that the Agents felt that their
duty compelled them to withhold the funds. It also charged them
with violating the Plan. Three objections were offered, to the
course pursued by the Agents :
(1) It was assumed that the annual conferences had refused to
change the restrictive rule. Why had the Agents failed to get official
returns on that vote?
(2) The Plan specifically provided that until the division was
completed, the South should "share in all the net profits of the
Book Concern."
(3) The failure of the method proposed by the General Con-
ference to give the South its rights did not invalidate those rights.
29 "Journals, South," (1846), 10-12. It will be noted that the
sessions of the southern General Conference occur every four years :
1846, 1850, 1854, etc., while those of the Methodist Episcopal Church
occur every four years: 1848, 1852, 1856, etc.
30 They were Messrs. H. B, Bascom, A. L. P. Green and S. A.
Latta.
31 Messrs. Bangs, Peck and Finley.
158 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
ment could be obtained before, they were to attend the
General Conference of 1848 in the interest of the South.
As a last resort they were empowered to take such
measures as might seem appropriate to effect a settle-
ment, if after due time, none was reached in co-oper-
ation with the North. ^^ Accordingly on August 2,
1846, the southern commissioners addressed to those of
the North a request for an early conference to take up
the task assigned to them. ^^ A reply, penned by Mr.
Finley, refused the request adding that the northern
commissioners could have nothing to do with the mat-
ter. 34
Direct negotiations with the northern commis-
sioners thus proving abortive nothing was left for the
southern commissioners but to await the assembling of
the General Conference of 1848, and attend its ses-
sions in accordance with their instructions. When it
met they preferred a request for some one to be author-
ized to treat with them on the property question. This
request was referred to a committee which reported
that since no returns had come to it from the annual
32 Rev. J. Early was made Agent, to receive the funds, accord-
ing to the terms of the Plan. "Journals, South," (1846), 96-97.
33 Apparently expecting an unfavorable reply they had pro-
ceeded in the request to argue the question. They thought, if no
clear evidence had come to the northern commissioners that the Gen-
eral Conference recommendation had failed they should act as if it
had carried — a pretty large assumption. They argued also that if
the vote were counted properly — counting those present and voting,
and not counting such conferences as the Baltimore and Philadelphia at
all — the recommendation would be found to have passed. They con-
tended further that the proposed change in the rule was only a means
to an end and that the South intended to use the funds for the same
objects that the old church had put them to. Finally, they said
that peace required that the question be settled soon. Dr. Bangs was
urged to call a meeting. "R. C. A.,'" Dec. 31, 1846.
34 We noted this answer in summarizing opinions on the prop-
erty question (page 152). See his letter in "R. C. A.." Dec. 31, 1846.
SETTLEMENT OF THE PROPERTY QUESTION 159
conferences regarding the vote on the recommenda-
tion of the preceding Conference, it could do nothing.
The committee did, however, call upon the Conference
to get such returns as soon as practicable and it
arranged for a subsequent meeting with the southern
representatives. The report on the votes proved that
the recommendation had failed; the Conference thus
found its hands completely tied and the southerners
had to depart unsatisfied. The doctrines adopted by
this Conference, the repudiation of the Plan and the
rejection of the friendly advances of Dr. Pierce, the
fraternal delegate from the Methodist Church, South,
greatly depressed and discouraged the southerners. ^^
Although unable to meet directly the requests of
the South the Conference by no means ignored the
problem. The members freely recognized that it
would be unchristian to do so. They wished to meet
the demands in some fair way. They were handi-
capped by the vote of the annual conferences and by
the fact that they represented an opinion in the North
opposed to dividing the property or to admitting in
any way the validity of the Plan of Separation. Truly
they were in a predicament. How could they extri-
cate themselves and at the same time carry out the
wishes of their constituents, and avoid the charge of
avarice? The net result of their united cogitations
was the following scheme : ^^ Expressing their desire
to go as far as their constitutional powers would per-
mit, ^'^ they authorized (1) The Book Agents at Cinein-
35 For the communication of the southern commissioners and
the Conference action thereon see "Journals," III. (1848), 43-45,
47-48; "Journals, South," (1850), 334.
36 "Journals," III. (1848), 94-97.
37 The following quotation from the preamble will show the
spirit of the Conference : "And whereas, our common and holif
160 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
nati to submit the whole dispute to voluntary arbi-
tration, if, upon consultation with legal counsel, the
Agents found they possessed the power to do so. (2)
If this plan proved impossible and the South began
legal proceedings the Agents might propose an arbi-
tration under the authority of the court. (3) If the
first plan proved impracticable and no suit was be-
gun, the annual conferences should be appealed to
again to suspend the sixth rule in order to allow the
submission of the southern claims to voluntary arbi-
tration. ^^ These provisions laid down the principles
which governed the conduct of the Methodist Episcopal
Church on the property question until it was settled
in the courts.
The southern press was quite skeptical about this
program. From their point of view it was full of
kinks. The Conference admitted that it had no power
to arbitrate and thus it could confer no such power
on the Agents. The plan depended upon too many con-
tingencies to bring a real solution. If a voluntary
arbitration decided against her, the Methodist Episco-
pal Church had neither the power nor the desire to
carry out the mandate. Then too, the southern critics
pointed out that no time limit was placed upon the
Agents who might purposely delay the business in-
Christianity prescribes and enjoins the most pacific measures for the
settlement of all matters in dispute between individuals, as well as
associations of professing Christians, and the whole Christian world
will expect ministers of the Lord Jesus Christ to adopt the most
peaceful and conciliatory measures for the settlement of any claim
that may be urged against them :
"And whereas, this conference desires to advance, as far as its
constitutional powers will authorize, toward an amicable adjustment
of this difficulty; therefore". .. .etc. "Ibid.," 94.
38 In case the last contingency arose the bishops were instructed
to bring this recommendation before the annual conferences.
SETTLEMENT OF THE PROPERTY QUESTION 161
definitely. ^^ The Methodist press replied effectively
that these criticisms did not take sufficient account of
the legal limitations under which the General Con-
ference (1848) had acted. '^^ But it was admitted also
by prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church that further attempts to get any change in the
sixth restrictive rule were hopeless in the existing
state of church opinion. "^^
After the close of the General Conference of 1848,
the southern commissioners waited to see what might
come from plans perfected there. In September, no
proposal of arbitration having yet come from the Book
Agents it was decided definitely to bring suit for the
39 "R. C. A.," July 13, 1848, editorial. There were plenty of
hints in the southern press that the North was not acting in good
faith. This particular editorial contains some.
Plans were as plenteous as the frogs of Egypt. None "meet the
sincere desire to dignify the injustice of the pre-formed decision against
the claim of the South, and to appease the popular sentiment by a
plausible affectation of anxiety to overcome, not the difficulties of
the question, but the real difficulty of parting with the property."
The scheme is got up to bamboozle the people. "R. C. A.," June 8, 1848.
Speaking of a comment by Dr. Elliott in "W. C. A.," regarding
the reference to the annual conferences, after arbitration was found
to be illegal, under the plan of the Conference of 1848, Editor Lee
said : "Can it be possible the Editor thinks the public mind can be
again cajoled as it was by the trickery scheme of arbitration? The
South was never deceived by the pretentions to arbitrate put forth at
Pittsburgh. We doubt whether the Editors can a second time impose
upon their own people. 'The subject will now be brought before the
annual conference' etc. Faugh." "R. C. A.," Feb. 1, 1849.
40 Perhaps the South felt that those limitations were there
through the fault of the annual conferences, and through their fault
only. There had been chance enough to remove them if they had
really wished to do so.
41 See Dr. Durbin's reply in "C. A. and J.," Aug. 30, 1848, to
the critics of the General Conference. He said that the hopelessness
of trying to change the rule was admitted in conversation between the
southern commissioners and the northern sub-committee at the Con-
ference.
The editor of "C. A. and J." also thought the three-fourths ma-
jority a hopeless one to obtain when any basis of doubt existed. "C.
A. and J.," May 10, 1849, editorial.
162 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
funds, 42 but the proceedings were not instituted at
once. Meantime the New York Agents had learned
that they had no legal power to offer voluntary arbi-
tration; and under date of December 28, 1848, they
apprised the southern commissioners of the fact. ^"^
The grand scheme had failed then as the South had
predicted it would, and a wail of dispair, deeply tinged
with anger and sarcasm went up from that section of
the country. ** Editor Lee was sure that it was all
part of a deep-laid plot to defraud the South and he
urged an immediate appeal to the courts. "^^
Since voluntary arbitration was impossible and
since no suit had as yet been started, it therefore be-
came the duty of the bishops to present the General
Conference recommendation to suspend the sixth rule,
to the annual conferences in the North. They were
voting during the spring of 1849. The Baltimore and
Philadelphia conferences agreed unanimously to sus-
pend the rule. 46 The New England, Troy, Black
River and Providence conferences rejected it. ^'J' The
42 "N. C. A.," Sept. 15, 1848.
43 The communication is in "Methodist Repository," from
which it is copied into "C. A. and J.," Jan. 25, 1849.
44 "Methodist Expositor," June 6, 1848. copied by "R. C. A.,"
Jan. 18, 1849. "Thus, in one single sentence, after eight month's
delay, the Book Agents in New York and Cincinnati have forever
blasted all hopes of an amicable adjustment of the property question."
"This announcement of the Agents must settle the question with us
all. The spell is broken ; the die is cast ; and no one can longer doubt
the design of the Northern Church. The vail of gossamer has been
removed, and the actors in this scene are naked and open to the
view of a gazing world."
45 "R. C. A.," Jan. 25, 1849.
46 "R. C. A.," April 5, 1849, (the vote in the Baltimore con-
ference was 133 to 0) ; "R. C. A.," April 26, 1849, (Philadelphia con-
ference vote).
47 "R. C. A.," April 26, 1849, (Providence conference 29-48) :
May 17, 1849, (New England conference 30 to 63) ; June 21, 1849,
(Troy conference, 66 to 79) ; July 12, 1849, (Black River. 17 to 67) ;
SETTLEMENT OF THE PROPERTY QUESTION 163
voting was suddenly stopped by the commencement of
the suit begun by the commissioners of the southern
church. In thus arresting the progress of the vote and
destroying the only means of securing peaceful arbi-
tration, the Methodist Episcopal Church, South,
brought upon itself considerable criticism. ^^ The
case involving the New York Book Concern was in-
stituted in the United States Circuit Court for the
southern district of New York, ^^ and that involving
the Cincinnati property in the United States Circuit
court for the district of Ohio. For a long while little
was heard of the cases. ^^ Finally the New York case
July 26, 1849, (Pittsburgh conference 101 yeas and 1 nay). The last
issue noted contains an announcement copied from "C. A. and J.,"
that the suit had commenced. The proposition was not presented
to the Maine conference because the suit had begun. "R. C. A.,"
Aug. 2, 1849.
48 The voting in the annual conferences again, tended to stir
up the old arguments on the property question and germinate a crop
of new ones. (1) Some said, All right, since the South has appealed
to Caesar, to Caesar let her go. "C. A. and J.," May 10, 1849. (2)
Others said (in "Z. H.") that they objected to arbitration as an
innovation on Methodism - — removing the ancient landmarks — the
abandonment of an important feature of their system of church gov-
ernment. Quoted in "C. A. and J.," May 31, 1849, in order to refute
it.
The article in "Z. H." is typical of the more unreasonable and
superficial views of the time. Dr. Peck (elected by the Conference
of 1848 to succeed Dr. Bond as editor of "C. A. and J.") took the
writer to task for his tenderness about ancient landmarks, etc. He
said that no landmarks were being removed. The proposal required
simply a temporary suspension of the Rule. Then turning to Editor
Hosmer's remarks in "The Northern Christian Advocate" on the South
being a secession, he added that it would subject the church to
serious criticism, if it kept putting the South off with the remark.
"You are seceders." Nor could the issue be dodged with an ex-
clamation about a "thriftless controversy about money" leaving the
other fellow to shift for himself and collect if he could.
49 According to Sutton, "Methodist Church Property Case," 364,
it was filed June 15, 1849; according to "Journals," III. (1852), 126,
it was filed June 19.
50 The editor of "C. A. and J.," Oct. 31, 18.50, complained that
he had no news of them.
164 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
came up for hearing before Judges Nelson and Betts
late in May, 1851. ^^ The arguments were very ex-
tensive and presented presumably the very strongest
case for each side that it was humanly possible to
make. While nothing essentially new appeared in these
arguments, they presented an index of the positions
which the litigants after due consideration had picked
out of the mass of current opinions as most tenable and
representative. For this reason they are of some sig-
nificance.
The main arguments for the South were presented
by Mr. Lord. ^^ They may be considered under three
heads. (1) First, he argued that his clients had a
right to the property because they had helped to earn
it. It was thus no common charity. The conferences
held a purely ministerial relation to the fund. They
did not own it, and if they used it for any purpose
other than the relief of the needy worn-out preachers
and their families, they would be guilty of a breach of
trust. These dividends were part payment for the
work the preachers had so unselfishly performed dur-
ing the active years of life. ^^ (2) Next he attacked
51 Honorable D. Lord and Hon. Reverdy Johnson appeared as
chief counsel for the South, and Hon. Rufus Choate, Mr. Geo. Wood,
and Mr. E. L. Fancher for the Methodist Episcopal Church— an im-
posing array of legal talent. Daniel Webster was retained by the
South, but he did not appear at the hearing.
There is a crudely humorous court-room description of Mr.
Choate in "R. C. A.," Sept. 4, 1851.
52 His remarks may be found in Sutton, 149-209. Those of Mr.
R. Johnson, who supplemented the work of Mr. Lord, appear on pages
.325-67. On page 148 there is a summary under eight heads of the
points made by the plaintiffs (South).
53 He illustrated the difference between an ordinary charity
and the position of the worn out Methodist preachers with respect
to this church property, as he conceived it, as follows : "A man comes
to me for alms ; it is a matter between me and my conscience whether
I will give him alms — he has no right. But if a servant, who has
SETTLEMENT OF THE PROPERTY QUESTION 165
the reason on account of which, according to the de-
fendants, the South had lost this right — namely by
seceding and forming a new connection based upon
the illegal Plan of Separation. He contended that the
Plan was constitutional since there was no provision
in the Discipline prohibiting the Conference from
dividing or sanctioning a division of the church. The
delegated General Conference possessed, like the mass-
meeting Conference which existed prior to 1812, all
power not specifically denied to it by the restrictive
rules. Moreover, there had been but one condition in
the Plan which must be fulfilled before the new church
could be legally constituted. The condition was that
division must be found to be necessary and of that
necessity the South had been made the sole judge.
The border provisions and the recommendation! to
change the sixth rule were, according to Mr. Lord,
obviously incidental to the main object of the Plan.
He gave a careful exposition of the Canadian separa-
tion to show that the General Conference had possessed
sufficient authority then to sanction the withdrawal
of the Canadian annual conferences. (3) He closed
with an attempt to prove that the action of the Con-
ference of 1844 in the Bishop Andrew case had fur-
nished a valid reason for the action of the slaveholding
conferences, that the necessity had undoubtedly arisen.
He recited the long anti-slavery controversy, the fan-
atical outbursts in New England, the troubled appeals
of the bishops to the church to leave abolitionism alone,
and the fears frequently expressed by moderate men
rendered me services during tlie prime of his days, upon the under-
standing that I should take care of him in his old age, and I gave
him no bond for it, and he has become old and decrepit, the Court
will see how different is the application he makes to me, from a
man with whom I have had no connection at all." Sutton, 153.
166 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
that continued agitation would divide the church. The
diverse elements could not all remain contentedly in
the church. It was not the Harding and Andrew
cases alone, but a long series of disquieting occurrences
culminating in them that made unity impossible. Thus
the complainants had a real ownership in the funds, for
the clauses of the Plan allowing them to join the new
connection "without blame" were valid in ecclesi-
astical law, and the fears of the South in asking for
the Plan were amply justified.
The chief argument for the defendants, represent-
ing the Methodist Episcopal Church, was made by
Hon. Rufus Choate. ^4 Although Mr. Choate did not
take them up in the same order, his main points were
the same as those of the counsel for the plaintiffs. (1)
Admitting the peculiar right of the ministry to the
funds in question, he believed that this right lasted
only as long as those ministers stayed in the Methodist
Episcopal Church, and answered to the description
contemplated by the rules governing the fund. Merely
selling books and thus swelling the profits of the Book
Concern gave no particular claim to a share in those
profits. To be a worn-out minister of the Methodist
Episcopal Church and to continue as such was the
sole qualification for participation. The ministers in
the new connection could certainly lay no claim to this
relation. (2) This brought him to the problem of
the Plan. While he contended that the southerners
could get no relief, even if the Plan was valid, because
54 Mr. Choate's remarks are found in Sutton, 231-291, and those
of Mr. Wood, who followed him appear on pages 291-325.
A convenient summary of defendant's points is found on pages
230-31.
SETTLEMENT OF THE PROPERTY QUESTION 167
they were not members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, he admitted that its validity involved a most
important issue. If the Plan failed them, they would
almost confess the baselessness of their claims. It was
undeniably illegal and null and void from the start,
said Mr. Choate, because the Conference had no right
to pass it. A careful review of Methodist history
was undertaken to show this. The church had been
founded in 1784 by a constituent body that had never
reassembled. Before 1808 the General Conference had
been merely an advisory body which had gradually
evolved into the chief administrative organ of the
church. After 1808 it had expressly denied any
authority to divide Methodism, especially in connection
with the Canadian experience. Its action at that time
had been possible solely because Canada was a foreign
country. It had been no such exercise of power as
to form a valid precedent for 1844. He admitted
that the power to divide the church must reside some-
where but he denied that it resided in the General Con-
ference. (3) But even if the Plan was legal at the
start it was now null because the stipulated condi-
tions had not been met. The sixth rule had not been
suspended, the boundary line had been violated by the
South, and no real necessity for separation was pre-
sented by the action of the Conference in the Andrew
case. Bishop Andrew had not been deposed nor had
the Discipline been violated in any respect. Thus
meeting directly the points of opposing counsel, he
held that the South had lost all right in the profits of
the Book Concern by severing itself from the Methodist
Episcopal Church, that the Plan was invalid because
the Conference had no constitutional right to enact it,
and because the necessity it had presumed had never
arisen.
168 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
At the conclusion of the arguments counsel for
both litigants, as well as the court itself, united in
advising an amicable settlement of the case out of
court. ^^ The suggestion fell upon willing ears. It
was easy to see manifest on the part of the Methodist
Episcopal Church a growing disgust with the position
in which it found itself. ^^ There is a long standing
and commendable prejudice in the christian church
against its members settling their differences in the
civil courts, ^'^ The suit over money was felt to be a
scandal, ^^ and any chance to get out of it honorably
was eagerly seized. A correspondence was at once
55 Tliese suggestions are in Sutton, 324, 367, 367-6S. Judge
Nelson said : "We cannot resist the desire to express our concur-
rence in tbe suggestions that have been made by the learned counsel
on both sides, that it would be much better for the interests of the
Church, for the interests of all concerned, if, after a full and fair in-
vestigation, both of the facts and the law in the case, the parties
could amicably take it up, and by the aid of friends and counsel, come
to an amicable decision of the controversy.... The good feeling
and Christian fellowship of the different sections of the Church will
be much better by an amicable and friendly adjustment of the con-
troversy than by any legal disposition of it by the Court."
56 This was true even though the church remained convinced
that it was in no way to blame for the predicament.
57 See "Discipline" of 1844, 45-47.
58 "C. A. and J.," July 17, 1851, editorial : "The idea of a
litigation between two religious bodies, in relation to money, has a
rather hard appearance, and always gives occasion to scandal. We
have, consequently, always desired that the Southern claims might be
settled in some other way .... We would prefer, were it possible,
to give the Southern organization all they claim, to a long, tedious
litigation. In this, however, we have made no concession to the
legality or justice of the claim."
The "Northern C. A." (see item copied into "R. C. A.," June 12,
1851) said: "We have no pleasure in adverting to this unhappy con-
troversy, and should not now have referred to it, but from the fact
that the suit is in progress."
The Buffalo Christian Advocate (see item copied into "R. C. A.,"
June 12, 1851) said: "For a prorata portion of this money the
Southern branch have taken legal measures to obtain. . .and by
the bye, what a humiliating transaction does the whole affair pre-
sent ! Better, in our opinion, if the million of dollars had been
swallowed up in the deep."
SETTLEMENT OF THE PROPERTY QUESTON 169
begun looking toward arbitration. ^^ No sooner had
it opened, however, than there appeared a chasm of
difference that at once doomed the whole beneficent
plan. To the Methodist Episcopal Church an arbitra-
tion meant that the whole question, including the valid-
ity of the southern claim to the property, should be
passed upon by the arbitrators. In their view the
southern right to any of the property was the only
issue. The South could not take this view. It stood
squarely on the validity and binding character of the
Plan which was based on the admitted justice and
equity of her claims. According to the South, the only
matter to arbitrate was the size of her share, and the
method of payment. From that position the southern
church would not be pushed for any consideration.
The negotiations deadlocked at once, and the high
hopes of the parties for a friendly settlement out of
court faded. ®^ Evidence multiplies of the widely
different grooves in which northern and southern
thoughts were flowing and the consequent inability of
men to understand each other.
Thus the decision of the case devolved upon the
court after all. On November 11, 1851, Judge Nelson
read its decision which was in favor of the plaintiffs
(South) on every material point. The court accepted
almost every one of the familiar arguments for the
validity of the Plan, and from that almost as from a
hook, the whole case swung. It is unnecessary to fol-
low the judge's argument. We have done so already
in the arguments of the attorneys. He decided that
59 This correspondence is found in "C. A. and J.," Sept. 25, 1851.
60 For a northern view and a southern view of this point see
"C. A. and J.," July 17, 1851 ; "R. C. A.," April 26, 1849.
170 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
the superannuated preachers in the southern church
were as fully entitled to their share of the profits of
the Book Concern as were those of the North. ^^ The
decision was variously received. The South was jubil-
ant. 62 "Zion's Herald" said that some would lay the
defeat of the North to the pro-slavery sentiment pre-
vailing in the region of the trial, but that for the
most part the church would accept it as an impartial
rendering of the law. ^^ ' ' The Northern Christian Ad-
vocate" denounced it as a political decision, remarking
that the judges as well as the politicians must be
allowed to raise a little cotton. ^4 The great official
organ at New York said that the decision opened the
way for the General Conference to make any absurd
division in the church it chose. The editor reaffirmed
61 Bascom et al. vs. Lane et al., Brunner, "Collected Cases,"
I. 348-72 ; "Federal Cases," No. 1089.
62 Editor Lee of the "R. C. A.," Nov. 20, 1851, found abundant
sarcasm for Messrs. Peck, Elliott, etc.
63 "Z. H.," Nov. 19, 1851. The editor himself felt that it gave
a most mischievous construction to the economy of the church, un-
settling some of the most fundamental securities.
He brought out one of the strongest arguments against the de-
cision. The court, he said, had interpreted the church government to
be a hierarchical despotism vsrhich needed an immediate overhauling.
If it had judged of this power from the absence of restrictions in
the written law of the church, the court was excusable, for a large
part of the real constitution was unwritten — implied and embodied In
usages and precedents, like the British constitution. One must not
look merely at the written law.
There is truth in this contention. The preachers would have
denied almost unanimously that the church government was in reality
what it certainly was in form — a government of general powers sub-
ject only to a few specific restrictions. The preachers' views
harmonized thus with their political thinking and experience.
As to his charge that the decision made the church out to be
a "hierarchical despotism," we may remark that whatever It may
be today, the Methodist Episcopal Church of those days was by no
means a rampant democracy. Insurgent Methodists had habitually
criticized it on this ground throughout its earlier history.
64 Copied into '-'R. C. A.," Nov. 27, 1851.
SETTLEMENT OF THE PROPERTY QUESTION 171
his loyalty to the familiar northern doctrines. ^^ ' ' The
Pittsburgh Christian Advocate," which all through
this miserable affray had evinced decidedly moderate
tendencies, was inclined to rejoice at the validation of
the Plan. The editor considered it a document em-
bodying real christian sentiments, ''and worthy to be
written in letters of gold. ' ' ^^
The Ohio suit involving the "Western Book Concern
was argued in 1852 and was decided against the south-
em church. Judges Leavitt and McLean were to have
heard the arguments but the latter being a Methodist,
refrained, for obvious reasons, from sitting on the case.
The court adopted the contentions of the Methodist
Episcopal Church in full, finding for it on every
point. ^'^ This decision of course set the southern
65 "C. A. and J.," Nov. 20, 1851. Answering the judge's
question as to what the beneficiaries had done to be deprived of their
share of the funds, he said, "They have simply ceased to be members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church — that is all ; and isn't that
enough ?"• — another illustration of the completeness with which some
leaders of opinion in the North had eliminated from their thinking the
Plan of Separation.
66 Copied into "R. C. A.," Dec. 4, 1851.
"It is," the editor wrote, "a document, after all the fustian and
sophistry which have been employed to vilify it, and prove it un-
constitutional, which is full of the divine wisdom of Christianity, and
worthy to be written in letters of gold."
In the "Pittsburgh C. A.," Oct. 22, 1845, also, there is a very
interesting editorial favoring the constitutionality of the Plan.
For sharp criticism of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the
secular press see "Cumming's Evening Bulletin" on Nelson's decision
quoted in "C. A. and J.," Jan. 29, 1852, and controverted by the
editor ; also remarks of "National Intelligencer's" correspondent
quoted in "C. A. and J.," Dec. 4, 1851, and attacked by the editor.
67 The decision is in 5 "McLean," 369-422 ; "Federal Cases,"
No. 13112. Among the points made in the decision are the following :
(1) The Conference is a delegated or representative body acting
under a written constitution. It is a general canon of interpretation
in such cases to consider the body a strictly limited one, capable of
performing only those acts specifically authorized or implied by fair
interpretation. It is absurd to think the church ever intended to
172 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
Methodists to complaining in much the same tone that
the northerners had adopted at the New York decision.
It was due, some said, to lobby influence overcoming
clear convictions of moral equity and legal right. ^^
Others bewailed the enforced sufferings of widows and
orphans who thus lost their chief means of support. ^^
Naturally, too, the North was highly elated at the
decisive way in which Judge Leavitt sustained its
views.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was urged by its
supporters to appeal Judge Nelson's decision to the
United States Supreme Court. '^^ Once it was an-
nounced that such an appeal would be made, but '^^
the case was never carried up. Judge McLean, a real
peacemaker, succeeded in getting the representatives
of the two churches to agree on a final settlement.
This was the more easily done since an appraisal of the
Book Concern by the Master appointed by the Court
promised to be a tedious and litigious proceeding. The
joint meetings in New York (beginning Nov. 26, 1853)
were presided over by Judge McLean. After trying
in vain to get the Cincinnati Agents to come into the
give the Conference power to destroy it. (2) Since the annual con-
ferences refused to modify the sixth rule, the church has no power
to apportion the funds. (3) The Book Concern Funds being a
charity for a special class, anyone withdrawing from that class
ceases to be a beneficiary. (4) Any individual or section may with-
draw from the church but can take with them no right to share in
the property they enjoyed as members. (5) In withholding the
dividends the Agents were guilty of no breach of trust. (6) It is
not a case of lapsed charity. The court cannot reconstruct a plan
to distribute it. No decree can be given.
68 "N. C. A.," Oct. 28, 1852.
69 "St. Louis Christian Advocate," Oct. 28, 1852.
70 See resolutions of the Milwaukee district ministers' associ-
ation urging appeal. "C. A. and J.," Jan. 1, 1852.
71 "C. A. and J.," Jan. 22, 1852.
SETTLEMENT OF THE PROPERTY QUESTION 173
arbitration '^^ the eastern Agents went on alone. A
series of proposals and counterproposals ended in an
agreement satisfactory to both parties. This was em-
bodied in a decree of the court. When the work was
completed a most happy interchange of congratulations
occurred. '^^
By this agreement the South was awarded $191,-
000 in cash and available funds; the printing presses
and offices at Richmond, Charleston and Nashville,
valued at $20,000, and debts owed the Concern by
southern Methodists amounting to $64,000 — a grand
total of $275,000. The money was to be paid in in-
stalments running into the year 1862. '''* The trustees
of the Chartered Fund also came forward and divided
with the South at the same time, and their agreement
was embodied in the decree. Prom this source the
South obtained about $17,000. '^^ The South appealed ^^
72 They had won their case in the lower court and did not wish
to lose that advantage. There was also a question of their legal right
to accept the judge's invitation.
73 "C. A. and J.," Dec. 8. 1853.
74 For the New York settlement see editorial in "C. A. and
J.," Jan. 19, 1854; and "Great Secession," 726-33. Dr. Elliott said
that his account was made up from the minutes of the meetings of
the commissioners handed him by the secretary. "Journals," III.
(1856), 276; "Journals, South," (1854), 336-38.
High praise was deservedly awarded to Judge McLean for his
valuable services as peace-maker. In its later phase the settlement
was conducted on the part of the Methodist Episcopal Church by
commissioners appointed by the General Conference of 1852.
75 "Journals, South," (1854), 337. The exact amount was
$17,052.05, to which was later added $208.89. "Journals, South,"'
(1858), 502.
76 In "Z. H.," Feb. 8, 1854, there is an editorial quoted from
"W. C. A.," in which the action of the trustees of the Chartered
Fund Is criticized and there is also an implied criticism of the New
York settlement without appeal. "Z. H.," "Northern C. A.," and
"W. C. A.," all seemed in hearty accord with the Cincinnati Agents
in their refusal to settle out of Court. This much may be gathered
from the article in "Z. H.," just referred to.
174 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
the Cincinnati case which was therefore argued be-
fore the Supreme Court of the United States in the
spring of 1854. April 24, a unanimous '^'^ decision in
favor of the South was handed down. "^^ Judge Nelson
wrote and delivered the opinion which naturally
followed closely the reasoning of his earlier decision in
the lower court. Following now the example of the
New York arbitration, the parties got together, agreed
on a settlement which was embodied in a decree '^^ of
the Court. It gave the South $80,000 in cash and in
book stock, so This decision and settlement closed the
long conflict over the property and also the direct
quarrel between the churches which had grown out of
the slavery question and the legislation of the General
Conference of 1844.
Our task is done. It is a long and crowded era
from the beginnings of the abolitionist agitations in
New England to the settlement of the property question
at the bar of the highest court in the land. The sub-
ject fairly glows with hot contention. If one has an
interest in seeing either side vindicated there is no
lack of valid argument upon which to build an ex-
cellent case. Were the ultra abolitionists wise?
Was Bishop Andrew fairly and legally dealt with?
77 Judge McLean again, for reasons already noted, declined to
sit on the case.
78 Smith et al. vs. Swormstedt et al., 16 "Howard,' 288-313.
79 April 7. 1855.
80 For this settlement see "Journals, South." (1858), 501-502,
report of the southern commissioners; "Journals," III. (1856), 249-55,
report of the commissioners on the church suit in the West.
The $80,000 was to consist of $60,000 cash, and $20,000 in book
stocli. The cash was to be paid within five years.
There is a large amount of material and comment on all three
cases in Elliott, "Great Secession,' 713-816 ; also "Ibid.," Documents,
74, 75.
SETTLEMENT OF THE PROPERTY QUESTION 175
Was the South rightly aggrieved at his treatment?
Would New England have justly felt aggrieved if the
issue had been postponed? Was the Plan of Separation
a wise and constitutional means of grappling with the
terrifying dilemma? Did it divide, or sanction a
division of, the church? Was it wisely nullified in
1848? Should the annual conferences have modified
the sixth restrictive rule in 1844-1845? Should the
South have delayed the beginning of the suit in
1849 until the second vote on modifying the rule had
been completed and counted ? Was the Supreme Court
decision good law and good morals ? Honest men have
answered every one of these questions in directly
opposite ways.
It is manifest from our discussion that we tend on
the whole toward the opinion that the Plan was wise,
eminently christian and constitutional, ^^ (although we
express this view with the greatest diffidence), and
that Judge Nelson's decision affirming it worked more
complete justice than Judge Leavitt's would have done
had it stood. A very large portion of the church felt
it necessary to withdraw. The dilemma was not
wholly of their making. Had the situation been re-
81 Many in the northern church felt naturally that the slavery
influence in the courts controlled the decision. That there was such
an influence in the courts at that time none will now deny, though
the fact that the church decision was handed down by a unanimous
bench militates somewhat against the view that the slavery influence
was all-powerful. However, it may be noted that Judge Nelson was
usually in harmony with Chief Justice Taney (Judicial Committee,
"Hist, of the Supreme Court," 339-40. There is here a brief biography
of Judge Nelson), while Judge McLean usually favored northern
interests. As we saw, he did not take part in the case.
Is it possible that his activity in the New York settlement, with-
out appeal, showed that he was not favorably impressed with the
Methodist Episcopal Church case? The writer feels that the as-
sumption of pro-slavery influence is not needed to explain the Supreme
Court's decision in this case.
176 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
versed in 1844, had the Conference been controlled by
the South, large sections in the North would have felt
with equal keenness the necessity of a separation. The
deadlock was painful and overwhelming. Long had
they labored together in a grand cause. Now they
must part. What more beautiful and christian than
that they should mutually agree on a friendly division
of the church and its common funds? So thought the
Conference of 1844. So thought many noble souls
in the North. So we think.
This conflict ended long ago. The leaders and
the members of those days have ceased their labors.
Most of the issues are dead. The Methodist Episcopal
Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South,
live together today on terms of christian fraternal-
ism. Why not close the chasm that still keeps them
distinct ecclesiastical jurisdictions, and restore the
old-time organic unity? We believe they can. We
trust that in due time, and with proper preparation,
they will. We wish them success and Godspeed in
the attempt.
Appendix I
THE CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT OF THE
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN 1844
The growth of the Methodist Episcopal Church
had been very rapid. Starting with a mere handful
of members in the sixties of the preceding century, by
1844 it had grown to more than 1,000,000. i The
church also possessed a very efficient and noteworthy
polity, to which, as many believed, it owed in part its
wonderful success. It is proposed to describe here in
outline this constitutional machinery.
The chief organ of government was then (1844), as
now, the General Conference, which consisted of a
delegate for every twenty-one members of an annual
conference. The delegates were elected by the annual
conferences. It met once in four years from 1792 on,
beginning its sessions on the first day of May and con-
tinuing usually about a month. The place of meeting
was always designated by the Conference itself. The
bishops were ex-officio presidents of the body and
occupied the chair in turn. The Conference was given
a full grant of powers to "make rules and regulations
1
Whites
1,021,818
Colored
145,409
Indian
4,129
Traveling
preachers
4,282
Superannuated preachers 339
Local preachers
8,087
1,184,064
"Minutes
of the annual
conferences,'
' III. 477.
178 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
for the church" under certain restrictions. These re-
strictions were designated as the six restrictive rules
and were in substance as follows: (1) The Conference
could not "revoke, alter or change" the articles of
religion, or make new standards or rules of doctrine.
(2) It could not change the basis of representation,
or (3) destroy the general itinerant superintendency,
by making the bishops local, or otherwise, or (4)
change or revoke the rules of the United Societies,
which had come down from the days of "Wesley, and
regulated the ethical conduct of "Wesleyan Methodists.
(5) The Conference must not take away the right of
ministers and members to trial and appeal; and (6)
it "shall not appropriate the produce of the Book
Concern, nor of the Charter Fund, to any purpose other
than for the benefit of the travelling, supernumerary,
superannuated and worn-out preachers, their wives,
widows and children." All except the first of these
rules might be amended by a concurrent vote of three-
fourths of the several annual conferences and a two-
thirds vote of the General Conference. Either
authority, however, might take the initiative. ^
Under the General Conference there were in 1844,
(May 1), thirty-three annual conferences. The term
annual conference had as it still has a double meaning.
It denoted a geographical division of the church, and
also the annual meeting of all the traveling preachers
in full connection within that division. ^ This meeting
formed the administrative and judicial body for the
2 For the general form and powers of the General Conference
see "Journals," I. 88, 89, 90, 93, 95. The ratio was made 1 to 21
in 1836. "Ibid.," I. 496. The method of amendment indicated in the
text was adopted in 1832. "Ibid.," I. 378, 383.
3 For the boundaries of these conferences see map : also the
"Discipline" of 1840, 151-158, and "Journals," II. 77-81.
APPENDIX I 179
annual conference under the authority of the General
Conference. The bishop was the regular presiding
officer of the annual conference. Its chief functions
were to pass on the admission of preachers to full
conference membership, try preachers, annually in-
vestigate the character of the preachers, report sta-
tistics of membership and contributions, and hear the
appointments of the preachers for the ensuing year.
These appointments were always made by the bishops.*
The episcopacy consisted of a number of bishops
fixed from time to time by the General Conference.
In 1844 there were five — Bishops Soule, Andrew, Hed-
ding, Waugh and Morris. At the General Conference
of that year, two new men were elected to the office —
Messrs. Hamlin and Janes. Bishops were elected by
the General Conference and consecrated by incumbent
bishops or by elders if there happened to be no bishops.
Their duties included presiding at the general and
annual conferences, fixing the appointments of
preachers, receiving, changing and suspending preach-
ers between the sessions of the conferences, traveling
throughout the church and supervising its temporal
and spiritual affairs. They were responsible to the
General Conference which might expel them for im-
proper conduct. They were the sole judges in all
questions of law arising in an annual conference.
Usually soon after the sessions of the General Con-
ference the bishops convened to map out the travels
and visits of each bishop to the annual conferences for
the succeeding four years. ^
4 Emory, "Hist, of the Discipline." 114-115 ; "Discipline" of
1S40, 23-26.
5 Tigert, "Constitutional Hist.," 389-95 ; "Discipline" of 1840,
26-29.
180 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
The presiding elder was, in effect, a local bishop.
He had charge of the preachers and officials within
his district, which was a geographical sub-division of
an annual conference, and presided at the quarterly
meeting conferences — gatherings of the officials of a
single charge, or group of Societies under one minister.
He attended the bishop when the latter visited the
district, and between visits the elder kept his superior
informed in regard to local affairs. The presiding
elders were appointed by the bishops. ®
The traveling preachers were the center and back-
bone of Methodism. They bore the brunt of the work
of upbuilding and maintaining the church. They
were elected after probation, by the annual conference
to full membership therein, and consecrated in due
form. It was their duty to baptize, administer the
Lord's supper and conduct the regular worship of the
church. Traveling elders and traveling preachers were
synonymous terms.
The smallest unit in the church was the local
society, or church, with its congregation, its classes,
class-leaders, stewards, exhorters, trustees, Sunday
school superintendents, local preachers, superannuated
preachers, etc. The superannuated preachers were
men who were worn out and had retired; the super-
numerary preachers were men who were only partly
active, doing only such work under the direction of
the annual conference as their strength would permit.
The local preachers were men authorized to preach, and
who did preach, but who depended for a living upon
some secular occupation. This class of men does a
6 "Discipline" of 1844, 29-32.
APPENDIX I 181
large share of the preaching at the present time among
the English Wesleyan Methodists.
Such in outline was the economy of the great
Methodist Episcopal Church just prior to its disrup-
tion. For further detail the reader is referred to
Emory, ''History of the Discipline," where a full ac-
count of the changes up to that time may be found;
and to the "Discipline" of 1840 itself, where the doc-
trines, economy, and ideals of the church are fully
set forth.
Appendix II
THE KEPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF NINE
OR
THE PLAN OF SEPARATION OF 1844
Whereas, a declaration has been presented to this
General Conference, with the signatures of fifty-one
delegates of the body, from thirteen Annual Con-
ferences in the slaveholding states, representing that,
for various reasons enumerated, the objects and pur-
poses of the Christian ministry and church organization
cannot be successfully accomplished by them under the
jurisdiction of this General Conference as now con-
stituted; and
Whereas, in the event of a separation, a contin-
gency to which the declaration asks attention as not
improbable, we esteem it the duty of this General Con-
ference to meet the emergency with Christian kindness
and the strictest equity ; therefore,
Resolved, by the delegates of the several Annual
Conferences in General Conference assembled.
1. That, should the Annual Conferences in the
slaveholding states find it necessary to unite in a dis-
tinct ecclesiastical connection, the following rule shall
be observed with regard to the northern boundary of
such connection: All the societies, stations, and Con-
ferences adhering to the Church in the South, by a
vote of the majority of the members of said societies,
stations, and Conferences, shall remain under the un-
molested pastoral care of the Southern Church,- and
the ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church shall
APPENDIX II 183
in no wise attempt to organize ehurclies or societies
within the limits of the Church South, nor shall they
attempt to exercise any pastoral oversight therein; it
being understood that the ministry of the South recip-
rocally observe the same rule in relation to stations,
societies, and Conferences adhering, by vote of a ma-
jority, to the Methodist Episcopal Church; provided
also, that this rule shall apply only to societies, stations,
and Conferences bordering on the line of division, and
not to interior charges, which shall in all cases be left
to the care of that church within whose territory they
are situated.
2. That ministers, local and travelling, of every
grade and office in the Methodist Episcopal Church,
may, as they prefer, remain in that church, or, without
blame, attach themselves to the Church South.
3. Resolved, by the delegates of all the Annual
Conferences in General Conference assembled. That we
recommend to all the Annual Conferences, at their first
approaching sessions, to authorize a change of the sixth
restrictive article, so that the first clause shall read
thus: "they shall not appropriate the produce of the
Book Concern, nor of the Chartered Fund, to any other
purpose than for the benefit of the travelling, super-
numerary, superannuated, and worn-out preachers,
their wives, widows, and children, and to such other
purposes as may be determined upon by the votes of
two-thirds of the members of the General Conference."
4. That whenever the Annual Conferences, by a
vote of three-fourths of all their members voting on the
third resolution, shall have concurred in the recom-
mendation to alter the sixth restrictive article, the
Agents at New- York and Cincinnati shall, and they are
184 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
hereby authorized and directed to deliver over to any-
authorized agent or appointee of the Church South,
should one be organized, all notes and book accounts
against the ministers, church members, or citizens with-
in its boundaries, with authority to collect the same for
the sole use of the Southern Church, and that said
Agents also convey to the aforesaid agent or appointee
of the South all the real estate, and assign to him all the
property, including presses, stock, and all right and
interest connected with the printing establishments
at Charleston, Richmond, and Nashville, which now
belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
5. That when the Annual Conferences shall have
approved the aforesaid change in the sixth restrictive
article, there shall be transferred to the above agent
of the Southern Church so much of the capital and pro-
duce of the Methodist Book Concern as will, with the
notes, book accounts, presses, and etc., mentioned in
the last resolution, bear the same proportion to the
whole property of said Concern that the travelling
preachers in the Southern Church shall bear to all the
travelling ministers of the Methodist Episcopal
Church ; the division to be made on the basis of the
number of travelling preachers in the forthcoming
Minutes.
6. That the above transfer shall be in the form
of annual payments of $25,000 per annum, and speci-
fically in stock of the Book Concern, and in Southern
notes and accounts due the establishment, and accru-
ing after the first transfer mentioned above ; and until
the payments are made, the Southern Church shall
share in all the net profits of the Book Concern, in the
proportion that the amount due them, or in arrears,
bears to all the property of the Concern.
APPENDIX II 185
7. That Nathan Bangs, George Peck, and James
B. Finley be, and they are hereby appointed com-
missioners to act in concert with the same number of
commissioners appointed by the Southern organization,
(should one be formed), to estimate the amount which
will fall due to the South by the preceding rule, and
to have full powers to carry into effect the whole
arrangements proposed with regard to the division of
property, should the separation take place. And if by
any means a vacancy occurs in this board of com-
missioners, the Book Committee at New-York shall fill
that vacancy.
8. That whenever any agents of the Southern
Church are clothed with legal authority or corporate
power to act in the premises, the Agents at New-York
are hereby authorized and directed to act in concert
with said Southern agents, so as to give the provisions
of these resolutions a legally binding force.
9. That all the property of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church in meeting-houses, parsonages, colleges,
schools, Conference funds, cemeteries, and of every
kind within the limits of the Southern organization,
shall be forever free from any claim set up on the part
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, so far as this
resolution can be of force in the premises.
10. That the church so formed in the South shall
have a common right to use all the copy-rights in
possession of the Book Concerns at New-York and Cin-
cinnati at the time of the settlement by the commis-
sioners.
11. That the Book Agents at New- York be
directed to make such compensation to the Con-
186 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
ferences South, for their dividend from the Chartered
Fund, as the commissioners above provided for shall
agree upon.
12. That the Bishops be respectfully requested
to lay that part of this report requiring the action of
the Annual Conferences before them as soon as pos-
sible, beginning with the New- York Conference. ^
1 "Journals," II. (1844), 135-37.
Appendix III
POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE SCHISM.
JOHN C. CALHOUN AND THE GENERAL
CONFERENCE OF 1844
It seems desirable to present a more extensive ac-
count of this phase of the subject with more copious
extracts from the sources relating to it in the form of
an appendix, rather than to burden the footnotes with
it.
There can be no doubt as to the widespread char-
acter of the sentiment that the ecclesiastical schism en-
dangered directly or indirectly the perpetuity of the
federal union. The backwoods preacher, Peter Cart-
wright, said, "this dreadful rupture in the Methodist
Church spread terror over almost every other branch
of the Church of Christ; and really, disguise it
as we may, it shook the pillars of our American gov-
ernment to the center, and many of our ablest states-
men were alarmed, and looked upon it as the entering
wedge of political disunion, and a fearful step toward
the downfall of our happy republic' ' ^ J. F. Wright,
of Cincinnati, writing to Bishop Andrew October 3,
1844, said, ' ' I most firmly believe if this division takes
place civil commotions will immediately follow, for
there are certainly more reasons for the separation of
the States than for the division of the church, and it
soon might be pleaded as a matter obviously necessary
and indispensable to the South. " ^ In June, 1844, ' ' The
1 "Autobiography," (completed in 1856), 439.
2 Smith, "Andrew," 371.
188 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
Charleston Mercury" hailed the issue of the minority
Protest in the General Conference, as possessing high
rank "for it marks an epoch — the first dissolution of the
Union. ' ' ^ Dr. Wightman of ' ' The Southern Christian
Advocate" said that the ecclesiastical division would
prove to the country that southern forbearance had
its limits, and that abolitionism would be resisted at
all costs. ' ' Thus a check will be put upon a movement,
which, more than all other causes of discord put to-
gether, threatens the political union. " * To quote
"The Charleston Mercury" again, "The two greatest
religious sects in the United States [Baptists and
Methodists] sever a union that was thought to be
secured by indissoluble ties. . .and that separation,
too, making the precise line between the slaveholding
and the free states and growing out of the acknowl-
edged impossibility of the two peoples acting peaceably
together .... Mr. Clay ^ sees it in its true light — a
dissension that turns one of the strongest bands of
the political union into a destroying sword — yet even
he shrinks from the expression of more than a dark
foreboding."^
Speaking in the United States Senate on the Com-
promise of 1850, John C. Calhoun said : Many different
bands hold the Uniion together, and these are not
wholly political. The strongest of the non-political
ties consisted in the unity of the great religious de-
nominations which originally embraced the whole
Union. Their unity helped to hold the political union
together. "The first of these cords which snapped.
3 "S. C. A.," June 28, 1844.
4 "Ibid.," Nov. 22, 1844.
5 See below.
6 Quoted in 68 "Niles Register," 188.
APPENDIX III 189
. . . was that of the powerful Methodist Episcopal
Church. The numerous and strong ties which held it
together are all broke, and its unity gone. They now
form separate churches . . . arrayed into two hostile
bodies, engaged in litigation about what was formerly
their common property. ' ' ^ Three days later in his
famous Seventh of March speech Daniel Webster notic-
ed Calhoun's reference to the Methodist schism, and
expressed himself as having "felt great concern, as
that dispute went on, about the result . . . . " He
thought the division was needless, but did not say
very definitely that he feared serious political con-
sequences. ^
Writing to a friend in April, 1845, Henry Clay ex-
pressed himself positively on the political tendencies
of the schism. ' ' A division, for such a cause, would be
an event greatly to be deplored, both on account of the
church itself and its political tendency. ... I will not
say that such a separation would necessarily produce
a dissolution of the political union of these States ; but
the example would be fraught with imminent danger,
and, in co-operation with other causes unfortunately ex-
isting, its tendency on the stability of the Confederacy
Avould be perilous and alarming. ' ' ^
Tiie fact that Mr. Calhoun, then Secretary of State,
took an active interest in the doings of the General
Conference of 1844, led to a crop of more or less def-
inite charges that he was aiding and abetting the
southern delegates in their contemplated separation
from the church. These rumors originated from a
7 "Congressional Globe," 1st session 31st congress, vol. 21,
part 1, 453.
8 "Ibid.," 477.
9 Colton, "Works of Henry Clay," IV. (correspondence) 525.
190 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
letter which he sent to Dr. Capers of South Carolina, a
prominent delegate to the Conference and later a
bishop in the southern church. This letter which the
Doctor sent for publication in ' ' The Eichmond Christian
Advocate," and which does not appear in Dr. Jame-
son's "Calendar of Calhoun Letters" in the "Annual
Report of the American Historical Association," 1899,
volume II., is as follows : ' ' My dear Sir : — I have felt a
deep interest in the proceedings of your conference in
reference to the case of Bishop Andrew. Their bear-
ings, both as it relates to Church and State, demand
the gravest attention on the part of the whole Union,
and the South especially.
"I would be glad if you and Judge Longstreet,
and other prominent members of the conference, would
take Washington in your route on your return home,
and spend a day or two with us, in order to afford an
opportunity of exchanging ideas on a subject of such
vital importance.
Yours, truly,
J. C. CALHOUN. 10
Washington, 4th June, 1844."
Dr. Capers apparently made no secret of the fact
that he had received such a letter ^^ and even intimated
that possibly Dr. Bond in referring to the letter from
Calhoun was trying to help out the Whigs in a critical
campaign. The posture of political affairs made such
a correspondence of deep interest. The question of
the annexation of Texas, then being agitated, the polit-
ical campaign of 1844, the well-known attitude of
southern statesmen toward Texas and the Union, the
10 "R. C. A.," Aug. 7, 1851. The invitation was not accepted
nor was the letter answered. Wightman, "Life of Capers," .514.
11 "C. A. and J.," Oct. 9, Dec. 25, 1844.
APPENDIX III 191
semi-political character of the debates in the General
Conference of 1844, all tended to create apprehension
and give added significance to the act, when Mr. Cal-
houn evinced such a lively interest in the doings of
the church. It was easy to jump to the conclusion
that southern politicians were quietly backing the
Methodist minority, and that the division in the church
was paving the way for the accomplishment of their
half-formed desire for political separation. In an
editorial published December, 1844, ^^ Dr. Bond said
some very interesting things in this connection. Re-
ferring to the rising controversy over the relations of
Dr. Capers and Mr. Calhoun he remarked: "Let it be
remembered that we did not charge him with any
intention to aid in any project for dismembering the
union of the states ; but we did express our fears that
he might be induced to follow council which would
greatly contribute to this end — though the end would
not be seen. We believed a division of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, especially on the question of ' South-
ern institutions' would sever an important ligament of
our political union, and this opinion very generally
obtains; and it was in reference to such division that
Mr. Calhoun and his friends were to be consulted. We
could be in no doubt as to what the advice would be.
We could not be ignorant of what was passing in
South Carolina, in reference to a Southern combination
to effect certain political purposes, and we enter-
tained the general opinion as to what such a measure
would lead. How far the division of the Methodist
Episcopal Church was, and is now considered as favor-
able to the particular views of the dominant party in
South Carolina, may be clearly inferred from the fol-
12 "C. A. and J.," Dec. 25.
192 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
lowing extract from the message of the Governor of
that State to the legislature now in session. 'Nor is
the refusal to ratify this treaty, [annexation of Texas]
so vitally important to the South, the only extra-
ordinary proof which the past year has furnished, of
the exuberant and rancorous hostility of the North to
our domestic slavery. At a meeting in May last, of the
General Conference of the Methodist denomination,
whose ecclesiastical constitution and government bear,
in some respects, a striking resemblance to the political
Constitution and Government of this Confederacy, a
pious Bishop of the South was virtually deposed from
his sacred office, because he was a slaveholder. It was
openly and distinctly stated, that the Methodist con-
gregations in the non-slaveholding states, embracing a
much larger proportion of the masses than any others,
would no longer tolerate a slaveholder in their pul-
pits; a fact which has been since exemplified. With
becoming spirit, the patriotic Methodists of the South
dissolved all connexion with their brethren of the
North. And for this they are entitled to lasting honor
and gratitude from us. Other instances might be cited,
not so striking, but equally decisive of the fact, that
the abolition phrenzy is no longer confined to a few
restless and daring spirits, but has seized the whole
body of the people in the non-slaveholding States and
is rapidly superseding all other excitements, and tramp-
ling on all other interests. It has even been thought
that the organized Abolition vote might decide the
pending Presidential election; and both parties at the
North have been charged with endeavoring to con-
ciliate it for their candidate. While England, en-
couraged by these movements, and exasperated by our
Tariff laws, is making avowed war on us, that she may
strike a blow at those who are more our enemies than
APPENDIX III 193
her's.'"^^ The governor, continues Dr. Bond, "evi-
dently looks to the division of our Church as justify-
ing and proving the necessity of the extreme measures
he contemplates." The editor is convinced that this
sudden interest of Calhoun in the debates of the Con-
ference, the statements of South Carolina's governor,
and the plans which they were believed to cherish
spelled destruction to the political union. He based on
this conviction an appeal to Methodists to pause and
look at what their schism might be leading to. ' ' Surely
they ought to make some sacrifices . . . rather than
hazard all the evils, political and ecclesiastical, to which
a division may lead. The ecclesiastical consequences
have been very distinctly pointed out ; but the political
and social evils which we may contribute to bring up-
on our country defy both pen and pencil. He who can
contemplate them, even in the distance, with com-
posure, must have not only a hard, but a petrified
heart. ' '
At the time of the Senate debate on the com-
promise measures of 1850 a writer in "The New York
Tribune" signing himself "Sigma," charged that Cal-
houn, in his March the fourth speech, in which he
referred to the church schism, was deploring an event
which he "did all he could to bring about. ..." He
referred the editor of the "Tribune" to the files of
"The Christian Advocate and Journal'' for an ac-
count of the earlier charges against Calhoun and
Capers. ^^ This item caught the eye of Dr. Capers'
son, F. W. Capers, who happened to be passing through
New York City. He at once wrote the "Tribune"
13 Only one paragraph of tbe extract is here quoted.
14 "New York Daily Tribune," Juno 6, 1850.
194 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
denying ^^ " Sigma 's" charges and assuring him in the
most unequivocal terms that they were untrue. ^^
In conclusion we may say that while there was a
very lively interest on the part of the South Carolina
statesman and his followers in the developments with-
in the Methodist Episcopal Church and that while their
well-known sentiments had an important indirect in-
fluence, there is no evidence that they contributed
much directly toward the disruption of Methodism and
the establishment of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
South.
15 "Ibid.," June 8, 1850.
16 In "R. C. A.," July 17, 1851, the editor (Lee) took issue
with an assertion of Dr. Simpson's (in "W. C. A.") to the effect
that Calhoun had formed a constitution for a Southern Confederacy
before his death and had named it The United States, South. Dr.
Simpson had drawn inferences from its verbal similarity to Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, insinuating that the church division had been
planned as a prelude to political schism.
Bibliography
1. BIBLIOGRAPHIES
"A Working Conference on the Union of American
Methodism." Methodist Book Concern, New York and Cin-
cinnati, n. d. The meeting was held in "Harris Hall, North-
western University, Evanston, Illinois," "Tuesday, Wednes-
day, and Thursday, February fifteen, sixteen, and seventeen,"
1916. The report is issued by "The John Richard Lindgren
Foundation for the Promotion of International Peace and
Christian Unity." Pages 561-88 contain a "Bibliography on
Separation in the Methodist Episcopal Church and on Efforts
Toward Unification," compiled by Samuel G. Ayres, B. D., of
Garrett Biblical Institute. This is by far the most complete
and scientific bibliography of the Methodist schism that has
appeared.
"A Select Bibliography of the Negro American." A com-
pilation made under the direction of the Atlanta University
by the Tenth Atlanta Conference, Atlanta University Press,
Atlanta, Georgia, 1905. The Atlanta University Publications
No. 10. Edited by W. E. Burghardt DuBois.
Hurst, John F., "Literature of Theology." A classified
bibliography of theology and general religious literature.
Methodist Book Concern, New York, 1896.
Jackson, S. J., "A Bibliography of American Church
History, 1820-1893." In American Church History Series, vol.
XII. 441-513. Christian Literature Company, New York, 1894.
Supplement by John Hurst.
Townsend, W. J., and other editors, "A New History of
Methodism." 2 vols. New York, n. d. Bibliography.
2. GENERAL WORKS
Alexander, Gross, "A History of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, in the United States." American Church History
Series, vol. XL Christian Literature Company, New York,
1894. Very fair-minded.
196 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
Buckley, James M., "A History of Methodism in the
United States." Christian Literature Company, New York,
1896. Fair-minded, almost colorless and non-committal on
many moot points. Written from the more obvious sources.
Newspaper sources little used. There is a two volume illus-
trated edition published two years later, which contains
pictures of many men prominent in the controversies of 1844.
Bangs, Nathan, "A History of the Methodist Episcopal
Church." Third edition, revised and corrected, 4 vols. New
York, 1845.
Curtis, George L., "A Manual of Methodist Episcopal
Church History, Showing the Evolution of Methodism in the
United States of America for the use of Students and Gen-
eral Readers." (DePauw University series.) Hunt & Eaton,
New York, 1892. One of the best manuals. Jleasonable in
its discussion of the schism though decidedly northern in its
point of view.
Daniels, William H., "The Illustrated History of Metho-
dism in Great Britain and America, from the Days of Wesley
to the Present Time." New York, Chicago, Cincinnati and St.
Louis, 1880. Valuable especially for its engravings, maps and
charts.
Garrison, William L., "The Story of his Life told by his
Children." 4 vols. The Century Company, New York, 1885.
Gorrie, P. Douglas, "History of the Methodist Episcopal
Church in the United States, Embracing also, A Sketch of
the Rise of Methodism in Europe, and of its Origin and Prog-
ress in Canada." R. Worthington, New York, 1881. Section
X. and parts of IX. and XI. deal with the schism. A very color-
less narrative with northern leanings. Book II. deals with
doctrines. Book III. with polity, and Book IV. with benevolent
and literary Institutions and the statistics of Methodism.
The material covers the period to about 1850.
Hurst, John F., "The History of Methodism." 7 vols.
Eaton & Mains, New York, 1902-1904, three volumes on Brit-
ish Methodism, three on American Methodism and one on
World-wide Methodism. Volume II. of the American section
deals in part with the slavery schism. Though general
and using few sources outside the official records it is a
good, brief account from a judicial point of view and on the
whole accurate as to details. The work is profusely illus-
trated.
BIBLIOGRAPHY 197
Jennings, Arthur T., "History of American Wesleyan
Methodism." Wesleyan Methodist Publishing Association,
Syracuse, 1902. A good topical summary of the history of
the Wesleyan branch of Methodism by the editors of "The
Wesleyan Methodist." It makes no pretense at originality
in dealing with the secessions of 1842-43. Draws freely on
Matlack, Lee and Buckley.
Lednum, John, "A History of the Rise of Methodism in
America, Containing Sketches of Methodist Itinerant
Preachers from 1736-1785." Philadelphia, 1859. Largely
biographical.
Lee, James W.; Luccock, Naphtali; and Dixon, James M.,
"The Illustrated History of Methodism, The Story of the
Origin and Progress of the Methodist Church from its Founda-
tion by John Wesley to the present day " St. Louis and
New York, n. d. (Copyright 1900.) Contains an interesting
chart of the divisions and subdivisions of Methodism, and
is especially valuable for its portraits of Methodist leaders,
and prints of buildings and scenes connected with Methodist
history.
Martin, Joel, "The Wesleyan Manual, or. History of Wes-
leyan Methodism." Wesleyan Methodist Publishing House,
Syracuse, 1889.
McTyeire, Holland N., "A History of Methodism. . .with
some Account of the Doctrine and Polity of Episcopal Method-
ism in the United States " Southern Methodist Publish-
ing House, Nashville, 1884. Dr. McTyeire was one of the
bishops of the Church, South, and gives an account of the
rise of Methodism in Europe and America, the agents by
whom it was brought about, the doctrine and polity of Ameri-
can Methodism and the means and manner of its extension
down to about 1884. It is a very useful book, fair-minded,
but shows its southern origin. The author has used some
materials not readily accessible, as the manuscripts and let-
ters of William Winans, and papers and correspondence of
Bishop Soule, though these do not show very definitely in
the narrative. There are some good pictures, a two page
bibliography, and an appendix of statistics.
Porter, James, "The Revised Compendium of Methodism:
Embracing the History and Present Condition of its Various
Branches in all Countries " New York, 1875. Many edi-
tions. A calm recital of facts from the northern viewpoint.
198 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
Simpson, Matthew, "Cyclopaedia of Methodism; Em-
bracing sketches of its rise, progress and present condition,
with biographical notices and numerous illustrations." Fifth
revised edition, Louis H. Everts, Philadelphia, 1883. Useful
for its brief biographies, portraits of men and pictures of
buildings.
Stevens, Abel, "Memorials of the Introduction of Method-
ism into the Eastern States: Comprising Biographical Notices
of its Early Preachers, Sketches of its First Churches, and
Reminiscences of its Early Struggles and Successes." Boston,
1848.
Stevens, Abel, "History of the Methodist Episcopal Church
in the United States of America." 4 vols. Carlton and Porter,
New York, 1866, 1867. (Volume IV. has no date.) This
work and that of Nathan Bangs constitute the two great stand-
ard American works of the older type on the history of
Methodism. Useful volumes,
Townsend, W. J., Workman, H. B., and Eayrs, George,
(editors), "A New History of Methodism." 2 vols. London,
1909. The part dealing with the schism was written by John
A. Faulkner of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and by the
late Bishop E. E. Hoss of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
South.
3. BIOGRAPHIES, LETTERS, REMINISCENCES
AND MEMOIRS
Asbury, Francis, "Journal of the Rev. Francis Asbury,"
Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 3 vols. New
York, 1852.
Bangs, Nathan, "Life of the Rev. Freeborn Garrettson;
Compiled from his Printed and Manuscript Journals and other
Authentic Documents." New York, 1829.
Brunson, Alfred, "A Western Pioneer; or Incidents of his
Life and Times." 2 vols, in 1. Cincinnati, 1880. Chapter
XVIII. (vol. 1) gives an account of the election of James O.
Andrew as bishop at the General Conference of 1832.
Clark, Davis W., "Life and Times of Rev. Elijah Hed-
ding." Carlton & Phillips, New York, 1855. An able bi-
ography of one of the important bishops of the period of the
schism.
BIBLIOGRAPHY 199
Clarkson, Thomas, "The History of the Rise, Progress and
Accomplishment of the Abolition of the African Slave-Trade
by the British Parliament." 3 vols. New York, 1836.
Colton, Calvin, "The Life, Correspondence and Speeches
of Henry Clay." 6 vols. New York, 1857.
Crooks, George R., "The Life of Bishop Matthew Simp-
son of the Methodist Episcopal Church." Harper and Brothers,
New York, 1890. Bishop Simpson was a member of the Con-
ferences of 1844, 1848 and 1852. Chapter XI. contains a rather
full discussion of the Conference of 1844.
Curnock, Nehemiah, [editor] "The Journal of the Rev.
John Wesley A. M.. .enlarged from Original MSS., with Notes
from Unpublished Diaries, Annotations, Maps and Illustra-
tion.s." Standard Edition. 7 vols. New York and Cincinnati,
n. d.
Drew, Samuel, "The Life of the Rev. Thomas Coke, LL.
D. Including in Detail his Various Travels and Extraordinary
Missionary Exertions in England, Ireland, America and the
West Indies " New York, 1837.
DuBose, Horace M., "Francis Asbury: A Biographical
Study." Nashville, 1916. The best brief biography of the
pioneer bishop.
DuBose, Horace M., "Life of Joshua Soule." Publishing
House of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Nashville,
Tenn., 1911.
Fitzgerald, Oscar P., "John B. McFerrin: A Biography."
Publishing House of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South,
Nashville, 1888. The part (pp. 153-95) dealing with the schism
is from a southern but not offensively partisan point of view.
Fitzgerald, Oscar P., "Dr. Summers, [T. O.] : A Life
Study." Southern Methodist Publishing House, Nashville,
1884. Not of first importance for our purpose, although Dr.
Summers was a member of the Louisville Convention of 1845,
and of the first General Conference of the Church, South.
Green, William M., "Life and Papers of A. L. P. Green,
D. D." Edited by T. O. Summers. Nashville, Tenn., 1877.
Contains a sketch of Joshua Soule and a chapter on the church
property suits.
Haven, Gilbert, "Sermons, Speeches and Letters on Slav-
ery and its War from the Passage of the Fugitive Slave Bill
to the Election of President Grant." Boston, 1869.
200 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
Henkle, Rev. Moses M., "The Life of Henry Bidleman
Bascom, D. D., LL. D." Publishing House of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, Nashville, 1894. (Copyright 1854.)
Good general account of his life. Much interesting anecdote
and detail. Accounts of his connection with slavery very
brief.
Hibbard, Freeborn G., "Biography of Rev. Leonidas L.
Hamline, D. D." New York and Cincinnati, 1880. Rather full
discussion of his relation to the schism. He was elected
bishop at the General Conference of 1844.
Lee, Luther, "Autobiography of the Rev. Luther Lee,
D. D." Phillips & Hunt, New York, 1882. An interesting, use-
ful and intimate account of one of the leaders of the seces-
sion of 1842-1843. Not to be confused with Luther M. Lee,
editor of "The Richmond Christian Advocate."
Matlack, Lucius C, "The Life of Rev. Orange Scott, Com-
piled from his Personal Narrative, Correspondence and Other
Authentic Sources of Information." In two parts. Published
by C. Prindle and L. C. Matlack, at the Wesleyan Methodist
Book Room, New York, 1847. There are forty-six pages of
autobiography and the whole work incorporates much per-
sonal correspondence, etc. An illuminating account of an
outstanding man.
May, Samuel J., "Some Recollections of our Antislavery
Conflict." Boston, 1869.
Olin, Stephen, "The Life and Letters of Stephen Olin, D.
D., LL. D." 2 vols. Harper and Brothers, New York, 1853.
Valuable for his correspondence with Bishops Andrew and
Wightman of the southern church.
Palmer, Walter C, "Life and Letters of Leonidas L. Ham-
line, D. D." New York, 1866. Some letters on the schism.
Pearne, Thomas H., "Sixty-one Years of Itinerant Christian
Life in Church and State." Cincinnati, 1898. Mr. Pearne was
an observer at the Conference of 1844. Chapter III. contains
a vivid account of the Conference.
Peck, George, "Life and Times of George Peck, D. D.
Written by himself." Nelson & Phillips, New York, 1874. A
very valuable biography of a key man. Chapters VIII. X. XI.
XII. and XIII. are pertinent. Rather extreme in its northern
bias.
BIBLIOGRAPHY 201
Rankin, John, "Letters on American Slavery." Second
edition, 1836. An excellent summary of the anti-slavery argu-
ments.
Redford, A. H., "Life and Times of H. H. Kavanaugh, D.
D." Southern Methodist Publishing House, Nashville, 1884.
Largely made up of brief biographies of men who came into
contact with Dr. Kavanaugh. Touches the subject in hand
chiefly and then only lightly in the bringing of Kentucky into
the Church, South.
Ridgaway, Henry B., "The Life of Edmund S. Janes, D.
D., LL. D." New York and Cincinnati, 1882. Contains calm
comments on the schism of 1844, and on the repudiation of
the Plan of Separation by the General Conference of 1848.
Dr. Janes was elected bishop at the Conference of 1844.
Rivers, Richard H., "The Life of Robert Paine, D. D.,
Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South." Nashville,
Tenn., 1884. In chapter XIII. may be found a good brief sum-
mary of the struggle of 1844-45. Bishop Paine was one of
the prominent southern leaders.
Roche, John A., "The Life of John Price Durbin, D. D.,
LL. D., with an Ana;Iysis of His Homiletical Skill and Sacred
Oratory." With an Introduction by Randolph S. Foster.
Hunt & Eaton, New York, 1890. Chapter IX. gives some ac-
count of the Conference of 1844 and Dr. Durbin's part in it.
Smith, George G., "The Life and Letters of James Osgood
Andrew, with Glances at his Contemporaries and at Events
in Church History." Southern Methodist Publishing House,
Nashville, 1883. A good account of the great bishop's life,
containing much original matter; letters, reminiscences, etc.
Smith, George G., "The Life and Times of Bishop George
Foster Pierce, D. D., LL. D., with his Sketch of Lovick Pierce,
D. D., his father." Sparta, Georgia, 1888. A bulky work con-
taining much correspondence on various subjects but includ-
ing very little on the questions of slavery or separation.
Stanley, E. J., "Life of Rev. L. B. Stateler; or Sixty-five
Years on the Frontier." Nashville, Tenn., 1907. Chapter
XVIII., "Some Observations Concerning the Division of the
Church," is a fair southern view of the schism.
Stevens, Abel, "Life and Times of Nathan Bangs, D. D."
Carlton and Porter, New York, n. d. (Copyright 1863.) Brief
references to Dr. Bangs' part in the schism.
202 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
Stewart, John, "Highways and Hedges; or Fifty Years of
Western Methodism." Cincinnati, 1872. Chapter XXIV. con-
tains some account of the General Conference of 1844 from
a moderate northern point of view.
Strickland, W. P. (editor), "Autobiography of Peter Cart-
wright, the Backwoods Preacher." New York, n. d. (Copy
right 1856.) Very interesting account of the experiences
of the frontier preacher. Delightful — a frontier classic.
Summers, Thomas O. (editor), "Biographical Sketches
of Eminent Itmerent Ministers. . .Pioneers of Methodism,
Within the Bounds of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South."
Nashville, Tenn., 1858.
Sunderland, LaRoy, Manuscript Statement on his Re-
lation to the Rise of Anti-Slavery Activity and Theological
Education, in the Methodist Church. Made April 22, 1872.
Has no real title. It is In the New England Methodist His-
torial Society Library, Boston, Mass. Very brief.
Tuttle, A. H., "Nathan Bangs." Eaton & Mains, New
York, Jennings and Graham, Cincinnati, n. d. (Copyright
1909.) Chapter X. gives a modern estimate of his relation
to the slavery controversy. Tuttle thinks him wrong In
favoring the moderates.
Tyerman, L., "The Life and Times of the Rev. John
Wesley, M. A.," Founder of the Methodists. With an appen-
dix by Abel Stevens, LL. D. 3 vols. Harpers, New York,
1872.
Tyerman, L., "The Life of the Rev. George Whitefield "
2 vols. New York, 1877.
Wightman, William M., "Life of William Capers, D. D.
One of the Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
Including an Autobiography." Publishing House of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Nashville, Tenn., 1896.
He was a prominent figure in the controversies of 1844. A
serviceable book.
4. SPECIAL PHASES OF THE SLAVERY CON-
TROVERSY IN THE CHURCH
Adams, Alice Dana, "The Neglected Period of Anti-
slavery in America (1808-1831)." Ginn & Co., Boston and Lon-
don, 1908. Radcllffe College Monographs No. 14. A care-
ful and useful study of an important and little worked period.
BIBLIOGRAPHY 203
Ambler, Charles H., "Sectionalism in Virginia from 1776-
1861." University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1910. A sane
and careful piece of work.
Armstrong, James E., "History of the Old Baltimore Con-
ference from the Planting of Methodism in 1773 to the Di-
vision of the Conference in 1857." Baltimore, 1907. Illus-
trates well the conservative position of the conference dur-
ing the troubles of 1844.
Atkinson, J., "Memorials of Methodism in New Jersey."
Carlton & Porter, New York, 1860.
Barclay, W. F., "Constitution of American Episcopal
Methodism." Southern Methodist Publishing House, Nash-
ville, 1902.
Barnes, Albert, "An Inquiry into the Scriptural Views of
Slavery," 1846. One of the most powerful refutations of the
scriptural arguments for slavery.
Bascom, Henry B., Green, A. L. P., Parsons, C. B. (south-
ern commissioners for the settlement of the property ques-
tion between the two churches), "Brief Appeal to Public
Opinion, in a Series of Exceptions to the Course and Action
of the Methodist Episcopal Church from 1844 to 1848, Affect-
ing the Rights and Interests of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South." Published by John Early, Agent of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Louisville, Ky., 1848. A
criticism of the course of the Methodist Episcopal Church
respecting the new church during the first three years of
its existence. VeiT important; valuable appendix; keenly
critical, severe, heated.
Bascom, Henry B., "Methodism and Slavery." Hodges,
Todd and Pruett, Frankfort, Ky., 1845.
Buckley, James M., "Constitutional and Parliamentary
History of the Methodist Episcopal Church." Methodist Book
Concern, New York, 1909. The best work on the subject.
Clarke, J. F., "Anti-Slavery Days." New York, 1883. Pic-
ture of agitations in Boston.
Conable, F. W., "History of the Genesee Annual Con-
ference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 1810-1872." Nel-
son and Phillips, New York, 1876. There are a few references
to the slavery conflict in that conference.
204 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
"Constitution of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
the Constitutions and Charters of the Several Organizations
Authorized by the General Conference, to which is added the
Constitution of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South."
Methodist Book Concern, New York.
Cook, J. R., "The Judicial Decisions of the General Con-
ference of the Methodist Episcopal Church." An Introduc-
tion by James M. Buckley. Second edition, revised and en-
larged. Jennings and Graham, Cincinnati; Eaton & Mains,
New York, n. d., (copyright 1903), but revisions include de-
cisions made in 1904 and in 1908. An appendix gives the
present organic law of the church.
Culver, Newell, "Methodism Forty Years Ago and
Now " Nelson and Phillips, New York, 1873.
Curts, Lewis (editor), "The General Conferences of the
Methodist Episcopal Church from 1792-1896. Prepared by a
literary staff under the supervision of Mr. Curts. Curts &
Jennings, Cincinnati and New York, 1900. Discusses border
Methodism.
Elliott, Charles, "History of the Great Secession from the
Methodist Episcopal Church in the year 1845, Eventuating in
the Organization of the New Church Entitled the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, South." Swormstedt & Poe, Cincin-
nati, 1855. A work of great importance for any student of
the schism. Contains 1118 columns of closely printed mat-
ter. Based chiefly on newspapers, being extracts from them
with a running commentary. Dr. Elliott also used many
other important sources. As an appendix there are 78 im-
portant documents referring to the schism. As Dr. Elliott
was a prime participant in the events he describes, his work
is in reality itself a source. He adopts the point of view of
strong opposition both to the abolitionists and to the pro-
slavery South.
Emory, Robert, "History of the Discipline of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church." New York, 1845. A very good dis-
cussion of the Discipline and its change to the date of the
schism.
Finley, James B., "Sketches of Western Methodism: Bio-
graphical, Historical and Miscellaneous." Edited by W. P.
Strickland. Methodist Book Concern, Cincinnati, 1854. A
fine account of frontier life.
BIBLIOGRAPHY 205
Flood, Theodore L., and Hamilton, John W. (editors),
"Lives of Methodist Bishops." Phillips and Hunt, New York,
1882.
Foster, Randolph S., "Union of Episcopal Methodisms."
Hunt and Eaton, New York, Cranston & Curts, Cincinnati,
1892. A northern plea for reunion of northern and southern
Methodisms. Favors reunion rather than federation.
Filler, Erasmus Q., "An Appeal to the Records: a Vindi-
cation of the Methodist Episcopal Church in its Policy and
Proceedings Toward the South." Hitchcock & Walden, Cin-
cinnati, Nelson & Phillips, New York, 1876. A review and
indictment of Myers, "Disruption," and almost as cutting, as
bitter and as sarcastic, as Myers. Painful reading, yet it
includes much matter drawn from the records. Accuses
Myers of wilful misrepresentation.
Gorrie, P. Douglas, "Episcopal Methodism as it was and is
or an Account of the Origin, Progress, Doctrines, Church
Polity, Usages, Institutions and Statistics of the Methodist
Episcopal Church in the United States " Miller, Orton
and Mulligan, Auburn and Buffalo, 1854.
Goss, C. C, "Statistical History of the First Century of
American Methodism: with a Summary of the Origin and
Present Operations of Other Denominations." Carlton &
Porter, New York, 1866. It gives general statistical sum-
maries of preachers and members by annual conferences to
1791; the General Conference, 1792 to 1864; and then it gives
a detailed statistical description of Methodism in that year
and a comparison with other denominations. Brief historical
accounts are included in the earlier parts.
Hall, Barnes M., "Life of Rev. John Clark." With an
introduction by Bishop Morris. New York, 1857. Interesting
side lights on the missionary to the Indians of those days.
Clark was the only southern delegate to vote with the North
on the Andrew case.
Harris, William L., "The Constitutional Powers of the
General Conference, with Special Application to the Subject
of Slaveholding." Cincinnati, 1860.
Harrison, William P., "Methodist Union, Threatened in
1844, was Formally Dissolved in 1848 " Southern Methodist
Publishing House, Nashville, 1892. A southern resume of the
story of the schism with reference to closer relations again
between the two parts of Episcopal Methodism.
206 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
"History of the Organization of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South;" comprehending all the official proceedings
of the General Conference; the southern annual conferences
and the General Convention; with such other matters as are
necessary to a right understanding of the case. Compiled
and published by the editors and publishers of "The South-
western Christian Advocate," for the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, by order of the Louisville Convention. Wil-
liam Cameron, Printer, Nashville, 1845. (Reviewed in
"Methodist Quarterly Review.," vol. XXXI. 1849, 282 ff. See
also "Ibid.," XXXIII. 396) Very important.
Kerley, T. A., "Conference Rights; or Governing Prin-
ciples of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, as Pound
in the History, Legislation, and Administration of the Church."
(Edited by John J. Tigert). Publishing House of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, South, Nashville, 1898. Contains a
chapter (VII.) on the constitutionality of the Plan of Sep-
aration. Southern in outlook, but calm and fair.
"The Constitution of the Methodist Episcopal Church:
What it is, and where to be found and how it may be
amended, as seen by a layman." Hunt and Eaton. New
York, 1894.
Leftwich, W. M., "Martyrdom in Missouri. A History of
Religious Proscription, the Seizure of Churches, and the
Persecution of Ministers of the Gospel in the State of
Missouri, During the Late Civil War, and under the 'Test
Oath' of the New Constitution." 2 vols. Southwestern Book
and Publishing Co., St. Louis, printed for the author, 1870. It
contains a brief resume of the separation of 1844-45, from
a strongly partisan southern point of view. It treats also in
the same spirit the relations of the two Methodisms, and
the political animus of the same after 1845; and the claims
and counterclaims with respect to local church property be-
fore and during the Civil War. Its chief r-aison d'etre is its
discussion of the martyrdoms of ministers in that state.
Locke, Mary S., "Anti-Slavery in America from the In-
troduction of the African Slaves to the Prohibition of the
Slave Trade, (1619-1808)." Ginn & Co., Boston, 1901. A care-
ful and suggestive study of a little worked field.
MacDonald, William, "History of Methodism in Provi-
dence, R. I., 1787-1867." Phillips and Prido, Boston, 1868.
BIBLIOGRAPHY 207
Matlack, Lucius C, "The Anti-Slavery Struggle and
Triumph in the Methodist Episcopal Church." With an in-
troduction by Rev. D. D. Whedon, D. D. Phillips and Hunt,
New York, Walden & Stowe, Cincinnati, 1881. A valuable
account of the slavery struggle in the church by one who
went through it, seceded from the church with others and
formed the Wesleyan Church. He later returned to the
original fold, becoming one of the historians of the conflict.
Matlack, Lucius C, "The History of American Slavery
and Methodism from 1780 to 1849; and History of the Wes-
leyan Methodist Connection of America." In two parts with
an appendix. New York, 1849. Another work written
earlier than "The Anti-slavery Struggle" and therefore lack-
ing in the calmness and finish of the later book. Both em-
body much original material and are valuable to the student
of this schism. Sometimes inaccurate in detail.
McFerrin, John B., "History of Methodism In Tennessee,
1783-1840." 3 vols. Southern Methodist Publishing House,
Nashville, 1869-73.
Merrill, Stephen, "The Organic Union of American Method-
ism." Methodist Book Concern, Cincinnati, 1892. Favors
closer union.
Mood, F. A., "Methodism in Charleston." A narrative of
the chief events relating to the rise and progress of the
Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S. C. Southern
Methodist Publishing House, Nashville, 1855, second edition
1875.
Mudge, James, "History of the New England Conference
of the Methodist Episcopal Church 1796-1910." Boston, 1910.
Gives a full account of the Wesleyan secession of 1842-1843.
Myers, Edward H., "The Disruption of the Methodist
Episcopal Church 1844-1846; Comprising a Thirty Years' His-
tory of the Relations of the two Methodisms." With an in-
troduction by T. O. Summers, D. D. Nashville, Tenn., Macon,
Ga., 1875. A strong but very bitter and partisan statement
of the southern side of the old conflict in view of the overtures
for reunion in 1872.
Neely, Thomas B., "History of the Governing Con-
ference in Methodism." Cranston & Stowe, Cincinnati, 1893.
208 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
Peterson, P. A., "History of the Revisions of the Dis-
cipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church." Southern Metho-
dist Publishing House, Nashville, 1889. Covers the disciplin-
ary changes in the southern church since 1844. Planned on
much the same lines as Emory and Sherman.
Redford, A. H., "History of the Organization of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, South." Southern Methodist Publish-
ing House, Nashville, 1879. (Copyright 1871.) Consists of
very complete accounts in the words of the official reports
of the General Conference of 1844, meeting of the southern
delegates at New York, the Louisville convention of 1845, the
first General Conference of the Church, South, and the prop-
erty question. The appendices contain (a) list of delegates
to the Conference of 1844, (b) action of the southern con-
ferences in regard to the division of the church, (c) cor-
respondence concerning union, (d) decision of the Supreme
Court of the United States on the property question.
Sherman, David, "History of the Revisions of the Dis-
cipline of the Methodist Episcopal church." (Third edition).
Hunt and Eaton, New York, 1890.
Shipp, Albert M., "The History of Methodism in South
Carolina." Southern Methodist Publishing House, Nashville,
1883.
Smith, George G., "The History of Methodism in Georgia
and Florida, from 1785 to 1865." Jno. W. Burke & Co., Macon,
Ga., 1877. Much brief biographical material. Not as fair-
minded an account as is found in his later works.
Sweet, William W., "Methodist Church Influence in
Southern Politics." Reprinted from "The Mississippi Val-
ley Historical Review," March, 1915. Vol. I. 546-560. Dis-
cusses border troubles.
Thrall, Homer S., "History of Methodism in Texas."
Houston, 1872.
Tigert, John J., "A Constitutional History of American
Episcopal Methodism." Second edition revised and enlarged.
Publishing House of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South,
Nashville, Tenn., 1904. An able and important work. Full
discussion of the schism from a modern view point. South-
ern, but generally fair in tone.
BIBLIOGRAPHY 209
Wakeley, J. B., "Lost Chapters Recovered from the Early
History of American Methodism." Published for the Author.
Carlton & Porter, New York, 1858.
Weeks, S. B., "Anti-slavery Sentiment in the South,"
with published letters from J. S. Mill and Mrs. Stowe. In
Southern Historical Society, Publications, vol. II. Washing-
ton, 1898.
Whitlock, W. P., "The Story of the Book Concerns." Jen-
nings and Pye, Cincinnati, Eaton & Mains, New York, n. d.
(Copyright 1903.) A handy little manual of the Book Con
cems, and of the periodical press of the church, including
very brief biographies of the agents. Not always accurate
in detail.
Wilder, C. W., "New England Annual Conferences Against
Slavery and Caste." New England Historical Society, Pro-
ceedings, January 16, 1893.
5. PERIODICAL LITERATURE
"The American Wesleyan Observer." Issued weekly,
January 1 to September 5, 1840. Horton and Scott, editors.
Full report of the proceedings of the General Conference of
1840. Lucius C. Matlack edited it while the others were
away. It was published at Lowell, Mass.
"The Christian Advocate and Journal." The chief organ
of Episcopal Methodism on this continent. Founded Sept. 9,
1826, at New York. Merged with "The Missionary Journal"
of Charleston, N. C, 1827, and the name "and Journal" added;
purchased "The Zion's Herald" in 1829 and "Zion's Herald"
added to the name, which was dropped again in 1833. The
"and Journal" was dropped in 1870. The editors were:
Nathan Bangs 1828-32, J. P. Durbin 1832-36, S. Luckey 1836-
40, Thomas E. Bond 1840-48, George Peck 1848-52, Bond 1852-
56, Abel Stevens 1856-60. Bitterly anti-southern during the
troubles of 1836-1854.
"The Lynchburg Republican," Lynchburg, Va., 1845-1848.
Important for the border conflict.
"The Maysville Eagle." Maysville, Ky., 1844-1848,
especially 1847.
210 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
"The Methodist Quarterly Review." Called "The Metho-
dist Review" since 1879. Founded 1818, edited by the Book
Agents at New York until 1832, by Nathan Bangs from 1832
to 1836, by S. Luckey to 1840, by George Peck 1840-48, by
McClintlock 1848-56. Several notable articles on the schism.
"The New England Christian Advocate," Lowell, Mass.
Luther Lee (anti-slavery) editor. First issue dated Jan. 7,
1841, but really issued in December, 1840. Continued only
one year.
"The New York Tribune." Founded in 1841. Some news
notes on the schism and incidents growing out of it.
"Niles' Register." 76 volumes, 1811-49. News items and
extracts from other papers.
"The Northern Christian Advocate." Published then at
Auburn, N. Y. The editors were: Rounds (very moderate in
his views on the schism) 1844-48; W. Hosmer 1848-52; Hib-
bard 1852-60.
"The Philanthropist." Birney and Bailey, editors. Cin-
cinnati, Ohio, 1836-47.
"The Pittsburgh Christian Advocate." Pittsburgh, Pa.
Editor Hunter was one of the most moderate of the editors
among the Methodists during the' bitter conflict that ended
in division.
"The Richmond Christian Advocate." Edited during the
controversy, at Richmond, Va., by Luther M. Lee, a strong
and outspoken partisan of the southern cause. One of the
most important papers of the period as a source.
"The Southern Christian Advocate." Edited during the
schism at Charleston, S. C, by Rev. William M. Wightman.
It was a strong advocate of the section in which it was
published. Very useful.
"The Southwestern Christian Advocate." Edited by John
B. McFerrin, at Nashville, Tenn. In 1846 its name was
changed to "The Nashville Christian Advocate." True to
its section during the division.
"The True Wesleyan." Organ of the Wesleyan seceders,
edited by Horton and Scott, Nov. 1842.
"The Western Christian Advocate." Established in 1834
at Cincinnati, Ohio. The editors were: T. A. Morris 1834-36,
Charles Elliott 1836-48, Matthew Simpson 1848-52, Elliott
1852-56. Dr. Elliott favored the northern cause, but changed
his mind on a number of minor questions. He detested the
BIBLIOGRAPHY 211
abolitionists and the southern seceders, as he called them.
The paper is a very useful source.
"The Zion's Herald." Established in 1823 by an associ-
ation of New England Methodists. Sold out to "The Chris-
tian Advocate and Journal," in 1829. Reestablished in 1833,
and continued in semi-official relations with the church.
Barker Badger was the first editor. In January, 1835, it was
formally opened to the anti-slavery discussion. During
part of the controversy it was edited by Abel Stevens. Pub-
lished in Boston.
"The Zion's Watchman." An anti-slavery paper pub-
lished by LaRoy Sunderland in New York City. Founded in
1836. Backed by an association of Methodists. The first
organ of the radical abolitionists within the Methodist
Church.
6. CHURCH DOCUMENTS
"The Debates at the General Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church," May, 1844. To which is added a review
of the proceedings of the said Conference, by Rev. Luther
Lee and Rev. E. Smith, New York, 1845. Reported for "The
True Wesleyan." The thesis of the reviews was that the
church had not been converted to abolitionism. Reviews re-
flect the abolitionist bias of the authors.
"The Discipline of the Wesleyan Methodist Connection of
America." Boston, 1843.
"The Doctrines and Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal
Church." 1785 to the present time. Ear'lier editions very
rare. Few full sets in existence.
"The Doctrines and Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South." Louisville, Ky., 1846, and later editions.
Elliott, Charles, "Historical Scrap Book." Vols. I. IV. VI.
VIII. These consist of clippings from the Methodist Episco-
pal Church periodicals relating to the schism. They are
well bound and were "Presented to the Western Book Con-
cern of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Jan. 1, 1856, By
Charles Elliott," the compiler. He got these materials to^
gether for his immense work "The Great Secession." There
were originally eight volumes but the others were destroyed
by a fire at the Cincinnati publishing house. They are a
mine of handy information, especially useful to those who
are unable to see all the newspapers.
212 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
"Journals of the General Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church." From 1792 to the present time. Vol.
II. contains the minutes of 1840 and 1844 and the debates
of 1844. Carlton and Lanahan, New York, n. d.
"Journals of the General Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South." From 1846 to the present time.
"A Journal of the New England Conference." Manu-
script minutes or journal of the New England annual con-
ference, long in the possession of the venerable Dr. Mudge,
for so many years secretary of the conference. Two well-
preserved volumes for the years 1822-1835, and 1836-1848 are
useful for the period covered by the present work. The
chirography is surprisingly legible.
"The Methodist Church Case, at Maysville, Kentucky."
By Henry Waller, counsel for the complainants, and Francis
T. Hood, and Richard H. Stanton, counsel for defendants.
The Eagle Office, Maysville, 1848. Records are given of the
pleadings on each side, testimony in the chancery suit in
Mason Circuit Court, arguments of counsel, decisions of the
Circuit Judge and the opinion of the Court of Appeals. Very
useful and well authenticated source, on an important and
influential local property case. (Gibson vs. Armstrong, 7
"Ben Monroe," 481.)
"The Methodist Church Property Case." (Ohio.) Argu-
ments of Messrs. Riddle, Lane, and Ewing, counsel for the
defendants, in the suit of "William A. Smith, and others, vs.
LeRoy Swormstedt, and others, heard before Hon. Judge H.
H. Leavitt, in the Circuit Court of the United States for the
district of Ohio, June 27-July 2, 1852, with the decision of the
Judge'. Swormstedt & Poe, Cincinnati, 1852. (5 "McLean,"
369; Federal Cases No. 13,112.) Judge Leavitt's decision
favoring the northern contention was reversed by the United
States Supreme Court in 1853. (57 U. S., 288.)
"Minutes of the Annual Conferences." (Original
Pamphlet Minutes, known as Local Minutes.) Few con-
ferences published them in the early days. They include
resolutions and miscellaneous acts of the conferences. The
full minutes, however, were seldom published, and they con-
tain very little controversial material as published.
"Minutes of the Annual Conferences of the Methodist
Episcopal Church." (Known as the General Minutes.) For
the years 1773-1828, vol. I. New York, 1840; vol. II. for the
BIBLIOGRAPHY 213
years 1829 to 1839, New York, 1840; vol. III. for the years
1839 to 1845, New York, 1846; vol. IV. for the years 1846 to
1851, New York, 1854. Mostly statistical and biographical;
occasionally contain resolutions passed by the conferences.
"Minutes of Several Conversations Between the Metho-
dist Preachers in the Connexion Established by the Late
Reverend John Wesley, A. M.," at their ninety-second Annual
Conference begun in Sheffield on Wednesday, July 29, 1835.
Third edition, London, 1835.
Sutton, R., "The Methodist Church Property Case." Bas-
com and others vs. Lane and others. Lane & Scott, New
York, 1851. (Federal Cases, No. 1089.)
7. PAMPHLETS
Most of these pamphlets are found in the collection made
by Rev. Samuel J. May, the noted abolitionist, and now owned
by the Cornell University Library. It is a valuable collection
preserving a vast amount of fugitive material which would
otherwise have been lost to the historian. No student of
any phase of the slavery question can afford to ignore this
rich store of materials.
An American [J. G. Birney,] "American Churches the
Bulwarks of American Slavery." Third American edition en-
larged by an appendix. C. Whipple, Newburyport, 1842.
Deals with the pro-slavery side of the controversy in the
Methodist Episcopal, Baptist, Presbyterian and Methodist Pro-
testant churches, while a supplement considers briefly the
attitude of the Quakers, Congregationalists and some others.
Bourne, George, "Man-stealing and Slavery Denounced by
the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches together with An
Address to all the churches." Pp. 19. Boston, 1834. Some
good material on the early attitude of the Methodist Episcopal
and Presbyterian churches on slavery.
Bowen, C. W., "Arthur and Lewis Tappan." A paper
read at the fiftieth anniversary of the New York City Anti-
slavery Society at the Broadway Tabernacle. Pp. 16. New
York, Oct. 2, 1883. Brief account of the early anti-slavery
days, the formation of the anti-slavery societies, etc.
Brownlow, William G., "A Sermon on Slavery." A Vin-
dication of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South; her posi-
tion stated. Delivered in Temperance Hall, Knoxville, on
214 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
Sabbath, August 9, 1857, to the delegates and others in at-
tendance at the Southern Commercial Convention, Knoxville,
Tenn., 1857. A typical array of southern pro-slavery views.
Caldwell, John H., "Slavery and Southern Methodism."
Two sermons preached in the Methodist Church in Newman
[Newnan], Georgia, by the Pastor. Pp. 80. Printed for the
author, 1865. A criticism by a southerner of the slave power.
The author attempts to connect Calhoun with ecclesiastical
division as a prologue to political secession. Made some
little stir at the time.
"Constitution of the New England Anti-Slavery Society:"
with an Address to the public. Pp. 16. Garrison & Knapp,
Boston, 1832.
"Debate on 'Modern Abolitionism' in the General Con-
ference of the Methodist Episcopal Church," held in Cin-
cinnati, May, 1836, with notes. Pp. 91. Published for the
Ohio Anti-slavery Society, Cincinnati, 1836. Taken from
"The Philanthropist" in part, and in part being the work of
Orange Scott.
DeVinne, Daniel, "The Methodist Episcopal Church and
Slavery. A Historical Survey of the Relations of the Early
Methodists to Slavery." Pp. 95. New York, 1857. Relates
mostly to the period before 1800. A valuable study.
Dixon, James, "Methodism in America: with the Personal
Narrative of the Author during a Tour Through a Part of the
United States and Canada." Second edition, London, 1849.
Henning, Thoma,s, "Slavery in the Churches, Religious
Societies, etc.: A Review." Pp. 39. Toronto, 1856. States
the early attitude of the churches, missionary societies and
boards toward slavery
Jay, William, "Letter on the Reasons assigned by the
American Tract Society for its silence in regard to Ameri-
can Slavery." Pp. 28. New York, 1853.
Lame, J. S., "Maryland Slavery and Maryland Chivalry."
Philadelphia.
Latta, S. A., "Constitutional Claims and Powers of Metho-
dist Episcopacy:" being a review of the discussions of the
late General Conference, and an appeal to the North and
South in favor of union. Pp. 43. Cincinnati, 1844. Really a
review of Bishop Hamline's General Conference speech from
the southern view point.
BIBLIOGRAPHY 215
Matlack, Lucius C, "Narrative of the Anti-Slavery Ex-
periences of a Minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church,
who was Twice Rejected by the Philadelphia Annual Con-
ference and Finally Deprived of License to Preach for Being
an Abolitionist." Pp. 24. Philadelphia, 1845. An important
document taking one close to the personal problems that
faced the abolitionists in the church.
Mattison, H., "The Impending Crisis of 1860; or the Pres-
ent Connection of the Methodist Episcopal Church with
Slavery, and Our Duty in Regard to it." Pp. 136. New York,
1859. This pamphlet contains much good material on the
history of slavery in the church from 1739 to 1859.
McCarter, J. Mayland, "Border Methodism and Border
Sflavery." Being a statement and review of the action of the
Philadelphia conference concerning slavery, at its late ses-
sion at Easton, Pa. Pp. 88. Philadelphia, 1858. Contains
valuable material on border slaveholding in the Methodist
Episcopal Church after 1844.
McKeen, Silas. "A Scriptural Argument in Favor of
Withdrawing Fellowship from Churches and Ecclesiastical
Bodies Tolerating Slaveholding Among Them." Pp. 37. New
York, 1848. Resolutions passed by various churches about
slavery.
"Minutes of the Proceedings of a Convention of Dele-
gates from the Abolition Societies Established in Different
Parts of the United States," assembled at Philadelphia, Jan-
uary 1, 1794. Philadelphia, 1794. Also minutes of the sec-
ond meeting of the convention, 1795; the third meeting, 1796;
the fourth meeting, 1797; the fifth meeting, 1798; and the
seventh meeting, 1801.
Pillsbury, Parker, "The Church as it is — or the Forlorn
Hope of Slavery." Pp. 96. Boston, 1847. Second edition re-
vised and improved. Republican Press Association, Concord,
New Hampshire, 1885.
Scarritt, Nathan, "Position of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, on the Subject of Slavery." Pp. 62. St. Louis,
1860. Considerable material dealing with the period before
1860. Part II. considers the questions: Is the southern church
a secession? Is it pro-slavery? Is it less the friend of the
slave than are the other churches? Its viewpoint is southern.
216 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
Scott, Orange, "Address to the General Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church." Presented during its ses-
sion in Cincinnati, Ohio, May 19, 1836, to which is added The
Speech of the Rev. Mr. Scott, delivered on the floor of the
General Conference, May 27, 1836. New York, 1836.
Scott, Orange, "An Appeal to the Methodist Episcopal
Church." Pp. 156. D. H. Ela, publisher, Boston, 1838. A
valuable pamphlet dealing with slavery in the church, the
Bible argument, the General Conference of 1836, the con-
ference rights controversy, the Lynn Convention, etc.
Scott, Orange, "The Grounds of Secession from the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church: being an Examination of her Con-
nection with Slavery, and also of her Form of Government."
Pp. 96. New York, 1846. An important document. Contains
the formal withdrawal of four men who became leaders in the
Wesleyan Methodist Church, and a review of the position of
the Methodist Episcopal Church on slavery as indicated by the
work of the Conference of 1844. A revised, corrected and
considerably expanded edition was published in 1848. New
York, 1848.
"Unfavorable Influence of the American Churches on the
Progress of Emancipation." Pp. 8. This is No. 19 of "Five
hundred thousand strokes for freedom," a series of anti-slavery
tracts — "of which half a million are now first issued by
the friends of the Negro." London, 1853. Leeds Anti-slav-
ery Series. Contains many extracts from the utterances of
prominent men of all denominations favoring slavery.
Whipple, Charles K., "Relation of the American Board
of Commissioners for Foreign Missions to Slavery." Pp. 247.
Boston, 1861. Deals with their relation to slavery, opposing
their pro-slavery policy.
Whipple, Charles K., "The Methodist Church and
Slavery." Pp. 31. New York, 1859. Argues that even in
1859 the Methodist Episcopal Church was not an anti-slavery
church.
Wilson, S. W.; Sunderland, LaRoy; Storrs, George; Mer-
rill, A. D.; Perkins, Jared, "An Appeal on the Subject of
Slavery Addressed to the Members of the New England and
New Hampshire Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal
Church Together with a Defence of said Appeal in which is
Shown the Sin of Holding Property in Man." Pp. 48. Boston,
BIBLIOGRAPHY 217
1835. This is one of the outstanding documents of the early
slavery conflict in the church. It embodies the typical argu-
ments of the abolitionists, especially their opposition to the
Bible arguments for slavery. "The Appeal" is dated as in an
earlier Extra of "Zion's Herald," December 19, 1834. "The
Defence" is dated April 22, 1835. It was written by LaRoy
Sunderland and had been issued as an Extra to "Zion's
Herald," June, 1835.
8. MISCELLANEOUS
"Compendium of the Enumeration of the Inhabitants and
Statistics of the United States as Obtained. . .from the Returns
of the 6th Census " Prepared by the Department of
State. Printed by Thomas Allen, Washington, 1841.
"Congressional Globe." First Session of the Thirty-first
Congress. City of Washington, 1850.
"The Federal Cases. Comprising Cases Argued and De-
termined in the Circuit and District Courts of the United
States from the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Fed-
eral Reporter. Arranged Alphabetically by the titles of the
Cases, and Numbered Consecutively" West Publishing Co.,
St. Paul, 1896.
"Journal of the Senate of South Carolina." Annual Ses-
sion, 1844. A. H. Pemberton, State Printer, Columbia, S. C,
1844.
"Report of Cases Argued and Adjudged in the Supreme
Court of the United States." December term, 1853. By Ben-
jamin C. Howard, Counsellor at Law and reporter of the
decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States. Vol.
XVI. Little, Brown & Company, Law Publishers & Book-
sellers, Boston, 1855.
"Reports of Cases at Common Law and in Equity Decided
in the Court of Appeals of Kentucky." By Ben Monroe, re-
porter of the decisions of the Court of Appeals. Second edi-
tion. H. W. Derby & Co., Publishers, Cincinnati, 1841-58.
"Reports of Cases decided in the Supreme Court of Ap-
peals of Virginia." By Peachy R. Grattan. R. F. Walker,
Superintendent Public Printing, Richmond, 1845-1881.
INDEX
Abolitionism, relation to other issues, 23-24 ; and the bishops, 30 ; at
the Conference (1836), 30; opposed by various conferences, 34;
slump of interest in, 47-48.
Abolitionists, excluded from conference membership, 39-42 ; of N.
England opposed compromise on Andrew case, 76-80.
Agents (managers of the Book Concern at N. Y.). refused to apportion
profits of Book Concern to South, 156-57 ; had no legal right to
offer voluntary arbitration, 162.
Agitation (in the church), over controversy of 1844, 87-88.
Alabama, resolutions in, honored southern Methodists for leaving the
church, 89-90.
Albany, meeting at, to plan Wesleyan church, 50.
Alexander, G., on duty of Bishop Andrew to resign, 70-71.
Alexandria, Va., border conflict at, 140.
Andover, Mass., preliminary Wesleyan convention at, 50.
Andrew, J. O., early career of, 66 n. ; rumor made him slaveholder,
66 ; not comfortable as bishop, 67 ; and the committee from the
caucus of northern delegates, 68-69 ; statement of, about his slaves.
69 ; question on propriety of his resigning, 70-72 ; action of other
bishops respecting, 114-17.
Andrew case, attempts at compromise, 75-80.
Annual conferences, as the supreme court of Methodism, 107-108 ;
votes of, against changing the sixth rule, 117-118 ; described,
178-79.
Anti-slavery Society, American, organized, 24 ; New England, or-
ganized, 24 ; first Methodist, organized, 26.
Anti-slavery spirit, declined, 21-22 ; revived, 23.
"Appeal," of members of N. England and N. Hampshire conferences
to fellow clergy on slavery, 27-28 ; "Defence" of, 29.
Appeal, Harding's, at Conference of 1844, 60-62.
Arbitration, considered, 168-69.
Arguments, on question of dividing property, commented on, 154-56.
Asbury, F., views of, on slavery, 10 ; met with pro-slavery opposi-
tion, 14-15 ; experiences in S. Carolina, 19-20 ; grieved at obstacles
in way of instructing negroes, 20.
Baltimore conference, Harding appeal from, 60-62 ; division of senti-
ment in (1844), 94.
Bangs, N., prosecutor of Sunderland before N. England conference, 41 ;
on constitutionality of Plan of Separation, 104-105 ; opposition
to, for his interpretation of the church constitution, 104-105 ;
views of, on ultimate authority to decide validity of acts of the
Gen. Conference, 106-107.
Bishops, pastoral letter of, to the N. England and N. Hampshire con-
ferences, 30 ; and abolitionism, 30 ; at Louisville Convention, 97 :
action of, in the light of Conference action on the Andrew case,
114-17 ; met to arrange itinerary, 113-14.
INDEX 219
Bond, T. E., and the Slaveholders' Convention, 55-57 ; on a supreme
court of Methodism, 108 ; on attitude Conference of 1848 should
take on the Plan of Separation, 121 ; on the border provisions of
the Plan, 126-27, 131 ; favored division of church property,
149-51.
Border conflicts, 131-46 ; in western Va., 135-38 ; at Cincinnati, O.,
138-40 ; at Maysville, Ky., 141-46.
Bord«r provisions of the Plan of Separation, 126 and appendix II ;
divergent interpretations of, 128-31.
Border representatives (Louisville Convention), on separation, 99, 100.
Border societies, disputed definitions of, 130-31.
Boston, M. E. Church at, opened pulpit to abolitionist addresses, 27.
British Methodism, official address of, to Gen. Conference (1836) 31.
Calhoun, J. C, and the church schism, 188, 189-94 ; new letter of,
190 ; and the General Conference of 1844, 189-94.
Cases, church, U. S. Supreme court decision on, 174.
Canada, separation of M. E. Church in, from the M. E. Church in U.
S., 110-13.
Capers, W., resolutions of, for partial separation, 82-83 ; chairman of
Committee of Nine, 83.
Caucus, of southern delegates at Conference of 1844, 84 ; declaration
of, 84 and 84 n. ; after Conference, 90-91.
Caucuses, of various delegates at Conference (1844), 66, 67-69.
Causes, of vote against changing sixth rule, 119-20.
Cazenovia, convention at, 38.
Censure, of Storrs and Scott, 1836, 31-33.
Charleston, S. C, mobs at, attacked preacher, 20.
Charter Fund, history of, 148 ; division of, 173.
Choate, R., arguments of,' in church suit, 166-67.
"Christian Advocate and Journal," on slavery (1843), 56; on Slave-
holders' Convention, 55-57.
Christmas conference, Methodist, at Baltimore, 12-13.
Church, local, nature of, described, 180 ; press (northern) on Judge
Nelson's decision, 170-71 ; suits, U. S. supreme court decision in,
174.
Cincinnati, O., border controversy at, 138-40.
Circuits, arguments as to provisions of Plan of Separation on, 128-29.
Clay, H., on church schism, 188, 189.
Coke, T., views on slavery, 10 ; sent to America, 12 ; met opposition
in Va. because of anti-slavery views, 14.
Comment, of southern conferences on Plan of Separation, 91-94 ;
(author's) on repudiation of Plan, 124-25 ; (author's) on Method-
ist schism, 174-76.
Commissioners, (southern), instructions to, 157-58; attend Conference
(1848), 158-59; (northern and southern) for handling property
division, correspondence of, 158.
Committee on Organization (Louisville Convention), report of, 99-100.
Compromise, tendency to, on slavery (1785), 14; attempted on An-
drew case, 73, 7.5-79; plans (1844-1845), 94-96.
Committee of Nine (1844), appointed, 83; second one appointed, 84;
report of, 85.
220 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
Committee on Pacification (1844), failure of, 66.
Conference, first formal Methodist, in America, 11 ; (1783) on slavery,
12 ; Christmas conference (1784), 12 ; attitude of (1784), on anti-
slavery views of leaders, 14; rules of (1784), suspended, 15.
Conferences, annual, excluded abolitionists from membership, 39-42
voted against changing sixth rule, (first) 156 ; (second) 162-63
effects of vote, 156 ; controversy over rights of, 34-39, 45-46
action of (southern), on work of Conference of 1844, and Plan of
Separation, 91-94.
Constitution, Methodist Church, comparison of, with federal, 103-104 ;
impossibility of final judicial interpretation of, 103-104 ; described,
177-81.
Constitutionality, of Plan of Separation, 103-26.
Convention, Methodist, at Lynn, Mass., 38 ; at Andover, Mass., 50 ;
(southern) at Louisville, Ky., called, 91, met, 96.
Conventions, Methodist, at Lowell, Utica, Cazenovia, 38-39 ; called
because of Wesleyan success, 53-55.
"Counter Appeal," against N. England and N. Hampshire conferences ;
"Appeal," 28-29.
Court, supreme, of Methodism, needed, 107-108.
Davis (and Griffith), resolutions on Andrew case (1844), 69-70.
Debate, on Harding case (1844), 61-62; on Andrew case, 73-75; on
Plan of Separation, 86-87 ; in Ijouisville Convention, 98-99 ; on
repudiation of Plan of Separation (1848), 122-24.
Decision, in Harding case (1844), 62; of U. S. supreme court on
property question, 174.
Declaration, of southern caucus, 84 ; of independence of Methodist
Church, South, 99.
Decline, in anti-slavery spirit, 21.
"Defence," of "Appeal" of N. England and N. Hampshire conferences,
29.
Delegated General Conference, provided for, 21.
Delegates, (southern) met in New York (1844), 90-91 ; (northern)
not well received on coming home, 102-103.
Dillon, J., driven from Parkersburg, 136-37.
Discipline of M. E. Church, attitude of Church, South, toward, 100-101.
Dorchester circuit. Quarterly Meeting Minutes of, 17 ; Dorchester,
D., and conference rights, 45.
Effect, of Wesleyan secession on M. E. Church, 53-57.
Elder, presiding, office of, described, 180.
Elliott, C, and the debate on the Plan of Separation, 86 ; changed
mind about constitutionality of Plan, 108-10 ; the Greeley of
the Methodist controversy, 110 n. ; opposed division of property.
151-52.
Emory, R., refused to put anti-slavery motion at N. Hampshire con-
ference, 34.
Episcopacy, Methodist, described, 179.
Exemption, of southern states from anti-slavery rules, IS.
Finley, J. B., resolutions of, at Conference of 1844, 72-73 ; resolutions
passed, 80 ; opposed division of property, 152-53.
INDEX 221
Garrettson, P., emancipated his slaves, 10.
Garrison, W. L., praised opening of M. B. Churcli in Boston to aboli-
tion speakers, 27.
General Conference, (1796) on slavery, 16 ; (1796 and 1800) effective-
ness of rules of, 17 ; (1804) waning of anti-slavery zeal seen at,
18 ; (1808) provided for delegated Conference, 20-21 ; on slavery,
18-19; (1836) abolitionist delegates at, 30; British Methodist
address at, 31 ; Storrs and Scott censured at, 31-32 ; pastoral
address of, 33-34 ; (1840) on slavery, 22 ; on conference rights,
45-46 ; (1844) divergent views as to prospects at, 38 ; first meet-
ing and appearance of, 59 ; personnel, 59-60 ; diverse elements at,
59-60 ; committee on slavery created, 60 ; Harding case at, 60-62 ;
Committee on Pacification appointed, 63 ; Olin's speech at, 63-65 ;
failure of pacification, 66 ; rumor of Andrew's slaveholding, 66 ;
caucuses of delegates at, 66, 67-69, 84 ; Griffith and Davis resolu-
tion at, 69-70 ; Andrew's resignation considered, 70-72 ; Finley
substitute resolution, 72-73 ; compromise on Andrew case, con-
sidered, 73 n., 75-80 ; debate on Andrew case, 73-75 ; Pinley sub-
stitute passed, 80; partial separation resolution (Capers'), 82-83;
Committee of Nine Appointed, 83 ; caucus of southern delegates,
84 ; second Committee of Nine appointed, 84 ; report of Committee
of Nine (Plan of Separation), 85 ; Plan of Separation adopted, 87 ;
Plan in full, 182-86 ; controversies in, agitate church. 87-88 ; J.
Calhoun and. 191-94; (1848) prospects of Plan at, 120-22; meet
ing of, 122 ; refused to accept fraternal delegate of South at. 122 ;
debate in, on repudiation of Plan, 122-24 ; declared Plan null
and void, 122 ; author's comment on repudiation, 124-25 ; com-
missioners of Church, South and, 158-59.
General Conference, South, and the old discipline, 100-101; (1846)
on refusal of Agents to divide Book Concern profits, 156-57.
Georgia, exempted from anti-slavery rules, 18.
Gray, V., mobbed at Salem, 132-34.
Greeley, and Elliott compared, 110 n.
Griffith (and Davis) resolution, 69-70.
Guilford, Va., border contest at, 134-35.
Harding, F., appeal (1844), 60-62.
Harg-is, J., threatened with violence at Guilford, 134-35.
Hedding, B., refused presidency of Meth. Anti-slavery Society. 26 ;
declared radical excitement at end (1842), 48 ; backed New Eng-
land abolitionists opposed to compromise (1844), 77-80.
Holston conference, division of opinion in, 92-93.
Illinois conference, on supreme court of Methodism, 107-108.
Inability, of each party to understand the other, 51-52.
Interpretations, divergent, of border provisions of the Phtu. 128-31.
Leavitt, (Judge), decision of, in Ohio property suit, 171-72.
Lee, L., on attitude of coming Conference (1848) toward Plan, 121-22.
Lord, D., arguments of, in New York property case, 164-66.
Louisville, Ky., convention, called, 91 : meeting and organization. 96
97 ; debate in, 98-99 ; report of Committee of Organization of.
adopted, 100.
222 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
Lowell, Mass., church conflict at, settled, 49.
Lynn, Mass., first Methodist convention at, 38.
Matlack, L. C, associated with Scott at Lowell, 40 ; aids in organiz-
ing a Meth. Abol. Society, 40 n. ; excluded from Philadelphia con-
ference, 39-40.
Maysville, Ky., border controversy at, 141-46 ; the church at, 141 ;
church gets separation fever, 141 ; vote in, on joining Church,
South, 142 ; conflict over use of church edifice, 143 ; case in
the courts, 143-46.
McLean, (Judge), as peacemaker, 172-73.
Methodist Church, beginnings of, in America, 11 ; first formal con-
ference of, 11 ; made independent, 12-13 ; personified new humani-
tarian spirit, 11 ; growth of pro-slavery in, 22 ; revival of anti-
slavery zeal in, 25 ; first anti-slavery society in, 26 ; difficulties
of, caused by slavery, 29-30 ; press of, on Wesleyan movement
(1842-43), 51-52; effect on, of Wesleyan secession, 53-57; con-
stitution of, 103-105, 170-71 n., 177-81 ; Agents of, at New York,
refuse to divide Book Concern profits with South, 156-57 ; press
of, on action of Conference (1848) on property question, 160-61 ;
statistics of, 177.
Methodist Church, South, and the old Discipline, 100-101 ; see also
under "Louisville convention," "Border controversy," "Property
question," etc.
Minority report (1844), 81.
Missionaries, Methodist, in British West Indies, 15.
Misunderstandings, by North and South, of each other, 127-28.
Moderates, did work of abolitionists (1844), ,76-78.
Nelson, (Judge), decision of, in New York suit, 169-70.
New Market. N. H., convention at, 54.
New England conference, affected by abolitionist agitation, 26 ; anti-
slavery society formed in, 26-27 ; "Appeal" of, on slavery, 27-28 ;
and N. H. conference, pastoral letter to, on abolition, 30 ; conflict
with Bishop Waugh in, 35-36 ; Sunderland and, 41-42.
New Hampshire conference, formed anti-slavery society, 27 ; "Appeal"'
of, on slavei-y, 27-28 ; Bishop Emory refused to put anti-slavery
motion in, 34.
New York City, petition from, to Conference (1840), 44-45; convention
in (1840), 46-47; Conference (1844), meets in, 59.
North, reply of, to minority protest (1844), 81.
North Carolina, exempted from anti-slavery rules, IS.
Northern delegates at Conference of 1844, and Andrew, 68-69.
Northwest Ordinance, and slavery in the church, 14 n.
Ohio conference (1835), opposed abolitionists, 34.
Ohio suit (Cincinnati Book Concern), decision in, 171-72.
Olin, S., speech of, at Conference of 1844, 63-65 ; spirit of speech still
lived. 82.
Opposition, northern, to Plan of Separation, 102-103.
Organization, Committee of, at Louisville Convention, report, 99-100.
INDEX 223
Pacification, Committee on (1844), 63.
Parkersburg, Va., border controversy at, 136-38.
Pastoral Address, of Conference of 1836, 33-34.
Pastoral letter, to N. H. and N. England conferences, on abolition, 30.
Peck, J. T., on property question, 153-54.
Petition, from N. Y. City to Conference (1840), 44-45.
Philadelphia, anti-slavery convention at, 16-17.
Philadelphia conference, Matlack excluded from, 89-40.
Pierce, L.., refused recognition as fraternal delegate, by M. E. Con-
ference (1848), 122.
Plan of Separation (Report of Committee of Nine), presented, 85;
fear effect of outburst of pro-slavery feeling on, 85 ; debate on,
86-87 ; adopted, 87 ; rise of opposition to, in North, 102-103 ; con-
stitutionality of, 103-26 ; and the fifth restrictive rule, 105-106 ;
and third restrictive rule, 106 ; Elliott changed mind on, 108-10 ;
and the Canadian precedent, 110-13 ; prospective atitude of Con-
ference of 1848 on, 120-22 ; repudiation of, by Conference of 1848,
124 ; border provisions of, 126, 182-83 ; divergent interpretations
of border provisions of, 128-31 ; a southern interpretation of,
illustrated, 137 ; property provisions of, 147, 183-86 ; declared
valid by court in N. Y. property suit, 169-70 ; validated by U. S.
supreme court, 174.
Political bearings or parallels of Methodist Church schism, 14 n., 20-
21, 31, 35-36, 47, 55, 58 n., 65 n., 81 n., 87, 88, 89-90, 91 n.,
92, 94, 95 n., 100 n., 103-104, 107, 1.35, 140, 145-46, 156 n., 170
n., 187-94.
Postponement, failure of (1844), 79; of property question suggested,
153,
Presentments of "Western Christian Advocate," and "Christian Advo-
cate and Journal," by grand juries, 140.
Preachers, local, and slavery, 12 ; traveling, and slavery, 12.
Precedent, Canadian, of separation, 110-13.
Property, local church suits over, 145-46 n. ; division of, favored by
Dr. Bond, 149-51 ; division of, opposed by Dr. Elliott, 151-52 ;
postponement proposed, 153 ; clashing opinions on, 148-49 ; Con-
ference of 1848 on, 159-60 ; voluntary arbitration found illegal,
162 ; suits on, begun, 162-63 ; New York suit on, 164-71 ; arbi-
tration considered, 168-69 ; Ohio suit, decision, 171-72 ; Judge
McLean as peacemaker, 172-73; agreement reached (New York).
173 ; U. S. supreme court decision on, 174 ; provisions of the
Plan on, 147, 183-86.
Protest, minority (1844), 81.
Pro-slavery, outburst of feeling, feared, 85.
Providence district, Scott removed from presiding eldership in, 40.
Radicals, consideration of secession from M. E. Church by, 43-44.
Reply (northern), to protest (1844), 81.
Report of Committee of Nine (Plan of Separation), presented, 85.
Report of Committee on Organization (Louisville Convention), adopted,
100.
Repudiation of Plan of Separation by Conference of 1848, 124.
224 SCHISM IN THE METHODIST CHURCH, 1844
Resolutions, of southern meetings on action of Conference (1844) on
Andrew case, and on the Plan, 88-89.
Rights, conference, controversy over, 34-39.
Rule, fifth restrictive, and the Plan, 105-106 ; third restrictive, and
the Plan, 106 ; annual conferences vote against changing sixtli
restrictive, 117-18 ; second vote on changing sixth rule, 162-63.
Rules against slavery, enforcement of, 17 ; six restrictive rules sum-
marized, 178.
St. Louis, Mo., border controversy at, 140.
Salem, border controversy at, 132-34.
Schism, The, general comment on, 174-76 ; influence of, on political
secession, 187-94, see also under "Political bearings ;" Henry
Clay on, 188, 189 ; Calhoun and, 188, 189-94.
Scott, O., early life, 25 ; joined abolitionists, 25 ; and N. England con-
ference study abolitionism, 26 ; led abolitionists at Conference
(1836), 30-31; Conference (1836) resolutions censuring, 32; Mat-
lack associated v^ith, at Lowell, 40 ; removed from presiding
eldership, 40 ; delegate to Conference (1840), 43 ; considered seces-
sion, 43-44 ; called New York City convention, 46 ; in retirement,
47 ; and the Lowell rebellion, 48-49 ; decided to secede, 49 ; cor-
respondence of, suggesting new church, 49-50.
Secession, considered by radicals, 43-44 ; begun, 48 ; reasons of Scott,
Prindle, Sunderland and others for, 50 ; political secession, influ-
ence of church schism on, 187-94.
Separation, of North and South proposed, 33 ; partial. Capers' resolu-
tions on (1844). 82-83.
Slaveholders' Convention, 55-56.
Slavery, first Methodist conference on, 11 ; Christmas conference
(1784) on, 13; Conference (1796) on, 16.
Soule, J., slandered by Sunderland, 41 ; clash with Sunderland, 42 ;
and the other bishops, 114-17.
South Carolina, exempted from anti-slavery rules, 18 ; got special
edition of Discipline, 19 ; feeling in, on account of anti-slavery
attitude of church, 19; governor of, on Conference (1844), 192-
93.
"Southern Christian Advocate," alarmed at Dr. Bond's changed views
on slavery, 56.
Southern Methodist church press, on action of Conference (1848) on
property question, 160-61.
Southerners, honor Methodists of South for leaving their church, 89-
90.
Smith, W. A., headed movement (church) to separate from North
(1836), 33; and the Va. resolutions, 93.
Spirit, of fair play, 82.
Sprague, on effects of episcopal opposition to conference action on
slavery, 38 n.
Statistics, of M. E. Church (1844), 177.
Suits, property, begun, 162-63 ; New York, 164-71 ; decision of Judge
Leavitt on (Ohio), 171-72; decision of U. S. supreme court on,
174.
INDEX 225
Sunderland, L., and Methodist Anti-slavery Society, 26 ; conflict with
N. England conference, 41-42 ; clash with Bishop Soule, 42 ; re-
pudiated orthodox Christianity, 42.
Superintendency, general, and the Plan of Separation, 106.
Supreme court of Methodism needed, 107-lOS ; U. S., decision of prop-
erty question by, 174.
Tomlinson, and the Maysville case, 142.
Trial and appeal, and the Plan of Separation, 105-106.
Unanimity, of southern conferences, not complete (1844-1845), 92-93.
Utica, N. Y., convention at, 38 ; organizing Wesleyan connection
at, 50-51.
Validity, of acts of General Conference, Dr. Bangs on, lOC-107.
Violence, threatened to preachers and bishops, 14-15 ; in Charleston,
S. C, 20.
Virginia, (and Kentucky) resolutions, referred to, 107 ; local preachers
in, given time to comply with new emancipation rules, 12 ; border
conflict in, 131-38.
Vote, of annual conferences against changing sixth rule, 117 n., 118 :
reasons for adverse vote, 119-20.
Waugh, conflict with New England conference over abolitionism, 35-36.
West Virginia, new state of, foreshadowed, 135.
Wesley, J., views on slavery, 9 ; and independence of American Method-
ism, 12.
Wesleyan, secession, effects of, on M. E. Church, 53-57 ; connection
organized, 50-51 ; societies, approved organization of new con-
nection, 50.
"Zion's Herald," opened to anti-slavery articles, 26 ; on conventions In
M. E. Church, 53.
"Zion's Watchman," 41, 47.
TVt. ruwves oj the, tx-AXKal
Cmfe-rtnces arc u-nAerlinei^
tkui - - - Nortk OKio.
SttAe, bou-wiane-s tKuS •—
u-wless they coinciie w■.ft^
5 KouJw urvu-S ■- " ■
/V\i5S MaTiorv Li.TosdioK
Alfrta, N.Y.
MAP OFTHe
ANNUAL CONFERENCES
OFTHE
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
AS THEY WERE MAY 1 184,4
sj^
^^
X
i