The Methodist Church Property Case: Arguments of Messrs. Adam N. Riddle, Judge Lane, and Thomas 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, United States, for the District of Ohio, June 24 - July 2, 1852 : to which is Appended the Decision of the Judge

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Swormstedt & Poe, 1852 - Church property - 155 pages

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Page 116 - Whereas, in the event of a separation, a contingency to which the declaration asks attention as not improbable, we esteem it the duty of this General Conference 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.
Page 32 - More and more then desired to meet with them, till they were increased to many hundreds. The case was afterward the same at Bristol, Kingswood, Newcastle, and many other parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland. It may be observed, the desire was on their part, not mine. My desire was to live and die in retirement. But I did not see that I could refuse them my help, and be guiltless before God.
Page 38 - Rights of Mankind, as well as every Principle of the Revolution, to hold In the deepest Debasement, In a more abject Slavery than is perhaps to be found in any Part of the World except America, so many Souls that are all capable of the Image of God. We therefore think it our most bounden Duty, to take immediately some effectual Method to extirpate this Abomination from among us: And for that Purpose we add the following to the Rules of our Society: viz.
Page 76 - Conferences, who shall be present and vote on such recommendation, then a majority of two thirds of the General Conference succeeding shall suffice to alter any of the above restrictions, excepting the first article: and also, whenever such alteration or alterations shall have been first recommended by...
Page 35 - They 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.
Page 85 - 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 portion of the church ; the frequent action on that subject in the General Conference ; and especially the extra-judicial proceedings against Bishop Andrew...
Page 33 - What is that power? It is a power of admitting into, and excluding from, the societies under my care ; of choosing and removing stewards ; of receiving...
Page 33 - In 1744 I wrote to several clergymen, and to all who then served me as sons in the gospel, desiring them to meet me in London, to give me their advice concerning the best method of carrying on the work of God. They did not desire this meeting, but I did, knowing that, " in a multitude of counsellors there is safety.
Page 85 - Church, that the continued agitation of the subject of slavery and abolition in a portion of the Church, the frequent action on that subject in the General Conference, and especially the extra-judicial proceedings against Bishop Andrew, which resulted on Saturday last in the virtual suspension of him from his office as Superintendent, must produce a state of things in the South which renders a continuance of the jurisdiction of this Conference over these Conferences inconsistent with the success...
Page 32 - Power, to appoint each of these when, where, and how to labour: that is, while he chose to continue with me. For each had a power to go away when he pleased: as I had also, to go away from them, or any of them, if I saw sufficient cause. The case continued the same, when the number of Preachers increased. I had just the same Power still, to appoint when, and where, and how each should help me: and to tell any (if I saw cause) "I do not desire your help any longer.

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