Crane of Illinois, Crane of Newark, Curry of Kentucky, Day, Drummond, Durbin, Ellison, Fuller, Goode, Griffen of New York, Griffith, Guyer, Hildt, Hodgson, Holdich, Hopkins, Hughes, Hunter of Western Virginia, Jameson, Kuhl, Martin, Mitchell of East Baltimore, Monroe, Morgan, Murphy, Osbon, Porter of Newark, Power, Prentice, Robinson, Rutledge, Sargent, Sewall, Shumate, Slicer, Street, Thompson of Philadelphia, Tippett, Travis, Tuttle of Newark, Van Cleve, Veitch, Waller, Wilson, Wood-58. ABSENT, OR NOT VOTING-Davidson, Hargrave, Holliday, Pierce, Shaffer, Smith of North Western Indiana, and TorBey-7. June 1-Francis A. Blades offered the following: Whereas during the pendency of the Chapter on Slavery, the following amendment was offered as explanatory of the Chapter," Provided that this section is understood to be only advisory," Resolved, That said amendment was rejected by this body because we regard the chapter in itself so clearly declarative and advisory as not to require any such explanation. Which was adopted-yeas 175, nays 6. NAYS were: The Messrs. Coil, Corkhill, Cowles, Hare, Hodgson, Olin-6. ABSENT, OR PRESENT AND NOT VOTING-Abbott, Barrows, Brown of East Baltimore, Cartwright, Castle, Chapin of New England, Clarke of Erie, Cliffe, Colclazer of Philadelphia, Cooper, Davidson, Fuller, Goode, Guyer, Hargrave, Hildt, Holliday, Hopkins, Magee, Martin, Mitchell of East Baltimore, Morgan, Murphy, Pearce, Porter of New England, Raymond, Reed of Cincinnati, Robinson, Sewall, Shaffer, Shumate, Slicer, Smith of Cincinnati, Smith of Northwestern Indiana, Tippett, Torsey, Twombly, Veitch, Wilson-39. again united in the common effort which engaged the The following is the protest of the minority of the Conference: We, the undersigned, members of the Baltimore Annual Conference, differing with a majority of our brethren in regard to the mode of obtaining relief from the evils which have been entailed upon us by the action of the late Gene ral Conference upon the subject of slavery, protest against the course which they have adopted 1st. Because it is an appeal to revolution for redress, before the constitutional means have been tried, much less exhausted. 20. Because it shapes our course without consultation with other non-concurring Conferences, all of whom have strong claim upon our fraternity, and some in slave territory will be materially affected, and probably prejudiced, in their interests thereby. 3d. Because the act is done, and announced, within the bosom of two States which are now the custodians of the Federal Union, and will strengthen the hands of political secessionists, and carry dismay to the hearts of all who would preserve our national inheritance. But it is the mode of obtaining relief from our troubles alone in which we differ with our brethren. further negotiation or immediate separation. We, too, protest against the "new chapter." We protest against the continuance of the subject of slavery as a ques And we ask a call of an extra session of the General Con tion of legislation in the general councils of the church. ference in 1862, and an expression by the Annual Confer THE BALTIMORE CONFERENCE, 1861. ences of their approval or disapproval of the terms of reThe Baltimore Conference of the Methodist lief which our circumstances demand; and assure our people that, by the tone of that response and that of our sister Episcopal Church, in session at Staunton, Vir- sympathizing conferences, especially in slave territory, our ginia, adopted resolutions declaring the imme-course at our next session shall be controlled, whether it be diate separation of the Conference from the jurisdiction of the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, on account of the new chapter on slavery adopted last year. The vote stood for immediate separation eighty-two, declining to vote forty-four. Bishop Scott, the presiding officer of the Conference, refused to put the question on the adoption of the resolutions, and entered a protest against the action as a violation of the order and discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church." The resolutions were: 1st. Be it resolved by the Baltimore Annual Conference in Conference assembled, That we hereby declare that the General Conference of the M. E. Church, held at Buffalo. in May, 1860, by its unconstitutional action, has sundered the ecclesiastical relation which has hitherto bound us to gether as one Church, so far as any act of theirs could do Bo; that we will not longer submit to the jurisdiction of said General Conference, but hereby declare ourselves separate and independent of it, still claiming to be, notwithstanding, an integral part of the M. E. Church. 2d. That nevertheless, if, in accordance with the spirit of the foregoing preamble, three-fourths of the several Annual Conferences, to be held prior to the next session of the Annual Conference, seeing the great wrong and injury done to the Baltimore and other Border Conferences, shall disaTow the act of their delegates and the action of the late General Conference on the subject of slavery, and shall unite in a demand that the most thorough and satisfactory redress shall be given, and shall instruct their delegates 80 to vote in any Convention that may be called for the pur: pose of a more perfect union-First, by abrogating the new chapter; second, by transferring the subject of slavery to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Annual Conferences, where it exists; third, that a fair proportion of the periodicals of the Church be placed under the charge and direction of said Conferences-then, and not until then, will we reunite with them in the organization of another General Conference. 3d. That this Conference has taken the action expressed in the above resolutions, after much long suffering and reproach, to give freedom to our preachers in the discharge of their duties in our territory, and cannot refrain from expressing the hope that the day may speedily come when agitation and strife shail have ceased among us, and the great Methodist family-East, West, North and South-be | In Christian hope that these assurances will bring rest in the churches against the present year, we are, &c. [Signed by some thirty names.] The Western Virginia Methodist Episcopal Conference, at its annual session at Wheeling, in March, 1861, adopted the following preamble and resolutions: Whereas the General Conference at its late session at Buffalo has inserted a new chapter in our Book of Discipline difference of opinion as to its meaning, and whereas union the subject of slavery; and whereas there exists some formity in administration and harmony among ourselve are very desirable: therefore eral Conference changing the chapter on slavery, we regard1. Resolved, That we deeply regret the action of the Gening such action as unnecessary. 2. Resolved, That, in our judgment as a Conference, the new chapter is not to be regarded as a law; that no administrative or judicial action can be had under it against any member or minister; and that we are left under it to be governed by the Scripture, amenable as individuals for our administration only to God and our annual Conference. 3. Resolved, That we utterly condemn any attempt, in any way whatever, to interfere with the legal relations of master and servant, and that we will seek to promote, as did our fathers, their best interests by preaching to them the unsearchable riches of Christ, and by teaching them their reciprocal duties as taught in the Holy Scriptures. REPLY OF THE PRESIDENT TO THE RESOLUTIONS OF THE EAST BALTIMORE METHODIST CONFERENCE OF 1862. Rev. I. A. GERE, A. A. REESE, D. D., G. D. CHENOWETH :— GENTLEMEN:-Allow me to tender to you, and through you to the East Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, my grateful thanks for the preamble and resolutions of that body, copies of which you did me the honor to present yesterday. These kind words of approval, coming from so numerous a body of intelligent Christian people, and so free from all suspicion of sinister motives, are indeed encouraging to me. By the help of sa all-wise Providence, I shall endeavor to do my duty; and I shall expect the continuance of your prayers for a right solution of our national difficulties, and the restoration of our country to peace and prosperity. Your obliged and humble servant GENERAL CONFERENCE OF 1864. May 2-The body met in Philadelphia. May 7-The Committee on Slavery were instructed to inquire into the expediency of so altering the General Rules as to prohibit the buying, selling, or holding persons as slaves. ACTION ON SLAVERY. parting curse. Relying on the promise and mercy of God, as far as we can we "proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all the inhabitants thereof." Loyalty to the Government leads us to accept emancipation whenever and wherever the President proclaims it or the States decree it, and devotion to truth and to God impels us to bring the controversy to an end in the Church by adopting a rule which casuistry cannot distort into a license for slavery. While reviewing the past. we gratefully acknowledge the goodness of God in guiding us so harmoniously to these conclusions, and with firm trust in Him, commit cur work to the judgment of the Church and of mankind. We recommend for adoption the foliowing resolutions: Resolved, 1. By the delegates of the several Annual Con resolution. May 17-The Committee on Slavery-con- ferences in General Conference assembled, that we recom as follows: THE MAJORITY REPORT. THE MINORITY REPORT, Signed by E. P. Phelps, L. M. Reeves, and J. The minority of the Committee on Slavery beg leave to say that they have not been able to concur with the majority in the conclusions reached by them. For good and sufficient reasons, as they think, it would not be proper to The long contest on the subject of slavery seems draw-change the general rule on slavery so as to exclude all sons sustaining the relation of master from the Church; ing to a close, and no doubtful tokens indicate the will of they therefore respectfully submit the following as a subGod, and point unerringly to the destruction of a system so stitute for the general rule on slavery reported by the mainhuman. jority, namely: The sufferings to be endured cannot be as great as those we have passed, and the heroism of the hour is adequate to bear the burdens which may be imposed upon us. Patriotism and piety lead us to the conclusions to which we have arrived, and, aside from all questions of expe diency, impel us to adopt the policy so strongly urged in the Episcopal Address. per The selling of human beings, or the buying or holding them, except for reasons purely humane. We rejoice that we have from the beginning been fore-F. most among American Churches in the contest against slavery. Slavery has nothing to commend it to our forbearance; on the other hand, it has inflicted upon us injuries we cannot forget. It has rent the Church in twain, and seeks to divide the nation. It has kindled the fires of inextinguishable hatred along an extended border, and brought indescribable distress on our brethren who have labored there. These brethren we not only admire and love, but we pledge ourselves to share with them in all that is possible or necessary in the labors of the future. The question has reached its present status not so much through our efforts in this behalf as through the guidings of the Divine hand, whose power we reverently behold in the grand movements of our tinies. The proposed new rule is only an expression of a conviction long entertained by the majority of the Church, the utterance of an edict which conscience dictates, and the teaching of God's Word approves. Abhorrence of slavery has increased with the progress of the people in moral and religious knowledge, showing that morality and religion are against the system. The voices of our common hu manity protest against its longer existence, and this judgment is God's decision, for nature is true to her Author. Your Committee could not do otherwise than give expression to the truth which more than ever affects the Church and the nation, and array the moral forces of Methodism on the side of emancipation. The great familis of Methodism throughout the world will rejoice that we have taken a step which wipes out the imputation of complicity with this evil, and gives us the decided advantage of leading still in the question which has so long perplexed the Church. We feel that no answer is needed to the pleadings of expediency once so powerfully and eloquently urged. The grandeur of an overwhelming moral conviction uttered by the whole nation and Church, should not be inpaired by answers to logic which the course of events has shown to be fallacious. So far as we are concerned, then, the question, "What shall be done for the extirpation of slavery?" shall be answered by a rule uprooting it and forbidding it forever. Local difficulties and special cases will adjust themselves, and we shall be untrammeled in car future operations in territory blighted by this de After debate, the majority report was adopted yeas 207, nays 9, as follows: YEAS-Elisha Adams, Augustine M. Alexander, Charles Allen, Ralph W. Allen, Edward G. Andrews, John W. Armstrong, Isaac N. Baird, Gardner Baker, Francis B. Bangs, Henry Bannister, John H. Barth, David W. Bartine, George Barton, Mathew Bennett, Henry C. Benson, William E. Bigelow, Isaac S. Bingnam, Henry M. Blake, George M. Boyd, George W. Breckinridge, Alexander L. Brice, Daniel W. Bristol, Jabez Brooks, Paul R. Brown, Samuel C. Brown, Stephen D. Brown, Henry Brownscombe, Eli C. Bruce, Andes T Bullard, Thomas Carlton, Richard A. Caruthers, Joseph Castle, George D. Chenowith, Albert Church, Ebenezer E. Chambers, Davis W. Clark, Horatio R. Clark, George Clifford, Daniel Cobb, Nelson E. Cobleigh, Joseph Colby, Sylvester L. Congdon, Thomas E. Corkhill, Jamies B. Corrington, William F. Cowles, Townley W. Crane, Beujamin F. Crary, Morris D'C. Crawford, Joseph Cummings, James Cunningham, Daniel Curry, William A. Davidson, Henry T. Davis, Daniel L. Dempsey, Joseph Dennison, James P. Dimmitt, John P. Durbin, Mighill Dustin, Thomas M. Eddy, Charles Elliot, James Erwin, William H. Ferris, Henry Fiegenbaum, Hugh D. Fisher, John B. Foote, Randolph S. Foster, Thomas C. Gardner, Augustus C. George, Thomas C. Golden, William II. Goode, William H. Goodwin, Albert S. Graves, Oren Gregg, William Griffin, Edwin E. Griswold, Leonard B. Gurley, Robert E. Guthrie, Sanford Haines, Horace all, Benjamin B. Hamlin, Richard Haney, William L. Harris, William T. Harlow, Robert M. Hatfield, Bostwick Hawley, James Henderson, William McK. Hes ter, Freeborn G. Hibbard, Moses Hiil, James Hill, Stacey W. Hilliard, Mathias Hinebaugh, Luke Hitchcock, Chauncy Hobart, Charles A. Homes, Horatio W. Houghton, Samuel Huffman, William H. Hunter, Russell H. Hurlburt, Kassi mir P. Jervis, Samuel A. W. Jewett, Richard W. Keeler, Lucius H. King, Joseph E. King, Calvin Kingsley, Henry F. Koneke, Philip Kuhl, Alpha J. Kyuett, James Lawson, Orange V. Lemon, John W. Lindsay, James W. Lowe, Thomas II. Lynch, Lorenzo D. McCabe, William McCombs, Asahel S. McCoy, David P. McKenzie, Jacob S. McMurray, Andrew Magee, William D. Malcolm, Albert C. Manson, Joseph Mason, Frederick Merrick, John Miley, John G. Miller, John V. R. Miller, Samuel Y. Monroe, Granville Moody, William H. H. Moore, George L. Multinger, Oliver 8. Munsell, William Nast, Alexander Nelson, Reuben Nelson, Samuel H. Nisbet, Alfred B. Nisbet, James H. Noble, Niram Norton, William H. Olin, Isaac Owen, David Patton, Thomas II. Pearne, George Peck, Jesse T. Peck, Henry Penfield, William E. Perry, Israel C. Pershing, James Pike, Elah H. Pilcher, Benjamin Pillsbury, Caleb D. Pillsbury, NAYS-James L. Clark, James Drummond, William Harden, Isaac F. Harrison, John Lanahan, Nicholas J. B. Morgan, Elisha P. Phelps, Lemuel M. Reeves, John W. Reger -9. INTERVIEW WITH THE PRESIDENT. the time may speedily come when this shall be truly a republican and free country, in no part of which, either state or territory, shall slavery be known. The prayers of millions of Christians, with an earnestness never manifested for rulers before, daily ascend to heaven that you may be endued with all needed wisdom and power. Actuated by the sentiments of the loftiest and purest patriotism, our prayer shall be continually for the preservation of our country undivided, for the triumph of our cause, and for a permanent peace, gained by the sacrifice of no moral principles, but founded on the word of God, and securing in righteousness liberty and equal rights to all. Signed in behalf of the General Conference of the Metho dist Episcopal Church. PHILADELPHIA, May 14, 1864. PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S REPLY. GENTLEMEN: In response to your address allow me to attest the accuracy of its historical statements, indorse the sentiments it expresses, and thank you in the nation's name for the sure promise it gives. Nobly sustained as the government has been by all the Churches, I would utter nothing which might in the least appear invidious against any. Yet without this it may Bishop Edward R. Ames, Rev. Joseph Cum-fairly be said that the Methodist Episcopal Church, not less mings, D. D., Rev. George Peck, D. D., Rev. Charles Elliott, D. D., and Rev. Granville Moody, were appointed a Committee to present to the President the action of the Conference, with this address, unanimously voted by the Conference: To his Excellency Abraham Lincoln, ing hour. President of the United States: devoted than the best, is, by its greater numbers, the most important of all. It is no fault in others that the Methodist Church sends more soldiers to the field, more nurses to the hospitals, and more prayers to heaven than any. God bless the Methodist church! bless all the churches! and blessed be God! who in this our great trial giveth as the Churches. THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY. May 27-The Committee on the State of the The General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Country-consisting of Messrs. Joseph CumChurch, now in session in the city of Philadelphia, repre- mings, J. Lanahan, I. S. Bingham, J. T. Peck, 0. senting nearly seven thousand ministers and nearly a mil- S. Munsell, L. B. Gurley, G. Moody, T. C. Gardlion of members, mindful of their duty as Christian citizens, takes the earliest opportunity to express to you the assu- ner, T. M. Reese, A. C. George, G. D. Strout, J.W, rance of the loyalty of the Church, her earnest devotion to Lowe, J. B Wentworth, A. S. McCoy, G. W. Walthe interest of the country, and her sympathy with you in ker, W. F. Cowles, H. D. Fisher, L. M. Reeves, J. the great responsibilities of your high position in this try- Colby, T. H. Sinex, D. Cobb, S. Huffman, J. G. With exultation we point to the record of our Church Miller, Nicholas Vansant, James Pike, Charles as having never been tarnished by disloyalty. She was the H. Whitecar, J. B. Wakeley, G. W. Woodruff, first of the Churches to expresa, by a deputation of her most distinguished ministers, the promise of support to the O. V. Lemon, E. Thomson. G. M. Boyd, C. Government in the days of Washington. In her Articles of Hobart, J. W. White, W. H. Olin, T. H. Pearne, Religion she has enjoined loyalty as a duty, and has ever W. M'Combs, J. Henderson, D. Patten, W. F. given to the government her most decided support. Stewart, G. C. Smith, N. E. Cobleigh, J. E. King, R. W. Keeler, W. D. Malcom, S. Haines, J. W. Reger, J. Lawson, C. O. Pillsbury, H. R Clark-reported an address and these resolu tions, which were unanimously adopted: In this present struggle for the nation's life, many thousands of her members, and a large number of her ministers, have rushed to arms to maintain the cause of God and humanity. They have sealed their devotion to their county with their blood on every battle-field of this terrible war. We regard this dreadful scourge now desolating our land and wasting the nation's life as the result of a most unnatural, utterly unjustifiable rebellion, involving the crime of treason against the best of human governments and sin against God. It required our government to submit to its own dismemberment and destruction, leaving it no alternative but to preserve the national integrity by the use of the national resources. If the government had failed to use its power to preserve the unity of the nation and maintain its authority it would have been justly exposed to the wrath of heaven, and to the reproach and and scorn of the civilized world. Our earnest and constant prayer is, that this cruel and wicked rebellion may be speedily suppressed; and we pledge you our hearty co-operation in all appropriate means to secure this object. Loyal and hopeful in national adversity, in prosperity thankful, we most heartily congratulate you on the glorious victories recently gained, and rejoice in the belief that our complete triumph is near. We believe that our national sorrows and calamities have resulted, in a great degree, from our forgetfulness of God and oppression of our feliow-men. Chastened by affliction, may the nation humbly repent of her sins, lay aside her haughty pride, honor God in all future legislation, and render justice to all who have been wronged. We honor you for your proclamations of liberty, and rejoice in all the acts of the government designed to secure freedom to the enslaved. We trust that when military usages and necessities shall justify interference with established institutions, and the removal of wrongs sanctioned by law, the occasion will be improved, not merely to injure our foes and increase the national resources, but also as an opportunity to recognize our obligations to God and to l.onor his law. We pray that Resolved, 1. That in this hour of the nation's trial we will remember the President of the United States, all other officers of the government, and our army and navy, in never-ceasing prayer. 2 That it is the duty of the government to prosecute the war with all its resources of men and money till this wicked rebellion shall be subdued, the integrity of the na tion shall be secured, and its legitimate authority shall be re-established, and that we pledge our hearty support and co-operation to secure this result. 3. That we regard our calamities as resulting from our forgetfulness of God, and from slavery, so long our nation's reproach, and that it becomes us to humble ourselves and forsake our sins as a people, and hereafter, in ail our laws and acts, to honor God. 4. That we will use our efforts to secure such a change in the Constitution of our country as shall recognize the be ing of God, our dependence on Him for prosperity, and also his word as the foundation of civil law. 5. That we regard slavery as abhorrent to the principles of our holy religion, humanity, and civilization, and that we are decidedly in favor of such an amendment to the Constitution, and such legislation on the part of the states, a shall prohibit slavery or involuntary servitude, except for crime, throughout all the states and territories of the country. 6. That while we deplore the evils of war that has filled our land with mourning, we rejoice in the sublime manifestations of benevolence it has developed, as seen in the Sanitary and Christian Commissions, and in the associations formed to aid the vast multitudes who have recently be come freemen, and that we pledge to these institutions eur hearty co-operation and support. THE PASTORAL ADdress. May 27--The report of the Committee on the Pastoral Address to the Members of the Church -Jesse T. Peck. D. D., Joseph Castle, D. D., L. B. Gurley, E. Adams, N. E. Cobleigh, W. H Ferris was adopted. These extracts relate to public questions: we recommend that this war be pushed with the utmost energy and to the last extremity: because in its successful prosecution alone we see the prevention of anarchy and misrule, of wide-spread dissensions, and medieval tyranny bloodshed, more fearfully desolating and terrible than anyand vassalage, of universal distraction, contentions, and thing that can now result from the course that we thus re commend. 3. That we heartily endorse the Emancipation Proclamation of President Lincoln, because it strikes at that baleful cause of all our civil and ecclesiastical difficulties-American slavery--" the sum of all villanies," the darling idol of villains, the central power of villanous secessionism, but now, by the wisdom of the President, about to be made the agent of retributive justice in punishing that culmina-. tion of villanous enterprises, the attempt to overthrow the most glorious civil government that God's providence ever established upon earth. We have held our session in the midst of the fearful agitatious and struggles of war. Our nation has reached a most eventful crisis. Ambitious and wicked men have led the people and States of the South, into a most cruel and unprovoked rebellion. The Government has been compelled to resist this rebellion by force, and the delegates of all the Annual Conferences, in General Conference assembled, have solemnly recognized this stern necessity. Our reports, resolutions and acts, of which you have been already apprized, all sustained by unanimous votes, will show the Church and the world how heartily we are identified with the nation in her struggles, with our beloved army and navy in the deadly conflicts of this war, with the President and all other officers of the Government in the grave responsi-divisions or dissensions upon any pretext whatsoever. bilities of their present position, and with surviving sufferers, whether bond or free. 4. That we earnestly deprecate all dissensions and divisions among those who profess loyalty to the Government and to our free institutions: and that we deem it suspicions, at least, if not strong evidence, of sympathy with our enemies, when men in our midst attempt to create such 5. That a committee bo appointed to address the President of the United States, and express to him, in the name of the Methodist Protestant Church, the sentiments of loyalty contained in these resolutions, and to assure him that our people endorse his Proclamation, sustain the war, and are ready to do and suffer all things necessary for the maintenance of our glorious Government intact. We call your attention to the fact that slavery is the evident and guilty cause of this terrible war, and express to you our deliberate opinion that there will be no peace or safety to the Republic till this vile usurpation is utterly destroyed. We have, therefore, resolved not only to sustain the Government most heartily in the struggle against treason, but in the high purpose to extirpate the guilty cause of the rebellion. And, in consistency with these resolutions, as well as under the highest sense of imperative duty, we have determined that the Methodist Episcopal Church shall, with the least possible delay, be delivered loyalty to the Government of the United States, and its entirely from this enormous evil. We have, therefore, pro-approval of the Administration of Abraham Lincoln in his posed to the Annual Conferences such a change in the gen- efforts to overthrow the rebellion and maintain the cause eral rules as will henceforth leave no occasion for misun- And especially do we urge you to obey, at all times, the great law of love; to pray for our unnatural enemies, as well as their surviving victims; extending your most active sympathy to our numerous families and friends who mourn the loss of brave husbands, fathers, brothers, sons, by this dreadful war. You will, we trust, on no account relax your efforts for the relief and Christian education of the multitudes of freedmen now appealing to your humanity. We do also most earnestly commend to your devoted attention our suffering soldiers, and urge you to enlarged liberality in the support of those humane institutions, the Christian and Sanitary Commissions. METHODIST PROTESTANT. GENERAL CONVENTION OF THE METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH, 1862. November. The body met in Cincinnati, and unanimously passed the following preamble and resolutions: Whereas, Our country continues to be involved in all the horrors and dangers of a civil war unparalleled in the history of the world, alike in its gigantic proportions and in the vital interests which it shall affect for good or ill: and Whereas, We cannot be cold spectators of the scenes occurring around us, because they appeal to our sympathies and our principles as patriots, as Christians, and as philanthropists: and Whereas, We deem it our duty to our country, to the world at large, and to our God, to utter our sympathies and sentiments in this hour of danger to the country and to civil liberty: therefore Resolved, 1. That we cling with fond affection to the institutions bequeathed to us by our Revolutionary sires, and that we infinitely prefer them to any other that ever have been, or that may be, proposed as a substitute for them. 2. That we therefore sanction, with all our hearts, the prosecution of the current war for their maintenance, and The Annual Conference at Pittsburg, September, 1864, unanimously adopted these resolutions: Resolved, That this Conference does hereby declare its of the Union. slaveholders of the South in bringing on this great rebel- endorsed by this Conference, and it is our prayer that the Resolved, That party politics, in our judgment, should Government of our country, and we hereby advise all our never be allowed to interfere with our allegiance to the people to be faithful to the Administration in all its efforts to maintain the Union, constantly praying for the Govern ment, and the success of our armies. 1 Resolved, That we desiro a peace growing out of the salimmutable righteousness, in order that the Christian relivation of our Government, based upon the principles of gion may take a firmer hold than heretofore on the Ameri can mind. The Maryland Annual Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church has not made any declaration since the opening of the war. The West Virginia Conference, which was in connection with it, undertook to ascertain its position in March last, with this result, as disclosed in these extracts from the report of the proceedings of the latter body at its meeting in September: Dr. Laishley, our fraternal Messenger to the last Maryland Annual Conference, submitted his report, which states that owing to severe affliction in his family he was unable to attend said Conference in person, but that he addressed to them a fraternal letter, in which he distinctly set for the object of his mission, to wit: to ascertain the position occupied by the Maryland Conference in regard to its loyalty to the Government of the United States,-to which he received the following reply: BALTIMORE, Maryland, March 21, 1864. REV. DR. P. T. LAISHLEY— DEAR BROTHER:-Your official communication as Messenger from the Western Virginia Annual Conference, was brought under the respectful consideration of the Maryland Annual Conference at its recent session in this city, and I was commissioned to answer it to the following effect: We, as an Annual Conference, express our profound sympathy with Dr. Laishley in the sore affliction of his daughters, which, with some other uncontrollable circumstances, has deprived both him and the Conference of the desired and expected pleasure of fraternal greetings; and we hereby extend to Dr. Laiskley and the Conference he represents our warm expression of Christian sympathy and affection and our prayers for their continued prosperity as an effectual agency in spreading spiritual holiness through our land. It was also determined to send a fraternal Messenger to the Western Virginia Conference at its Annual Session in September next. I shall be happy to hear, my beloved brother, that your afflicted child is mercifully spared to you, and restored to the enjoyment of comfortable health. With these sentiments, I am, most truly, Yours in Christ, F. WATERS. The above letter was referred to a Committee, who submitted the following report, which was adopted: We appreciate most cheerfully the expression of sympathy and affection set forth in said letter, but are grieved that the Conference did not think proper in its judgment to put us in possession of the information we so earnestly desired, to wit: the position occupied by the Conference in regard to its loyalty to the Government of the United States, and furthermore declare that we cannot affiliate or hold official connection with any Conference which is not outspoken on a subject of such vital importance, or which will not condescend to gratify us so far as to inform us whether it is for or against the Government, when treason threatens its destruction. Could we have been satisfied that the Maryland Conference as a body gave her sympa thies and influence to the Government under which we live, it would have afforded us great pleasure to have continued in official connection with her; but for the want of such an expression on her part, we have to adopt the language of the Master and say, "They who are not with us are against us." And that a committee be appointed to address a letter On motion, Dr. F. Waters was appointed the committee named in the above report. A number of the Ministers in this Conference are known to disapprove of the silence of the Conference, and to regret deeply the position it is thus made to occupy, and who, in their respective spheres of duy, urge the duty of maintaining the National authority and suppressing the Rebellion. Subjoined are the resolutions adopted in March, 1864, by the Ninth Street Methouist Protestant Church, Washington City: Mr. Blackiston offered the following resolutions, and moved their adoption: Whereas an opinion expressed that this church is virtually an organized society of religious sympathizers with rebellion has gained believers in the community; and whereas a strict adherence to the adopted silence on such matters, as a church, gives reasons for rebel sympathizers to hope that the assertion is true, and for loyal men to doubt the loyalty of the members of the church: Therefore be it Resolved, That justice to ourselves and our brethren demands of us a full expression of our loyalty at this time. Resolved, That in our opinion the rebellion, which has flooded the valleys and plains of the South and West with the leaders punished as traitors. The West Virginia Conference now holds con-blood, is treasonable, wicked, and ought to be crushed, and nection with the Methodist Protestant Conferences of the Western, Northern, and Eastern States. Of the proceedings of the Maryland Conference referred to, these have relation to the expected communication from the West Virginia Conference: Rev. L. W. Bates offered this resolution, which was adopted: Resolved, That in accordance with the suggestion of the President, (Rev. James K. Nichols,) in his executive paper, a committee of three ministers and delegates be appointed, whose duty it shall be to confer with all visitors having business with the Conference, and to decide whether and when those of them who wish to address the Conference shall be privileged to do so; and all communications not strictly belonging to the regular and annual business of the Conference, shall be referred to said committee. Resolved, That we of Ninth street station have no sympathy with those engaged openly in the rebellion, and less with those who, while they are amassing fortunes from the Government, are secretly giving aid and comfort to its enemies. commend the zeal of every minister of the Conference, we Resolved, That though we may admire the talents and consider no minister as acceptable to the Ninth street palpit, against whose loyalty there is the slightest reason for doubt. Resolved, That the Secretary is hereby ordered to prepare a copy of these resolutions and sign them; the chairman is hereby ordered to countersign them; and the delegate to the Maryland Annual Conference is hereby ordered to present them to the President of that body. Rev. J. T. Ward is pastor, succeeding Rev. C. T. Cochel. FREE METHODIST. DIST CHURCH, 1864. September-The body met at Akron, 29th and 30th, and October 1st, and adopted the following preamble and resolution: Rev. Dr. F. Waters, Rev. L. W. Bates, Rev. NEW YORK CONFERENCE OF THE FREE METHOT. D. Valiant, George Vickers, Esq., and L. J. Cox, Esq., were appointed on that Committee. On a subsequent day, it was announced to the Conference that a letter had been received from Rev. Dr. P. T. Laishley, appointed fraternal Messenger from the West Virginia Conference. The letter was not read in open Conference, but immediately referred to the committee said, and in relation to it the committee reported, on the same day, as follows: A communication was received from Dr. P. T. Laishley, Messenger from West Virginia Conference, expressing his regret at not being able, owing to sickness in his family and other unfavorable circumstances, to visit our Confer ence. sible to all mankind We are men of peace. Our Master, whom we supremely love and endeavor to serve, is the Prince of Peace. He has taught us to love our enemies and to do good as far as pe afore-magistrate beareth not the sword in vain." He is to be a But he has also taught us that "the terror to evil doers; but how can this be-if the laws against crime are not executed? And how can they be executed without the exercise of physical force? If force may be used to execute the laws against a single highwayman, may it not be against a band of criminals who set the laws at defiance? Does the magnitude of a conspiracy against just laws and the common rights of humanity, render the employment of whatever force, for whatever time may be necessary for its suppression, unchristian and wrong? Is it right to punish petit larceny, and wrong to punish mur der? If not, then is the effort to suppress by force of arms this wicked rebellion, still existing in this country, entirely consistent with the Christian religion. Humanity demands that the rebellion be put down, no matter how great may be the expenditure of blood and treasure necessary to secure its overthrow. The fate of the ambitious, unscrupolons men who, because deprived, in a perfectly proper and The Committee recommend that the Conference express its sympathy for Dr. Laishley in the affliction of his daughter, which has deprived both him and the Conference of the pleasure of fraternal greetings, and that we extend to Dr. Laishley and the Conference he represents, our warm expression of Christian sympathy and affection, and our prayers for their continued prosperity as an efficient instrumentality in spreading scriptural holiness through our Land. We further recommend, that the Conference elect a Mes-legal manner, of the patronage of the Government which senger to visit the next session of West Virginia Conference, to be held in Fairmont, Va., in September, 1861. they had invariably used for the spread and perpetuation of human bondage, have conspired for the overthrow of |