G._to_Frederick_Douglass__May_24__1856

DOINGS OF THE AFRICAN METHODIST CONFERENCE.

CINCINNATI, May 24th, 1856.

DEAR DOUGLASS:—Having a spare moment I deem it proper to give you my pencillings, dottings, and impressions of the General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, which has just closed its session in our city. It was in operation sixteen days. It commenced on Monday, the 5th inst., and adjourned Wednesday, the 21st inst., sine die.—Bishops Payne, Quinn, and Nazery, presided alternatively. Rev'ds J. A. Shorter, A. W. Wayman and George W. Broady were the Secretaries. It was a noisy, blustering and unruly body, as a whole, and the Ministers of the sanctum sanctorum demonstrated the fact, that with their ermine off, they were no better nor any worse than the politicians and convention men of our country. Such is also true of the white General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, (if we are to credit the reports,) which is now, or has been, in session in Indianapolis. I saw no less than six on the floor at one time, and all clamoring for right of speech. I heard some say, "Mr. President, I arise to a point of order," "I addressed you first, sir; I will not be interrupted in this manner," "I wish to be heard on a privilege question:" while others insisted that every one ought to be put down. And nothing but the inflexible determination of the learned Bishops to silence them—every one of them—could bring them to a sense of justice and propriety. But, withal, it was a very creditable body, as brother Dogberry would say, Annual Conferences represented, eight; number of delegates, one hundred. A majorty of them were black, or shaded in beautiful ebony, and but few young men. They were well dressed, (some on the dandy order,) very intelligent, learned, and eloquent. With mine eyes I saw some excellent debaters, who would do no discredit to any ecclesiastical body. M. M. Clark, D. D., J. J. Gould Bias, M. D., Elder Morgan, of New York, Green, of Ohio, Revels, of Louisiana, J. P. Campbell, of Philadeelphia, and Young, of Canada, may be ranked among this class.

On the first day the following committees were appointed: One on Temperance, one on the Book Concern, one on Slavery, one on Presiding Elders, one on Education, and one on the Episcopacy.

A motion passed to revise the Discipline in committee of the whole. A motion to strike from the Discipline of the word Right from the title of the Bishops, caused a windy discussion, in which all the big and little guns participated, pro and con. M. M. Clark was in favor, because he was opposed to idolizing men. A. R. Green was in favor, because he thought the term Right Rev. should only be applied to the Deity. While others held that it was necessary to distinguish one officer from another, and preserve the dignity of the Episcopacy. The motion passed by a large majority.

M. M. Clark, Chairman of the Committee on Colonization, presented a strong paper which was adopted. I have room only for the concluding resolutions.

Resolved, That viewing as we do the American Colonization Society, as standing in deadly hostility to every interest of our people, we will use every proper and necessary means, in the pulpit and elsewhere, to counteract its influence.

Resolved, That, in our judgment, the effects of that Society, in its workings upon public sentiment, has thrown back the cause of education among our people at least forty years.

Two reports were made on slavery: a majority and minority report, John A. Warren, James A. Shorter, H. J. Young, and J. V. Morgan, are the authors of the majority report. Shorter is from Baltimore, and a true type of our sires who hated oppression. W. R. Revels, of Louisiana, is the author of the minority report. The majority declare:

"That the sin of Slaveholding, as practiced in the American Churches, is a sin of the first degree, and the greatest known in the catalogue of crimes, the highest violation of humanity, and does unchristianize every man and woman who is a Slaveholder."

Your committee think that the Discipline, page 136, sec. 12, should be so altered as to read, we will not receive any person into our society as a member who is a Slaveholder; and any who are now members and hold Slaves shall be immediately expelled.

The report caused much confusion, discussion and excitement. Dr. Clark led off in favor of the report, in an effort which did honor to his head and heart. He knew there were Slaveholders in the church at New Orleans; he knew several such characters in Ohio, who had fattened off the labor of American slaves [illegible] he called upon the church to purge [illegible] these moral leeches. "Amen," was [illegible] from many hearts.

Rev. A. R. Green followed in a [illegible]perative, sarcastic, and virulent [illegible] thought the Discipline all sufficient [illegible] posed to making additions, alters [illegible] thought that Clark's intention [illegible] Church and adhere to [illegible] to have known better [illegible] rule in Slavery is [illegible] it cannot be [illegible] intended as [illegible] by the [illegible]

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