CONCLUSION.
The intelligent reader of the preceding pages can hardly fail to see:
1. That the Genesee Conference of the M. E. Church, stands convicted:
(1.) Of wickedly expelling several of its ministers from the
Conference and the church without any adequate cause. (2.) Of allowing preachers to expel worthy members from the church
when they had violated no law of the church. (3.) Of permitting its preachers to pronounce members in good
standing in the church with-drawn against their most solemn
protest. (4.) Of covering up iniquity, by refusing to entertain complaints,
of dishonesty and fraud, made by responsible parties against
several of its preachers.
2. That the Methodist Episcopal Church, as an ecclesiastical
organization, for all these unchristian and wicked acts of the
Genesee Conference, has assumed the responsibility before God and
man, by the action of its General Conference, its highest Court of
Appeals.
(1.) In refusing to entertain appeals, from the
injustice of the Genesee Conference, properly brought before it,
which the constitution of the church requires it to hear and
properly decide. (2.) By not deciding upon its merits the case of Rev. C: D.
Burlingham, who appealed to it for redress from an unjust and
oppressive sentence, but iniquitously sending it back for a new
trial when there was nothing to try. Whether this evasion of a clear
and important duty was owing to a lack of courage to express their
honest opinion of the sentence of expulsion from the Conference and
the church, for the acts charged and admitted, or to a desire to
shield the Genesee Conference from censure for wrong doing, it is
equally deserving of reprobation. (3.) By not investigating the troubles of the Genesee Conference
over which they had jurisdiction, and giving such redress of the
grievances complained of as justice demanded and they were able to
render.
3. That historians of the M. E. Church seek to perpetuate the wrong,
by giving accounts of these matters which every one acquainted with
the facts knows to be untrue; and paying no attention to testimony
of the highest order, when it conflicts with their unfounded
statements.
4. We have no hostility towards the M. E. Church, its ministry, or
its members. We love
all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, and we love no one
the less because he belongs to the M. E. Church. Many in that church
who love the truth, will be glad to learn the real facts in the
case, as they have heard only misrepresentations. These
misrepresentations repeated by parties in whom they have been
accustomed to place confidence, they have innocently received as
true. We have endeavored to state everything fairly, without
exaggeration, and are certain we have done it without malice. We
have the kindest feelings towards all. |