Chapter IV: Division of the Church in 1844

Slavery only the Occasion—Action of the General Conference in
1836—Slavery in the Church in 1796 and in 1836—No Change of its
Moral Aspects in 1844—Facts Perverted—Constitutional Powers of the
Church—Bishop Andrew a Scapegoat—Protest of the Southern
Conferences—Resolution and Plan of Separation—Dr. Elliott and
Schism—The Vote—The Question in the South—Louisville Convention in
1845—Division—The Bishops of the M. E. Church Accept the Division
the following July—Failure to Change the Sixth Restrictive
Rule—General Conference of 1848 Pronounce the Whole Proceedings Null
and Void—Dr. Lovick Pierce Rejected—Fraternization
Denied—Responsibility of Non-Fraternization—Northern Church Refuse
to Make any Division of Property—Appeal to the Civil Courts—Decision
of the United States Circuit Court for the Southern District of New
York—Justice McLean—United States Circuit Court for the Southern
District of Ohio—Judge Leavitt’s Decision—Supreme Court of the
United States—Points Decided—The Decision of the Supreme Court in
Full.