Bear Family Letter Series |
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| Mentioned: (this isn't really a letter) |
Rev. John Bear [See
John Bear in Guide to
Individuals]
|
| Date Written: | March 10, 1861 |
| Location: | Georgetown |
| Surnames mentioned: | Bear, Bull, Morgan, Sewail, Thomas |
| Locations mentioned: | Georgetown |
| Scene in the Baltimore Methodist Conference. Sixth
Day's Session Georgetown, March 10. - Revs. Thomas Sewail and N. J. B. Morgan
offered the following: Resolved, That the President of the United States of America be respectfully requested to appoint a day of National Fasting and prayer to Almighty God, that it may please him to bring our civil war to an end, and restore to us unity, peace and prosperity. Rev. N. J. B. Morgan spoke in favor of the resolution. He said we all subscribed to the 28d article of the Discipline, and the explanatory note, which plainly expresses the obedience of the Church to the Constitution, laws and supreme rulers of the country; and be thought the resolution, which recognizes the unity, nationality, peace and prosperity of the country, was in perfect consonance with the spirit of the Discipline. Rev. Dr. Thomas thought the passage of any resolution on the subject would do harm to the Church. Rev. John W. Bull said he used to be a Methodist Episcopalian in religion, and a United States man in politics. He was opposed to fasting and praying by compulsion; he would not do so even at the dictation of the President of the United States. He used to fast and pray a great deal, but he had of late ceased to do so. [ Sensation.] He hated Abolitionism as he hated hell. [More commotion, and called to order by the Bishop] He should vote against the resolution. Rev. John Bear said he subscribed to the 28d article of the Discipline, and when the resolution was first offered he intended to vote for it; |
but after the interpretation of brother Morgan he was
staggered. He was still in favor of the first part of the resolution, but not
of the last. He had been opposed to secession in the Church, and was opposed to
secession in the nation so far as it could be prevented. He did not pray for
the success of either the Federal or confederate arms - he did not know which
was in the right. He supposed this expression of his sentiments would get him
the name of a Secessionist, but he considered himself a loyal man. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 81 to 15. |
Key to individuals mentioned in this item:
- Rev. Dr. Thomas = probably a Methodist minister
- See Rev. Dr. Thomas in Guide to Individuals
- Rev. John W. Bull = probably a Methodist minister
- See Rev. John W. Bull in Guide to Individuals
- Rev. N. J. B. Morgan/brother Morgan = probably a Methodist minister
- See Rev. N. J. B. Morgan in Guide to Individuals
- Rev. Thomas Sewail = probably a Methodist minister
- See Rev. Thomas Sewail in Guide to Individuals
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