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appointment being wholly in the hands of the Bishop. It is very important the ministers appointed over these people should be loyal and friendly to progress among the Freedmen. The "Methodist Episcopal Church" of the north and the "African Methodist Church" are both ready and seeking to incorporate these colored Methodist churches into their organizations, and supply them with suitable pastors. And, on the other hand, these churches naturally and gladly seek such alliances, if they can get possession of their church property.
The Southern Methodist Conference has been notoriously disloyal. The individual trustees have been disloyal. Now I beg leave to inquire why they have not forfeited their claim to this property, and why it should not be confiscated and turned over to the Bureau. The Bureau could then return it to colored trustees of the churches to whom it justly belongs.

I am Very Respectfully
O Brown
Col. & Assist Com'r &c_

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-01-14 17:39:12