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PREFACE.
DURING the late secession from the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the northern states, the writer of the ensuing pages was compelled, by his official position, to defend our church government against the misrepresentations of the seceders. He issued two "Tracts for the Times," which received the approval of the Journals, and some of the higher authorities of the church. He also delivered public lectures in several places on the subject. These labors led to the request, from various quarters, accompanied by resolutions from quarterly conferences, that the substance of the tracts and lectures should be formed into a convenient volume for circulation among our people.(...)"