Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-06-21
IN THE SHAFTSBURf
ASSOCIATION.

Dear brother Murray The SALISBURY
Baptist Association held its fftyseventh
anniversary at Pownal, on the 9TH and 9Th
inst. The Introductory sermon was preached
by brother Matteson, from Jeremiah vi, 16.
Brother Reach oficiated as Moderator: and
the session was, on the whole, one of much
interest. This ancient, and once extensive
body. is now reduced to nine churches; all
of which. with one exception, are in Ben
nington county. Most of the churches for
merly embraced in it, are now found in the
Berkshire, Stephentown, Hudson River,
Saratoga, and Washington Union Associa-
lions. But though its members have thus
been diminished, there is still, it is beIiev !
ed, sincere disposition on the part of such
as remain, to do what they can in the work
Of the Lord. Resolutions were passed at
the late session, decidedly approving the
various plans of christian benevolence; and
Bible Society was organized for the As
ISOLATION, auxiliary to the American and
Foreign Bible Society.
1t gives me pleasure to inform you, that
among the resolutions, the following, touch
ing slavery, and the duty Of the churches in
relation to it, were passed by an almost, if
not altogether, unanimous vote:
"Resolred, That in the deliberate Judg-
ment of this Association, to traffic In the
bodies and souls Of men, to buy or sell them,
or to claim or hold them as property under
any pretence whatever, is sin; that it in
wolves fragrant violation of the rights of
man, and bold infringement Of the laws Of
God and that it is entirely Inconsistent
with the benevolent spirit and holy precepts
of the gospel of Christ.
"ReSoLred, That as the disciples Of Him
who was sent TO proclaim liberty to the
captiyes, and the opening of the prison to
them that are bound,' we acknowledge our
selves to be under solemn obligations to re-
member and sympathize with such as are in
bonds, -especally our brethren in the Lord,
and faithfully to employ such moral means
as may be within our reach, to effect the
univer sal emancipation Of the enslaved, to
break every yoke, and to let the oppressed go
free
"ResoIred, That we believe it to be the
duty Of Christians, whenever occasion shall
require, to reprove each other in love, and
not to suffer sin upon their brethren; and
that, inasmuch as many of the regular Bap-
fist churches in the southern states, are Civ
ing countenance to the unrghteous system
of American slavery, by retaining slave
holders in their fellowship, and sustaining
them in the ministerial Office is the duty
of the northern churches, in our opinion, to
unite as they have opportunity, in address
f0 fhaSp Hrof L
in this sin, the language Of kind, but firm
, and earnest remonstrance.
"Resolred, That we recommend to the
churches composing this body, to record
their decided testimony against the sin Of
slaveholdlng and to hold themselves in
readiness to cooperate with sister churches,
so lar as this shall be practicable, in sending
letters OF admonition to their southern breth-
! rem"
> You will perceive, my dear brother, that
o the foregoing resolutions are essentially in
= accordance with the suggestions laid before
2 your readers in a communication, headed
e "SLAvERY AND THE CHURCH." which appear.
a ed in the Telegraph Of March 20. In thai
article, it was stated, on the authority Of
Aliens Triennial Register, that the regular
n Baptist churches in the slave holding states
8 exceeded those in the free states, by ATT
o and that the majority of Baptist member.
: IN the slave states over those in the free, was
not less than COILS. 1t was shown tina
y the southern churches, in general, consisted
j. partly of white and partly of colored mem
: bers, partly of shareholders, and partly OF
O slaves; and that the last mentioned elias:
e numbered probably not less than 5O,OOO.-
And in view Of the notorious fact that Oh,
, half Of our denomination was thus directl,
y upholding the system Of slavery, with tn
~ tacIt connlvance of the other half,-it wa
r urged that the northern churches ought a
4 once to vindicate themselves from all parti
clpation in the shareholders guilt; not b,
" withholding fellowship from their brethren
= but by reproving them of their sin, with al
= the fidelity, and at the same time with al
b the kindness which the gospel enjoins. |
was suggested tina: our churches ought i'm
mediately to consider, and act upon this mo
le mentous subject; that our Associations. a
4 their approaching sessions, ought to make
6 full and decided avowa. Of their views !,
- relation TO it; and that it might be we'll 70
t. delegates to the State Convention to be s.
ID instructed, that faithful remonstrance o.
the sin Of slave-holding should 90 fort
- from that body to the southern churches.
i My purpose in writing now, is to invit
- your attention, dear brother, and throug
your paper, that of the churches, once NOR
to the above suggestions. In my view, tn
n, subject to which they refer, has the mo:
as ;ronorative and SOLEMN claims ,,..