Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-03-07
The resolution passed very unanimously

The resolution passed very unanimously i
49, So -. "WEDNESDAY evening. L
The following resolution was discussed and
adopted:
Resolved, That ministers of the gospel and
church members, who at this time refuse to re-
member the American slaves in their bonds as
bound with them-by publicly acting in their /
behalf and for their redemption-fail to manifest
one of the most prominent characteristics OF the |
Christian religion.
J. MiIligan, in urging the adoption of this res
Olution, contemplated the high calling Of the
ministry, and the nature of their commission.
The Lord Jesus Christ says to them, ego,
preach my gospel"-"go, teach all nations
teaching them to observe whatsoever l have
commanded you" Stop, says slavery, the COM
mands Of my votares must be observed as para
mount to the commands of Jesus Christ. The
instructions OF the Savior require them to teach
men to be honest, Just and kind: but where is the
honesty, justice or kindness of the Sc trampling
down the rights OF the l6! He urged the duty
of the ministry to call for the breaking of every
yoke. Again, ministers are to watch for souls as
those that must give account. American slavery
is destroying the souls of oppressors oppressed.
Tile treated the su6jec with much pathos and
ability: but he is somewhat difficult speaker to
follow, and circumstances have unavoidably de-
ferred my writing out, until it so late that it is
impossible to do him justice, therefore forbear
any further attempt TO follow him.l
A.. Stewart liked this resolution. 1t
ought to be adopted by the Society before
it adjourned. The four great denomina-
tons of Christians in the United States,
the Congregationalists and Presbyterlans,
the Methodists, the Baptists, and the E pis-
copalians, are responsible for the present
existence and future continuance of slave
ry They carry it upon their backs, and
have, for the last Is or l9 years, without
any requisite effort to throw it off: In
1918, the Presbyterian church made a
move on the subject. If the present
General Assembly of that church were
f to pass an act upon that movement they
would doubtless draw black lines around
the record then made, and blot it out as
an understandable advancement upon the
domestic institutions of the South. He
would not say that he should expect from
r them the observance of day of humilia
| ton, fasting and prayer, for the reproact
, that act lin favor of emancipation has
brought upon the denomination but they
would without doubt hasten to usher ir
the millennium by making all demanded
# sacrifices and atonement to the "patri
= archs" of the South
i The Methodists, in Wesley's time, wer'
q Anti-Slavery. From 1884 20 1900, they
worked nobly for the slave, and wer
prosecuted with whippings and other VIC
lence. In 1900 they truckled to tn
II monster; and they have since apostatzed
$ until laymen, ministers and bishops ar
8 shareholders and ve-traders-mnister
20 often buying and selling their own brolhe
. ministers! The Baptists and Episcopa
&c lians are in the same horrid practice, an
70 equally guilty.
Now, the standard Of morality and re
IS ligion in any community will always b
,e just as high as the religionists of tina
D. community are pleased to raise it, and n
higher. 1t will be in vain then to expec
- Congress to abolish slavery in the Dis
nj trict of Columbia, while such an act
lg uncalled for by the leading denomination
j. of Christians in the States. You canno
ur now get these denominations, as a Who'll
70 or as a majority, to say that slavery
u wrong. They make war upon frauc
- dishonesty and crime, in other shape
u Legislation follows up profanity, thief
n, robbery and murder; but mark, legisl'
Oh ton never gets in advance of the mora
ce and religious sentiments of communit.
ed on these, or any other subjects. Ho
10. then shall we expect Congress to get
- advance of the moral and religious sent
i" ments of community, in regard to slav
ng ryq Let then the cannon and batterin
at rams of the Christian world be turne
at against slavery, and it will fall.
A popular and powerful minister wi
rv occupies pulpit for his bread, making
49, among his first inquiries to know VIII
'"e will please some heavy purse-holder
Try his society, probably drags some ffte'
or twenty slaves at his heels, for who
lu- enslavement and ruin he is acccunta BIZ
zen o. to be a minister of the gospel, and
he be be so afraid Of poor, mortal man, who
A.. breath is in his nostrils, that he dare r
espouse the cause of benevolence and b
'en mainly!
Guy Beckley and A. Dresser follow
the on this subject with energy and power.
,lu- ----
had DF"J. ROGERS HAS GONE TO SPRr