The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-02-16
Townshend, VT, Feb. IL, 1889.

Townshend, VT, Feb. IL, 1899
AT meeting of the Congregational Churches of Black
River Association, holden at Chester Feb g. advise
what measures if any, should take respecting the sys
of Slavery existing in this country, present the
following Pastors and Delegates:
From the Church in Rockingham, Rev. Broughton White
pastor, Bro Asa Lock, delegate.
From the Church in Saxton's Village Rev. Nelson Bar
bour, pastor.
From the Church in Windham, Dea. E. R. Aiken, Bro.
Harvey Burnap, delegates
From the Church in Weston, Rev. John Jones, pastor.
From the Church in Ludlow, Bro. Jonathan Carpenter,
delegate.
From the Church in Grafton Rev. Moses b. Bradford,
pastor.
From the Church in Springfield Rev. Henry B. Holmes,
PASTOR Bros Moses Cobb George Johnson, Osmyn Burge,
delegates.
From the Church in Jamaica, Bro Timothy Goodale,
delegate.
From the Church in Townshend Rev. Horao N. Graves,
pastor, Bros. Dana Bailey, Elijah Allen, delegates.
From the Church in Chester Rev. Silas H. Hodges pas
tor Bros. Albert Onion, Prouty, Lowell, N Lawrence,
T. T. Barrett, delegates.
Steele, Gideon HASKELL delegates
From the Church in Cavendsh Gen. Jacob Washburn,
delegate.
The Convention organized by appointing Gen. ia
cob Washbun Moderator and Horatio NJ Graves Secrea-
ry.
The convention opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr.
Bradford.
Rev. Messrs Hodges, Holmes and Bradford and Bros.
Goodae and Aiken appointed committee to draft
series of resolutions be presented the convention
The following resolutions reported by the committee,
were after few verbal alterations, adopted:
Resolved That the institution of slavery this
try is fragrant system of OPPRESSION cruelty and wrong
that is productive of vice. immortality and crime through
the surrounding community and of excessive temporal
misery and anguish mutitudes of fellow-beings
while it precludes thousands from the knowledge of the
gospel of eternal life.
H. Resolved, That it cannot be modified as to avoid
the evils with which it pregnant but that the only
edy for those evils is entire abolition.
iii. Resolved, That immediate emancipation is due to
the slave, the only substantial repaaton which remains
for his INJURIES and is also every way just and right and
therefore safe and good and rejoice that the late events
demonstrated
praccaby and safety, well its expediency for ALL
the master.
w. Resolved That participate this SYSTEM or even
desgnedy to lend any counenynce, be dspeasng
God especially in professors of religion, and above all
in ministers of the gospel-since it be highly detr-
mental to His cause, and derogatory to His honor.
v. Resolved, That the churches at the North ought
from the outset to have demonstrated with those at the
South and to have addressed the slavehodng community
at large against the continuance of slavery, with christian
spirit indeed and in aectionae and kind, but dec
sve and urgent that they ought have persisted in this
without ceasng; and that had they done so should
probably long since have rejoced in the of eff
forts.
W. Resolved That the present irritation at the South
does diminish this obligation, though it may call for
wisdom and prayer in dischargng it; and that we
ought any to do duty, and confde the result
with Him who worketh all things for good.
Whereas the system of slavery has lately been defend
ed by certain churc-members and ministers Of the gospel
a sautary moral and scriptura institution
VII Resolved, That such grievous departure from
christian principles call upon with imperative voice
and loudly than to check the growing and bane
full influence of the SYSTEM and to exert ourselves for its
moval.
VIII. Resolved, That humbly acknowledge before
God cupable neglect of this duty and confess that the
past efforts of churches have been often dictated by
regard for appearances rather than hearty desire for the
delverance of the ensaved, and the reformation of
brethren and that recommend to churches hum
BILE themselves this offence, while they determine, in
reliance Divine Grace, to engage in it hereafter with
earnestness and zeal.
TX Resolved, That sister churches in this State be
respectfully invited adopt the sentiments here advanced
and also to unite in addressing epste accordingly to
the Southern churches through General Convention
x. Resolved That the churches in this Association,
here assembled send the General Convention of Con-
gregatonal and Presbyterian Minister'S to be holden at
Montpelier, the last Tuesday in August next, Memo
rial embracing the substance of these resolutions, and
praying that body address epse accordingly the
Southern churches.
Rev. Messrs Bradford, Hodges and Holiness and Bros,
Benjamin B. Smith and Moses Cobb were appointed
committee to prepare memorial accordingly to be sub
mtted TO the Association for their revision.
Voted That this memorial be signed by the Moderator
and Scribe of this Convention and forwarded to the Gem
eral Convention to be holden Montpelier on the last
Tuesday in August Also, that this memorial be submitted