The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-05-18
Ecclesiastical Action.

nomical point of view, enormous as they are
utterly Insignificant, when compared with 4
of moral and religious nature. The Commi
cannot therefore but regard with deep interest
movements of the different religious bodies in
lation to the cause of the slave. III
1t cannot for moment be doubted, that it is \ \
the power of the Southern Church, Understandable
by this expression the great body of professeN
christians at the South, to bring about the speedy
termination Of Slavery. We speak not in exags
gerated terms when we say, that the Southern
Church holds in her hands the keys of the great
prison house of American bondage She may,
when she pleases, open the doors, break the chains
of the capves, bring them out to the glorious
light of day, and restore them to the sweets Of
liberty and to all the mmunities and privileges Of
the free.
The solitary individual, who may, at the South,
bear his testimony against its giant iniquity, may
be laughed down as a poor deluded fanatic, as a
miserable specimen of moon-struck humanityG or
he may be subjected to the infections of the code
Lynch or, in accordance with Senator Preston's
murderous threat, be hung upon the gallows.-'
But this cannot be done with the whole church
Let the great mass of protested Christians at the
South or any one of the leading denominations,
awake 10 the discharge of duty let those who
minister at the altar cry aloud and spare not; let
them lift up their voice as a trumpet to warn the
people OF their great transgression let the pri-
vae members enforce their teachings by consis-
tent eXampl e-and the death blow TO slavery is
struck. In this view of the sub ect, the actual po-
sition of the southern church in reference to the
becomes matter of deep and solemn
interest. And how mournful the spectacle here
presented! The great body of the church pou-
ted with the very sin it ought to reprove The
southern church hugging closely and more close
y still, to her bosom, the putrd carcass that, by
her own confession, is sickening and DESTROYING
her She that could be light TO others, herself
The source of darkness she that should be the
teacher of others, herself the blind leader of the
blind she that should be a fountain of purity
and life, the noxious communication of moral pes.
Hence and death
As a general fact, southern church members are
holders of slaves. Yea, even from their own
brethren in Christ, they withhold the lamp of life,
leny them marriage as legal right consign
hem over to concubinage or indiscriminate pros
tuition, sell for gain the image oftheir Lord, and
make merchandise of the purchase of his blood
Says the Rev. James Smylie of Mississippi, him
elf Rev. defender of slavery, If the buying,
cling or holding slave for the sake of gain is
henous sin and scandal, then verify, three fourths
# all the Episcopaans, Methodsts, Bapsts,
nd Presbyterans in eleven States of the Union
re of the devil. They hod if they do not buy
nd sell slaves
Southern christians and christian ministers
tand in the front rank of the apologists of slave
y, side by side, with the Calhouns, the Harpers,
he McDuf1ies of the South. They come out in
ublic with the Bible in their hands for its de-
snce. They torture the writings of prophets and
postles in its support and blasphemously charge
ne sanctioning this mystery ofiniquity, this mon
trous system of outrage and wrong, upon Him
those express command is, to loose the bands of
ciedness, 10 undo the heavy burdens, to let The
rpressed go free, and to break every yoke.'-
openly and unblushingly, is the doctrine now
'ught by Southern christians, in accordance it is
Jared with the general sentiment of the churches.
lat there is no moral evil in slavery,-no moral
vii in system which darkens intellect destroys
esponsibility effaces the image of God from the
oul, and pollutes all that are connected with it!
'hus, so far from exerting influence for the de-
ruction of slavery, the Southern church has be-
ome its main pillar and support.
The truth of these allegations may be estab-
shed by the most indubitabe testimony. We
nit the sickening details however, with few ex-
options by way of illustration.
The Rev. ]. c. Postell in an address to the
tizens of Oraageburg Sc draws the following
viz:
From what has been promised, the following
result: l. That slavery is a Judicial
station. 2. That it is not a moral erI. 3.
hat 1t as supported By the Bible. A. 1t has ex-
ted in all ages 1t is not moral evil. The fact
at slavery is DIVINE APPOINTMENT, would be
oof enough with the Christian that it cannot be
moral evil. So far from being mora evil, it
mcrcifm pisitntion. as tie Lords doing
I'd marvellous IN oar eyes.
The Charleston Union Presbytery
Resolced, That in the opinion of this Presbyte-
, the holding of slaves, so far from being SIN in
e sight of God, is no where condemned in his.
oily Word-that it is in accordance with the ex-
nple, or consistent with the precepts of patri-
chs prophets and apostles.
The Harmony Presbytery of South Carolina,
ssed unanimously the following among other
solutions
Reso1ced That as the relative duties of master
d slave are taught in the Scriptures, IN the
me manner as those of parent and child, and
sband and wife, the existence Of slavery itself
not opposed to the will of God and whatsoever
conscience too tender to recognize the rslasaas
N aS Ia ,yfnl iS rieh ao,Is ovnl.