The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-12-28

shire, $59l4; Vermont, 52s5; Massachusetts
1888 1873 Connecticut, $31 ,730 New Yor. s 3d.
969; Virginia, l,450: and S. Carolina, $2'l2O
We believe the churches of single denomna-
ton in the small State of Connecticut, m the midst
OF the hard times of 1859, contributed 10 n
gle object more than all the churches Of the slave
holders to all the objects of religious benevoence
Those who have watched and studied the de-
velopmens of character and feeling elected among
our countrymen by the efforts for the abolition OF
American Slavery have doubtless observed how
readily things, heretofore highly priced have
been abandoned, so soon as it was seen that they
could be employed to promote the downfall OF
slavery. Such has been the fact in regard
to the principle OF voluntary association Cor any
benevolent purposes, and the employment of
efforts to correct public opinion respecting vice.
as means Of performing that vice. We do not
recollect anything like combined and general
clamor against the employment of initeran agents
to promote the objects of various societies, until
about the time that the American Anti-Slavery
Society sent forth its agents on the breadth of the
land Then the pastors of churches became all at
once alarmed at the multiplicity of agents abroad,
and fearful lest their Influence should be with
drawn and their office rendered useless, unless
they put forth their resolutions against the whole
system We are pleased to see, in the late pro-
ceedlngs of the Board, recognition by so inluen-
tial body, of the necessity, utility and proprety
OF employing initerant agents, as the only means
of drawing forth the contributions of Christians
for the great objects of benevoence. They say,
no associations, however good, will suffice, la
king the country at large, without vgiant su-
perintendence" by travelling agents. We have no
doubt the Anli-Slavery enterprise is destined to
a similar experience.
1t is with the sncerest and the most affection
ate regret we notice that Notwithstanding the for
mai withdrawal of the auxiliary societies of the
slavehodng territory from the support of the
Board, the prudential committee persists in main
tanning agencies for the direct solicitation Of funds,
where ii must be known that the greater part of
the money obtained is wrung by the lash from the
unwilling and unpaid aborers, while the contri-
buttons themselves are given as peace offering or
conlmutation, for the continuance of the system OF
violence and pollution, under the sanction of that
Christian countenance which the very establish
ment of these agencies conveys. After the re-
cent disclosures of Slavery as it is" It is an out
rage upon Christian deceucy to say Of colnmu-
nifty of Shareholders "the committee deem it to be
their duty and their privilege to afford eve
~ facility in their power for cooperation with US.
telling the idolators of China, the black natives Of
Hindoosan, the hantcd uibes Of Africa, that in
establishing their Christian missions, they have
studiousy sought to secure the cooperation Of
Shareholders as elow-lahers in the blessed work,
and we venture to say that the moral sense Of
heathenism itself will reject with loathng the hor-
rid association.
We have before adverted to the distinct testimo-
ny against the colonization scheme, which the
board have Incorporated in their report on West
ern Africa. The following additional remark,
showing the pernicious influence of civilized and
secular colony in the neighborhood Of a missiona-
ry establishment, is taken from letter Of Mr. Will
son, written in FEBRUARY last:
THE people have grown averse to attending
preaching, and for the most part we have mo 9TH
er audience on the Sabbath, than the boys and girls
connected with the school. Every Sabbath even
ing have meeting in the native town for a class
Of men who speak broken English. The atten-
dance upon this is from ten to twenty, and gener-
ally solemn and interesting"
It is curious 10 compare the distractions thrown
in the way of missions in Turkey, with the SINH
lar distractions maintained in the very regions OF
our own country, whose cooperation the board is
so anxious 10 secure for sending the gospel among
the subjects of the Porte. The remarks on p. rs,
on the necessity of living exempliGcation Of
Christianity rs it is, in order to the success OF
missions, shows how impossible it is to suppose
that the slaveholding and sIavery-sanctioniog
Christianity of the United States can ever convert
the world. These churches must be reformed.
Lights must be made to burn once more upon
those candlesticks that remain. The fire o. a
pnre Christianity must be rekinded upon those
Christian affairs" Hence comprehensive and
wise system of efforts for The conversion of Mo-
hamedans" and the heather abroad, evil en-
brace system Of efforts for the spiritual renova-
ton of the" sIaveholding and slavery sanction
ing American churches"
Ezaancipator