The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-06-15
M ISC ELL A n E GU S .
Responsibility of Ministers.

The following sentiments of President Green,
at the late meeting of the Connecticut Antisave-
ry Society, are furnished by a correspondent from
notes taken at the time they were delivered. 1t is
not supposed that the exact language is given but
the ideas conveyed, we believe, are correct The
remarks were made in support of the following
resolution -
"Resolred, That we regard the Christian min
lister as the Heaven commissioned advocate and
the Church as the devinely appointed refuge of
the enslaved; and while acting in their appro-
pirate character are entitled to confidence and sup
port of the patriot, philanthropist and believer
The responsibility of purifying public senti-
ment thro' the truth, depends, in great degree on
ministers of the gospel-thcy to enlighen the
derstanding, by some appropriate way, expressing
their feelings and the truth.
All admit that evils Of the greatest magnitude
are connected with the system of slavery. The
most insufferable insus--and crushing injuries
are essentially and vitality connected with the
system yea, the best and immortal interest OF
our fellow men and communities are involved.
Yet how often the question is raised, What have
we to do with the system What have ministers
to do with it
Do they love the truth? Who ever heard of
ministers shrinking from the investigation Of
truth
is SdlQ Lne SuD]eCl is ueIlCdtc anu
embarrassing. What is embarrassing A regard
for God and the truth never embarasses the min
lister. Imperious, headlone passion usurps, gags
and controls the church and minister, and whcncv-
err this is the case must not the church sink deep
er and deeper in corruption and degradation?
Just in proportion as the community is controlled
by passion, it must be corrupt and degraded. Pas
sion goads its victim from one excess to another
it never slumbers-it clings to its victim with a
death grasp, and just in proportion as influences
and gags the christian minister, the community
must suffer. Therefore, for the welfare of the
church, must plead with ministers that they
will plead the cause of the poor and needy, and
our oppressed brethren and fellow countrymen.--
On them devolves fearful responsibility in this
matter. To correct public sentiment and moral
purity, law is indebted for life and authority. Who
is responsible for this moral Sen@ in men? Who
is to awaken in them hearty love for law ?-the
messengers Of truth-those whose province it is to
lift up their voices like a trumpet, and cry " thus
saith the Lord" If ministers sleep at their posts
are dumb"-whatever laws are made, they are
dead leter-inert--for the want of sufficiently
energetic public sentiment to enforce them. There
must be correct public sense to give life to law,
or it is null and void
Those then who are placed over the public NOR
ais, to guard them, to purify and keep them, are
responsible for the political action of the people
for they mould the morals which govern men al
the polls and unless proper moral religious in
struction be plainly and pointedy incucated, eve
nv good law will be dead thing
If you have pro-slGoery, 1@s, tinaerSerring man
in the pulpit, who is influenced by Segfsh' stag
gering policy, it is useless to send in petitions to
your legislature. or pass laws in yonder State
House.
The pulpit is responsible for lis influence IN this
great christian and philanthropic cause,
. Whenever we meet with violence, and mobocra-
~ prevails to preventive Of our down-trodden
and enslaved fellow-men being plead, the Amerl-