The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-05-25
N gJNH BEER 81.

church, 1t was rent in sunder and divided into two
Jealous and hostile sects. This is the same BODY
which, in 1918, declared slavery to be gross
violation of the most precious rights of human ma
ture' and utterly inconsistent with the law of God'
and which testified that the evils to which the
slave is always exposed, often take place in their
very acorSt degree and form; and when all of
them do not take place, still the slave isl denrived
of his natural right, degraded as human being,
and exposed to the danger of passing into the
hands of master who may inAict upon him all
the hardships and injuries which inhumanity and
avarice may suggest Since the separation of
the General Assembly, the leading influences Of
both parts have thought it best to abstain from ALL
action which might displease the upholders of
system which violates the most precious rights of
human nature as we'll as the law of God. On
one side we are told that the peace of the church
was sacrificed to keep peace with shareholders,
and that the old school party is pure from aboli-
tionism on the other we see thorough going
defender of slavery translated from Richmond to-
Philadelphia to take charge of newspaper, which
proposes to make itself the principal organ of the
new school party. Are we mistaken in suppos-
ing that the great body of Presbyterians cannot
much longer be led by men who cast off and con-
tenn its solemnly recognized obligations to the
slave? One Presbytery, that of Chilicothe, Ohio,
we understand, has already Withdrawn and esab-
lished itself on thoroughly anti-slavery basis.
At the same time the southern portions of the
church are endeavoring to get rid of the intolera-
Bile restraints of humanity and honesty by decar-
ing their independence. For this purpose pa
per has been established in Charleston, and we
meet with expressions from many minor bodies,
like the following resolution passed by the Pres
byteran church of Petersburg, Va.
1,,o1 IL Il
consent longer to remain in connexon with any
church where there exists statute comforting the
right upon slaves to arraign their masters before
the judiciary of the church, and that too for the
act of selling them without their consent first had
and obtained"
A similar influence is at work to bring the Meth
odist Episcopal Church to the support of slavery.
The founders of this body, Wesley, Coke and As
bury, were strongly opposed to slavery, and the
two latter encountered great personal danger in
rebuking it from the pulpit IN the slave States
Strong anti-slavery sentiments were incorporated
in the earliest standards of the denomination-so
strong that it was deemed best to publish an obi
ton of their book of discipline for circulation at
the South, from which that part which treats of
slavery was left out. The southern Methodists
now insist that they shall not be rebuked in their
sin. In that contradiction of their old Standards
the Baltimore Conference has justified the PUR-
CHASE or SALE of slaves if unattended with
of cruelty injustice or inhnm2nity.-
The Georgia Conference has declared tha' slavery
is not moral e01;; the South Carolina CONFER
ence that it is sanctioned and authorized, by the
word of God and yet strange to say that it is not
a proper subject for church action. At the same
time the leading men of the church at the North,
while obliged to confess that slavery IS great
moral evil are wagng ecclesiastical war against
their brethren who proclaim it sin, for the sake
Of keeping peace with those who unblushingly
declare that it is not moral evil. These men,
when they have had the power as in the New
ork Conference, have suspended their brethren
rom the ministry for the crime of attending &
Methodist Anti-Savery Convention, and have
condemned the lions Waterman in this city. for
aking the part of the slaves. In the New En-
gland Conference, where they have found them
selves in the minority, they have endeavored to
sntrap their brethren into REIMBURSEMENT of their
principles under the guise of pacifcation. 1t is
gratifying, though but matter of course, to say
hat these champions of slavery, headed by bish-
op who quotes the Golden Rule as good authority
FOR slaveholding, have done nothing but advance
he cause Of abolition >
We might add similar statements in regard to
other great denominations. While the leading
men at the North are madIy striving to keep the
peace of christian fellowship with the perpetra-
ors of robbery, and the justifers of adultery,
heir fellow christians are beginning to be arous-
ID to their duty, and to take the earliest opportu
lity to perform it. This committee may be ac-
used of stepping out of its sphere to disturb the
,eace of the churches but their real disturbers are
heir old professions of faith and rules of practice.
Would they but abide by these their peace might
re as a river but while they violate them, and
here is free tongue left to upbraid them, they
must expect to be like the troubled see that can
lot rest
From the Pennsylvania Freeman.
-, M IVoro Wa N ind