The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-01-19
THE VOICE OF FREEDOM.
MONTPELIER, SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 1889.
" Revivals HindeFed."

ter recently addressed by Professor Emerson, of
Andover, to DR.. Osgood, of Springfield, Ms. The
Professor seems to have adopted the opinion that
the anti-slavery movements of the day are work.
ing mischief among the churches, by diverting the
attention of the ministry from their appropriate
work of saving souls. Now DR.. Osgood has been
to some extent, identified with that class of here
tics who hold that loving our neighbors as our
selves implies remembrance of those who are in
bonds "as bound with Them" and that faithful
proclamation of truth is the divinely-appointe
means of retaining all sorts of sinners, not ex-
cepting thousands within the American churches,
whose garments are polluted with the awful accu-
mutation of crimes necessarily connected with
slavery The first part of the Professors letter
(Which the Chronicle omits) speaks of :" such ac-
ton as that of the antislavery societies as
called for and out of place at the north, tending
positively to the injury of the cause of emanc-
patton ITSELF" and productive of other evils of no
little magnitude" These other evils" as before
limited, are said to be, the prevalence of discord
in churches the curtailment of ministerial useful
ness the hindrance of revivals, &c. We confess
that the republication of charges of so grave a
character against the anti-slavery enterprise,
companied by the endorsement by the Chronicle
of the whole extract containing them as timely"
appropriate and important" is what we were
not expecting Fortunately, however, this is a
question of fact, respecting which the evidences
are too abundant and palpable to be covered up in
cloud of surmisngs. We ask, then, that every
reader bring these charges to the test of his own
experience and observation. Is it true that the
anti-slavery agitation in Vermont, in New Eng
land in the West Indies, in the Sandwich Islands,
or anywhere, has hindered REVEALS, or otherwise
injurously affected the progress of christianity
Is it true that the faithful testimony of christians
against robbery, and OPPRESSION and od-guilt-
ness, and every abomination that maketh DESC
ate,' has obscured the light of the churches, i'm
paired their piety or hindered their usefulness /?
Let the statistics of those associations, conferences
and churches where such action as that of the
abolition societies has most abounded furnish
the answer. Let the pillar of fire WFyloriously
visible in tbaAmidst of the devoted bnd~ Of anti
slavery men in the Sandwich Islands, testify
Let the glowing flame on Gods altar at Lowell,
and the signal success of the devoted Scott, bear
witness. We might adduce many examples in
our own state, which should, at least exhonerate
the anti-savery cause from the imputations we are
n,
Cling into existence with thirteen members, deep
ly imbued with the spirit of the ant-slavery re-
form. We have seen the same church enjoying
continued revival since its organization, (about
four years. under the ministry of devoted aboli-
ZIONIST. We have seen numbers added to the same
church at every season of its communion. 1t now
numbers $40 members, every man, woman and
child of whom is an active participation in such
action as that of the anti-slavery societies"
1t is worthy of remark, that the same number
of the Chronicle in which we find this admonitorv
letter of Professor Emerson, contains commune
cation from the Rev, Mr., Spalding, late of the
Sandwich Islands, assigning his reasons for con-
fdence in the present revivals" in those Islands
Mr.. s. states that the pastors of all the Is church.
es are men Of prayer and faith-devoted to their
work and making sacrifices for Christ that
" they are harmonious in their views and act in
concert in all their measures for building up
Christs kingdom" The intelligent reader need
not be told that all the missionaries at the Sand
witch Islands are ardent friends of such action as
that of the abolition societies." The monthly con-
cert for the enslaved is regularly observed by them.
Their stirring appeals in behalf of our American
heather have already been extensively published
in the form of resolutions, and in letters to their
friends in this country.
We cannot close this article more appropriately
than by quoting the following testimony in support
of anti-slavery action
Is not this the fast that have chosen to loose the
hands of wckednes to undo the heavy burdens and
let the oppressed Free and that we break every yoke?
Is 1t not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou
bring the poor that cast out to thy housed when thou
seest the naked, that thou him. and that thou hide
not myself from thine own flesh?
THEN shall thy light break forth the morning. and
thine health shall spring forth speedily and thy righteous