Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-05-06
VERMONT TELEGRAPH.
BRANDON. WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1870.
THE NATIONAL BAP. ANTI-sLAVERY
CONVENTION,

neIu III the NcDougaf street BapuSt
Westinghouse, New York city, on The 28th.
29th, and Both ult. The attendance was
as full as could be expected, in view of the
great scarcity of money. Many were pre-
vented, solely for the want of money to de-
Tray the necessary expenses. The object
OF this convention was, TO take measures for
the publication of the Baptist church from
the sin of slavery. Nothing sectarian was
designed. And it is believed that nothing
sectarlan is chargeabe to the movement
1t was supposed that Baptist aboli,ionists
have some means for reaching Baptists on
this subject that "A promiscuous body of alb
olliionists do not possess-just as a circle
OF relatives by consanguinity or affinity
have power, not possessed by their neigh
bors or acquaintance, 10 regulate, and dis
pose OF, their own domestic or social az
fairs.
These things aw said here, because
something has appeared, in a certain quar-
ter, involving charge of sectarianism
against the Baptist abolilionists who have
started this movement. Nothing has been
further from my own designs than sectari-
anism, in anything have had to do with
the matter. My brethren can answer for
| themselves. should not fear or hesitate
TO answer for large numbers of them, and
have seen nothing 10 justify the charge
against any of those of them who are
sound abolitionists. do not recollect that
our Quaker, or Presbyterian, or Methodist
Anti-Slavery brethren have been charged.
or have been chargeable with sec1arianism.
IN their efforts for the removal of slavery
from among them.
1t is to be admitted, however, that there
are some evils attending these separate de-
nominational movements, as there are.
and probably will be, attending all the eff
forts OF finite, frail beings. When brethren
OF one religious denomination assemble TO
devise ways and means for the publication
OF the body, there may be more or less la
bility to sacrifice principles to numbers
On the part of those who move, there will
be strong desire to take along with them
as many of their brethren as possible and
thus there may be danger of hurtful COM
. promises-danger of dwelling doaon too
much for the levelling up that is obtained.
thought there was little proneness 10
this among some of my brethren at New
York-and this expression of sentiment of
mine will notsbe new TO them. utter it in
kindness Of feeling-not so much by way
OF complaint, as of caution. Whatever
there was of it came among US in this way :
Our Anti-Slavery Convention was less per-
feetly pure and sound, as such, for It's being
held in connection with the doings Of other
Baptist institutions. In the selection of
delegates, many were appointed TO attend
this because they were expected to attend
the others. Then we had our lobby mem
bers,' and our third house-members,' who
were extra of6cious with their counsels and
advice, which had more or less influence.
Again-There may be danger that de-
nominational efforts for UNCONVENTIONAL rem
ovation will render those who engage in
them less efficient in their connection with
, general operations.
But to the evil of leveling down-of sac
rifcing principles to numbers, there is more
or less liability in the most general move
ments of the most promiscuous bodies. If
there be an increased liability to this in
denominational movements, the question is,
whether there is not, on the other hand,
more than counterbalancing advantage in
the facilities which members Of the body
have for reaching ard reforming other mem
bers of the same body. II has appeared 10
me, as yet that, inasmuch as Christendom
is divided up into sects, there is something
for each sect to do, by itself, for its own
cleansing, and that such a thing may be
done without giving any just cause or oc-
casion for the charge of sectarianism. If a
sect may lawfully do anything, as sect,
most certainly it may cleanse itself from
sin. This / understand to have been the
object Of the Baptist Anti-Slayery conven-
iion-and TO be the object of the organiza.
ton which il has formed
| have said that the object of this denom-
national movement was. TO purity the de-
nomination from the sin Of slavery. At the
same time such work is done for the re-
moval Of this sin from the denomination, il
is believed that still more than this will be