Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-03-04

-.
IN connection with the above Call.
AS soon as possible after entering on
the duties Of our Office, we sent out pfi-
mary Circular to ascertainfthe views OF
orr constituents on the propriety OF hold
mo the proposed National Convention,
and 10 obtain the names Of such as aPpfoy-
ed the important measure. Replies have
been received from the States OF Maine,
New Hampshire, Vermont, Massacha-
sets. Rhode Island, Connecticut, New
York. New jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio.
Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana. We
have also good reasons for declaring that
there are many more in the Free States |
whose names are not affixed to the Call,
land we are happy to have it in our pow
or to add, in the Slave States too,) who
are in favor of holding such a Conven-
tion.
We issee the Call and Address, there
fore, with the expectation that they will
be the honored instruments, In the hands
of God, Of assembling together large
number Of Brethren and Friends, from
/. various parts of our beloved land. Con-
ventions have already been held in sever
al States, and Delegates appointed to the
meeting, who we doubt not will attend.
The reasons tor calling the Convention
are, briefly, the following:
1. The Baptist Churches of The United
States are deeply inroIved IN the sin .
Sldrsry.
The proof OF this position is found in
the fact that there are probably more
slaves held by members of Baptist Church
es and Congregations, than by any other
denomination in tie country. There are
single Baptist Churches containing from
500 to 1900 slave members; and the
whole number of these portions of the
body of Christ, held in bondage by Bap-
list Ministers and Laymen, is at least ONE
HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND
SOULS
II will readily be perceived that the
influence of this dreadful fact is felt
among all the Baptist pulpits; and presses,
and seminaries, and Bible, aud Missona-
nv, and Education and Sunday -School
and Tract Societies, throughout the length
and breadth Of the land More than TWO
s. MILLIONS of heather cannot innocently
remain such in the midst of these Ameri
can Churches As a whole, therefore
the Baptist Church is deeply involved
indeed, in the guilt and consequences Of
Slavery.
Ii. Baptist Churches are ace1 consti.
tatsd for the removal Of this SIN.
Such is our happy form of church
government, that, while it provides for
and maintains the independence of each
church, however large or small, it is ca.
pable Of reaching every evil that lies in
any part of the whole body. A move
ment iudiciously made on this subject, in
an obscure church, in the remotest Dor
ders Of our Zion, may be felt in all ou
- local Associations, and State Conventions
and even in the Tricnnial General Con
venton itself Such movement as w,
contemplate, therefore, under the guild
ance OF Heaven, will reach every altar
and publication, and communion tabl
where slavery has been baptized into TIT
church Of God. And nothing is NOR,
certain that if this fruitful mother O
denominations cannot live in the church
it must eventually die in the state.
III. The time has arrived for diStinc
National Church Organizations.
Whatever important objects have beer
81 may be, accomplished by such Institu
tons as the American Anti-Savery So
ciety, it is evident that they cannot reacI
and reform all the branches ofthe Chris
titan Church. The legitimate operation
j, of such societies, when prudently carries
forward, are extensive and arduou
enough without their attempting to con
troll the order and discipline of BapLis
Churches. This order and discipline car
only be efficiently controlled by mem
hers in good Standing in such churches
and hence the indispensable necessity o
4 Baptist National Organization. Othe
churches too, need similar organizations
and we may thereby accomplish grea
good by showing them the beneficial eff
fects OF ours.
". Our Brethren IN other countrie
expect such an Organization.
The letters which have been receive
by your Central Corresponding Commit
tee, and others, from Brethren in Eng
land, Scotland, the West Indies, and tn
Canadas, conclusiyely prove that they ar
IDENTIFY desire such Society as is conten
plated The Rev. WILLIAM KNIFE
one of the first Missionaries in Jamaica
and who has passed through the fires {
the hot. persecution there to witness tn
happy condition of his emancipated focl
has given US written promise that h
avill be present in the Convention.
Ills the strongly expressed wish of on
fellow-laborers abroad. that we may /
officially united, for the purpose Of be
ter correspondence and cooperation wit
them in our blessed enterprise. TT
manner in which several of their kir
and faithful fraternal appeals were 70
merly disposed Of by those to whom the