Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-12-08
VERMONT TELEGRAPH.
BRANDON. WEDNESDAY. DEC. 8, 1874
NEW CHANNELS,
Excluding the Price Of Blood

Excluding the Price OF BLOOD.
Under this head, this week, have concluded to
give place TO the following extract from letter,
received from a friend, appending a few notes:
" Brother Murray: ..--...
IregretIed exceedingly the necessity of
being absent from the Conventions at Wa
lerbury and PoultneY, but felt that duty
called me away at those times. should
have been highly pleased to have partici-
pa,ed in the doings of those meetings. But
perhaps it was best for me not TO have been
there MY present view is, however, that
should have shaped some of the resolutions
little differently. Ipresume you will be-
lieve that 81 am as much opposed to slavery
as anybody" if not little more; and still
have some doubts relative to the final
Withdrawing Of our funds from the Mission
Board. My feelings | presume are as ad-
verse 10 the doings of the Baltimore Con-
ventioI as your own, and none the less so
since seeing and conversing with number
Of brethren who were there. (D =
am aware also that there are other reas-
ons aside from what was done there, which
call for some action in reference to our chan
nels Of benevolence. The great question
seems to be, can zoe permit oar contribH-
tions, in aid Of Missions, to naingle and
foc in The same channel Nth those of the
Shareholder, and not, in so doing, counte-
nance slavery?(2) If this can, in truth, be
answered in the negative, then consistency
as web as christianity would require proc
lamation Of non-intercourse with the pres
ent Board Of Missions. No one, suppose,
doubts that a dollar given by sinner would
buy as much rice, curry and bamboo, for
the missionary, as one given by christian.
Nor have we any fears that the one would
become contaminated by The other, nor that
either would lose its value by being con
veyed by the same person in the same chan
mel. The only question is, do We counte-
nance sin, by receiving money Of the sin.
ner? (3) This, in general terms, we all
practically answer in the negative. We
receive money, in common, from the pro-
fame, the drunkard, the thief, the hbertine
and the oppressor of the poor, and yet we
do not mean by it, 10 countenance such
deeds. Perhaps may anticipate your re-
ply. You say, "lhe cases are different In
common practice, we only receive thei
money; we do not admit them as coadjut
ors 10 our enterprise, nor admit them te
office in our Board, nor in any way give
them voice in directing appropriations
Whereas in the other, we do all these"
This brings me to the main question Ii
my mind, viz: Whether for these errors W.
should abandon, or try 10 reform, the Board
If it is past reformation,-if we must con
, linue fellowship with slavery by continuing
our connection with the Triennal Conven
ton, then admit it should be abandoned
But it strikes me we should neper seced
from any body to which we belong, so Ions
as there is probability ofreforning IL. "a
, Ii is always expensive forming new bod
E les, either ecclesiastical or political II mus
$ be SO in the present case. II must be
T long time before there could be an eficien
organization for missionary purposes. Their
!. must also.be another set of officers paid, be
.. side all other extra expenses incurred il
! forming channel to the East Indies, an,
/ other parts Of the world. (5I
: Besides, if we secede we lose our powe
: to reform. We shut ourselves from tn
: Convention, and close our voice in th
election of its officers, or the controlling G
lis affair. This desire not TO 90. An
the more so, as learn from good authority
!. that votes only were wanting to hav
4 secured the appointment of, a, least, som
S different officers of the Board of the las
D Triennial Convention at Baltimore. Ha
all The seats Vermont, ~ Hampshire an
I Maine were entitled to, been filled by sue
). men as these States might have appointed
! these votes would have been obtained.
s mention this fact to show that there is hop
e Of reforming the Board. (6)
: lean but hope thar the time is not ia
distant, when the Baptist Triennial Con
b vention Of the United States, shall pas
resolutions something like the following:
4 Resolred, That this Convention can nc
!. recognize that, as q gospel church whic
/. retains members in its fellowship who bel
their fellow men in slavery.
!. RESOLVED, That we can not receive mon
!. ey into its treasury known to have bee
: obtained by the sale, or oppression Of huma
: beings.
Meanwhile we continue our contributions
!. we may be entering. our protest agains
: slavery, and stating to the Board our griey
: .r.n.U frA