Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-04-06
For the Tele graph:
+ r 0 G. EE DINGS

~ "eEIt"S " Secerdt PREACHERS 6
! Burlington District. held at Esse.
Fs6. Is and It, 1912, for the purpose
considering our duty as Methodi
1 Preachers IN reference to Slarery 1
our Church.. *.-=
Rev. Bishop Isbell was called 10 til
Chair, and B. NJ. Hall chosen Secretary
Meetings opened and closed by prayer
The following Resolutions were in,rodoc
ed and after discussion were adopted.
Res. /. That slavery, which consists i,
The forclble detention of one human bein.
by another as property. and subject to hi
arbitrary will, is opposed TO the phvsica
social, mental and moral interests of man
therefore God, who constituted the nature
of man, aud presides over the circumstan
ces OF his probationary existence, never
did, never 1ottL, and never can, sanction
slavery. except as a punishment.
2. That, although, among the people oil
God, there did exist a servitude in which
the bond man, and his posteri,y after hun
were held by the master; YET that was not
slavery, 'nasmuch as the master had not
an arbitrary control over him, but was
bound 10 treat him with kindness and equi-
ty. and allow him equal religious privilege
es with himself
3. That the instructions Of Christ and
his Apostles, as contained in the New
Testament, are diametricaIiy opposed to
Slavery; and therefore it is not possible
TO yield entire obedien:e 10 them and hold
slaves.
4. That if those Christians at the South
who profess opposition to slavery, and ap-
peal to the laws Of their States as an in
surmoun,abie barrier to the emancipation
of their slaves, tell US the truth, they are
in a most deplorable and degrading bond
age therefore it is our daly to "Remem-
Der Uhese persons) in bonds as bound
with them" and labor, and pray, for their
speedy deIiverance from the house ofbond-
age. -.. H.. FL:
S. That it is the duty Of the christian
minister to oppose sin in all its forms,
wherever it is found therefore. when
Legislatures, Governors, Magistrates. or
individuals are the sinners, it is his appro-
pirate work to reprove them.
6 That it is our solemn conviction,
that the AboIitionists 10 the M. E. Church,
are among its truest friends; and that, so
far are we from intending to leave it, we
are determined to lice and die in it, labor
ing for lis purity and prosperity.
. 7. Tha: opposition 10 slavery is :st
principle in Methodism, and any attempt
To sustain, or apologize for this "sum OF
all villanies,' is radicalsm of the most
kind.
S. That the relation sustained to slave
ry by the M E. Church. involves her 10
great responsibility, and calls loudly on
Meshodis,s, and Methodist Ministers, to
act decidedly and f4ilhfuIly, in opposition
10 the system.
9. That believing Gs we do that the
Abolition enterprise is of God, we will
not abandon il on ace cunt OF abuse, perse-
cutions, drfficu' or toll, bu; do all in
our power, which our circumstances will
permit. for It's support and success. /
10. That The Nv York ~Watchman,
has ably vindicated the cause of the OPP
pressed and is on many accounts vau-
able paper, and as long as it continues to
m ,intarn its present course, We will give
it our hearty support
II That We feel ourselves 3 ff1c'ed land
degraded, 10 sight Of the whole universe,
on accoun, of The Influence Of slavery in
our Ecclesiastical! councils; particularly
exhibited in the resolutions of our last
Gen. Conference, on colored testimony,
and more recently in prohibiting SIMON
Peter, a native African convert, from at
tending Missionary meeting 10 Norfolk,
Virginia. ... ~. 49,. .-.....~
II. That rs Abolitiorists. we are con-
tending for the first principles of Metho-
dism: and therefore feel ourselves under
the strongest obligations to maintain that
conscientious regard for all The principles
and dDties Of 'ettgioa, which was al once
the glory and reproach Of early Melho,
dis,s
The following Address to the members
Of the Methodist E. Church. on Burliug
tor District, was presented and adopted ::
Dear Fathers and Friends: --... ..~- ..<*
To suppose you Indifferent to the char
acier and conduct of those who are men,
hers of the same branch of the church
with yourselves. would be entertaining an
unfavor. Bile view Of your christian char
a,,er and interest for the church and TO
suppose you willing 10 exclude from your
Affections and fellowship, any portion OF
the members of the NJ. E. c.. without a
sLoroue hinvesliga,on into their real char
acier and conduct. and finding them, as
the result of that investigation, TO be gull