The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1843-07-27
From the Emancipator and Free American.
pRO.sLAYERY CHURCH ACTION!


the devil" OF course, the "Christianity of
such proceedings" the writer inquiries about,
is where slavery and color phobia originated,
viz: the "boltomless pit" Such Christiani-
! ty will never get nearer Heaven than the
place from whence ii originated.
fit is proper to exclude "the niggers," il
is certainly as proper to exclude "those
| classed with them" We had as lief be ex-
cluded as TO have our brother excluded. An
injury to him is an injury to US. Remenl-
Der them in bonds as bound qpiM Mem," is
| the divine command.
But after all, the exclusion of the colored
people is one of the very best things that
could be done for them, an this instance.
| Why2 Because that church, judging by
lis fruits. is in league with the world, and
both together form broad gateway TO per-
dtion. And though there may be other pas
saee-ways that lead to the same place, yet
this, being blocked up, and the door sealed
by The very terms of the bond, makes one
less highway TO ruin for all those excluded.
Perhaps our friend H. H. b. did not think of
that. But this view of it is no mitigation
of the Guilt of this church. They have 10
answer 10 Him who searcheth the hearts
and trielh the rens of the children OF men,
ARLINGTON, July Isl, l843.
Sir:-I feel it incumbent upon me,
as friend Of the slave and our colored
brethren, to make known through you,
to the anti-slavery public, the astonsh-
ing and truly heart-rending anti-Chris'
tian conduct adopted by the pr0prietOrs
of tie Baptist MeeIing House in this
place, in regard to our colored brethren.
I would gladly excuse myself from per-
forming this duty, if l felt that the cause
of God and his oppressed poor demand
ed it. But when l see such shameful,
such bare-faced proceedings, on the
part of protesting Christians, we are
bound, especially as followers Of Jesus, to
speak out in condemnation of such an
ti-Christian conduct. "Have no fellow
ship" says the great apostle, "with the
unfruitful works of darkness, but rather
reprooe Mem."
And now, Mr.. Editor, will you be-
lieve me when tell you, and the anti
slavery public, that the proprietors of
the Baptist Meeting House in Abing-
ton, have ordered their committee, on
giving deeds of pews, to give them to
ono person or persons" unless he OF
they will take them on "erpress cOndi-
lions, and not Otheraoise," to debar not on
ly sail colored person or PERSONS" but
" all cZassed soiM Mem,'' from entering
them; and this, too, not only for months
and years, but "roREvER" !! Aston
ishing, humiliating as this is, it is indeed
so. Yes, and more aggravating. That
you, and the anti-slavery public, may
know the facts in the case. l will give
you a copy of the deed, one of which |
have before me. 1t reads precisely
thus
"To have and to hold the same to
the said -, his heirs, and assigns,
forever, upon cypress conditions, and not
oMeraOise, that the SAID --, his heirs,
md assigns, shall not suffer the said pew,
'r any part thereof to be conveyed to,
occupied by, or in any manner come in
o possession Of any colored person or
persons, or any one cIaSsed ao1lh him or
hem and that the House is to be u
Calvinistic Baptist Meeting House for
ever"
If the Constitution of these United
States is subject 10 different construc-
ions with reference to its application to
he African race, think there can be
10 such "diferent constructions put
Upon the above language. l think they
acted 4nderStGndjagJy.
But what inhumanity, what ingrati-
ude Oh how astonishing it is that
professors ofthe religion of Jesus, should
'e guilty ofsuch anti Christian conduct!
Where, yes, where, ask, is the Chris
ianity Of such proceedings? Do you
ind it in Jesus? No. But on the con-
rary, you find Him the friend of the
oor, the despised, the oppressed; say
ng -"inasmuch as ye did it not 10 one OIL
he least Of these my brethren, ye did it {
ot to me.'' {
Have you ever, Mr.. Editor, in all
hat you have witnessed of this unholy
rejudice against our colored brethren,
yer witnessed anything like this? |
ertainy should have thought that when c
hey had debarred our colored brother |
fore0er," from entering their pews, that |
MS would have been sufficient to have
atsfed this prejudice without their in j
luding those classed with him." and |
ebarring them also t0recer," from oc- +
upying them ! Well may the conduct S
RS of railroads and stage-coaches, and a
legislatures, when demonstrated with, c
nd petiiioned for their conduct in rela- /
on to the colored man, point us to the l
roceedings Of our churches And !
hat hypocrisy it is in US to petition our c
legislature, asking them to grant to our !
olored brethren equal rights on our e
when we are guilty of such 4
onduct in our churches. But, ridicul- j
US as 1t is, andihypocritical as it may Il
ppear, it is indeed true of many of the P
lembers, both of the Baptist church e
nd Society in Arlington. Some ofthem h
re very loud in condemnation of such n