Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-03-01
For the TIE Iegrap h j..

For the Iegraph.
WITHDRAWAL FROM THE CHURCH..
The following is copy of vote Of the
Baptist Church in Brandon, in connection
with my Withdrawal from them, together
with some of my reas ons for so doing:
Nop. 10, 1872 Voted that, whereas sis
ter c.. NJ Murray has made up her mind TO
leave the Church, without the intention of
uniting with any other Church, we are con-
strained to express our disfelIowship Of her
course, leaving her 10 act according to her
convictions of duty, and dropping her name
from our list of members.
G. A. THOMAS, Clerk pro tenn.
For some months previous to these pro.
ceedings, had been convicted Of my incon-
sistency in remaining in connection where
there was no such union as is professed. j
united with the Brandon Baptist Church,
nearly seven years ago, by letter. / was a
stranger to most Of the members at that
time, trusting, however, they were not
strangers TO Christianity. now look upon
the ordinances, creeds and formalilies of the
Church, differently. view its tests Of chris
lian character TO be false and deceptive,
inasmuch as in fact they make it more es-
sential TO profess belief than to practise
qrelL doing. Our religion is made too much
to consist in observing ordinances. Their
observance is too much made cloak for
sin, with which wish 10 be no longer unit
ed. "Pure religion and undefiled before
God and the Father is this, to visit the faith
erless and widows in their affection, and to
keep himself unspotted from the world"
have been led 10 see that my church rela-
ton involved me in fellowshipping slave
holding, and giving my religious sanction
10 other sins. have had severe trials on
this account. | have not had the same
privilege of demonstrating as my brethren.
Womeu's rights have been restrained. Fee
males, who compose more than half of this
Church, have not the right Of voting the
exclusion of members, nor equal freedom Of
speech with the males. "There is neither
male nor female: for We are all one in Christ
Jesus" have been, and am still, deeply
interested in Moral Reform-have been de-
pressed and discouraged in my efforts for
] this cause - have found but few that have
moral courage 10 use their influence against
the sin Of Licentiousness in the Church and
in the world. | have sometimes dared to
speak my feelings on this subject in our
| Mothers Association, but always 10 the
grief of some of its members. | have dis
connected myself from this society, feeling
could no longer suppress my convictions
of duty, because Of false delicacy existing
on this subject. Licentiousness is destroy
ing the rising generation, for the want of
action on the part of relisionists. mean
hereafter to be free and unshackled, exertng
my influence whenever and wherever
. think can advance the cause of purity
Last spring, a few interested individuals met
with the intention of forming society &c
promote Moral Purity. Our Pastor, G. A
Thomas, attended the first meeting, discour
aged the enterprise, expressing dlsaoprooa
ton of efforts out of the Church - would
, not give his influence or assistance TO form
society. My feelings were greatly injured
at the time. could see no good reason
why our Pastor would approve of Temper
ance Societies and Mothers Associations
which he has been efficient in sustaining
e and not aid in this great work. have la
3 bored with brother Thomas - have givel
f him my views of bis, as consider, incon
+ sistent course - am not satisfied with nj
? reasons for Withholding bis influence iron
this cause, while sustaining others. One
: his reasons given last spring was, there wer
$ getting to be too many societies-too mucl
J. being done independently of the Church.
5 My view is, that purity and truth should b
n sustained in the Church, and out of it. 4
o Moral Reform Association in this plac
It would be unpopular at present; and ! thin
:, moral purity would be poorly sustained Ut
" der The sanction of this Church, until il
h cleansed from IFS own pollution. Facts ar
a many to show that much good has beer
i. and is being done for The degraded, by Sc
,e cieties engaged in the cause Of virtue. Man
e of our youth have been kept from the vorte
\. of ruin, by efforts in this cause. woul
" that all-who love the cause Of purity, woul