Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-02-03
KIAH BAYLEY.
For the Green Mountain Freeman.
REV. B. NJ. HALLS LETTER.


out any expectation Of its being published, but we
think it is too good to be lost
w. BERKSHIRE, 10Th JAN, 1914.
To The President and members of The Methodist
Preachers .Anti-S|auery Convention, to be hold
en- at Randolph, on the Gath inst -
DEAR Fathers & BRETHREN Not being able to
meet with you in Convention and enjoy the salts
faction which it would afford me, to share in your
deliberations on the important subject of the con-
nection of the M. E. Church with slavery, and
with you endeavor to devise means for the des-
truction of such connection, while the Discipline
and usages of the church shall be preserved nyio
late; cannot deny myself the privilege of address
sing you by letter, though be least of all.
You, dear brethren, cannot stand in need of any
advice from one SO comparatively young in the
ministry, aud poorly qualified as my humble
self to give it: nor will attempt any work of the
kind
For more than eight years, have been fully
convinced Of the inherent sinfulness of slavery
that it is sin, and only SIM and that continually
TO declare myself an abolitionist, cost me a severe
struggle; and, for short time, was held trem-
bling in the balances! In the one scale | behed
truth, mighty TRUTH brilliant as the diamond of the
first water; while on the one side of her stood du-
ty to God, and on the other, good will to man,
These beckoned me onward in that direction, and
pointed with one hand to the slave, the down-trod-
den, outraged chattelized, grooming, dying slave,
and with the other, directed my trembling gaze to
the tribunal of Almighty God In the other scale
lay the opposition Of my brethren in the ministry
to "modern abolitionism"- advice of the Cen
eral Conference, to "wholy relran;" the susp-
clon with which the abolitionist was regarded by
his "chef minsters;" and fearful array of him
ORANGES to full, and bold declaration of abolition
sentiments well calculated to make the timd hes
tate! But looking upon both sides of this great
subject, with the fear of God before my eyes, and
the Heaven originated principle of benevolence in
my heart, how could long be held in state of
indecsion' / could not Nor have for single
hour regretted the course then taken, and no fears
are INDUCED that that course will be regretted in
that day when the King shall say, " Inasmuch as
ye have done it unto one of the least of these my
brethren, We have done it unto me.''
Three hundred and xty-fve times in the wear,
for eight years past, has my heart been grieved at
the recollection that the church of my choice tolc-
rated slavery! AS often have bIushed before the
world, that our beloved Methodsm should stoop
from her high seat to poutc herself by pressing
to her bosom so vile monster And often, very
often, have shuddered, when that same Method
ism has thrust herselfbetween slavery and the hea-
Wy artillery Of Heavens own truth; thereby recei-
wing the wounds intended to be inflicted on the
head of that old dragon, slavery
In view of the fact, that the NJ E. Church is in
volved i'll connection with slavery, I feel it my
duty to enter my most solemn and public protest
against such an unnatural union In the name OF
the founder of Methodism whose name we vene-
rate, and who has left on record on that subject
g Thoughts that burn" | protest against slavery
In the name of Clarke, Coke, Watson, an
Asbury, and the whole constellation of Antslaye
ny stars of the first magnitude in the armament OF
} Methodism, protest against slavery in the M. E
!, Church! In the name of our common country
whose welfare we should seek, and for whose
peace we should pray, protest against the adul
ferrous union of american JMethodiSn, with finer
ican Slavery! In the name of our common Chris
tanity which requires that we remember those il
bonds as bound with them )" whose spirit is be-
neuotence, and whose essence IS lone; protes
against slavery! In the name of the millions o.
heather in this land of Bibles, of Sabbaths, o
? ministers, made heather by law, and deprived o
every right, and exposed to every wrong; lprotes
against slavery, in the name of all that is true Of
honest, or lovely, of good report. If there bC
any virtue, or any praise, let slavery be put out
0 the M f. Church! Finally, in the name of thu
Great and terrible God, whose prerogatves SLAYER!
: usurps, and whose law it scorns, let slavery b.
II anGthamG! slavery! thou fiend of darkness +
n Thou hell-scorched spirit! Why contest thor
II within the sacred precincts of the visible churcI
: of Christi suspect thou art allied to the spri
e which, by lies to our first parents, and blasphe
y mics against God, converted a paradise into