Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-06-27
THE FIR E E M A N.
For the Freeman.
T Ut FIIt T 7 ILFTEIEIF'
REPLY TO-B PUTNAM.

" Is consistent for .abolitioniSts, lCho, in The
fear Of God, hare lcithdra,On franz proslaUery pO-
lcat parties, TO adhere to proSIauery churches 2"
his Is the questions let us not be diverted from
It, 1t is no. whether "spirits are stalking through
the land, seeking the overthrow of all organiza-
ton, human and diyine?" 1t is not whether the
world would be better off without the church off
Christi or not (Which seems to be the point of ar
gument to which br. Putnam has arrived) But,
Is slavery any better in the church than out Of it?
Is religious fellowship with slavery, holy and con
sistent' Is fellowship for slavery reigously holy
and politically unhoy' Is talking against slavery
and acting in fellowship with it, religious consist
ency and political hypocrisy' Can the same act
be politically damnable and religiousIy justifable'
politically wrong and regously right? Wing alb
clifton prosavery, and genuine Methodstical anti
slavery? Hypocrisy in democracy, but rationalism
in Congregationalism' Right to fellowship pro-
slavery methodism, or any thing else that is pro-
slavery religious, but wrong to have anything to
do with antisayery whiggery, or any other thing
politically proslavery' consistency, thou art a
Jewel! doubt.not Br. Putnam's sincerity, Iut /
do his logic, if nothing more. In the same strain
he argues, that proslavery church is church of
Christ; The light of The world; 'The pillar and
ground of the truth; The salt of the earth;' and
thence concludes that its overthrow would be the
overthrow Of Christ's kingdom, and says If this
were possible, it would require a greater effort,
than to overthrow slavery otherwise All this and
much more gives me 10 know Brother Putnam to-
totally misunderstood me and is fighting ga man of
straw" have said nothing about "overthrow-
ing" the church. am no ''disorganizer." But if
| have "glVen occasion,'' to be thus "eyl spoken
Of" will 'take it patiently" for no one can
greet it more than myself God forbid that should
ever appear to sympathise with those who would
destroy the church Of Christi; however organic
ed or wherever found. But ifcontendng against
u rejected generation,' "A pro-slavery priest
hood, An 'unholy nation "a people peculiar for,
and Jealous of evi works. the pillar aud 'Bul-
wark Of slavery, the SALT of OPPRESSION the 'bo-
som retreat of a system Of oppression emeuoting
from the internal REGION should say, 'it is in
consistent for christian abolitionists to uphold
them or remain with them, hope not thereby to
hateful to God. After hearing Br. Putnam use
the same arguments against church publication
that are used against political purificaon-the ar.
gunents of Ronansts against reform, or of the ole
temperance society against total abstinence, an
more than ever convinced, not only as Br. Putnam
says, that the church is the 'buIwark and bosom
hiding place of slavery, but that abotionsts con
stitute that 'bulwark and hiding place THOSE
of them who have withdrawn already, have dis
turbed the 'old adversary more than all the 'tuf
of grass flung at him by his adhering reprorers
: And had all who have thus withdrawn from pro
slavery churches, organized themselves upon anti
Sectarian principles, the earth had trembled a
> their tread. But, scattered as they are, their in
: fuence is greatly diminished The errors of til
few greatly counteract the influence of the many
because the many are not united. The errors @
some are great stumbling blocks in the way of 9th
J, ers who sincerely desire to do right But becaus
+ some have been driven into error while eScapin
from error, it does not follow that there is no sue
thing truth nor that truth is in Slavery church
e es. May the errors of others be way marks 70
n US; for aCe shall need hem 'ctL as Uisdom fro,
e aboUe For the time is al hand Sectaran re
j. forms and secessions will give place to gener,
coming together of all christians, uniting for on
e ohect-the deliverance of the name Of Jesus fror
n the reproach Of the world. What we need no,
is, to fall back upon first principles. 'Sayehold
ing is sim AS sin il should Immediately be pit
e away regardless of consequences Pro-slaver
politics are sinful; as such they should be Immed
e atety put away'-Banks, Tariff, Sub Treasures
! Polk and Dallas, Clay and FreIinghuysen, to tn
d contrary Notwithstanding Pro-savery religion
bodies of men are sin-sustaining hodiesl' As sue
II they should, after gospel admonition, be forsaker
> The cry Of 'Disorgauizers, in6dels, church de,
troyers,' Sc, should have no more iniuenc
j than the cry of politicians and pro-slayery mel
! that running the country, fanatics, incer
diaries, cut throats.' Do right, and do right nou
-, No expediency on moral questions, no conlprC
{, mise! no choice ofevils no delay! Obey and tru
n consequences with God. Ills IMMEDIATE
,f ISM that has always stirred up the cry of 'enthus
# asts and cut throats.' 1t is truth, because it
e Bible. And it is this Truth that understand B
le Putnam to be contendug against As in the day
ID of Luther, so now, Antlchrist in prestly gar
50 with holy horror and with hands appraised, crit
ct out the church, the church, And taking SLAYER
IS to his breast he stroked the monsters beard al
clad him in sleeps clothing, and hid him in.
safe retreat,'- aud babe him oyerawe the Who'll
a. That is my bulwufk, my citadel,' said he, 'n
II. Stronghold Politics are my outposts, and all
o. safe while | can use the presence of my foes
tn hide my imps and saints pure robes to hide yo
lg ugly horns and hoots.'
~ Ibelieve that they who adhere to proslave
ar churches, to 'hnrn them into actiou and to exc
good influence &c. &C., are just where slave
= would have them While his chief foes reIna
in his train aud minglen every thing (save word
:, with his followers aud BY their presence s'conct
! his phrt--his power and his con'ey proportio
~ -" behold the hope of him is vain In his ne
remaineth strength. The flakes Of has flesh .
=" joined together; they are firm in themselves; tn