Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1845-11-14
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE SOCIE-
TY OF FRIENDS IN DUBLIN.
DUBLIN, 18th Of Ninth month, l84i

DUBLIN, 18th of Ninth month, 1913.
DEAR FRIENDs:-We learn with regret,
that the Monthly Meeting of Dublin has this
day concluded to withhold the further use of
the Friends Meeting House in Eustace-
street, from Frederick Douglass, for his lee
lures on American Slavery.
We cannot imagine any thing more incon-
sistent with the profession the Society makes
before the world, than the reasons we have
heard assigned for this decision. No objec-
ton was made to the character of the lee
turer, or the truthfulness of his testimony;
as far as he is concerned, the FACTS he was
obliged to bring forward to prove his posi-
tons, form the chief difficulties in the way
of Friends. The objections that were made
were of three kinds.
Some Friends, who make no special OBJ
lection to anything that has been said in the
course of the two lectures delivered by Fred
erick Douglass, do not wish that their meet
ing house should be applied to any other pur-
pose than those of worship and discipline.
The cause of humanity appears not in their
eyes holy enough for the meeting house
premises. We know they would not like
it to be supposed that they believe, in COM
mon with most other Christian professors,
that there is something especially sacred in
the bricks and mortar of a place of worship;
IOI CIlu lOpR uPoh 81
secration as rank superstition. Nevertheless.
many, although they cannot precisely tell
why, do not feel easy at the idea oil any
such place being made use Of, except in a
religious capacity. The association of ideas
is SO strong upon their minds, that they un-
consciously give way to the same supersti-
ton which they condemn when openly man
ifested by others. 1t would otherwise be
difficult for such as these, to assign any OBJ
lection to the meeting house being lent for
the purpo se of hearing Frederick Douglass,
who was once a slave, and is now a man,
reveal the dark secrets of the house of bond
age, and point out to us the means by which
we may assist in the blessed duty of 'undo-
ing the heavy burdens, and letting the OPP
pressed go Free
How can the .4nti.sldrery Meeting be OBJ
iected to, whilst the Finance Committee star
ties nobody, though held on the same prem
isesl
Some Friends fear that Frederick Doug
lass does not EXPRESS himself in a suffi-
GENTLY gentle spirit. Only think OF those
who have been nurtured in the lap of ease,
who have never experienced cruelty, hun.
ger. or the midnight of the mind which is
the fate of the bondman, asking a slave tt
sneak in silken terms of Slavery. Frederick
DOUGLASS has drunk the bitter cup to thu
dregs. His back is even now furrowed witt
the cowskin, his soul burns with the wrongs
he has endured; the Shareholders have dom
their utmost to make a brute of him; ant
at this moment, if they yet live, his grand
mother, his brothers and sisters, and othe
companions of his youth, are crouching be
meath the iron heels of Christian professor
in the South.
Objections such as these, arc called pro
slavery in America. They are such as ar
continually thrown in the face of Abolition
lists, by those who say they are as a%nti-sIar'
ry as anybody, whilst they do nothing then
selves to prove their sincerity, and can nevt
he satisfied by any thing that is done by otf
ers for the overthrow Of Slavery.
A third class Of objecto.s are those wit
while they have no objection that an Ant
Slavery lecture should be delivered in OF
meeting house, cannot bear that any thin
offensive to any class of professors shouI
be uttered there-much less anything in 1t
slightest degree insinuating that Frien.
have not lone their duty in the Anti-sllveI
cause. We may portray the Sin of Shaver
In the darkest colors, but il will never do
change it home TO tho sinner. or TO say
him, Thou art the man. Yet this exp