Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1845-11-07

which causes the hunted fugitive 70 faint.
humanity to slcken, and the oppressor to tri-
umph. The rlotous proceedings to suppress
the right Of speech, when attempted 10 be
exercised in behalf Of suffering humanity,
by a worthy and self-sacrifcing representa-
tive of the slave, and advocate of his causes;
and in several instances the forcible election
Of the same individual from our meeting
houses, and this conduct not only tolerated
and c%onnived at, but openly advocated by
our ministers and those occupying high sta
tions in the society, and all upon the INSULT
cient plea that he was not a member; a plea
which savors deeply of hypocrisy and false
hood; for it is well known, that in our pub
lie meetings persons not members have very
often been allowed to speak, when they con-
sidered it their duty so to do. No official
voice has, to our knowledge, ever been rails
ed against this proscriptive course. Time
was when it was not so; when the oppressed
of all climes turned for sympathy and aid to
the Society of Friends. 1t did not then love
its peculiar forms and ceremonies better than
humanity. 1t did not then overlook the calls
of the present, in all-lbsorbing admiration of
the past. Far different was its character
then. when, in aioance Of the morals IF the
age, it made it a disownable offence to Lold
property in slav7s. Now, when increased
light calls for advance. the Society refuses
to move onward; pointing to the ground
which it assumed years ago, as its fixed po-
sition, it prides itself upon occupying no
sliding platform, forgetful that progress is a
law of nature, and that what does not adj
vance is essentially rctrograding. 1t seems
to he the language of many, Have we not
Fox, Penn, and Woolman for our fathers,
and shall we not be saved!
In view of these things, it is not surpris-
ing that conscientious individuals in different
parts of the country, looking as they do up
on the society as professedly a Christian
church, and unwilling to end rise its charac-
ter as such, thereby holding up a filse light
and pToclaiming themselves hypocritcs to the
world, have left and are still leaving it
And if we might not rcmaia in an associated
capacity, without being controlled by any
decision of the majority which conflicts
with our individual sense of right, we should
feel bound to follow their exa nplc; but hav-
ing the right, and certainly meaning to ex-
ercise it, of publicly protesting against any
m7asure which may call for such a course,
and denying its character and repudiating
its authority as a Christian church, many Of
us think we may, without mourning undue
responsibility, or being made partakers Of
other mems sins, retain our rights as mem
bers, uniting when we can, dissenting when
wa must, and at all times refusing to give
position to anti-slavery and every other re-
form - be encountered in the world, Is the
natural result Of that almost inevitable growth
of timc-honored sectarian institutions, that
understandable, intangible, yet more potent In
fuence for evil, that blind reverence for sect
and all that pertains to Ii, that idol-worshlp
which leads to the belief that man was made
Tor the church, rather than the church for
man; and perceiving the close approximation
of the Society of Friends, in several partic-
ulars, to the popular sectlrian church organ
~izations of the day, we cannot but feel the
necessity of waging perpetual war against,
not only "A narrow, bigoted, sectarlan spirit
in all its ghostly manifestations, but against
whatever forms and usages Of our Society
only tend to foster il. 70 pursue this course,
or at once to declare our disunion with the
society, seems to be incumbent on us. We
feel that it is sinful by continued silence to
sanction its evil influence; we must therefore
speak out as we have never yet spoken, AMI
fail not to press the cause of the slave upon
unwilling ears, until the peoples hearts are
moved, or we expelled from the body. Tn
former, in view of the prcjudices we have
to encounter, seems to be "A forlorn hope; but
if the latter should be the result of our la
bors, which, judging the future from the
past, we have reason to expect, then will
the society stlnd confessed in its true light,
then will it wear its own colors, and the
world shall not longer be deceived by a show
of the standard Of truth, while all beneath
is corruption and ~rottenness. We must not,
cannot remain co-workers in evil, by giving
silent countenance and support to an iniu-
ence so dangerous as that which now claims
our consideration.
Signed by direction, and on behalf of the
Conference.
SIMON BARNARD, -,