Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-02-14


obtained his consent The accused brother most
solemnly affirmed that he did it in obedience to
the command Of his Divine Master EGO We into
all the world and preach the Gospel to every
creature, and his ordination vows, and without
any intention in any wise to injure his brother,
who had complained. But all was is vain. The
Association withdrew fellowship from this worthy
brother, Tor no other reason, than expressed in
the complaint as above stated, and thus closed
the doors OF their pulpits against him, and pro-
claimed to the public that he was unworthy of
confidence as a religious teacher, The writer
was witness to this transaction from beginning to
end, being a member of said Association at the
time, and strong as the act indicates the feeling
Of condemnation to have been, it is not stronger
than that evnced during the trial of this broth
er This, all will admit, was action decisive,
emphatic, unmstakable The condemned broth
rpertectly understood it. He needed no labor
ed argument to convince him that such wick6d-
ness r could not be tolerated for moment by
the Association. And their ministers intended
to be understood; they meant to have their inhu-
shows that they know how to manifest their dis
appreciation, so as to have an offending brother
feel it. Well we want now to test the moral
sense of this Association by this en- the great
question OF slavery. | know that there is not
one of these ministers who would not complain
of being slandered, to be called pro-sayery. Nay,
more, they would all maintain with vehement
zeal, that they are 'as much opposed to slavery as
any body. But the proof-where is that Where
is the record of their having withdrawn fellow
ship from slavehodng ministers! The absence
of any such record, shows conclusiyely, that they
are not much shocked and gricyed, that the rep.
resentatiye of their Lord is sold in the market
like the beasts of the field, even by their breth
rem, in the ministry commissioned to preach de-
lveranee to the captives C) and the opening o
the prisons to them that are bound And there
is good reason to believe that most of them woulc
sooner open their pulpits to southern savchold
ing minister, with the price of his brothers sou
and body in his pocket than to him whose only
offence is preaching the gospel to those who
wished to have him, within the bounds of broth
err minister's parish without having obtained hi
consent to do so. Now to present the question
in a light to ascertain the weight Of moral inAu
ence these ministers exert against slavery, w
will take this book of records, and present it t
the saveholding Association of ministers The
see the withdrawal of fellowship from the broth
or whose case has been stated, but not so nue.
as word of rebuke against themselves, for buy
ing and selling the image of their God VIVA
E number administers, occupying the same position
with those of this Association, would it requir
to convince the Rev. Dr. Fuller that slavery
sin! The Doctor pledges himself, if convince
Of this, he will preach against slavery, at a
times, in all places, and on all occasions. Ala,
depending on the action and moral influence
such ministers in the free States, the greater the
! number, the farther removed is the day of hi
conviction. And on the other hand were ever
protested minister of Christ in the free States,
bear the same testimony against slaveholdin1
o that these have borne against worthy brother
preaching the Gospel within the bounds of anotl
o er minister's parish, without having first obtaine
E his consent, DR.. Fuller, and thousands more
the same position with himself, would be owe
= whemed with conviction of their wrong-doin!
and at once obey the command of Jehovah, 'cl
. aloud and spare not, lift up thy voice like
= trumpet and show my people their transgressions
i And what then! That moment slavery won
:, be struck with death On whom then rests Il
fearful responsibility of the existence of SLAYER
. That this united testimony of the clergy and Il
!, church in the free States against slavery, wou
produce such an effect upon the clergy g. churc
in the south, few if any among us will presun
q to question, and that slavery could exist in Il
# south, with the testimony ofDr Fuller and ;
"a his brethren in the ministry, and the who
IS Southern church. against it, not single mi
=, for moment VIII contend | hold then, tn
- the church is responsible for the existence
I, slavery in the United States, and that great pr
&c portion of that fearful responsibility rests on t
l. Clergy and the Church in the free States.-S.