Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-06-26
SLAVERY AND THE CHURCH.


The New School General Assembly Of
the Presbyterian Church. after a long discus
sion, adopted, on "Wednesday, the following
declarations introduced by DR.. Dufield.-
The vote stood 81 to 27-70 majority in the
affirmative. Absent 20.
l. The system of slavery, as it exists in
these United States, viewed either in the
laws of tae several States which sanction it,
or in its actual operation and results in soci-
ETY., is intrinsically unrighteous and oppres-
sive, and is opposed to the prescriptions of
the law of God, to the spirit and precepts Of
the Gospel, and to. the best interests Of hu-
maniiy.
>. Tho testimony Of the General Assem-
bly,, from A. D. 1897, to A. d. 1918, inclu-
sive, he's condemned it, and it remains still
the recorded testimony of the Presbyterian
Church of these United States against it,
from which we do no. recede.
3. We cannot, therefore, withhold the
expression Of our deep regret that Slavery
shouif be continued and countenanced by
any of the members OF our Churches; and
we DO earnestly eXhort both them and tn e
Glnrcbes, among whom IL exists, to use. all
mems IN TIER power 10 put it away from
fhein. It's perpetuation among them cannot
fail to be regarded by multitnGes influenced
by their example as sanctioning the System
portrayed in, and maintained by, the statutes
Of the several slaveholding States wherein
ley dwell. MOI can any mere mitigation Of
rs severity, prompted Ivy the humanity and
Christian feeling Of any who continue to hold
their fellow men in such bondage, be regard
ed either as a testimony against the system,
or as in The least degree changing its essen
rial character.
A. But while we believe that many evils
incident 10 the system, render it important
md obligatory to bear testimony against il,
vet would we not undertake to determine the
degree of moral tul pitude on the part Of in
dividuals involved by 1t. This will doubt
less be found to vary in the sight Of God, ac-
cording to the degree Of light and other cir
cumstances pertaining 10 each. In view Of
all the embarrassments and obstacles in the
way Of emancipation l~nterpossd by the stat
ulcs Of the sIaveholding States, and by the
social Influence affecting the views and con-
duct Of those involved in it, we cannot pro.
neunce a judgment of general and promiscu-
GUS condemnation, implying TINT restitution
Of Christian principle and feeling which
should exclude from the table Of the Lord,
MI who should stand in the legal relation OF
masters TO slaves, or justify US in withhold,
ing our ccclcsiastical and Christian fellow.
ship from them. We rather sympathize with
and would seek TO succor them in their en-,
barfassments, believing that separation anc
secession among the churches and their mem
bers, are not the methods God approves and
sanctions fer the reformation Of his Church
5. While, therefore, we feel bound TO beal
our testimony against slavery, and to exhor
our beloved brethren to remove il from then
as speedily as possible, by all appropriate anC
available means, we do at the same tim con
denim all divisive and schismatical measure,
tending 20 destroy the unity and disturb tn
peace OF our church, and Geprecate the spiri
sfdenuneiation and INJECTING seventies, whicl
would cast from the fold those whom we ar
rather bound, by the spirit Of the gospel, an,
the obligations Of our covenant, to instruct, I
counsel, to eXhort, and thus to lead in II
ways of God and towards whom, eve.
though they may err, to exercise forbearane
and brotherly love.
G.. As a court Of our Lord Jesus Christ, w
possess no legislative authority Il; and as tn
General Assembly ofthe Presbyterian Churcl
we possess no judiciary authority. We hav
no right TO institute and prescribe a test
Christian character and Church membership
not recognized and sanctioned in the sacre
Scriptures, and in our standards, by which "
have agreed 10 walk. We must leave, Their
fore, this matter with the Sessions, Presbyt
ries and Synods-the Judicatories to who
pertains the right Of Judgment TO act in Il
administration of discipline, as they ma
Judge it to be their duty, constitutionally, su
lect to the General Assembly. only in The W:
Of geneTal review and control.