Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-07-23
The Church and Slavery.

The annexed communication was furnished
10 us during the recent session of the General
Assembly by the gentleman whose name is APP
pended to it, and who is minister OF the Pres
byterian church, now in charge of congrega-
ton in the state of Indiana. The facts presen-
ted, exhibit the close connection existing be-
tween the southern church and slavery-the adj
vantages derived to the former, and the interest
it has in perpetuatlng system by which it has
its gains. How long before such church will
effect the overthrow of slavery! What can the
friends of emancipation hope from the labor OF
pastors, in preaching delverance to the cap
tives," whose salaries are wrung from the unre-
Quilted toll of the bondman, hired out to the
highest bidder, for this purpose? How true
may it be charged upon the southern church,
that it " builds up Zion with iniquity, and Jeru-
salem with blood p
May 20, I94G.
My DEAR FRIEND :-AgreeabIy to your re-
quest, will inform you of some of the workings
of slavery in the church. Let me premise that
have lived eight years in slave state (Va.)-
Received my Theological education at the Union
Theological Seminary, situated at Prince Ed
ward Co., Va, near the Hamden Sydney Col
lege Those who know anything about slavery
know the worst kind is the jobbing Slavery
that is, the hiring out of slaves from year to
year, while the master is not present to protect
them. 1t is the interest Of the one who hires
them TO get the worth of his money out Of
them and the loss is the masters if he dies
What shocked me more than anything else,
was the church engaged in this jobbng of slaves,
The college church which attended, and which
was attended by all the students of Hamden
Sydney College and Union Theological Semina-
ry, held slaves enough to pay their pastor, Mr.,
Stanton, one thousand dollars year, of which
the church members did not pay cent $50 |
understood it.) The slaves who had been left
to the church by some pous mother in Israel,
had increased so as to be large and still in
creasing fund. These were hired out on Christ
mas day of each year, the day in which they eel
ebrate the birth of our blessed Savior, to the
highest bidder These worked hard the whole
year to pay the pastor his $1,000 year, and it
was left to the caprice Of their employers wheth-
er they ever heard one sermon for which they
tolled hard the whole yeat to procure This
was the church in which the professors of the
Seminary and of the college often olliciated.-
Since the abolitionists have made so much noise
about the connection of the church with slavery
the Rev. Elisha Balenter informed me the churcl
had sold this property and put the money il
other Stock
There were four other churches near the col
lege church that were in the same situation wit
this, when was in that country, that supper
ted the pastor in whole or in part, in the sam
way, viz: Cumberland church, John Kirkpat
rick pastor Briny church, VIM. Plummer, pas
tor (snce DIR. P. of Richmond J Buffalo church
Mr.. Cochran pastor; Pisga church, near tn
peaks of Otter, ]. Michel, pastor. This is tn
church where Mr. Turner preached and used t
electrify the state by his eloquence.
What disposition these churches have mad
with their slaves, have not been able to IearI
leave these simple statements of fact withol
coloring or comment, for you and other chris
ians to draw the conclusions for yourselves.
| am, sir, yours for the honor of the church.
j. CABLE.
- Mprrpr T,,ninuru