Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-09-03
Norwich, Aug. "a, 1916.


For the Green Mountain Freeman
REV. GEORGE PUTNAM:-Dear BrOtbe,-My hear
ty good will is cherished for all who like yourself, are
opposing the great sin of the American churches-A-
mercan slavery And many of the sentiments you
have expressed in the numbers that have appeared in
the Freeman are such as to commend them to the
christian approval of the sincere lovers -four Lord e-
sus Christ But to me, and conclude to others ALSO
the point of duty in seeding from churches that give
their influence to uphold slavery is left unsatisfactory
y explained and to bring this point directly to your
view, is the object of this communication And in Or
der to make the matter plain possible allow me
to propose to your consideration the following ques-
tions, viz:
l. Could you, upon any gospel principle remain con-
nectcd with church, Or congregation that should re-
tain in its communion persons who should seize your
own wife and Children and from this time hold them in
slavery? And in addition to these specified facts, in
the loss of your wife and Children you should petition
the only board of that church having jurisdiction over
the evil complained OF, and instead of granting you a
redress of your grievances, they should answer you,
"that they had no ciSh or Intention to interfere in the
civil and political relation that existed between your
wife and chldrcns master and themselves? ?" And,
furthermore enoin it upon you as member and min
lister in communion with them ChOLLy to refrain from
agtating the subject respecting your wife and chm
dren" Now in relation to the first fact assumed could
you retain your connection with such Church And
if you could while that existed alone could you with
the additional particulars which have appended?
2. If you could not remain in communion with a
church that would allow those in its connection that
made Tor retaned slaves of your own wife and chill
dren would you not be compelled for the same reasons
to secede if the same mode of treatment were to be
pursued towards other mems wives and children? In
Decd does not christianity teach us, that to be-
come companions Of them that are so used"; and to
employ all the means of remonsrance and reputation
Of those who do the things here named, when inflicted
upon others, even the most remote of our race, as
though brought upon ourselves and families? Can
atonship vary the morality of this transaction, or in
crease or lessen the obligation of practical dsteow
ship? In other words which is the same, you would
be under obligation to withdraw yourself from church
that retained in those who held your wife and chill
dron in slavery would you not be bound by the plain
est principles to withdraw from this church, if she per-
mted her members to hold other mems wives and chill
dren in slavery?
The above questions | have cndeavored to make
plain, because wish them met with directness-such
as have not found in any thing you have said and
such indeed as find few willing to give them. And
yet it appears to me, that the duty of seeding from
proslavery churches cannot be determined, without
meeting these questions.
make this communication to you, as beg you will
give it frank answer in the columns of the Freeman
where you have often spoken, think if you would
follow these questions with open and frank reply, it
might help to understand each others position, as
well to settle minds upon the principles of d,t-
, which should be dear to us, than all other con-
slderations.
Your brother, &c,
C. PRINDLE.