Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-09-04

To Rev. u. .4nderson, d. d., Cor. See. n. b.
c. +. ".
DEAR SIR;
We have learned with great pleasure that
the American Board have come to the con-
clusion Ito which we arrived long ago) that
polygdmy is not u sufficient ground Of ercht-
sion Erom tie Church. Our design in address
ing you now Is to offer ourselves to the Board
as missionaries it being our wish to labor
for the salvation of the b~enighted Choctaws.
Having been informed by our minister that
the Board accept no one as missionary until
cumstances, health, piety and other qualif-
cations of the applicant, we will proceed to
these particulars in the order already suggest
cd.
First-.qge. Here we will barely say that
we are all I" about the common age"
Second-MdeJiedness. On this point we
can say that, although not rich in this worlds
goods, I" we owe no man anything; )" for we
are all single-a circumstance owing, in part,
no doubt, TO the foolish but common prejudice
against a patriarchal custom which the Amer.
Board now seem 50 prdyerfully anxious to re-
establish.
Third-Heahh. We all enjoy good health,
except that our ardent desire for the salvation
Of the heather Ga desire which has greatly
increased since your answer TO certain inqul-
ries at Bangor,) has taken away our natural
appetite and made us somewhat thin in
flesh.
Fourth-Pjs'g. We are all "mcmbers in
good standing of the orthodox Church Of
this place-are constant in our attendance up
on all our religious meetings, not forsaking
the assembling of ourselves together as the
manner of some isl nor running after those
who cry $40 here! or " lao there"! Tie
Anti-Slavery, Anli-War and Anti-Gallows
he~resies, which prevail all around us, to the
great detriment of true piety, and the destruc-
ton almost, of some of the churches, (,hougf
thank Heaven! no converts have been made
in our beloved Church, nor any, so far as VI
know, within the limits of Sodom,) have had
no effect in causing us to swervo from the
true faith. We despise niggerism and ANAL
gama,ion as thoroughly 1--WE say it with de-
1erence,) as do the Commissioners of the
Amer. Board. But when we think of the
poor heather rushing blindlold TO everlasting
ruin, ne feel 10 sag, in the language Of the
Prophet, 80 that my head were waters and
mine eyes a fountain Of tears" We will
soon forward a certificate of our piety from
our minister, a pious, godly man. lie
hesitatcd some time about embracing the
doctrine Of ~polygamy, and even now doubts
the erpcdiency of advocating it publicly be-
fore an ungodly world. He thinks ono
effect of the public advocacy Of this doctrine,
would be Il general rush for the missionary
ranks; and this, he argues, must iniure The
great and holy missionary work, on the prin
ciple that too many cooks spoil the broth
But Notwithstanding his doubts and his pru
dent reserve in public, he says 10 us that ht
has the greatest confidence in the Amer
Board, and is well convinced that those deep
ly pious and well read diyines would not ad
vance a doctrine which has no foundation il
the sacred scriptures.
And now, Rev. and dear sir, tc feel 10 b,
on missionary ground, doing with our might
what our hands find to do, for while we arc
here idle, the heather are pe,ishIng. III,
missionary fire buns within us. We hope
YOU will take our case into consideration ant
decide speedily.
We take it for granted that those self-dc
nying men who labor as missionaries anon,
the Choctaws, think as you do on the subjec
of polygamy still we would take it as d
act Of Christian kindness if you would intorT
us definitely on this point. We should b
sorry indeed, TO learn that those devoted me
are still so bound in The chains Of prejudic
as to oppose polygamy though charity woui
in such case, dictate a large allowance in be
half of those who have been so long absen
from this blessed land Of gospel light. Blu
however we might regret TO know that tn
missionaries themselves were shrouded in tn
mist of prejudice, as regards polygamy, GU
zeal in behalf Of the missionary cause woul
still remain, and be refreshed by the recollec
ton that even the benighted Choctaws co
daily embrace this heavon-descended do'
Urine.
Several other ladies (whose names we wi
forward with our cerifcate,) have expresse
a desire to 90 Srdr with US, as they vulgarl
express it, in this missionary business. b.
I'VE give them no encouragement, and wouI
drop a word of caution respecting them f,
your benefit. They are all of them eyiden
~ IL the ell Of bitterness and the bonds