Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-05-08
OF Our thanks TO Messrs. Giddings and
for Congressional Documents.
IS THE STAKEHOLDER A CHRIS
TIAN
Rec. Secretary

IS THE STAKEHOLDER A CHRIS
TIAN
VIM. Henry Brisbane, better known as DR..
Brisbane, the reformed STAKEHOLDER, has been
appointed to tho editorial charge of the Amcri-
can Citizen at Philadelphia. Much as we re-
spcct him for the sacrifices he has made in the
anti-slavery cause, freely laying his patrlmony
upon the altar of emancipation, and showing
to the world that a man who has had slavery
eniailed upon him need not necessarily remain
a STAKEHOLDER, yet W. are not blind to his in
constituencies, ncr will we refrain from freely
commenting upon the doctrines nc advances.
In the last No. of the Citizen-tho first
which has been issued under his supervision,
he defines his position, LIST, politically end,
religiously. As the Citizen is a Liberty par
ty paper, he Of course occupies the political
ground Of that party in regard to this we
have nothing now to say, but wish to call the
attention Of our readers to the singular views
which he advocates in the latter part of tho
article referred to-. He says:
"As regards slavery morally and religious
ly, no one can have a deeper sense of tho
turpitude Of the whole system no one would
90 farther than myself in all honorable mea-
sures to have it abolished. Yet | nm not
among those who believe that all slavehold-
ers are necessarily shut out from all commu-
Mon with God, and are regarded by the Al
mighty as out Of the pale of Christ's church.
| sincerely believe | was as certainly a chris
tian when | was a STAKEHOLDER and ad yocating
slavery as | am now. have no reason from
my own experience, nor from my association
with shareholders, when Il STAKEHOLDER myself
and since ] have been an abolitionist, to de-
ny the sincere piety Of many shareholders
of my acquaintance, Still ] do not believe
it right TO hold church connection with slave
holders. Theirs may be a sin of ignorance,
but it is no less a sin on that account, TO hold
men in abject slavery and with our light
we cannot have the plea of ignorance to JUS
tify US in holding fellowship with those who
are sustaining, although it may be in igno-
rance, such a wicked system Of oppression
and wrong. We must not for the sake of
courtesy or personal friendships, hold such
relations as to give sanction to what we feel
to be crime.
"Finally, | cannot concur with those who
would wage an extcrminating warfare against
the churches. | have no connection myself.
personally with any church that has connec-
ton either directly or indirectly with any
slaveholding body. But | am entirely uh-
willing TO take any ground to bind the con-
sciences OF others in regard to this matter. |
must leave every man to his w conscience,
what shall be his ecclesiastical connections
it is between him and lis God. | have my
own religious views, and ! wish TO iokra!s
even that religion which | least of all APP
prove. | must leave the conscience free TO
act out its own convictions of duty in all
cases whatsoever"
We "are not among those who believe
that all Shareholders are necessarily shut ont
from all communion with God" for we arc not
believers in the doctrine of total depravity,
and therefore have we faith to believe that
the moral nature Of all men can be reached
by the Spirit Of Truth, and brought into har-
mony with it; but our ideas of the church Of
Christ must change very much before we
can believe than any one who claims his brother
as property can be Il member of it. We do
not SO much look to tho profession Of man
to know whether he is a christian or an inf
del, as to his belief, which men always writo
out in their actions, whatever they may pro-
TESS. Hence we come 10 the conclusion that
" in every nation, lie that feareth God and
worketh righteousness is accepted with him"
If a stakeholder can fear God and work right
eousness while he makes merchandise Of
Gods image, then and not otherwise may he
be a member Of the church of Christ. Does
the STAKEHOLDER fear God that is, does ho
fear 10 offend him, to violate his laws, " do