Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-06-12

J had in 1911, represented tho society as
standing opposed to non-resistance, if he had
not imblhod the common error of supposing
Friends laid claim to perfection. How
sanguine friend Nicholson appears to be that
my arguments against Comeouterism are met
and refuted by my own admission of the
great declension of Friends lie introduces
the exclamation, " Oh! Benjamin, Benjamin"
| can show him where the Society Of Friends
give, in substance, The same humiiiating &C.
count If themselves! Had he understood my
position he would have seen that that does
not conflict in the least with my arguments
against Comeouterism, but on the contrary |
have admitted all of it which could be mate
rial to his purpose. In my controversy with
Barnaby, it was not necessary to my purpose
to 20 into a description of the defects and er-
rors of F~ricnds-hence friend n. concludes
(though the contrary appears in that cores
pondence) thatI have assumed the Comeout-
er's idea of alleged perfection on the part Of
Friends.
l consider that one of the chief necessities
of religious organization arises from the truth
Of what is said in my letter to Hills, of their
imperfections, and that when we become, as
the Comeouters say we profess to be, good
Christians, the necessity Of religious a%ssocia-
ton will be nearly superseded. Their object
is to make Christians, not to pen them up
when they are made. Friend Nicholson
should not object to this idea, for it would
follow that those who become perfect Chris
tians by this training may, unless they can
do something toward converting the rest, very
properly go out as finished. He should not,
however, murmur if those who are not thus
perfected should remain in the Society,"
Would he desire those who are Jeiow the
moral standard of a Society to come out!-
Does he pretend that what might be his duty
must also be the duty of every other? Was
it his duty to leave the Society of Friends be-
fore he perceived it wrong TO remain Would
friend Nicholson have me come out from the
anti-slavery society, because its members use
and traffic in slave labor products, which |
regard as more pro-slavery than voting for
Shareholders {? The Society of Frienls are
now doing much more on this subject than
the 4. $. Society, and while tho "declara-
tom of the latter enjoins this duty, and the
practice and preaching of leading abolition
lists is against it, Friends, having no disci-
| pline on the subject, are encouraging it by
their latest official acts. Abolitionists have
but the one general subject under care
Friends have the whole scope of human duty
before Them. Abolitionists ought to be further
AHEAD of them on the question of slavery
than they are. If slavery were the only
question with which we are contending in the
Society of Friends, the A. S. Society woull
be a substitute. But | trust my friend viii
agree with me, that there are a score o
branches to the reform question, each of which
as certainly requires an association to advanc,
it as do the Temperance and Anti-Slaver,
reform. Ii he believes the best mode Of roll
ing logs is for each man to do his own indie
pendontly, instead of hitching teams with hi
neighbor, | will then proceed to show hin
why | believe the latter the most %cffectua
means but if he be convinced of the advan
tages of co-operated action on each reform
question, | desire him to explain to me how
Comeouterism can be reconciled with III
above positions. If Comeouters believe il
the fundamentally of combined effort, wher
is their practice that will show it? Hay
they ten new associations formed ! That j
not enough have they twenty! This woul
still be too few. Have they formed on
5 grand association to embrace the whole roun
, of these questions? If so it is well, and
f should desire to belong to it.
If member of Friends, who is also cor
nected with each of the reform association
around him, and untrammelled in either, a
it is my intention always to be, cannot do a
} much as a Comeouter, who has but a part
| these advantages, | sincerely hope my frien
! will convince me of the fact soon.
One quotation from brother Nicholson =
t "The gallery influence is sufficient to kee
every one silent and dumb whilst they sit III
l der it and submit to it; and to oppose is onl
l to prepare the way for being cast out with tn
disgrace Of disownmenf and this few ar
prepared to endure "Truly I" here is an a
: sument speaking in tones like thunder," an
l what does it say! Why, plainly that Conc