Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-02-12
[Eriract Of a letter fran Connccticui.l

4AiAAl an " iAh - ~ VI
very wilhou, the Church, and what is to be-
come of the Church in her present position !
Her power for good is well nigh gone, but it
is mighty for evil. A pro-slavery ministry,
Church, and Teli .ious meetings, are eating
out the Iitals of the Liberty party in Massa-
chusetts, and, though to a less extent, in Con-
n~ecticut. ] see but three courses for aboli-
tionist5 10 pursue-eilher to remain in these
churches and become pro-Slavery to come
out and form new churches (; or 20 over TO
Garrisonism. This reformation, with their
present organization and teachers, is hopeless.
| am for building anew, but whoare the bull
ders This Church question, depend upon
it, must be met. We cannot GO on much
longer supporting religious teachers whom
wa would not vote for TO fill the lowest Of
fee. We mast give up our Anti-Slavery yo-
ting, or cease supporting pro-sIaverv minis
tiers and churches. That's certain. We cam
not maintain a political morality purer than
our religion."-Naiionai Era.
.Ihis Church question, depend upon IL,
must Be met" Truer words were never spo-
ken. Although the character of constitutions
and laws ought to, and will be examined, the
church question is tie question. 1t is tho
question the South most breads to have dis
"usspd, and well they may, for it is TO the
church that slavery looks for support and
in the language Of one Of her own dlstin-
guished sons 'the church generates the pub
lie sentiment in which the sin Of slavery ve-
getates." There is scarcely one of the great
brotherhood, from the supplemented lay
member down TO the clerical pretender TO d.
-:-.a. - 49,. Ct. ,l-4 III ,h,rob hao
power to emanc;pate The bondmen of this
land, as she has the will and power to con-
tinue their enslavement. Friends and foes
alike acknowledge her mighty influence
The cold and d~igniied Episcopalian whose
sympalhies rarely betray him into a violation
Of aristocratic proprie,y in speech or action,
sees in the church The power by which alone
the world can be regenerated, and the people
made moral and religious. The learned and
polite Presbyterian asserts that without the
aid Of the church no moral enterprise is like
Iy to succeed, that with it, none can fall
The stern, exclusive Baptist, the stric,ness
of whose faith forbids him to commune with
Tie great majority Of protesting christians,
feels that is by and through the church that
sin is to be driven from the earth and man
kind redeemed. The impassioned Methodist,
whose soul revels in all the ecstacy Of a Sec
tartan heaven, beho!ds the church going forth,
like a strong man armed for the battle, con-
q%uering and to conquer. However much
the various sects of clristcndom or OF pagan
dom may disagree upon other points Of faith,
in this they are all united and the reformers
of all ages have learned by experience that
the power Of the church is the power beh nd
the throne which governs and controls.
We hesitate not to say that all national
sins exist because the national church-and
it matters not whether its faith is Pagan, Ma
homedan or Christian-wills they should ex-
list. Slavery yet curses America because
the American church chooses to have it so ;
and he who would succeed in overthrowing
slavery must attack the church which shields
and defends it. What can political action
possibly accomplish when opposed to church
action Nothing absolutely nothing ! IL
politicians had the will, they would be pow
erless in a controversy with the church but
they have not the will. Party is a child of
the church, its character is moulded by it,
and as the child is obedient to the parent SO
is party obedicnt to The church. The leaders
Of party are members of the church, and they
will do as politicians what they would OPP
pose as church members. Hence no poli,i-
cal party can De formed which will take
higher ground than the church or churches
with which lis members, are, to a greater or
less extent, connected.
There are some who make secession from
pro-slavery parties the Test of a mans aboli-
tionism, but a higher and a truer test is Sc
c%ession from pro-slayery churches, and the
people are beginning to see it. 'The church
question, depend upon it, must be met" is
not merely the language of a Connecticut let
ter writer, but we believe it to be the spoken
or unspoken sentiments Of ten of thousands
in our midst. Many feel that they have been
striving long enough to scoop up with their
political gourds the stream of pro-sIavery
which floods the land, and are now disposed 10
90 TO The fountain head-the American church
and dry up The spring which sends forth
such black and bitter waters. The honest,
sincere and intelligent abolitionists will not
be content 10 stand aloof from the discussion
of this question, 4" IL must be met" And al
though political a%spirants and designing DEM
agogues who care more for the loaves and
fishes than for principle will strive by all
possible means to persuade the people to
avoid it, 1T WILL BE NET!
The writer Of the extract above quoted de-
clafes that a pro-slavery church is eating out