Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-01-29
To WeSIeyanS and oilers.
MoNrvILLE, August 9Th, 1916.


l regret lndt 1 nave bcth tpuhpVlltu Wy tiC
force of circumstances 10 withdraw from the
, organization to which ], from its commence
ment, have belonged. In doing this, | feel
that it is a dnty ! owe the connection, and
those interested, to briefly address them on
this occasion.
r Very few acts of my life have been attend
ed with as much pain as my withdrawal from
your ecclesiastical fellowship. The ties that
bound me to you were very strong strong
, because they were formed in a similarity of
views and feeling, increased by intercourse
and fellowship, drawn tighter by suffering and
conflict for the RIGHT. The closest and
dearest attachments ] ever formed were while
we struggled and fought against the monster
power of oppression in the mammoth church
es to which we belonged. hazard nothing
when / say, that attachments formed by kin
dred feeling, in the midst Of toll, and anguish,
and suffering, and continued amid years of
severe trial, in the advocacy of high and holy
principles, must be the strongest of our lives.
Such are the attachments ] formed among
you, those feelings will be lasting as eternity.
l cannot refrain, in this manner, from Civ
ing my testimony to the character of many
with whom | have been in church fellowship.
| have from the commencement of my ac-
quaintance with the Wesleyans, been i'm
pressed with the high moral character Of
/ many of its members. ] have regarded them
&c the cboicest enarinens IF ,bair raca M.
BILE minded, pure, disinterested laborers in
the cause Of human emancipation and eleva-
ton. | have watched their self-denial, and
deep devotion their willingness TO suffer
ness Of purpose their deep thrilling sym
patty with the degraded slave - their honest
efforts to procure his freedom and the will
~lingness with which they have given Of their
g abundance, and their penury; the firm trust
I in God they have displayed, while thunders
+ from their foes have rolled around them -
the mistaken fortitude, when professed friends
have forsaken them AND gone back TO Egypt
to worship slaveholding gods. Such have
done all they have seen to be their du-
ty, and will not refuse to progress as light
!, shines upon their minds. wish | could thus
speak of all but | cannot. There are those
q who occupy an entirely different position, and
o with whom | never could have union of soul,
This feeling has of course been RECIPROCAL
OF my personal treatment, | would speak in
q the highest terms. l have always been treat.
ed with the utmost possible kindness where.
ever have gone, and shall be by many in
the future.
d may be Justly asked, if these are the
views | have formed of those composing the
Wesleyan Church, what object have ir
changing my position! I ISL IL wish
to be placed where | can still more success.
of fully operate upon the public mind in favor
ty of universal redemption ;-~redemption from
all that enslaves the mind-the south,
le body. Long since, | inscribed excelsior up
or on my banner; and as ] see a height TO which
st | cannot attain unto while in any o~rganiza
". ii on based upon wrong principles, in orde
as to attain that elevation, l leave for a tint
h those who are not prepared to ascend.
X That it may be understood why | leave m,
he present position, | will proceed, as fully a
vel this mode Of presenting my views will allow
to lay them before you.
'th l beiierc the principles that called the Yves
leyan church into existence, "that SLAYER,
is SIN, under all possible circumstances
INT that it is sin to give it any voluntary supper
I'm whatever" The Constitution of the Unite,
States is a compromise with slavery, "a co
he venant with death and an agreement witt
nc hell" The power that ~sustains slavery ev
cry hour is found in the North, or the nomi
lF. nally free States operating through adherence
or to, and support of the federal compact. Ey
er' cry man that gives support to the Constitr
eX- lion, knowing its character, is a wilful slave
'lc- holder; and he who supports it, not KNOWN
lit- Its character, is nevertheless binding the chat
more tightly on the neck Of the slave. Gre;
Ne numbers of the members of the Wesleya
list church support that document, and nearly a
Ind do 1t through supporting The Liberty part,
be which, (al,hough containing MANY warn
Re- hearted devoted friends of the slave.) in nj
and opinion is the most dangerous of the tire
to Look at Its pro-slavery church leaders a,
est candidates. Thus, while they will not su
port slavery enthusiastically, are slavehOlde
to politically. do not pretend to argue the
positions; it is not the place. They are n
EN-, views, and am responsible for the way
hat which i act in reference to them.
believe all war. in the language of /
discipline, "tO be inconsistent with the pr
ere ciPles Of Christianity" and at variance wi