Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-10-22
Synopsis of an Address

l. III duuIteSIUH you on lils OCCASION III IFl1-
ton to the position ! sustain to this body, as
y Treasurer of the Missionary Society, l feel
is to be in place to refer to my connection
with this body for several years past, indeed
from the organization Of this Conference. !
do this as preparatory TO the remarks | wish
principally TO offer. Mr.. Chairman: with
i yourself and others ] became convinced Of
the utter pro-slavery character Of the NJ. Z.
r Church, 10 which we belonged, and Of the
utter hopelcssness Of her reform. Being con-
. scious that to continue to fellowship those
who bought and sold the image Of God, rs
. christians, was giving my sanction TO the
r. system, | withdrew from its communion,
/ and identified myself with the Wesleyan
movemeni-was a member of its first Con-
fe~rence-labored with all the power | pos
sessed for the extension Of its principlcs.-
None, l think, abounded in labors more than
+ !. | have held important Offices during the
p whole period Of connection with you-have
suffered with yourself and others. the fierce,
the fiery opposition Of a powerful pro-slavery
church. | need not tell you, sir, what our
, suflerings Were, your position and age expo
sed you continually to the most malignant
invectives of a h~eartlcss and interested cler-
gy. Those gray hairs that ought TO have
been some protection, only seemed to ava
ken fresh hostility, for the simple reason that
it was thought to require greater effort to
crush age, intellect, influence, than mere
youth with its ineNperience. And, sir, ! had
hoped that our experience would teach us a
useful lesson, and in some cases | have not
been disappointed. In the order of Provi-
dence, TO use a phrase common amonp Won.
have seen that even after all my tolls and
labors, did not occupy a truly consistent
position, a position where | was free from the
blood OF the s!ave-where my influence could
best tell for his emancipation. What was |
10 do? | had too long taught the people that
they were to be true to the light and their
own consciences for me to falter. The light
had shined upon my mind-the truth was re-
vealed 10 my heart; shall I follow it? was
the question. l left the "old church, for the
sake Of humanity and a good conscience-I
left the ''new" one for the same.
But sir, little did | think, among men who
had been prosecuted as the Wesleyans have,
would be found those who could have re-
course TO deeds the most vile-to falsehood
the most dark, in order that they might pre-
serve the church, and damn the influence of
the scceder. But so it is. The fact that |
held the Office Of Treasurer TO the Nissiona-
~, CIci.tr Ice H.. ~ $500
injury. Members of your body have made it
their chief business to so from place to place
accusing me of deeds at which an honest
mind revolts. Sir, | am here to render an
account of my stewards hip-prepared to set
tie all the affairs of that office, and in doing
this demand that my character be cleared Of
the Infamous charges that have been made
upon me in reference to those funds. While
in the connection my moral character in the
estimation of this body stood second to none,
while my ministerial character was deemed
inferior to but few. Notwithstanding this,
feel to-day that | occupy a delicate position,
in my own justification, in repelling the vile
assaults made sPon me. | am compelled 10
eliminate one Of your most honored teachers
and associates. l stand here to show that he
whom you have deli !hted to honor is unwor-
thy OF your regard, and not only SO, but did
he receive his deserving, would be secuted
from every ecclesiastical body in the land.
contemPtibly wicked as many of them are.
am sorry, Mr.. Chairman, to bo in this
position. 1t is no pleasant task to charge a
man who processes as Mr.. Guy does (the
man who a~ccuses) sqntifcqLion-to be who'll
y set apart to God-from whose very nature
the last roots of bitterness have been taken
away-who never does any act to call forth
the condemnation Of conscience-who is pure
as God is pure, with the basest deeds and
blacklist crimes. ] know it will appear
strange to you that the man who only this
morning was appointed one of a committee
TO draft an article on specification, to be pla-
ced in the discipline of The church, should by
me be pronounced a scoundrel. Yet so it is,
and the evidence Of his wickedness is in this
house.
l have in numberless instances been char
eed by Mr.. Guy with robbing The Missiona.
ry Treasury, or Of embezzling its funds, and
that he would have to enter a suit at law for
their recovery. Sir, | pronounce the man who
has made these allegations. no matter what
his ecclesiastical position or his religious ;
profession, a base and black hearted being. ,
That he has made these charges there is
abundant proof. AT Chagrin Falls such was -,
The effect of his malignant course, that those ,
who had long protested the closest friend
ship for me did not hesitate to say on the ,
strength of his representation that | was a
thief. dishnnest. &c. and tnrneA tn,rnrL mo