Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-05-14

faithful TO our fathers, to our posterity, and
above all, to Almighty God, if VIC continue
TO act, as those must act. who are bound bJ
this decision? VIII ii not be CELEBRATING Tx
Heayen-wid1 distinction between truth and
error, right and wrongl If therefore, we Dc
not "ish our good TO be evil spoken Of. thert
seems to be no remedy but to withdraw from
those who so richly merit the name Of schis
matics.
To say, that there is no express warrant il
the scriptures for a minority 10 withdraw from
an untalthiul church, that has forgotten it,
vocation as a testimony bearer against sin, i.
TO put forth an argument, which, by proving
too much, proves nothing. 1t would condemn
every secession that has ever taken place sine,
the Christian Era. The secession of Giles
pie and his associates from the church O
Scotland in 1874, was wrong. The seces
sion of 1913, by Erskinp, was wrong. And
the late secession Of the Free Church of Scot.
land, was also wrong. Had the Free Church
when 1t withdrew, numbered but fire minis
tiers instead Of five hundred, multitudes would
have stlgmatized the movement as a s:his-
matcal proceeding. Whereas, if it were
schlsm at all, ii were no less, had their num-
OerS been quadruple or decimated. Wilson
remained In the church of Scotland when
Erkskine left. although he coincidpd with the
Seceder's In their view of the wrong and un-
constltutionaliiy Of the church's course. But
DID Wilson ever effect any reform by his
impartial testimony" and other labors? No.
/ he church went on from bad to worse, until
the good was overwhelmed with the evil, and
a new secession became necessary.
Inc learned DR.. Campbell properly OBJ
serves, that schlSm may, and often does ex-
ISL WIthcut separation. Such schism already
exists ana rankles In the bosom of the Pres
byteflaL church. Ue debar Shareholders from
our communion tables, and Shareholders would
not only debar as. but have been known to
give up the like Of us, to the infliction Of mob
Violence. Is there not schism here-a COM
pIete breach both Of doctrine and feeling 1t
originated not with US, but with the MAJORITY,
who hate US because we love true Presbyte-
Ran principles on The subject Of Human rights,
which they also hate. There are many du-
ties incumbent on christians, for which there
is no express verbal warrant in the scriptures.
They ate Legitimate differences from well es-
principles. The duty of leaving a
corrupt and schismatical majority, where
there Is no hope of reform, grows out OF that
class OF injunctioDs, 10 be separated from all
that and those which would destroy our cha
Tacter as tes!imOny-Jedrers for truth and holt
ness. 1t is the inevitable result of such i'm
proper connections, that our influence is lost
upon those it should benefit, and we soon be-
gun to feel less the value OF our own princi-
pies, and ultimately fnd our level among our
corrupt associates.
far be It from me TO urge secession for ev-
cry trilllng difference Of opinion; or to de-
mand, like the Anabaptists, that the church
should be immaculate in order to be a church.
But is slavery only a small speck on the gar
ments OF the church, which She has received
necessarily, in her contact with the world!
NO, but a giant crime, that includes almost
every other. The church then by throwing
The shield OF its protection over this crime
and It's perpetrators, has compelled US either
10 violate our consciences by a traitorous ac-
qulescence, or to withdraw from her commun
ION and be free to utter Gods truth on the sub
leci. Satan, for diabolical purposes, has sur
rounded the whole subject Of secession with
Ierrdr' so as to brighten away most excellent
and conscientious men from The path of duty
ms crisis. therefore repeat the senti-
mont, that in case we Withdraw, we do not
5ecede from the true Presbyterian Church /;
but the true Presbyterian Church withdraws
rom a schlsmaIical majority, which under CO.
yer OF the name merely, has given up on the
~ - DAN dliu Truman hlullS. some
the most essential elements of Presbyteri-
lnism. And if we were to 90 to law for the
and all the consequences of the name,
our Courts of Justice would decide that we,
md not thea, are the true Presbyterian Church.
III. Fidelity 10 our Southern brethren re-
lu'reS Of US 10 ~Withdraw.
Some might suppose, that such a step
would indicate our contempt of those from
whom we separated. But We despise no man,
Tor all men are our brethren. We do not de-
ny that there may be Christians among slave
any more than we deny that Abra-
nam, Peter and Paul We're good men, nolwith-
Standing their Inconsistencies. But if they
be Christians, guilty OF practising the enor-
My OF slavery, then We are bound by the
as we'll as the strongest obligations
10 febuke them for the sin for the Bible saws
: 'hou shalt In any wise re6uke thy neiglbor,
and not suffer sin upon him" Discipline is
dod's ordinance for the removal of offences,
and the qualification of believers. But the
Assembly will not allow us 10 use this means
'f grace with our slaveholding brethren, be-
'aGse slaveholdlng, they say, is not a censur-
iOle offence. ii then, we care for their refor.
nation, and would perform the duty of chris
ian rebuke, love TO their interests for both
HoIIue, requires us 10 withdraw from their
communion. This would be a token of our
not to be misunderstood. If
We speak against the sin, and yet 20 to the
communion table with 1t, our tUOyds will be-
loihlng-our conduct will be every thing
they will reason MISUNDERSTANDING cann-t
e 50 great a sin as Grotius and the Assem-
ly OF 1918 say, or our brethren who esteem
So would certainly not with it.
I they hold fellowship with it at tho Lords
able why SO unsparingly denounce it in the
ulPit and the press1
~, The failure q all methods thu, far, for
forming the church.
In May last, Convention OF Anti-Slavery
iinlsters and Elders assembled in tho city
Allegheny, to consult as to their duty, and
} originate plans for purging the church of
lis gigantic evil, which, like a vampire,
to be sucking her hearts blood. they ,
rrir%VeS 1890. 10y