Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-01-28

"""' III! Fie"S are anu what should surely aim to
express. And have read no article on the subject
with one exception since prepared and delivered my
first discourse, shall probably repeat the real sent
ments which were uttered in R., although they may
be presented in different form. The facts as they
lie in my mind, and ever have, are these:-
l. In relation to slavery. The missionaries under
the patronage of the Board, receive shareholders into
the church and permit them to enjoy all its privileges
The Board are well acquainted with this practice of
their missionaries and yet have not instructed them to
tie contrary. They have, on the other hand, justified
them You will not differ in respect to the facts on
this point from me. state further, as an opinion of
my own, that the Board by such course are lending
their influence in favor of slavery. Here, it may be,
we differ But all who heartily adopt the sentiments of
the anti-savery movement will be agreed.
2 The missionaries of the Board receive men into
the church who adhere to caste practiced in the
East The board have instructed the missionaries
toreect such. Although some have changed their prac
tce in this respect the door is still open for any and
oil to admit them Gd Rbitum So far as the action of
the Board is Concerned nothing has been done to pre-
vent churches being planted in the East on the prnci-
pie Of caste, which there prevails This is the fact MS
understand it. The Board leave it entirely at the
discretion of the missionaries, and this too when they
know what their practice is and has been. Does not
this silence and naction say that they consider pos
sbe to practice this Sin in consistency with christian
ife2 However, you, and those who sympathize with
you may think, we believe that by refusing to do thei.
duty here, the Board are lending their patronage to
sustain by the Gospel of Jesus Christ this gross abom
nation
3. We come to the subject of pogyamy. On this |
happen to know some of the charges laid to me in
R. note was received before left, charging me
with stating what is false The writer, however was
careful to conceal his name, which did not show great
confidence in his own assertion. The charge was in
the following language:
That's lie The Board does not Justify poygamy."
You, sir have doubtless heard that stated as fact
that the Board ustlfes polygamy. But on this point
well remember what did say, the subject being
brought to my mind so soon after my discourse |
said to this effect, tina; poygamistc Il probably used
the plural NUMBER not believing that there is any ma
teral difference in principle whether it one or
five hundred,) have been admitted into the mission
churches The missionaries justified by the Board
And by refusing to take ground against the position
assumed by the missionaries and leaving it discretion
airy with them, they have thrown the door wide open
for the admission of poygamists throughout Asia,
wherever the missions of the Board are established.
I he main point, at which aimed that the Board
do and will for ought we know justify their mission
aries in receiving poygamists to the church. This
where intended to hit And we perceive that it
was this, which made the deepest impression The
statement of the fact in the plural (which is not true
to the letter. instead of the singular not made
prominent by ne, nor did make much impression on
the hearers. The statement which troubled them
that relative to the Boards ustifyng their mission
aries misunderstood so to make say that the Board
justi6es poygamy in the abstract But am certain, that
| spoke with care here could not have made the
statement referred to, in the writing | received.
think cannot differ in respect to the facts in the
case We may differ as to the character of these facts
and the extent oftheir influence and bearing on the
cause of Christ. We probably do
4. Another point, which we differ from the Board,
relates to the course which ought to be pursued rea
tive to the corruptons of the Eastern Churches. The
facts are-these churches practice many things sub
versive of Christianity, among which, is doatry The
board and its missionaries have tempered with these
practices; especially, by refusing to receive converts
from those churches into the mission churches. They
have also pursued temporlsing policy in other res
pects The missionaries have been instructed not to
interfere with existing organizations but to labor to
reform hem nfusng the spirit of pety into the mnss,
without calling upon them to "come out from among
the wicked "and be separate" Now we believe that
such mode of preaching the gospel is uhscriptural
and fraught with disastrous consequences.
Such are the facts as they lie in my mind and such
as l doubtless, substantially presented. Whether
they are such as will justify the formation Of society,
which proceeds the principle of refusing to slave
holders &C., the privileges of church membership
must be left for every man to decide for himself But
the facts must be lad before the Christian community
in their naked form. They will be, however much
q many labor to conceal them. There are men who
conceive that these facts indicate an exceedingly wrong
tendency in the leading minds of our churches They
feel that unless the current be resisted the church is
in danger of sinking back the darkness of the dark
4 ages. confess that | am among the number. The
fact that men sincere and have noble and bless
ed end in view, does not alter the nature of moral
ton, orprevent the injurious effects of vitality wrong
q principles, cherished in the bosom of the church
Rome from the laying Of the corner stone of her abom
Unable abnc to the raising of the top stone, has, fol
d augh know, been sincere-has proposed good
end But good Professionals reject her maxim, shat thu
10 end justifes the means" And with equal unanimi
is y, had supposed do good orthodox people repudht'
ID the notion, that sincerity makes wrong action right
at or perverse principle holy With my views, how car
ia take any other course than that which propose?
ID feel Obliged to you for your advice, and know of bu
in few men, from whom would receive it with create
ct pleasure. But your reasons want force upon my mind
As for the loss Of character may assure YOU that
IN have lost that your sense, suppose, many times
~ my life, sometimes by right and sometimes by wron
action loat Il vhpn waa Int ten wears old nv sid