Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-07-23

them. So that if there be any truth in reli-
gion, | shall have TO answer Tor them, their
ignorance, and its consequent evils.
"And not only so, ] know from my OWE
observation, that even if there be no truth IN
religion, still ii has a tendency to make SER
wants better than they otherwise would be,
more honest and faithful, so that in this re-
spect | would be no loser but a gaincr by CIV
ing them the gospel. SO that at any rate be
the Bible true or false, my safest and best
plan, is TO give them the gospel; and | have
done accordingly.
MY first step was to put up a plain and
comfortable house, expressly for religious wor-
ship. This is called the We~eting-house.
at is true ! live within a short distance of
two or three churches, but knowing that my
servants would be exposed to many tempta-
ticns on the way, in attending these church,
es, | determined to have one at home.
1.-The next step was to engage the services
of a minister of the Gospel, without so much
regard to his denominations, as to his piefy and
accepfoJiiity. (The expense of this was from
six to eight hundred dollars a year, bnt preach
ing will soon pay for itself on a plantation.)
"When the minister first came, | took my
family and went with him to the meeting.
house, where the servants had already been
collected. ! then spoke to my servants to
this effect: You see what | have done for
you-l have built this house, have obtain
ed a preacher-l knew if there be any truth
in religion, ! would be responsible if you did
not have the Gospel. But now ygu will have
TO answer for yourselves if you do not obey
what the preacher tells you to do. | have
now done my duty 10 you, so that ! will sin.
ply have TO answer for myself.
GI1ha tuipistnr tInn cnu,tn,pnol ,n1 u.,,
through the religious exercises. But fearing
lest some had been attracted to the meetin!
merely by its novelty, ] remarked at the clos,
of the meeting, that | expected all to be pres
ent on future occasions, unless hind ered b,
sickness. Said | to them, you sec you hav,
precisely the sam services as your MASTER
family. We all attend here with you. Nov
after providing these privileges for you, it i
nothing more than right that you should at
tend on them, and | shall require it of you
just as | do of my children. The service
cannot ipjure you, and they may do yOu good
1t is my fixed purpose therefore, to see tina
you always attend and in good season. An,
| will deal with you in reference 10 this mai
ter, just as | do with my children. Some
times they would rather stay at home an
= play, than 90 to church. Then | simply sa
| TO them, you must go, unless you are sicl
and | will punish you if you do moi obey III
y and | shall deal with you in the sam
!, way"
At the close of our conversation, he tol
me that his servants, (although some did NJ
y at first like to attend soon became as pun,
tual and regular as his own family, and tn.
the good effects of preaching upon them cOuI
already plainly be seen, especially in the
: increased temperance, honesty and faithful
| ness in duty.
Here | must close. Itwould do your hea
good to visit that plantation, or one like it
Mississippi, which | shall describe in m
next. The one just described is one of tn
most orderly, quiet, pleasant and prosperou
plantations | have ever seen. Would til,
there were more like il!
/, AS ever, yours truly,
t PHlLODOULOS.