Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-11-12
From the Pa. freeman.
Abstract Preaching.

DR.. Snodgrass, in a letter to the Era, thus
speaks OF the preachers which he heard in al
tending the Yearly Meeting of Orthodoxy
Friends in. Baltimore. 80 "
Their discourses were not marked by any
thing peculiar, except a tendency to doefrin-
aAism, which robbed them of that practical
efficiency SO commonly Characteristic of Qua
ker sermons. My meaning will be more
clearly comprehended, when ] state that not
a single ~allusion was made. to the popular
and national sins of the day, such as war and
slavery. 1t is true, one speaker prophesled
the reign OF Peace, but it was with no appa-
rent concern for the prevalence of the war
spirit. 1t was the usual figutatively vague
talk OF 'Pruning-hooks' and spears swords
and 'plough-shares,' which would have been
just as applicable during a period of profound
peace, as TO the present crisis :"
What will this abstract and pointless
preaching do for Humanity 7 Does it feed
the hungering human SOUL Does it meet
and fill the wants of the age! Is it relieving
the human family of the expressions and
wrongs under which millions groan, drying
up the streams of intemperance, sheathing
the sword of War, or proclaiming deliverance
to the captive : Alas ! that while human be-
ings are perishing by drunkenness, falling
by thousands on the field of human slaugh.
ter, and dying under the consuming wrongs
of Slavery, and this nation is provoking the
most fearful judgments of heaven by its hor-
nble wlckedBess, that they who should be
Gods messengers to Cry aloud and show
the people their transgressions are thus
soothing the dull consciences of their hearers
by smooth words and soft phrases We
would that these men could see the wants of
tho tim no anl .ka -A,.,, IT., H., --.I1
feel the uselessness of dreamy and mys,ifed
distractions and the need of plain words and
faithful exposure of the sins and crimes of the
age and nations; a surgery which shall cut
out from the social body these destroying
cancers, and the most thorough efforts 10 pu-
Tify the moral blood of society that these
evils may not be succeeded by others equally
lamentable. That this occasion was not
without a faithful witness for the Truth, and
preacher of practical righteousness, we learn
from the same letter, which mentions the pre-
sence of Lucretia Mott, and thus alludes to
her sermon.
"Thore was, I understand, no cause Of
complaint as TO want of practically in Mrs.
Motifs discourse on Sunday. She is repre-
scented to have been very faithful to the re-
q%uiremenis of the crisis, speaking very point
eddy of ''the war; as well as of that great
national sin, for whose encouragement it was
projected. Her message was well received
by ak present, except a squad of medical
students. True to their ''chivalry," they
left the house the moment she named the for
hidden theme! | would submit to leading
minds, in both of the Quaker bodies under
notice, whether they might not greatly aid
the cause of truth within their bounds, by
putting forth a public manifesto, clothed in
the persuasive language which they so well
know how to employ? 1t does seem to me
that they might do this, without any risk
whatever TO their reputation or quietude, and
yet with chances of eminent usefulness"