Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-06-11
lheap CouIagc.

How easy 1t Is to preach against what the
multitude condemns. Many u minister seems
10 take much credit to himself for his assaults
upon the 'alarmiug evils" or ''herpsirs.''
which bear the weight Of popular cpnsure.-
While no complaint Of prevalent vices, aud
'honorabln' sins, or denunciltipn of lrgalizpd
or saucuded wrong, is ever hearp from his
liTs.
We Ike the following honest rebuke Of
this clerical p1Itpriug from the Boston Cour-
Ter. DR.. Putnam, to whose Fast Dav SER
mon il alludcs. poured a full battery Of grape
snot upon abe trrTisonians." and incideu-
tally fred oil a popgun at slavery, and its
supporters; we Suppose this was much safer
for The Rev. Doctor than a bold exposure of
tIe guilt Of his own congregation in sus tain
ing the strong handed crimes Of cur country.
The Courier says:
III is probabie thgt DR.. Putnam has not a
single person in his whole congregation, who
maintains the obn,yious opinion, on which
hr drscantcd. Nay, more, IT is most proba-
bic. HAT 4 large portion of his congregation
Joined with their reverend pastor in anImnsity
against those opinions. They who professed
them We're absent; they are few in number.
and are the objects of much severe animad-
version. Dr.. Putnam regards them as earn
est anu CONSCIENTIOUS. SNItiNs liDpFtTS ike
these. although they may be called Garrison
inns. were entitled to careful treatment from
a Christian pastor, like DR.. Putnam, nor
should he have been willing to employ the
cpnse Of Fast Day, in feeding fat the
prciudlces ct his congregation.
Tue GarrlsonIans cannot claim immunity
tom criticisms; but justice demands that d
, Christian pastor should not make these few
much-abusrd absent persons the s~cape-goats
on whom his arguments aud Indignation are
10 descend. Were there no opinions nesting
ia the hearts Of his own congregation that
needed rebuke lie says, incldentally-
aiming oiher sorts f SIN, there is q greaY
Gcoi IF >ynyajhy ,cM sapehohAing, and a
,eadiness 10 help tie Souh in pe,peiuaiing ana
exiending H." Let us ask distinctly. are
there not many persons In DR.. Putnam'S
own society who have ''sympaIhy with
slaveholding !" Ii so, why leave This sin
without the lash q! Why not point his SER
mon directly at this ally OF sIaveryl
1t would have been more manly, more
Christian, more worthy of his name, and of
the day, ii DR.. Putnnm had earnestly crap
pied with the 'sin,' of indifference 10 the
sulltringS Of the slave, which prevails $.
much III Christian Churchcs-lf he had de-
nouncrd ell sympathy with slaveholdlng in
tones that might arouse Ianguid conscience
and had called upon his own congregation,
face 10 face, eye 10 eye--to join with him in
earnest efforts, not to destroy the Union or
Governments, but abolish slavery. Then he
might, perhaps with seeming propriely, have
rpproved the impracticable and unconstitu-
tlonal course Of others. But, no! 1.-The had
once SURRENDERED to this strain, he could not
have found it in his heart to direct the prpju-
dicps of his audience against others, who
were laboring so strenuousIy to overthrow the
system Of slavery. His difference Of opinion
would have been absorbed in the earnestness
VI sympathy in the great work.
But DIR. Putnam's discourse shows no
earnest opposition TO slavery. Perhaps he
feels none. We do not undertake 10 Judge
him. 1t is evident that he is much in earn
est, while attacking the weak, humble alb
sent aud impracticable Girrisonians; but
when he approaches slavery, pregnant with
evils as is the womb of sin, he Is measured
and monderate in his language; nor does he
brIng home Ia his own congregation the alb
sorblng moral and political duty of striving
constantly and resoluiely, by speech, vote,
and Influence, in every constitutional way,
for its abolition. Such words might have
done good. They would have been candid.
They, possibly, might not have been accep-
table To all his audience; bat they could not
fail to have touched some honest hearts, who
would have blessed the true preacher who did
not hesitate to declare unwelcome verify
Pa. freeman.