Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-09-03
From tie National Era.
To Antl-Slavery PreSbyterianS, Old and
New School.


DEAR BRKrHREN:-You doubtless know
that, under the influence and teaching of the
present large church organizations, slavery
has taken root in our country, and grown,
with each successive generation, until now
there are three millions of human beings, by
positive law and custom, equally effective,
deprived of the privilege of learning to read
the sacred %oracles. They are thus reduced
to hea,henism, in the very heart of this pro-
fessedly Christian country. They can have
no permanent marriage. Parents have not
the control over their own offspring, and can
not bring them up in the nurture and admoni-
ton of the LORD. All the ends for which
man was created, and endowed with ration
aliiy, are abolish ed, and even existence itself
is made a curse rather than a blessing. Such
lacts are lncontestable proof that the policy
OF the great denominations Of this country
has been wrong. In the teaching and action
OF The churches, there is no tendency TO abol-
lsh slavery, but rather 10 give it strength
The TACT that 1t has always gained ground,
rom us origin up 10 the present hour, is I'M
deniable proof OF this assertion. And after
The long experiment has been made, and
three millions Of immortal beings are shut out
from the hopes Of both worlds, both the Old
and New Presbyterian Churches have deter
mined not to change their policy. Both have
determined 10 sustain shareholders in their
communion, and thus practically have de-
clared slSveholding consistent with the Chris
tan character and profession. What else
could so much reconcile il to the conscience
OF men! What else could give it so high a
reputation! What, besides this, so well cal.
culated to sustain slave laws and slave Con
stitutions? Is il right TO adhere 10 churche.
which, against all light and remonstrance
persevere in sustaining such a system Of on
preston 1t cannot be. Hitherto, our wa,
seemed to be shut up, and we fingered in til
old bodies, hoping for reformation that ha
never come, nor Is it likely ever to COME
Now the Presbyterian Church is organized
pure in doctrine and order, and free from sla
very. Let all true.hearted Presbyterian
como out Of those old bodies, so long and :
deeply polluted with the bloody sin of slave
ry, and unite with this church, and preseI
to the world Presbyterianism untrammele
by civil government, and free from the pollt
tons of slavery. Let the Presbyterian Churc
Of America be the meeting place of brethre
long separated. Let them put off The part
names of Old and New School, and meet o
this newly consecrated ground, embrace eac
other and divide no more. Let them unit
for the propagation of Presbyterianism, pur
in doctrine, in government, and in practice
Let them here concentrate their energies I
redeem this nation from the curse of slavery
and three millions of fellow beings from tn
deepest degradation and ruin. Come, breth
rem, come, one and all, unite with us. Thong
few in number, we trust that the Lord is wit
? US, that right is on our side, and that we shal
be increased, and shall be enabled to plan
Anti-Slavery churches in the slave States a
well as in the free. And may we not hop
that the day will come when the party name
Of Old and New School will be lost in tn
general name of the Presbyterian Church
America! If all Anti-Slavery Presbyterian
! will but come out of those bodies, nothin
but polluted bulls will be left, soon to 90 /
dissolution. Every church that ~sus,ains sla
very is a curse to the world, and its dissolu
ton is most devoutly to be desired.
TouN RANKIx