Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-01-01

shipped. 1t is therefore the highest order Of
influence known to man. Each humble and
pcnitent believer, has in his real and creative
fancy. a universal throne on which the great
Ruler rests, and directs the moral d~es'iuies
of the Universe-and he has also marked for
himself line Of duty, in relation to his fell
low beings. from which he must not depart
without suffering the penalty attached to dis
obedience.
From the very nature Of mans, religious in
fuence is closely intcrtwined around his
present and future destiny. 1t IS a power,
that none but fools can despisc. The PHI
lanibrouist and close observer of human aE
fairs, will duly appreciate its influence, be-
cause it contains within itself the clements
Of happiness, or misery TO the human race
Happiness, SO long as it upholds the moral
government Of God, by oNertlng ITS Influence
for the overthrow OF every system OF tyranny
and despotism, that has been formed for the
purpose of binding the "bodIes and souls of
men, Misery when it sets aside these
great fundamental claims of universal hui
%lnanity, and joins its influence, in favor Of
the oppressor, aud against the claims Of the
oppressed. Such a religion, as the latter, is
hrraldcd forth as divine, by the Protestant
Evangelical Churches ofthese United States.
The effect produced by its teachings, consti-
tutes one OF the most formidable bulwarks a.
gainst our efforts for reform. 1t began lis
ojious career, by iInplantiug in the minds OF
our Southern bTethi en-, its false ideas, about
our iuteriority in the scale OF Creation, /. e.,
that their masters, were their dlviucly APP
pointed ruicrs-aud that Christiddity lmpos-
ed on them the du,v of implicit obedience to
the cruel lash of their taskmasters. They,
poor creatures, believed them, and the fatal
consequence has been, that our people have
imbibod a religion tina! vindicdtes their deg
rddltion, and just So long as they believe In
such religious teaching, there will remIin no
hope for their improvement and advance
meut.
The object of introducing this subject was
to appeal to our people, everywhere, L. dis
card every religion, or system of theology,
that either In theory, or practice suslaIns
those iustrUmcutalilles, that have crushed
our blighted hopes.
We maintain, that if we would honor God,
the cause Of humanity, the interest OF pos
terity, and vindicate our Sey-respcct, we must
regard such a religion, as practical infdelity,
and its aiders and abettorS, the worst enc
mics to our improvement. We do therefore,
hope, that our people will labor hard and
faithfully, to divorce from the affections, all
that portion of the popular religion or this
country, that vindicdtes their degradation;
unless we have the courage to dissolve Nose
unholy bands, by which we have been we'd
ded, to a religion as hateful as it is wicked,
the prospect of our future improvement will
he but a vain and airy dream.
No people on earth ever have or will, be
capable OF raising themselves from a ihnl-
dom, like unto that by which We have been
bound for centuries, so long as they adopt
and perpetuate among themselves the relig-
ion ollhelr oppressors. The doctrine Of the
divine right OF Kings was incapable Of pro-
duclng the Freedom Of spirit, which was the
Mother OF the American Revolution, and gave
birth to a republican form OF governments
Bolh the Jews and the Quakers have s%urviv-
ed the storms of persecution, and preserved
their own identity and property, by reso-
Iutely persevering in their own systems of
faith, that was IN opposition to that Of their
oppressors, and ii We desire TO succeed, we
must do likewise. The NorJu American In
dams, those children of the forest, were
peaceful and happy while worshippinr the
Great Spirit, before they became infested
with the barbarous theories of their Protest.
ant cXterminators. lis lO3thsOmo embrace
brought on them devastation and ruin. This
same religion that has eNlermiuated the
great Fathers Of the forest is now crushing us
to powder. Our situation represents It's en-
bodied divinity. lis power to save and pro-
tcct is Autographed in our bodily scars and
u%nnumbered suilerlngs. IIG i0y have been
the infants paintings, to whom it gave bed
of thorns.''
1t is not, however, so much because it has
connected itself with the physical power Of
the nation, and arrayed its influence against
the weak and unprotected that we complain.
Ii IS because lis cOrTuut system Of thpyIOuv