Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-10-27
HENRY c. WRIGHT.
DUTY OF ABOLITloNISTS TO COME
OUT OF PRO-SLAVERY CHURCHES.

Jul VI fhO-SLAN ERN CHURCHES.
To The First Church in NecJury, Mass.
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS II feel
bound in duty to God and the oppressed TO
make 10 you the following communication.
American Slavery is composed of the fol-
lowing crimes as essential elements of ex.
lstence, 4 2. Robbery. COncubinage, Man
stealing and Murder. Three millions of our
brethren and sisters are now living in our
midst under the following circumstances
Husbands and wives, parents and children,
are torn asunder TO pamper the lust of plea
sure and Of gain. Eighty thousand children
are annually stolen before your eyes-label-
ed as goods and reared for the markell
One-sixth of the parents Of this nation are
counted as felons and punished with stripes,
imprisonment or death. for teaching their
children 10 read the Bible. One.sixth of
our population are compelled to live in irno-
rance and hea,henism in this land of schools,
bibles, churches and ministers. Husbands
are compelled to see their wives, and wives
their husbands, parents their children, and
children their parents, placed on the auction
GERS bench and sold TO the highest bidder.
The family institution is abrogated-the
strongest lies of nature broken-the dearest
affections of the heart crushed-and millions
are living in open adultery and concubinage
in your presence. You see il and know it.
by your government and laws, and your
connivance they are incapacitsted TO make
contIacts--to bear witness-to own property
Ito contract marriage-to educate their of.
sprlng-to choose employments, or 10 change
their condition. Sdres they are born, and
sh0reS they must die-and that by the behest
OF a government Of which you profess TO be
a part. The right of personal ownership is
denied to them. The image of the Deity is
bought and sold at yonr doors. Human be-
ings are reared for Your markets and made
staple articles OF trade. FATHERS SELL
THEIR OWN CHILDREN.
All these Nominations are constantly and
systematically committed before your eyes.
You see them and know them, and have
long seen them and known them. Yet as a
church, you have never said one word agains,
"nda-s~eSasV~ncvc opened your moHiii
to speak for the dumb-to plead the cause OF
the heart-stricken slave, and to rebuke the
oppressor. On the contrary, as a church,
you have, by refusing 10 hear and aid those
who plead the cause Of the slave-by your
opposition to abolition, and by silence re-
specting the wrongs Of the oppressed and
the guilt'of the oppressor, taken sides with
man-stralers. Iuu have shown a willing
ness TO receive TO your pulpit and commu-
MON, as Christians and Christian ministers,
those who live by robbery, and to persevere
in holding Christian Fellowship with slave
holders who are guilty Of the foulest crimes
that ever polluted humanity. Thus you
have given the most efficient support to sla-
very and 10 all crimes of which it is COM
posed.
Duty TO God, TO the Christian Church, to
the slaves, 10 yourselves, and to mankind
demands of me that | should cease to do any
thing that tends to throw the sanctions of
Christianity around slavery. By recognize
ing or supporting any man or woman, or any
bOdy Of men and women, as a Christian min
lister, or a Christian church, that fellowship
men-stealers, as Chrisiians, ! do say to slave
holders, your crimes are consistent with
Christian character, and | do encourage
theft, robbery, concubinage aud murder
! say to them that man-stealing is no bar to
Christian fellowship and consistent with
Christian character.
am deeply and solemnly impressed with
the belief that by your opposition TO the
Anti-Slavery enterprise, and by your silence
in regard TO the wrongs of the slave and the
guilt of the stakeholder, you, as a church,
| dlC Oll hciC ~ mum Ohi " lGliSipb nv
scorn and execration of mankind than all
that Jew, or Heather, or Infdel, ever did OF
can do. While you thus continue by your
silence or otherwise to sustain this system Of
wrong and outrage, l cannon regard you as
a Christian church and | DO HEREBY
RENOUNCE YOU AS A CHRISTIAN
CHURCH. This resolution is deliberately
formed, and never will be r%etracted till, as a
church, you have humbled yourselves before
God and the slave, repented and made resti-
tuition by bearing all open and consistent tes-
timony against slavery.
| am panied to be obliged to take this step,
and can but weep over the necessity that
forces me 10 take it. But ] an determined
to clear myself from all known participation
in the wrongs inflicted on my brothers and
sisters in bonds. The God of the oppressed
calls me 10 it, and | dare not d~isobey. At
his bidding | have done it-not counting my
reputation, or my warmest earthly friends,
dear to me, that | may please my heavenly
Father and remember those in bonds as bound
with them. | feel no solicitude about con
sequences TO myself. Duty is mine, conSe.
quenees Gods. ] believe God is with me II
thus refusing to regard you as a Christian
Church, while, by silence or otherwise, you
countensnce slavery. leave myself and
nv reputation in his hands, praying that
NAV be found faithful in every good WORD
and work, and always bear about in my bod
the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life o.
Jesus may be made manifest in my moItd.
body.
Yours for God and the oppressed,
Il. c. WRIGHr,
- 49,. G.. ~ IDIn