Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-06-23
An Important Amendment.

ven,ion of Virginia, an amendment to the
canons of the church passed that body, "ma-
king it the duty of every minister Of the do
cese of Virginia, to exclude from the commu-
Mon table all members of the church who
were addicted to gaming and horse-Taclng,
who should attend public balls, theatrical cX-
hibiiions. ballet dancing, and the exhibitions
Of The model artists
"They 1.-THE mint, anise, and cummin, but
neglect the weightier matters of the law,
Judgment, mercy, and truth" Judging of
the religion of the Episcopalians of Va. by
the action of their Convention as above re-
corded, we could not but feel that it was utter
ly selfish, and unlike that of Him who went
about doing good. In the offences enumerated,
and which are considered sufficiently serious to
call for the eXcommunication of those who
practice them, there is not one which will
begin to compare in atrocity with a sin which
is not among the members of that
Sect, but which they pass by without con-
demnati on.
Have the Episcopalians of the Old Domin-
ion no compassion for the children who are
growing up in their midst with their intellec-
tual and moral natures uncultivated, and no.
thing but the path of the American slave open
before them? Have they no sympathy for
the strong man who is bound by the robber
hand of violence, and compelled for life to
unpaid toll, destined to have his hottest feel
ings crushed, The altar Of his heart made des-
olate, and the sweet words Of tUJe, and child,
and home, fail unmeaningly upon his ears!
Have they no pity for the slave mother pining
in her chains, separated from her husband,
stripped of her children and refusing to be
comforted because they are not? Has the
p~laintive appeal which comes up from the
depths Of her desolation no effect upon them?
"Gone, gone-sold and gone
To the ~rlce-swamps dank and lone,
From N%lrginia's hills and waters
Woe is me, my stolen daughters
The Convention turns away from the
wrongs of the slave to consult and act on mat
tiers of graver import. Some of those within
the pale of the church have, perchance, been
guilty of gambling, and must be visited with
the terrors Of ecclesiastical law some have
tried the speed of their horses, and must be
severely dealt with some have '%'tripped the
light fantastic toe" and must be e~xcommrni-
Gated some have witnessed theatrical exhi-
billions, and must be cut off from religious
fellowship; some have looked upon ballet
dancing, and must be denied christian COM
munion; some have visited the model artists,
,,J ,,,,.. b. loI;ua.ol auz. =. IL la~:---
of Satan. However good such disciplinary
action may be in itself, it does not raise the
church very high in our estimation, for we
remember that it permits those who are gull
ty OF "the sum of all villanies," to go I'M
rebuked, lays holy hands upon them, invites
them TO the fellowship of the saints, and are
as tender Of their reputation as though an
T extra degree of sanctiication had been con-
lerIed upon them.
> Those who wish to i know what kind of in
terest the Episcopalians of Va. feel in the
welfare of the slaves, are referred to the fol-
lowing extract from the sermon prepared for
r their use by the Rev. VIM. Meade, Bishop
of the Diocese of Virginia:
: "Take care that you do not fret or murmur,
e grumJh or rePine, at your condition for this
will not only make your life uneasy, but will
, greatly offend Almighty God. Consider that
/, it is not youIselyes-it is not the people that
YOU belong tot is not the men that have
brought you TO it-but it is the will of God,
e who hath by his providence, made you SER
wants, because no doubt, he knew that con-
: dition would be best for you in this world,
and help you the better towards heaven, if
q you would but do your duty in it. So that
any discomfort at your not being free or rich,
e or great, as you see some others, is quarreling
6 with your heavenly master and finding fault
with God himself, who hath made you what
: you are, and hath promised you as large a
share in the kingdom of heaven as the great
t est man alive, if you will but behave yourself
n Alright, and do the business he hath set you
about in this world honestly and cheerfully.
Riches and power have proved the ruin of
many an unhappy soul, by drawing away the
e heart and affections from God and fixing Them
r. on mean and sinful %enjoyments so that when
God, who knows our hearts better than we
know them ourselves, sees that they would
n be huTtiul 10 US, and, therefore, keeps them
= from us, it is the greatest mercy and kind
10 ness he could show US.
: You may perhaps fancy, that if you had
u riches and freedom, you could do your duty
10 to God and man with greater pleasure than
you can now. But pray, consider that if you
d can but save your souls, through the mercy
of God, you will have spent your time to the
" best of purposes in this world and he that
l. at last can get to Heaven has performed a
o. noble journey, let the road be ever so rugged
and difficult. Besides you really have a
great advantage over most white people, who
have not only The care of their daily labor up
on their hands, but the care of looking for
lie ward and providing necessaries for tomorrow