Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-04-21
Baptist Theological Institute.

originated by the Western Baptist Conven-
ton in 1888, and is located at Covington,
KY, Ne have another exhibition Of the mean
ness of slaveholding piety, and the impolicy
of those, who-to use a southern expression
-" are tinctured with the bloodhound prin-
ciple of abolitioni ism" attempting to hold re-
lirious union with shareholders. The Bap-
lists of the North, when their attention has
been called to the fact that they fellowship
either directly or indirectly, men stealing
churches, have always endcavored to avoid
the responsibility involved in a recognition
of the christian character of Shareholders, BY
pleading the peculiarly of their church or
ganization-each individual church being in
dependent of all others and accountable 10
none. This, perhaps, has satisfied them
selves, although as intimate a connection in
fact, if not in form, exists between the Bap-
lists Of the North and Of the South, as be-
tween those Of any other denominations
That such intimacy and christian fellowship
exists, is manifested in the fact, that in works,
Of what they consider the highest christian
character, they are found laboring side by side.
The Baptist Theological Institute at Cow
ington, was established-as may be inferred
from its name-wilh the design of preparing
persons for the advocacy of the Baptist faith.
1t was expected that the code of morals and
the religious opinions taught there, would
exert no inconsiderable influence on the West,
moulding the character and regulating the
practices of the members of the Baptist de-
nomination throughout the great valley of the
Mississippi. The grounds and buildings pro-
vided for the use of the Institute, were loca-
ted in a slayeholding State; and though its
prosperity was mainly owing to the zeal and
activity Of the citizens Of Cincinnati, it was
deemed advisable to make Covington the
centre Of its operations. In 1910 it was char
tered by the Legislature of Kentucky-that
body reserving to itself the power to alter or
amend the act of incorporation at any time.
But two of the Trustees out Of the seven ORR
ginally appointed were from Kentucky, the
others being from Ohio and Indiana. In &C.
cordance with a provision in the charter
which permits an increase in the number of
Trustees TO thirty-six, fourteen additional
ones were appointed prior to the present year,
making in all twenty.one, eleven of whom
were from the free States. About three years
since, the Faculty was organized, pains be-
ing taken," says the Cincinnati Herald, "as
far as possible to meet The views of the
South" Unfortunately for the harmony of
the supporters of the Institute, the President
was soon after publicly called upon 10 give
his views in relation 10 slavery as connected
with missions. To do this, would be to re-
open a vexed question, which for the peace
of the church it was not desirable to discuss.
Had he confessed that he leaned to the anti
slavery side, his offence would have been
rank in the n~ostrils of Southern piety; had
he admitted that he inclined TO the pro-slave-
~, his position would have been noted by
The abolitionists, and used to the ,disparage-
ment of the church. There was danger too
in remaining silent, but he chose that as the
least of three evils. The South became alarm
ed, his silence was suspicious. The longer
they dwelt upon it, the more ominous of evil
did that silence appear; and they felt more
and more anxious to guard every avenue by
which anti-slavery could approach the Theo-
logical Institute, for if that fountain-head OF
denominations piety became corrupted, how
could it do else than send forth bitter wa
tiers.
Several propositions were made in TIE
Board Of Trustees from time 10 time, enana-
ting from a pro-slavery source, and designed
TO provide new guards for the peculiar insti-
tuition, one of which required the Trustees
and Faculty to subscribe to certain pro-slave-
~ pledges. These propositions were voted
down and the Kentucky Trustees refused
to consent to a division Of the property, which
now amounts to $l7O, 5000, or to come to
any amicable arrangement. They knew the
power was in their hands, that the South, in
this, as in every other union which she forms
with the North had secured to herself the
means of obtaining all that she really need
ed. They Immediately applied to the Ken
lucky Legislature for aid that body hurri-
eddy altered the charter, appointed fifteen new
Trustees all from kentucky-thus giving the
Shareholders a majority in the Board of more
than two-thirds-and made provision that all
the Trustees hereafter elected shall be citi-
zens of that State. We call this an apt illus
;ration of Ezekiel BigelOw's poetry where
he says
alt Jest suits them southern f%ellers,
They're a dreadful graspin' set,
We must oilers blow the bellers
When they want their irons het;
May be it's all right as preachin',
But my narves it kind o CRATES,
When | see the overreachin'
o. them nigger-drivin States.
Why it's jest as clear as iggers,
CLAIR as ono and ona make two.