Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-06-29
TO The Rev. Dir. Greer.

O~RANGEvILLE, June 80, 1919.
Dear Sir.-'The hour for meeting has arri-
we'd. | look from my window and see num-
bers going TO wait on your performances
Shall | join the multitude, or take a course
almost unprecedented-stdy at home and
write 10 the minister, in strong terms calling
in question the propriely Of his course 3
What presumption! Why, the ministry claim
from the people respect above that which
they cherish for other men"-that "they
should not seem to place themselves on a lev
81 with other men, their felloW-citizens" -
that +" the throne Of a king is a high place,
but how much higher the pulpit;" higher,
because its occupant is directly called Of God
to instruct the people. Nay, to act as "P4s-
tor" d" Shepherd, b" or " General" as the case
may require. What, then, have the people
10 do blu, to hear, receive and obey My
apology for writing you without so much as
an introduction is, that you set yourself up
as a public teacher. ] will claim the right Of
TIE people TO approve or censure the course
Of The ministry, though they deny that right,
and personal acquaintance with all cannot be
expected. But what is my apology for such
plainness of speech answer; poor, igno-
rant, down-trodden, starving, lacerated, OPP
pressed and bleeding humanity Oh, would
10 God felt for humanity more-would that
| could offer up self on that sacred ALTAR
But how selfish is man.
But, sir, | will not detain you longer with
prcliminaries-I will prefer my charge, to
wit: that the popular Churches of this land,
and particularly The priesthood, are The great
barriers in the way of the spread Of a pure
Christianity, and the elevation of the race,
and that this has ever been true, particularly
of the clergy. And how does this fact hurl
TO the wind as utterly false and groundless
the claim arrogated by the priesthood, that
they are commissioned of God 10 be guides
and instructors 10 the people. Were this
claim just, would we find it true that those
out of the church often originate and push
forward reforms in spite Of and against tho
ministry, receiving meantime their c%ensure,
their anathemas, as "infdels," " heretics,"
&c., ill it becomes popular and 'iudicious,'
when your order fall in with and embrace ii!
Says the celebrated Rev. Albert Barnes,
speaking of the Temperance reform-"The
struggle was arduous and long. The church
stood in the way of the progress of the re-
form, and still stands in the way. Mortify-
ing as is the fact, | consider the habits and
opinions Of ministers and members of church
es as presenting the most serious obstacle to
the progress of the cause, and it is only by
the extraordinary movement out Of he Church
that the deficiency is to be made PIP. The
same remarks may be made of all other re.
forms the liberation of those in bonds" &c.
might quote from other authority, but why
stop to prove an admitted, or, at least, noto.
rious iact} But on what principle shall we
account for this fact? Not certainly that
God calls to the observance Of this course
No, sir, it is in observance Of the require
ments of popularity and peeupiary tnierest.7-
Yes, sir, and if there be a judgment it will
reveal it! What is the distinguishing fea.