Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-05-04
ANTI-sLAvERY BUGLE, SALEM, O..

tue universally VI l1C luCiS IN inc CuSti
the practice Of these virtues is obligatory
on all, and no institution can be Chris
tian-can exemplify love to God and
man-(the substance of Christianity
that is deficient in these virtues. "'Chris.
tianity," says an enlightened writer, " re-
spects this diversity in men-aiming not
to undo but further Gods will {; not fash
Joining all men after one pattern-to
think alike, act alike, DC alike, even look
alike. 1t is something far other than
Christianity which demands that. A
Christian church then should put no (el-
ters on the man it should have unity Of
, purpose but with the most entire free
dom for the individual. When YOU sac
rifce the man for the mass in church or
~state--church or state becomes an Of.
fence, a slumbling.block in the way Of
progress, and must end or mend. The
greater the variety Of individuals in
church or state, the better is it-so long
as all are really manly, humane, and ac-
cordant. A Church must needs be par
tial, not catholic, where all men think
~alike-narrow and little" 1t hns been
the want of this broad and Christian
ground of federation that has been the
bane of every church, Catholic and Pro-
testant. In proportion to its absence,
dospotic and oppressive measures have
marred the harmony and painfully de-
feated the objects Of religious society.
Another cause of the exercise of des-
potic power in professed Christian church.
es, has been the establishment of an as.
cending scale Of authority of larger bo-
dies over smaller, terminating in a Head
or Supreme Controlling Power. This,
we are persuaded, has been a prominent
cause Of the difficulties which have been
experienced in the Society of Friends, at
different periods of its history, and espe-
cially of the divisions which have occur
red within the last quarter Of a century.
In the establishment of Preparativc.
Monthly, Quarterly, and Yearly Meet
ings, it was, doubtless, not contemplated,
in the early periods Of the Society, that
any despotic authority should be exer.
cised by larger meetings over smaller
The only power intended TO be exercised,
appears TO have been that of persuasion
and love. But the history Of The Socie-
ty shows how easy it is TO abuse power,
when men have been incautiously vested
with it, by the expressed or implied rules
of a written code. Aud the experience
Of the past admonishes us TO recur 10 ori-
ginal fundamental ground, in regard to
the design of religious association, and re-
move from it an elemen, demonstrably
evil in its tendency and results-the sub
ordination Of meetings, or the vesting of
larger meetings with authority over
smaller. As in a right organization the
man cannot be sacrificed 10 the mass,
the individual conscience to agApSNn-
blage of consciences SO neithersean a
number Of individual consciences in a
congregation righ,(ully be sacrificed to a
larger assembly, or any assumed or es-
tablished head. The order Of independ.
ent congregations, therefore, has opened,
with great unanimity and clearness, as
most in harmony with mans nature and
rights, and least liable to abuse.
Each congregation or meeting, will
consequently attend TO its own internal
or disciplinary concerns. Larger meet
ings-QuarterIy or .Yearly-will be for
counsel and adpice, and for the conside-
ration and promotion of The great inte-
rests Of humanily-evexy thing that con-
Germs man at large-including of conse-
quence the existing evils Of The day, War,
Slavery, lntemperance, Licentiousness,
or in whatever form cruelty, injustice,
and other perverted principles may ope-
rale. Yearly meetings may suggest rules
or regulations for the government of par.
ticular meetings or congregations, but
shall have no power 10 enforce.
Another fruitful cause of difficulty and
disaflection, has been the institution of
Meetings Of Ministers and Elders. OF
these we propose the discontinuance, as
also Of the practice Of recommending or
ordaining ministers. Every meeting or
congregation will attend 10 the regulation
of the ministry among themselves 4: and
if any n proposing 10 travel 10 a dis
lance, wishes a certificate of moral cha
racter, ii can be granted for the time be.
ing.
Not only will the equality Of m
be recognized, but so perfectly, that in
our meetings, larger aud smaller, men
and women will meet together and trans
act business jointly.
These principles, simply carried out,
will, we apprehend, eIieclually prevent
the abuses and evils of ecclesiastical or
CARNATIONS. And should they at any
time fail TO be excmpliiied in the practice
of a meeting toward any of its members,
the evil would be limited, and not very
oppressive, as any member affected by
it, would be at liberty TO join another
congregation, and still participate in the
privileges of the general association.
Two evils at least, if not wholly ex
cluded, would find but scanty soil 10 grow