Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-10-27
Letter from Arnold Buffum,

"AW0tu"u CO"Hsy OHtO
Brethren AND SisTERs-
Having been born and educated in the Socic-
ty of Friends, and being confirmed in the prin-
ciplcs which made the founders of the Society
50 faithful to their calling, and having passed
through n somewhat c%ventful life, in my inter-
course with the Society and its members, till l
have arrived at the age of almost seventy years,
the published invitation to your Conference ava
kencd in my mind a feeling of sympathy and
brothcrly love which suggested the idea of COM
municating a word of encouragement for your
Christian labors.
1 desire, first of all, TO thank God that the
spirit of Progress and Reform, which moved the
founders of the Society of Friends, is still ur-
ging onward the successors of that noble band
who dared to speak and to act in opposition to
wrong, and to stand boldly and faithfully for
the cause of justice, humanity and truth.
The Society of Friends, as a body, long since
took a leading position in the Peace, Temper
ance and Anti Slavery reforms and its mem
bers, individually, were the foremost in organi-
zing Societies for the purpose of e~nlisting the
cooperation Of others In the accomplishment of
these Christian labors. Such has continued to
be the course pursued by Friends in England to
the present day: they stand faithful to the ORR
ginal principles of rcformatory advancement;
following the blessed example of the Messiah,
they go about doing good and the happy re-
suit of this faithfulness is there witnessed in tho
continued harmonious union of the whole body.
But here in our land, sorrowful to tell, the
story is very different. The cause of humanity
and progressive improvement was advocated and
advanced by the faithful labors of the most
prominent Friends in America, until our rapid
ly growing prosperity had produced an aristo-
cratic feeling among us which made oppositisn
to the enslavement of the poor exceedingly un-
popular; then our old Anti Slavery associa-
tions, which had been organized by MEMBERS
of our Society, either became lifeless bodies, or
ceased TO exist and our members, who contin-
ucd to sympathizc with the suffering and the
dumb, were cxhortcd to "keep OFT of all commo-
tons and ercitenients, and to settle dozen in the
quiet" The Society of Friends, as a body,
withdrew from active labors in the cause of hui
mainly, and frowned upon those of its members
who pcrscvered in such labors. But the spirit
which moved George Fox and his associates
could not be suppressed instead of quiet re-
srlting from the crushing spirit of conservatism,
VIC witness the c~onvulsivc throes of humanity
pleading the cause of those who are not permit
ted to plead for themselves, and carrying out
the declaration of the Messiah when he said
"Think not that 1 come to send peace on earth;
1 came not to send peace but a sword" Let
us, brethren, bless God and take courage that
the spirit of progressive Improvement is too
powerful to be suppressed, and that it cannot be
chained If there were none to follow its lead
ings, the time could never come when swords
shall be beaten into ~ploughsharcs, or the yoke of
bondage be broken. Let us never forget that Jc-
sus said, 81 have many things to say unto you,
but yc cannot hear them now howbeit when He
the spirit of truth is come, he will guide you in
to all truth" If We would attain to this blcs-
sed -consummation, VIC must leave the things
which are behind, and press toward the mark
for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ
Jesus. 1t was the mission of our blessed Re-
decmcr "To preach the gospel to the poor; to
heal the broken-hcarted to preach dclivcrance
to c~aptivcs, and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty them that are bruised" 1t was
to i~nculcate the doctrine of supreme love to
God, and brotherly love to our neighbor as to
ourselves. 1t was to open a door of eternal glo-
ny to all who believe and obey his requirings.-
1t was to make us "hcirs of God and joint heirs
with Christ" "who gave himself for us, that he
might redeem us from all ~iniquity, and purify
unto himself a peculiar people, Jealous of good
works."
The mission of the chcrch of Christ is to car
ry out the glorious purpose of His mission it
is to constitute an army of soldiers, under the
guidance Of the Captain of our souls salvation,
to wage an unceasing warfare against evil, and
to unite a holy brotherhood i'll building up that
which is good. 1t is to invite, to persuade, to
induce the people of the world to make a sur
render of all that they nave and all that they
are to the guidance and disposal of Gods hea-
venly will and thus, by the removal of tho OBJ
stacles which wickedncss has intcrposed, to pre-
pare the way for the coming of that glorious
hour, when the kingdom of God shall como, md
His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
May such be our unceasing breathing desire
of soul to God; and may We give demonstration
that such is our prayer, by faithful labors in tho
discharge of our individual responsibility, which
alone can render our prayers %availing, Or accept
able unto God; and to His name be all the glo
ny. AfIcctionatcly, your brother,
ARNOLD BUFFUM.
Nnx- Nonr In4l, Y,a It IQtn
pe%nnSylIania Siate Anti. Slnreru Sneintr