Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-05-04

10 not the PROGRESSED Friends of Reform give
ihf World occasion to question their
Sincerity, and doubt their Motives!
PRINCETON, April 7ih, 1919.

PRINcEroS, April 7th, 1919.
DEAR FRIeND GARRISON:
Although much has been said, from time
10 time. TO the progressed friends of Reform, it
is evident that much more needs 10 be said,
10 arouse them from their present state Of ap-
atlly and Indifference. While they profess
to believe that the popular religion of the
present day is dreadfulIy corrupt, and aban-
ZION il as utterly worthless. and profess TO
have esroused a systfm Of faith and worship,
which is 10 prove the destruction of all 9TH
ers, and result 10 the FINAL redemption Of man,
physically and morally !; they do unquestion-
ably. by Their indifference with regard to it.
give he world occasion 10 question their sin
cCrity. and doubt their motives.
In discussing the subject Of Reform with
those who number themselves among lis en-.
emies, we rot unfrequeItly meet such ques-
lions as the follow ing II you, Come.outtrs.
are really sincere in your war upon the
Church and Government, why do YOU not
prosecute 1t with more Pnergyl Why do
you not form yourselves into societies and
organizations for The support Of the advocates
OF your cause, and the propagation Of your
principles and why do We not see you ma
king as much effort 10 carry out your present
as your former views! Such and similar
questions are often put TO us by our oppo.
nents. But they do not stop here. They
even make bold to impeach our moiives.-
They not unfrequently charge us with leav-
ing their churches, and absen,ing ourselves
from their places Of worship, from merely
selfish considerations,-perhaps to rid our
selves OF a minister tax, and the other bur
dens which they imposed upon ns.
Now II is expected that the friends OF Re-
form will meet much opposition from those
who dliier from ihHm in sentiment. 1t is
expected that they will be misapprehe rded,
and that they will receive their full share of
false accusation and abuse but they should
as far as possible, deprive their enemies Of
any opportunity to accuse them u%niuslly.
Then, by way of differentiation, are we
gicing the world no occasion to bring these
charges against US? Are we as faithful, de-
voted and selfsacrifcing as Reformers, as
we were as church members, or supporters
OF The religion Of the various secis! Are we
making as much ~exertion 10 push forward the
car OF Universal Reform, as we were wont
10 make TO build up s~ectarian religion? Or,
nave we wlihdrawn our efforts entirely, and
drunk ihem up in our selfshness!
That there are individual instances of 6deI.
ny, aevolloh ana consistency, among profess
I'd Reiormers, il is true ; while il is os trne
that The main body are apatheiic, and fail 10
manifest half of that zeal in promoting the
work OF Reform, which they did as church.
members or supporters of The various relip.
ious organizations, in Propagating their secia-
rian dogmas. If there is any proper degree
OF interest felt in this enterprise by its pro.
fessed friends, why are its advocates in the
field doomed TO encouragement, almost uni.
versally, by the stupidity of those who claim
TO be co-woTkers in the cause? Why is il,
that they are under the necessity of spending
a considerable portion of their time in rebu.
king with but little effect tool those from
whom they should receive not only pords,
but that which is of far more consequence
and far more significant, (but which unfortu-
pately costs a little more,) aets Of encourage.