Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-04-06
The American Church and Clergy.

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A great outcry is frequently raised against
the anti-slavery Come-outers," as "slsn-
derers, "infdels," &C., &c., on account of
the alleged severity and injustice of their
charges against the American church and
clergy, duplicating them deeply in the guilt
Of slavery. Now lie; all those who are dis.
posed TO join in this cutlery read the follow
ing speech made by no less a parsonage than
the Rev. DR.. Morrison, in the Worlds Anti
Slavery Convention, held in London in June,
1910. Is DIR. NJ. also a slanderer and an in
fdel! IL not, why notl Mark what he al.
leges !-Lijerator.
al confess, Sir, l feel a peculiar interest
in the present Convention in its relation to
America. Most sorry am |, that that coun.
try, with all her intellectual, moral and Chris
tian resources, should have exposed herself
to such animal versions as have been leveled
at her during the course of our proceedings,
and which, it is probable, she may vet be
further subjected TO, before this Convention
shall break up. ] firmly believe, that Amer
lea is the main pillar which now upholds
slavery throughout the world and, [ believe
also, that the main pillar in that country,
both as regards the slaveholding principle,
and the detestable prejudice against persons
of color, is the supineness, the guilty supine-
ness, and the trucking, time-serving eond net
of her Christian ministers, who do not bold
ly liit up their voices against those great and
crying nominations. | am bold to say, that
| have not met a half dozen ministers Of the
gospel from America, Of any denomination
who could bear 10 be catechised before an
Anti.Slavery Convention. / was once argu-
ing with one Of these ministers, a man of
great respectability, about the prejudices of
! tho A marianne in r.Earnn n -, naFgon5 IF 80
Tor, the arisiocracy of skin, as it has been
happily termed and what was his answer :
Instead Of replying 10 me, he turned round
to my wife, and said, Madam, how would
you like 10 have your daughter married TO a
black man?' Why, Sir, we were not then
arguing about whether we should prefer such
and such persons 10 be our most intimate
companions for life but whether they should
be allowed TO mingle in the same society =
whether they should sit together in the same
Christian congregation; whether they should
associate round the table Of the same com
mon Lord. But this was The common-place
fippant, and, | must say, vulgar way, in
which a man OF eminent talent answered so
important a question. | met with another
minister from America, an Episcopa!ian. |
asked him if he was sound upon the subject
of slavery He secuted tae very idea OIL
having any leaning !o such an abomination.
But when | pressed him a little further, and
leased h!i with my anti-slavery catechism,
| fnnnd him unsound 10 the hearts core. |
pleaded with him as a Christian minister,
against keeping a whole race of people in a
state of depression, because of The color of
their skin. Pray, Sir said he, somewhat
angrily, have you ever smell them = | re.
piled, that certainly ! had not; but that if
ever a time should arrive, when a struggle
should ensue between my nose and my con-
science, ! hoped TO give my decision on the
side Of conscience. For my own pari, Sir, |
am not disposed 10 hold fellowship with pro-
fessed ministers of The Holy Redeemer, whom
] do not believe to be honest and upright on
the subject of slavery. ! have met with
some Americans, who have avowed them
selves very sound upon these points, but who
have by some circumstance or other, speedi-
~ betrayed their insincerity. | remember
one very distinguished man who got % at a
meeting which | attended, and delivered a
most eloquent speech against slavery.
knew, however, that he acted a cautious part
in his own country /; and when he sat down
! asked him, Pray, Sir have you ever
preached a sermon against slavery in your
own congregation = He was taken by sur
prise. o. said he, that, in our country is
a very delicate subject; and ] cannot saw
that ! have done so.' All his former eIo-
quence against slavery, of course, went for
nothing. | honor the man who is faithful 10
the trnth, who acts up to his full convictions ;
but if ever the system of slavery is 10 broken
down and demolished in America, if all The
evils which arise out of that accursed system
are 10 be annihilaied, ! believe it must have
the general and united influence of the Chris
tian pulpit exerted against it. And | do not
exclude your sort OF pulpit influence, Mr..
Chairman, for | believe that the more silent
but persuasive addresses of The Society of
Friends will have great weight in this strug.
gle. But if ministers will stand aloof from
the struggle, OF if they remain half-hearted,
II they make no effort, no sacrifice to liberaie
their brethren in bondage, the cause will
not gain that ascendency which its importance
demands. | believe solemnly, that there is
a crisis fast approaching, when this time
serving conduct will cause many TO sink in
public esteem, and will expose them to the
just scorn and deTision Of mankind. Evan
g%elical ministers in America are acting a
part very different from that which was act
ed by the same class in this country, in the
great anti-slavery contest. What should we
have jore if our hearts had failed, il minis
tiers had not come forward, and boldly de-
nounced = system so offensive to God, so ru-
inous 10 mani We should have failed to
achieve that victory, over which we now re-
%ioice, and should have exposed ourselves 10
the displeasure Of the Almighty. Our great
politicians moved it, it is true but they
were impelled by the stern and resolute voice
Of the religious community, demanding free
dom for the slave, and by the ministers of re-
ligion, who ceased not TO denounce the cry
ing sin against God. 1t was thus, by the
blessing OF the God of mercy, that our victo-
~ was achieved and il is thus that the mo-
raj sentiment must he enpendered in Amer.
ca, which is to deliver her from the shame
and ininnilu of slaunru i a.Lla ~ --iIL-