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

C'CH ~ ~ h1oN ny NlCI hhAlo w
shall know Them independently of ab-
stract opinions. Thus a brother or sister
might hold the doctrine of the Trinity.
or Of n Vicarious ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
practice Water Baptism, the ceremony of
Bread and Wine, and kindred rituals. or
he might believe none Of these, and his
right should be recognized TO preach his
conscientious convictions of these mat
tiers in any of our meetings-each, in Ell
ther case, c%onceding the right of every
other brother or sister, who may deem
that error has been promulgated. to en-.
d%eavor, in the pure spirit Of love and
kindness, to make it apparent, either be-
fore the same congregation, or any Of
our meetings where they apprehendthem-
selves called upon to do so. Thus. by
the recognition Of equal rights, and the
sacredness of conscience, and of the du.
ty of reciprocal kindness, a marrow Sec
tartan and party feeling would vanish be-
fore the light Of truth, and the minds of
the sincere and pious be more and more
united. Nothing would be found so po-
tent 10 promote unanimity of sentiment
and brotherly love, as action based on
these Divine principles. Under their in
huence a censorious and contentious
spirit wcnld find no place, the governing
desire would be the attainment Of truth.
And thus would b. verified the words Of
the excellent Isaac Penington-'' II is no,
the different practice from ono another
that breaks The peace and unity, but the
Judging n another because of differing
practices.'
We may advert to yet another great
evil, which, in The church order we have
defined, must receive an effectual check.
We mean Priesicrdh. This naturally
grows out of a dependence on our fellow
beings, as possessing superior means Of
Divine knowledge. In this dependence
individual talents are neglected, and in
dividual responsibility is sought 10 be
transferred to the person or persons on
whom the dependence rests. And this
dependence gives Power TO those Oh
whom it is placed, and makes those who
place it easy subjects for its exercise
In this way a large proportion ofthe pro-
fessors of religion become, to a greater
or less extent, The dupes of prieslcraft.-
The same effect takes place, 10 a certain
extent, among Friends, as the conse.
qucnce OF recommending minister's, as il
is called that is, setting them apart, by
a particular process, as ministers of the
Society. By this practice-which is q
virtual ordination-the idea naturally
obtains, that those thus distinguished
have nearer access 10 the Divine Mind
superior means of Divine knowledge,
Than Others. This leads 10 an improper
dependence on them, and Il consequent
neglect on The part of The other members
of their own spiritual gifts. Here great
injury is sustained, both by the preach.
ers and those who thus defer to them 5
and by the non'employment of individu-
al gifts, in The inculcation Of moral and
religious truth, the body and community
at large suffer i~ncalcuIable loss.
Intimately connected with the right use
of the gifts of every member, is the mode
OF conducting assemblies for spiritual
edihcation and improvement-of which
we will here say a word. ~Agreeably to
The facts before stated, and the objects Of
iSiiSippo SNCI dCCOullA1DlC
human being stands in such Il relation to
the Divine Mind, as TO be privileged 10
receive, from the Fountain Of Wisdom
and Goodness, immediate instruction re-
lative 10 all the duties of life. personal
aud social. The responsibility in respect
10 these duties being personal, and not
transferable, no one can appoint another
10 act for him in their fuliIment. FL
deity to God can be maintained ONLY by
individual obedience to Divine requiring.
No society arrangement can be right,
which admits not oflhis obedience. No
man has a right TO absolve himself from
il. In view of these important truths, we
deem that atruc church organization does
not admit of placing one or more persons
over Il congregation as the stated spiri-
tual teacher, OF teachers. Consistently
with individual rights and responsibilities,
all must meet together as brethren, re-
cognizing II Divine Teacher, and leav-
ing the mind Of each free, to speak or be
silent, according to his highest percep-
lions of duty. and in agreement with n
just estimate of each Others equal rights.
Thus may the gifts of all be exercised in
the promotion of truth and goodness, and.
while they are improved "by reason of
use," the body will :" edlfy itsolfin love-"
Associating on these principles, we
have concluded to hold a Yearly Meet
ing, in Friends Westinghouse, known
as J%unius, (now Waterloo, Seneca coun-
~, New York, commencing on Second
day, the 4ih Of 9th month next, 1849, at
IL O'Clock in the morning and we re-
commend that Friends, in their different
meetings, who may be prepared for the
measure, appoint representatives accord.
ingly. And we further invite all, OF
whnteVcr mama or wheravar sc,t,arad