Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-12-08
The Cause in Western Massachusetts,.
Correspondence of the Bugle.

LEICESTER, Mass, Nov. 25, lsI9.
DEAR JOHNSON Since l last wrote to YOU,
the Massachusetts, Anti-Slavcry Society has
been actively engaged, through its agents, in
disseminating anti-slavery light and truth in a
section Of the State to which it has hitherto paid
altogether too little attention, but which might
be brought to exert a very powerful influence
against Slavery,-I mean the section west of the
Connecticut River. Ibclieve no meetings with
the exception of an occasional solitary lecture
here and there to proclaim and defend the prin-
ciples of the Mass. Society have been held there
since 1874, when a few of the One Hundred
Conventions of that year were assigned to that
portion of the State! OF course our anticipa-
tons of a successful issue OF our labors, or even
of a favorable hearing of our views, were not
raised very highly; for we have found that the
doctrine that men ought to "ccasc to do evil"
and q" have no fellowship with works of dark
ness" is quite too radical and ultra to be cxtcn-
sively received, or even comprchendcd ,-partic-
ularly by those who ought to give the most
cordial welcome and support to such a princi-
pie, l mean the ministers and members of what
profess to be churches of Jesus Christ. We felt
that unusual discouragcmcnts and obstacles
would have to be encountered. Our company
was sInall-Charlcs c.. Burleigh, Lucy Stone,
and myself. What could we hope to do against
the combined political and religious strength of
that w,co quid region? We could but try to
arouse a few from their condition of moral stu
p~cfaction respecting our great national and in
dividual guilt. Lectures have been accordingly
held in about twenty different towns, in some
instances two or three in a town, and large and
highly intelligent Sunday Conventions in three
of the larger towns. Our success has been far
beyond what we could have supposed. Every
where, or with very few exceptions, our audi
cnces have been respectable for numbers, and
have given the closest and most interested at
tention to our pleadings in behalf of the men
fallen among thieves, and to our exposition of
the principles-upright and downright as they
arc-oft the American Anti Slavery Society. No
small anxiety has been awakened to hear more,
and more fully, what this new doctrine is. Tho
people are very nearly right and would soon
be wholly SO, but for their ~scctarian and politi-
cal leaders. We have found ministers (even
here in old Massachusetts, asserting that slave
holding is not inherently wrong and sinful, and
annually admitting Shareholders into their pull
pits. We have found politicians-some, too,
who have once been zealously -profcssing Adolf
tionists-lauding Zachary Taylor, and congratu-
lating their party on the admirable manner in
which he had redeemed all his pledges. If
anybody asks you why we don't go South to
preach anti-slavery, you can tell them of tho
worG which anti-slavaru hoe uat 70 10 -, Me-
sachusctts for while the people submit to be
led by such men, and are content to learn the
law and the gospel from such lips, they need to
have a work of emancipation done for them
more than many of the Southern slaves, who
are slaves from ~compulsion and not from choice.
This good work, of breaking the shackles of sect
and party, we believe is going on-steadily and
effectively going on. Ifthc company of the priests
were not as short-sightcd as selfish schemers
usually are, they would soon become obedient
to the faith, were it only to save themselves
from the fast-increasing distrust and even con-
tempt of the thinking portion of the community.
But my time has gone, and 1 must write no
more, fruitful as is the theme. The work in
Western Massachusetts, will go on awhile long
or, our good friend and your late fellow-laborer,
Parker Pilsbury, with his peH-tempered blade
and armor OF surest proof, having added him.
self to the company. After the first of Deem
Der he will probably pass a little while in East
ern Now York, laboring in connection with Ste
phen and Abby X. Foster.
These few words from Massachusetts, will not,
1 trust, be unacceptable to your readers. We
look with the deepest interest to Ohio. The
Berlin Convention took a truly great and honor
able position. May they bravely hold and de-
fend it to the end.
Yours with sincere regard,
SAML MAY, in.