Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-02-16

M-School house Jan. go, I849.

To THE READERS OF THE BUGLE
Friends:-A short time since
the Rev. ]. II. White Of the E. NJ.
Church happened at my place OF board
in my absence. 1t appears he soon com
mcnced individualizing some books | had
left in the room. His attention was ut.
,racted by A. Ballou, on Christian Non
resistance, he soon inquired Of Mr.. M.
my occupation (and | ~suppose) character
&c. Having his interogations answered,
no wished Of Mr.. NJ. the privilege TO
write in this book, in which, also my
name was written. Mr.. NJ. wished him
not to, he still insisted, at length Mr.. M.
produced a slip of piper and babe him
write upon hat if he wosld Urite he
did so, and pinned the paper in the book
under my name.
have been thus particular in this cir
cumstance, because | think Mr.. w. had
some design in thus addressing one whose
face he has never recognized--I should
have made the following statement SOON
err, had | discovered the fact
Some time passed, and then Mr.. NJ. kind
ly informed me of what had transpired:-
the following is the note -
1.-THE doctrine Of on-resistance iftrue
at all must be eternally true, but eternal
non-resistance is eternal n0nSenSe,--that
is, if it be made TO include the doctrine
Of self-defence, for self-defence is The
first lao Of nature, that is the first law of
God, for nature is nothing but the rule
that God ,oorks by. If the good man Of
the house had known at what hour the
thief would come, he would have watch
ed, and not have suffered his house TO be
broken up. These words make self.de.
fence not only u priuilege but a duly
Amen. J. ii. WHITE"
His note is copious with '%'eternal."-
What all he means by the term eternal
when applied TO this subject, | shall not
pretend to kno,c. Methinks, TO apply
this term 10 the system or method Of liv-
ing here, is about rs great a nonsense rs
TO talk Of using physical means Of resist.
ance in a world Of Spirits; or OF one
talking Of taking arms Of defence along
to Heaven ; when there is zone else
there but a prince and kingdom Of peace
instead Of war, slavery and retaliation.
| admit with him, that self-deferHe is
the first law Of nature, (though | may NOT
admi, his definition of n%ature.) But il
he thinks the method of sell. preservation
consists in welding the fist, tho sword,
or the use of firearms | certainly differ
widely from him here, and | feel satisfied
that also does the precepts and examples
of that Savior whom he processes TO be
an ambassador of, aud who once said,
SHE that takeih the sword shall perish
with the sword;" and, who, when he
was reviled, reviled not again, and
when evil was done unto him did good
in return. Let me direct Mr.. WIS at.
tention, fora sample Of tho consequ nee
Of his method Of elf.preservation, to The
millions who have fell on the field OF bat.
tic. ! do not claim tina, all who fall there
are 10 be imputed to this method of de-
fence, but certainly many should be.
He should know that like begets its like;
and if he calls 10 mind the course taken
by VIM. Penn, he cannot fail for evidence
of this. Suppose w dogs meet, the
one, Oft m~enancing disposition, but the
other unwilling to fght,-will these dogs
fight 7 Is not non-resistance in the latter
dog The best method OF self-preservationl
This rule is equally applicable 10 men,;
for it is only their animal propensi,ies
that will impell them to fight.
A short time since Mr.. w. with others
OF his profession, closed a protracted
meeting at Franklin Square, at which
time and place Mr.. w. threw out an a.
bundance of his domineering piety, and
hoodwinking ~psuedoism. And several
of those who did not feel willing 10 bow TO
his mandate, were declared, by w. with
an uplified hand to be returned to the
grand jury, for The sin Of standing upon