Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-08-25
TIL E. B U D..
Pulpit Arrogance.
RANDOLPH, July %, lS4

RANDOLPH, July %, lS49.
Mr.. EpIroR: There are a class Of men
among US who appear reconsider themselves,
e1 qsscsv, exempt from all criticism. These
are the priests and clergy OF ,he different re-
ligious sects. The politician, the Anti-Sla-
very or Temperance advocate, the lecturer on
any branch of moral or social reform, or any
of the sciences, may be catechised as TO the
truth Of mis- positions: bat to questions priest
in the pulpit, whose mission is to save SOULS
is considered the climax OF impieIy. En-
sconsced in his sacerdotal robes, uGder the
pretended sanctity Of his calling, he may in
suit or bore the community on any subject,
and the pulpit is his shield from all criti-
cism. Entrenct,ed ia this ecclesiastical fort,
and strongly barricaded by the present GUS
toms Of society, he may thunder forth his
anathemas and discharge his guns without
ever exrecs;ag TO receive in return a single
make war upon hose to whom he denies even
abe privilege Of self-defence. From the ne
cessity Of the case, therefore, it seems TO me
that the Aboiitiouist ST. must come in direct con-
tact with the clergy and their monstrous as
-sumptions. How can freedom be obtained
for the slave when free speech is cloven down
by a class who monopolize oue.seventh part
Of the time 10 the exclusion Of all others I;
who tyrannize over the conscience and
sconrge men into the "church militant" on
pain of eternal tormentst Iadeed that " old
serpent the Devil" seems TO occupy a more
conspicuous place ia "the Gospel according
to" the clergy, than any other personage.-
He seems, al least, to be the "connecting
link" in the chain of modern conversion. If
one has the presumption 10 differ from the
clergy, all they have TO do is to ascend the
" sacred DESK" look solemn, take a text and
preach him post haste TO perdition.
Never have | witnessed a rarer exhibition
of pulpit arrogance and imbecility than was
displayed by a Disciple preacher named Lei
'cester during a pro,racted meeting held in
this vicinity SOM time since. AS l had not
for some time enjoyed the luxury Of a SER
mon, not being a regular attendant on "sia,ed
preaching" l was led by a laudable c%uriosi-
ty to attend one evening and quietly ~listento
what was said. The manner and articulation
of the occupant of the pulpit might be justly
said to beggar all description. Though he
was by no means a giant in intellect, YET in
arrogance, verbosity and windy defamation,
he might be justly considered a Hercules
With voice alternately resembling the tones
Of the Egyptian crocodile and American
sereech.owl, with distorted visage and mo-
mentarily saving the air with his arms, it
was very evident that what he lacked in sense
die was determined TO make up in sound.
The sound of old Niagara Falls, which all con.
ception shocks,
And carpenters with sledge and malls, and miner.
blowing rocks.
cSilencei ye sands, upon the spot! nor yainly play
the Ounce,
This staggering preacher, when he's hot, will
drown you all at once"
die divided The Bible into seven parts, viz;
the Law, the Psalms, the Prophets, the foul
Gospels, the Acts, the Epistles and Revela.
tions; and affirmed that the Golden candle.
stick (Which had seven prOngs) was typical
of these seven divisions of the Bible. That
one prong was a type of the Law, another oil
the Psalms, and so on. He declared tina,
these seven divisions of the Bible were the
only lights of the World and the Church,
thereby excluding SOlOmOn's Songs and 9TH
er portions of sacred writ as containing nc
Hight.
Bat the gist Of his discourse was directed
against some Anti.Slavery ladies, who, on
previous evening, had taken their knitting
work TO meeting and knit while he was froth
lpg in the pulpit. His usual method Of set