Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-04-13
COMMUNICATED.
Is ii Christianity :?

q DEAR BUGLr
/. There is little else that occasions me more
t pain than to be obliged 10 take exceptions to,
or call in question, the proprieiy or correct
), ness Of the religious course of others; yet,
as we value consistency, as we would de-.
= fend Christianity as taught by the Divine
|. Author, we often find ourselves necessiated
$ to take exceptions to much that seeks 10 be
endorsed by community as the religion of
y Jesus.
Our Methods, friends have been putting
forth a especial effort" in this place for the
3 last few days, with reference to the end of
promoting a "revival," and | must be en-
! cused if ! take the liberty to suggest a few
considerations which make it a question in
. my mind, whether the more of good or of
e evil is the result of effurts Of this character.
Who, that is a careful observer of the form
r of proceeding with the older sects on occa.
! that the sum of the effort, the legitimate ten
dency Of the whole course Of proceeding is
10 beget in The minds of the people, and es-
; I~pecially those coming more Immediately un-
der the influence Of the effort, the idea
that the claims Of Christianity will have
been met by them if they yield a hearty as
sent to certain dogmas, connect themselves
with some religious sect, and observe the
usages of that sect. Not a single human
duty is ever presented-so far from il indeed,
if any happen to have an idea of Christiani-
ty beyond simple faith and exercises, and
take the liberty to suggest it, why, it is out
Of place, that's all.
h To be a little more particular. There are
o a few around here who take the liberty 10 he
%lieve that God is no respectet of persons, and
/; that consistent action growing out Of thai
faith would be to regard no place or occasion
too sacred to labor and pray for one-sixth Of
our fellow-citizens, who are by law forbid,
den to know anything truly of God, or "the
Lord that bought them" That in seeking
"a TO induce people to repent of their sins, and
ID lead new lives, this, their most heinous sin,
y should be presented, with the absolute ne.
70 cessity, as they would have Gods pleasure,
of Of taking a position where they would be
e. clear in this matter. Well, as we had op.
OF portunity, we made these suggestions, Ia
our friends, but not one could be induced Ia
II. think it would be in place TO say any thing
f, in regard 10 the slave. One good anti.slave.
10 ~ sister, however, was a bit Of a thorn in the
flesh to them. She took the liberty in con.
IL ference meeting one day to call tho attention
he of the meeting 10 their duty to the slave
~ The effect was a silence as Of death for a
~ short time, when the minister requested thai
10 they speak on, but speak to the point
in Yes, TO refer 10 the chained is always for
eign from the point with a Methodist priest
| have been told that occasionally during the
he meeting he fell into The hands of those who
e. would call his attention 10 the case of the
NJ slave, hut the sum Of his response was, =.
"a. cannot lay of The mantle of divinity to preach
al abolition y" Yet, strange 10 say, he claim:
in TO be anti slavery! Well now who does moi
see that the result of religious sentiments
tic imbibed under circumstances like these, is
,pt to beget the impression that, if we W a du
- ty 10 the slave, which is doubtful, il is o
nat snch = cb,r,o,o,
~ with our religion, but must be attended Il
in. when we have the least religious feeling =
ed and so, as in the case Of a special ouipourinu
" when we would have most of the love o
Of God in our hearts. We must have the creates
NE possible unconcern for his creatures! Thi,
ZEN is just the effect OF such a course. and n,
honest man ciH deny it,. The ministers vii
not open their mouth for the dumb. and ius
ess In proportion as they have influence in com
'us munity' do they shut up the ears of the peo
io pie 10 those who would speak out on tbi
absorbing subject. Is 1t, then, Christianity
The LET TUE SLAVE ANSWER.
ear But | am not through with this meetinu
yer As usual, the bug-bear of ''INFipEL" wa
y sounded to the people. At an early stage c
ir. The meeting | sent a respectful invitation I
Ire ministers 10 call on me. But no noe
en-, eo"Grds, so far from it, if they wished TO Sc
as The friend who works in the shop with me
re- they would call at his house and send a chill
Tor him. One Of them gave, asa reason VII
he he should not call on me, tina, he "had I
Jay affinity for my atmosphere" l addressed
to- him the following note
re- Rev. john McLAIN-Sir I'll believe n
IN Methodist Episcopal Church anti hristia
OF and essentially sinful. lst, Because il is