Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-01-05
Letter from Parker PlllSbnry.
p. PlXIEY


DEAR FRIESD JOHNSON; My promise to write
for The Duglc is as yet unfulflcd. Not, how
ever, because you, or our Ohio friends, arc for
gotten. remember my recent visit to your
State, as one Of the happicst incidents of my
life. l remember the Berlin Convention as tho
most interesting Anti-slavery gathering ever
attended, and l remember tho kindness and at
tention of my friends at New Lyme, Litchfcld,
Twinsburg, Randolph, New Garden, Oakland
and Harvcysburg, (ncvcr of course forgetting
Solcm,) and shall remember, while memory
docs its office. May my deeds ever be the Lam
guaso of gratitude. And may my friends ever
feel that their kindness towards me was not
misplaced. Whoever should deserre all that
experienced of their goodness, would be fit for
the upper heaven.
Since leaving Ohio, my lot has been cast un-
der far less indulgcnt skies. have performed
short mission, in connection with others, in
Western Connecticut, the very birthplace of
multitudes now on the Western Reserve. But
you would not suppose many of the people be-
longcd to the same race. They have not even
advanced beyond Rcvivals of Religion And
so long as tho wizard power of the priesthood
remains thus unbroken, there is no hope.
told the people of the difference between them
and their relatives and acquaintance who had
removed West, and recommended like cmi-
grafton to them, as the most cfTcctual means
of grace in their power.
Nothing gave me moro pleasure as travelled
in your State, than the dclnpidated condition of
many Of the meeting houses. The people there
arc fast learning that Z" tho Most High dwcllcth
not in Temples made with hands "a great les
son indeed hope the churches and ministers
will yet build up again those widows houses
they have so long dcvourcd, to erect costly habi
tations for their god. The world has yet to sec,
for the first tim., church as such, building
tent even, for one of Gods poor children,
though multitudcs of them annually perish in
! tho streets. t
But let one thing be ever remembered. In
breaking away from old religions, there is dan
ger of vibration to the very opposite extreme
Ito arccklcss disregard of all moral sentiments
a rclapsing into vice, and every form of sensual
as well as sordid, selfish indulgence, more hate
full and hurtful, if possible, than even that state
from which we have so long prayed to be de-
livcrcd. So was il in France in the Revolution
of 1893. The exactions of the Church had
been so atrocious, that when the people did once
burst tho iron chains, reaction onsucd, terrible
to behold, terrible oven in history. But though
the horrors of those scenes baptized the period
as the "Rcign of Terror" the religion was res
ponsblc for most of them, and the government
for the rcst
Let it not be so among us. We have seen
the end of the National Religion. Slavery,
War; Hanging Persecution for opinions sake,
arc not transient, incidental appliances Of it;
but part of its fundamental faith, defended
from scripture justified as necessity, sanctifcd
by sermons and sacramants. and practiccd by
nearly every denomination great and small,
throughout the land. Baptist buys Baptist,
Mcthodists drive Methodists to market, Pres
! byterian prcys upon Presbyterian, Episcopalian
cats Episcopalian, (or the price of him. at Sa-
cramont, and Quaker and Campbellitc buy
| DullctS ana DOnDsncllb 70 uclcnu bucn u COM
mcrcc, and swear annually their allegiance to a
government, red and ieeking with such abomi-
nations. This we have seen.
But let us remember, that though justice and
righteousness have long ago fed the church
which exists under these names, they have not
left the earth, Nor can we absolvc ourselves
from their claims. Nor should we wish to-
The law of our nature and being, pcnncd with
Gods own finger. an authority from which
there is no appeal, demands that truth, tramplcd
in dust by the priesthood, righteousness set at
naught by the chnrch, and justice receiving its
very death by thepeoplc, should yet be vindica-
ted, magnifed and made honorable by their
friends and worshipers. Blessed thoy arc, and
shall be, who arc ruled by humanity and the
love Of man. Truly your friend,
PARKER PILLSBURY.
Concord, n. H., 24th Dec. ls49.
PnoscRIPTIos OF BENToN.-The slave