Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-03-09
The Greensboro Conference.

published many wceksago in The Buglc, was
held according to appointment at Greensboro,
Henry County, commencing on the 10th ult.--
The official report Of the proceedings has not
yet reached us, but private letter from a friend
who was present gives most cheering account
Of the meeting The attendance was large from
the FIRST, and constantly increased till the close
extremely bad. One man, whose head was
whitc with the frosts of 81 winters, walked over
thirty miles TO enjoy the privilege OF meeting
with tho friends OF Christian Reform. Among
those who attended were Orthodox, Hicksitc
and Anti slavery Friends, Univcrsaists, Wcs-
lcyans, &C., whose hearts were ccmontcd to-
gcther by a common hungering and thirsting af-
ter practical righteousness, as the grand end and
aim of Christianity righteousness to be man
Tested by deeds rather than professions and dis
placing tho cold bigotry of crccds, to constitute
the bond of all social and religious institutions.
Among those who participated in the proceed
ings were Joseph and Ruth Dugdalc, and Jesse
and Mercy l.. Holmes. Tho Wesleyan minis
ter of Greensboro ta,tcnded, though hc did
not unite with the movement.
Tho Conference resulted in the organization
of Half Yearly Meeting. on the Congregation
al plan, to be held alternately at Greensboro
and Dublin. The interest in the now move
ment within tho limits of the Indiana Yearly
Meeting (IIicksitc) IS very extensive and very
strong. The prosecuting spirit betrayed by the
leaders in that meeting exceeds anything that
we have known in the recent movements of any
other sect, and it is no wonder that truly rclig-
ious minds arc thereby impcllod to leave So
cicty in which Bigotry and Intolerance have be-
come mcarnate. a minister Of the Society
having been led to preach ON the subject oil
Christ's mercy to the crring woman, was re-
buked by an Elder-a very 'Daniel'-and told,
Thee always throws the weight of thy inAu-
cncc on the wrong side lie replied, i have
thrown it where Jesus would-I love to be
merciful. Another Elder thcrcupon remarked,
Some of us have outlivcd this tender feeling
lit is not of Gol.' The tendcr-hcartcd minis
ter referred, by way of reply, to those who
burned the martyrs, rroclaiinins tho same doe
trine.
Tho aged man to whom We have alluded
above adj cd much to the interest of the Con-
ference. lie announced himself as of Puritan
ic origin. l was educated said he, ito be-
licve in the doctrine of election and rcprobation
that God had fore ordained ono portion of
the human race to eternal bliss and another to
endless damnation. My people believed they
were doing God service in drowning witches
and hanging Quakcrs. They believed the Bible,
Just as it reads. to he all the word Of God, and
that, you know, says, "Thou shalt not suffer
witch to live" lie had known nothing of tho
Quakcrs until within few days. Early in life
his nature rcvoltcd at the horrible features Of
the popular creed. If any were to be doomed
by God to perdition, it might as well be him
as another. He stretched out his venerable
arms, and, as the tears flowed freely down his
palsicd face, he exclaimed, Il want all to be
saved-I can't spare one. If only ono is left
out, it might as well be me-, lie warned the
Conference against the spirit of Scctarianism
and the bigotry of creods.
The Congregational Quaker movement is
rapidly gaining strength. There arc now or
ganizod on this platform two Yearly, and two
Half Yearly Meetings, beside the Yearly Meet
ing of Michigan, which, though in full harmo-
ny on all essential points with the others, vet
retains the old form of Church government
This, however, is of little consequence Forms
are nothing-the spirit all in all.