The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-09-28
Christian Anu.Slavery Convention

The Christian Anu.Slavey Convention met &C
cordIng 10 adjournment, ut Ottawa, Ia. on Tuesday
evening, September H. l'5O. The convention was
opencdby s,m1nhy Rev. Geo. ". Bls-ett. from
| John, III, IL "W hose hath this worlds good, mud
seeh hlS brother have need, and huIeh up h., BOW
els Of compassion IRON him, how dwrleth the love
OF God in him ~ After sermon The convention was
called to order by the Chairman, Rev Chauncy
Cook. ID, Todd was appointed secretary pro TEN.
Convention adjourned to meet at . o'clock ,o-m0T.
row morning
Sept - 4 convention met according TO ADJOURN
Teut and was opened by prayer by the moderator
A committee TO prepare an address to the churches
was appointed consisting Of a Macarthur e. w
Basset, and d Todd. The report OF The committee
on plan OF orgnnisaton was presented and r.cel-
we'd Moved ant carried TO lake up the ConstW-
t ton repouedby The committee, article by article tor
adoption. Ky vote ~ The convention, Rev Ca
bic agen for the western Home and Foreign Mission
/ Association. was invited TO sit as p responding
member MoyedRn adopted 10 defer The adoption
OF the constitution until afternoon. Mr.. Gable then
addressed the convention the Tor the tor.
NATION OF the W II Il +, " Association. Moved
that tins evening be devoted to the subject OF Free
/ lhssons-carned. A discussion arose on the prin-
cipe OF Withdrawing fellowship from slavery. After
variety OF tree discussion, until quarter past ~,
the convention adjourned for recess unnl hapas /
/ Afternoon Convention met NJ he time specified.
Moved TO tnke up the order oi the day-carred.
! The constitution was then taken up Tor adoption
the following constitution was unanimously adopted
CONSTITUTION.
| | NAYE-This body shall be called the Anti
slavery Christian Convention, OF LII.
| 2 DISrINcrlyESEss or THE NANE.-Wc do no;
usathe term, inti.Slarery ChisiiaR, because we
desm nntl.Slayery moral principle separate from
christianity, something extra, and above gospel pie
~ but because we deem II lnSepa -ab!e, necessary
attribute. a component part, sine qua non OF True
. christian character.
Slavery interchangeable in it. essential nature
always one and the same thin. II does not con-
slst IN confinement, hard labor severe scourging,
short feeding. nakedness nor IN inct IN unTequil.d
toll Bu in robblns our fellow man OF MS personal-
ny, and reducing HIM TO the condition OF II thing
Anu-slayeTY on The other hand is not mere SEN
ument, not SIMPLY an animation OF The intelligence,
or the outgongS OF the emotions IN view OF su ring.
but fixed opposition OF heart, and lUe, principle
and action TO slavery. Hence, So long as 10 love
our ne!ghbor as ourselves, is Indispensable cond-
ton Of christian character, md true christianity Is
impossible without Il, 10 one meeting this Cond-
ton can tail 10 be IN heart and life opposed 10 shye-
~. II will be seen therefore, thltw Geem the name
We have chosen, so tar distinctive Hs 10 separate
those who uulymeet the conditions OF lie and those
who do not To discriminate between those who
really love God supremacy, and their nelghbor as
themselves md those who are actuaed by the prn-
cIpes OF seishness. In calling ours Ives nnll-save-
~ christians therefore profess TO be SIMPLY ckTts
tirns and wish all those who not. m heart AMI
Life, opposed slavery ~ understand That We with
, draw al confidence and christian fellowship from
them, not because they wax not with us, Tut be-
cause we cannot recognize them as members OF
the household OF faith.
g. ODJEcr OF rHE ORGANIZATION. The object
Of this convention not Ia exercise any ccceanst-
cal control over ministers, churches or private per-
sons, many wise ~ effect existing church Iela
lions which are not pro-saveryi but TO secure the
united fellow ship. and csopcTaou u all true chris
tans in the great work OF soca and anti.slycry re-
form and IN The defence and propagation Of uncor-
rupted christianity.
Z. LIMITS or PowER This body shall never ey-
-rcSc legislative or judicial authority. lts only bend
hall be christian bToih mood. il may Withhold
" extend christian fellowship IN accordance with
he following conditions.
| S. CoNDlrIoys OF MEMBERSHIP True christian
harncter as above defined shall he deemed always
indispensable as the condition Of mt mber-hp, and
rolnHfdTy connection or correspondence with any
ody that leOwshlps Shareholders, shall be- deemed
an lusepeTabe barrier 10 membership IN this body,
| Iccnus- such connection Is u sanction OF sln.
6. MopEs OF ADMISSION 70 MtMREa.rlP. -
Those ministers present who subscribe 10 the con-
sIituuon shall become members OF this body.
| 2, Any minister not present, who may hereafter
subscribe 10 the constitution, and give evidence that
ne Is honest minister VI the tTulh, may become
nember Of the body.
| 3 Any church that unanimously agrees 10 unite
with this body, shall be received As a church when
u shNtNcu llldl COHhlNuH
Ut membership End when received, each member
Of such church shall be individually member, and
when present of any meeting Of the convention,
shall be entitled to all the prvAlges OF members IN
ldIvldualy received
l. Fractions of churches, consisting Of one or
more presenting their names Ia roll as faction,
may he received as other candidates; but no ohcf
member OF such church except Of those enrolled
shall be deemed member OF the constitution.
, 5 Persons having no church relation, hut meet
ing the con li,ions ot membership IN this boiy, on
furnishing evidence thereof, mny be received. A
two-thlrds vote 81 member. present shall be deemed
necessary for the admission OF members.
z OFrcERs-THER NUMBER AND DuTiEs-The
officers OF this convention shall consist Oi q presi
dent, vice presidents secretaries corresponding
and respondlng) who shall compose presidential
committee to be chosen annually. Duties of the a.
bove officers shall be such as are incumbent upon
like Ulcers Of similar bodies,
g. TINES AND PLACE OF MrtTlNs-Shnll be de-
termined by adjournment OF convention or al the
call Of prudential committee. Meetings at least Sc
mi.unnuaily.
9. MEANS OF sEeuRiNs rue OpJEor OF CosvES
TioH.-We shall at our meetings make pointed
and faithful presentation OF gospel truth, through
course of days more or less extended, withshunblc
reliance on God, by faith in Christ, for the aid Of
the Holy Ghost, attending our Efforts.
| 10 EXTENT or. DISCIPLINARY PowER-Any
church, minister, or private member accused before
this convention ofvoanng the principles oil this con-
stuon, shall have due notice OF the same, ana OPP
por,uni,y TO vindcate themselves from such chargrs
But il they decline such vndca,ion, or the vndi'
cation be deemed unsatisfactory, then the conven'
ton may formally declare withdrawal OF christian
fellowship, and the existing relation between them
and the convention herewith cease.
| H. No alteration or amendment shall be made in
this constitution unless due notice shall have been
| given in writing at the meeting previous to the
convention at which such action is contemplated.
and two.thrds vote shall be necessary ana sutfi.
H.. Itt,ap nj N nj