Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-12-21
DiStOurlsI on Practical Christianity.


A few friends assembled by invitation at the
house of Jacob Heaton, for The purpose of con-
fcrring together upon the moral and religious
condition of Salem and its surrounding neigh
borhoods, and, If possible, TO devise some plan
in which they could all heartily cooperate for
the cultivation and right development Of the
Religious Sentiment in themselves and others.
Differing widely from each other upon many
theological questions, the individuals present
y.ste happy in finding basis for unity and good
fsisowship in the recognition of that element oi
their nature, which, by whatever name it may be
called, imparts sense of dependence upon and
Accountability to Higher Power, and a con-
sciousness Of Duties and Obligations toward
each other and their race.
They were also united in the conviction, that
this element of human nature, like every other,
demands direct and special provision for its cul-
ture and development, and that without such
provision il is almost certain to be overmastcrcd
by Sclfshness or bewildered by Superstition.
They were agreed in believing that adequate
provision TO this end is not afforded by the Sccts
Of our time that by most, il not all, of them,
Religion is to lamentablc extent divorced from
Life; that Crceds and Forms have been made
paramount to works of Practical Goodness and
Benevolcnce; and therefore that there is pres
sing necessity for a moro efficient and thorough
application to all the relations of society and to
the individual conscience of the Moral Princi-
plies embodied in the preccpts and exemplifed
in the life of Jesus Christ.
They were heartily united in the sentiment,
that in proportion as these principles are under
stood and obeyed is the happiness of mankind
rendered secure and hence it was felt TO be
important that strenuous efforts should be made
for their promulgation, and that the obligation
to obey them should be continually impressed
upon the consciences and hearts of the people.
Having found in the highest elements and the
deepest wants Of their common nature this ba-
sis for mutual confidence and cooperation, the
meeting determined TO proceed at once TO make
arrangements for q series of Discourses, to bo
delivered in Salem, OH Sunday afternoons, dur
ing the present Winter, by such persons as may
be invited to perform that service
Jacob Heaton was appointed President, and
James Barnaby, Secretary, of the meeting.
The following persons were appointed Pru-
Dental Committee, and the meeting agreed to
entrust TO them the exclusive responsibility Of
selecting the persons TO deliver a series of twelve
| Discourscs, and of making all other nccdfu
arrangements, viz: Jacob Hcaton, Maria d
Garrigues, Oliver johnson, Sarah Mcmillan
- .
The persons interested in this arrangement d.
not fatter themselves that they will be able Il
see eye TO eye upon every subject that ma!
be discussed in the lectures. In the present i'm
perfect state of society, whatever might be pos
siblc under other circumstances, identity of opin
ion on questions pertaining to Religion is not t
be expected. United in common desire to pro
mote each others highest welfare, TO cultivat
the sense of Justice and the love of Truth, /
awaken in each other a deeper sense Of Respon
sibility for the right use Of the noble power
with which our Benofcent Father has endowo,
us, 10 deliver ourselves and others from ever,
sinful and vicious habit, and keep alive the hol!
and generous sympathies which should eve
bind us TO our race, we can, we trust agree Il
differ upon questions of minor importance.
JACOB HEATON, Chairman.
yAxrs BARSABY, Secretary.
The Committee of Arrangements hereby Civ,
notice that the Introductory to tho series o
Discourses above alluded TO will be delivered by
H. ID. L. WEBSTER, of RayenIa, on Sunday
Dec. 20, at 2o'clock, p. NJ, at tho Second Bap-
| tist meeting house. or such other place as may
be provided. Mr.. Webster stands high as q
Reformer and public speaker. and the Commit
tee hope that he may be listened to by large
| congregation. For the Committee.
JACOB HEAToN. cAs,m~~.