Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-06-29
EE'Tho following was sent some timo ago,
but has been unavoidnbly delayed.
A Touch OF PrieStCraft.
RoorsrowN, 1850.

BRorHER JOHNSON: Some things which tran
spired in this neighborhood some time ago
deserve to be publicly noticed. 1 do not feel
competent for the task, but will do the best 1
can to inform the readers Of The Bugle Of some
of the facts in regard to tho clerical figuring Of
Il. B. Gardner among the Anti-Slavery friends
in this vicinity. In speaking of this matter l
wish to do justice to all. More than two years
ago several Of the friends in this neghborhood
became deeply interested in regard to our duty
towards the down-troddcn Slave. We began
to hold meetings to investigate our standing in
the Church, and our relations to slavery. We
introduced resolutions and discussed thcm.-
This brought in the Methodist priests to defend
the Church, more particularly because VIC most
ly belonged to that pro-slavery body. About
this time the above named priest, (who had
left tho NJ. L. Church. not on account of slave
ry as he said, and united with tho Wosleyans, }
came to our meetings, and we assert for the pur-
pose of springing another sectarian net over us,
as the sequel will show. Mr.. G. laborcd Justify
to got us out of tho M. Il. Church and affected
to be with us in the move, so much so as to
seek a cooperation with w. Stedman and T.
| Case in tho Anti-Slavery agitation. Ho con-
tinucd to hold meetings with us. Atlength his
object became manifest he became SO oHicious
amongst us as to tease us privately with such
questions as what are you going to do You
cannot stand alone, and if we would form q
Wesleyan Church wc should be entitled too
delegate and stated preaching SC. In the
mean time we wcro advancing, getting to dis
Germ something of human rights though dmly.
Consequently when he found to his satisfaction
that no could not make Weselyans of us, no
lin pet, as his actions would provc) left us to
grope our tcay in The dark. Note: his univer-
sal practice while among US, up to this time,
was 10 give'an opportunity to speak before he
closed his meetings.
After an absence of near two years, this good
shepherd again appeared in this vicinity, and
gave out an appointment to speak on the goth
of JAM, 1850. He was asked if his meeting
would be free; ho replied he should do as he
had been accustomed to do heretofore. (Refer
to his practice with us before.) The Rev, Mr..
G. appeared at the time, and as the custom is,
took his text as follows: If they hear not Mo-
scs and the prophets, neither will they be per-
suaded though one rise from tho dead The
Rev. gentleman left his text and proceeded with
q TRADE of abuse and falsehood against the Abo-
! litionists. Two or three items must bo mention
cd. First, all the prominent Abolitionists
throw away the Bible, "a whapper.) Second I;
we were accused of supporting the government
by paying taxes through the post Office, sc. and
therefore guilty. We were told that our only
consistent course would be oxpatriation. In
spite of his assumptions, some questions were
asked. ]. d. leighton Gan Englishman by
birth) questioned rather close about the Con-
stitution. Ho was answered that he ought to
go back to England We learned when it was
too late that we put too much confidence in the
man, we supposed he would have some regard
for the truth. Therefore wo thought VIC should
have an opportunity to reply and show up his
logic but to our surprise and modification no op-
portunity was given; but an impious mockery in
the shape and name of a prayer was sprung over
us and his abuse. We tried to get ahearing, but
in vain. This is the reason why we trouble the
Editor. There are numerous other matters that
ought to be mentioned, but my communication
! is getting too long. In conclusion would sa,
, We must labor and wait, and struggle on agains
. opposition from open enemies as well as thos
n that como to us in the garb of friendship tina
= they may the moro efIectually stab us.
Yours for truth and freedom,
H.C.