Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-10-12
PARKER PILLsBURY
Let us be Free.

Rev. Thomas L. Harris has written very
beautiful poem, entitled The Gospel of FREQ
dom, which has been to my mind meat and
drink indeed. I wish it might truly prove the
Gospel of Freedom to all, whose eyes rest
upon its sublime and lovely truths. We arc
not, many of us, sufficiently free, either to per-
form our duties or to receive the full measure
Of Divine Truth. If we would drink the full
installation Of Love the Eternal pours forth
we must be free, not only from the vices that
corrupt, but also from the influence of tho
frowns of diseased public sentiment. Do they
tell us that we are on the road to perdition, be-
cause VIC place more confidence in a religion Of
deeds than of outward forms DO they tell us
that because we do not and cannot interpret
certain preccpts of tho Bible in the same sense
in which they do, that therefore we have not
the spirit of God, and have no right to call him
our Fatherf Let US Disregard their denancia-
tions-be free from their inluence-stand up
in the dignity Of our nature--worship still the
fount of Truth-cast off the trammels of sect
and bidding the fear of man adieu, steer our
bark manfully to the haven of Eternal Right.
have never seen the position of the Amcri-
can Church in regard to the much needed re-
forms of the day moro clearly than during the
late annual meeting of Disciples held in our
town. Here were congregated some thousands
of people from all quarters, coming no doubt
with desire to ascertain their duty to God and
discharge it. Day after day listened to tho
words of cloquencc which fell from the lips of
their able ministers. We were told of faith,
repentance and baptism--of the duty of prayer
to God to convert our neighbors, and of sending
the gospel to the hcathen, &c. sc. Humanity
stood weeping at the threshold, demanding ad-
mittance into their courts. No one bado her
welcome. 1 could hear the clanking of the
bondmans chains. No one put forth hand to
take them off. They are afraid, if they leave
some Of the peculiar tonets of their faith to re-
ceive Jesus in their arms in the persons of his
suffering brethren, and administer to his wants,
that the walls of sect will fall, and God lose a
portion of his glory.
have been frequently demonstrated with and
urged to return to the bosom of the church
but, oh !! my friends, ye know not what ye ask
You ask me to stiAe the upheaving ofphilantho-
py IN my heart, to crush the germ of human
sympathy, you ask me to turn from course Of
practical and world embracing Christianity, to a
religion as frigid, as devoid of warmth, and
light, and comfort, as the ice-bound pole. 1t
needs no argument to prorO this. When min
listers find voice to dcnounco infidelity, Sab
bath-breaking, dancing, light reading, &c., and
yet are dumb when the enormities of slavery
cry aloud for rcdress-in the name of God and
humanity it is time for the stones to cry out. I
now re-affirm my solemn conviction that the
Disciples church is one of the strongest holds Of
slavery, Gas fur as her influence extends,) and to-
all appearance ever likely to be so. Insult mo
not by inviting me back. Believe me an heir of
perdition if you will, but ask me not to give
my heart and hand to a church where practi-
cal recognition of the rights and wants of man
comes not in all their thoughts.
Of such church it may be truly said, Jesus
is hungry, and ye will not give him food
thirsty. and 20 will not give him drink--sick,
and in the prison of slavery, and you will not
administer unto him. You tell me often that
you have nothing to do oih SLAVERY. Blame mo
not, then, if when see three millions of my
eountrymen bleeding at every pore, and i'm
ploring aid from every lover of humanity, if /
denounce you as Asfdel to the precepts of Jc-
sus Christ. the love of God, and the rights OF
man. More anon,
ELLEN c. DICKERSON.
Sep. 30, 1850,
There is considerable excitement in Worces-
| ter Mass. owing 70 O report that there are two