Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-01-18
Mr. Sharp's Anll.Slayrry Sermon.

ATwATER, Jan. 18th, 1851.
FRiEND OLIVER IL have Just returned from
hearing Mr. Sharps Anti Slavery Sermon, and
as the attention Of the readers OF The Duglc has
been called to the notice Of the meeting, it may
be gratifying to them and to others who were
prevented from being present in consequence OF
the extreme badness of the roads, to know
something of the manner in which it went of.
lie commenced with two texts First, "Of
one blood God made all men," &c., &c. Second,
"Remcmbcr those in bonds as bound with
them" BY the first he proved to the satisfac.
ton, think, Of all present, that the black man
is a man and not the connecting link between
the human species and the monkey tribe, as
some will have it whose gcnealogy commences
where Alexander Dumas says his ends. Even
the learned professor Agassiz would have found
it hard to meet his arguments unless he discards
the Scriptures.
The fact of his manhood fairly established,
he went into an argument to show that he had
rights in common with other men; that by the
slave laws these rights were denied him; in
proof of which he read several extracts from
Judge Stroud's work on slave laws; that cruel
ty was inscparablc from and necessary to the
pcrpctuation of such system; that the degra.
dation Of the free colored man was mainly at
tributablc to slavery; cited cases sufficient to
convince all but the most incrcdulous, that, give
him fair chance. and the black might compete
successfully with the white man.
Another important item brought to view was
the fact that slaves may not be taught to read,
thereby preventing them from obtaining
knowledge of God through his revealed word |
And here thought It would have been quite
appropriate 10 the day and occasion, to have
commented little on the position of the church |
in the North, which seems to be ncglccting the
slave entirely, while busily engaged in raising
means to print Bibles to send to the hcathen |
and missionaries to explain it to them and |
more especially as there seems to be an organ
ized effort making to get the clergy to beg in
to quiet, to say nothing about slavery and the |
fugitive law, lest perchancc We might wound |
the feelings or injure the characters of such
worthics as Daniel Webster, Lewis Cass, Henry
Clay, and others, whom we arc constitutionally
uouHu W lloNcNtIg uc may DC re-
serving all this for another DISCOURSE and in the
hopeful language of jacob Faithful, l would
say, " better luck next time"
BY this time think VIC had about reached
the second text, and as IL seemed to imply the
necessity of some action on our part, friend
Sharp was at a loss what to recommend, except
prayer, to which mentally added Cromwclrs
caution, Z" but keep the powder dry" lie seems
to have no sympathy with the elimination and
rocrimination so common among those calling
themselves Abolitionists, and thinks that as
each one is accountable to his Maker for his own
acts they had better be left to pursue their own
course, and each abolish slavery in his own way.
The text disposed OF, some time was devoted
to clearing the Testamcnts, both Ole and New,
from charges occasionally brought against them
of sanctioning United States Slavery, and l
think he made out his case from the passages
quoted In this connection, however, thought
he came to a conclusion rather hurriedly, to
wit That infdel Aboitionists in the North, |
rejecting the Bible because Southern divines in |
sist that it contains Gods sanction to slavery,
strengthens them, Qhc slGveholdcrs) for, say
they, they are unable to wage successful war
upon our institution-the Bible is against them.
In conclusion, he gave his views of human
government and our duties under it. Be sub
jcct to the powers that be- &c., in the text,
but as / understood it, if these God-ordained
powers enact laws coming in conflict with Gods
laws, then VIC arc to obey God and suffer the
penalty for dsobcying mans. This was COM
ing out rather decided against the fugitive law.
l thought. Upon the whole the sermon was a
better one than expected to hear, and such as
abolition Presbyterian clergymcn used to preach
ten or twelve years since, though from organi-
zation, temperament or some other cause have
seen them show more feeling; friend Sharp's
being rather an intellectual assent to the i'm
portant truths ho was uttering.
To conclude, 1 will relate an anecdotc. Fur
thcr North on the Reserve, last Summer. met
with shrewd Yankee boy. Entering into con-
ycrsation, found he was an Abolitionist, and |
when he told me they had now clergyman,
(Prcsbytcrian, inquired how he stood on the
anti slavery question. "Oh," he replied, his
sermons are well enough, but they don't have
no pinch to them" If l were disposed to fault
the sermon heard to-day, would say it lack
cl the pinch.
1t will probably be published ! If SO, you can
read and judge for yourselves.
b. c. GILBERT. '