The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-08-14
THE NATIONAL ERA.
PROCEEDINGS
CHRISTIAN ANTI-SLAVERY CONVENTION.
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slaveholding in any proper sense Of that term, is
a sin.
We do not pause to offer proof Of this PROPOSE
ton. because we believe that if the slaveholding
of this country is not sinful practice, then tits
impossible to conceive Of any act Of man which
deserves that name, and all idea Of distinction
between right and wrong must be abandoned. -
Assuming this proposition TO be true, we pass
10 another with which all are familiar viz: the
influence Of a wrong action in cOrruptiug society
is in exact proportion 10 the rank, dignity, and
reputation of the wrong doer.
Again: the Church Of Christ, in rank, dignity,
and reputation, occupies the loftiest position Of
earth. She stands clothed by God with the high
est possible official character. She is commission
ed By the Lord Jesus Christ as his ambassador
and witness, TO represent the character Of God,
and the principles of the Divine Government
or this Official character she cannot divest her.
self and she yields, therefore, under all circum-
stances and inevitably the whole amount Of inhu-
ence which belongs to her station She cannot
be shorn Of this Influence even by her own mis-
conduct because she stands before the world al
ways As the official representative Of Christ how
ever she may fail TO present real transcript Of
his spirit and principles If therefore she be-
comes SHINING body or the patron and defender
Of sin, this influence Of position is not thereby
destroyed, nor even lessened but its undiminish
ed power is eXerted in favor Of evil
Bearing commission from Christ, she uses the
authority which it confers to lead the world
astray; she employs the key of salvation to open
the gates of death she turns the light Of heaven
into darkness; she converts the blood of Jesus in
20 an instrument of ruin, and betrsys souls
into hell in the name of God
II, then, slaveholding be sin, and if the church
in her official character, and the earthly repre-
sentative of Christ occupies position above all
other institutions and transcends them all in in
huence and she be found, moreover, in fraternal
connection with slavery, then she affords thereby
TO this dreadful system the most authoritative
and influential sanction Of which we can conceive
Because il All the millions OF earth should in
their individual capacity unite in the approval Of
American Slavery, il would be only the opinion
"t Cceil apd eTring men; ifall Governments should
legisate for ICs support and extension, they could
claim ~ Divine sanction for their ensctmepts il
al thS'augeis VI nvasvn snould give II -helr co1n.
tenance, this would present only the sentiment Of
angels but the church has been actually and for
mally commissioned TO utter the voice of Christ,
to speak for him aud in His name and IL she un-
rolls this commission before the world, and in the
name of God approves Of sin, she gives to il by
this act a character aud currency among men,
which nothing else below the Almighty's throne
can possibly bestow
II this reasoning he correct, and If slavery is
sanctioned by the church, then the most efficient
support of the system is not given by political
leaders nor political parties nor must we seek for
its strongest intrenchments in the Constitution Of
the United States, but we discover that it's only
really impregnable defences are those thrown
around il by the church herself
Nor is it necessary 10 state arguments upon the
uhnfh 81 Oh - q L.
church do thus sanction, and by sanctioning prop
agate slavery for the highest official act of
church is the admission 10 its membership and
which is welcome and approval in
the name Of Christ and when stakeholder il thus
received the highest possible sanction is given to
his character and practice; and no aHti-slavery
protesting through the public bodies or the press
can materially weaken the far more potent teach
ngs Of example these difficult recommendations of
The churches.
Christians individually, and the press and
public assemblies, may denounce slavery in the
'everest terms; and what can it avail, if the
churches acting officially, take it to their bosom
n the name of God?
Who will be convinced that slaveholding is
ZrievOus offence or earnestly TO be avoided il
he churches, speaking for Christ, declare that
throws no suspicion upon a mans Christian |
haracter that it does not exclude him from the |
hurch, nor forbid well-grounded hope of
heaven.
We are therefore, from necessity, as we think,
ed to this conclusion that the churches, through
heir fellowship and communion with slavery, do
afford IL a direct and most effective support and
f this were Withdrawn, and if slavery were con-
iemned by the churches in the name Of God it
could not survive the rebuke and would be speedi-
y abolished
We would also direct attention TO the fact,
that the churches by their action on this subject,
present to the world false and delusive views of
holiness, the nature and mission of the church,
and the character of God.
Christ is represented in the Scriptures as the
model Christian-the type and head of the Chris
tan species and, theoretically and practically,
the Bible presents no lower standard than this
that each member of the Christian family should
present the distinguishing characteristics of the
head and type Christian, therefore, must be
like Christ, a ChriH-OHe, and church consequent
ly must be composed Of men like unto Christ II,
then, the churches gather promisouous assembly
Of men, some Of whom are guilty of palpeble and
acknowledged sin, the STAKEHOLDER being among
them-if they all seated at the table of Christ,
IA the church Of God, the peculiar people, the no.
ly body, hesanctifed ones-surely such churches
are guilty Of false teaching of the most pernicous
character in regard to holiness, and even God
himself who is thus officially represented rs hav-
ing fellowship and communion with uurighteous-
ness, and consequently as unrighteous himself
This view becomes the more impressive and
alarming from the important fact that the world
obtains its theology, not mainly from the Bible,
nor from our religious literature, but from the
practical exhibitions Of truth and holiness pre-
scented In the individual and associated action Of
Christians for by their living example they de.
hne what they mean by the terms employed in
their formulas Of doctrine
The command to he holy is thus interpreted
TO mean, the becoming as good az a stakeholder,
az righteous as God that sanctions this iniquity.
The whole system of Christian doctrine is thus
IN danger Of being corrupted while the written
theories Of the church remain unchanged, by caus-
ing the old language to become the sign Of new
ideas
Theiudivjual responsibility and duty of men,
bers IN connection with slavehOlding churches
has also engaged the attention Of the Committee
anu we remark that no principle is more clearly
stated IN the Word of God, or more strictly act
ed upon in the administration Of his government
than that of associate responsibility, by which
each member OF an organic body is held RESPONSE
bic for the wrong doing Of the organization to
which he voluntarily belongs.
Each nation, each distinct community, each re-
ligious body or denomination, which by its struc-
ture is constituted one whole, is without exception,
80 far az we are aware treated by God AZ a unit,
as legal corporation, r moral partnership, each
member Of which is responsible for the doings of
the body while his organic connection with II
remains.
The Sin Of the organization is the sin ofthe In
dvduals who compose it, which sin is 80 much
the more higrant than private offence, the in
flaence Of the imposing public body is greater
than that Of An individual. From this sin and its
consequences there can be no escape except in
severing the organic bond, which is secession from
the body.
In taking aud recommending this course at this
time, It is important that the position Of seeding
Evangelical Christians should be clearly defined
and correctly understood. Ia seeding, il is not
for the purpose Of dsclrding or of thrustng into