Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-08-09
REPORT
On The Connection Of American Churches
with Slavery, through their Communion and
Church Fellowship.
MADE TO THE CHRISTIAN ANTI. I.sLAvERY CON-
yENTIoS AT CHICAGO, BY REV. c. b. BoYNToN.

The Committee to whom wns referred the
subject of the connection of the churches
with slavery through their communion aud
church fellowship, have held the same under
consideration and beg leave TO report:
We assume as fundamental principle
that slave-holding in any proper sense of that
term is a sin. We do not pause 10 offer
proof of this position because we believe
that if the slavehoding OF this country is
not sinful practice, then it is 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 to another, with which all are familiar,
namely; the influence of wrong action i'm
corrupting Society is in exact proportion to
the rank, dignity, and reputation of the
wrong -doer.
Again, the church of Christ in rank, digni-
ty and reputation, occupies the loftiest posi-
ton of earth. She stands clothed by God
with the highest possible official character; /;
she is commissioned by the Lord Jesus
Christ as his ambassador and witness, TO
represent the character of God and the priu-
cipes of the Divine government.
OF this official character she cannot diyest
herself, and she wields therefore, under all
circumstances and inevitably, the whole
amount of influence which belongs to her
station. She cannot be sborn of this nllu-
| ence which belongs to her station. She
cannot be shorn of this influence, even by
her own misconduct; because she stands
before the world always as the official repre-
sentative of Christ, however she may fail TO
present real transcript of his spirit and
principles
If therefore she becomes n siuning body,
or the patron and defender of sin, this inlu-
ence OF position is not thereby DESTROYED.
nor even lessened, but its undiminshed
power is eXertcd in favor of evil. Bearing
commission from Christ, she uses the authori-
ty which it conicrs, to lead tho world astrny.
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 into an instrument of ruin; and be-
trays souls into hell in the name of God
If then slaveholding be sin, and if the
church in her official character as the earth
ly representative of Christ occupies posi-
ton above all other institutions and trans
cends them oil in influence; and she be
found moreover in iinterna connection with
slavery, then she affords thereby TO this
dreadful system the most authoritative and
influential sanction of which we can CON
ceive. Because if all the millions of earth
should in their individual capacity, unto in
the approval of American slavery, it would
be only the opinion of fral and crrng mon |;
if all governments should legislate for its
support and extension, they could claim no
Divine sanction for their cnactments; if all
the angels OF heaven should give il their
countenance, this would present only the SEN
timent oil angels; but the church has been
actually and formally commissioned to utter
tho voice Of Christ, to speak for Him, and in
his name; and if she unrolls this commission