Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-08-09
The nlinlstry..Chicas Christian Conventions.

Much as has been said, and truly said against
the American priesthood, justice demands the
acknowledgment that in its ranks are to be
found many of the true friends of human free
dom. We take pleasure in recording as we
have done, the noble sentiments of these men.
We take the greater pleasure in it because their
position is an unfortunate and difficult one.
To occupy it bravcly for tho truth, indicates
more than ordinary manhood.
The clergy arc by profession and by the re-
cognition of the people, LEADERS. Facts prove
that they have been but blind guides-leading
their followers into the slough of immortality
and slavery. The evil has been exposed, and
the remedy presented, not by ecclesiastical
odcts, that could have been endurcd-but the
rcbukc, the exposure, and the remedy, came
from publicans and sinners: to acknowledge the
truth was to abase themselves in their own es-
teom, and degrade their office and labor in the
esteem of others.
Many of the theological opinions they teach,
are slandcrous Of God, and degrading to human
ity, and of course exert a contracting influence
upon those who embrace and promulge them;
and their relation to the people is one calcula-
ted to foster self deception and moral coward
ice. A great mass of the American clergy ex-
hibit the legitimate fruit of their position and
opinions. They are illiberal, morally obtuse,
servile, hypocritical and cowardly. They have
arrayed themselves against radical reforms. No
matter how self evident the truths, how bene-
violent or feasible the plans, they first enquire
what will be its influence upon the church and
ministry, as though these instrumentalties
were the great end of human and divine exist
once. They have proved themselves of the
earth-earthy-and though eanting of heav-
en-, their treasures have been here and to pro-
tect then, they have not scrupled to sustain the
most monstrous wrongs. Churches and ecclesias-
teal judicatures have decidedly and unhcsita-
tingly fraternized with slavery, manifesting
their willingness to sacrifice moral principle and
humanity for It's support.
The pure minded and honest in the ministry
have borne long and labored earnestly with
their brethern, amidst reproach and persecution.
Their efforts have been unavailing for their re-
form. And finally they arc becoming convin-
csd that any further efforts in that direction arc
useless-that it is time to obey the Injunction
'come out from among them, my people, and
be ye separate Some of them now are rea-
,dy to assume in part the ground of the Ameri-
can A. S. Society-no Union with shareholders
in the Church. To q considerable extent. This
was the feeling that characterized the Chicago
Christian Convention. A Convention made up
sof very large representation of talent and in
,tegrity from this class of men.
Tho Catholic priesthood, it is said, abolished
.chatta slavery in Great Britain. Human chat
.tolism exists among us because the clergy have
sancti6ed and sustained it. And although their
treason to humanity has lost them some Of
their influence, and the increase of personal res
possibility among the people, generated by free
investigation, has to some extent broken the
power of thoir despotism, yet they have an in
fiuence that can do much for the overthrow of
slavery, we are glad therefore to soc any move
ment of theirs in behalf of freedom. The fol-
lowing were the resolutions adopted.
Resolved, That silence by Missionary body
once connected with Slavery, in regard to that
Elm, duplicates such body in the sin and guilt OF
the system.
Resolved, That it is the duty of all Chris
tisns, who desire to propagate apuro Christian