Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-10-25
Anli-Slayery in Bainbridge...U False!
hood and Msannew In the Presbyterian
Church.

OEAh fHlEND IOBINSONs we are encounter
ing ST. a1gc experiences, even for old soldiers in
the Anti Slavery warfare. We came to Balm
bridge, James w. Walker. Mr.. and Mrs. Griffin
and myself on Saturday last, to hold Conven-
ton on that day and Sunday. The meeting.
house where 1t was to be held, is owned by one
man, who has allowed the Presbyterians to oc.
cupyit on Sundays for their worship.
Two or three weeks before our meeting, the
Minister, Reverend Mr.. Holmes, was informed
by the direction of the owner of the meeting.
house, that we should want it on the llth and
l2th of October for Convention. The Church
had already, or the most of them, given their
individual consent to our having it. But tho
answer of the minister was, that he had arrang-
cd to preach an Anti-Slavery Sermon on that
day, and should not consent to be put off.
DESTROYS to avoid all difficulty, our friends at
once decided to so arrange our meetings, as to
come TO an adjournment for an hour and half,
before noon on Sunday, and thus give our Con-
vention the beueHt Of a Presbyterian Anti
Slavery Sermon, without at all interfering with
the psrposes of the minister, or his congrega-
ton, or much with our own. No one supposed
so far as our friends understood, that the house
would be wanted beyond that time, and many
said the Church would not so improperly inter-
ferc with US at all.
But subsequent events showed that we were
dealing with those who understood the subtle
ties as we'll as ,eisdon of the serpent. On Satur-
day afternoon, the Church sent deputation
into our meeting, to inform us that they own
ed the house and should occupy it the whole
Of the following day. 10 this VIC paid no at
tention; as We had already completed our pro-
gramme in accordance with tho former agree
mcnt, having consent of the owner of the house
so to do.
On Saturday evening, the minister was call
ed upon, aud told what VIC had done. He was
utterly astonishcd that We had taken him at
his word. lie said, Gas l presumed all the
while) he had no Anti-Slavcry Sermon to dcliv-
or, unless it was one he had given short time
before. lie was urged to repeat this, as he
would have a large audience, who never had
heard it. But he declined the proposal.
On Sunday morning, we met at nine o'clock.
come from other towns, Notwithstanding the
strong indications of rain. At half past ten we
adjourned, and the minister pompously ascend
ed the pulpit, and took lordly possession of the
first congregation worthy the name, he has ever
had the good fortune to address in that house.
Now mark the bascness and falschood which
were revealed. There was an immense au-
dcnce, como to an Anh-Slavery Convention.
They expected nothing else. They wanted
nothing of this vendcr Of sectayian wares, never
having had any dealings at his market. But
regardless of his pledge to deliver an Anti
Slavery discourse, he bored them with two cold
and senscless prayers, with singing to match,
and then delivered ono of the most secdy and
thread bare, as we'll as otherwise stupid pieces
of theological twaddlc ever heard. His subject
slough OF arguments up to Serenthiy," to
prove to an audience doctrine, which not one
OF them probably doubted for a moment. We
might well doubt whether such n being as he
showed himself to be, had soul, mortal or i'm
mortal. Hosting himself upon us, as he did
so impudently, with his borrowed, but badly
read logic, he would have made ten infdels to
one believer, had there been any in the assem-.
bly, whose minds were not already satisfied on
the subject.
But this was not the end Of the infamous
farce. III the prayer after sermon, he asked his
God to be with them in Sunday School at in
termission, and an afternoon assembling again
for worship. This led to some alteration at the
close, and some severe remarks on both sides
among other things, the owner of the house
assured the arrogant priest that "this toas The
last day he toouid occupy that pulpa,"-a declara-
lion which, as will appear, was to be made
good.
However, we decided not to contend, and left
to hold our meeting in the open air, (and as it
happened, in the rain,) until we could again
peaceably have the house. The minister mean
time had assured the congregation that he could
have the Methodist Westinghouse, near by,
unless he should succeed in diving us out.
While the dozen or two of Presbyterians were
performing worship, we held good meeting in
the rain, under trees and umbrellas-the wo-
men mostly standing in an adjoining house. A
more " Dog ia the manger" game. was never
played. Thepriest on his own showing or pre-
tending, had control of two meeting houses, with
no congregation to fill even a school, room. We
had very large Convention indeed, and he
drove us thus wantonly and brutally. into the
storm.
But by patient endurance of injuries, we at
last were restored again to the meeting house.
AT the opening of the meeting, the following
Resolutions were presented for discussion;
Resolved, That our controversy with the
American church aud Clergy is not with their
creeds aud doctrines abouI the Bible, the
clergy, the ministry, or the Sabbath, or their
ceremonies aud modes OF worship; but il is,
that while they profess to honor God aud his
law, they trample his authority under their
ieet-while they profess to love their neigh
Dor as themselves, they deny their right to
liberty and the pursuit of happiness--they