Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-06-26


doing for the slave? They are breaking
bread with his owner round the communion
table. They are receiving slave holders into
full fellowship. The preachers and member:
| OF our protestant denominations, alone own
over six hundred thousand slaves. The
Nlethudists, Bnptisis, aud Presbytcrans, all
hive divided on the slavery question, hui
both divisions tolerate slave holding. The
Methodist church North, IL am not mista.
ken, reports between eighty and ninet,
thousand members in the South, all in full
communion with slavery. Even our Tract
aud Missionary, and Sunday school Associa.
Iiuns, those mighty agencies for the diffusion
OF Christian truth, are under slave holding
espionage. The scissors OF the peculiar in
Siilulion must he applied 10 their publica-
lions, aud they must he so trimmed, aud
carved, aud mdngiof, as not to send forth
even an inutinIutun that freedom is bles-
sing, or slavery curse. The meek aud
lamb-lke clergy, and churches of the North
submit to this cold.bloodcd pricsily havoc in
uncomplniuing silence, lest the ire of the
slave holder should be kindled and the har-
mOny OF the church be endangered. IN all
the late publications of the American Tract
Soriety, am informed that not syllable
ran be found against slavery. Such sins us
Sabbath breaking, dancing, fine dressing,
Ne, are abundantly noticed aud condemdcd
lut not eyena whisper must go forth against
"the sum Of all viIlnnics" The great de-
nominations of the North are thus made to
uphold American slavery, aud like our
great political organizations, they neces-
sarlIy involve their supporters in the guilt Of
slave holding.
II
see, is cspoused 10y our churches. Slavery
IN the United States, according to the high
authority already quoted, could not exist
single hour, IT il were not supported 10y our
religious bodies. 1t is one OF their chief
bonds Of union; aud all that is necessary, lac
tells us, is TINT "each christian man,
aud every christian church, shall free
themselves from all connection with
evil, aud utter n calm aud deliberate voice
to the world" and this foul, national
blot shall be wiped out, this flame from
hell shall be cXtingushrd. Here, my friends,
Is The plain aud straight path OF duty, who
ever may blink it ont of sight; and if our
walking therein, shall lead to the rending of
ecclesiastical bodies, let us remember thnt
righteousness, not peace, should he our phi
mary aim, that first pure, then pcnceahle,"
is the divine order OF christian progress
Aud yet, we urc sometimes sulemnly warned
against the sundcring of outward bonds, ms
n calamity to the church, Does the church
consist of an external organization, however
many ii may enlist under II common name
DO we know so liulc of Professionalism ms to
make the church identical with any known
ecclesiastical body; Is the church rent in
wain, when II religious denomination is
divided? On the contrary, hold that we
'hould welcome divisions, when they pro-
reed from an honest aud faithful endeavor to
ipply christianity to all known sins. The
mtg of the church demands the breaking
up of outward organizations, when they
openly csponse, and persist in upholding n
,reat wrong.
Who believes that Christianity would be
iloltrd out, If every oyershndoning hicrar-
'hy in the luud were broken into fragments ?
The cause of true religion, instead OF being
norially wounded would he advanced. The |
ice spirit of CougrcgaIiunnlism, strengthen !
d by The shock, would stand up rs II break |
water against ecclesiastical tyranny in ilI- |
nrc for ccntruli2alion is not not less an evil !
u religious than in civil matters. The great |
,ody Of the people, freed from pricstly rule, |
ud -trorg MS ever in their religious yearu-
ncs would gather together in smaller hocks, |
ndcr their chosen shepherds, ond thus II
rec church, armed with every available in.
for good, would lie found, labor
~ in the cause OF Christ, aud boldly smit-
ing every form of sin. Ii becomes us, us
cpuhlcans in my humble Judgement TO re-
udiato the hierarchul idea of u church, aud
. inaugurate the Democratic aud Christian
lea 10 iorcgo our love of great ccclesust.
al bodies, revolving round n central point of
ognln, in the endcuvOr TO unite men of
ifereut creeds, on the broad platform of
rnctical righteousness, making that the mems
re of christian character, the test of chris
an fellowship.
A great centralized religious power is un-
ivorable to free individual thought and ac-
on. Ii is apt TO invoke the power of mum
ers, rather than than tie spirit of truth, and
, mistake dcnominational sway for the
preud OF Christianity. II becomes seli-seek-
lg, sacrificing even justice aud humanity, TO
ie desire 10 gather mulIiludes under the
amer of lis creed. Ii has been said truly,
mt professionalism can be true TO ITSELF and
} its mission in cviling the world, only
hen il can say, in sincerity and truth, Tint
cares less for the creed of Luther, or Cal
in, or Fox, or Wesley, than for Chrisl's
islingnishing and everlasting righteousness
nd love"
On this principle, Mr.. President, we
lould take our stand, and we should carry
rigidly into practice, whatever the couse-
lences mny be, to the religious dcnomina-
ons of the country, North or South. II di-
sions take place, we must sny, emphaticnl-
, that zoe Nre maintaining the unity of the
lurch, whilst they alone are schismatcs,
ho elevate dogma above life, and substitute
! outward worldly establishment, for the
no Church of Christ. Divisions, doubt
ot, will come.
The claims of active philanthropy, if dis
yned by teachers and professors OF religion,
Ill nevertheless be heard; aud they will not
'ed the prudent counsels of our limid and