Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-12-25
From the True Wesleyan.
Richmond AdyOcatC-TerSnS- Baptist Slaves.

In tic city Of Richmond, Va. during the
past summer. there WINS mmly of slave
holders, nnmcd Winston, cruelty murdered
by John Williams aud wife, who urc mem
bers ol the Baptist Church. From tie fact
OF their association with the liaplsts, the
usually unreasonable and prejudccd south.
ern hotspurs hive hastily concluded that
there is something in Baptist preaching cal
culated TO make The slaves cut their masters
throats! So extensive has been this feeling,
aud to such pitch excited, TINT the three
}lpliist churches of Richmond held mass
meeting of their members Oct. ~, adopted
nn address to the public, aud n series of res
olntions which are found in the Richmond
Advocate OF Nov. II, 1859, signed by the
pastors ard dencOns of tic three Churches
OF white Bapfisis.
From their statement it appears that,
"The religious instruction of the colorcd
population of the city of Richmond has, hy
circumstances not under the conii0 0l of the
present generation been dcvolved, in great
mensilre, on the Baptist denomination"
They say, however, deserving of sympathy
and encouragement in their work.
ave are sorry To perceive, from mnny in
dications, that the late auruciOus murders
committed in this city, by members of the
First African Baptist Church, have awaken
ell degree of opposition to our efforts and
concentrated on our denomination an odium
which we deem unreasonable aud unjust"
Then follows n defence of the Baptis,
Church from the charge of teaching any doc
irine directly or indirectly encouraging SO
foul n crime. Yet they admit lhut:
"ln Church, containing, ms does the AZ
rican Church, more Than $500 members.
many OF them, in spite Of our best efforts TO
instruct tIicn, rctnnin very ignorant aud i'm
perfectly impressed with their moral obliga-
tons R,, 40,
verify believe as we believe the Gospel of
our salvation, thn, crimes would be far more
numerous than they aro among this class of
Our population, but for their religious iustruc.
tlon OF dlciplne, imperfect MS under the cir
sunlstnnces they must necessarily be-"
Following hard after This, comes n series
OF resolutions. No. |, pledges respect to the
rights Of the master und The laws of the land
No. =, declares the importance of giving
colored people as " thorough religious train.
ing ns their circumstances will permit r'-
No. 3, promises TO continue instrtctiug Bnp-
tist slaves "and such others as may be prr-
mlnistratiOns'-No 4, cnlogises the pastor
of the African Baptist Church-No. 8, prom.
ises To he guided by my "cnndid and Judi.
cous suggestion" from without.
So much for the Bnptists. Notling could
he more srnselcss ihnn the prejudice of the
public against the denomination, because
TWO of It's members were guilty Of murder.
Aud what could be more suhservicnt to the
wishes Of the popuace than the public ayow
al of their settled policy. II has two point
worthy Of note. These should please the
most vigilani and jealous overseer. |. The
oppressive law aud the tyrant nnster are the
recognized rule of action. 9 The instruc
tion is only to such Gas their circumstances
of servitude aud suljcctlon to irresponsible
power will permit"
Surely all the people aud especially the
churchs in the slaveholding city of Rich.
mond would appreciate their circumstances
aud approve their course But il is not
so. The opportunity of making capital out
of it for slaveholding MeIhodisrn, and to
prejudice the Baptist cause is too tempting
10 let slip. Aud the Richmond Advocate
rIIsles into the work with double column
of editorial. The main point is the small
value of slaves trained 10y Baptist preachers.
This lie reaches by series of proposi-
tons with which we propose to furnish our
readers. These propositions are introduced
by the following statement.
But we know that the religious profess
sion and Church members of the murderers.
have given rise to great many conieclures
as to the moral effect of tho peculiar reIiei.
Gus instruction TO which nearly the whole
colored population Of the city is subject by