Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-03-13
SALEM ONO, M4RcH I3, 1852.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE meets April 4th.
The Ministry,

The following item, which so far as VIC know,
is correct in its figures, is going the rounds OF
the papers:
In all the Theological Scminarics of the
Congregational and Presbyterian denominations
there were 20 students less, in 1850 than in
1910; and yet during that time our population
had increased six millions, and our territory
moro than million OF square miles,
The Obcrlin Evangelist, in an article on this
subject, says, that "whle tho demand for good
and competent ministers has increased, for ten
years past the supply has diminished. Cause,
the dcarth of revivals and the low state of picty
in the church, and pcrchancc the fact of a less
competent support"
We doubt not all these causes may have opc-
rated. There arc, however others. Ten years
ago, in the estimation of the great majority of
the most intelligent and benevolent of the COM
murity; the ministry was invested with a
charm OF sacrcdncss, which has since departed.
1t was then looked upon as tho position of all
others, best calculated for permanent and cx-
tcnsivc influence and usefulness. Hence young
men who combined energy and talent, with be-
htNbAtllNNi Nv ~ W VIC must UC
cause the most useful position.
But Anti Slavery brought forward as n test
of the Ministry, the great democratic idea, Of
human equality, taught by Christ. The dis
tinct cnunciation of this principle, alarmed tho
clergy. Their supremacy to all ordinary NOR
tails was as sacred an article in the protestant
as in the catholic or pagan creed The claim
was really and as directly at war with equali.
ty and progress, as the claim OF the white mast.
or to superiority over his black slave. Thu:
they saw that their dcspotism, though not ma.
, med, was equally described, with Americas
/ Slavery, and that both would stand, or fall to-
, gcthor. To defend the supremacy Of their pro,
lession, they degraded themselves as men, ant
became the champions and abottors of slave
holding and kidnapping. They sacrificed tc
this, truth, honor and freedom. And this il
SO undisgusod a form, as to be manifest to all.
Z What wonder thcn that young men Of intel
lcct and heart, should cschew such company
and such employment. Especially when expe
rienco and common sense clearly intimatcd
, that they might exert far wider influence fo
Epout III Ohhti VI ucllollB lllul p1 com
bining with the narrowness of religious sectsn
or with the intolerance, that usually nppcrtain
1 to the "authorizcd ministry" The Eyangelis
y might therefore, not only have conceded tina
I the number of the ministry had diminished, bu
: that its character for talent, integrity and inu
0 encc, had also, materially declined And Will
the ministry shall stand, as does even yet,
great portion of il, as the confederate of SLAYER
and slave-catching, VIC trust it will continue t
degenerate in influence and rospeotability.
> The ministry claims for itself greater influ
ence then belongs to any other class of porsonl
It has been true that they have exertcd this in
Aucncc. But they have ceased to do it, to tn
! same extent as formerly. There arc othC
sources ofinAuence, that now equal or excel i
Tho seeptrc of intellectual power, is passin
from the clergy to the people. AS the clerg
, refused to investigate themselves and prohibit
I ed tho investigation of others; As they Sc
/, themselves in opposition to the important truthI