Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-05-15
Methodist Slave Holders.

The following are some of the comments
of the Free Presbyterian upon the letter OF
MIR. Hall, in reference to the class leader
who kidnapped Horace Preston. The Metho-
dists are only IN the same condemnation with
all the other great sects of the country tho
it must he confessed they have been parilcu-
larIy ofiicious in their men hunts Of late.
The revelations which from time 10 time
leak out from the southern prison house, OF
the connection of the Methodist Episcopal
Church North with slavery, are a precious
commentary OIL the auli.slnvery pretensions
which ure so vociferously set up for her 10y
ministers in this latitude. The Rev. James
Savage of Kentucky, n local preacher oi
this church sends north Tubbs Crosse, n
brother pgeacher of the same church, to beg
money enough TO buy his own body and
soul, in order that he may he free to preach
the everlasting gospel. The Rev. Savage
in the mean time retaining the sister and
mother of his brother preacher as hostages
for his safe return. Edward Gorsuch, Kill
led righteously il ever man was righteously
killed, in the attempt TO drag four of his
fellow beings back to the hell of southern
slnvery. was declared by the leading organ
of the Methodist Church North to he "one
of the brightest ornaments of that church, u
meek aud humble christian in the best aud
trtiest sense of the word" VIM. Gatewood
IN Kentucky, n prominent member of the
same church sells Henry Bibb his wife aud
child, to a professional slave trader, by
whom the wife is sold TO French de-
bauchee in N. Orleans for base purposes,
where she is still, if living, held in perpetual
separation from her lawful husband. Aud
now Wni. Reese class leader of the same
church, drags Horace Preston from the bo-
som of his family, and parts him forever
from all the endearments of home. From
the few cases of this character TINT come to
our knowledge in the North, we may infer,
without danger of mistake, the number and
nature of similar cases of which no account
reaches the free States.
Now what is the object of giving publci.
~ to these things? Is it to crafty feelings
of huired towards The church in whose bo-
som they occur? Is it through the hope of
proselyting her meInbers into our own com
munOn? God knows it is not. We have
none but kind feelings towards the members
of the NJ. Episcopal Church. Should any
of her members he persuaded to leave her
communion, we should expect aud advise
them to unite with the Wcsleyans, where
they can be free from connection with, and
support of slavery aud, at the same time
enjoy all their peculiar views as Metlodists.
What then is the object? On the wrihing
body of the slave the Methodist Episcopal
Church North is painted, aud is one of the |
heaviest of the mountain weights that are
crushing out his life. Hundreds of people !
are in that church, adding all they can to
its pondcrous weight, who we think would |
not stay for an hour if they knew the fncts
ms they nre. Their church is represented
whether ignornn,ly or knowingly is not for
us to sny-ns free from all guilty connection
with the stupendous crime of slavery. BE.
lieving these representations, they re,nain in
their present connection, giving all their in
iuence by position TO pcrpetuae the terrible
oppression of the slave. As we have said
of a similar classi in nnotherj church, hy
are in The church iDhich is on The slaue, aud
whatever weight of anii-slavery character
they may have only makes their position
more crushing to the poor bondmun. We
feel, it therefore, solemn duty to do what
we cun to open the eyes of such, aud to
call to them "get off, in the name of God
get off"