The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-06-02
THE CASE OF ONEsIMUs.

TO the Editor of the National Era:
DEAR SIR: As Onesimus has been dragged
into the Halls of Congress by an honorable
member will you allow me to plead his cause?
One5imus was the brother or servant of
Philemon, perhaps both. For some reason he
left his masters service, and went to Rome.
There no was taken into the service of the
Apostle Paul, and conducted 70 we'll that he
gained the confidence and secured the affec-
ton of that venerable man. Having occasion
10 send to the church at Colosse, the Apostle
employed Tychicus, beloved brother, and
faithful minister with Onesimus, n faithful
and beloved brother, and a member of the
church in that city, to transact his business
COL iv 10 1t would SEEM that when this
delegation appeared at Colosse, Philemon took
exceptions, and charged Oncsmus with wrong
doing while In his employ. There was diff
Guilty, and the church could not settle it, Ones
linus returned to Rome, and the Apostle would
gladly have retained him about his person :;
but he knew that Phlcmon's feelings were
disturbed, and that he claimed some compen-
satlon for Il debt contracted, or loss he had
sustained, and he resolved to have this diff
Guilty settled. Accordingly he prepared a
letter for Philemon and directed Onesimus to
return to ColOsse with it, In this epstle he
highly cOmmends Onesimus, Indirectly con-
demned Philemon for not receiving Onesimus
with brotherly kindness before and requires
HIM to conduct in different manner, and to
receive him now, not as a servant, but as brother
bciOUed both an The flesh and an the Lord Paul
might have enjoined upon Philemon that which
was convenient in the case; but he had conf
dence in his Christian feelings and chose to
appeal to them with all the tenderness and of
lection of an aged Apostle. IL bescech thee,
for my SON Onesimus, whom have sent AGAIN
Thou therefore TeceiUe him, that ia mine own
bowels Not now, as a Serrant, rs you have
done, but dLore a servant. a brother belouedD
The point to be gained was to induce Phile-
mon to receive and treat Onesimus as a brother
beioUcd both IN The flesh and n the Lord. On
this point Paul is explicit and mdaddtory The
Language IL Imperative and admitted of no
evasion. This is the pdh OF tho whole epistle,
and shows beyond all dispute that Paul would
not allow Philemon, under any lretence, to
receive and treat his brother Onesimus as a
servant, IN any respect. Philemon must re-
celve and treat Oneslmus rs he would the
Apostle himself
That point being settled, Paul bound himself
to pay all tho pecunary demands which Phile-
mon was disposed to make. Charity forbiGs
rs to believe that Philemon ever made any de-
mand on the Apostle for any debt which Oncsi-
mus had contracted The whole affair was
settled to the satisfaction of oil concerned
Paul docs not admit or deny Phlemons charge
against Onesimus but reminds him that he
had some claims upon him, and then left him
to bring forward ms demand when he pleased
Did Philemon ever present his billt should
like 10 see It,
Admitting that Philemon, while a heather,
did hold his brother in seryitude, as heather
have often done, Paul requires him now 10
treat him tn a uery different manner. lie had
before said in his public epistle to the church
at Colosse-" Masters, give unto your servants
that which is juSt and equal - and he now
sends letter mandatory and requires Phile-
mon, a leading member in the church, to re-
ceiye servant, who had, for some reason, left,
not Hop as Il servant but ADORE a servant, Il
bIoiheI bciored' The point insisted upon was,
that The old master should now receive and
treat has iormer servant (slave, if you please
~" as @rrant, JW abOUe a servant, brother
Beloved
How do slayeholding churches regard this
apostolic rule should like to know. There
~ day coming when all their conduct will
be known, and God will plead the cause of the
oppressed SrNrx.
WING PRMcIPLEs-The Wing candidate
for Congress in the Richmond district Vir.
ginia, at recent public discussion, said
81 am dnti-bdnk, Gnii.tanG, Gnti-intsrnal
improvement by The Gensrai Government, and
anl',dl'tributiOn Of the proceeds Of The public
lands"