Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-09-10
LETTER FROM FRANCIS BARRY.

slavery lecturers.
LETTER FROM FRANCIS BARRY.
To w. II. Robinson, Parker Ffiisbury, AJty Foster
and others, ia coHrcHfioH assembled.
Upon you, and your noble and brave coadjutors,
devolvcs the work of freeing the slave. That this
result is to be effected in and through change in
the general sentiment, you are aware. Whether
this change may be more easily wrought, by and
through appeals to the public conscience in regard
to the sin and wrong of slavery, exclusive of all
other effort, or by clcvating the tone of public
morals in general and nculcating the principles
of true Christianity, seems to be question impor
tant now to decide. That tho latter course would
be more wise and effective, is my opinion. 1t is
in vain to look for the .iJoliionist where the Nan
and the Christian is not to be found.
Youand your associates have sought to overthrow
Slavery, without interfering with the popular re-
igon. Although your help has almost all come
from such rs the Church calls hfIcis, and although
Il large share of the distractions you have fcund
in your way, have been thrown there by Tie popu-
lar rcligionists, yet you still hope - secure your
object without mcddng with their theories or their
operations. That this is vain hope your past
experience, think. must go far to prove.
claim for true Christianity what certain pious
sclstyled rclormers claim for n sham Christianity,
tho. it must constitute the basis of all true reform
The Reformcr need hope for success only so far as
he can nstil into the minds Of men the hnda-
mental idea of the Christian Religion. This idea
is that man is to be treated, always and every
where, as man,-that we are to treat every human
being as another self-that salvation, here or else
where, is to be obtained only by being true to our
nature and obligations. With the popular rclig-
ion with its meaningless ceremonies and imposing
this idea must be, and is, unccas-
ingly and etcrnally at war. Popular rcligiouists,
during the time that they arc not throwing stunl-
bling blocks in the way of Reformcrs, are occupy
ing the time and attention of the people, which
might be devoted to suffering Humanity,
with fOoleries and mummcries which serve only to
bewitch and bccloud the mind. and leave It in fog
and darkness.
Which of you in your labors for the slave, have
not found the popular ccclcsastics your worst cnc
miles, and their arrangements and dongs your
greatest hindrance Even those who appear
friendly, and tender their assistance, are contnu-
ally beset with fears, lest humanity will occupy
too much, and long faced formalitics and super
stitious vagorics, too little attention.
Religionists arc continually drawing the mind
away from the true issue. According to their
teaching, the great business of life is something
far different from feeding the hungry and relieving
the oppressed. With them Justice and Mercy arc
"iRcidentul and unimportant." The best of them
seem to think that asking an imaginary God to re-
ieve the oppressed, will at least half atone for
fusing to do it ourselves.
Bigotry and intolerance are ever found hand in
hand with tyranny and opprcssion if we would
war with the latter, VIC cannot be at peace with
the former Reform will ever be an uphill bust
ness, until the popular religion is uprootcd, and
its place supplied by a religion that shall be to
Humanity blessing rather than curse.
FRANCIS BARRY.
BERLIN, Eric Co., o., August, SO.
LETTER FROM AMOS GILBERT.
MARLBORO, Aug 9th, j3.
FRIENDS OF THE SLAVE: Again you have assem-
bled. Have your motives for conyening been scru
tinizcd with care? Two motives may be conceived
of, either of which might be ample induccment
namely, to deliberate upon what yet remains il
your power to do for the benefit of the three mill
ions, with whom the callous hearted must sympa
thze Or to crafty and extend social feeling
Both are good both bring into exercise the bcs
of our nature. Which should be paramount ?
Your meeting is the Anniversary of the A. S. S.
The name tells it; the soci II benefits to be realize
) should be deemed incidental just such, in kim
and degree as spontaneously grow out of tn
I l.nn fhnt nra anrupqtlv
for the cnfranchisement of the most abused, afct
cd class earth.
Celebrated speakers are with you and the au
; dience such as is usual on like occasions. 1t ma
} comprze all descriptions, from the hoping, des
ponding, care worn Aboitionist, to the apathctiC
perchance opposing, looker-on. Can your speaker
address all this variety efficiently? Can the
stimulate the pOrkers to more dilgcnt labor? Ca
they cause nominal abolitonists to perceive tina
profession is idle? That inertness is to moral r,
= form, what dead weight is to motion? In the cas-
of those whom curiosity wish to be with III
multitude, has brought to your assembly, can the
generate feelings, and produce convictions whic
will leave them ill at case" until they resolve
fall into the ranks of those who are doing the u
most in their power to aid the most suffering {
all causes? Can they show the oppressor that hi
position is essentially wicked? 1t is hoped tia
something will be effected in each of these dire,
tons.
For the contamination of that which abolition
lists ycarn after two conditions indispensable
First an increasing willingness to make sacrifices
and secondly, untiring efforts to awaken though
and point out duty, in minds which have not pc
, ceved-which have never felt their relation to tn
, momcntous subject. lie, or She whose spoken {
written words are cifcctual in securing these n
! suits, occupies high position among human beI
efactors. A failure in this respect, whatever ma
b be the display of eoquence-the logical or rheto
ical skill whatever the wit, the sarcasm--hc tai
c Of any kind which excites admiration Of Ii
speaker, little is gained for the cause of justiC
and humanity. In the exact ratio that efforts ten
t to any other than the promotion of the primai