Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-11-26
nlistcIlonrous.
B1GAMY AND P0LYGAMY SANCTIONED
5n BY THE CHURCH

TuE fact is notorious that Baptist churches and
Associations at the South have repeatedly and pub
licly decided that slaves separated by sale or re-
moval, from their wives or husbands, might marry
again. without any violation of the law Of the
Jhufch or OF rhristilnty "stl,h scparariun lcin g
equivalent to death; and that cycsy slave husband
or wife may thus marry again as often as the scpa-
ration is repeated. We have before us proof that Il
similar morality prevails in the Methodist Church,
under its sanction and il is altogether probable that
"usage" has established the same moral code in
other slavohodng churches. Indeed this pollution
could hardly be said to dcilo church that had
already embraced the whole slave system, with all
It's denominations.
Some two or two and half years ago. % slave
holder of Charleston 5. c.. brought to this State
slave woman and hcrtwo children and cmancipatcd
them, being unable t. secure thcl thGir freedom in
South Carolina. This woman, before her Cmancl-
patton and since, has borne a high character for
integrity and intelligence her liic bearing witness
to the divine power and excellence of the Christian
faith she had received MS her law and guide. She
was married to u husband whom she loved with the
devotion Of true wife, aud together they were
members Of the Methodist Church of Charleston !;
and It was the only grief that darkCncd the bright
ness of her Joy that she separated from him.
The cup of Freedom unsbarcl hy her husband, lost
much Of its sweetness. But her love prompted OK
ertiuns to restore him to her arms. By the assist
aicc of friends, arrangements were made for his
purchase from slavery, and some three hundred
dollars were collected toward that object. Her
hope Frightened the satisfaction Of her hearts
ycarnng and hunger seemed Utmost at haud !;
when the news fell upon her ike Il thundcrhot
crushing and consuming 70 ashes all Ter antclpa-
iions, that hor husband had married another woman.
She wrote 10 him, in the agony ul her spirit, up
braiding him for his false and cruel conduct At
the same time she wrote to his Glass Leader in the
Church, to secure his and the Churchs aid in
bringing her husband to sec the siniulncss and
cruelty of his course, and inducing him to aban-
don it.
The Leader laid the case before the church, and
afterwards returned to the hcart-brokcn wife the
following letter, communicating their views of the
case. We commend the letter to the careful exam
inaon of every reader. II is signal illustration
of the moral pollution and death which Slavery
has wrought in the churches that have taken it in
the arms Of their fellowship
CHARLESTON, May Goth, 1858.
Dear MADAM, duly received your letter dcsir-
ing me to inform you Of the reasons by which your
husband justified his recent conduct. | regret
indeed, that such should ever have been the case,
but considering the circumstances by which he is
surrounded cannot think him wholly uuiustifuble.
1t is fact known to you, that he is not master of
his own time, and cannot, therefore, employ it at
his will. lie has been separated from you two
years, and has not the possibility of ever again
seeing you. 1t is out Of his power 10 20 to YOU, ii
50 disposed. Conscious Of this, and having been
assured Of your comfort and happiue3s, he Graiied
UtNS'J ~ ne pltCtcyc Jtf Ithitt OtOCS Ot itIStNS
similarly situated and took 10 hpsclf another rife
ltis natural to mankind to seek and desire COM
plnionship and when deprived Of this high priyil-
cgc by circumstances beyond his control, and for
so long time, he becomes literally WidOwe.--
Such being tho case it seems TO me that one irouii
Jc pordoaabc if he sought those pleasures Of sym
pathy and compnnonship in the bosom Of another.
The precedent he has given leaves it optional with
you to follow his example if desirous. sympathy
and charity cover multitude Of sins, and 10 these
cnnobling qualities Of the mind this case loudly
appeals.
ThnI not, Malam, from what have sld that
it is my wish to defend or justify him. 1t is my de-
sire only to present the matter in plain and rcas-
enable light and to reconcile you to the change, if
possible, Concerning his feelings and the rest OF
his conduct, | cannot assure YOU of anything with
the certainty of truth, but must leave you to decide
as in your Judgment, his conduct iustihcs YOU.
Hoping that these considerations will meet due
favour, am, with true regard, Yours,
JACoB WESTON.
Tho sentiments Of the above letter. which we
have taken the liberty to mark with italics, are
worthy of rc-perusal, and to be indclbly written
in the memory. Here is n plain ayowa by an Off
,ce of the church, II leader and teacher Of is mem.
hers, that the church allows the privilege OF
Ligamy or polySamy to all persons similarly stu
atcd; :" that the separation Of husband and wife
caused by slavery are iHc,Ui rhi0rhOod; and that
other subsequent marriages by the parties are
"pardoualle" 1t will be borne in mind that this
church expresses no regret for the separation by
man OF what " God has joined together this in
hc;cd (" widowhood." 1t does not Yield to Il ncces-
sity it deplores and is striving to avert. So far
from it, the slave system, with its traffic in human
beings, its mcrcilCSs sundCrng Of families and it,
dcsrI lation Of soul and prostitution of purity finds
its strongest bulwark in the church. The State
makes it legal, custom makes it eSpclicnt, ayarcc
pronouncc5 it necessary and profitable; but the
church cUnsccrates it dicine; the especial object
of Heavens favour, to Gssal which is " inidelity