Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-07-02
"Ths Most Dangerous Movement"


its representative, is moved with the-agitation
Of tho Bible question. A vast amount of carl
cature, ridicule, and Misrepresentation is ex-
pended. The arguments used are represented
as stale and a thousand times exploded-the
whole effort as imbccile. and impotent only to
exhibit the maignity'' of its authors and
conductors. Others sec in il tho most dan
dangerous movement against the Bible which
has been made since the reformation" Some
think il best once moro TO discuss the question
--others prefer to wrap themselves in the man
tic Of holy dignity, and treat it with silent
scorn. Tho fears of all alarmed. The honest
anti.slavery bible believer, .trcmblcs lest the
foundations of freedom, as we'll as religion were
being removed. While southern piety secs in
il only an effort to scatter in frogments.the bless
cd patriarchial institution, just as his pious
brother in the North, secsfin the anti-slavery
movement an effort to destroy, the Biblc-to
crush the ministry-to abolish the Sabbath
to rc.enact tho scenes of French anarchy and
Jacobinism.
Who nrc fight-whose fears arctic be realized
or what measure viii. be successful in suppress
ing the agitation we will not undertake to say.
We, indeed, think they will all fail, and that
freedom of investigation will triumph oven in
in its most searching scrutiny of Bible, church,
and ministry.
The advocates of the Bible arc placed in n
novel and disadvantogeous position for defence.
Claiming to bc;the most perfect incarnation of
righteousness and truth-that from them and
their bible must originate every movment which
shall be effeetual for human amelioration and the
establishment of justice, and yet it is notorious
that now, as in the past, the great preponderat-
ing weight of their influence, is in favor of
slavery and other forms Of wickcdncss-and
that they have themselves thrown the Bible and
the church and all their reputed sanctity, in the
way of every earnest effort for the removal of
these wrongs
On the other hand, many of the men who
arc found fuvoring the claims of investigation
into the authority OF the Book. as of every
thing else, arc most active in advancing the
humaritary movements of the age. They are
workers in the cause Of temperance, peace,
purity'and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of universal
education and enlightenment.
Admit that it is true, that the relative position
of the parties to the discussion, should have
little influence in deciding the question of Bible
authority aud origin. Still il ,em hare us III
R,tence. And the Bible and its advocates can
retain possession Of tho world, only as they
appear as. the fricndssof progressive humanity.
| =. A.
as the church to divine infallibillty. when
thoy see it supporting the groisest forms of
popular wickedness. The Deity who speaks
through the humane impulses of the heart lie
has fashioned. will be heard, whether tho Doity
which the church has enthrohed inI the Bible
be heard or no.
We can we'll understand that the charged re-
lation between the ministry and the infdcl
reformers must be particularly mortifying tc
priestly dgnityand self-supcriority. ucretolorC
the minister and the church member have beer
the holy ones and the just,' and by virtue o.
their reputcdly superior righteousness and po
sition, havc rohuked the sinner and doomed
him with the nonconformist and unbcliever L
an endles perditon.i They may still rebuke ant
anathamizc, but the infdel reformcr, conscious
of the righteousness of his principles and tn,
bonevolencc of his purpose, and abundant,
able to make both manifest (by reference to hi
} life) to candor and honesty everywhere, receive
these anathamas with indifference or pity, ant
in his turn overwhelmingly exhibits the inius
tce and false position of his censor. He ha
} him therefore entirely at advantage. And th'
divinity OF his calling, or the book which h,
claims as his authority, is therefore questionable
by the world from the equvocal character o
the believers position- Such being the relative
character and position of largo classes of I'll,
advocates and opposers of bible authority, i
may DO true. that tho present anti-bible move
mont is ''n.ore dangerous than its predecessors
But SO far as this is the case, it is a disadvan
tagc which bible advocates may remedy. lie
; them abandon the advocacy of wickedness i
all its forms. Let them with oarnestness an
zeal, join in every righteous effort to supprei
injustice and slavery,-to sustain truth, and !
spread practical good will. Let them brin
themselves, and the Bible il they can, to sustai
% the right, and at once they wrest from the
= opponents all exuancous advantage. We HAY
% been classed with the friends of this "mo
II dangerous movement" But VIC assure Il
u world that VIC so prefer the triumph of freedo
: and justice to the success of any opinions
: the overthrow of any book or any measur
II that VIC shall most heartily rejoice at all ne
advantages that Bible advocates may gain
a new position in favor of freedom, justice al
= righteousness.
FUNDS ron CANADA FUoTTIvEs.-S Samuel
40 Ward IL colleotinp money in Enbland for N No