Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-12-24
WESTERN VIRGINIA METHoDIsM,


A specimen Of this phase OF religion was given
in Bro. Iulps letter last week. The latest IMl.-
iurgh Adrocdte has n letter from Moses Tict'nelL
preacher. perhaps presiding Elder In the W. VA
Conf. lie is severe in his censures on some
preachers who have taken transfers from that cona
ference West and left them to their fate, which
seems 10 be considered hard one. Speaking of
the feelings entertained by preachers he says
"whon they refer to the grea, and increasing de-
mand for laborers in this young Conference We
have seen this reply: IL is slave territory, and
We ought to give it up"
Aftcr speaking in condemnation Of this course
lie adds:-
eve conceive that the NJ. +. Church is not the
only thing that is desired TO be ovcrthrown bat its
downfall is designed a prelude TO the overthrow
Of these United States. A Lhton Sdrer!g tl-i
ira Abolition on the one hand, and ultra pro-sa-
very on lie other We regard twin sisters, eithor
in Church or State and co-laboiers in the samo
work Of destruction, from which we pray God TO
he delivered. Instances are not wanting TO confirm
the most skcptical in this opinion. We look at one
time, and we see mon unwilling TO labor in Virgin
ia, for OH forsooth, there are ddrkies thero
shower falls he Jog rises and in 1t dozen South they
go."
We sec that they lose at both ends, and from d.
verse causes. Aud moreover there is growing
uneasiness and serious trouble in that region lie
reports that;--
zone saws. leave us--we are the pure Church,
and are determined TO have nothing to do with the
sum of oH rUaRics : and then the other exhausts
the vocabulary and darts of in it OF rhetoric, 10
SANDER back again. Hear il: The whole move
mcnt North is a proclamation or notice, that the
defective legislation of Heaven. the subject OF
slavery, can DO borne no longer"
A further detail Of the evil consequences apprc-
hendcd is then given;
"Should the conservative body Of Methodists
Yield and Join the foe at either side and their cx-
annie be followed by other branches of the Church,
and Christianity be brought as low as it is general
" on this moral battlcground-a scene, indeed, as
m eyewitness afhrms, moro appalling than the
srht of slaughtered hecatombs-hOw easy thing,
in the fury of mad exitement to dissolve the pledge
of Eja fortune and sacred honOr, and set men law
lessiv adoat inwd confusion, to destroy one anotl-
er. How dospols would rejoice, and the prince oi
darkness triumph"
The state of things now is very appalling surely,
ON that 'norol battle ield,"-a popularity that
may be understood as a sequence to slavery. He
however, is full Of hope. lie says:-
"'rhe Mcthodists in Western Virginia will never,
no never yield to this. Ultra they are not and
hope cncourugingly says they never will be-. Firm
ly tho old landmarks they stand. Methodism as
ii is, is what they waut--and in the name Of God,
what thcy will have. Her ministers will not for
sake them Let the North, East or West huri their
ireiIrnnds in the form Of resolutions, or what
weapons they chooso-and let the South cry aboi'r
ton 10 their hearts contcntand we are persuaded
that aH good Mcihodists will firmly stand ON middle
( ground"
That is stand" where one Of tic preachers in
that Conference does Jest between the slave States
and tic free, with his foot on n negro. This is
"Mcthodism Gs il is" in the Western Virginia Con-
ference In appearance like slaughtered heca-
Itombs"-in fact slnyeholdng and slave-trading---
in prospect worse and worse and more OF it. And
this is part Of the Methodist L. Church NORTH
Wesleyan.