Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-11-26
TIE CHURCH AND SLAVERY.

Our paper today contains number Of facts in
dicating the wicked course Of the church Of this
county the subject Of slavery. We have collected
a variety of others, especially relative to the New
School Presbyterian Church. Several Prcsbyte
ries have acted in reference to the proposed inquir
les Of the last General Assembly. They take the
actual 6nality' ground of the Baltimore plat
FORMS They sNy-no agtation-no discussion -
The New School Presbyterian platform, therefore,
justly ranks along side of the whg and democratic
platforms, in purpose and measures. Speaking en-
this subject, the Free Presbyterian has the follow
ing just remarks. The rapid growth Of slavery in
the church since the division shows, as do all 9TH
er similar facts, that no compromise should be made
with this wckcdness-no toleration--no quarter
given to it. Says the Presbyterian
Ant'-slayery men and women remaining in that
church, must now make up their minds to silent
acquescencc in this decision and to perpetual fell
lOwship with Shareholders OF TO be irOwned upon
as fanaticol, impcrtinent agitators, should they
make any further cfiorys to "purgc out the old
leavcn" Of oppression Will they Hereafter bc si-
lent, and quietly permit their church to be trans
fcrred TO the control of the slaveholders2 Time,
that settles all things, will tell.
And is this "tho C. Inclusion of the whole mat
ter" in regard to the n. S. Presbyterian church 2
What sad failure Of all the high homes that were
once entertained of that body At the time Of the
separation between the New and Old School, and
subsequently, the fullest expectations were enter
taincd that the former would soon ,reo herself en-
tirely from the sin of slaycholding. Many, who
had no sympathy with what was called New School
thcUlogy.wcnt with that wing solely on that ground
At first things promised we'll But three Hnal
/ slavehOlding Presbytcrcs were in the body; and il
was confidently expected that they would be speed
lily brought to repentance, or expelled As usua
| the unccan spirit of slavery begged only for bric
tOleration. The friends of freedom, were, wear bl
year, flattered with promises of speedy riddanc,
| from the evil. In 1916 the Gen. Assembly rc,oly
cd that slavery is AN mfriRsicdiiy, unrightcous
and oppressive system. In 1850 the same cOur
! pronounced slavchOlding, with certain exceptions
'' an offence" according to the definition Of tha
term in the Look Of discipline. These dccison,
were published over the free States evidence o
progress" Anti-slavery christians were exhort
ed to be patient and quiet, and all would be well
4 they weic urged to pray much, say but little, anC
do nothing. Their whole duty vas to stard still
I and see tie salvation of tie l., rd."
I But while northern christians were praying, th,
Shareholders were trorkiHg. Silently aud nsldious
y the evil was Strengthening itself in the church
I striking its roots downward and spreading it
I branches outward. Church after church and pres
bytery after prcshytery were brought in, until nov
about thirty PIcsbyterics and over fifteen housan,
members IN the slave States belong to that church
Having thus secured sufficient power, the mask i
thrown off; the edct goes forth that all further dis
cussion must cease, and the rule Of tic slavc-pow
cr be hcnceforth mcckly Acknowledged. The Ne,
School PresLytcrians have their scheme Of churc
extension TO look after, and the slave, as lie wrihc
) IN his agony beneath their very eyes, must loo
elsewhere Tor sympathy and dcIi,crance. Oh
most lame and mpote:t conclusion " Of anti-slG
very efforts to free that church from the sin OF ol
: preston Another instructive commentary ON tn
/, policy of remaining in corrupt church, for til
purpose Of reforming it. q.