Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-02-12
NO.. 81.
NJ. Sslby and the Bible Convention.

an article from N. n. Selby, addressed to the
members Of the late Bible Convention, to which
with your consent, wish to make short re.
ply. This do, for two reasons. First, be.
cause think the writer does the members of
the American Anti-Slavery Society injustice in
holding them responsible for the said Convcn.
tion, and secondly, because 1 also think that
the members Of that Convention are unfairly
dealt with In being classed with comcouters.-
Mr.. Selby either holds the comeouters. as ho
terms the abolitionists, responsible for that
convention, or there is no sense in his article.
That he does so is plain. 1--WE as comcout-
srs, have long been called iniidels, but thought
unjustly. ........ have also defended per-
sonally, against the charge of infdcity, many
of the names that sec in the proceedings of
the convention. ........ But l can defend
you in this sense no longer, and Of course you
cannot desire that should. You have pub
lished your position to the world, and it is inf
del in the odious sense of the totm-or at least
so understand it," heard of the same
ground being taken by ono of the priesthood,
while in Harrison Co., and felt called upon to
reply to public lecture he gave on the subject.
Ths, the priesthood should take this ground
for the purpose of binding their people, l am
not surprised, for nothing they do to put down
the anti slavery cause, does surprise me. But
for one who has abjured the priesthood to
fall into such All error is surprising.
wish to state the facts in the case, not that,
ss member Of the Anti-Slavery Society,
wish to shrink from responsibility, but that
Justice may be done TO all concerned. A con-
vention is called based upon the fact that there
exists in the country multitude of conflicting
views about the origin authority and tendency
of the Bible. This call assures us that in good
faith ALL are invited to come together as breth-
ren, and If possible, determine the truth on this
subject. A number of truth loving persons,
holding quito different views, sign the call and
come together. For three days, they sit in
calm convention hearing all that any person
O. chooses to say, every person giving his or her
own views, that from the general store house,
the truth might be gathered. The speakers
were men of different political creeds as well
ss religious beliefs, among whom believe was
osE man known as u coIneoutcr. Resolutions
were introduced, simply to give opportunity Cor
the expression of the sentiments held by the
parties present. The Resolutions were not
even put to the convention, and surely none
can tell how the convention would have voted.
And us the speeches arc not yet published, it
seems premature to decide what any speaker
said. Especially TO hold whole society re-
sponsible for what none but those present, ever
heard individuals say. These are the facts in
the case; the conclusion is inevitable. The
Wsstei,n Anti Slavery Society had no more to
do with the convention than Mr.. Scl5y, who
VAS sick and in bed.
This silly csursc las been pursued from the
beginning by the enemies of the anti. slavery
cause. aud ought to teach its friends lesson
Because snti-slavcry men and women dare to
think OH other subjects, and TO express them
selves, is the society to be held responsible p
How ridiculous, to think that because man
ia ali aholi,ionist, he must be lettcred in thought
and crippled in expression That lie who
pleads for tho Liberty of Others, should himself
be = slave. The glory Of the American Anti
Slavery Society has ever been, that no class OF
opinions was necessary to membership, that
Christian or lnilel, Jew or Mormon, were
equally welcome to its platform and society
And this is its glory still. That some OF its
members are unbelievcrs in the plcnury inspi-
ration OF the Bible us well as the Koran, we
i. l.,,I., I,,t tbuf aFO nnunllN
ardent in thSir belief uf the Bible is quite as
evident. And why should the Bible believers
object TO this? Does il not require Us much
patience and charity Tor AN inidel To bear with
and tolerate a christian, a. for christian 10
bear with an infdeli Is it not as hard for the
iniidel to hear his sentiments spoken sgainst,
a. for the christan or Billie believer to hear his
views spoken against: Have not the luhdels
a. much right to complain that the christians
hold meetings To spread their views, as the
christians have, that the inldels do thisi Has
not an unbeiicvcr in the Bible Ms good right
TO complain of the society as being christian
one, because it tolerates christian members, as
the christian member has that it tolerates inf
dels: And has not the intlel equal cause To
withdraw from the society," because some mem
ber breaches in favor OF the inspiration of the
Bible, as the christian has because some mem
Der speaks or lectures on the opposite side oI
the questions
Mr.. Selby says; al think that great talents
Tor the accomplishment of good, and also the
sacred interests of bleeding humanity in the
persons OF millions, have all been sacrificed on
the altar of ambitious opposition to the Bible.
The other side might say and really some oil
them do say, that the interests OF humanity In
all countries, has been sacrificed ON the altar o.
blind adhesion to the Bible. This is thci'
chief objection to its present position. But il