Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-04-08
BIBLE CONVENTION.
]. P. DAVIS.
March 30th, 1854.

BIBLE CONVENTION.
DEAR MARrus: We have just closed an interest
ing Bible Convention in Winchester. Joseph
Barker was (is) with us. You know and SO do the
most Of the readers of the Buglc, what friend
Barker is-know his character as speaker and a
man, and his tact and ability rs debater.
Mr.. b. arrived here on Saturday last. Address
ed the Washingtonian Society Sat- night. Mr.
Peel (lawyer) was the speaker appointed for the
night, but he gave place and introduced Barker to
the meeting. did not hear the address, but it
was well received have learned, by the society.
Sunday following, Mr. Barker spoke in the
morning and evening, mainly on the kinds Of
arguments produced by believers in tho divine
authority Of the Bible in proof of its divinity
And the arguments he and others had for thinking
1t merely human production. The court room
was packed with attentive listeners who could not
refrain from, repeatedly, giving demonstrations Of
applause and sanction to many of the abundant
noble, pure and truthful sentiments which he ut
tered We oil felt that II was good to be there.
His discourses powerful efforts in behalf of
reason, truth and humanity. Mr.. Barker's inAu-
ence here is deeply felt, and cannot fail Of doing
much good aside from the Bible question. lie
guides truth-seekers up to high and holy life.
Mr.. b. is opposed to all evil, II seems to me, but
defensive war. hope he will abandon that idea
soon, and thereby increase his influence for good
Monday Tuesday and Wednesday discussion
was conducted on the question Of the authority
and influence Of the Bible, by Rev. A. Loose and
MIR. Barker. 1t is probable this discussion fur.
nshes an anomaly in the history of debates
Both speakers were candid, fair and unpersonal
throughout the discussion with a very slight ex
lception on the part of Mr.. Loose He charged
Mr.. Barker once with lack Of candor, but shortly
after withdrew it. The debators closed with kind
feelings towards each other, and the most of the
hearers felt kindly towards each other and towards
the speakers.
To this there we're somo striking exceptions
Especially amongst the methodsts; and mos
especially their minister, Mr.. Cooper. 1t was
happy thing for the audience that he was no
lchosen to meet Mr.. Barker.
= Mr.. Loose is a good man, and is right out il
behalf of Anti-Slavery. Temperance and som,
. other reforms. lie has far outtraveed his creed
the Bible. Mr.. L. claimed that those who believed
the Bible of divine origin were better every way
, than those who hold it as human production
!. Which ho disproved himself, by saying that tn
catholics, who hold tho book MS sacred as protest
ants, Had not one restige of Christianity abou
\ them" And which expression was disproyed b
o Mr.. b., by showing that the church and clerg
o have ever opposed all reforms and improvement
r in their infancy. And notwithstanding their int
n macy with the Bible, and their veneration for i
they have always learned their ideas of Anti-Slt
r. very, temperance, Peace, WOman's Rights, an
- other reforms from those whom the church d,
a nounce as in6del. And that the American churc
. in the language of Albert Barnes and other mil
q listers, is the bulwark of American slavery. Br
!. cannot trace all Of the points of difference,
n arguments Of the combatants. / will leave tn
N letter unfinished until after the womans righ
a lecture proposed to be given tomorrow at te
h o'clock, A. NJ.
h. Thursday. Mr.. Barker gave us good discouri
3. on the past present, and proper condition Of W
N man. At the close Of the discourse, a resolutic
4. embracing the general outlines Of the idea en-
,r braced in the woman's enterprisise, was offere
to and the large audience almost unanimously vot,
Io for it. The negative was called for and thr,
10 voices were heard in opposition. A voto was tn,
No given inviting the oppOsers to give the audien
10 their reasons. And what were they? Oh we we
ID all infdcls and the Bible was against the NOV
=, mcnt.
Nj We have been repeatedly told through the cour
of the Bible debate that the Bible eevates woma
ia and that christians and christian countries aoi
TO recognize the true sphere of woman. Yet We hi
no ministerial aid to-day. The infdels had to
the work. The christians were for woman's oh
:. :. dience and degradation. But have written b
" much.
:, Tonight We are to have an anti-Nebraska der
" Oustration. Mr. Barker will give you an accou
~ of that.
ne j. p. DAVIS