Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-11-25
ANTI-SLAVERY BUGLE.
THE SABBATH AND THE ABoL1TfoNIsTs.


The British abolitionists are now passing hroug Oh
the same contest, which has so often engaged
thc attention Of American Abolitionists There as
here, arc to bcfound those who prefer the tythcs
of mint, annis, and cumin," to "thc weigh
tier matters of the law, to justice, mercy and truth"
Notwithstanding its general popularity genuine
abolition Is there as well as here true test Of
character as our readers will see from the follow
ing discussion:
Lnnot a duty in tie United States 10 hold Anii
Siarery Meetings on The Sabbath
t. tProm the Scottish Press. of Sept. q, 1851
s At the Anti-Slavery conference held at Manctes-
ter, on the lst August 1854, the Rev. w. Guest, of
leeds, took occasion we speak from the published
report Of the proceedings to make 'some strong
remarks of rcprobation of the practice of the Amer
lean Anti Slavery Society, in holding its meetings
upon the Sabbath, which he considered to be
violation Of the principles of Christian chur-
ches, aud contravention Of the public feeling"
This called upaIr. .GeorgeT Thompson in defence ofthe
practice which in turn called up the chairman,
Mr.. Absalom Watkins, "to express his sorrow and
regret that any of the American abotionists
should spend the Sabbath in the way which has
been described" Mr.. Parker Pillsbury of Boston
Massachusetts, was one Of the most effective speak
ers at the Conference In speaking of him and of
his services, Mr., Thompson said :-"When he COM
pared what he had done in this country, or sought
to do, offered to sacrifice, actually suffered
with what such men had done in America, our
poor fcather-bed efforts in the cause of phlauhro
ply seemed to dwindle into insignifcance by the
side # that gentleman's incessant never firing,
and yet-except through the blessing of the slave
upon him-unrewarded services" Mr.. Pilsbury
is now in Scotland, and he has placed in our hands
letter which he has ust received form Rev. S.
May, whom he describes MS gentleman in Boston.
Massachusetts, of the highest social and moral
worth" From this letter we have been requested
by Mr. Pillsbury to publish Mr.. Mays defense of
the practice to which alluson has been made and,
without reference to its propriety or IMPROPERLY,
its lawfulness unawfulness, can have no hes
itation in complying with the request of this dis
tnguished American gentlemen
-s.t THE QUESTION STATED BY REV. SAMUEL NAY
Before leave the topic of the Manchester Con
ference, want to say few words on the Sunday
question, as introduced into that meeting the
late ant-slavery meeting in Manchester. have
seen no account of what was said upon it except
in Mr.. Farmers letters to the Liberator. With all
Difference to most worthy and faithful friend
Mr.. George Thompson, | think he made very
lame defence for US with regard to practice for
which, instead Of ever apotogjSing, consider we
have special Justification. When l read Mr.
Farmers letter, it appeared to me that one of the
grandest opportunities given, and suffered to
go by umimproved, of defending the essential
Christianity of the anti-sl&very movement that
could be desired. The exception taken to our use
Of that day in the presence too, of that large and
intelligent audience seemed absolutely to demand
a reply; and the tone of apology i'll which G. 7.
spoke, appeared to ine rather 10 ADM. the ground
of ccnsure than otherwise. Surely, if the anti
slavery cause lacks any element of suitablencss for
the most sacred time that ever the common Father
Of all men made and gave to his childron-I am
wholly at n loss to know what it is. If it be not
far better of the day to employ it in consid-
ering the slaves rights, and his sufcrings and
wrongs and our duties in relation to him. than it is
to spend it the day is usually spent by the
ministers and congregations of our land-nnety
nine hundredths Of whom are proSlarery, either
by open justification, by direct particpancy and
completely, by silent consent--then let it be
shown by enemies, wherein the latter use is to
II he preferred to the former. We maintain that the
former appropriation OF the day is unspeakably
higher, more religiOu?, and more in accordance
with the mind of Christ, and with his exan-
pie. And would our English ant-slavery friends
doom us to go to these proslavery churches all
about us, and accept in silence the doctrines there
inculcated upon us? Or would they have us sit in
idleness and solitude on that day, abandoning its
hours and the glorious opportunities they afford,
of disseminating light and truth, Of inculcating
lessons of humanity, and of fidelity to conscience
and Gods higher law, to the sole use Of men who
will employ those hours only for time-seryng or
devil.serving. We say, no: we maintain right
to the hours of the Sunday to preach the gospel
of deliverance to the captive-those sesame good
tidings' which Jesus dec ares, the outset of his
ministry, thatthe Spirit of God especially commits
stoned him to declare; and not merely our riqht
that We might waive for sufficient cause shown
but we regard it as our most solemn and i'm
peratve duty to use the hours of that day (set
apart by God, as many maintain; by usage, as
none can deny, to the hi ghest moral aud spiritual
ends for the defence of the true Gospel, and for
the furtherance of the TRUTH and spirit, and the
kingdom of Christ in the world. And wherein;
ask is it not the furtherancc Of the anti-slavery
cause Identical with the furtherance of the king,
dom Of Christ? Surely, as Mrs. Harriet B. Stowe
said in letter to Mr.. Garrison long since, Surely
Christ has q cause upon EARTH it is the anti-sla
very cause! Have not we-you, and !, and all o
fus-maintained from the first? Are to abandon
this glorious and impregnable position now ol
are we, with bated breath, to hafexcuse halfaccust
ourselves or the point? By means. We say
still that the Gospel in its every part points t.
the outraged and bleeding slave, and the words o.
Jesus still ring in our ears, 'lnasmueh as ye have
done 1t unto these. ye have done it unto me- =:
he identified himself with the poor the wretched
the outcast, shall we fear hesitate to do tht
same? And if lie set free from her bonds on th'
Sabbath day the poor crippled woman, whom Sa
san had bound for eighteen years shall we be cen
sured, and ny his prolessed friends too, for seek
ing TO do what VIC our Sabbath day. to fire,
the millions Of men and women in our own coun
q try, whom the Satan of Slavery has bound al
tbair weary lives long? Our right to use the day
for anti slavery purposes consider unquestiona
BILE; our duly 10 use it, looking at the commanC
and example Of Jesus. consider imperative upor
! all who recognise any allegiance to him and hi
4 Gospel; and respectfully invite all anti.slavery
pro-savery people, in Europe or America to show
to u.s. the American abolitonists, better way .
b, using the day, in the circumstances, than tina
which we have taken. Most thankfully would We
see the profcssed churches of the land and all it
pulpits, doing their duty to Christ and to their en-
shaved brethern. Even then VIC should hayo
perfect right to continue to hold our ant-slavor,
b, meetings; but doubt not the great majority o
.rant-slavery people would then most cheerful,
unite with the regular assemblies on that day
which would then have done something 10 earn tn
name OF Christian now most falsely and meanl
worn by them. AS things now are, the least W
- can do s' byour public gatherings, to register ou