Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-05-13
Communications
LETTER FROM C. S. s. GRIFFING.

DEAR MARirs: On our return from the Cincin-
natl Convention, We came by the Dayton and San.
dusky Railroad to KcntOn, the county scat Of
Hardin Co.. and spent few days there to attend
to necessary business, very pleasantly making
our home in the family Of Mr.. John Shurr, who for
several years past has kept a temperance house in
a community whore temperance principles are not
especially popular, thus demonstrating the fact
that good temperance house can be sustained
even where whskcy drinking is generally practised,
It is doubtless true that Mr. Shurr could have made
moro money by furnishing liquid damnation TO his
guests, and keeping about him n set Of miserable
village drunkards, who, in exchange for the same
] beverage, would have given him the money that
ought to have been expended to supply their FAM
lilies with the necessarcs of life. Bnt he has ever
held his temperance principles and sclfrespect so
! far above the current price Of whiskey and other
Intoxicating beverages that dealers in this article
have never considered him in tho market Ills
wife, too, is temperance woman, of the same sort
and a little more so, always willing to work for
temperance, though gentlemen may think 1t unbc-
coming FOR a lady to be Sc active in an unpopular
\ cause.
To the friends Of temperance in any locality
where temperance house is needed, / would re-
commend these friends, as | understand they con-
template leaving their present location. Railroads
have SO encircled the place and monopolizcd the
travel that all public houses there are becoming
improbable.
Last fall we held some meetings here in company
I with Parker Plsbury, and felt not much encour-
by the apparent fruit of our abors, but now have
learned that our labors were not in vain. At this
time our meetings were well attended, and the cf-
forts of the representatives of the different churches
to claim anti-slavery character eyinced deep.
seated onti-slavery feeling.
4 In Huron county, too, We held some very inter
esting meetings At North Fairfield, having nc
anti-slayery acquaintance, we went ON Sunday to
the village to make if possible, arrangements for
meeting Sunday evening Failing in this l went
in the afternoon to the Methodist church. where q
Mr.. Dickson, Disciple minister was preaching
endeavorng to promote a revival of his religion
At the close Of his services, he very kindly CAV,
opportunity for speaking to any person desi ring t.
f do so, and gladly accepted the invitation, an,
| gave my views of religion that regards faiths
FORMS baptisms and books moro than man-Tha
may be experienced and praetised to the satslac
ton of its votaries in harmony with slavery, in al
its damning sacraments of sorrow. This led m
especially to testify against the church of whicl
this man was a minister.
J "Men who their hands, with prayer and bless
d ing,
Lay on Tsrael's ark Of light, t .l
That baptise, and kidnap men
Give thanks, and rob Gods own afflicted poor
Talk of Gods glorious liberty, and then
(. Bolt hard the captive's door,"
Thus holding within their unholy church, tha
is false to humanity and to God, more than 100 00(
? human beings as slaves When had closed, til,
minister attempted an apology, in which he in
quired of me why did not or could not 60 Soutl
t and preach my Nntislavery sentiments. l replied
/ could but for the influence Of his and similar
! churches. Upon this remark, the congregation
Immediately dispersed. then made arrangement
for meetings Monday and Tuesday evenings, wlicl
D were held in the Congregational church. They
have standing resolution to open this church fol
any meetings that will benefit mankind. They
have a large, well furnished house. where the,
worship God by pleading for the rights of his mos
Oppressed children, and willing to labor in do
! ing good with those who may differ with them il
some religious belief rather than remain idle an(
fraternize with those who may bo orthodox in com
mon theology, and at the same time are strength
: ening and upholding American slavery. Sucl
B churches are light set ON hill, from which tn,
tho true light is sure to emenatc. Our meeting
we're well attended, and we rejoiced in the oppor
, tunty thus given us to expose the pro-slavery
American church and government, that arc alike
the sustaining influences of the sum Of all vlanes
q othor good meetings wero held in Medina ant
Summit counties, which we cannot now mention.
4 Yours for tho Slave,
c, S. s. GRYFING.