Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-12-16
MICHIGAN CORRESPONDENCE.
FLINT, Genessce Co.. Mich,
Dec. Sd, 1864.

@CA
DEAR MAniUs. You have before this received n
Secretary's report Of our Pennington Convention.
which was quite large and very effective. though
the weather was exceedingly unfavoratie
But as our meeting at Saline, on the 18th Of
November, commenced under such unfavorable
circumstances that We did not organize, | will send
you a notice of it which | think may interest your
readers.
Saline is n peat and enter! rising village Of abou.
fifteen hundred inhabitants, with n good class Of
intellect, with good schools and fine churches, and
priests, doctors and lawyers to match.
About six weeks before, we held a meeting al
Saline, in company with our excellent friend,
James Barnahy, in the Baptist Church. The Pas
tor, who was in attendance, proiesscd a lively
interest in the cause which we were there to ndvc.
cate, and listened to our expose of slavery with
much complacency. But when it became necesy
sary to say that the American Church was it's
strong bulwark, supporting a slaveholding Gotern-
meht, which in turn protected it, he stoutly dcmur-
rcd. in so far, at least, as his church in Saline
would fall within the term American Churches"
Baptist churches were independent of each other.
he said, aud further, claimed for his church an
anti-slavery character, rs they had passed resolu-
tions declaring il sinful to hold slaves or to sustain
slavery. lie had himself been long engaged in
anti-slavery work, not only in this State, but in
New York, when twenty-five years ago he was
connected with the American Society, ard from
which, Mt that time, he, with many other ministers
and churches, withdrew, on account of Mr.. Garri-
sons denunciation of the Bible. When asked if
it was quite certain that he might not be mis-
taken, he replied that. being an actor himself, he
must he understood to know whereof he affirmed:
and if proof was necessary, he could show from
Mr.. Garrison's articles published in the Emanci-
pator, which he (Mr. G. published at that timcl
that he was not mistaken. Mr.. Grifing denied tho
whole statement in regard to the existence of the
American Society Mt that time, Of Mr.. Garrison's
position, and his connection with the Emancipator;
and said he could account for such a fabrication
upon the ground that for want Of facts he had re-
sorted to the usual method of the priesthood, tho
cry of l~nfdelitv. We suggested to the people
that at another time, when we hoped to be pres
ent, we should feel called upon to present the his
tory of anti-slavery, commencing with Mr.. Garri-
son, and at a late hour closed our meeting.
The lapse Of six weeks healthy agitation had
riperod this meeting into its true importance. This
ministers had set it down MS I~niidelity without
disguise. While the people and some of the church
members were earnestly weighing that imfdelity
with American Religion, and were ready to decide
in favor Of that whose test was God and Human
lty, and thus we found them ON Saturday the
first day of our Convention, when the weather.
quite in character with itself ut this season of tho
year, played us tho unlucky chance Of a snow
storm.
Only one Buglc and Lii orator were taken in tho
place and those were taken by our friend Capt.
Lowry. who had extended the notice of the meet
ing considerably, aid had engaged the Methodist
church Tor our meeting, the Baptist house, in
which we hei. the first, being refused. Still. few
knew anything about the Convention, which, with
the inclemcnt weather, left us a small audience in
the outset. The Methodist minister, Mr.. Jennings.
a youns man Of good personal appearance, came
in to hear what might be said, and if necessary, to
defend the church.
Our remarks for the afternoon were of n general
character--in view of slavery and anti-slayery--
the obstacles which had ever impcdcd the progress
I of humanity-and which were now the most for
midable barriers to anti-slayerv.
Toward the close of the meeting, Mr.. Jennings
2 remarked, that with most of the sentiments we had
advanced against slavery he fully agreed. In his
opinion, too much could not DO said against it.
1t was the curse Of the land and Tie age, and the
great sin OF the American people. But in our
wholesale denunciatiuns cf the church he could not
agree-he would be understood, however, to mako
no apology for Il sla cloldir e lcli; in. irr that vas
"t the Devil. But when n church ATTEMPTED TO
move in the right direction, she should have the
credit due to her. lie then undertook n defence of
his own position in the NJ. f. Church, which no
admitted was n slaveholding church. But as the
S Michigan Annual Conference, to which he belong.
: ed, had just passed strong resolutions against sla-
very, and asking their next General CO.. ference to
remove this evil from their midst, within three
years, with the hope that this might be donc-That
the church would deign to treat manstealing "a it
does sheepstenling; that during this three years,
n more of embrace he felt himself justified IN remain
A ing a %rartaker in the guilt of The 'sum of all viz
:, lanies." When asked if he endorsed that princi-
; pie in his public teaching to sinners. he replied no.
Mr.. Jennings here admitted that slavery was a
5 heinous sin against God, that slavery existed in
1 the church to which he was attached, and when
. pressed, thathe had no hope of anti-slavery action
. in the NJ. f Church, under her present corps Of
|, Bishops. OF course, the conclusion from his pre-
:. mise would not be very obscure. We invited him
z to attend our meetings, which he did, except Sun
G day afternoon, when he was filing his own appoint
ment.
In the evening our meeting was much larger, and
0 Mr.. Foss examined most thoroughly and clearly
the influence of slavery upon The church and the
y religion of the country, and said the slaves had not
the preaching Of the gospel of Christ, and could
! not have, as a "house divided against itself could
@ not stand" and the practical preaching of Jesus
would emancipate every slave in the land. But
d the religious teaching which the slaves in this
country received was in the main, Servants,
obey your masters"