Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-11-25


well know, are ever simple, solemn, and decorous
and such truths are uttered there that tru,
SAY, the common people hear Ethem gladly Wei
challenge any candid witness to point out anything |
in our of the day, to which any person could
object save those who belong to pro-slavery church
es proslavery parties, whose craft is ondanger
cd by the truth spoken at the antisavory meetings
They meetings for t,tie 7corShip, meetings in
which the name the law and the authority of the
Most High God are recognised truly recognised
not by mere lip-seryice, but in practice and by
earnest exhortatiun to others to know and to do
HIS will, rather to yield obedience to the corrupt
and wicked laws which men may make, and strive
to impose. | could write long on this topic,
but to you it is unnecessary. Our English friends,
however. should know our position, and judge us
rightly"
REMARKS on THE ABOVE BY REV. WILLIAM GUEST.
TO tie Editor Of the Scottish Press.
Slr,- Will you grant m, insertion in your next
issue, of few lines not nreply to Mr.. Mays letter
in the Scottish Press of the 22nd ut in defence Of
the meetings Of the American Anti-Slavcry Society
on the Sabbath day, but on the question which 1dS
raised by ME at the late Ant-Sasery Conference
in Manchester. While | made no notes of the
words used by m, on this subject, have never
theless, a strong and confident impression that the
published report, which represents my remarks rs
! I"reprobotHg" the practice Of Sabbath meetings
ain very strong terms" is not correct | was in
/ no humOr to repr0Gdte what done by earnest
and often suffering advocates of anti-slavery sent
ment in America. What did say was-that it
appeared to me to have been miserable, for the
sake Of the slave, that the American AntSlavery
Society should have held its second decade in Phil
adelphia on the Saturday and Sunday Of December
last, rather than on the Friday and Saturday, or
any other days. ! did not at all raise the question
of the propriety or impropriety of Sabbath meet
| ings This would have been out of place such
q broad platform as that of abUlitunism. Ny
observations were directed not to what was lawful
but to what was expedient Gentlemen who were
present in Philadelphia during the morning and
Il evening sessions the Sabbath, held views that
no doubt fully justified to their Cwn conscience
their selection Of the day If so, to their own
Master they stand or fall. 1t is not fitting that
any party in this or the other hemisphere should
''reprubatc" their dongs. But they Christians
in the Northern States Of America who are abuli-
tionsts, and also in this country and of the latter
| am free to confess am one, who think that this
subject of slavery is closely interviewer with all
their political relations, as great Union, with the
internal government and representation of indi-
vdual states, and with manifold collateral TOPICS
that they do not think it well to hold public meet
ings in relation to it on the SABBATH day. They
conceive that to select that day, for political ami
madverson and controversy, would be neither in
harmony with their views OF the sanctity of the
Sabbath nor tend to their own moral and spiritual
ability to Withstand slavc-uwners AID all other
Slavery Society may deem the class | speak o!
mistaken, but this does not Justify these in doing
violence to their opinions. Nor is it quite true
as Mr.. May says, that the meetings on the Sabbath
are simple, solemn, and decorous" it would be a
singular misapplication Of terms to apply either OF
the two latter to the controversy which arose on
Mr.. JUse;.h Earhcrs references durinr the Sab
: bath meeting in Philadolphil to the English
aristocracy. ] plea 'el, however, in Manche. ter
and do STILL that for the sake of three millions and
a half in bondage, we should refrain from any pro
cedure that would give pain to our brethren, by
outr,4 ing some of their dearest and noblest con
yictions. Surely union of forces is Of the utmost
Importance, in the presence Of such huge iniqui-
ty as American slavery; and there cannot be
union unless we take heed of offending what is
! dear to each other. And let il be rememb cred
1 that with the gentlemen Of the American Anti
Slavery Society there can be no objection Of con
, science to giving way on this matter Of the Sab
bath. They could as pleasantly meet on the Tues
day us on the Sunday. The Indifference to days
however does not attach to the party on the other
side. Proper also is it to add here, that the
Of freedom is not necessarily advanced by Sa bath
meetings above all others, as Mr.. Mays logic
would almost imply. 1t may be true, | remark
ed at Manchester, in reply to Mr.. Garrison's ref
erence to our Lord that it would be gross afecta
ton of cercmOni0us observance to refuse to lift
sheep out of pit the Sabbath day, and equally
wicked to refuse to do anything for the slave or
that day. Butthe question, it is to be borne in mind
= is the best time for public meetings.? Andassured
= y it would be an extraordinary mode of honoring
y the Sabbath for man to let sheep lie in pit al
u the six days of the week, and chose the Sabbath
day for delivering it. Let me re-state, in concu
=, sion that it not in the spirit of reprobatior
= that / spoke of the American Anti-Slavery Society
u as may be seen by reference to the Manchester
+ papers. l acknowledge | did thus speak, ant
must ever do So of those who dishonor their pro
fession of the oqualizng influences of Christianity
y by pro-slavery advocacy. But, among others,
sought union, and that each party should avoiC
: doing aught that would prevent their standin!
i side by side. said, further, feeling pursuadec
J that might thus interpret English feeling that i
:, the gentlemen who originated the Anti-Slaver.
{ Conference in Manchester had held Sabbath view
. which would have allowed them to hold the meet
e ing on the Lords day, they would have refraino
u from doing so out Of regard to the sentiments
Il opinions of their fellow-citizens and Christians VIII
Y thought otherwise; and in that assertion belev
u | had the token Of currency from every gentleman
> on the platform.
,f AM yours very truly,
G WILLIAM GUEST.
5 Leeds, Sept 25.