Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-01-28

surely it must, though oven twice forty thousand
priests crowned cap pee stood body guard for
slavery.
The Presbyterian speaks Of the respectability
of these false and immoral ministers in this wise:
The want of moral power of the ministry, in the
accomplishment Of works Of reform, and bcnevo-
lence. There are at low estimate, forty thousand
protestant ministers in the United States. Their
profession is, topreach the Gospel to conserve good
morals, to promote every righteous reform aud eve
ry benevolent work There are doubtless not less
than ten millions of people, more less directly
under their influence. In addition to their access
to this mass of mind through the ministrations OF
the pulpit on the Sabbath, they have the moulding
power OF the printng-press, the lecture-room, and
Of daily personal intercourse in social life, at their
command. Their means of propagating truth are
immensely superior to those enjoyed by their pre-
deccssors, in any past age and they have all the
advantages arising from the superior intelligence
of the age.
And yet it is notorious that their power over the
public mind for good, has not kept pace with these
advantages. The truth, as they dispense 1t, is not
mighty to transform. Vice does not stand abashed
in their presence "and feel how awful goodncFs is
The rich and powerful do not quail before theil
words of solemn and stern rebukc, as did the
Queen of Scots at the words of John Knox. Poll
teal profigacy can plot securely, and work 1T
dishonest schemes as safely, almost as If no sucl
class of men existed. Nay, the politicians car
rally scores of prostituted pulpits, to uphold ant
defend almost any villiany they may choose to en-
act into law
Reforms which all who are governed by mora
principle, and thousands who are not, feel to be ne
cessary the welfare of society," not yet carried
into affect, mainly because the clergy are uniaith
ful. For example: The utility and necessity OF I
prohibitory liquor law have almost ceased to b.
called in question by decent Ito say nothing OF re
l igious) men. Yet in this State, where the unte'
influence of the ministers could command its pas
sage at any time, it is not passed. The State still
groans under the curse Of the rum-trade, travel
ling in pain until now" The rum-sellers are still
Turing unwary souls to the drunkards grave an
the drunkard's hell.
1t is certainly no exaggeration to say, that tn
united influence of Ministers and Churches, cou
secure the passage of the Maine Law, at any tim
they might choose to exert it. They mould and d
rect the public sentiment of the people, and 1t !
, that sentiment which makes and unmakes Law
But the Churches may he almost anythingthe Min
listers choose, for Gods testimony on the subject
"Like Priest, like People"
The same remarks might with equal truth b
made in regard to other great evils, prevalent /
E the land. The institution Of Slavery could nC
stand the united, determined onset of the Ministr
: and Churches, q single year. "The America
[, Church, the buwark Of American Slavery" is on
I of the clcarcst propositions, ever cnuncated. |
view Of these facts, therefore, it is plain that Ii
Ministry has greatly lost its power for good.