Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-05-31

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The N. Y. Herald presents the following
diees, of one days proceedings Of this 80,
ciety at its anniversary held in ibst city
The proceedings Of fthe anniversary meet,
ing were opened by reading passages from
tbe Scriptures. singing and prayer. One
day was allowed oelapse withoutmurmurs,
but OH the second the Indignation OF the
audience al this plagiarism from Christian
societies burst forth. Mrs. Mott, one OF the
leading spirits OF the society, never heard
Of such q thing as singing aud praying at
their meanings, 2 and sneeriugIy recommend
ed members to ''do their praying at home.
MIR. Blackwell was tender Of shocking the
preiudices of Christians :" but censuread
the practice Of praying. If there wers any
advocates of the practice present, they were
cowed by the universal adhesion TO 'nese
sentiments. With one voice, the meeting
renrobated the use of religious exercises
and tacrtIy resolved not TO suffer repeti-
ton of so distasteful an innovations. ihis
led to some abstract debate on religion
Mr.. Wendell Phillips styled the society "ihe
infidel society,"" and said it "clung to the
appellation. The ice thus broken Mrs
ABBY Kelly Foster abused the Bible Soc'-
ety, the other religious societies, and the
various churches in good round terms; and
proudly claimed for herself the title OF IN,
6deI." The President, Mr.. William Lloyd
Garrison, frankly confessed that "he be-
lieved in nothing but the slave" MIR. ross
was not disposed to discard the New Tes-
lament altogether; he thought it an excel
lent ,book on the rights Of man." but re-
gar,icd pulplts as an abomination. These
Sentiments were appropriately capped by I,
speech from Mr.. Henry c. Wright, one OF
the most able members Of the society, who
pronounced "the Christians God to be the
most accursed of demons snapped ms
fingers at the Bible." and wound up with
the blasphemous declaration that Jesus
Christ knew nothing about Christianity.
Mr.. Wright, like Mrs. Foster, thanked
God that he was an in6del." = -l -
Passing by an easy transition from the
work of God to the noblest work OF man,
the society proceeded to reyile the constl,
tuition ir The same terms as it had revlied
the Bible. Mr.. Garrison, The Pre- sldent,
proposed the following resolution - -.
Resolved, That the one grand vital issue
10 be made with the slave power is the dis
solution of the existing American Union.
This resolution was supported in speeches
of great energy and force. The Hon. Ed
mund Quincy protested that '.the conslilu-
tion displayed the ingenuity Of the very
devll,n and believed "that the Union
should be dissolved because such was tne
opinion of the Society,"" MIR. Wendeiis
Philips avowed the proper mission OF inc
society to be the furtherance OF disun'on'
Mr.. Henry C.. Wright, amid great applause
"thahked his God that he was traitor 10
the constitutions" and somewhat Jocosely
added that he would "like to see the Pres
ident sold as a. slave.'' Even Mr.. Black
well. whose conscience seems to have
more tender than those of his colleagues,
confessed that he scared nothing tor the
Union of ITSELF The world would prob
ably have been favored with more specl-
mems of this style of philosophy, had or
der been more strictly maintained at the
meetings. Unfortunately, it was impossl-
BILE to prevent Mrs. Abby Kelly Foster
from rising to her legs every ten minutes
and others members, such as Mr.. Stephen
Pearl Andrews, consumed the time Of the
Society intrymg to persuade it to "begin BY
settling the principles Of human rights,
The accomplishment of this trifiing task
was impeded by objections from members
who desired the Society to contine itself 70
the topic of abolition: but the Hon. Ed
mund Quincy very justly replied that
"their meetings would not be nearly SO IN
teresting If speeches were confined to the
close question: This view seems to have
prevailed, for the closing debates were OF
rather rambling character. Towards the
close of the second day, Mr.. irving grew
indignant at the floor, which was denied 10
him, being granted to another member and
exclaimed to the chairman -
You told me the hour of adjournment had
arrived. .s .-ase. IS
Chair.--I did not. @
Irving.-You did. sir.
Chair.-No, sir, 80 Take your seat
sir IN z.
Irving.-I will not; you told me lie