Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-11-24
LETTER FROM AARON M. POWELL.
NrslLASrr, Washtcnaw. Co.. Mich.
NJ ID,t IGEE

To The Editor Of he Bagle. -Immeliately after
the Anniversary Meeting Of the Michigan Anti.
Slavery Society, held nt Battle Creek, | visited
Barry County, in this State, and while there, held
a series of twelve meetings. 4. considerable por-
ton CT Barry County remains yet unimprovcd and
unsettled, in consequence of he high prices at
which the land has been hcld--it having %(unfortu-
nately for the county, fallen into the hands Of non.
resident Spectators, several years ago. OF late
however, there has been an increased tide Of emf
grafton to this region Of country, from New York.
Ohio, and elsewhere, and the unimproycd lands
are fast being purchased ly actual settlers, many
Of whom are engaged in the cisafing process.
My first meetings were held in Jamestown, in
the Culver District. | also gave one lecture to II
small, but very attentive audience at Bristolyille.
Accompanied hy my friend, JonN CULVER, WHO
is n devoted, and uncompromising Abolitionist,
visited Hastings, the county-seat Of Barry Co... and
had tSo very good meetings, which were held in
the Court House. Hastings is a thriving village,
containing, | believe, about fifteen hundred inhab-
itauts, and ID located twenty-five miles north Of
Battle Creek. Ours, ] believe, were the first Dis
"n'on Anti-Slavery meetings, ever held in tho
place. lam indebted to Judge Greenfield, Messrs
Kay, Van Brunt, and others, for their friendly co.
operation.
Returning to Johnstown, l held meetings in
several School Houses in different parts of tho
town. Three years ago, our friend BENJAxiS 8.
JONES held a series of meetings in this town, aud
preached, with good effect, the Ansi.Slavery gospel.
One man, a Mr.. CRIssEY, a resident of the Gregory
District, and a member of the Episcopal Church,
pretends to have been very much shocked by the
discovery, las he supposes,) that Mr.. Jones is an
hfaeI. Among other things which excited his
alarm, friend Jones, while stopping at his house,
refused 10 pray, or ask a blessing at his table!
| was invited to hold a meeting in the Gregory
School House, by a Mr.. Fisk, who resides in that
District. The SAID Mr.. Crissey Glanced to call at
Mr.. Culver's, where | was stayi ng, and having as
certained that | wus a representative of Carlson.
an Anti-Slavery. he resolved that their house
should not lie opened for the meeting if lie could
prevent it,-he being one of the School Committee.
and having the key in his possession. lie thought
our doctrines were of the Deril, ard told US that
the inhabitants of the District, had concluded not
to have any more such meetings in their house, and
that we might rest assured that there would 10 no
meeting.
However when the evening arrived, we went to
fulfil the appointment, and found nearly all of tho
proprietors Of the School House present to attend
the meeting. But our Jealous defender Of man.
stealing piety, and slave bree ling religion-Mr.
Crissey-:ruo to his avowel purpose, refused to
give up the key, even against the knoNn wishes
OF a large majority of the proprietors of the house,
whereupon one of the number, 10y authority of tho
others, entered the house through n window and
removing the lock from the door opened it for the
meeting BY their unanimous roqu EST, | went in,
and we had q very interesting and satisfactory
meeting, At the close Of which it was proposed
that a second, should be held the following evo-
ming. The second meeting, like the first, was of
an enthusiastic, and interesting character. Our
pious opponent, who would have prevented the
il he could, is likewise a member of tue
50 called "Rcrublican" patty.
On Sunday, Oct. 2lst, l held three meetings.
one in the morning in the Culver District, and in
the afternoon, and evening, in the Monroe District.
These meetings were attended 10y the Rev. ALEX
AMBER ATcHIsoN, who has recently ~emigrated from
Ontario Co., N. Y, and located in this town, with
a view to preach as a kind Of missionary, eyentu-
ally, l suppose, to build up a Church.
This Rere,end apologist for the slave. holding
and the proslaycry religion of this
availed himself of the freedom Of our
to most grossly misrepresent, and villify
the Abolitionists, and laborcd very hard to excite
the prejudices OF the pc pie against our movement.
1t was said by some, that he pursued such q course
for the purpose OF bringing himself into. notice in
the community as a defender of the TdIth, there
by to make capital for himself at the expense of our
BE that as it may, it is evident that his
prospects, rs a Local Preacher, are no better, than
they were previous to the exposition which was
given, OF his lying hypocrisy, and proslavery con-
Our meetings in Barry County, were fer tho
most part, well attended. and a gratifying degree
of interest was manifested by those present.
A goodly number of subscribers for the Bugle
obtained. ard HENRY Bowman, Esq, of John
ston, will henceforth act as agent for the Buqle in
vicinity. To John Culver, and his family
nm specially indebted, for their hospitality, and &C.
tive cooperation in making arrangements for
meetings.
On Saturday, Oct. 9th l met Messrs Foster.
Phileo and and Grifing at Albion, to attend an
Convention which was held at that
place You have probably been furnished with an
account of the Convention ere this by 0 other
correspondent.
After the Albion Convention I attended with
5, s. Foster a series of meetings in Joncsville.
lillsdale Co., to which place we journied with
;. S. S. Grinng. Mr.. Grifing left US at Jones'
lille, and proceeded at once to Indiana.
The meetings at Jonesyiiie were very well at
ended. and a good work was accomplished for the
We were very kindly entertained by Mr.. and
Carol, formerly of Ravenna, Portage Co.
Messrs Carol and Smith Of Jonesyille, ara
.ctive and uncompromising friends Of our cause.
From Jonesville, we visited Adrian, bat did not
meetings From Adrian, Mr. Foster went
lireetly to New England, and / came to this town,