The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-05-05

Anti-Slavery Sentiment in Missouri.
The following letter from clergyman
of Missouri, of the Methodist denomina-
ton, was originally published in the
North Western Christian Advocate and
will be perused with interest by our read
ers. 1t agrees with our statement of
last week that Missouri is destined to
establish free institutions and that the
anti-slavery sentiment is the strongest In
the eastern part of the State. Our
neighbors on the border had better be
intrenching themselves than engaging in
hostilities against their neighbors.
81 find that our brethren upon the
border have difficulties and embarrass-
ments that we know but little about, and
l have no doubt but that they often re-
eeive censure when they should receive
our sympathy and support. Some, be-
lieye, have advocated the giving up, en-
tire, the slave States, to the Church
South, but must confess if ever had
any such feelings they are now all gone,
and I am not only for holding on to the
border work, but to go On and regain by
the power of truth what we have tempo
rarily lost, and am persuaded that we are
fully able to so up and possess the land
again. l am much surprised to find so
much strong anti-slavery sentiment in
Missouri. There is, as far as 1 am able
to judge, just about as much of the true
anti-slaxery spirit here as in Illinois, es-
pecially southern Illinois. There is one
question l have asked the preachers and
members of our church here, with much
interest; it is this, viz: What damage
will it do our church in Missouri, if the
next general conference should make
slavery test of membership ? and the
only answer l have received, SO far, with
out a single exception, is, mot Bit
And they give as a reason that we have
but mere fraction of Shareholders, and
that they are really not shareholders in
the true sense of that term.
81 know that some will argue that this
would cut off our access to the people of
the slave States, but I cannot understand
it SO, for we come to this people now with
a discipline in our hand declaring our
opposition to the san of slavery, and we
only then come frankly to carry out our
opposition, using all lawful, prudent and
peaceable means for the extirpation of
this great evil. Mr.. 7. A. Harris, the
editor of the Missouri Courier, who pub
lished Mr. Atwater's celebrated letters,
says, that to an open, honest and honora-
BILE opposition to slavery he has no objec-
ton; and he says that Mr. Atwater would
be respected in Missouri; and that he was
not fighting our church for its opposition
to slavery, but because the discipline of
our church called slavery an evil, and yet
some of our preachers said they had not
come to Missouri to oppose slavery, and
he says it was their cowardice and ineon-
sistency that he was opposing and moth
ing else. As to the truth of these ale
cations l cannot say, only give the say
ing of this gentleman upon this point
The day has come, thank God, when a
man may, here in slave State, oppose
slavery and not be looked upon as an
enemy to his country, or wild incendi-
ary. Slavery is the common theme for
discussion here, and We may speak and
even preach upon this subject. An ex-
tensive STAKEHOLDER, in speaking upon
this subject, a short time since, said, If
a man is not allowed to speak and preach
against slavery, providing he don't ad-
vocate unlawful measures, if the right
of speech is to be denied American citi-
zens upon this or any other subject, 1
will, for one, take up my gun and fight
against such power until it is driven to
another country, for such spirit does
not belong to America am assured
in reference to our connection with sla-
very, as church here, that we have not
more than sbout twenty-five shareholders
in the State, and many of them merely
nominal shareholders. / was amused
with conversation in this city few
days since, upon this subject. A South
ern Methodist says to one of our menu
bers, We'll, Bro, I am sorry to learn
that you will in all probability have
another split in your church, upon the
subject of slavery. The good brother
replies, 20 no, no, no, sir, no danger at
all, sir, we have but very little slavery
in our church, it has nearly all gone over
to your pro-slayery church and you can
have it all ours is an anti-sIayery
church and we will soon be entirely free.
No danger, no danger at all. The
Church South takes advantage of this
remnant of slavery in our church, and
they say to easternan and northern persons
who emigrate here. Come in with us,
we have the influence and ascendency,
and if you 60 to the old church there is
Bro. -, who is member of the old
church and holds slaves, and in this way
they get eastern and even anti-slavery
men, who much prefer connection with a
church that was in no way connected with
this evil. have one man on my mind,
of talent and influence, that was taken
from US in this way. Missouri, sur
rounded as it is by free territory, must
soon be free State and from the strong
anti-slavery feeling here at work am
persuaded that a church may flourish
here that boldly declares that it viii have
no connection whatever with this giant
evil. But some say we could not get
men to come here as missionaries. This
IS certainly an error. For one, viii
say when that day comes, and I think it
is not far distant, when slavery or slave
holding, I mean that in its true sense, J
win not be allowed in the church, will
say Here am I, send me- and / have
no doubt many more viii say the same
thing. I say / expect to see this soon.
The reason of my faith is this, that more
than one-half of our annual conferences
have already manifested their desires
upon this subject, and advance legisla-
ton viii surely be the result
Bro. Pettijohn mentions the case of q