Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-01-19
Che Anti 5lnurrp Buqle.
From the Portage County Democrat
FACTS CONCERNING THE LATE DIsTttB.
ANCES AT BETHANY COLLEGE VA.,AS
--. .... GIVEN BY TIE GEN"

On the 18th and 18th of Nov. 1855, we tho un
dersigntd broke OFT our connection with Bethany
college We did not take this step thoughtlessly
but after due consideration deemed ourselves com.
PEELED to do so, contrary to our intentions on on
tering the college, and to our pecunary interests
by our loveot liberty and humanity cur consccnces
anu our religion Partly in justice to ourselves,
partly on account of certain reports which have
been widely circulated in the newspars doing in
justice to both parties and partly for the nforma-
ton OF those friends and churches in Ohio and In
diana by whom some of us sent to Bethany
College we beg leave to lay before q candid and
discerning public, the facts and causes which led
to our departure, believing that the TRUTH proper
y spoken, will always be productive of good
bethany College situated in Brook Co., n. W.
Virginia, Is under the supervision of Elder ALEX
: AMBER CAMPBELL rs President, who, with his as
ssciates has long been understood as maintaining
tho right OF liberty Of speech, all subjects even
sSanst much sectarian opposition
The College session commenced Oct. lst with
about l30 students Of whom about 100 were from
the south, and the rest from the north
Of the "Ten" who left, Mr.. Kimmons of Ill had
been two years and a half Mr. Burns of Canada
west, one year, and the remaining eighs matricu-
lated at the beginning of this session. We were
all benefciarcs except Mossrs Burns and Encell
and had all payed the ma circulation fee of ten
dollars.
E' Burns, Kimmons, and Foote were members of
the senior class.
l. 1t is well known that southern students were in
OF slavery and heretofore it had not been against
College regulations.
-f On the evening Of Oct. 12th the right of chris
tans to engage in war was discussed in the Amer
lean Lierar; Society.
After the regular discussion Mr. Everest of Ohio
was invited to speak on the queston.-II He did so
and In referring to speech in which there was at
tempt to sustain War from the Bible, remarked
that the arguments from the Bible to sustain War
Polygamy and Slavery belong to the same category
p,r1
baton at the time though now it is referred to ms
an insult to the South.
g On the following Tuesday evening Mr.. Way. of
ONO by request delivered a discOursein the church.
in which he remarked that the emmisaries of Satan
often misquote and misapply scripture to sustain
lntemperance, Sriritualism, and Slavery This
produced quite sensation in the audience and
gained for him much ill-will and many threats.
% AT different times southern students made
flaming pro-slavery speeches in the societies. to all
of which we silently listened
- On the morning OF Oct. Goth the Presidents
lecture on sacred History was upon Gen 10th, in
which, alter condemning Polygamy, he spoke Of
llagar's being compelled, by the unkindness of
her mistress, to become fugitive, saying that
10 many benevolent men of the presentday would have
told her never to return, but not the Angel and
added, Gentlemen however these relations came
G into existence when once established they are not
to be rashly and violently broken" This argu.
ment was well rivted by the applauding heels of
southern students
On Nov. End Mr.. Encell of Ohio being in the
Neotrophean society requested to speak on the
proposition discussed that evening, that the United
States ought to have assisted Greece in her struc-
gle for liberty, against the Turks.
'e In doing so he made the following points, His
feelings would cause him to argue the affirmative
but reason which frequently differs from feelings
should be our guide hence in t.is case he must
support the negative The history of the world
shows that some powers are to rule, and others to
be subject. This principle is admitted in Ameri-
can politics. 1t is also sanctioned in American
Theology for you remember gentlemen that cur
worthy president lately remarked that however
these relations come into existence when once es
tablished, they are not to be rashly and violently
broken Notwithstanding these reasons, his feel,
ings would prompt the risk of universal liberty.
This speech was made pretext by the south for
some things which followed
On the evening of Nov. 9th tho Neotrophean
society held its anniversary and addressed by
Prof w. X. PendletOn, and Mr.. Allen student
from hy. The president and nearly all the acul-
cty honored the occasion with their presence. Mr.
Aliens subject was Abolitonism and Negro Steal
ing and his speech TRADE of abuse against
northern men and principles. Though it was re-
ceived with deafning cheers, deemed it beneath
our notice by way of reply and be it remembered
that the Faculty did not announce to Mr.. A. nor to
to the school that such agitation of the slavery
question was against the rules and interests of the
college.
On Tuesday evening Nov. Ilth Mr.. Burns occu-
pied the pulpit. lie did not seek this opportunity
but followed the al phabetical order of those pre-
pairing for the ministry
His subject was announced by the president in
the morning. viz: "Ihe great principle IT liberty.
Ills text was, Stand fast therefore, in the liberty
wherewith Christ hath made free, and be not
sentangled again in the yoke of bondage" Gal. s.
lst. lie had not only spoken this discourse be-
fore but had chosen it for this occasion previous to
the Neotroophean anniversary, hence it was not
reply to Mr.. Allen. Towards evening DR.. A. W
Campbell a church official called on Mr. Burns
and requested him, to confne himself to RELIGIOUS
liberty, as some of the brethren wero tender on
those points, conceang the fact that he made
this request by the authority of the president.
Mr.. Burns replied that although he intended to
treat OF liberty in its broadcast sense applying it to
no particular nation or institution, yet q
and christian he could not consent to be fettered
in regard to freedom of speech, and that if they
would not trust to his judgement, he would not
nddress them.
large congregation assembled. Mr.. b. after intro
ducing his subject spoke of the principle, and of
its power when combined with patriotism but
when he spoke of its power combined with benev
olenee, illustrating it by referring to the example
of England in emaneipating her West India slaves
using the most respectful language, the excitement
became intense, and tremendous stamping and
kissing was raised to silence him. Seeing howey-
er that he was not to be silenced thus, about one
third OF the audience, led on by few Missouri
preachers rushed from the house, 'pell mell' with
loud cries and imprecations, which were prolonged
in the night air. and echoed from hill to hill The
speaker paused for few moments only till, the
audience should become composed. Mr.. Encell
said "go on, when he again proceeded For this
Mr., Encell was severely censured by the Faculty ;
one of the Professors saying that"never before had
his feelings been deeply wounded" and that "it
was the greatest insult he had ever known offered
to any audience" Without short calm succeed
ed the burst of the storm in which the elements
were organized into mob and measures devised
fer further ourages