Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-07-12
WHOLE NO. 562.


the State in which he lives" but the adnnistra-
lion, assuming tbat legal emancipation in the case
Of travelling preachers is universally practicable,
docs not admi. STAKEHOLDER to the itinerant con.
ncctiun.
Again, our discipline does not distinguish be-
tween ,norccnary slayeholding and the holding of
slave for benevolent purposes, and yet all the ar!
gumont5 found in official publications or heard
in our Conference debates, by which the admission
cF sliveholGers to Church membership is justified
are based upon this distinction, and that for the
Obvious reason tAat the distinction itself does
really and justly exist in the public mind, and
the practice referred to cannot otherwise BE iusti-
fed. Oar book Of Discipline does not expressly
enioin it upon our members that they secure to
their sMycs the sanctty Of the coniuca ana paren.
tai relations and vet, within all the Borders Of our
slavchoding territory, The utter suspicion that
Mcthodists are negligent in these regards would
he repelled with Indignation
We now inquire whether the time has come
when it becomes the duty Of the Church, through
its representatives. assembled in its highest ecclesi-
astcal courtso to revise the statutes Of the Church
0s to make them express our real sentiments and
indicate our practice as it is? We answer, Yes.
First because it is Just and equal IL is right
before God and all men that, on a subject involy-
ing directly the personal liberties of thousands
aud indirectly OF millions, Of cur fellow.men, the
position Of the Church should be neither cquivocal
nor doubtful Secondly because we cannot an
swcr 1t TO cur own ccnscicnces, nor to God the
Juuge OF an, II We IAN 10 40 WNat is In our power
to bear testimony against so great an evil. Third
ly, because it is solemnly demanded at our hands
10y very large majority Of those whom we repre-
sent; and tourthly, because the signs Of the times
plainly indicate that it is the duty Of all good men
to rally for the relief of the oppressed and for the
defence Of the liberties transmitted to us by our
fathers.
We arc aware that it is objected that, in the
present excited state Of the public mind, to take
any action on the subject will be to place weap.
on IN the hands OF our enemies. with which they
may do us essential injury We reply that, in all
cases, to say one thing and mean another is Of
doubtful crpcdieRcy, rs ell as of doubtful morali
ty. We judge the rather that, on all questions
vital to morality and religion, the honor of the
Church is better sustained by an unqualified dec
laration of the truth.
We come now to state what as it seems Is us,
is, always has been, and ever should be, the true
position Of our Church in respect to slavery. We
hold that the buying, selling and by inference the
holding OF human Seing as property is sin
against God and man; that, because of the social
relations in which men may be placed by the civil
Codes Of slayeholding communities, the legal rela-
tion Of master and slave may in some crcum =.
stances subsst innocenuy; that connection with
slavery is Tiad dcie evidence of guilt; that in a
erres # 1'iegpd criminality Of this kind the sur
den Of proof should rest upon the accused, he al
ways having Sc cured to him the advantages of
trial and appeal before impartial tribunals. In
view of these facts and principles, the committee
tions:
Resolved, 1st, by the delegates Of the several
Annual Conferences in General Conference assem-
bled, That we recommend the several Annual Com
foIeuces so to amend our General Rule on Slavery
as to TeaG--The buying, selling, or holding hui
man being property.
Resolved, ID, by the delegates of the several
Annual Conferences in General Conference assem-
bled, That the following be and hereby is substi-
uted in the place of the present seventh chapter Of
our book Of Discipline, to witt
What shall be done for the Extirpaton of the
Evil Of Slavery? Ans. |. We declare we are as
much as ever convinced of the great evil of sla-
very. We believe that all men, by nature, have
an equal right to freedom, and that no man has u
moral right to hold q fellow being az property:
Therefore, no STAKEHOLDER shall he eligible to mem-
bershp in our Chulch hereafter, where emancipa-
ton be effected without injury to the slave but
inasmuch as persons may be brought into the legal
relation of sav.ho5ers,b by purchasing slaves in orr
der to free them, therefore the merely legal relation
shailnot be considered, oGtself sufficient to exclude
persons who may thus sustain it from the fellow,
ship Of the Church
Ans. 2. Whenever member Of or Church, by
any means becomes the owner of slave ii shall
lie the duty Of the preacher in charge TO call to:
gethcr q committee Of az least three members, who
shall investigate the case, and determine TIE timo
in which such slaves shall be free: and on his reu-
sal or neglect to abide by the decision of said COM
mttee, he shall be dealt with as in of itnmor.
alty.
Ans Q, 1t shall be the duty of all our members
and pro5ationers, who may sustsih the legal reIa-
ton of STAKEHOLDER, TO teach their servants to read
the word of God; to allow them to attend the pub,
lie worship of Cod on our regular days Of Divine
service: to protect them in the observance of the
duties of the conjugal and parental relations; to
give them such compensation for their services as
may, under the circumstances, be Just and equal
to make such provisions may be legally practi-
cable to prevent them and their posterity from pass
ing into perpetual slavery and to treat them in all
respects required by the law Of love.
Ans f. 1t shall be the duty of our preachers
prudeutly to enforce the above rules.
MINORITY REPORT.
! ia. Collins presented the following Report
from the minority of the Committee Slavery:
\ The undersigned constituting the minority of
the Committee on Slavery not being able to agree
with the majority in the conclusions to which
they have come contained in their report TO the
general Conference beg leave respectfully to sub
nit tho reasons for their dissent as follows:
( |. The chapter proposed by the majority in lieu
Of the one now in the Discipline on slavery is
manfestly in conflict with the Constitution of
Church. In the first answer to the question
"What shall be done for the extirpation of the
evil of slavery" it is provided that "no slave-
holder shall be eligible to membership in our
Church hereafter, where emancipation can be effec-
ted without injury to the slave; whish creates Il
condition of membership unkOwn to the Discipline
and which cannot bo enacted under the general
| Rule as il stands in relation to slavery. This
feature is intended to bear upon applicants for
admission into our societies. The second answer
reaches members now in our Church who ''by
any means" may become the owners of slaves,
and also those who are present Shareholders, il
| they should come into the possession of more.
In either of these cases, the party is to he brought
| before committee to determine the time in
which" the slaves ''shall he freed;" and in the
event of refusal or neglect" to comply with
the decision Of the committee, he is to be dealt
ing emancipation, and in effect, non-slavehold.
/ ing, term Of communion or Church fellowship
with us. Before this provision can be engrafted
npon the Discipline constitutionally, the General
/ Rule with respect to slavery must be essentially
altered which can only be done by conpance