Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-04-12
MORALITY AND RELIGION IN KEN
lucky.
Letters from Rec. John q. Fec, to j. S. Baechelder
And0ver Theological Seminary.
NUMBER ONE.

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DEAR BROTHER IN CHRIST: In behalf OF your
Society of Inquiry you ask,
L. What is the religious condition, and what are
the advantages, of the white population of our
State.
III. What is the religious condition Of the slave
population, and what missionary work is done
among them.
Ill. What is the particular work in which / am
engaged, and any other individuals or societies con-
nected with me.
81. What is the religious condition, and what
are the advantages of the white population OF our
Slater"
In the mountain countries" which arc in the
eastern part of the State, there is but little preach
ing, very few if any Sabbath Schools, many thou
sands, as in other counties, being unable to read
the Bible if they had one. Yet this important
part of the field of Kentucky, for there the hearts
OF the people are not go corrupted with slavery,
nor are the minds of the people so engrossed with
wealth and worldly cares, as in the more level
and fertile portions Of the State where slavery
reigns.
With these and the counties bordering on the
Ohio River, reformation in Kentucky must begin.
The gospel of impartial love, caste-breaking and
MISUNDERSTANDING, never begins with the rich, proud
aud oppressive. Christ said, "The poor have the
Gospel preached to them;" and TIE poor would
hear it, while the rich would not.
As a general rule, even in New England, where
so large a portion are protesting Christians, n Cos
pei of impartial love finds not its strong hold in
the large cities and wealthy districts, but in the
farming communities and smaller villages, where
the cotton and sugar interests are not sensibly
felt. There you must work until you can raise a
public sentiment that will override the aristocracy
and wealth of the more productive districts. For
this reason, for years to come, much of the work
of reform in Kentucky must be sustained in the
midst Of those who have not much Of this worlds
goods, and who especially have not been taught
to give for the support of the Gospel. Many have
- a L l..-. l.,A, Il
the week, on the Sabbath preach q 'raal heartfelt
sarmont, &" and afterwards make their boast that
they never have anything for preaching the Cos
pei" The poor slave does not think so. The
non-slaveholding preachers often fall in with this
sentiment, popular by its descent from the richer
shareholders, and apply themselves diligently
through the week on their farms or in their shops,
then on Sabbath boast that they never prepare a
sermon but preach what the Lord gives them. Too
often their sermons show neither preparation from
God nor man, and they ought to be without COM
pensation. In the more fertile and slaveholding
! districts, the people have, in many places, much
, preaching Or the Sabbath. This is of a chardc.
ter which "makes void the law of God" l. There
is Presbyterian orthodoxy, which discourses much
about native depravity, inability, election, final
perseverance,; then in reference to practical duty
towards the slave, may well say, Eyes, slavery is
wrong in the abstract, but God requires us to bear
with wrong things, as he did with polygamy and
divorce in the times of the Prophets; he pU de-
Stroy Starery ,chen the proper time comes" Others
will close, as DR.. Breckenridge to Mr.. Sumner, by
saying, Il am no more of an apologist for slavery
than you" yet no man can, with the Gospel be-
fore him, keep q good conscience and say, Jesus
Christ did not sanction the relation of master and
and servant" lie means, rs the connection
shows, Master and slave. Presbyterians, other
wise orderly, temperate and Sabbath-observ
ing, but too generally with little spirituality.
Next comes the Methodist. These are more nu'
merous than Presbyteliaas. Thirty or forty years
since, this people WINS not found among the proud
and aristocratc. With them there was much true
love to God and man, and actual discipline of those
who were willing and persistent shareholders. But
now most of them will treat with contempt the
poor slave, others trade in the bodies and souls OF
their %fellow-men. This | know is true in both
branches of that church, "North as well as South
9 | refer to the division on this side Of the Ohio
t River.
There are many exceptions to the above, and
, perhaps more spirituality in this denomination thar
e in any other in Kentucky. Yet too often, there il
, the frothy sublimation of feeling, which is the pro
: duct of selfshness. Like the priests in the day.
a Of Malachi, ."They cover the altar of the Lord with
9 their tears, yet God regardeth not the offerings an,
more because they are partial in the law, and Aav'
t dealt treacherously with their brother" Nal. 2
lob. They were selfish true love was no
e there.
/ Next come the Regular Baptists." These ar
quite numerous in the State. Among them yo'
a. may Unu Wnlshey-urlnhtrs, WHISKY uidhGrs hu'
vendors, obacco-chewers and Shareholders afte
the old Virginian stamp. Yet you may also fin
e exceptions even to slaveholding, in practice o
spirit. Nor are most Of them whisky drinkers
such are exceptions, but ought not to be found in
church. Some excellent spirits are found in thi
body, and the absence Of centralized power il
n church polity renders them hopeful in reform.
Next come the Disciples Thy nickname, calle'
is Campbellites.) The leading doctrine Of this BOD,
is baptism for the remission of sins" Wit
many, perhaps most, is found a rejection of tn
influence of the Holy Spirit before conversion, an
s. practically, after it. The standard of piety is lo'
in this body. Here, too, is slaveholding, Sabbat
r breaking and ordly-mindedness, with but littl
l. knowledge, as | believe, of what constitutes tru
he piety. Christ is practically supplanted by th
a doctrine, 'baptism for the remission of sins" Tn
lie effect of this doctrine is most injurious. Yet tn
is reverence of this people for the Bible advocacy @
the theory of christian union Il do not say praC
tice) and Congregational form of government rer
ders them accessible to reform.
c. Where the standard of morals will be low anon
,e protesting Christians, you may expect, as a const
rs quence, that the standard OF morals will be 10y
tie among the people. This picture, though gloomy
: is nevertheless true, as l believe. ! have no desir
to traduce my brethren and fellow citizens. Wit
e. them | expect 80 live, suffer and die. All thes
In denominations, and some others not named, prat
Of tically ignore the great fundamental principle {
Mt Gods religion. lore 10 God and lore TO man, with
70 out which all else is as sounding brass and as
Vi tinkling c~ymbal."
Here, in the slave States, there are ten million
is of human beings, most of whom are without a tru
IT, Gospel, only as they read it from Gods Iword, an
e. believe for themselves in opposition to the ropula
it teaching around them. Do you ask, 'How ca
IN men be deceived in SO plain a sentiment as that
10 the golden rule ?" | answer, by such teachers 6
j. DR.. N. L. Rice and Alexander Campbell, who tie
the people "that rule means that we mpst tres
n, men as va might reasonably expect them to tre'
u us If ace pere ia their situation" "Let the sc
m want place himself in the relation Of the master,