The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-05-09

ings is crowded out.
The Religious Anniversaries-The Tract So
ciety-rhs American and Foreign Chris
tIan Union.
Anniversary week will not close till to NOR
row; but the heat and burden of the day is
over. The leading societies have met and con-
graduated themselves on the recurrence of
their annual holiday; their business reports
have been published, and the community is
made aware Of the remarkably prosperous con-
dition in which most Of them stand. It were
perhaps invidious to discriminate among 30
many worthy rivals; but it may be briefly said
that among all the reports, that of the Ameri-
can Home Missionary Society has perhaps
elected the most interest and won the most
sympathy for the praiseworthy and useful body
from which 1t emanates.
The Tract Society has escaped the peril
which threatened it Warned by the signif-
cant attitude of the public, the aoolitionists
showed the white feather at the last moment,
and the Society is safe to the nation for one
year more at least. 1t is to be hoped that the
attempt to abolitionize it win not be renewed.
lanthropists will perceive the impolicy-to use
no stronger word-of attempting to realize
theoretical schemes Of reform by carrying con-
troveTsy and sectarian bitterness into societies
framed on the peculiar platform of universal
tolerance. And as to books, if they must be
trimmed and pruned to suit the faacies OF
anti-slavery preachers, why not begin with
the Bible at once! All the Jewish pa
triarchs aud kings, whose lives we are taught to
regard as patterns to follow, were slavehold-
err, and their relations with their slaves form
no Insignificant portion of the Bible history.
Both the Old and New Testament TEEN
with illusions to slavery. Every preacher
knows that in the passages in the Epistles where
the word "servant" is used in our version the
word in the original is slave" Now if the
Tract Society is not to publish books contain
ing pro slavery sentiments, these passages from
the Bible had better be expunged at once ::
and new edition of the Holy Scriptures, cor
rected and expurgated BY the Congregational
Conference, should be published without loss
OF time, for the benefit Of the abolitionists
Let Us be consistent though the heavens should
fall.
A word, perhaps, should be said of so me
other societies. whose reports and discourses
have not been precisely what the public would
like to see. From the Garrison maniacs, raw
ings are expected, and blasphemy comes appro-
priately. But we are sorry to see that the
principal speaker at the American Congrega-
tional u0Dn took the opportunity of deliver
ing vislent party political speech on the
Kansas question, in which Congress was said
to be mad y while another speaker thanked
South had been driven eat of that Territory.
Now, let us understand each other. It is the
right of every man in this country to hold and
express what political opinions he pleases, and
70 form what associations be chooses to advance
those opinions. If Messrs. Drummond and
Knight feel 1t to be their mission to preach
abolition, well and good If they found soci-
ETY. and call it Congregational Union, they
are still within the bounds Of right. But they
are dishonest II they assume, while thus acting
to be mere shepherds of the Christion fold, and
teachers Of Christian doctrine and their soci-
ETY. is swindle on the community If it obtains
money on the pretence Of helping Christianity
but uses 1t to further abolition. From the
speeches Of Messrs. Drummond and Knight, It
might be inferred that both the society aud its
orators were open to this charge Of double
dealing fact to which the attention Of the
subscribers to the Congregational Union cannot
too soon be called
Nor can we pass over in silence the pro.
ceedings Of the American and Foreign Chris-
tian Union This body was established for
The purpose of enlsrging the domain of
religious freedom, and diffusing pure chris