Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-10-04
MICHIGAN ANNUAL MEETING OF THE
FRIENDS OF HUMAN PROGRESS,

Will be held at Battle Creek on the first Satur-
day, and Sunday, the 4tb and 9th of October. In
issuing the following call, we wish it to be under
stood, that the invitation is not to any sect or party
as such, but rs believers in the equal and impair
tial Fatherliood of God, the universal Brotherhood
of man, we cordially invite all especially those
who have faith thst the Divine effort never slack
ems" that infinite bencfcence will not DO banked
and consequently that progress ia virtue, and
moral excellence--that the acquisition of knowl-
edge through the intellect, and a clearer per,ep-
ton of spiritual truths through the intuitions, is
possible, should become experimental to every hui
man soul-and hence are earnest, and hopeful work.
ers in the direction Of a more natural and harmo-
NOUS development of the race. We use the term
natural with reference to that nature created in
the "Divine image" the finite divinity which when
left free, and unhindered by creeds and conven-
tionalism, by all arbitrary authority" true to its
own "~templed aphorisms," ever seeks its all at.
tractive origin the infinite Divinity. With regard
to the nature, and scope Of our organization we
we would say. believing that the law of progress
is universal, that the world of mind has not ad-
vanced in physical and mental science, and stood
still in ethics, but that progression is the law of
unfolding in every realm of thought, and being,
and just as q progressive, inventive genius has en-
bodied its more perfect ideals in new and ultimate
forms, have they taken the place of old ones; aye,
as the world has outgrown wooden plows, and
pod augurs, just so will the effete bodies Of
thought, the gospels, and institutions of the past
die and crumble away, before the creative power
of new and higher thought. To answer this de-
mand for a new social order corresponding to the
spiritual growth of the age, and that shall be its
we have adopted a frec-platform for the
discussion of general principles, and practical
measures relating to human well-being, a platform
unpiedged to p~artizan, or bigot, but to the honest
utterance of the highest, largest thought of every
brother man, who has q gospel" within him to
preach. The limits of discussion will be unre-
stricted save by the demands of truth, yet we
earnestly hope We may vindicate ourselves as pos
sessing the character. the true manly spirit of do
ing good unto all by espousing the cause of the
poor. and oppressed everywhere. The urgent me-
cessity for such testimony, becomes most apparent
when we remember, that from the forty thousand
pulpits of the popular, and influential Churches
of our land with a few noble exceptions comes no
voice of hope, as deliverance to the outraged
sidNe' "A churcHi u IeiHiohj "HiSho sum uN'"
fully portrayed in the following graphic lines.
And the solemn priest to Moloch on each God
deserted shrine,
Broke the bondman's heart for bread, poured the
b~ondmans blood for winei
While the multitude in blindness to a far'off Saw
Jour knelt;
And spurned, the while the temple where a pres
ent Saviour dwelt.'
And while it may be truly affirmed OF parties,
governments, that they have shut the gates of
"Mercv on Mankind, let us with the just, and
noble Nazarene, reverence the inviolability of hui
man nature and teach
That he who treads profanely on the scrolls of
law and creed,
In the depth of Gods great goodness may find
mercy in his need.
But woe to him who brushes the soul with chain
and rod,
And herds with lower natures the awful form of
God,
We may add for the information Of all that may
to attend, that several eminent speakers, and
Iaborers in the harvest field of humanity have
been invited, some of whom will be present and
the weight Of their influence and conservation
20 the right, to give character, and interest to the
EMELINB D'GARMO,
RICHARD GLASIER Jr,
PHEBE ii. MERRITT,
THOMAS CHANDLER,
MIL ID MOORE. |,