Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-07-19

it has power to reach, 'medately but not directly
even session or Presbytery. This power the
General Assembly has affirmed by large maj
ty belongs to itself. Thus far we agree with that
body.
But taking this definition Of its own powers
and looking at facts in the light o. it, and out o.
its own mouth She Assembly is utterly condemned
Not only does common fame charge members and
ministers Of the New School Presby yterian Church
with heretical opinions, corrupt practices and
gross Offences but the discussion on its own floor
furnished the Assembly with overwhelming eyi.
dence that the charge is literally and exactly true.
Bearing in mind the Assembly's own definition Of
its constitutional powers, let turn to the discus
sion and see what some Of the sentiments and
practices avowed and defended.
In the first place both slavery and poygamy arc
openly, and definitely defended from the word Of
l God. The pestilcnt heresy-"the wild and guilty
fantasy that man can hold property in mans
avowed and explicitly juftiGed ty appeal to the
. scriptures. In comparison with this heresy, 9th
ers which have been deemed grave enough to con
vulse the church to its center and reud it asundei
are comparatively harmless. In fact Rome never
| put forth any heresy more false and wicked than
this. One Of her crowning sins was trading in
slaves and souls Of men; which is precisely the
same thing rs holding property in men. To buy
and sell human beings, to make merchandise OF
men and women, is identical with holding property
! in man.
But not only is this heresy avowed and defended
| in theory, Jut some of the speakers declared that
they practically adopted it: that they living in
! the guilty relation of owners to their fellow men
One minister declared that he a STAKEHOLDER
from choice. Here then is heresy in doctrine aud
sin in life Of the grossest character, publicly, un
/ blushingly, dchantly avowed on the floor of the
assembly, thus confirming beyond doubt or cavi
the charge against the Southern portion of the
New School Presbyterian Church. which "com
mr. fnn,ap ba bapu roitpro inn for
But not only is slavery defended and its prac
tce openly avowed in open court before the AS
scmbly, but, as if to show bow this leaven Of un
righteousness is corrupting mems minds on other
Subjects Dr. Ross openly avows that lie believes
polygamy is sanctioned by the Bible, and calls on
the reporters in tones of defiance to take down his
words, and declares that he is ready to face earth
and hell in defence of that opinion. Probably
earth and hell will have no disposition, to oppose
! the DR.. in advocating such views. 1t suits their
purposes too welD DR.. Joel Parker declares that
Jesus Christ found no fault with the Roman law,
which allowed the master to kill his slave, and
feed him to his fish, leaving it to be inferred that
Christ by silence virtually gave consent to this
atrocious enactment, thus disappearing the bless
ed Saviour. IF Jesus Christ found no fault with
such law in the Roman Empire, we suppose DR..
Parker, who probably does not aspire to be more
holy than Jesus, would find fault with it if en-
acted in the Southern States, where in fact the
power of life and death does virtually, if not for
mally belong to the master. This same DR.. Par.
ker and others place slavery elcng side of mar
riage and parentage as all alike ordained of God
and equally pleasing in his sight.
I Here then are facts brought out in bold relief
before the General Assembly, showing that the
most dangerous and deadly herests of modern
times openly defended, and that the highest
kind OF theft is constantly pracsed by its minis
tors and church members. The fact is also
brought out that the Synods, and Presbyteries ard
sessions are doing and intending to do absolutely
nothing to bring these Aeretics and criminals un-
der discipline. tnat whole Synods and Presbyter-
les are in fact addicted to these very sins and
rors. The Assembly proclaims that it has all
cessary power to reach these delinquent Synods,
and Presby yteries. And yet not only does it take
no steps looking towards the exercise of pline
over men-stealers and theoretical if not practical,
polygamists, but it recognises these very criminals
on its En floor as brethren beloved in the Lord;
as ministers and elders in good standing in the
church; and then North and South together, Abo-
litonists, Shareholders and moral polygamists, sit
down at the same communion board, thus endors.
ing each others christian character ito the fullest
extent-to the fullest extent" "Oh, most lame
and impotcnt conclusion % When will New
School Presbyterian papers and Northern minis
ters to talk of the anti slavery character of
their church, and tell their honest but deceived
people the truth?
| The Time in which the New School Assembly is
thus solemny triiing, and the Old School Assem-
by is proclaiming anew its featy to slavery adds
additional enormity to their conduct The Assem-
hlies sat in the month Of May. In the month
slavery enactng series of outrages in Kan
sas, which, for cold blooded brutality ana fendsh
cruelty, have scarcely a parallel on the page of
history. Let us look at the two scenes together.
Look on this picture and on this" On the one
hand we grave Assembly of proie ssed min.
listers of the living God listening pacently and
approvingly to the declaration of their Moderator,
that if he should assent to the opinion that slavery
is great evil he would be dragged out of the
Moderator's char. On the floor of another As
sembly of the same character, days are spent in
listening to abored defences of slavery as an in
sttution of Gods ordaining and approving which
deences are heaId almost without rebuke; and the
Assembly recognizes the defenders honest chris
tians; thus completely endorsing the system. This
is one picture behold another On the soil Of Kan
sas this same institution slavery, may be seen with
torch and cannon, with bowie-knife and pistol
burning and robbing houses, stealing horses, driv.
ing women and children from their homes and
shooting at them as they fly, numbering men and
boys in cold blood and committing raues on help
less females. Thus slavery shows in the light Of
burning villages what manner of spirit it is of;
and writes in the blood of freedoms martyrs the
record of its own internal wickedness. And yet
grave Doctors of Divinity and digniied General
Assemblies proclaim that slavery is sanctioned by
the word Of God!
Is it strange that infdeity is overspreading the
land? "The tree is known by its fruit" The
world sees the fruits of slavery in the Kansas out.
rages; and hence if tho prolessed ministers Of
Christ succeed in persuadng the people that sla.
very is sanctioned by the Bible, they will have
gone very far in persuading them that the Bible
is the DEVILS own book.
A NOBLE TESTIMONY.