The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-07-04

found Acts %. chapter 22-2y verses the last
two Of which we viii qnote ssFor 1t seemed
good 10 the Holy Ghost, aud to US. TO lay upon
you no greater burden than these necessary
things; That ye abstain from meats offered to
idols, aud from blood, and from things srangIed,
and from tprnication from which ii We keep
Yourselves, ye shall do welt Fare We welt"
Some fine writer expresses the true opinion sub
stantIaly thus ''Christianitv in it's mission
seeking access To all conntrieS did not interfere
with the civil institutions of any but left to its
influence the couneracion and destruction OF
all evil and wrong
3d. Ia the absence Of direct authority on the
subject, il is plead, that the spirit and genius Of
Chrstianity-its teachings-the law OF love IT
incnlcates--tbr golden rule embodied in II, ''as
We would that others should ,Io unto you do W
even so TO them." is against slavery and, by
consequence, slaretoiding should not be allow
ed to exist in the church-hence the propriety
of the test
We admit that Christianity is the great re-
stoF-r and elevator Of our race, and must ulti-
mately accomplish its object in the destruction
OF all error and evil. and become the univerSa
regenerator of mankind. Had IFS influence
and power been permitted to operate unobstruc-
ted upon the veXed question OF slavery, there IS
no telling what the result would have been at
this time. a Ii is. with all the embarrasSmenis
thrown IN its way it has done much to benefit
the African race in this country. They. or
their ancestors, were brought here healhens,
and, through the preaching OF the Gospel, the
minds of many of them have been enlightened,
their souls have been converted, and. alter liv-
ing piouSly, they have died trumphantly and
gone TO Heaven. It would he the greatest
blessing that could fail upon saveS-a perfect
jubilee 10 all their ifiends-d the law OF love
untrammeled We're allowed to operate in their
behalf. Their interests are not promoted by
such measures rs the chapter in discussion
The golden rule referred to must not be constru-
ed as All abstraction. 1t sto operate upon society
as it is organized, in lis civil and social condI-
ton, and IS, therefore, relative IN ITS bearng.-
1t is a very easy thing to declam against slave
ry as against the law OF nature, the law of God,
and the inalirnabe rights Of man bat that is
not the QUESTION. Il is not slavery IN the a5-
SIact, or slavery in the Roman Empire, or sla-
very in the Apostolic Church, or even slavery
it exists in The u. s., placed as it is under the
sanctions OF municipal law, in several OF the
States, but slavery as connected with the Meth
odisl Episcopal Church-that is the real qnes
ton, Many Of our members bold slaves, and
hold them under the protection of the Con&i-
tuition Of The Church. What shall be done
with them Shall we let Christianity do lis
own work for master and slave, or shall
atep in and pass test that will eyclrde the for
mpr from our communion, for which there is
10 warrant. There is vast difference between
Slarery as system and shareholders IA the cir
cuastnnces IN schich tbeg IRE placed IN siare-
nothing States. TIE iater may be defended
if the former may not. rs members Of our
church they may and ought to be defended in
the enjoyment of all the rights and privileges
guaranteed to them BY cur Discipline.
4tt. Misguided zeal and philanthropy, how
ever we'll meant, however honest and upright
those are who act under their influence, often
do serious and irreparabe BARN, even TO good
cause CT this char acter is the measure under
consideration. W. readily grant what we hon
eStly beIieve is the fact, that the projectors Of
this movement and its supporters are aciuapd
by conscientious motives, that they really think
the adoption of the unknown and novel term
Of membership they propose vii! be promotive
OF the interests OF the Church. We know IL
would be most disastrous. Let Us be admouiSh-
ed, sir, by the TEACHING Of Christ as given in
the parable Of the tares and good seed; who in
response to the Disciples who asked II they
should 'sgo and gather up the tares,' SAID "nay,
lest while We gather up tin tares, ye root up
also the wheat with them" God has Sown
good seed into the vineyard of this world by
some means, evils have been scattered broad
cast also and, if YOU choose, slavery may b.
numbered among them Great indignation Is
felt at il in many quarters; great etloI:S are
used to roo: it out and to do so, or help TO do
so, a new regulation must be made, IN the opin-
ION Of some, by this general Conference, 10 turn
converted shareholders out of the Church
And what favorable influence could that exert
towards removing slavery from The country T.,
That would be roofing up the wheat with the
'arrs. There is good seed IN slave Territory
They are found among converted shareholders
very many of whom know, and Of whom it is
hut Justice to say that in all that makes up
Christian character, Of doctrine, experience,
and practice--in all the exhibitions OF the
tults of righteousness and true pietv they are il
no sense of degree behind the cheft's Of their
brethren in any part Of the Church, or country,
or world.
do not agree with brother HoSmer, who, if
he has been reported correctly, afirms that I
neither slaves nor shareholders can be Chris I
tanS. ] know better in both cases. | have
been with the slave when converted TO God,
and when dying, | have heard the ringing
shout, and helped ln it, when he was passing
from earth to Heaven. I have seen masters and
slaves IN the same meeting rejoicing together in /
the love of God. have seen and heard the
slave on the stand at camp-mee,ing exhorting
with great power and effect, while the master,
standing by my side, in high and delighted ex-
citement, exclaimed ago ahead Tom, know
you, have confidence 10 you, you are right"