Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1857-07-01

= - :. a3li From the N. G Christian Advocate. |
AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY-BEECHER'S
n, a.s BOOK-ExPLANATION.
DEAR BRo. HErLlN Without the least dispos
tion to attack your recently published opinions as
to the Am. Tr. Society-for, of course it is your
duty and right to form and express them, and we |
will all look to their development trusting in
God that the issue Of them may be for good, which
doubtless is your only object-yet, feel it due the
cause of Christ to state in christian kindness, that
you unintentionaly misrepresented me in, publish.
ing that 4 received aud sent back to New York
supply of book by Beecher, because of its direct
and gross attack upon slavery -.
1t is quite probable that the brevity of my
marks to you about 'Beechers Book, caused you to
make this honest error. l should have explained
the matter fully to you, as have done to others,
circumstances would allow me, which is follows:
Since the agitation of slavery in the last few years,
have read closely the publications of the Am. Tr.
Society, to see if there was anything Objectionable
on that subject; and in this course Of reading ex-
amined carefully the Six Sermons, on lntemper-
,ance,' by Dr. Lyman Beecher-father Of the Beech
er Of the N. Y. Independent whick he wrote
nuMb0s,Of years ago, and were published by the
Am. Tr Society, before the great excitement in our
country slavery and the book for years has been
generally known in the South, and highly apprecia.
ted for the good done by il in the Temperance
In this book, where the evils Of the Africdn slace-
trade were used to illustrate the evils of ntemper
ance, the word slaUe,y occurs in one sentence in
stead Of slare trade which should have been used
and altho It would easily admit of favorable con-
structon, taking the whole subject together, yet
it was liable to be misconsrued by some, and 9TH
er Agents would not order it South for distribution
by our Colporteurs, who get books only through
the Gen. Agent, Superintendent. And this course
the Gen. Agts South, are at liberty 10, and would
pursue, in reference any other Book Tract that
might be the least Objectionable to But this is
the only one, to the best of my recollection, and
should any Book Tract ever be published contain
ing anything the least Objectionable it will certain
~ be made known to the South before circnla-
ton. .....
Nothing can be forced upon US for distribution;
and standing where we do, We see all the pub'ca-
tions and shall keep well posted in every movement;
and if any Book Tract should be issued offensive
to us, shall have connection with the work, and
shall promptly notify the public And to aid me in
this, will e;- LII .i t,1i,i;-.;-- Of 'he So
ciety to Editors and Ministers. God is at the helm
and can ovcrrule all and continue to carry on the
work to the entire satisfaction of the South. 1t
should be understood that the difficulty in the Tract
Society has not been between the North and South,
but between the ultra North, and the conserva-
tive men there-the conservatives numbering more
than eight to one. over the uras-and the action
taken is to quiet these uras, and not to get oppor
tunity to publish the least thing in any book or
tract, offensive to the South. With such majority
North, to vote with the South they continue to
keep in proper officers, who reelected at each
May Anniversary. The President and all the offic-
at the Tract House, and all the Committee men
are conservatives. Rev. Drs- John Knox, David
Magic. Wm R. Williams, WIN. Adams, Benz. c.
| Cutler and Nehemiah Adams, constitute the Pub
fishing Committee, and as all serve the Society graf
uiously, they live convenient to the Tract House !;
and each one of them has to read every book and
tract and if any objects to anything, it cannot
he publshedall must agree that it s calculated to
receive the appreciation of all evangelical christians,
North South, East and West This is The lac of
the Society, and by it thev as christians, stand
Sacr IN nd Qnda n films I'm no
governor. AS they have to be controlled only by
the Constitution and by it direced to that they
publish nothing but what all evangelical! christians
are agreed in-this being the law governing them
then it follows, as understand it, that chris
tans North and South are not agreed in but little
or nothing on slavery, comparatively, that but ht-
tie or nothing on the subject can possibly ever be
published by the Committee. To this they come,
and here must end. And the books and tracts they
publish have been and will be the test of their faith
fulness, and upon this depends the cooperation o
christians everywhere, with the Society, for 'by
their fruits ye shall know them'-,hat is, of the
Publishing Committee. In view of those safeguards
the South has strong grounds to believe that the
Committee, and conservative North and prominent
officers of the Society throughout the South, will
never allow an Objectionable book or tract to be is
sued on slavery. .,.. .,.-.s.-
By the expression moral evil of slavery the So
ciety, according to my understanding of its Consti
tution does not that slavery is sin in itself
but simply those evils that may grow out Of tht
abuse of slavery-such the African slave-trade
and where servants may have preaching, &c.
such evils southerners would deplore and labor
to correct. But am clearly of the opinion; tina
the safe for this Society, is to say noing
the subject, even about these, although it might b.
carefully written by true southern man; for saw
ing the souls Of high and low, bond and free, is
far better work, and its one work, and the simple
gospel of Jesus is the only sody to do this work
Our Agents and Colporteurs in the South having t.
be southern men, and looking to the Lord for gui
dance, we press onward in our true work Of saving
perishing souls in our highways and hedges in N
G. Let all Gods people pray that this Christ-lik
work may continue to be help to the ministry
and deneminational agencies in saving the souls o
succeeding generations .. 81 "a -.s- -,-.
1 have made these remarks, not in vindication o
any the Society may commit, for it lays NJ
claim to perfection, but simply to explain fully n
can, by means rejecting in the slightest degre
upon any one, and willing that every thini
of the Tract Society shall be scrutnized to the We
ry core that it may be kept free of every thing,
cept Christ and Him crucified.' 81 -. 81.
ate w. j. w. GROWER, Gen. Ag't,
-.- ...,. p. ss. DIM. 7r. Society, for N. {
Raleigh, June IT, 1857. go; - r IL
. Have you got sister? Then love and cheris
her with holy friendship Exchange.
If you havn't got any sister of your own, tax