Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1857-08-07
Methodist Church VS.. slavery.

Methodist Church VS.. slavery.
THE Wyoming NJ. L. Conference at its
session in Abingdon, Po., in May last,
adopted the following expression of views
relative to Slavery. The Conference is To-
Gated in Luzernc, Wyoming, Wayne, and
Susquehanna counties, principally, and its
expression will have an abiding influence ]
REPORT on SLAVERY.
During the present generation, the Disci-
pline has steadily Tung IN our cars the great
moral queS ton, What shall be done for the
erurpailun of the evil of Slavery !" This fact
implies that, as church, we regard slavery
a great eyI.-ihat the means Of us eStlrpalIon
are human-ihat the church should ever seek
its removal; aud that her agency IS pecu-
larly appropriate TO the case. That slavery
Is powerful, and that efforts for its removal
are exciting and difficult, is admitted. Yet
this should never cause a Christian hero 10
quail or hesitate. The supposed pecuniary
interest of our couniryncn !rthc support and
extension Of Slayery-the lus; Of pride and
personal poWei-lhe balance of political con-
troll between the North and the Soulh-toge-
lher with the habits and education of slave
holders, render this one OF the most difficult
subjects of moral reformation ever investiGa-
ted or sought 10 be accomplished. Yet, with
all its difficulties, the extirpation of Slavery Is
deemed perfectly practicable. 1t is sinful; /;
and 1t is the business of the Church SO to pre-
sent the Gospel that every n an may be saved
by II from his sins, each and all. la morals
Us well as doctrines, the Church is the pillar
and ground of the taiIh-the light of the world
the salt Of the earth. She is relied upon 10
make known the whole counsel Of God. She
must not Shun The cross, nor betray her trust,
on SO momenlouS a sub Jcct as human slavery.
Under this covering course OF policy, slavery
has grown bold and rampant. 1t has doomed
up also in the political horizon in such terri
flying proportions, and advanced with such
fearful strides, as 10 call for the most decided
action. Slavery must not advance, but recede.
Ii must not be extended, but extirpated. The
moral part of the work is ours. The Methodist
Episcopal Church must furnish, by her min
islry, her literature, and her discipline, the
necessary moral power for such work. God
requires it, the world expects it, and her own
integrity and iailhiulness 10 the past, demand
it. The glory Of the Church should never be
eclipSed by assigning her proper work 10 any
other agency or means whatever. The hbeT-
alton of the oppressed, the opening Of The pri
son doors TO them that are bound, the setting
at liberty those that are bruised, and the
preaching Of deliverance TO the captives, belong
right 10 the ministry Of the Christian church
and the church can do that work well. II
would be disastrous shame 10 her 10 leave il
in this land 10 be accomplished by either Mars
or Mammun. If our moral coWardIce lead us
10 avoid our duty in this well as other de-
parlm-ats Of action, the very class Of men
that now try TO alarm our fears, and 10 sup
press the potential voice Ot the church IN the
cause of mercy 10 the slave, Will promptly
JOIN in making her kissing and bye word
TO the world As we believe that man who
has not religion enough TO save him from sin,
has mol enough to save him from he'll SO We
firmly believe that n church which has not
humanity, morality. and piety enough 10 ex,ir-
pa,e slavery from her own pale. has not gen.
uine Gospel Christianity enough 10 save her
from the Just charge of denying the faith and
Of becoming worse Than inidel. While S!a-
very Is in the church there is disastrous force
N the apple s,,on -f tho Old rros..L- 10 h4r,
whenever or wherever she teaches and loIns
the holy principles of her faith upon others ::
sPhvsician, heal thyself." She seems, while
teaching others, not to have been taught her
sell. But we are as much as ever convince d
that disciplinary measures for those within
the church. and moral suasion for those with
out, are both legitimate means OF e&urpatIBg
the great evil OF Slavery. We claim TO have
the requisite light, the love, the courage, the
fixed purpose, and the power TO do this work
hut, in this, 'ihe best Of all Is, God is with
US" We spurn no co-laborers, or auxiliary
means or motives but we principally trust TO
our own good swords, our own right arms,
and in the God of battles for victory. While
we are painfully apprehensive that many IN
. ciaeBiai evils wall attend the conflict, we re-
mem ber that the "lhe Phlistines are upon US,
I and we have no choice left US. We must meet
the enemy and measure swords with HIM. II
we quail on this field, we are overcome and
subdu d ourselves in every other encounter
But who doubts the issue! The heather OF
Slavery NAV rage, and imagine vain things
! without number as TO our aim, but truth, light
and love, are mighty and will prevail.
The following resolutions are respectfully
submitted for adoption by the Conference:
l. That the Wyoming Annual Conference
never bchcld Slavery with SO much adherence
as now.
.. That we recognize no class of human
beings, in our own land or any other, whose
civil rights, co-extensive and sacred as ouE
own, we are not bound by every claim We
make to virtue or decency, 10 prospect"
5. That the Wyoming Conference are re
joiced at the general waking up Of the public
mind to a correct apprehension and apprecia
ton of human rights and we hereby pledge
ourselves 10 resist with zeal, in every proper
way, all the encroachments Of Slavery, and tG
plead more earnestly than ever for ,he educa
lion, freedom, and eyangclizat.on of every class
Of cur fellow beings
4. That we, as Conference, also here and
now pledge ourselves 10 the friends of The
slave in the Church and the State, on the bor
der and distant from it, both North and South
10 the religious, literary and political world
that we are bound to stand by the slave ill his
shackleS fall and he enjoys the boon Of free
dom as fully as ourselves.
s. That We highly approve the course o.
the Editor of the Northern Christian Advocate
in giving that paper a decided and earnes
anti-slavery character, and will give him oul
steady and cordial support.
II. r. CLARKE,
b. w. GORHAM.
The stockholders of the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company held an election in