Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-07-01
PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
We have been requested to give place to the
following Report adopted by the Presbyterian
General Assembly, at its recent session in New
York:
"TheGeneral Assembly, in view of the men,
orials before them, and of the present relations
of the Church to the subject of slavery, feel
called upon to make the following exposition
of principle and duty.
The Presbyterian Church in these United
States has, from the beginning, maintained an
attitude of decided opposition to the institu-
tion of slavery.
The Synods Of New York and Philadelphia,
in 1887, two years before the organization of
the General Assembly, declared that they did
sshghly approve the general principles in favor
of universal liberty that prevailed in America,
and the interest which many of the States had
taken in promoting the abolition of slavery :"
and nthey recommended it to all their people
to use the most prudent measures consistent
with the interest and state of civil society in
the counties where they lived, to procure even
tually the final abolition of slavery in Ameri-
ca"
In 1898, while the Constitution of the Pres
byterian Church was in process Of formation
naturalization, the action of the Synod just
referred to was approved by the General As
sembly, and republished by its order.
The Assembly of 1875 declared "that al
though in some sections of our country under
certain circumstances the transfer of slaves
may be unavoidable, yet they consider the buy
ing and selling of slaves by way Of traffic, and
all undue severity in the management of them,
as inconsistent with the spirit of the gospel.
And they recommend it to the Presbyteries
all prudent measures to prevent such shame
full and unrighteous conduct"
The Assembly of 1915 "expressed their re-
gret that the slavery of the Africans and of
their descendants still continued in so many
places, and even among those within the pale
of the Church, J" and called particular attention
to the action of 1895 with respect to the buy
ing and selling of slaves.
In 1918 the Assembly unanimously adopted
report on this subject, prepared by DR..
Green, of Philadelphia, DR.. Baxter, of Virgin
ia, and Mr.. Burgess, Ohio, of which the follow
ing is part:
ssWe consider the voluntary enslaving of
one portion of the human race by another as
gross violation of the most precious and
sacred rights of human nature as utterly in
consistent with the law of God, which requires
us to love our neighbors as ourselves, and as
totally irreconcilable with the spirit and prin-
Gin Of tha ac mi e.
that call things whatsoever ye would that men
should do to you, do ye even so to them"
Slavery creates paradox in the moral system;
it exhibits rational, accountable, and immortal
beings in such circumstances as scarcely to
leave them the power of moral action. 1t ex-
hibits them as dependent on the will of others
whether they shall receive religious instruc-
ton; whether they shall know and worship
the true God /; whether they shall enjoy the
ordinances of the gospel; whether they shall
perform the duties or cherish the endearments
of husbands, wives, parents and children,
neighbors and friends; whether they shall pre-
serve their chastity and purity, regard the
dictates of justice and humanity. Such are
some of the consequences of slavery-conse-
quences not imaginary, but which connect
themselves with its very existence. The evils
to which the slave is always exposed often take
place in fact, and in their very worst degree
and form and when all of them do not take
place, as we rejoice to say in many instances,
through the influence of the principles of hu-
manity and religion on the minds of masters,
they do not-still the slave is deprived of his
natural right, degraded as human being, and
exposed to the danger of passing into the
hands of master who may infict upon him
all the hardships and injuries which inhuman-
ity and ayarice may suggest.
ssFrom this view of the consequences result
ing from the practice into which Christian
people have most inconsistently fallen, of en-
slaving portion of their brethren of mankind
for God hath made Of one blood all nations
of men to dwell on the face of the earth-it is
manifestly the duty of all Christians who en-
Joy the light of the present day, when the in
consistency of slavery, both with the dictates
of humanity and religion, has been demon
strated aad is generally seen and acknowl-
edged, to use their honest, earnest and un-
wearied endeavors to correct the errors of
former times, and as speedily as possible to
efface this blot on our holy religion, and to OBJ
tain the complete abolition of slavery through
out Christendom, and if possible throughout
the world.''
The Assembly also recommend ssto all the
members of our religious denomination not
only to permit but also to facilitate the instruc
tion Of slaves in the principles and duties of
the Christian religion" and added, "We en-
join on all Church Sessions and Presbyteries
under the care of this Assembly to discounte-