Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-02-21
Che Anti 9laperp Rnale.
SALEM, ONO, FEBRUARY 81, 1857.
ANOTHER EFFECT OF THE CHANGING
PUBLIC SENTIMENT.

We have noticed elsewhere, that the Missouri
Organ of Methodism has spoken in favor Of some
sort Of Emancipation, since some of tho Demo
cratic politicians have dared to advocate tn,
measure in the Legislature. In justice to tn,
Mcthodists however, seeming to disparage their
moral courage. it must be confessed they are in
advance OF their neighbors, for no other sect has
presumed to speak as the Advocate has spoken.
We find an indication Of changing Northern pub
lie sentiment, not less remarkable than this in
Missouri.
The American Missionary Society has been pre-.
eminent, even among Northern ecclesiastical organ.
izations for its servility and concessions to the
Shareholders of the South. The New York Oh.
server has been the fitting representative of its
trucking, compromising policy on this subject.
But the agitation of the country has finally moved
even this association, to at least a seeming declar
alton against "the institution" rs unchristian and
morally wrong. We say, seeming, because the
managers OF the association have SO long played
the Jesuit, that they are no, to be trusted till they
bring forth fruits meet for repentance. Indeed
the resolution they have adopted, and to which We
refer, is on its very face of this same jesuiticaI
stamp. They may yet. as heretofore, send their
ministers to serve the ordinances of the church tc
shareholders, if tho committee shall Judge their
slaveholding 'justifable for the time being" II
is really making no progress in point of principle,
but ONLY a seeming tribute to popular anti-slavery
sentiment. The resolution adopted by the repre-.
sentatives of the Society, as reported by one OF
our exchanges lie as follows:
"ReSolred, That in the disbursement of the
funds committed to their trust, the Committee will
not grant aid to churches containing slaveholding
members, unless evidence be furnished, that the
relation is such as in the judgement of the Com.
mittee, is justifable 70. the time being, in the Pc
crliar circumstances in which it exists"
The Secretaries of the Society in communicating
this resolution to the public say:
"Tnis we mean to carry out faithfully. We are
to be the judges, and not the church or presby.
terry. The facts must all be spread before us, if
they ask our aid. and il the slaves are held under
ordinary circumstances, no aid can be granted.
Slaveholding in its proper sense we ALLURE"
OF course there may be great latitude of opin-
ion in the Society in regard to what is the proper
sense of tlaveholding, and what constitute excep.
tional cases. 1t may operate as does the ~restric.
ton on Slavery in the Methodist discipline, which
prohibits the holding of slaves for gain
Wherever a stakeholder proposes to enter the
Methodist Church, other things being right. he is
at once supposed an exceptional case, and thus nc
STAKEHOLDER is debarred from membership and com.
munion in the church on account of slaveholding
An anti'slavery committee might practically and
thoroughly condemn Slavery under this resolution
while a Committee of Lords and Adamses, who
believe Slavery divine, would sustain and uphold
it by their missionaries and donations.
Nevertheless the resolution may have the effect
rs suggested by the Cincinnati Glzette, to cut of
at once all slaveholding churches from the list Of
benefciaries of the Society; as they may think i,
derogatory to their dignity, to Justify to a New
York Committee the oct Of every member of theil
Church in regard to his claim of slaves. 1t may
awaken Southern constituencies and thus prevent
applications for aid from Southern Churches
Every step tending to a dissolution of the Union
with shareholders either in Church or State, We
hail with joy, and therefore earnestly hope thai
such may be the effect of this last resolution O
the Home Missionary Society.