Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-05-23
H o P E U L.

An anti.slavery reputation has become % desirable
in the Free States, that most Of the religious organi-
cations are anxious to receive it, even when they ara
sometimes far from deserving the name. The outside
press ere, added to tire limited influence Of their
members who are abolitionists at heart, have in.
duced them TO put forth a series Of pretensions,
which, if successfully ~practiced by an individual,
would lead to his indictment "for obtaining good
liz not goods under false pre:ences." This is e.
pecially true of the NJ. E. Church North, Which
has tried to manufacture for itself anti slavery
capital ont of the division which took place n few
years since in tia Methodist body. The necessity
for its partial separation from the membership
South, has been magniiel by many of its support
ers into an anti-slavery virtue. This fac, is
frequently pointed 20 as conclusive evidence that
the NJ. L. Church North is not pro-slaveIy in char.
acter, while the no less important fact that it em-
braces within its limits several Conferences ex.
tending over slaveholding Territory, and has slave
holding members, Slaveholding class leaders, and
olaveholding preachers, is wholly lost sight of.
And yet there is progress in the NJ. E. Churc,
N~orth-there are hopeful signs to be read there.
During a recent letturing tour in Southern Now
York, VIC unexpectedly found Merhodism there,
partaking more Of the John Wesley anti slavery
stamp than we had been accustomed elsewhere to
find it. Methodist meeting houses were opened
10 us, and the dwelling houses Of Methodlsts ex-
tended US their hospitality. Verify, thought we,
this is a ne revelation. There was, of course, q
cause for such II state of things. Wo could not
attribute it to the anti slavery influence of the
Christian Adrocdte and Journal, for we wore in
formed but omparatively few copies Of thar paper
circulated there. But we found insteld a sheet,
called the Northern Independent. which, though it
has not been in existence a year, is sending outa
weekly issue of ten thousand or more.
As the history aud character of this paper may
be unknown to most OF the readers Of the Bugls
rs it was until recently to US, the following briof
statement may not be devoid Of interest:
The Northern Christian Adcocate, q paper
subject to the control of the NJ. E. Church, but
sustained by five Conferences in New York, had
become so anti.slavcry under the conduct of it's
editor, Rev. WIN. Ho,mer, that although it suited
the members Of the Conferences which sustained
it. and among whom its principal circulation was
to be found, it was far from satisfactory to the
ruling powers in that organization. Accordingly
II change was decided upon, and at the last General
Conference. IIosmer vas deposed, and Rev. f. G.
i~libbard, whose anti-slavery had never been
troublesome to the Church, appointed in his
stead,
The fso Conferences which sustained the Adpo.
cate, had always nominated the person they pre-.
ierred for editor, and the General Conference, as
an act of sheer justice, had always before con-
9 frmed the nomination. Not 60, however, on that
3 occasion; Hosmer, whom they wanted for editor,
and had nominated, was MOI appointed, and Hib-
bard, whom they hadn's nominated, and didn't
want, acas appointed. The result was, las mightihays
readily been fOreseen lIosmer and uis rriends
started another paper just like the Ad0ocate, "only
more 80" and baptized it The Northern Mdepend.
ent. In six months it had about ten thousand
subscribers, while in the same time the list Of tho
Adcocate greatly diminished.
Hosmer and his associates have, of course, been
denounced by the pro slavery portion Of the
Q Church for the manly and Christian course they
n have pursued-they have been called revolution
AIRY, " "secessionists," ''disturbers of the peace Of
n the church, " 'the authors and movers of discord,"
and the members have been solemnly cautioned to
4 beware of them.
: 1t is truly encouraging to find so many in the
NJ. L. Church engaged in TIE effort to make IL
Q first pure, and then peaceabls !" though whether
r they, or slavery will be triumphant, is a question
yet TO be determined. Let them, however, rsnen