Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-06-27
From the N. G. Christian Advocate.
? AMERICAN TRACT OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
O0K-EXPI,ANATION Esq

ssa
-.- From the n G. Christian Advocate.
AMERICAN TRACT OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
EXPLANATION :.
DEAR Bro. HEFLlN Without the least DISPOSE
ton to attack your recently published opinions
to.the Am. TT. Soeiety-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 obect-yet, feel it due the
of Christ to state, in christian Kindness that
you unntentionally misrepresented me in publish
ing that Il received and 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 re.
marks to you about Beecher's Book, caused you to
make this honest error. l should have explained
the matter fully to you, have done to others, as
circumstances would allow me, which is as follows:
Since the agitation of slavery in the last few years,
have read closely the publications of the Am. IT,
Society, to see if there was anything Objectionable
that subject; and in this course of reading ex-
amined carefully the Six Sermons, on Intemper-
ance,' by DR.. Lyman Beecher-father Of the Beech
of the N. Y. Independent which he wrote
number of years ago, and were published by tho
Am. IT, 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 cause
In this book where the evils of the african sLace-
trade used to illustrate the evils of ntemper-
ance, the word Slavery occurs in one sentence in
stead of slaoe trade which should have been used
and altho it would easily admit of favorable con-
structon, taking the whole subject together, yet as
it was liable to be misconstrued by some, and 9TH
err Agents would not order it South for distribution
by Colporteurs, who can get books only through
the Gen. Agent, or Superintendent And this course
the Gen. Agt's South, are at liberty to, and would
pursue in reference to any other Book Tract that
might be the least Objectionable to US. But this is
the only one, to the best of my recollection, and
should any Book Tract 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 sec all the publica-
tons, and shall keep well posted in every movement;
and if any Book or Tract should be issued offensive
to u.s. shall have connection with the work, and
shall promptly notify the public And to aid me in
this, will give all the publications of the So
ciety 10 Editors and Ministers. God is at the helm
and can override 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 ultras-and the action
taken is to quiet these utras and not get oppor
tunty 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 ofic-
at the Tract House, and all the Committee men
are conservatives. Rev. Drs. John Knox, David
Magic. VIM. R. Williams, WIN. Adams, Benz. c.
Cutler and Nehemiah Adams, constitute the Pub
fishing Committee, and as all serve the Society graf
uitiously, they live convenient to the Tract House
and each of them has to read every book and
tract, and if any one objects to anything, it cannot
be publshed-all must agree that it SIS calculated to
receive the appreciation of all evangelical christians
North, South, East and West. This is the lao OF
the Society, and by it they. as christians, stand
pledged sacredy to God and all christians, TO be
governor. As they have to be controlled only by
the Constitution and by direced to see that they
publish nothing but what all evangelical. christians
are agreed in-ths being the law governing them
then it follows, as understand it, that as chris
tians North and South not agreed in but little
or nothing on slavery, comparatively, that but lit
tie or nothing on the subject can possibly ever b
and here mast end. And the books and tracts thes
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 b!
their fruits yc shall know them'-that is, of tn
Publishing Committee. In view of those safeguards
the South has strong grounds to believe that tn
Committee, and conservative North, and prominen
officers of the Society throughout the South, viii
never allow an Objectionable book or tract to be is
sued on slavery.
by the expression moral evil Of slavery the So
ciety, according to my understanding of its Const
tuition, does not mean that slavery is sin in itself
but simply those evils that may grow out of tn
abuse of savery-such as the African slave-trade
and where servants may have no preaching, &c.
such evils southerners would deplore and labo
TO correct But am clearly of the opinion, tina
the safe for this Society, is to say nothing
the subject, even about these, although it might
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 smpl
gospel of Jesus is the only soay to do this work.
Our Agents and Colporteurs in the South having t
be southern men, and looking to the Lord for gu
dance, press onward in our true work of savin
perishng souls in our highways and hedges in
c. Let all Gods people pray that this Christlik
work may continue to be help to the ministry
and denominatonal agencies in saving the souls
succeeding generations.
have made these remarks, not in vndicaton
any error the Society may commit, for it lays n
claim to perfection, but simply to explain as fully
I can, by no means rejecting in the slightest degre
upon any one, and we are willing that every thin
of the Tract Society shall be scrutinized to the
ry CORE that it may be kept free of every thing,
cept Christ and Him crucifed.'
W. J. W. GROWER, Gen. Agt,
Am IT.. Society, for NJ {
Raleigh, June IT, 1867.
The Territory of Utah, dc.