Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-08-08

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND SLAVERY.

THE action of the Catholic Church on Slavery as
practised in Europe during the dark ages has been
eminenty honorable. However arrogant It may
have been to the naughty, it was kind to the lowly
1t bore then, what it bears now. the ear-mark Of
Chrisaniy-and the religion of the poor.
Witness the following extracts from the History of
England, which ought to put Protestant American
Churches to the blush We are not Catholic in
faith, but confess prefer the teachings of Wulf
stan and Gregory of the ninth century, on the sub
ect of slavery, to that of Adams and Spring of the
nineteenth.
1t is supposed that slavery existed in Britain
prior to the first Roman invasion. S.rabo informs
us that British slaves were an article of export in
his time, and also that they were then numerous
in Rome. Gregory the Great on seeing some
beautiful Saxon slaves exposed for sale in Rome,
Is said to have remarked, on being told they were
Angli or EngliSh-"Non Angli. sed Angel, 81
forens esse Chris,ianos." Johnston's Canons in
form US that several laws were made a. this time
by the Church in order to prevent the sale of
Christian slaves to the Moo:s of Spain and Africa,
and also to the unbelieving Jews. This was .he
first amelioration undertaken by the Catholic
Church.
In the eleventh century William of Malmesbury
informs us that "Wulfstan," Bishop of Worcester,
afterwards Archbishop OF Canterbury, "cured the
people of Bristol of most odious and inveterate
custom, which they derived from their ancestors,
of huying men and women in all parts of England
and exporting them to Ireland for the sake OF
saip.s The historian further adds that Wultstan,
knowing the obstinacy of these people, sometimes
stayed two months amongst them, preaching every
Lords day, by which, in process of time, he made
so great an impression on their minds that they
abandoned that wicked trade, and set an example
to the rest of England to do the same.
Robert Henry, a8cotch minister in his History
of England informs us that the introduction of
Catholic Christianity contributed not little to al
leviate the weight of servtude and diminish the
number Of Slaces. BY the canons Of the Church,
which were, in those times incorporated with the
laws of the land, and of the same authority Chris
tiaus were commanded to allow their slaves certain
portions of time to work for their own benefit by
which they acquired property. The bishops had
authority to regulate the quantity of work to be
done by slaves, and to take care that no man used
bis slave harshly, but IA fellow Christian. The
bishops and clergy recommended the manumisson
of slaves as most charitable and meritorious ac-
tion The tenth canon of the Great Council held
at Ceale Hythe commands that the slaves of
bishop shall be freed at his death, and also that,
on such OCCASION all other abbos and bishops in
England shall free their slaves and give each of
them three shillings
But the sixteenth and last of the Constitutions
of Clarendon (Which were enacted to curtail the
power of the clergy shows eminently what had
been the Christian action of the Church on the
subject of slavery. 1t is as follows The sons of
williams" i. e. Slaves" shall not be ordained
without the consent of their masters. Alas alas
who can help comparing what must have been the
previous action of the ancient Church to require
such law as this with the action Of the Episcopal
Church of this city, in full convocation, who kept
cOlored ordained brother waiting for years at
their gate.
But Catholics, and Catholic Irishmen especially,
should remember the crownipg glory of that Abo-
tionist Church, in the council held at Armagh,
A. d. I'LL. This was held by the whole clergy
of Ireland which, having deliberated long CON
cerning the cause of the calamities with which
they were threatened by the invasion of the Eng:
lish. at length agreed that this great judgement
had been inflicted upon them by the dspleasure OF
God, for the sins of the people. particularly for
their haying bought so great number OF English
slaves from merchants, robbers and pirates, and
for OBTAINING them still in bondage. To appease
therefore, the Divine displeasure which had beer
excited against them that account, they decreeC
that ALI The English Sdrcs in the lchOle island o
Ireland should be emancipated and restored t.
their former liberty"
In conclusion, we would exhort the various sect
of Protestants, whose annual melancholy antic
on this subject would bring any religion into dis
grace, and which is fast converting unthinkin
men (who study Christianity from the acts OF it
professors rather tEan the teachings of its Four
der) into infdes, to study this chapter of the his
tory of the Catholic Church. And we entrea
those who still profess to follow the ancient fait
to keep close, in the matter of slavery, to tn
teachings of the fathers, and not lend their aid i
building up system which it is the proudes
monument of their faith to have overthrow
throughout Europe,