Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-01-23

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no further credit till they see us fnarshaed in the
conflict.
F0rbedrance has been exercised until that has
become crime. We have tested The experiment
of leaving slavery to be extirpated by the mora
power of the Gospel, until it has emas seulated, ant
nearly subvertod the Gospel, and spread its baleu
influence over the whole Church We have fore
borne action in the case, under the plea OF saving
the Church, and preserving her integrity, unit
slavery has twice driven the bolts Of disunior
through the Church, and made her three instead o
one and now this demon OF war and dissension
with plans all concocted only pines for the day
when lie shall perpetuate deed that may ye
again arrest the glorious mission of the M. II
Church. The admission Of slavery into the M. e.
Church has gained absolutely nothing, while
our loss thereby could not be computed by finite
minds in endless ages and every day the curse
remains, the ruin grows more fearful
2. Extirpation can be effected True, il is more
difficult than formerly, and the impedimeDs in
crease every year still we shall by no means
yield the struggle in dspair.
"There is tido in the affairs OF
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune"
The sentiment of this passage was once sublime
ly appropriate to the NJ. i. Church. If she had
stood by her glorious extirpaory enactment of the
christmas Conference" u7S4,) what different
aspect would she present to day We believe tina,
not single slave would be chaing in his chains
IN this continent. at this hour, and what bril-
liants career would the moral history Of the
Church record Our fathers wavered, and the
tide receded. Another auspicous day came, with
the great Southern sessessou "the border" was
in much better mood than now, and the infect
ed territory was reduced to narrow compass,
giving the islavery sentiment the vast prepon-
deranco. That opportunity was also allowed to
pass.
The nation had at length awaked and with it,
the Church. We believe this is an earnest wax
ing, to be followed by no repose nor parley, till
the Church is free. Slavery has been met at every
point, till forced to attempt to strengthen its forti
fcatons, at the expense and ruin of the constitu-
ton. Thus, we have come to our Thermopyl9 in
this contest and here, ourselves or slavery must
perish But for US, there is nothing to fear. II
we fall it will be by our own hand, for surely we
have every facility for complete and certain VIC
tory.
IF we allow this tide in our affairs to subside,
without prompt and heroic action, we verify fear
that our Church will never enjoy another opportu-
nifty for deliverance,--that her honor and glory
will be laid in the dust, and God will raise up
another people to take the honors Of which we are
unworthy.
3. But we must aud ,rM do this work. We are
pledged by our covenant with God and the Church.
by our baptismal and ordination vows, by our
sacred promise to keep the General Rules Of the
Church, by every consideration that the Christian
religion imposes. to press this question to final
issue, at all hazards. We shall not be appalled,
by threats nor seduced with bribss. No possible
calamity can be half terrible, as the contnu-
ance of this unntigated curse. Is it urged that
such action as we conemp plate, would expose us to
the loss of Church propertyH Were it so, will
Methodists thus shamelessly attempt to bribe US
to corruption of the deepest dye, and fasten upon
the Church worse than papal scheme of indul-
OursolVes rOhberV
practcing what we profess, then we will take
joyfuy the spelling of our goods" In regard to
the Book Concern, may we not appropriately in
quire if it be not already lost, except in namo
1t will be dark day for Methodism. when such
unworthy motives shall lull her conscience, and
stay her holy enterprise. If such is the effect Of
her wealth, the sooner she s stripped Of such
rupting resources, the better.
WILL We shall close this cWSory riec ,cith a fec
wOrdS concerning The specific course Of action,
whjch ve hare so harmoniOuSly united.
l. For the present we deem it inexpedent to
seek change of the General Rule. Q.) Because
the abettors of slavery claim that the Rule pro-
tects and guarantees "simple slave holding"
Under these circumstances, an attempt to change
it, would be construed into q concession Of this
libelous and degrading sentiment. e. And then
in case we fall all hope of extirpation by this, or
any other means, must fail also. (3) Because
in all probability, we shall fail.
=. We lnslstl upon direct pr0ht6lory and ert'r
patory legislation, without exception, limitation,
or restriction. On this point think more
less misapprehension has attended the action Of
the Church, by endeavorng to unite the egisla
tive and executive branches Of government in the
Legislature, a thing utterly impracticable. We
believe the Church might long since have been
relieved of the terrible pressure of this question:
had the General Conference been content to legiS
late simply, without involving its acts with the
administration, thereby embarrassing, rather than
aiding the government of the Church. In regard
to evil but slavery, has this ruinous policy been
pursued
Lot the law, then, he unequivocal and universal
involving every case, and let not the legislature
attempt to specify who is the transgressor, and
mete out laws and penalties; but devolve these
duties upon the proper tribunals of the Church,
who only are competent to discharge them.
When the law of the Church is right though the
administration may still be defective, one princi-
plo source of evil and discomfort will be removed
and we shall have occasion for unspeakable rejoic-
ing, that so far as the law is concerned the NJ,
E. Church is at last, cleansed from the guilt of
slavery.
j. W. STEBBINs,
J.C. VANDERCooK, r.
B. 7. RoRERTs,
A. S. GRAvRs,