Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-06-12
THE CHURCHEs-THEIR PRESENT P0-
SlTl0N.

-
The Annual ecclesiastical Conventions of tho
season aro now generally passed. We havc as
they occurred recorded their action on the question
of human liberty. In the aggregate, this action
perhaps marks some advance of the spirit Of free
dom and justice in tho community, if not an in
crease OF principle in the church. The majority
of these Conventions have shown themselves
blind guides, unable to perceive the right, or
direct the moral action of the people, and this too
when the syiapathies of some Of their members arc
somewhat aroused for the oppressed by the expos
ures and incidents around them.
The popular churches have no. changed their
position. They are yet on the side of the oppres-
sor. because there, there is power and wealth and
worldly responsibility. They are anything eluc
than the representatives of the fidelity, humanity
and devotion to principle, which marked the life Of
him whose name thoy bear and whom they pro-
fess to venerate. Their christianity is still q chris
tianity which chattelizes babes, enslaves and bru-
tifes women and robs and murders men. 1t links
them with oppressors and %justifes them in extend
ing their christian fellowship to the most aggrava-
ted of criminals-piratcs and manstealers. 1t is
a christianity Of lust, of robbery, of violence and
injustice, which fosters hypocricy and them chris
tClS IL NITtue ItlBiOu, " uccelNo u peOVlo.
This religion has been marvellonsly revived
this past winter and we see its fruits in the action.
of the churches which profess to have had this
new amounting from on high.
At the south Of course We expect to see espoc--
lax exhibitions of devotion to q slaveholding chris
tianity, and we are not mistaken. The southern
Secedcrs from the NewSchool Presbyterian church
have perfected their organization, with q spec
ial guarantee for the undisturbed practice of
the divine virtue of slavcholding.
The Methodist Episcopal Church South, has
adapted, very conveniently, its General Rule to its
general practice, by expunging the prohibition for
the buying of men, women and children with
intention to enslave them.
The Church North in some of its Conferences .
has spoken some brave words this Spring against
slavery, but it shows little disposition to treat
Shareholders as other sinners. And no disposition
to break christian fellowship with the Philadel-
phia Conference which tolerates slaveholding H.
its membership and by a dodge, also in it's trasell--
ing as well as local ministry.
The New School Presbyterian church OF it's as,
sembly maintained its quiet and self satisfied dig.
nifty, by pointing to what it had done, or rather
said, in times past while the Old School Church.
manifested bucn scTNllily as 10 ueDRnt the nilDue-
tors and slave holders and slave traders of New
Orleans and secure from thom princely hospitality
and warmly e~ulogistic certificates Of the ''gentle'
manly and christian department" Of these CALVIN.
istic Divines.
The Protestant Episcopal church in Ohio heidi
its Annual Convention Mt Newark last week. So,
far as it's proceedings have come under our nor
tice, the slave, his case or that of his oppressorr
was never once referred to. This whole church.
remains as it has been in time past, utterly disre.
gardful of these claims of humanity. Its digni.
} fed responsibility cannot sioop SO low as to lift up
the down troddcn or minister the gospel of Jesus
to the outcast. Its gospel is one Of good will to
! the masters, and Of submission to the slaves.
Some of the less influential Denominations have
boen absolutely making advancement in the right
! direction and give some evidence Of practical
christianity. See for example the action of the
Unitarian Convention in Cincinnatii and that Of
the Northwestern Conferences of the Methodist
Protestant Church which made o formal demand
of their Southern brethren, to pronounce slave,
holding incompatible with membership in the
church, presenting as the alternative u separation
in case Of refusal. Tho demand was of course
refused and we rejoice to learn that the N. w.
II Organ of that Church is ready for the division.