Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-07-03
NJ. L.. Church SOuIh

Ia the Richmond Christian Advocate OF the
Oath ult, appears the pastoral address" to
the members of that denomination Of Chris
tiaus, signed by the elk Bishops, in behalf Of
! the General Conference Of the NJ. L. Church
South, which lately held IT. quadrennIal Sc
sion 10 Nashville This document ccmmen-
ees by an appeal to the membership for con-
tinuei unity of effort and of sympathy, and
! for fresh zeal for the faith. IL also commends
the publishing and periodical Interests OF
the society aud the Sabbath School cause,
to the warmest and most cordial support
! 10 relation to the subject of slavery IT takes
the ground Of n0n-intererence by the church,
but earnestly urges Jealous effort to teach
both parties to the relation, the observance
OF the duties which grow cut Of 1t, and 10
promote the salvation Of both master and
slave o; the action Of the General Con-
ference in expunging from the general rules
the rule concerning "the buying and selling
of men, women and children with an iDteu-
ton to enslave ttem," the address says:
This movement, we feel, is demanded by
loyalty a. citiLsns under the Constitution OF
tue country; by consistency as u our position
and oit-repeuted declaration; by hde.liy 20 the
people wu0m we serve, aad the institution
among which We live. The rule itSal! was
expietlve-hayiug no application T. al exist
Ing state OF thngs, or to one likely ~ exist.
And if, contrary 20 expectation, the Air.
can slave trade stOud ever be revived in ths
face OF the law whicii declares il 70 DC plru-
cy, we have rule and authority enough by
whicn 70 bold our mem bersbip to a rigid re-
sponsibIity Nor would We tail in this,
sustained as We would tie by our VII cJnvlc-
TONS oI duty, the Law OF the land, and what
we know to be the mural sentiment vi the
people among whom We dwell We reJoice,
ourselves, and confidently expect your sym
patty and Appreciation, that SUutnern Mctb-
odism at last stands diseDtan2led from this
vexed and veHing question, erect u pom scrip
,ural basis--at liberty to circulate everywhere
10 our bounds her book OF laws, without
note or comment; and that d rule OF doubt
tul Interpretation 90 longer exists to cmoaf-
rass uGr ministers snd friends, Or u justify
The suspicion AID assaults ot our enemies -
We have surretdered to Caesar the things
which are his, aud holding ourselves 10 be
debtors to ''the wise and the dnwIse, the bond
aud the free" We Gao now, uncnalieugcd by
the Jealous aud distrusttuI, preach Christ
alike 70 :he master aud the servant, secure 10
the confidence aud affection vi the one and
the other.
The relation Of master and servant is re-
cognize1 10 tue New Testament, and the du-
ties Of each prescribed. The observance Of
these moral rules We regard as Integral 10
the morality add piety Of our memtecs.-
The benign spirit Of our bly, religion not
only demands hat masters shOu!d reuder 10
their servants that which l. just AID equal II
wages, as to food, raImeni and shelter, bu,
that religious instruction should De provided
alike for servants as for children. The Cos
pei is Gods gift to the black man Ne we'll as
to the white, and Christian masters should
see 10 it that all their dependents are regu-
larry supplied with the preaching VI the
word, and oil the privileges OF the church oil
God.
"The salvation Of thseolored race in our
midst, as far as human instrumeutalIy can
secure it, is a primary duty Of tue southern
church. Let us earnestly seek to meet our
responsibilities, and then Whatever ''evli
thing" ignorance and prejudice may say Of
US, We shall have the testimony OF good
conscience, aud tue LEASING Of Him who is
Of Judge of all"