The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-08-19
gslerten Misrellany,
From the Maine Evangelist
TRACT SOCIETY POLICEe

TRACT SOCIETY POLICY.
1t has been stated as fact, that at a
certain Missionary station, the head man,
yho possessed absolute control of the place,
sought to haye young female member Of
she chGrch for his concubipe. She OBJ
jected. lie went to the missionary, and
told him HAT if he did not prevail on the
girl to comply with his request. ne would
drive the missionary from his station,
Rather than not to be allowed to preach
the Gospel there, he consented, and the
girl became the mistress Of the Foluptu-
ury. fNow. says the missionary, Il have
che pleasure Of preaching the Gospel to
chat man and his mistress every Sabbath.
Had not consented to this, he and 9th
er8 would have been deprived Of the Cos
pei
The American Tract Society, at THEN
.ate meeting in New York, have taken a
course very much resembling what that
missionary did. BY consenting to the
wishes Of that libertine, he was allowed
70 preach to him. So the Tract Society
consent to all the appalling, soul-destroy
ing evils Of slavery, as they in reality do
by refusing to publish anything on the
subject, and thus secure the privilege Of
circulating their publications among the
Shareholders. They consent that the
shareholders shall continue to hold por-
ton Of their fellow-men as articles of pro-
perty, compel them to labor without legal
compensation, deny 10 them the divine
Institution Of lawful marriage. and pre-
vent them from ever rising above the
degradation Of marketable commodities.
For throughout slavedom. there is 40 law
that recognizes slaves IS having any hu-
man relations. IN this respect, they are
placed on a level with the beast. 4 hus-
band has no more legal claim to his wife
than as though he were an ox or a swine
Neither has the wife any more claim to
her husband; nor have parents any more
legal claim to their children. Hence they
may be sold and separated in any direc-
zion.
Is this the way to have the Gospel pro-
duee its desired effects? Is this laying
the axe at the root of the tree? So far
from it, it is not even applying the ak,
to any of the branches Adopting this
course, how long would it take to hew
down every tree that did not bring forth
good fruit? 1t IS net necessary to ans
yer.
The time was, probably, when there
were more evangelical rumsellers than
shareholders. Suppose the Tract Society
decided that it was advisable to publish
against the rum traffic. The publishing
committee had inquired Of the dealers il
those liquors if they were willing such
publications should be issued, and they
had objected. They said, we will not re-
ceive such publications, and will do what
we can to prevent their circulation. III
anything on that subject is published, We
will withdraw from the Society, and 60
what we can to have all our customers
withdraw. 1t is private concern, mat
ter Of ours, with which you have no right
10 iptermeddle Then suppose the com
mittce had said, as some Of the CVangel;- |
cal Christians do not approve Of having |
anything published on tic subject, we viii
not publish a tract, though written by !
those engaged in the business. 1t would /
only make disturbance, diminish the in
COME of the Society, and prejudice the
rumsellers and drunkards, SO shat they I
will not read our ether publications.. The
Society meet and say, the committee are
very discreet men, have acted very pru-
dent part, and therefore we sustain them. |
What sort of influence would such a course /
be likely to have upon the dealers in IN
toxcating liquors and their customers?
Now, what will be the influence Of the
late action Of the American Tract Society
on slavery? The Shareholders have gain
ed another victory over the friends Of free
dom. They will be nightly strengthen
ed in crushing down their felow-men from
the elevation where their Creator placed /
them, to state of ohattlehood This is |
a more signal victory than the slave oil /
garchy achieved in the Lecompton swim !
die They viii triumph over it more. !
For they have the great body Of the church
cJnniying at the stupendous wrongs off
slavery. They adopt the policy of letting
it alone. This is among the most pro
foundly humiliating submissions which
the church has ever made to slave oligar-
chy. May the Lord help, for vain is the
help of man