Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-02-13
From the Anti.Slavery Standard.
SABATARIhNISM.

| a movement has boen commenced by orthodox
clergymcn and laymen OF this State to stop,
by law the running Of canal boats on Sunday, A
central committee has be formed at Syracuse to
agtae the subject and circulate petitions to the
Legislature in every Cou nty in the State. The or.
thod0x religious press responds heartily to this
movement, and it will doubtless have the active
support and cooperation Of every evangelical pull
pit. The Legislature will 5e besieged with petit
ti0ns. and the question will come before that body
backed by an immense influence in favor Of the pro-
| posed law. As matter Of common voluntary
consent We are in favor of devoting Sunday wholly
or chieny to moral and religious purposes, but we
are unalterably opposed to all legislation the
subject. Nevertheless, we respect the honest
LGcractions. Of those who differ from US,
and 'concede their right 70 lay their views
before the Legislature in the way that pleas
les them. Those who agree with us will not
shrink from the argument in the Legislature or
elsewhere. The question is one which, of course,
cannot be discussed in these columns We alude
to it chiefly to mark the readiness OF the great
angelcal fraternity to enlist in movement look
ing to strictcr enforcement of an external in
sitution, in contrast with their codness and ndf-
ference to great question of humanity and fun.
damental morality like that Of slavery. The cleo
trc wires which bind the evangelical party togeth
er upon such q question as 'the Sabbath, when
touched at q central point ybrate to the very ex.
tremities Episcopalians. Presbyterans, Dutch
Reformed, Methodists, Congrcgatonalists, Bap-
lists, North and South respond with a hearty zeal
But how is it with these bodies when they are
appealed to in hehalf of the pershing slaves, and
asked to lend their influence TO movement organ
i2ed and adapted to lead the nation to repentance
ior the sin OF CppressOn-u sin far more heinous
in the sight Of God and athousandiold more nu-
rious to man than Sabbath breaking? Alas , for
the slave, imbruted scourgcd and sold. they
have for the mos: part no sympathy Their zeal for
the Sabbath" they tell us, is zeal for Divine
Institution; and yet for MAN, created in the very
image and likeness Of God, and to whom all exter-
nal institutions subordinate, they have
gard-'none at least which impels them t. organized
and thorough effort. Nay, more; .he governing
influences in all these denominations are practical
ly on the side Of the oppressor. Here and there.
to be sure, q feeble testimony against slavery is
sometimes uttered here and there pulpit gives
voice to Gods denunciation of the oppressor and
his tender sympathy for the oppressed but the
ministers and Churches that speak thus incur
Odlum in the denominations TO which they belong,
while clerical apologists and defenders of slavery
sit in high places and receive the homage of their
brethren az trusted leaders of Gods elect The
American Church is ROTTEN TO THE CORE its zeal
for ritual Christianity is offensive to God and in
furious to man; its reyiyals are spurious, rarely
making anybody more humane, and often encasing
the souls Of their sulject in an armour Of self
righteous hypocrisy which renders them impervi'
Gus to the truth. To it may be applied the Ian
EuuRe III "A'Cu iue plopHet VI iHo IiSpIcHS eo
graphically describes the network of imposture
which that people had put in the place of religion;
"Bring no more rain oJlotions: incense is an
abomination INTO me: the neW moons and SABBATHs
the calling Of assemblies, cannot array aciM is
iniquitN creR tie so'emn meeting. Your neac moons
and yOur appointed .ftasts my soul hateth: Mey are
a trouble uI,o me am weary to bear them. And
'chen ye Sp'ead forth your hands, / ,oW hide mine
eyes JfO.c you; yea, achen ye make many prayers,
,,M oJ Leo, LoO do III of HJolI
you, make you clean, put a~ay the eca Of your do
ings from before eyes cease TO do eo learn to
do weH; seek Judgement releoe the oppressed, judge
tie .tathe, less, plead for The wido1."