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

and insult so shameful and malicious that
every Christian must spurn it with righteous in
dignation.
We rejoice, therefore, in the fact that neither
the organic nor common law of the NJ. f. Church
can, in any possible manner, be prostituted to the
service of slavery without the violent perversion
of all law, truth, and fact. Yet, while we thus
rejoice, we are equally ashamed and grieved with
the dsgraceful facts, which prompt US to make
this avowa.
III. The organic LdwS Of the ME-. Church is
prohiGitire Of stdreholdmg.
|. Return to our first general proposition, and
see that an argument to show that the General
Rules furnish it no support is equally conclusive
to show that the ban Of the Church was out
against the abomina!ion in all its modes and
lenses.
2. The Rule on slavery prohibits two things
specifically, and Of course, whatsoever is involved
with them. First, it lOrbids oil commerce in
slaves, except with q view to their freedom Sec
ond, it expressly forbids "the intention to en-
slave" Now we contend that the intention to
enslave, is inseparable from all ordinary slave.
holding, and when that intention is abandoned,
then slaveholding necessarily goes also. Indeed,
the first prohibition of the rule, if executed,
almost necessarily involves the abandonment of
slave holding.
" The chapter on slarey is prohibitory Of Stare
holding.
|. ii the chapter has any design, and its af-
irmed design is not hypocrtical pretencc, then
it must be confessed to be prohbtory. Accord
ing to its provisions, all members OF the Church,
who desire advancement to Official or clerical hon-
ors, must keep themselves pure in this matter,
while all officers and ministers involved in this SIM
are thus exposed to deposition. We do not wish
to deny that these excellent regulations have done
much to restrain the progress of this evil among
US and though they only commence the work, all
it concerns us now TO show is, that they work in
,bo - thotiS
From this brief view of the subject, it is clear
ly evident that the Discipline of the Church is all
on our side of this question, that it is the right
side, in direct hostility to slavery in all its att
tudes and works, both without and within the
Church. 1t is also a matter Of much qualification,
that every fact in the past history of our Disci-
pline is confrmatory of the positions we have
taken, while the past furnishes the history of one
continuous struggle Of the Church against the
tireless exertions of this unscrupulous usurper,
and we see that power which is so mighty in the
ruin of private rights, is equally successful in the
of public virtue in the State and in the
Church.
Church, is not held by right, nor lap, nor constttu
ton, bm by usurpation.
l. If the foregoing view is correct, land we can.
not doubt it, then certainly slavery has no busi-
ness in the Church, and ought not TO be endured
another hour. In 1884, clear ex.irpatory law
was enacted, with full determination to put an
end to this great wckedness This law was never
pealed. 1t was first suspended. on the recommen,
1aton of a Bishop, and in 1795, by the Confer
ence, temporarily in these words: 1T is recon-
nended to all our brethren to suspend the execu-
lion of the minute on slavery, till the delibera-
tons of a future Conference, and that an equal
space of time be allowed all our members for con-
achen the minutes ShdU be put in force.
n. b. We do hold in the deepest adherence. the
practice of slavery and shall not to seek its
by all wise and prudent means"
The next year, the following was enacted =
'The preachers and other members of our Society
are requested to consider the subject of negro
slavery with deep attention, till the ensuing Gen
era Conference and that they impart to the year
y Conferences, or Otherwise any important
thoughts uyon the subject; that the Conference
may have full light, in order to take further steps
towards the eradicating this enormous evil from
that part OF the Church of God to which they are
united"
In 1900 the whole Church was organized into
great Emancipation Society on this wise: "The
Annual Conference are directed to draw up ad-
dresses for the gradual emanci patton of the slaves,
to the Legislatures of those States in which no
general laws have heen passed for that purpose.
These addresses shall urge in the most respectful,
but pointed manner, the necessity of law for the
gradual emancipation of slaves proper commit.
tees shall be appointed 10y the Annual Conferen-
ces out of the most respectable OF our friends for
the conducting of the business; and the Presid-
ing Elders, Elders, Deacons, and travelling preach
ers shall procure as many proper signatures as
possible to the addresses, and give all the assist
ance in their power, in every respect, to aid the
committees and to further this blessed undertaking,
Let this be continued from year to year, till the
desired end be accomplished"
2. Now, in the view of this exhibit of the Disci'
plina in it's present attitude to slavery, and the
past action of the Church in the case, VIC know
that the Church must that we are abupdantly
supported in declaration that "slaUery tecer
entered The " q. Church by right, and under the
shield Of the General rules !; JM rather by suffer-
ance under a lac administration Of the Discipline,
and in VIOLATION Of sfeadHy expressed purpose
to labor for its ertiIpation." The same showing
also demonstrates that this bane of the Church OF
Christ has made every step of its progress by the
most fragrant means, and holds its present place
and power, by corruption, bribery and usurpton.
VI. The General Conference has an unquestion-
able right 10 prohibit Tie admission Of Stare hotders
and to erclude those noW ,Citlin the Church, by d.
rect legisidtiOn.
|. This doctrine rests upon the whole foregoing
and especially upon the fact that
the General Conference has always persistently
affirmed that right, which was never disputed till
the last session, Just to save the Church. that is
slavery.
2. The General Conference has always acted on
this doctrine unresisted till the late session. The
chapter on slavery has been var0usly modified
both before and since the present organization of
General Conference. Ifthat body can make slave
holders ineligible to official stations in the Church
and depose classeaders, stewards, and mnis
ters, for slaVeowning, any further power be re
lusite to authorize the extingushment of men,
5ership for the same ofence7 None surely. The
ex post facto principle about which Shareholders
ha we made so much ado. has been just fully
exercised in the deposition of officers, as it can be
n the exclusion OF members; and has been so
exercised in the of the change of the General
Rule on Temperance. The manner in which this
change was effected, does not effect its ex-post
facto character.
VII. The time has noD come 1hen the N. q.
Church should, can, and must put an end TO This
ectt.
We are pledged to slsvery, to the world to pos
terity, to the Church, to God, that will do this
great work. Every evil that slavery has anticipat-
ed or coniecured as the result of extirpation ace
have already endured hundred fold. Thousands
Of our societies are suffering untold disabilities,