Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-05-15
THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY.

~ DADAh
We are informed that a Clergyman. in a town
in Massachusetts,, recently denied, in public de.
bate, the truth of the following statement, made on
page six of Tract No. 10 OF the series published
for gratuitous distribution by the Anti. Slavery
Society, entitled Relations Of Anti. Slavery tu
Religion
The American Bible Society, a great ~incorpo.
rated body, supported by and fairly representing
all the seces which call themselves EUangettcai. has
circulated. in one of its official documents, an
elaborate representation of the Bible as a pro sla'
very book, characterizing the representation Obi.
ble Society Record November, 1854, and April,
1855 as an Important Document and an Eek,
eellent Address,"
Since much of the evidence contained in the
tract above mentioned was condensed, by the de.
srablcness of brevity, into the shortest space,
We take this opportunity to state the full evidence
in the case alluded to. for the benefit of the many
who, in conversation or debate with ~clergyme Il
upon slavery, are met by INSCRIPTIONS denials.
1.-THE Bible Society Record published monthly
in New York, is the official journal of the Ameri-
can Bible Society, and any of its numbers can be
obtained at the S%ociety's Depository in this city.
The number for November, 1854. contains ex-
tracts (editorially headed Important Documen:,O
from au address delivered before the Abbeville
Bible Society, at its anniversary, July, 1854. by
Robert A. Fair, Esq, Abbeville, South Carolina,
on the following topic Our slaves should have
she Bible One of the purposes of this address
is to assert for the Bible a pro-slavery character
and tendency and among its statements to this
effect, in the portion republished and endorsed by
the Bible Society as an Important Document are
the following
The fear to put the Bible into the hands of the
saaves argues, in the FIRST place. a want of conf
dence in the efficacy of its divine teachings.
1t is strange, that when the question is as to
placing the bible in the hands Of the slave, we
are inclined to ascribe to its teachings q reverse
influence to that usually claimed for them.' n \
But to me the strangest thing of all is the fact
that the very same Christians, followers of the
meek and lowly Jesus, who invoke the prayers Of
the Church and Of Christendom for men and
means to put the Bible iEto the hands of the idol
ator. should invoke legislation, and use the strong
arm of the law, to wrest it from their own slaves,
members of their own family, nurses of their own
children.
Does the feature Of slavery justify the distinc.
ton made, or destroy the ~palpsble anragonism in
the reasoning If the teachings of Holy Writ
were at war with the institution of slavery, and we
were struggling to maintain it in opposition to
those teachings, . zoe might be disposed TO
yield the point. But bow stands the easel Why,
that the teachings of the Bible, are not only not
unfriendly to the institution of slavery, but ttat
it is in them the INSTITUTION lie most amply
recognized it is upon that we triumphantly rest
its Defence
Further on, the author Of this Address repre-.
sents that putting the Bible into the hands of the
slaves will fortify slavery to such an extent as to
put the stability of the institution beyond the pos.
sibility Of cavil, or of a doubt-as to make it per-
feetly impregnabie.'
Again, he says
There is prevailing ignorance upon the subject
Of slavery, on the part of both master and ser
want, by no means congenial TO the health Of the
instaution. We would not be startled at the An.
nouncsment of the fact, that two thirds of the
slave population did not know or believe that the
subject of slavery, or their condition, was ever
alluded to in the Bible that two thirds of them
are in utter ignorance Of the authority by tchich
zoe essay 10 hold them in bondage, or demand at
their hands obedience and service. To such, how
gazing is the yoke, how bitter the bondage! Nor
would we be startled by the announcement of the
fact, that many masters were ignorant OF q Scrip
tural view of the subject,-of the true grounds
upon which to place the institution, and OF their
duties as masters which ignorance betrays them
into many errors and abuses the tendency Of Which
Is to undermine the Institution. Now, relieve the
minds Of both parties of this darkness and ignor-
ance. and thoroughly educate and indoctrinate
them into clear, sound, intelligent. Scriptural
views of the whole subject, and of ,ohat an i'm.
ssenss height wiu the institution be reiieredP
Now, the whole of this yillanous representation,
6rst, that the Bible sustains slavery, and next,
that its circulation among the slaves is desirable
for the very purpose of terrifying slavery. promote
ing its stability. and making it perfectly impreg.
nabie, is fully endorsed by the American Bible
Society, By their publication of it in their official
organ as an important document But this is
net all.
In the Bible Society Record for April, 1855, APP
pears q letter from the Senior Secretary REV. j.
O. Brigham) to his colleagues. dated st. Angus
tine. Florida, Feb. 28th, 1885, in which occurs
the following passage H. II
This subject Of furnishing the Bible to slaves