Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1859-06-28
From the Central (st. LOUISE Christian Advocate
Prosecutions of the MeSIlOdistS ian
...... eXslS.

Our readers have been duly and fully
advised Of the alarming state of things III
orr south western border. The terrible
storm has been brewing for several months.
The Central Advocate" has often been
arrested and suppressed by o%ficious post
masters and other hirelings OF oppression.
Our ministers and members have been
narrowly watched BY vigilance committees
and pro slavery spies in general. Al the
late session of the Arkansas Conference,
held in Texas, a mob was gathered and
Sc; upon Bishop James and the worship
ing congregation on the Sabbath day
OF tins shameful affair, and those who
figured prominently in it, Il full account is
in our paper. Since the nd ournment, the
storm cloud has thlckened. The most
violent measures are being adopted against
our preachers and people, in conformity
with the advice of the Texas Advocate
for their extirpalion from the State. Our
moor brethren are hunted down like beasts
OF the forest. They are threatened with
death if :hey dare to preach the Gospel OF
Jesus Christ under the auspices OF the
Methodist Episcopal ChuIch. A number
of our preachers have been compelled to
flee for their lives. Others remain, en-
deayoring to keep the little flock together.
but 90 on with their very lives in their
hands.
The Rev. VIM. Butt, presiding elder of
Texas District, is en- route for his held oil
labor, but a terrible reception seems TO
await him. A friend writing US, says:
Father Rewley has gone to'his circuit,
but il is doubtful whether he ever returns
to his family again; for as the bloodhounds
howl for the blood Of the fugitive slave,
even so do these fends Of oppression thirst
i for his blood!'
What a spectacle is here. An aged Min
lister of our Lord Jesus Christ, OF un'
blameable life, who has served, for a mum
I Der of years, as presiding elder Ill Mis-
l. souri,, Arkansas and Texas, who served As
' representative in the last General Confer
ence, aud who, for many years, has pro
claimed the unsearchable riches OF Chris
= upon the frontier, that he Is to be hunted
u down and murdered without the sfghtes
a p~rovocation, except that of being a minis
n ter of the Methodist Episcopal Church OF
, slave territory. What the result of thi
= aw iul ~onslaughter is to De, God alone cal
foresee. That our friends, our Christian
brothers and sisters there, are EXPOSED
e hourly to the tortures of m%artydoIn, is nov
n be> ond dispute. When we read the lette
of our friend our soul was filled with grie
and sympathy We ask the Churdh-th
entire Cfurch-to join us in earnest, I'm
Fortunate prayer, for our suffering brother
,e iaud sisters and their bitter Prosecutors
Would it not be we'll for our Bishops t
;" announce a day of fasting aud prayer 70
'e our suffering brethren? Night we nc
" memorable the Governor of Texas to PR
ID ,ect our people? If this is not s0flcltn
let us take some further steps to secul
- The recognition of the rights OF our poop
as American c~ilizens, and as law abidm
DC Christians? /.
lie We merely suggest these thoughts t
the considerations If churches at large.
Perhaps. it would be better 10 addre'
;, 1be Governors OF the several States. askir
e their official and t~raternal interposlLlc
IN through the Governor OF FeSas, tor OF
ne protection. Surely, We shall not be denlt
IN The common rights Of American citizen