Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-10-01
ATwATER, Portage Co., Sept. 10.
PHILANTHROPIC CONVENTION AT
BUFFALO,.
BUFFALO, New YORK, Sent. 90. Is

BUFFALO, NEW YORK, Sept. 20, 1859.
To the Editor.
1.-The first Annual Philanthropic Convention"
has just completed q three days session in this
City. This is a new movement, more resembling
the Yearly Meetings of Progressive Friends" in
its operations, than any other, though broader in
its contem plations, judging from the past, and
more revolutionary in its contemplated actions.
Among its chief Movers and Directors, are Mr..
and Mrs. Andrew jackson Davis. From their
connection with the early Developments Of spirit
ualism, some have supposed that the "Philanthro-
phic Convention" was mainly to advance the in
terests of that enterprise. But it is not SOL for the
intention and determination are. to give every
voice Of humanity an attentive ear. A year ago
a similar meeting to this in Buffalo wns held a.
Utica in this State-at that time, arrangement
were made for an annual gathering of q similar
character.
The meeting this year was not so we'll attended
as the last-I think the novelty Of the enterprise,
was its great attraction last year, and nothing in
these times. can ever be repeated in the same
manner successfully. Even Julia Branch would
b. tolerable now--Slavery and Mormonism have
neutralized the Sanctity of the Marriage Institu.
ton, or blunted the moral sensibilities of the coup.
try 80 against it, that its claims have lost much OF
their sacredness, in almost every body's eyes
And unless something startling, shocking is put
forth, on Whatever question, there will be but few
to listen. Our Theatrical performances, Circuses,
Operas and Negro Minstrelsy, with their counter.
parts in the s%ectarian Churches on Sundays, all
seem to recognize this state Of things, and to pro-
vide for it, The result is, that we have not only a
most d~epraved and corrupted conscience in the
community; but also q taste SO perverted and dis
torted. as to almost place it beyond the power of
sober truth and solid reason, to achieve a reforma-
ton.
The Reporters have not found in our Conyen-
ton here. half enough to feed their own prurient
taste. not to speak of their patrons. Grossly distor-
ted as some of their accounts are, they still do no:
convict the Meetings of more than the most CON-
mon irregularities incident to Reformatory gather
ings i'll these times.
My feeling was, that we were far too cautious
and conservative in our utterances for the real de-
mands OF the age. On Slavery we were not spar
ing; but the real wants of woman in and out of
Marriage and Maternity, were not even approach
ed. No one seemed ready to speak out what myr-
iads believe and feel, that the present state of
M%alrimony, Maternity, land paternity tool and
the whole family fabric, is now as much a curse
as blessing. When non-resistance lbegan to be
proclaimed. half the old Peace Society were fright
ened back to q belief in war. My old minister
was one, and he absolutely accepted a Military
Chs2laincy the very next year l asked him to
explain, and be said, peace now is understood to
mean Non Resistance, and l want no more to do
With it,"