, 1859-06-04
Prosecutions Of the methOd4AtH In
TeInNs

from the Central {t. Louis, Christian Ahsoe:e.1
Our readers have Been duly and fully advised
Of llc alarming state If things on our southwest
crn border. Tue terrible storm has been brew
ing for several .uont1.s. The CtAtraE 4at!ro,Hfe
HIS often been arrested and suppressed by utf~
cious pustnlasfer3 and ether hiresings Of oppres
SION. dur ministers an,a members hare been
narrowly watched by vigilance committees and
Of thu -Arlal,s,.S Conference, held in Texas, Il
mob waS gathered and set npon Bishop James
and the worshirpin. congregation OIL the Sab
b til day, OF tElis shameful atluir, and those
Wit" figured prominently III it, i full account is
in our paper. Since the Adjournment, tue storm
cluud Elas thichenr Thu 1nUst violent meas
ures arc being adopted against our preachers
Texas -iarot>ttr, for their c1'irpation from the
Stale. Uur pour brethren arr hunted down like
beasts Of the forest. They arc threatened with
death il they dare to preach the Gospel of Jesus
Christ under the auspices Of tic Methodist Epis-
copal Church. ! number Of our preachers
Others rc'luin. cadeavorins to keep the little
flpck together, but 60 with their very lives in
their hands.
The Kes- Wm Butt, presiding elder Of Texas
District, is en- route for his field Of labor, but
terrible reception seems to await lin. i friend,
| wiring u. sara:
.Fathcr !scwlcy has gone to his circuit, buti
is doubtful whether he returns to his faini1y
| again; for US the bloodhounis howl for tlc
| hsnod of the fugitive SLAVE, cTen SO do thcsr
| tiends Of oppression thirst for his blood:'
| What spectacle is lIerc. In aged Minister
| If our Lord Jesus Christ, Of untlan,eable life,
| wlln las served. lnr number Of years, as pre-
| siding elder in Missouri, Arkansas anu Texas.
w}1o served representative in the last General
| Conference, and who, for many years, has pro-
| cf4imed tic uuscarclabic riches Of Christ upon
the frontier. that he is to be hunted down and
| murdered without the slightest proyocation. eI-
ce;,t 1iiat Of being minister Of tue Methodist
| Episcopal Church oil slave territory. What the
result Of this awfu onslaught is to be, God alone
| can fofesce. That our friends, our Christian
brothers and sisters, there, arc exposed hourly
IL the tortnrcs Of martyrdom, is now beyond
dispute. When We read The letter Of our friend.
| our snu1 wns filled with grief and sympathy.
We ask tllc Church-the cntirc Churcll-to ]oi,.
us in earnest, iInportunate PRAYER. for cur suf-
fering brothers and sisters and their bitter per-
sccut0rs.
Would it not be well for onr bishops to an.
nouncc day Of fasting aud PRAYER for our suf
fcrlnE brethren? Might We nn1 memoflallzc tho
t;use1uor Of Texas to protect our people? Il
tlis il not sufficient, let It's take some further
steps to secure tic recognition If tl,e rights ri
our people ns American citizens, aud as Law
abiding Christians?
We merely suggest these thoughts for tie con-
sideration nf our churches ut large.
| Ierhaps it would be better to address the
Governors of the several States, asking their
oaicial and fraterual iaterposi:ion through the
Governnr Of Texas. for our protection. Surely
| We shall not be denied the common rights o
| r.,iff-