Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-04-16
0be Anti- Glapsrn Bu9le.
..s From Unpublished Antislavery Work
MINISTERIAL TROUBLES AND ANTI
SLAVERY AGITATION.

"What became of your dismissed minister p
said Elder Shiltey.
e- "well, he had large family, and had to do
something for bread So, finding churches don't
like ministers that carry things too far, be took t.
peddling books and preaching on temperance; that
was the last heard of him."
"Wby, don't you remember" said Mrs. Seely,
Nthat we heard he bad gone downEast some where,
was teaching school in winter, and working with
his boys in summer"
81 believe did hear something of that kind"
said the deacon, bnt matter he hurt his useful
ness. Still, the elder had some good things about
him, but he never seemed to know where to stop
when once agoing. He was never careful enough
upon exciting subjects. Had he been prudent, il
he would have heard to advice. he might have
been with US yes. He knew very we'll that the
church was really temperance church, but the
elder wanted something more-I don't know what.
We passed a resolution at q church meeting in fa'
vor of temperance. but that was not enough
lie must have been an unreasonable man. said
Shltey, with illconcealed irony, 'o seek for more
ahan a church resolution against intemperance'
I'VE thought so. replied the deacon, we thought
so.'
You had peace, I SUPPOSE after he left ycu p
said Mr. Shtey.
et We'll, for short time. You know if the devil
can't work against the church one way, he will
another. We soon got into deep waters. and have
been in them nearly ever since. When the elder
left us. wo were destitute for some months, being
determined to get the right sort of if it were
q possible thing Byand.by we heard of Elder
Whitley none of know anything about him.
but he was recommended to us by the agent of the
Bible Society; and, being a total stranger not
likely to be party man. He good preach
er, had only wife and one child and bi. wife,
q we were told could her own living by tailor
ing, Well, to make tho story short, we gave him
o call, aud he became our pastor. Pretty soon,
:he church began to como up, the congregation in
creased and there were evident signs Of an OUT
pouring. But you know brother Shiltey the devil
is always on the lookout and the cloven foot app
peared among us once more in the shape of abo
litionism.'
Ts The old grandmother groaned deeply; the dea-
scon continued;
"A lecturer came rouni wanted the use of the
meeting house, which the trustees very wisely re.
fused, thinking he would leave the place withou,
lecturing but no, he got the schoolroom and
Elder Whitley attended, to the grievance.o .of many
brethren. would not have you infer, from this,
H brother Sh!ltey, that We are not a church. abo-
ltionists properly speaking. As far back as the
year eighteen hundred and, | think, thirty. SIX we
took vote Of the church that slavery was an evil
and very unfortunate thing for the country and
this cleared our skirts. But We knew that the
whole subject was itself exciting md wa knew IL
was being carried too far, and We knew moreover,
that lnhdels and Universalists, no'ohurch.men and
were becoming abolitionists Well brother Shil,
sey 1t was understood that the real object Of those
men was the overthrow of the church, and the dis.
solution OF the Union So, us Christians we
woUld give no countenance to such a work How.
ever, Elder Whitley attended the lectures, and
actually subscribed for abolition paper. We
said nothing, bot just thought we would wait, and
let the thing work. 1t did work, sure enough, and
soon enough abolition hints could be detected in
the sermons, and by'andby out comes the elder
with whatsoever ye would that men should do
! unto you, do you even SO unto them. This was
followed with many hard saying about the bleed
ing save,abo man.stoalers, and murderers, and
the guilt Of churches We admonished the elder, but
IL appeared only to make him worse and worse
the church would not como out, and the oongrega.
ton began to fall away We saw plainly that the
elders usefulness was destroyed and, after prayer
and consultation. we dismissed him.
And what became Of him y said Mr.. Shiltey.
You will see him Tomorrow said the deacon.
for he still comes to the church, and when he can,
puts in o word about slavery