Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1859-04-08
NO. l..
Live Christianity.

Live Christianity.
The Pruntytown Wal Register, reports
recent ecclesiastical traiel which took place q
Knottsville, in the county of Taylor, and Dis
trict of the Hon. Sherrard Clemmens, Wester
Virginia, which cvinces an unexpected an
gratifying vitality in the Christianity of tha
seclnded region. The lcatling facts are as fol
lows:
Willis Rector is Tor until recently was) al
aged and respected member of the Methods
Episcopal Church in Knottsville; Caleb Shroy
er, much younger man, was another 2
Shields of Pruntytown is negro trader, anc
we infer has the grace not TO pretend to have
any religion whatever. Rector was the owner
of likely young slave named Jack, and Shields
wanted to buy said slave for sale in one of the
cotton growing States. Jack was also a mem
Der Of the Methodist Church at Knottsville
which is ery-strong there, and has never dis
solved its connection with the regular, old-time
organization, now distinguished as the Metho-
dist Church North. Rector and his slave Jack
were members of the same class in church;
Shroyer's father was its class leader. Shields,
the negro trader, hired Shroyor for $25 to help
him to buy Jack Of his master, which Shroyer
hesitated to do, until he had consulted and OBJ
tanned the sanction of his class-leading father
aforesaid They then laid seige to Rector, and
persuaded him to sell his chattel according to
the laws of Virginia, but his Christian brother
according to the laws of Methodism, for sat
isfactory price, which was paid, and the said
chattel carried off after this fashion:
"Mr. Rector, whose conscience was likely to
trouble him about the matter, and whose synIpa-
thies were evidently aroused, refused to surren-
der the negro to Mr.. Shields at bis house, but
appointed spot on his farm, where he would,
on certain day, send the negro to work. where
Mr.. Shields and his aids could meet him, and
take possession of him, by paying to Mr..
Shroyer the price, and receiving from him q
bill of sale. The day being unpropitious, the
plan was changed and the negro was sent to
Bakers Mill. There Mr.. Shields informed che
negro he must go with him. AT first the boy
smiled supposing it only jest, as Mr.
Shields is fond of good joke. The manner of
Mr. Shields soon convinced the negro that he
was in earnest, as he took from bis pocket
rope and commenced tying him. At this the
boy exclaimed:
"What have done Mr. Shields?" The boy
knowing Mr.. Shields to be an officer supposed
III NoS dtICSllllS iOI OHCllSC.
This misapprehension was soon removed by
Mr.. Shields replying:
you have done nothing, boy, only have
bought YOU"
This was the first intimation the boy had
that his master had sold him; and hearing it,
he burst into food of tears, exclaming:-
"Well, sir, don't tie me and will go with you.
Caleb Shroyer, who was present having known
the boy from his youth, and being a brother
with him in the same church flor the negro was
Methodist then turned to the miller, Mr..
Joseph Goff, and remarked, We'll / am sorry
for poor Jack, after ALL" The boy was tied
and taken off"
So far the laws Of Virginia had been fully
satisfied; but the laws of MethOdism- may
we say, the law of God?-had not been. Jack |
had maintained good standing in the church, |
and was esteemed by many of his brethren; not
only are Methodists numerous, but slaveholders !
rather scarce in Taylor County-slave-trade' |
happily, still scarcer. A fierce excitement was
aroused among the members of Knottsville |
Church by the above transaction; and they !
raised purse exceeding by 800 the price |
paid for Jack by Shields which they sent a
good man to give him. Shields would not
look at it-said he could do better-besides, |
the negro had been sent off. MY. John Hew- !
ellyn then entered a complaint before the
church against Willis Rector and Caleb Shroy-
er, for violating that rule of the Methodist |
Book of Discipline which demands the expuk- |
sion of any member
"For buying or selling men, 1romcn OF child !
rem acith the intention to e,aslare them"
The Rev. Thomas Trainer, presiding over
that Circuit, entertained the charge, and ap-
pointed John Raymond, II. Claggett and |
three other brethren to try it. A full and ex-
citing trial was had, and an unanimous verdict
rendered against said Rector and Shroyer, who ]
must henceforth buy and sell Methodists out
side of the Methodist church, if they fit to
persevere in that line of business 1t is pre-
sumed that the case will be appealed to the
Annual Conference; but as that Conference adj
here's to the old Methodist church, and as the
rule of Discipline as well as the moral ebarac-
ter of the transaction condemned seem per-
fectlv plain, we do not see how the decision of
the triers can be shaken.
We have thus given pretty full outline of
this case. because it seems to prove two impor-
tant points: l. That slavery, in its more re
Voting aspects, shocks the moral sense at the
South no less than at the North; and. 2. That
Christianity, if not corrupted and debased by
servility, is capable of graphing with the mon
ster which now renders Religion mAshe1S
through half our country. Had the Methodist
church always stood square up to the testmo-
ny of the Wesleys against "the sum of all vii
anies," and treated any completely with that
sin as bar to her communion. she would not
only have been stronger IN the Sostth. s.renger
everywhere, than she now is, but she would ere
this have shamed other denominations into like
fidelity to humanity ard to Christian duty
n +. Tribune
Great Sale of Negroes.