Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-05-14

allowed no lodging, lie didn't nbats for lirchipg
not he. lie had been an oyersecr once himself,
and knew his duty.
What is this dogging ? what is this hunting Of
fusitives? what is this counting of strokes. that
it should make my blood freeze to listen ? lie
seemed to feel and fear no wrong, as coolly be
trent on.
lie had compelled several Of his negroes to give
up their husbands ard wives, because they lived
on distant plantations, and take other companions
at home, on acoountC Of the sin of Sabbath'break.
ing, which they world incur by visiting them in
their only leisure day. lis own Easter, and sew.
eral other good Ministers, had commended his
piety for so doing. In fine, he didn't like to see
people walking about in his grounds on Sunday,
picking flowers and fruits. 1t looked disorderly.
|, looked, somehow, as if the Christian religion
was in danger of dying out.
lie dlsliked the country on one account, for the
oirds,nnd especially the Mocking. birds, made just
as much noise on Sunday, as on any other day.
1t was to have a more devout and rational kind Of
music that he purchased his great organ, and
spent q deal of money, to have his daughter
Ellene learn to play on it. The birds couldn't go
over that. One of the hooking birds had actually
wy h'oN hhN ~ u II ilbtlO
fellow strained his pitch'pi until he really split
his own throat in the determination not to be out.
done. Last of all, he expressed q wish that |
might attend church with him this morning, and
also become a proprietor Of its doctrines of saving
grace and make my calling and election sure.
Between thee and me, my brother, what shall l
say of this religion, that goes into the holy temple
with the leprous garments of Trade-to buy and
sell, and make a traffic of holy things? l must
believe that lie is better than his religion and yet
there arc some dark shades 10 his speech, which /
cannot clear up.
But it is time now to prepare for church and |
bid you adieu for tho morning.
| have just returned from church; and as walk
ing in the grounds is prohibited, | will forego my
accustomed exercise, and still sit here at writing.
The church is in this Faubourg, and but q little
way from here so we did not have much time at
conversation ye. Mr.. Slicer was in his best
humor with himself. His religion, like his Sun,
day coat, must be in excellent preservation, siuce
they are laid away all the week, and worn only on
Sundays. He kindly expressed a hope that my
heresies might be cast as brands to the burning.
But l soon saw that in the services of his church,
there was not fire enough to keep US warm withal.
The preacher was cold and formal. His voice
was loud, harsh, and rough. edg I'd f.; aud the sing.
ing and music fairly made my ears ache. l fol.
lowed the sermon however, very attentively, to see
1t he said anything about "Shauing," for | am
to know what relation it bears to their
nnd how far, in the abstract, it may be
considered a virtue. 1t must be something honor
able, should judge, Mr.. Slicer seemed SO proud
of it wish p1sn IN 1ao m ubathar Hnpo;nr bupt,
ing fugitives, and counting up strokes, are especial,
ly religious rites that they are set apart to be
done on the Sabbath or if not, whether they be,
long to the minor or major morals, in tho social
code Of this people.
But l heard nothing of either of them in the
Sermon, which was on the subject of Paul sending
back Onesimus. Thou art familiar with this pas
sage, my brother for in the house of Mr.. F. we
read much in the Holy Book of his people. We
have always thought that Paul sent back Onesi.
mus to his former master, as he expressly says,
mot as a servant but as a brother beloved" and
as an atfectionate representative of the holy
Apostle himself. But our minister took a very
peculiar view of the subject. Under his power
it expanded wondrously. 1t was clothed with
high prerogatives. 1t was invested with Ito me)
unknown terrors, Dark and mysterious threats
of Evil were held out over the head of him who
should dare to disobey the command, which he in,
tcrpreted literally and as l listened to him, l
came TO think that sending back runaway serv,
ants. is the highest cardinal virtue of the Chris.
tan Church.
Lilo also held out the very anne motives to seek
religion which Mr.. Slicer had used in the morn
ing, If | believed these men, l should think that
Christianity is a kind of battle of interest, more
or less sharply contested between God and man
or, more benevolently considered, it might seem,
a kind of one.cided speculation permitted by the
former, in order to shapen the wits of the latter.
l observed one popularity, that will here be
mentioned-all the congregation and especially
the women appeared to be dressed in their most
sumptuous apparel. Indeed, to look around, one
unused to such display might have thought him.
self at a masquerade, rather than in on assembly
of worshippers. This parade of fine clothes may
be an essential part of the service in an American
Church but to one accustomed to pray in the
mosques, it appears trivial and childish in the
extreme. In the afternoon l am invited by Mr..
Slicer and his wife, to attend the lady to her own
church for she is a Catholic. At this proposal
she looked on me with the same sad, sweet smile,
which at first sight had 80 attracted me. And
with joyful assent. on my part, the arrangement
was completed. | see it is time, and l must 20 now
to attend her,
-
*The MahOmotar, never worship in fine or costly raim.nt.
A CHILD'S FAITH,