Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-03-02
Sitp ann Gountp gSnteLIiqemfe.

BIBLE VIEW OF SLAVERY. Rev Dr.
Cheever of New York, delivered an able and
interesting lecture, last evening, at Mechanics
Hall, on the view of slavery presented in the
Bible. His lecture was very argumentative
and logical one, in its treatment of the subject,
taking the ground that the Jewish code of
laws, as laid down in the old testament, instead
OF sanctlomng the doctrine Of property in
man, teaches precisely the reverse. The years
ofJubilee, in particular were alluded to in illus
tration of the contrast between slavery as it
exists in our Southern States, at this day, and
the mild system of personal service, entered
into for a limited period only, By special contract
6etceen both parties, which was practiced by the
Hebrews, and sanctioned by the Mosaic code
of laws. 1t was only when the Jews became
degenerate, and violated these laws by re-
sorting TO practice similar in abomination to
the slavery laws of our time, that they were
denounced by God, and the judgments of
Heaven were visited upon them for their ini-
quities. The Doctor concluded by an earnest
appeal to all Christians, to separate themselves,
politically and religiously, from those who
sanction, by practice or theory, the holding of
their fellow men in slavery. He also urged the
duty of Christian ministers, to make use of a
proper construction of the Scriptures in fulmi-
mating deserved anathemas against the institu-
ton of slavery, so contrary to both the natural
and revealed law of God.
Before the introduction of DIR. Cheever to
no auflia fl,e Of
ence of Christian Churches" held yesterday at
the Mission Chapel was read by d. Gilbert,
Esq, of New York, a member. This met at
ten o'clock, A. M, and organized by choosing
Hon. Elmer Brigham of Westboro' President,
and Rev. j. c. Webster of Hopkinton, Secre-
tary. They resolved as their basis of action,
that "it is duty, incumbent on Evangelical
Christians, to organize an Evangelical Anti
Slavery Society,"" and a committee of three,
consisting of Rev. H. 7. Cheever of New York,
Rev. Samuel Hunt of Franklin, and j. A.
Fitch of Hopkinton, was chosen to draft a
constitution and declaration of principles. This
committee made a report, including a declara-
ton of principles, affirming the inherent moral
impossibility of system of propertyship in
man, which they declared sinful in the highest
degree, and contrary to Christianity, and assert
ed it to be the imperative duty of all Christian
ministers to treat it as such-that Christians
should hold no utilization or association with
slavery whatever, and make no compromise
with it, but labor to the end for its utter extinc
ton and extirpation from the land /; and it
was declared to be the primal duty of the
American churches to work specially for this
glorious consummation. To assert that the
Bible sanctioned slavery, was declared practi-
cal inf1delity.
Rev. VIM. Goodell, of New York, and others,
addressed the conference. The constitution
and declaration were signed by some fifty MEM
bers, clerical and lay gentlemen, from various
sections of the country, including, among 9TH
ers, besides those already named Rev. VIM.
II. Beecher and Rev. C. Gushing of North
Brookfield Rev. Messrs. James and Richard
son, and Messrs. Ichabod Washburn, Charles
Ballard, L. H. Haywood, and Samuel Palmer
of this city, Rev. Elnathan Davis and George
Trask of Fitchburg, Rev. T. E. Bliss, Of Black
stone, &c.
The meeting adjourned, to assemble again
this morning, at the same place, when the con-
stitution and declaration will be acted upon.