Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-03-05
Gitp ann County 9ntrllr9ente,

ANrI-SLAvERY IN THE CHURCH-We are
enabled to make few extracts from letters
written to the Christian Convention in this
CITY. which has resulted in the formation of
the Church Anti-Slavery Society of the United
States. Rev. ]. a. Hazen of Lisbon, Conn.,,
writes:
ar .nnears evident to me that neither the enormi-
v of e iniouity of slavery the greatness OF the
threatening danger to the church and TO the coul-
try is felt by the body of the ministry and the church,
Is Yon NAV not be aware that this church has for
wears been standing on what has been regarded as
extreme anti-slavery ground. So long ago as 1913,
it adopted and published strong expression of its
views respecting slavery, and passed the following
resolution as its rule:
Resolved, That we feel constrained in spirit of
meekness, to reprove and rebuke all processing
Christian minister's and churches who tolerate sdce
ny icor deed and that cannot extend the fell
lowship of the Gospel to those who continue to en-
slave their fellow men, after the faithful admontlon
of their Christian brethren.
And once, at least since that time, they have had
occasion apply the rule in declaring from the pull
pit and from the communion table a slaYehoIdlhg
minister-a friend of the acting pastor.
If should be prevented from attending with you,
You will certainly have my hearty sympathy ana
concurrence in any judicious action"
Rev, Simeon Page writes from Halloweh'
Maine as follows:
~ most heartily approve ofthe object ofyour con-
vention and the formation of a Church Anti-Siave-
nv Society. think the time has fully come wneh
the church should arise and proclaim to tins nauo1
and the whole world that slavery Is tnat accuiseu
thing which she cannot and will not fellowship II
is humiliating indeed that so many Oh our cnulcn
MEMBERSHIPS who profess to nave tnelr Ncs re-
guated BY the principles of the Gospel-do wink at
and even give counenance to the heaven-dal1hg SIN
of slavery. do not understand how 1t Is that any
one who has had the operations OF Gods spirit on
the heart so as to change into new heart-can be
left in such darkness not, at the very nrst glahce
to see that slavery wholly opposed TO the precepts
of the Bible. 1t does seem strange that the splrs
should leave so much of its work undone, ana Is
there not reason to fear that in such cases the work
has not been commenced by the spirit.
hope you will have good meeting, one Whlcn
will be the commencement OF new era IN the ANU
Slavery cause"
Rev. George Shepard, d. D., of the Bangor
Theological Seminary, regrets his inability to
be present but declares his hearty concurrence
in any plan (which shall hasten the deliver
ance of the church and the nation from the
faint and curse of slavery"
The letter of Rev. j. N. Murdoch, D. D.,
of Boston, says:
~ cherish, and have not failed to express, on all
fitting occasions, the deepest repugnance to the sys-
TEN Of chatte slavery, regarding it as the standing
reproach of the democracy and the Christianity of
our land hold it not only as a violation OF the
rights of man, but as sin against God and am
ready TO unite with the friends of Christ in denounc-
ing it opposed to the law of love- and the spirit of
Him in whose name are called. And eonceiving
that the practice defence of it is utterly incompat
ibe with enlightened Christian character, cannot
fellowship it in any form, or by any act"
Rev. c. w. Wallace, of Manchester, N. H.,
writes:
II regret my inability to meet with some of the
true and whoe-hearted friends of freedom Let ME
say, however, my whole heart is with you in any
measure adapted to bring the church of Christ, in
this country to its right position in regard to the sin
of slavery. feel that here is the great difficulty.
The Tract Society at New York, and the New ork
Observer, represent in this respect but too nearly
large part of the church."