Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-12-22
POLITICS AND PREsBYTER1An1sM.

The Presbyterian Synod of South Carolina q,
will bo seen by the following report OF a Commit
tee which that body adopted, after denouncinu
political intcrmedding by professed ministers Of
the Gospel" with weathercock adroitness turns in
to give secession lift calls upon the people of the
State to initiate their revolutionary fathers, and
pronounees its beneiiction upon them for so doing
REPoRT.
"This Synod is one of thirty three, which com
pose tho Old School Presbyterian Church in this
country. From our brethren Of the whole church,
annually assembled, we have received nothing but
Justice and courtesy. The net of 1918 was adopted
by the South Of that day as well es by the North
aud has since been virtually resciuded.
"Our General Assembly in 1915, at Cincinnati
took action with almost entire unauimity. which
has been acceptable to the South, inasmuch as it
declared that they had no authority to make apy
laws on the subject of Slavery, not found in the
Word OF Go, aud which has resulted in q harmo-
ny OF our whe.o church on this subject, unbrOken
in the least degree, to 'he present time
1T Is Rot Tor Us, to iuaugurate as a Synod, any
movement toward separation from the Northern
branch Of our church. This is not the time for
such a movement, which would be in advance Of
the action of the state. Nor are We the proper
body to take such step. 1t can only begin in
the Church Sessions, where Presbyterian sover-
eighty lies, and must issue forth through the
Presbyte.es.
With regard to the political duties of our chur-
ehes as composed ofcitzens of this common wealth
the Synod Of South Carolina is no: called upen as
a Synod, even in the present extremity, to give
advice or instruction. Political intormeddling By
professed ministers Of the Gospel, and especially
of bodies Of prolessed ministers, has been fraught
with evil for many years to our country, and has
contributed, perhaps, more than any other cause
to bring ,he country to its present condition This
synod, composed Of ministers and ruling elders
would not now 6e found initiating the bad example
SO often set by ecclesiastical bodies ut ths North
But there is now o grave solemn question before
the people Of this state, affecting its very life and
being as state, and that question, Of course, has
it's religious aspects and relations upon which this
body is perfectly competent to speak, and if its
deliveranco therefore should have q political bear
ing that is result for which we cannot he held
responsible.
There is involved, at this immediate junc,ure,
4 duty to God who gave Us our rights-u duty to
our ancestors, whose blood and sutTeriugs procur-
I'd them for us-a duty to our children whose pre-,
,ious inheritance may not waste nor defle-
Ind q duty to cur very slavos whom men that
know them not, nor care for them as we do would
axe from our protection. The synod has no hosi- ;
ation therefore, in expressing the belief that the
leople Of South Carolina are now solemnly called n
N to initiate their Revolutionary forcfaIhers, and
tand up for their rights. We have an humble
nd abiding confidence, that that God, whose truth q
vc represent in this conflict, will be with US, and
zhorlng our Churches and people to put their f
rust in God, and 80 forward in the solemn path of
uy which his Providence opens before them, we il
minister's and Elders of the Presbyterian Church .
n South Carolina Synod assembled, would give a
hem our benedicton, and the assurance that we $
aaIl iervently aud increasingly implore for them b
he care and protection Of Almighty Cod" Ib