Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-02-25
OLE Anti- 9laperp Buolt.
THE PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

sition to tho support Of the American Board. We
regret that our limits will not permit us to copy
the entire speech, which was an able review of the
position Of that organization clearly demonstra
ting it's pro slavery character, and its utter unwor-
thness OF the support Of Christians. This speech
is to be issued u pamphlet FORM and we hope
will be extensively circulated
In the beg inning, beg to remind the audience
that this discussion although it be with respect TO
the disposition Of collected furds, is nevertheless
not one Of money, but of principle. | say this to
disabuse the mind Of my friend, the Rev. Mr.
Field, of The Erangelist, whom met yesterday at
dinner, and who proposed, as the easiest solution
of our difficulties, that we should settle the ques
ton by dividing the money among the principal
speakers" |" daughter,
The main qucs,iou-not the technical question
but the main question which underes this discus
sion-the great illuminated background agair st
which the present subj ect stands out in strong re
lief-is the system Of American slavery and the
relation which the American Church bears, and
ought to bear, to it,
need not, tonight, characterize with any new
terms Of condemnation that system which crushes
down four millions of human beings in this ma
ton, to level SO iow that other mems feet are
set upon their necks | will not draw any fresh
picture OF i;s horrors 1t is enough t, say that
it is a system which denies to men their own
manhood; that strikes down womanhood with de-
sroling lust; that lays violent hands little chill
dren, dsregardins every plea OF pity, that sun
ders every sacred domestic tie; that, with cruel
oppression, crushes down Gods children, and, in
the moment of its cruelty, points to Gods Word
for precedent, aud to Gods Church for the pro.
tectiug shadow Of its spire call your atten ton
to the fact that the American Chnrch is in
completely with this system to ali extent which
you will scarcely credit when give you the facts
and figures. Listen Il moment have an au-
thentic table of statistics, from which it appears
that the number of slaves owned by ministers and
members of the Methodist Church is how many
do you think? Why, 2l9 000!
Mr.. BEEcHER-That is, suppose, in the Meth
. odist Church South
O Mr. TLToN-No si-; in the Church South and
North together; for both bold slaves The num-
Der of elaves owned by ministers and members OF
the Presbyterian Church. Old School and New, il
II 900 by Baptists, l25 90; 10y Reformed Bap
fists Il don't think they altogether re!ormed)
.7 l0l 0oO by Episcopalians IS 900; by all other
denominations land am glad that ia the paper
from which | read own denomination is not
put down by namc), about 5j 600; making alto
gether a sum total Of more than GOO 900 buman
bengs-meu, women aud children for whom
the walls Of the Cnrstian Church are only pris-
on! Think. of it In this nineteenth century,
after the gospel Of Christianity has been for near
ly two thousand years working its way ino the
hearts of men, the Churoh-ciaimng Christ as its
md -, 1,,,l 1
only way to the gate of ueayen-holds six hun
dre' thousand human beings in persohal and life
long bondage to its ministers and members ! | do
not wonder that Albert Barnes said If it we're no,
for the American Church. American slavery could
not exist for hour You must remember, too,
that this great multitude Of slaves, held by
church.members and chu, ch- ministers, are held
everywhere under one and the same pretence he
universal plea is that the circumstances are usti-
fable ! No sla eehUlder who communes with
Cnurch will dare to open his mouth and say to the
world that he holds his slaves the mass of slave
owners outside the Church hold theirs. lie denies
that he keeps his human property for his selfish
profit, and puts forth, instead the miserable pre-
tence that his oppression is meant for the slaves
moral and religious instruction, and their highest
spiritual good Nothing is more common in The
Church than the apology that slavery is benign
missionary institution
Now. wish this Church to aid in no way, not
even by the smallest contribution, any Society or
Board that is in completely with this cruel sys-
TEN. shall attempt TO prove that the American
Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions is
at this moment in completely with this wrong and
crime. If prove this, it will, of course, follow
that this Church ought at once to sever ts con.
nectiOn with this Board.
But. in the frs, place. allow me to express my
surpri.e at the way in which my friend undertook
tc viDdcate the American Board. One Of his
. strotg arguments-and il struck me with great
establishment WAS that this venerable
institution! / say il struck me with astonish-
ment for have heard him declare in this very
L pulpit that he would never be moved by rever-
once one step even toward the worship of God !"
Nay, sir, standing in the presence of hoary insti-
tutions that have claimed honor on account Of
age. he has always exclaimed mo | have iron
: knees will not bow down !" And YET, on
Monday night; he said and repeated it again
and again, 1.-The American Board is a VEN
cradle Institution |" Sir, what if it be venerable ??
1t is not therefore sacred My friend will par
dop me II say that when ne OEereu that Vinulca-
tiOn. took it as a m-equallee only by the
exquisite humor that lay upconsciously hid under
snother argument which he immediately after.
ward alleged. that he loved the American Board
because, in his early life, he had driven fast hor-
ses with some Of tbe missionaries ! (Laugher)
But the most significant part Of my friends ad-
dress was his plea for the admission Of slavehol
ders into the Church, I confess, sir. this was
uawito me For during seven years past, up to
Monday night il anybody had asked me. "would
Plymouth Church, under any circumstances, ad.