M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1863-10-29
NOlls


prosperity BY Bishop Meade, q slaves
holder, aud | am very snre that,
nothing at variance with my Bible
view OF slavery was taught 10 that,
institution. Yes we may say Of you
as Of many others Quanfrns mRta-,
tust ,ab Wol How changed, is, tbs,
Bishop Of Pennsylvania in three,
years, from bis former course of,
conservatism, peace aud SSFiptuEal,
consistency ~. f..,-vs,',,.,.tt, =, Z
Bot the word Of God has not chan.
ged the doctrine of the Apostles has,
not chunged the Constitution ofour,
country has not changed; the great,
standards Of religious truth and real,
civic loyalty remain just as they -wers;s
and | remain along with them, not
withstanding this bitter and unjust
assault from you and your clergy. +,
do not intend to initiate your. late
style Of vituperation, fol j trust that
have learned, even whoh am reviled,-
not to revile again. ! respect the
good opinion Of your clergy ,,ahd am
not aware that ! have donr anything
to forfeit it,. | respect your office,
your talents, your personal character
and the wisdom and success with
which, for many years, your Episco,,
pate has been conducted. But do
not respect tour departure from the
old and we'll settled rule OF the
Church, and from the Apostolic law
Of Christian fairness and courtesy.
| do not believe ih the modern dIs-i
covery Of those Eastern philanthro-
phiats who deny the divinity If our
Redeemer, and attach no Importance
to the Bible except as it may snit'
themselves. z | do not believe that
the vsnerated founders Of our d meri9
can OhhrcA we're ignorant Of the
Scriptures aud blind to the principles
ofGoepel morality. lido not believe
that Washington and hiscompatriots,
who framed our Constitution with
such express provisions for the rights
of shareholders, were tyranys and}
despots, sinners against the law Of
Gcd and the feelings Of humanity
But do believe in the teachings OF
the inspired Apostles; and ihthe Holy
Catholic (or universally Church which
you and your clergy also profess to
believe. I know that the doctrine OF
that Church was cleaf and unanimous
OH the lawfulness Of slavery for eigh.i
teen centuries together and on that
point | regard your "protesL" and
"indjgnant reprobation" as the idle
wind that passes BY. .l-. s#
! wish you, therefore, to be adVera
tised that shall publish, within a
few months, if a gracious Providence
should spare my life and faculties,
full demonstration of the truth
"wherein | stald." And shall prove
in that book, by the most unques.
tionsble authorities, that slaves and
SHAREHOLDERS were in the Church from
the beginning that slavery was held }
to be consistent with Christian princi.4
pie by the Fathers and Councils, and
by all Protestant divines and com.
mehtators. up to the very close Of the
last century, and that this fact was
universal among all Churches and
sects throughout the world. shall
contend that our Church, which
maintains the primitive rule Of eatho.
lie consent and abjures all novelties,
is bound, by her very Constitution, to
hold fast that only safe and enduring
rule, or abandon her Apostolic claims,a
and descend to the level of those who
are "driven about by every doctrine. 20
And | shall print your "indiguant
reprobation," with its list of names,i In n
the preface to my book, so that if I
cannot give you fame, Imay at least,
do my part to give you totorietv. ea
That the nineteenth century is q
century of vast improvement aud vast
discovery in the arts and seiences,YIB
grant as willingly as any maa. But
in religious truth or reverence for the
Bible, the age In which we live is
prolific in daring and impiots inncy.
alton. We have seen professediy
Christian communities divided and
'ubdivided on every side. We have I
ieen the rise and spread of UNIVERSAL
sm, Millesism, Pa1the;sn, Mormon
sm and Spiritualism, We have seen
sven our venerable Mother Church Of
England sorely sgitated byStho CON-
agiGus fever Of change, on The one
iaad towards superstition, and onthe
,ther towards infidsl rationalism. 80
And We have aheafd the increasingd
.lamor against the Bible sometimes 3
rom the devotees Of geological speed
alton, sometimes. from the bold
leniers of miracles aud prophecy, and.
not least upon the list, from TIE loud
apostles Of sntislasefysa We
have marked the orators which cfyf