Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-11-13
1flisfellaneous Reaching.
The Pennsylvania Episcopal Protest,
By. STEPHEN TYING, d. d.

The welfare OF our day and nation has
settled many principles and many persons.
The sitting Of public discussions, and the
forcing Of public events, have united to
drive men widely apart, and each one fin
|ally to his own place." The unity and
decision with which good men have COM
bined in the maintenance and defense of
great and undying principles of holiness
and truth, has been one of the most graft.
flying and precious results Of the painful
contests through which We pass. Prnci
pies and duties which were seen and advo-
Gated few years since by a few only, now
command the unanimous support of multi
tudes. A youthful minister in Pennsylya-
MIA was violently turned out of his church
scarce seven years ago for advocating the
frishts of freedom and denouncing the wrongs
of slavery. In the closing of his last letter,
which closed the painful controversy, he
said of the Ms. which was the subject Of
discussion, ST take great pleasure in send
ling it TO you just as II was delivered. Af-
ter nearly six months interval find no
word which / would retract, and feel more
than ever thankful for having been enabled
to discharge so solemn duty. l doubt
not that in future years it will be regarded
with somewhat of the interest which now
attaches to the first attempts at the sup
lpression of the slave trade"
Scarce seven years have gone, and we
have the following protest, signed by the
Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Penn
sylvana, and ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY
FOUR ministers of that Church, covering
| 4 ha bc1a vrn,,pA &C hat r,apf,
test, and spreading with wide margin on
every side around it:
"The subscribers deeply regret that the
fact of the extensive circulation through
this Diocese cf letter by John Henry
Hopkins, Bishop of the Diocese Of Ver-
mont in defence of Southern slavery, COM
pels them to make this public protest. 1t is
not their province to mix in any political
canvass. But as ministers of Christ, in the
Protestant Episcopal Church, it becomes
them to deny any completely or sympathy
with such defense.
This attemp, not only TO apologize for
slavery in the abstract, but to advocate it as
it exists in the cotton States. and in states
which sell men and women in the open mar
ket as their stanle nrodnc-,s;s in their Judo
ment, unworthy OF any servant OF Jesus
Christ. As an effort TO sustain on Bible
principles the states in rebellion against the
Government. in the wicked attempt to es-
tablish, by force of arms, a tyranny under
the name of republic, whose cornerstone
shall be the perpetual bondage OF the Al
rican, it challenges their indignant reproba-
tion.'
Perhaps calmer or more conservative
man can hardly be found in the Episcopal
Church than Bishop Potter of Pennsylva
MIA. He takes no ground till his noblt
emotions are well fortified by his discrimi
!. mating judgment. But he rarely relinqulsh
!, es ground which he has deliberately taken
: This protest is his own utterance--tbe NOV
ing of his deep conviction of duty, and thu
proclamation of his fixed grasp of truth ant
Justice. 1t was glorious fact that he shoul'
have felt impeled thus to pronounce hi
D solemn Judgment in an utierance so publi
v and so unquestionable. 1t is an additiona
glory, noble setting for noble jewel tha
such an array of the clersymen under hi
oversight should have SO sustained and en-
circ!ed him with their coordinate deter
mination. But thus it stands. What the
have written, they have written. 1t is a
immutable record. And it honors and wi
re strengthen and bless the Church from whic
: it has emanated.
! OF the subject of its immediate reference
It it is sad and difficult to speak-sad, becaus
At it is so atre cious and disgraceful -difiicul
because the most moderate terms which ar
appropriate will seem to be severe. Th
10 book referred to is styled by the author,
a subsequent defense of it, my Letter o
the Bible view of Slavery" He shoul
Y. rather have said oD Slavery's view of tn
nd Bible" Its theory and extent of applies
d. iion may be sufficiently displayed in the tvs
following distinct and separate sentence
which fearfully exhibit how deep the writ,
= was ready to dig to found the morality
his system, and how lofiily he could build
obtain its impious elimination
he \. The slavery of the negro race, as mali
ny tained ia the Southern States, appears to n
fully authorized both in the Old and Il
New Testament, which, as the written WoI
of God, afford tue only infallible standal
of moral rights and obligations"
aThe next objection TO the slavery
the Southern States is its presumed cruel
because the refractory slave is punish'
with corporeal correction. But our Northel
lar, allows the same in the case of ch;ldrt
rs. and apprentices" The Savior himse
ss used a scourge of small cords when he dro'
the money changers from the Temple. A
our modern philanthropists more mercit
a.. than Christ, and wiser than the Almighty
How shocking it is TO see profess
minister of the Gospel-in that closing P
:, riod of life when mercy might be expect
W to rejoice against judgment in the hum'
!. character-ihus rudely seizing the sacr
hooks of divine inspiration, TO make the