The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-04-21
Tuesday Morning, April 81, 1863.
The Protest ants OF France on Emancipa.
ton.

Between six and seven hundred of the pas
tors of the Protestant churches in France, have
addressed memorial to their brother Protes-
tants in England, which we give below, as
another evidence of the wisdom Of the Presi-
dents proclamation of emancipation. France
has, like other Protestant countries, its state
churches, Lutheran and Reformed,) and free
churches, Union Of Evangelical Free Church.
es, Methodists, Baptists and others.) All of
these, with rare unanimity, are represented
among the signers OF the address by their lead
ing men, as, the Orthodox Reformed, by Grand
Pierre and G. Monod the Orthodox Luther
ans, by two Cuviers and Mayer; the Liberal
(Rationalistic) Reformed, by the Coquerels
and Revlle; the Liberal Lutherans, by Colani
and Leblois; the High-Church Lutherans, by
Haerter; the Free Evangelical Union, by
Pressense, f. Monod, and Fisch; the Metho-
dists, by Cook and Pulsford; the Baptists, by
Dez. In fact, a majority of the clergy of ev-
cry religious denomination have signed the ad-
dress.
Moreover, there is no class of men in all
Europe, who have been more friendly TO our
institutions and to our cause in general, than
the French Protestants. A great number of
their leadingme have visited this country and
written about our affairs and all their works
we believe without exception-were not only
Just towards us, but full of admiration of the
working of our form of government, and en-
deavored TO raise the United States in the es-
TEEN of Europe. We need only refer to the
works Of Gasparin, Fisch and +. Monod. The
churcnes of Europe, in their general Christian
gatherings, will never hold fellowship with a
church professedly pro-slavery.
.'PARIs, March 18th, 1863
"HoNoRED AND BELOVED BRETHREN IN
TEE LORD: 1T is the glory of England TO
have given TO the world the example of abol-
ishing first the slave trade and then slavery.
1t is her glory to have continued for the last
sixty years the work Of suppressing univer-
sally the slave trade and slavery, at the cost,
1t is asserted, of fifty millions of pounds sterl-
ing, aud it Is under God chiefly TO her religious
men, TO her Clarksons, her Wilberforces, her
Buxtons, to her missionary societies, that Eng
land owes this glory.
"Wl not the sons and successors of these
great Christians complete their work by urg-
ing their country to declare itself openly for
tie holy cause of the liberation of the slaves
In the terrible struggle which is at present con-
vulsing the United States of America?
mo more revolving spectacle has ever been
before the civilized world than a Confederacy,
consisting mainly of Protestants, forming
itself, and demanding independence in the
nineteenth century of the Christian era, with
professed design Of maintaining and propa-
eating slavery; Confederacy which lays
down, as the cornerstone of its Constitution,
the system of slavery as it exists at present in
the Southern States, system which may be
defined briefly as the right to treat men like
cattle, and TO commit adultery and murder
with impunity. Setting aside all political
considerations, can any Christian heart fail 10
be stirred to Indignation at hearing the chief
of that Confederacy answering decree of
emancipation by an implied threat of exter-
mination?
"The triumph of such cause would put
back the progress OF Christian civilization and
M m nj ~ a hnta 10
angels weep in heaven and demons rejoice in
hell. 1t would enable the friends of the slave
trade and of slavery in all lands to hold up
their heads, ever ready as they are to reappear
at the first signal, in Asia, in Africa and even
in the great cities of Europe. 1t would give a
fatal blow to the work of evangelical missions,
and what a frightful responsibility would rest
on the Church which should remain the silent
spectator of such a triumph?
"If there are peaceable means of fastening
the end OF the war and of rendering its issue
such as is desired by all the friends ufhumanity,
ought not the sincere Christians of Europe 20
give to the cause of emancipation powerful
testimony which would leave to those who
fight for the right of expressing the slaves no
hope of ever seeing those Christians give them
the hand Of fellowship?
ministers and pastors of all the evangelical
denominations of England, Scotland, and Ire
land, 1t Is here we need your assistance.
Take the lead and let us call forth q great
and powerful manifestation of sympathy for
tho colored race so long oppressed and de-
based Dy Christian nations. Letus strengthen
and encourage those who wish TO abolish
slavery, at the same time disposng them 10
listen TO our suggestions. 1t is in free Eng.
land that such manifestations can be powerful
What may we not hope for IT, throughout
Great Britain, the voice of all the ministers Of
the crucifed Saviour, and in France our voice
echoing theirs, pray and plead that soon there
may no longer be in the United States col
ored man that is not free and equal with the
whites.
May God grant it, and may his blessing
rest alike on Great Britain and the United
States 10 Christ the true liberator.
Signed up to this day by sir hundred ana
eighty-nine pastors in France, as attested b,
Grand Pierre, G. Monod, L. Rognon,
Monod, e. Bersier, l.. Pulsford, in Paris
LINK BETWEEN MAN AND THE APE-A re