Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-12-03
PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE FOR THE CHRISTIAN
CHURCH. ....".

At the Annual Meeting of the American Anti Slavery
Society held in the city of New York in May last it
resolved that the completion OF another decade OF the
Socetys existence should be marked by special public
meeting devoted to general review and survey of the
cause be held in the city of Philadelphia to-day, the
third of December, then and there to celebrate, in
appropriate manner, the thirtieth-and would fain
hope the fnal-anuiversary of its formation" AS the
of the resolution thus contemplate speedy di-so
luton OF the society the supposiion that its specific
abors about terminate with the overthrow of avery
in the United States correspondent of the National
Anti Slavery Standard, commended by that journal "a
clergyman of unimpeachabe orthodoxy protests against
any such determination and proposes that the said society
shall perpetuate its useful existence in order to take the
place now filed by the Christian Church. He says:
Probably there is not earth body of people,
bracing and women of much refinement and intel
ligsnce who at this moment entirely frce you
Garrsonan kboiitioBiss say you, for while my aboll
tonism dates back to 1881 have not acted with your
society in the matter of voting and have been therefore
outside of your organization The suspicion Of heresy
which still enaves many worthy in Church organi
cations you scout aud treat the Idle wind which you
respect not You allow society Of men, either political
or eccesiastica Protestant Popsh to hamper your
con and stand between you and your God. You
enjoy the full Of Christian liberty which Paul
enjoined upon his brethren when he said, Let
judge you in meat and drink etc.
Now the object Of this communication Is to suggest
whether, instead Of disbandng society aid going into
state of disnteRraton, you ought not TO continue your
existence locate branch societies IN every neighbohood
and hold monthly meetings for mutual Improvement, and
for the attainment of that Christian perfection which all
| sincere long for.
While whole Churches have gone into open apost cy
by taking sides with the opprs and justyng the
system which violates every precept Of the decaogue
no have called yourselves the Church, have
manned faithful to God and his Christ and the interests OF
Christian morality. Thus you furnish to the men OF can
dor and Of thought the best type Of Christian Church
rchch the tp0rid Church without dominating
priesthood and procrustean creed but whose members
are all free the restraints and traditions Of men, and
are knes and priests unto God If you had your monthly
meetings scattered throughout the country where
known that hone st. earnest and intelligent men met Tor
counsel and operation, they would furnish home for
those wbo Disguised with the hypocrisy and treason OF
many IF the ecclesiastical organizations now in the
condition of Noahs dove which found no rest Tor the sole
of her foot.
Would it not be well to make this a topic Of discus.
sion at Philadelphia Bring on Theodore Weld, and
Theodore Tlton aud Gerrit Smith and the other Good
Samartans of the day. who rejoice 10 the freedom where
with Christ has made them free, and instead OF two days.
spend whole week in council What blessing to those
OF us who will form the audience to hear the ustrous
Of your society speak the signs Of the times, and
give their opinions what Christianity and country
require at hands Most appropriately was 1t at
Philadelphia where your society Of broherly love
qanzed to break the bonds Of the slave, Most appropr
atey will be the place for assembling all the berators
together to devise for hbeTdfRg the conetcnces ana
intettcLs If men erery mhsre."
As the Garrisonian Abotionists have always pretty
equally divided their maledcons between slavery and the
Christian Church we must admit that the writer is
trey logical in arguing that they should not dsband be-
cause the former of these institutions ia about to disappear
As the Church, however, is in the words Of Beza,
anvil which has worn out many hamm,r,' and among
them some much stronger than that welded BY modern
c6nocass we think the friends Of Christianity need be
in no great apprehensons Of the rvalshp with which it
il threatened by the American An-SlaveIy Society.