New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-02
THE FALL OF SLAVERY.
RECOLLECTIONS OF AN AB0LITIONlsT.
BY OLIVER JOHNSON.
VII
GARRISON AND THE CHURCHES.

VII
GARRISON AND THE CHURCHES
So persistent have been the efforts made in GER
tain quarters TO excuse the hostility of the ministers
and churches 90 The autl-slayery movement on the
ground of Mr.. Garrison's alleged infdeity, that IL
becomes important to set forth the truth on THIS
subject with great cloarness In turning over the
leaves of the first volume of The Liberd0r we find
the evidences of Mr.. Garrlson'5 thorOnghgolng
orthodoxy in great abundance. There was not about
him the least odor Of herrsy of kind, save IN his
belief in the perfect humanity Of the negro. ana III
his denunciations of slavery rs a SIN. We ma MN
pleading for the universal diffusion OF the Bible as
the chief instrumentaliy for promoting the cause.
TAKE away the Bible" he eXclaims, " and our
warfare with oppression. and infdelity, and intern
pcranco and impurity, and crime is at an end; our
weapons are wresied away, orr foundation IS re-
moved I: we have no authority TO speak. and no
courage to act" That in later years be held the
views of the Bible common among Quakers and
Untarians is not denied; but this was long after
the American clergy and churches had repudated
the ant-slavery movement. Indeed, it was this
repudiatIon on their part that led him 10 the in
yestigations which resulted in the modification OF
his inherited views on this aud other points.
But 10 the very last the Bible was to hm the
Book of books" and he found in its pages the
truths on Which his soul was fed, and which were
his chief reliance in the great struggle with slavery
HIS writings and speeches from first to last throb
with quotations of the most striking appOslteness
and power from that book. Above any minister of
the Gospel whOmI have ever known, he was indeed
mighty i'm the Scriptures and thousands have
con essed that before hearing him they were not
half aware Of the quickening and inspiring power
of the volume around which 80 many Of the most
sacred associations of tho Christian world are
Mustered.
He was also the friend and champion of the re-
yivals of religion for which that period was DIS
tingalshed; looking to them with hope as likely to
hasten the day OF emancipation. Emancipation"
he said must be the work of Christianity and OF
the churches. They must achieve the elevation OF
the blacks, and place them on the equality Oh the
Gospel. If the present rcvlvals be las we trust
they are) the fruit of tne Holy Spirit pray that
they may embrace the Nation, nor cease till the
bodies and souls of its population be redeemed
rrgenerated and disenthralled' and every man
shall SIT under his own vine and tgtree, there
being none to molest or make him afraid Take
courage. we mourning slaves for your redemption
is at handp If, not long alterward. he found
many of the leaders in the revival movement
closing churches ana pulpits against the advocates
Of emancipation, and warning converts that #
they would guard the flame Of their piety from ex-
involved in the antI-slayery excitement, need we
wonder that his faith in reviyas, as thus con-
ducted was somewhat shakcdl And when, not
much later the venerable Professor of Theology at
Andoycr was accustomed TO say to his senior
class, Young gentlemen, if you hope to be settled
over intelligent, cultivated and prosperous
parishes, you must be careful ~ keep alOOt
from the exciting questions of the day." Is
it any wonder that the champion of enamel
patton began to suspect there might be an iIn-
portant distinction between the Christianity of
Christ and the Christianity of the American
churches7 Who was responsible for suggesting
this thought to many earnest Christian minds IS
plain enough.
Another Illustration of Mr. Garrson's evangeli-
cal orthodoxy is found in his advice to the coored
people of the country to set apart day for fasting,
humiliation and prayer on account Of the wicked
ness of slavery, and the expressions arising there
from "WhoD no asked may estimate the inn
portance of such measure We say to our dear
colored brethren. Let pray more and fast more,
and the Lord will do great and signal things for
u.s." This Is the sort of infdelity against which
the American churches braced themselves when
they turned their backs upon the ant-slayery move
ment
Again. Mr. Garrison held and nculcated in The
Liberdtor at first the most orthodox views of the
Sabbath. He would no sooner nave gone 10 the
post Office on that day to mail receive a letter
than he would have stolen the contents of a contri
butionbox. In fhe LibGGiOr of April 16, 1881, APP
peared from his pen the following sonnet:
THE SABBATH DAY.
Faint prototype Of Heaven, blcst Sabbath dayi
Emblem of m eternal rest come;
EmanciDator from vile MammOn's sway,
AZ whose aDproacI a noisy world Is dumb;
Unprrlng regulator, sacred pledge;
Bast friend and soOther of the poor and weak;
AreSung-place in our drear pr grimage,
Where soul and body may rrrreshment seek;
r. thou vert biotted out. our moral sun,
The huge cclu Sc would dress the world In glOom
Confusion dire you'd seize on every one.
And peace, love- order lind hastY tomb;
Then would oppression retgn, then lust REBEL
Then violence abound. and earth resemble he'll
If this sonnet does not rank among the best of Mr.
Garrson's productions IN verse. it is vet good
enough to the hollowness of the pretence that
the American clergy and churches rejected the anti
slavery movement because they were unwilling to
follow the lead of an infdel. Is it not time that
men who would be accounted honorable ceased to
utter q calumnv so easily refuted 1t is certainly
vain to attempt to blot from tho page of history
the sad aud disgraceful truth that the representa-
lives of the popular Christianity of that day
deaf to the groans and agones of the slaves nsen-
sible of the humanity of the negro, Indifferent to
the sin and shame of slavery. and disposed TO take
the Shareholders part against every earnest effort
for abolition. True tn IA was a glorious
nant" " faithful among the faithless found" who
espoused the cause with ingenious prOmptness, and