New-York tribune., 1879-12-08
ANTI-SLAVERY METHODISTS.
DISCUSSION BY TWO ABoLIrroNIsTs.

ANTI-SLAVERY METHODISTS.
DISCUSSION BY TWO ABOLITIONISTS.
DR. CoGGEsHhLL DENIES SOME CLAIMS MADE FOR
MR.. GARRISON AND DEFENDS THE METHODIST
EPISCOPAL CHURCH A REPLY BY OLIVER
JOHNSON
In an address delivered last evening IN Brooklyn,
on the Anti-Slavery movement and the part
taken therein by the Methodist Episcopal
Church the Rev. DR.. Coggeshall. of Rhode
Island. IN old Abolitonist. assailed the
accuracy Of the recent statements by Oliver
johnson, denied some of the claims made for
Nj. Garrison, and endeayared to prove that the
Methodist Episcopal Church in :his country had
always been earnestly opposed to Slavery. OIL
ver johnson made a reply IN which be protested
against misrepresentation Of his statements and
declared that the Methodists at the outset were
zeaons opponents cf slavery but many of them
aftcrN ard took fferent position.
Til ADDRESS AND THE REPLY.
DR. COGGFsHALLs CRITICISMS or MR.. JcHNsoS's
sTATtMFNrs AND SUGGESTIONS TO rHF TRIB-
USE MR. J0HNsoN's ANswER-IARGE ATTEND
ANCE Al THF MEETING.
The Rev. DR.. ). w. Coggeshall, of Rhode
Island. who retired from the Methodist Episcopal
ministry after forty years OF service lectured last
ing IN the JOnnson-st. Methodist Episcopal Chnrch,
Brooklyn. aud very large audience attracted.
The Rev. George Lansing Taylor the pastor. made
short address introducing DIR. Coggeshan in which he
STATED that seldom recorded the truth and
that they desired make effort to have the
stoue OF slavery corrected. Just there
lively discussion going on 10 who killed the
Cock ROBIN slavery, and in this direction especially
~ tuat they desired little correction or history.
That glorious old agitator william Lloyd Garrison. went
bis rest last Summer. and his life being written
nv Oliver Johnson. They believed be had done the
Methodist Cnurch injustice, and Dr. COggtshan would
prove this II Mr.. Johnson. whom h. noticed IN the
audience wished a statement upon this correc-
uOu, he would be at liberty 20 do
Dr. COggeshall remarked that he would take a text
"A motto and read from Pr0verb He that is first in
his seemeth just bur his neighbor conrth
search him" Somebody Will De searched 70 night. he
said. since the death OF MT Garrison have
read 4 number of articles IN various journals. in
which MIR Garrison spoken % as The great pioneer.
OF the AntSiavcry movement which finally resulted In
the overthrow OF slavery aud the happy emancipation
Of five millions OF slaves !" aud IN TIE TRIBUNE o. the
past summer and Fan appeared a series Of articles
entitled The Fail OF Slavery Recollections Of Abo
ioulsi. by Oliver johnson" say these articles
far they relate 10 Garrison aud the action
churches they historically untrue and such
are utterly uutrustworthy They are simply perver-
sion oi the truth, and ought further. 1 re-
member things since the last Winter OF our last
war with Great Britain. remember the time
when solid South led by john C. Calhoun
and the rec-handcd Henry Clay supported the Missouri
compromise. ana when the old Fcder'ls fought their
last -ht upon aud whipped. Ia consequence of
tnai the An-savery feeling of the country greatly
depressed aud discouraged, and little was
done for years after. The southerners promised
Ystcn OF very should lot bc
30 and they endeavored to extend 10 the
rc territory the Union. Thoy liars; they have
al the way through. have long since ceased
to believe q them L Confederate Brgader or a
Southern politician tells the truth he does u bY
mistake. and does not mean anything OF The kind.
aaye some rccoilectons well as Mr. johnson. and
SAY that the party which carried Lincoln into mower
and suppressed the rebellion, and emancipatcI the
slaves vii last long there IS need Tor party ~
freedom o. country, aud long the cooIod poo
PIE snail need "a friend
MI johnson and Mr.. Wendell Philips have stated
that Mr Garrison the pioneer and leader q this
emancipation; that Is what am going 70
disprove. In The TRIBUNE OF July %. Mr..
Johnson speaks of the courage and seli-sacrfce
which Mr.. Garrison displayed commencing the fght
for the abolition OF American slavery That tue ques
tion. Who began the hghti deny that Garrison be-
gan H. The rste Of the Republic depended the
fidelity OF tts sfnge man." he says. ana also
this absurd statement: d" His is the creation OF
hat opinon which has IN sde slavery y, hated
John 81 -ht aso j. quoted IL favor OF Garrison bui
what does he know OF American history
The speaker then referred 10 Wendell Philips aru-
cies ia f.e Augu. number OF The North AmcricGn Re
yietr anl M regard % NJ Phillips said: He h. the
gre ir-t orator New IN gland and perhaps IN the
country. bur uc uvciuNs wltn rhetoric and stauns
LA h. Sion. that the len Clmman tnents and especially
rhn uutn. account " IA nm al all.
TIE only thing envy him IL hs silVery tongue hut
would not take The rest CIT, Tor | know the man.
And wuen Whittier who led seventy wears Oi pure
e comes ludOl thcse things. feel Dad about IL:
bur WI for lin that he does not
know the bottom facts; he Is not wei mp IN
history except tbc history Of the Indians johnson Il
certainly MOI informed IA the history OF bis country.
and that Of the churches especially and also he acks
charity, without which, IS ~. PAM says. a
hai" Th..s IA iust what / tnlnk of Nr,
johnson. not the Method Sts alone. out the other
II urc who boeu uuustly treated Dy HIM. We,
thc MetuQdists. sna not permit u. We nave 5000
pulpits any number OF all over the land ana
Ne sLal come np and answer Cftrrd 10 au-
ewrr Mr. Johnson thTcngh THE TRIBUNE, bur
they no .teiv declined. Very vel; wish l.
sav tn THh TRIBUNE that although we nothing about
uolif- iu our churches have Telegraph joining az
of them all over country, Rui we command mi! on
o. Repu blicau votes And We not orf NOV" IN double
column. but move at the doDJle-luick Ana
iei ilan pui up whom thev may for President
nsxf ves wh~thcrit bee Grant. or Shorman ar Blaine,
M Tidrn vour ueChnor. o. Mr. Bayard. or even Hen
er.rfe tfc uIan the Mctno1lsis support VII VIII.
M ina 1EuUSv of tile best papers tn The land
W .av mis- that % The MofAodists just step eu one
de THE lHIBUNF hay shut iis political shop. take
d,vn H. - l. and there would De no more Of IT, We
Ifu sure OF tLat. And ~ much or our importance
TIE BFGrNNrNG or rHr FIGHT.