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Letter to Editor
May 24, 1837
Vermont Telegraph
Brandon, Rutland County, Vermont
What is this article about?
A letter from O. Scott criticizes a Methodist preacher in Lowell for hypocritically claiming abolitionism while refusing to pray for slaves or announce an anti-slavery lecture in church, urging remembrance of the enslaved as a Christian duty.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
From Zion's Herald.
MR. EDITOR.—
Br. The noble and the Ashburnham brethren seem to be free to take the responsibility from the church, and put it on to the preacher in charge, so far as neglecting to pray for slaves, and refusing to read a notice of an anti-slavery lecture, by a Methodist preacher, in a house across the way, are concerned.
The preacher in charge, who professes to be an abolitionist, tells us he thought it prudent to pray for the slaves! There is no need of comment on this. Br. No will probably be convinced that such a course of conduct is not only unprofitable, but hardly consists with being "an abolitionist, if the sky falls, and the earth sinks:" though it may be consistent with modern expediency.
Methodist preacher, and an abolitionist too, thinks it not prudent, to pray for the slaves in a Methodist congregation in the North, "where we are all opposed to slavery !''
I am not surprised that the official members are ashamed to have it go out to the world, that they are unwilling this "delicate subject'' should even be mentioned in prayer; though the preacher in charge is probably right in his conclusion, that it would not be very agreeable to their feelings, to have the name of a poor slave mentioned in their chapel! Is it so?—Then the argument for "remembering those in bonds as bound with them," is so much the stronger. I would pray for the slaves in such a place, if I did not any where else; unless, indeed, I were prepared to give up my own rights, Bible and all.
Lowell, May 13. O. SCOTT.
MR. EDITOR.—
Br. The noble and the Ashburnham brethren seem to be free to take the responsibility from the church, and put it on to the preacher in charge, so far as neglecting to pray for slaves, and refusing to read a notice of an anti-slavery lecture, by a Methodist preacher, in a house across the way, are concerned.
The preacher in charge, who professes to be an abolitionist, tells us he thought it prudent to pray for the slaves! There is no need of comment on this. Br. No will probably be convinced that such a course of conduct is not only unprofitable, but hardly consists with being "an abolitionist, if the sky falls, and the earth sinks:" though it may be consistent with modern expediency.
Methodist preacher, and an abolitionist too, thinks it not prudent, to pray for the slaves in a Methodist congregation in the North, "where we are all opposed to slavery !''
I am not surprised that the official members are ashamed to have it go out to the world, that they are unwilling this "delicate subject'' should even be mentioned in prayer; though the preacher in charge is probably right in his conclusion, that it would not be very agreeable to their feelings, to have the name of a poor slave mentioned in their chapel! Is it so?—Then the argument for "remembering those in bonds as bound with them," is so much the stronger. I would pray for the slaves in such a place, if I did not any where else; unless, indeed, I were prepared to give up my own rights, Bible and all.
Lowell, May 13. O. SCOTT.
What sub-type of article is it?
Persuasive
Ethical Moral
Religious
What themes does it cover?
Slavery Abolition
Religion
Morality
What keywords are associated?
Abolitionism
Methodist Church
Prayer For Slaves
Anti Slavery Lecture
Church Hypocrisy
Christian Duty
What entities or persons were involved?
O. Scott
Mr. Editor.
Letter to Editor Details
Author
O. Scott
Recipient
Mr. Editor.
Main Argument
the letter condemns a self-professed abolitionist methodist preacher for avoiding prayers for slaves and refusing to announce an anti-slavery lecture, arguing this hypocrisy undermines true abolitionism and christian duty to remember the enslaved.
Notable Details
References Hebrews 13:3 ('Remembering Those In Bonds As Bound With Them')
Mentions Zion's Herald And Ashburnham Brethren
Critiques 'Modern Expediency' In Abolitionism