The Liberator

THE PULPIT DESECRATED ANEW
Mr. Editor:
Recently on a Sabbath morning, as I entered the church where I usually worship, I observed in the desk the Rev. ELIPHA WHITE, of South Carolina, a reputed slaveholder, or, at least, a bold and zealous advocate of christian slavery upon gospel principles. At first, I confess that I was at a loss to conjecture how such a man, with such professed principles, could have the effrontery to stand up and address a Boston audience as a christian minister. But reflecting that many of the clergy in the United States consider slavery to be a divine institution, I concluded that this was one of those instances, where 'popular crime,' however flagrant, 'does not disturb the conscience;' and became prepared during the preparatory exercises, to hear a common-place discourse. You may judge, however, of my surprise, when the Rev. Slavite announced for his text the Golden Rule: All things whatsoever,' &c. What! thought I, has he been listening, during his visit to the North the present season, to the pleadings of bleeding humanity, to examine the precepts of our Saviour, and has he so far yielded to their manifest teachings, as to renounce his former barbarous theory—ay, and practice too? The discourse was such an one, as no abolitionist would object to, though it possessed but very little of that spice of intellect, which is always acceptable in all preaching, in order to give it a relish. He was particular in stating that the words of his text enjoined that the scriptures should be given, and the gospel preached to every human being, (and to quote his own language) to the farthest verge of this green earth;' for this was just what, and no more, than all Christians would wish to be done to them.
Query. Does he consider slaves human beings? Certainly, they live on this 'green earth.' I should be glad to inquire of the Rev. slaveholder, or of some of his friends, whether he would be willing to preach that sermon before an enlightened audience of slaves, or whether he would dare preach it before a South Carolina congregation, and urge, with the emphasis that he did in this city, the imperious duty of Christians to furnish the Bible to every individual of the human family?
CONSISTENCY.