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the impenitent. The meetings, the immense worth of the soul, and the tremendous scenes of the judgment have begun to be the all abeoebing themes of conversation among all characters and classes among us.Since I saw you there have been several interesting cases of conversion in our congregation.—Last sabbath, we visited “ our Jordan,1' and I baptized two of ourSabbath-school scholars, a young lady and a little lad eight yeats old. O! couldyou have been in our meeting on Saturday evening (which by the way was crowded below) and have seen him climb upon one of the front slips, so that all might see him, and hear him tell bow he loved the Savior, what a great sinner he was, what views lie had of himself while under conviction, how he lost his burden of sin and guilt, how precious the Savior appeared ; —could you have gone to the water side, have seen his calmness as he went down into the water, the flowing tears from hundreds of eyes, the breathless silence, the throbbing bosoms, the half suppressed sigb9 the soft whisper from aged and youug, “ God is here,” and then to have seen the almost unearthly countenance of the dear boy, you would have said with me:—“ Bless the Lord O inv soul and all that is within me bless his holy name.” In short it was one of the most solemn and delightful baptisms I ever witnessed, or ever expect to.—Ck. Secretary.From tba New-York Evangelist.Hwtral at Prattibnrgh.Brother Johnson: This is a place highly favored of the Lord. Through the winter past his work was glorious. Christians, who had been very unhappily alienated, wei* brought into a desirable and happy state of union and Christian love. One difficulty afier another broke away ns the tide of heavenly influence rolled on, until they could with transport repeat the words of the Psalm:st— Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.”Nor was the work among the unconverted less glorious. Many of them, under a distressing sense of sin and guilt, were made to hear the inviting voice of the Redeemer, and comply with his terms of salvation. Many 01 the young converts are among the choice and most enlightened of our youth, who have enjoyed the stated ministry, the instructions of the Sabbath School and Bible Class, and also the literary influence shed forth upon this community by our Academy. How many have been made professed subjects of divine grace, I will not pretend to state. There nave already connected with this church 133; 108 were on profession. All but one ortwohave thus far appeared well as is usual. This church now consists of about 400 members. The Lord sanctifythem, and add to their number many who shall be saved.Yours, affectionately,B. Foster Pratt.Prattsburgh, Sept. 4th, 1838.4. Resolved, That neither slavery, nor any other practice, can ever be tendered unpopular and abolished, so long as the persons following the condemned practice are permitted to sit, without being questioned, at the communion tables, and to preach in the pulpits of our chnrches.5. Resolved, That in the opinion of this Convention, it is proper and necessary for ministers and churches to decline inviting to their pulpits and communion tables, all persons who, after being affectionately entreated to consider the evil of the practice, will persist in their determination to hold slaves.said he presumed that all the members of | that Convention were in favor of abolishing slavery, but they differed widely in their views of the proper mode of effecting »his object. For himself, he must confess that he was very far from entertaining the views of those who belonged to abolitionist societies; but still, he thought this subject mightRev. Mr. Kellogg, the other member of' poi the committee, protested against thfore-.iag port, for the following reasons —1st, Be- j fri cause this Convention is composed of dif- j un ferent members from that of last year.—2d, It Because God, by his examples, requires us to give the wicked ‘ line upon line and , *w] precept upon precept.’—3d, In his opin-ion, the resolutions passed by the Conven- jbe better disposed of, end men woold be .'ion of last year, were not calculated to j , ... , , • . • j produce that immediate action against thiseery much more likely to adopt right seat.-1 ^ eyj, a8 n0* our du. IVERMONT TELEGRAPH.BRANDON, WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 10, 18SS.The new subscribers whose names have been received within the few last weeks, and who have received the papers, will be charged nothing until the commencement of the next volume.JC^*I design to attend the sessions of the Addison County and Vermont Associations, when a favorable opportunity will be pre sented, for those who wish, to make pay menl for the Telegraph.ItJ^Those who are indebted for two three volumes of the Telegraph are desired to make immediate payment.Tike CoB(r«fm(lonal SUIe Convention Uke Slavery (^neetion.At the meeting of the General Con rention of Congregational Ministers of Vermont, recenly held at Vergennes, an effort was made by the friends of immediate emancipation to obtain from that body so expression of their views in respect to the sinful charac ter of slave holding. For this purpose, a meeting of such as chose to attend, was held at the vestry, half an hour before the com meocement of the morning session of the Convention. At this meeting, it was voted that the following preamble and resolutions be brought before the Convention, by a com mittee appointed for that object, of such as held seats in the Convention :WsiiiAS, The General Convention of Congregational and Presbyterian Ministers of Vermont, at their meeting in Springfield, in September, 1837, by certain printed resolutions did record their conviction that slavery is a great evil; and moreover did affectionately exhort our Christian brethren io the slave-holding Slates, that they should take measures to put away this evil, speedily, from the churches: And whereas. It is not within our knowledge, that any measures have been adopted by Southern Christians, looking to a present or future purification of (he church from this evil practice; but on the contrary, several publications have appeared, within the past year, written by clergymen and others, declaring and attempting to prove the practice of slave-holding to be not contrary to the laws of God— Therefore,1. Resolved, That the holding, buying, selling, or using man as property, is a sin a-gainst God, and a violation of the most precious rights of men.2. Resolved, That no one ought to palliate or excose slave-holding as being a sin of ignorance, except in those cases where the holder is not, and baa not been, within reach of correct views and just reasoning on the subject.3. Resolved, That there is no way to en-Kghien the consciences and letnove the prejudices tf southern Christiana on thesub-jretof slavery, bat by our speaking the truth tHi the subject, end acting in consistencywith it.The above named committee caused, thro’ the Committee of Overtures, the subject of these resolutions to be entered as an item of business, on the docket of the Convention. When in the order ol business, this subject came up for consideration, it was moved that Rev. Mr. Blanchard, an agent of the American Anti-Slavery Society, present, be invited to speak for ten minutes on these resolutions, or the general subject they embrace.Whereupon, Mr. E. C. Tracy, the present Editor of the Vermont Chronicle, in the true spirit of Southern gag-law, moved that the whole subject be laid on the table. The motion was instantly seconded by Rev. Mr. Tilden, of West Rutland. Some doubt being raised as to a point of order, Mr. Tracy insisted on the precedency of his motion, and proceeded to show why it ought to pass. He said the business had been digested and prepared for the action of the Convention, in another meeting; and this, to his nund, was a sufficient reason why it should be laid on the table, as the proceedings in the case contained an insinuation that the Conven tion was not competent to prepare its own business; and besides,the Convention were doubtless aware of the evil tendency of cau cuses designed to influence the action of ecclesiastical bodies,as it had been illustrated by recent occurrences in the Presbyterian church.To this, Rev. H. F. Leavitt of Vergennes replied, in showing that the meeting held by the friends of the enslaved in the morning, was not analogous to the conventions held by the parties in the Presbyterian church, preliminary to the action of the General Assembly. There had been no concerted design about the holding ol that meeting. It was notified in consequence of a request made to him the evening before, in connection with appointments for a morning prayer-meeting, and the hour for the meeting of the Convention. It was held with open doors, and all were invited to attend, many of the members of the Convention attended, and he was happy to see them there.— Besides, the business had been presented to the Convention, by members of its body, through its own Committee of Overtures.Mr. Tracy still urged his former objection; and in admitting that the members of the Convention were present at the meeting, he contended that they had rendered themselves liable to censure, for being absent from the Convention after the appointed hour of its meeting. [They- probably were present as soon as many of those who did not attend the meeting.] The subject had indeed been put on the docket by the Committee of Overtures, but in this, he thought they had misjudged, and acted very injudiciously.Rev. Chester Wright, of Hardwick, arose, and said he felt grieved that the few minutes delay of some of the members of the Convention, in their attendance in the morning, should be mentioned as worthy of censure, when their attention was occupied by a subject of such deep and solemn interest. If their absence under other circumstances might have rendered them worthy of cen sure, he thought, in this case, there was palliation at least, if not a reasonable excuse. For the Convention were not ignorant of the fact, that two millions and a half of our fel-low-beings, who are “bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh,” are groaning under the bondage of slavery. This veoerable father spake feelingly of the hold which these our brethren in bonds, have upon our sympathies and our benevolence, and especially of the claim which their case has upon the attention of the Convention.Mr. Wright was followed by several gentlemen, who spent a half hour or more in urging that the subject should be laid on the table, from the lime that would be required in its discussion, precluding thereby the appropriate business of the Convention.— When Rev. Mr. Plumb, of Pawlet, observed that as it was not contemplated to allow the agent [Mr. Blanchard] but ten minutes in which to remark, be wished that he might be permitted to speak, especially as the Convention had adopted the precedent in according a like privilege to the agent of the Peace Society. Others expresseJ a similar wish. Mr. Tracy then modified his motion in making it refer only to the paper ihat had been brought up from the vestry meeting in the morning. [Upon the substance matter ol this paper, Mr. Blanchard intended to speak. The man who comes in and takes away my dinner, and then bids me eat, might be forgiven, if himself were really hungry ; but to take the children’s bread and throw it under the table to dogs, and then bid them'eat, it too much like voting down one’a subject, and then telling him that he may speak in its explanation.]Rev. Dr. Merrill of Middlebury, was, from every consideration, opposed to the motion to lay the paper on the table, and he was jn favor of permitting the agent to speak. IJements on it, if a spirit of mutual concession were manifested on both sides:—he should therefore move, when it would be in order, to refer the paper to a committee composed of such members of different views on the subject, as would make a report, that would embody the general sentiments of the Convention in respect to it. He was ready to doty.—4th, Because a majority of the committee appeared to be anti-abolitionists.— He therefore reported the resolutions that had been referred to the committee, without amendment.The report of the majority o! the committee was accepted, and a motion made that it be adopted—whenRev. Mr. Leavitt arose, and in a briefliithis, and though the expression of the views speech, in which all the ardor of hulof last year’s Convention was satisfactory to his mind, he should, if it should seem best, be willing that even stronger expression of sentiments should be sanctioned by the Convention. For himself, he was satisfied with giving attention to this subject, and passing resolutions on it in the Convention once in three or four years; but he was willing, in conciliating kind feelings with his brethren, that the subject should receive a more frequent attention.Rev. Mr. Kellogg, of Montpelier, arose and inquired if it was supposed, if his wife and his children were exposed every day to the cruel scourgings of the lash, and subject to be sold at any time, and thus torn from his embraces and his protection, or were thus exposed while at a distance from him in the Southern Slates, that he would be contented to think of their condition, and express his feelings in respect to it, ‘ once in three or four years VDr. Merrill disclaimed such an idea, and said if he had expressed any thing like it, he hoped the brother and that Convention would forgive him.The question on Mr. Tracy’s motion was taken, and decided in the negative. It was then voted that the agent be heard ten minutes.Mr. Blanchard arose and said, that after the debate that had occupied much more time than would have been necessary to present this subject properly before the Convention, the unpleasant position which he had occupied during its continuance, he did not realize all that com posure of mind and collectedness of tho’t that would perhaps enable him to occupy profitably the short time that had been allowed him. The train of thought which he had meditated on this subject, had become in a measure dissipated, and he feared that he might say what he afterwards should regret to have said. The attempt, said he, to shut out light on the subject of emancipation from the public mmd, is like the enactment of a certain parish, a part of whose inhabitants would not pay for ringing the bell,that ‘‘those who would not pay for ringing should not have the privilege of hearing it.” He remarked somewhat freely in respect to some of the proceedings of the Convention, and especially labored to show the effect which unkind and captious and supercilious treatment from ministers of the gospel or from a Reverend Convention of clergymen, would have upon the feelings of abolitionists—that such treatment must of coursi destroy their confidence in their religiou: instructions, and drive them to seek for guidance and light from those whom they [the ministers] consider extravagant fanatics. Angelina Grimke would not stand up so prominently before the public as an abolitionist leader, if ministers of the gos pel would come up to the spot tf ey ought to occupy in showing the people the sin of oppression. [In another meeting, Mr. Blanchard remarked in respect to Mrs.nnml/O^Q t k at n 1 itrin/* I _was evidently enlisted, showed the inconsistency of thus disposing of matters of such momentous and solemn interest.— Without particular reference to that cold-hearted expediency which seemed to actuate many of the Convention, he labored to break down its influence, by bringing up I ei the scenes of the judgment, when the en- I p slaver and the enslaved, and those who \ l| countenance oppression, must stand before j j. the bar of God—when the ministers of the 1 gopel must meet the influence which they exert here, in it3 results on the eternal welfare of their fellow-inen. He concluded by moving the consideration fur the purpose of amendment, if thought best, and the adoption of the resolutions contained in the minority report.Rev. Dr. Merrill arose upon a motion i to lay the subject on the table, and said he hoped the subject would not be passed o-ver without some action on it, though he was suited with neither report] that was then before the body.Several followtd,in urging attention to the appropriate business of the Convention, among whom was Rev. Mr. Lamb of Bridport, who moved that the whole subject might be waived, because it was one that might not be called up for attention by many of our churches once in ten years. As the friends of emancipation were about calling for the question, the following resolutions were presented through Rt-v. Mr Converse of Burlington, as a substitute for such as were already before the body: Whereas, Slavery is regarded by this Conventionas morally wrong— Therefore,Resolved, That this Convention cannot, hy any opinion or act of theirs, support or give encouragement to this evil.Resolved, That as individuals, the members of this Convention are ready to do any thing, politically and morally right, to accomplish the entire removal of slavery from this country.Rcsolved, That it the wish ami earnest reouest of this Convention, that good men in the slave-holding States, should immediately make effort to abolish slavery ; and that as individuals, our prayers, * ’L ''“Joperation ’These resolutions were no sooner presented than a motion was made for their adoption. The plea that the time that could be spared for discussion on this subject, was all expended, produced the gen eral consent that the question on them should be put. The Colonization features of the last were, however, too obvious to escape the scrutiny of Abolitionists.Rev. Mr. Wright moved to strike ont the words ‘oar contributions'—He debt-less could not conceive what use the South' could make of our money in their repent ing of the s:n of slave-holding. The amendment was adopted.Mr. Kellogg moved to amend, by striking out the words ‘good men in the slave-holding States' and substituting ‘slaveholders and others' which was also adopted, and the resolutions passed.Grimke’s labors, that a living lion better than a dead dog that would not bark.] Mr. B. concluded in expressin the opinion, thai if every member of the Convention should enrol his name as an abolitionist, it would be regarded an indication of piety and devotion by their people and the world, such as would give them a hold that they never yet had had on their confidence and affections.The motion of Dr. Merrill to put the preamble and resolutions into the hands of a committee, to he by them revised and rlt; ported on, was put and carried.The Chair then nominated Rev. M Nichols of Braii,tree. Rev. Mr. Plumb of Pawlet, and Rev. Mr. Delano of Hart-land, to compose this committee, who were appointed.It was then voted that two more be added to this committee, and Rev. Mr. Leavitt and E. C. Tracy were nominated. Mr. Leavitt declined serving, on the ground that the committee had not been selected in the spirit of liberality which had been proposed;—that himself would he the only person holding abolitionist sentimtnts on the committee, and he therefore should not wish to receive the appointment.— The Chair stated that he had understoodstated that he had understood that the chairmnn of the committee, Rev. Mr. Nichols, was an abolitionist. Mr. Leavitt had never so understood. Mr. Nichols explained, that he had sometime stated to the brother who filled the chair, that he was an abolitionist, but had been told by abolitionists that he was not half made—the latter part of which statement, the Chair, (Rev. Mr. Hazen of R ) stated he did not hear. The nominating 0f jyf r T'f wUMmwn by the Chair',andI ft-.. Mr. Babcock of Hertford, ,„d Kcv Kciogy of Montpelier, were cboaen.I he next morning, four ol uie committee had agreed and Sports* accordingly that inasmuch as tfie Convention of Iasi year had expressed their news of this subject. it was not expedient l0 act upon it at the present session. *_____________ , tender themr contributions, and our efficient coil this benevolent work. 6The foregoing communication is from the pen of an eye and ear witness. It has been submitted t the scrutiny of two leading individuals who had part in the proceedings which it records, and who | pronounce it to be substantially correct. It suggests ! much food for thought, and spreads out a wide field j | for comment. The article tells its own story very | well, however, so that I will only drop a llioughr or two, suggested to my mind on glancing it over j preparatory to putting it into the hand of the com- I * positor.A prominent thought was this:—how admirably j modest for the Edi*or of the Chronicle to pronounce | 1 in open session, a large and respectable body of J 1 the members of the Convention, liable to censure, j ’ because they had Been fit to di tain themselves a few moments after the arrival of the hour for open- ' ' ing the session, on business which they deemed ! highly important to the interests of religion and the salvation of souls, but which E. C. Tracy, j ’ judging from his “gag-law” motion, would not * have them presume to meddle with. But vastly 1 ' more modest still, if possible, was it for him to 1 4 stand up before the Convention and censure the i 1 Convention’s Committee of Overtures for placing j * a subject which they thought proper on the Con- ! * vention’s business docket. j kThe thoughts which flashed upon my miud, and j 1 the feelings which thrilled my heart, on reading the 1 suggestions that SLAVERY is a subject to be at- 8 tended to once in three or four years!—or once in ' 1 ten years!—there is no room left me, if I had words, | 1 to vent,—the columns of this paper being about i c full. And I am not positive that it would he safe e for me to trust myself with the undertaking at all. j rThe suggestion of J. Blanchard, to the Conven- ; c tion, that if ministers would have the confidence of j as many of the people as have espoused the cause j 1 of God’s suffering poor, they must themselves man- i I ifest sympathy for the same cause, is an idea of g overwhelming importance to those to whom it was c addressed, and to too many of whom it is most for- j h ibly applicable.Pjedobaptist.—Perhaps this term ought to have been defined, in connection with my strictures on James Buckham’s article, last week. Its strict import is not understood by all. Many, probably, suppose it [o b.e applicable to all those who practice sprinkling for baptism, instead pf immersing.— Not so. The word, Pwdobaptist, is from two Greek words, the one of which signifies a child, and the other to baptize. A Pcedo-baptist, then, is one who baptizes children or holds to baptizing children. Hence the propriety of my remark, last week—pro vided it were correct, as I believe it w«*s, ina*« a
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Brandon Vermont Telegraph
Brandon, Vermont, US
Wed, Sep 19, 1838
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Erin F.
USA 27 Sep 2023
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