I was told I'm not to post about the "war" on Sermonindex any more.
So I started looking back in church history to see how national sin issues have been dealt with in the past by the church. Obviously the record is most disappointing especially when considering how the church dealt with slavery. It was only a very small minority of Christians were antislavery. I found the most delightful book and I want to share the URL with you all, and a snippet that made me laugh.
http://medicolegal.tripod.com/pillsburypacts.htm
the book is called "The Acts of the Anti-Slavery Apostles, and it was written by Rev Parker Pillsbury in 1883, in an attempt to set the record straight. Its a fascinating account...here's a snippet, it describes an attempt by abolitionist ministers to speak at a church in New England :
"The next morning, Rogers went by himself to the Congregational house, having understood that Foster would be there, and probably would attempt to address the people. I accompanied Beach and Foster. Foster went forward and sat down in a side slip, opposite the pulpit. It was as perfect a June Sunday as ever shone, but the large house and not less large minister, avoirdupois, had but scattered audience.
At the close of the long prayer, which at that period was offered with the congregation standing, Foster, instead of sitting down, commenced speaking, in very solemn and subdued tone of voice.
As soon as Mr. Cook heard him, he turned towards him, and in most military tone, as became a commander in the "church militant," ordered him to "sit down."
Foster did not obey. "Sit down, sir!" was then uttered with force and gesture.
But Foster seemed only to hear a higher command, saying,
"Cry aloud; spare not; lift up thy voice like a trumpet and show my people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins." [Isaiah 58:1].
At which Cook thundered out, in a tone strangely unlike the solemn voice of Foster,
"I command you in the name of the commonwealth to sit down!"
By that time, the sexton and two others came to the rescue, and seizing Foster, (whose non-resistance principleson such occasions always put him into a perfectly passive state), two of them by his shoulders, his face downward, and the other, a most conveniently short man, as though gotten up for just that use, catching hold of him by the ankles, as he might a wheelbarrow by the handles, they bore him down the aisle through the porch, and down the steps to the sidewalk, in the most grotesque and ludicrous manner imaginable.
Rogers and Beach followed, as did I and several others, who were of the audience, though to us strangers. Foster rose to his feet at once, and, looking at his bearers, said, pleasantly,
"This, then, is your christianity, is it?"
He continued speaking, to attentive listeners, too, till the sexton, seeing the attention given, told the people to go back into the house.
"No breaking in upon worship, friend sexton," said Rogers. "We shall have to drag you out if you do. Don't drive folks in, if you do drag them out."
The sexton laughed. We all laughed.
Rogers advised the good-natured sexton to resign and not do such dirty work for such a minister and church. After speaking some time to excellent purpose, Foster walked directly across the common, not many rods, entered the Baptist meeting-house and sat down till the services were closed and the benediction pronounced.
Then, as the people were moving out, he began speaking again.
The sexton at the other house had asked Foster, in a kindly way, why he didn't wait till the exercises closed, and then he would not have been molested.
But Foster assured him
"that would have made no difference. You would have dragged me out then as you have now."
As those Baptists verily did. They fell on him the moment they heard his voice, like blood-hounds. They hurried him down the aisle and door-steps to the ground, with suchviolence as did him and his clothing serious injury, as there was good reason to think they intended. He, however, rose up and addressed them a few gentle words and walked away to his lodgings, at Friend William Bassett's, at that time a most welcome, hospitable and desirable anti-slavery home.
Rogers stood thoughtfully surveying the scene, when some younger brethren of "the Baptism of John," assailed him a little in the style of the high priest's palace, in Jerusalem, eighteen centuries ago. "This is one of them," said a beardless youth, with a leer of contempt. Rogers did not deny.
"You ought to be tarred and feathered," sneered out another, spitefully. "Yes," said the first, "and carried to the county jail."
"And cowhided," said another, "for disturbing meetings on the Sabbath in such a way."
"Ah," responded Rogers, "is that, then, the spirit of your worship? Does your gospel run like that, my friends? Is it tar your enemies; feather them that hate you; cowhide them that despitefully use you? Why, friends, is that your way?"
Thank God there were those who spoke out on the evil of slavery. |