The Presbytery of Tombechee being in
session, at Starksville Mississippi, April 9th, 1839. A communication
was received from Rev. Asa Cummings, in behalf of the General Conference of
Congregational Churches in Maine, to which Rev. Henry Reid and Rev. Samuel Hurd
were appointed a committee to reply. The Committee reported, and their Report
was received and adopted, and the stated clerk directed to forward it, as
follows; viz.
To The Committee Of General Conference Of Congregational Churches In
Maine.
DEAR BRETHREN, Your communication
of the 28th of December 1838, directed to the Rev. Henry Reid for the use
of the Presbytery of Tombechee, was duly received. Presbytery will cheerfully
give it that attention which its importance and courtesy demand. — The subject
involved is delicate, and daily becomes more so, from the morbid sensibilities
which are excited pro and con. Such excitement has done much evil, and no good.
It has not been the means of making better citizens, better men, or better
Christians, in the South, the East, the North, or the West. It has been adding
fuel to a flame, that ought to have been extinguished long ago, by the waters
of patriotism and Christian affection. On the subject of Slavery we are willing
to be guided by the Bible, the unerring word of truth. Where it condemns, we
condemn; where it approves, we approve;
we are not unwilling for the whole world to know our views on the
subject of Slavery. We hold no principles, of which we are ashamed. You say,
“The subject of slavery has been introduced into a majority of these
Conferences and declared by them to be opposed to natural and revealed law.”
This Presbytery does not understand what is meant by “natural law,” as used by
the Committee, therefore can give no opinion; but with respect to “revealed
law,” it presumes the Bible is meant. In the Bible the state of slavery is
clearly recognized, but the condition of the slave, like that of all society,
is left to be regulated by the civil police of the state, or country in which
it exists. Abram, the friend of God, had slaves born in his house, and bought
with his money. “And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you,
every man-child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought
with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. He that is born in thy
house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my
covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. Genesis 17: 12,
13, 23, 27. See also 12: 16 and 14: 14. Isaac possessed slaves, as is evident
from Gen. 26: 14. For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and
great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him. Jacob held slaves
without the least remorse of conscience, or reproof from God, as will be seen
from Genesis 30 : 43 and 32: 5. The Lord himself directed Moses and Aaron, how
slaves were to be treated with respect to the passover. The Lord said unto Moses
and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover; there shall no stranger eat
thereof. But every man servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised
him, then shall he eat thereof Exodus 12: 43,44. Slaves were allowed religious
privileges, that were not granted to strangers, nor to hired servants. Exod.
12:45. A foreigner, and a hired servant shall not eat thereof. It was no sin
for a priest to purchase a slave with his money; and the slave thus purchased
was entitled to peculiar privileges. There shall no stranger eat of the holy
thing: a sojourner of the priest, or a hired servant, shall not eat of the holy
thing. But if the priest buy any soul with his money, he shall eat of it, and
he that is born in his house: they shall eat of his meat. Leviticus 22: 10, 11.
The Bible warrants the purchase of slaves as an inheritance for children
forever. Leviticus 25: 46.And we shall take them as an inheritance for your
children after you, to inherit them for a possession, they shall be your
bondmen forever.
That slavery is not a moral evil, is evident from the fact,
that it is no where condemned by the Redeemer, or his apostles in the New
Testament. All principles, and all practices, which would exclude from the
favor of God, and the kingdom of Heaven, are recorded with great plainness
without respect of persons. Witness the manner in which the Scribes and
Pharisees were addressed, “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness
shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in
no wise enter into the kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 5: 20. In a long catalogue
of denunciations against various sins by the Redeemer himself, contained in the
23d chapter of Matthew, and from the 13th to the 33d verses inclusive, not a
word is said against the sin of slavery.
How does all this come to pass, if it be so “great an evil”
as our Brethren seem to think? In the sermon on the Mount not a word is uttered
against the sin of slavery. A Centurion came to Jesus in Capernaum, beseeching
him, and saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously
tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The Centurion
answered and said, Lord am not I worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof,
but speak the word only; and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under
authority, having soldiers under me, and I say unto this man, go; and he goeth;
and to another, come, and he cometh; and to my servant, do this; and he doeth
it. The Lord said, “I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel.” Matt.
8: 5–-10. The Centurion was a slaveholder, and instead of being reproved by the
Savior, he received the highest commendation. Let us hear the mind of the
Spirit by the mouth of the Apostle Paul. Now the works of the flesh are
manifest, which are these, Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions,
heresies, envyings, murder, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of the
which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which
do such things, shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal. 5: 19–21. In the
whole catalogue of prohibitions which disqualify for the kingdom of Heaven,
slavery is not once named. — Did the Apostles say any thing on the subject that
justifies its existence among a Christian people?
This Presbytery believes they did. — Let every man abide in
the same calling wherein he was called. Art thou called being a servant? Care
not for it; but if thou mayest be made free; use it rather. For he that is
called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman. Likewise also he
that is called, being free, is Christ's servant... Ye are bought with a price;
be not ye the servants of men. Brethren, let every man, wherein, he is called;
therein abide with God. 1st Cor. 7: 20–24. The Bible makes slavery a part of
the domestic circle; it is associated with husband and wife, parents and
children. Slaves are directed in what manner they are to demean themselves, as
members “of the civil and social compact. Servants, be obedient to them that
are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness
of your heart, as unto Christ; not with eye service, as men pleasers, but as
the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will
doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatsoever good
thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether bond or
free. And ye, masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening;
knowing that your master also is in Heaven; neither is there respect of persons
with him. Ephesians 6:5—9. Society is a whole, formed by infinite wisdom, with
all its functions and functionaries. No honest calling is degraded, or
degrading. — Each member of the social compact is to be honored and esteemed,
while he continues to move cheerfully and usefully in his proper sphere.
As far back as history gives any account of human
associations, whether savage or civil, there have been persons, whose peculiar
prerogative it was to perform what is called menial service. The same exists at
the present time amongst all the nations of the earth, in every neighborhood,
and in each family throughout Christendom. — This Presbytery speaks of the
fact, not of the name by which the fact is designated. It matters not whether
the persons thus employed are called helps, servants, waiters, or
slaves: they have to perform the same service; they have to submit to
some rules for the time being; and they must be directed by their employers and
if disobedient they must bear the penalty. The probability is that a majority
of the whole human race is in this situation. To such, nominal freedom cannot
be esteemed a very distinguished blessing, because no provision is made at the
expense of the capitalist for the infirmities of the laborer's life, (viz.)
helpless infancy, sickness, and decrepid age. With us, for such, ample
provision is made. He who has received the benefit of the operator's strength
and ingenuity in the prime of life, must nurse him in sickness, and sustain him
in the decline of life. All this is done without a murmur. In countries of
nominal freedom, an almshouse is the only refuge to which infirmity and old
age, in such case, can look for relief— These are facts—open to the observation
of all, who are disposed to look at things as they exist. The privileges of the
church are the same to all, whether bond or free. All are under the same
government. All are subject to the same discipline. A slave cannot be turned
out of the church, except by a regular trial according to the rules laid down
in our book. They are admitted to the membership of the church, precisely as
other members are admitted. Being church members does not prohibit the
possibility of being sold, because over the right of property, the church has
no control; such authority belongs to another department.
Amongst Christians the voluntary sale of slaves seldom
occurs; and where the master and slave are both Christians, perhaps never,
unless to accommodate the slave, that he or she may not be separated from some
dear relative about to emigrate. On the subject of marriage, the Presbytery
feels that the state authorities, ought to make some alterations so as to
entirely prevent, even forced sales, to separate husband and wife, They are not
often separated, except under the influence of such sales.
Dear Brethren, this Presbytery has given you their honest
and candid views on the subject of slavery. If they shall prove the means of
giving you information, and setting your conscience at ease on the subject, it
will be matter of much gratitude to Him, who has commanded his children to love
as Brethren.
A true copy, Attest,
THoMAs C. STUART,
Stated Clerk of
Presbytery.
REv. AsA CUMMINGs,
Dear Sir, * * I should have annexed, in its proper
place, the following resolution, viz. “On motion, Resolved, that the Conference
of Maine be requested to publish the reply of this Presbytery entire, with the
addition of the Scriptures referred to.”
Your brother in
Christ,
T. C. STUART.
SOURCE: Cyrus P. Grosvenor, Slavery vs. The Bible: A
Correspondence Between the General Conference of Maine, and the Presbytery of
Tombecbee, Mississippi, p. 10-22
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