THE EISfcNHUWtM LIB
5128
COPY OF A LETTER
ADOPTED AT A MEETING
HELD IN
BERRY STREET VESTRY
■:im:m,
^:,f^i
V .V.
PLEASE KEEP THIS "MICRO-CHAMBER" PAPER WITH THE
DOCUMENT. IT HAS A PRESERVATION FUNCTION.
COPY OF A LETTER
Adopted at a Meeting held in Berry Street Vestry, April 11, 1814, to be
OFFERED FOR SIGNATURE TO THE UNITARIAN ClERGY OF THE UnITED StATES,
AND SENT WITH THE NA.MES OF THOSE WHO SIGN IT, ADDRESSED AS FOLLOWS :
To the Unitarian Ministers of Great Britain and Ireland, ivho signed an Address
to " their Ministerial Brethren of the Unitarian Churches iti the United States
of North America," dated Dec. 1, 1843.
Reverend and dear Brethren,
We have received your letter relating to Slavery, a subject of deep and fearful interest to us
all. In our political relations, it is threatening to upheave the very foundations of our government, while
it draws its dark line through the land, and painfully divides the members of a great and otherwise united
people, on a point touching the dearest interests of man.
In its moral and religious bearings, we cannot look upon it without feeling sick at heart. It is a
curse pressing every year more heavily upon society ; and as we believe in the righteous retributions of
heaven, so we verily believe that, unless we do all that we can to purge it away, it must bring upon us
the sorest calamities that in the providence of God can fall upon a nation. So far there is no difference of
feeling or opinion among us. Wc all believe that there is something for us to do. But how shall we
act 1 Slavery, in its more extended influences and relations, is so woven into our whole social organization,
that the question is one not only of solemn interest, but of great difficulty, requiring of us the most earnest
and prayerful thought. And as we must answer to a higher tribunal than that of man, so must we be
faithful, each to his own convictions.
As it respects any direct political action for the abolition of slavery, except in the District of
Columbia and the Territories not yet admitted as Independent States, it may not be known to you that
the citizens of the free States have no more right to interfere than the citizens of Great Britain. As a
political body, each separate State has the entire control of this matter within itself, and is exceedingly
jealous of any interference from without.
In addition therefore to what we can do for a correct public sentiment in the free States, our only
appeal is to the consciences and hearts of our brethren whose misfortune it has been to inherit, by whose
guilt it will be, if, without strong and earnest struggles they consent to uphold, an institution which, from
the dreadful wrong it inflicts on master and slave, must be unblessed of God and a curse to man.
We ask for ourselves and we ask for them the counsel and the sympathy of all Christian men ;
and we trust that the wise and holy efforts of all will second our efforts and our prayers, that Slavery
will no longer stain our national character and threaten the ruin of our Republic. Our faith is strong, and
while we see cause for penitence and sorrowful forebodings, we have also a bright assurance that if we
:ire true, He who maketh the wrath of man to praise Him, will in his own good time point out to us a
way of deliverance.
W
th sincere regard,
Your brethren in the faith and hopes of the Gospel of Christ,
A true Ccjpy,
Attest,
SAMUEL MAY, Sccrctai-y of the Mcctmi
^<^
^TannJi
cJy^Abb ,
Boston, April 22d, 1844.
Dear Sir :
In obedience to a vote passed at the above-mentioned meeting, we send you a copy of the foregoing
letter. If disposed to sign it, please affix your name and return it to either of the undersigned at an early
day. If possilde we wish to despatch an engrossed copy to England by the steamer which leaves on the
16th of May. If not disposed to sign it you need not return it.
Truly and aflectionately your friends,
S. K. LOTHROP,
CALEB STETSON, )■ Committee.
JAIMES W. THOMPSON
,!
PLEASE CLOSE THIS FLAP FIRST
