Columbia,
Aug. 21, 1848.
Friends Douglass & Delany:ー
In my former letter noticing the meeting in the city of Philadelphia, I signified my intention of pursuing the subject of the pro-slavery portion of the colored churches. I will now proceed to the consideration of the subject, without the remotest intention of courting favor on the one hand or giving offence on the other.
I appreciate the magnitude of the subject, and regret that I am unable to bring to its aid the logical powers and perspicuity of reasoning necessary to its elucidation. All that I am able to promise is, that I will follow in that channel where truth and my own convictions may lead. If I err, it shall be on the side of conscience and humanity. I know, also, that those who oppose the present church organizations, will find the attribute of mercy extinct, and that they would, were it in their power, dispose of their adversaries in this world in the most summary manner, and hand them over to the King of Perdition, to suffer everlasting torments in the world to come.ーBut as no action of theirs can, at this enlightened period of the world, stop the free expression of opinion on the rights of conscience and humanity, I will assert what I believe to be true on this point, viz: That the colored churches and clergy of these United States are both theoretically and practically sustaining a pro-slavery position. In speaking of their position as a fixed fact, I am not charging them with being either dishonest or hypocritical; I am more inclined to believe that the majority are honest and conscientious, and therefore are subjects of pity and regard. It is the very nature of their theology and practice that places them in such an unnatural position; and it is really astonishing that they should either deny it or feel offended at the charge. It augurs well for the future prospects of the cause of freedom, that the theology of the sects is not based on natural law, else those members and clergymen who have declared themselves for humanity, could not have risen above it, so as to come out and escape from their Babylonish captivity. It is when church members become imbued with nobler, higher, and holier principles for the welfare of the human family, that their lofty spirits burst the sectarian cords. It is also to be regretted that many remain in the churches that are obnoxious to it on account of their action and sympathy with the cause of the slave. The spiritual structures of such persons, like unnatural monsters, have overgrown the habiliments of their sect, and are practically too good to be associated with the mass; still, they confine their otherwise lofty spirits in the grave-clothes of sect, rather than walk abroad in the majesty of freedom, regenerating the world, and conquering surrounding evils. Well, if they will remain amongst them, let them not complain if others, by observing their actions, recognize the image of the beast on their foreheads. It is a natural law that water cannot rise above its level, and it is equally true that the sects cannot rise above their own standard. If certain individuals among them have climbed up the ladder of humanity to a loftier sphere, the sect to whom they belong cannot lay any more claim or credit to their virtues, than to the crimes of the culprit or hangman they have just excommunicated. Thousands and thousands of our oppressed brethren have lived and died in the faith and belief that the religion of the sects, under God, would be the means of annihilating slavery and oppression from the world, and thousands yet live in blind adoration of the same faith. Poor deluded victims of a corrupt theology which is without parallel in the slave code itself!ーThey have imbibed their views of religion and the requirements of God from man, and his duties to his fellow-creatures chiefly from the authorized expositions of Protestant commentators, which, while the different sects have disagreed on a multitudinous portion of points, there have been but two on which they could ground their weapons of rebellion, viz: the existence of God, and the natural degradation of the colored race. I therefore regard it a misfortune, not a crime, that we have imbibed and adopted a religion as much opposed to our common interest, as it is to our ideas of the just and impartial administration of Jehovah. Our souls have fed by the scourgers of our bodies. The lash of the driver and scourge of the overseer form a portion of our trinitarian powers, from which we have received our religious, moral and temporal education. We need therefore not to be astonished that our religious orthodoxy is pro-slavery, because it is perfectly natural that it should resemble its parentage.
In my next, I shall notice the pro-slavery tendency of the orthodox sects, who form a part and parcel of the Protestant religion.
W. W.