in conference, and, if deeded exp@ient, inaugurate an 6rg;Ki@d movemedt, which should aim, not sim 1 to remove slavery iiself, I.? . but to place the Church in its true position in relation to this great problem of ow land and age. Such.a conference was holden at Wor- cester, on,the 1st and 2nd inst., and resulted in .the forplat3on of a new a-eiation, to be called The Church Anti-Slavery Society of the United States," which adopted a constitution, chose its ofticem, and, after a full discussion, agreed upon the following

fl* DECLARATION OF PRXN- d

1.-The %bts of paq aa qw sacred and inalienable, without distinction of blood or race%

&-Property in man impossible, as being without grant from bhe Creator, and equally contrary to natural justice and to revealed religion.

111.-The system of American slaveq and the practice of slave-holding essen- tially sinful and pti-Christian, and to be denlt with, therefore, as such, by Chris- tian chumhey and ministers.

IV.-The utte,r inadeqpcy and i m p d b i i t y of say. remedy or relief &om slavery, but one thnt ,insists upon its inheqnt wrongfulness, its total intrinsic base- ness, and denies absolutely the wild and guilty fantasythat man can have property in man l

V. tThe a* of one family or section oE the Christian church to rebuke arid refuse fellow@ip to anothe- m-+:n= of the visible church, that denies the rights of

A '....A YYV -.,.-"I ".""..".I"- ". Y Y Y U I J , I,, .̂ "-. ts bosom slave sellers, slave buyers and slaveholders. V1.-No compromise with slavery allowable, but its total extinctidh b ded at once, i n the name of Clod, who has commanded : "to loose th wickedness, to undo the heavy bunlens; and to lel

that ye break every yoke." VI1.-The total abolition of the vast system of

ed as the providential mission and duty of the churches of this generation.

VIII.-The church and. the ministry to form the cc respect to slavery, and to make it loyal to the law of G menta of wurta, and unrighteous legislation of Congress,

IX-The Word of God our charter for freedom and and any assertion that the Lord God sanctions slavery, p r m

X.-Ultimate success sure, ili the warfare with oppressic istry and witneseing church.

ARTICLE 1. The object of this association being baais of the Word of God against sl~very, and to oonc Christian ministry and of Chrietian chnrches upon the c the wnditions of membership shall be tip adoption the payment of an annual contriition for its anpprc. m a mem~ers societies formkd on thsse principles shall be members in full of this society.

ART. 2. The officers of this sqciety shall be a pre treasurer, auditor, and an executive wmm;++- nf

ballot. ART. 3. The duties of the &cers and committee shall be to provide for

call public meetings at such times and places as thev see fit. in order to advoc principles of the society, $0 mould public op

rches with reference to slavery, d to inculcate me :id rulers, and of citizene, in mpect to ita overthrow

. 4. Beside local and extraordinary meetic n of the officers and committee, there shd r, during the religious anniversky week, il

York, and Boston, for the free expression of the men; of ~hristian.churches, aa decimd by this sw.-, .

ART. 8. The expenses incurred by the officers of this sod of their duties, by the maintenance of public meetings, lectures, and I Press, shall be met by the resources derived from the annual oontribut bers, and by such donatiom as benevolent individi for the uses of the eociety.

ART. 6. This constitution may be amended by bers present at any meeting, notice of said amendmeni

~ergies of nat meat

- " llowing resolutions were adopted with tne amve ot

a d o n e associations, of the diffmnt Evangelical denominations, in sppatbg. &h%i& movement! to the objects of this society, with the request, W they e b d remmmend to the minieters b d churches in their connections, to form local mie- t& according to the plsn proposed in the above constitution, Art. I.

Re&&, That the Executive Committee, as aoou acl they are jnehi6ed by the state of &e treasury, be reqnested to employ public lecturers to explain a d defend the principles of the society, and promote the general purpwea for which. it ha8 been formed.

Having perfected these preliminary arrangements, we would now respectfully and earnestly invite you to be present at our first annual meeting, which is to be holden in the city of Boston, on Tuesday the 24th of May, next, at the Tremont Temple, at 2 o'cl6ck P. x, th join in the movement now inaugurated, and to co-opemte in conddet- ing and deciding upon the practical measures that may be deemed necessary to carry into effect the principles and purposes of our or- ganization.

Presuming, however, on your very natural wish to know the lea;

sons of our movement, what encouragement we find for effort, and the plans we propose to adopt, we will briefly yet frankly set forth some of the considerations which have moved us to make this at- tempt.

1. We would combine and give expression to the existing anti. slavery sentiment of the churches. We are convinced that there is no inconsiderable amount of such opinion and feeling in them, which lies practically dormant, either from an overshadowing influence, that prevents it full exhibition, or because there is no organized form, through which such sentiments may be promulgated or made effective. Large numbers, with warm sympathy for the down trodden, longing desires for their deliverance, and deep indignation at the cruelty and craft of their oppressors, yet, being isolated, and without mutual countenance and support, are compelled to repress these feel- ings and leave without effective utterance their profound abhorrence

the fearful system of American chattel slavery. I n this society

we would' open a channel through which such sympathy can b w such testimony be uttered, and the needed effort bo put forth. , . . .

2. We would provide an agency for the dimemination of correct &$; G: prinaiplcs, not only upon the general subject of slavery, but upon ~~~5y.$&-? those speoial form of danger and duty, which the present eeripnciesas4&;=i of the cmse preaent. By the aid of the periodical press, tracta and - kcl*" s:.

. arid his disciples+xhrds the a1 our duty in relatioh . b those societies, who stillPr&in a seem1 and eaclesiastieal bodies in which s how can we absolve ourselves from ing involved in the sin and unhapb

+? 3. How shall Christians be &abI felt in the ~olitica of the state and nation, . *

weakening their moral infl;f:.&oe dvei fde &$a ? ,These are questions concerning which the3

of opinion, such differences aa paralyie th and hinder dl effective oppwition to thts te&

. . ..

nour, as matters of ethics merely, but as involving pactical issues of infinite moment to ourselves as well as others, pertaining as reallJ to the interests of Religion as Freedom. In the Socicty now formed we think an agenay is presented, which may be made greatly instru, mental of promoting such discussions, and rendering practical thc c o n ~ ~ i n e ,to which they lead.

- 4 . 3 & @ 4 , WE WOULD PLACH THE CHBISTIAN CHURCH IN ITI , .

T R ~ POSITION. We would not merely absolve it from all complicitj with American Slavery, but we, would take away its reproach o: remaining silent and inactive in the presence of this giant crim the day. I t is not fitting that the church should ignore her respon. sibilities in this matter. Her ministry and membership are neithel honoring their Master nor promoting their own good report, b j leaving this question-essentially a MORAL one, involving in all ih parts the great principles of right and tmong, the duties we owe t c God, our fellow-men, and our ownsouleto be.diecussed and decided by sceptical reformers, made more sceptid by ber wp$smew, or bg poPticians, looking at i t merely as an element of p&y .wrangemenl and zeal. Such a question is not safe in such hmds. The issueiimvolved are too momentous to be lodged exclusively with them, or with any poli. tical party, however correct, in the main, its principles and platform may be. Nor is it safe, or for the honor of the church; to allow such alquestion to be decidcd, even if it could be, by worldlymen from worldly principles alone. For her own sake, her testimony should be unequivocal, and her position clearly defined. Her hold upon

.the confidence and conscience of the community requires it. I f she would diminish the numbers who are yearly swelling the ranks of modern scepticism, she must change what seems to many the equi. vocal position she now occupies, upon this subject ; and thus deprixe -nfidelity of one of its most effective weapons, and one that it is using rith the most terrible success.

We are, by no means, unaware of the difficulties and discourage. lents, that suggest themselves, by the mere mention pf a new anti.

slavery movemenGthe objections which will be urged ta such an organization as we ~ropose-the doubts that will be started as t'o the need of such an effort, with the many ominous and dmonding questions that will suggest themselves concernipg it.' " What do you propose to DO?" is an inquiry that we frequently Jzw; an ifl often orooounded with a tone. indicative of no oonfidenqe in

good resulta from it. Some are satisfied with things as they are; others are hopeless of any good from any source; some think the church has done all she is.called upon to do, and that the rest must be left to the providenee of God; others feel that the present apathy of our churches to the dangers and duties of our position, is but a certain symptom of judicial blindness, a paralysis of the nation's mind and heart, that shall never be healed, as i t is but a sure pre- cursor of coming ruin; while others still feel, whatever may be God'a purpose or the actual results of efforts that we may make that it is our duty to feel for them in bonds as bound with them disown all fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, and usc every legitimate means to rid the Christian church of all unrighteow connection with wrong.

Now we respectfully submit, whether such diversity of sentimeni on the part of some, such apathy of feeling on the part of others and suchpersistent inaction ou the part of al2, at least s''a&'?fhj concerted effort is concerned, in the churches of the North, taken it connection with the notorious and astounding facts of Slavery and its advocates, do not afford reasons for an attempt to secure thc prevalence of better counsels and the adoption of measures thal shall, at least, indicate, that we see our dangers, an"d are willing tc learn our duty. The strides of the Slave Power were never so rapid as now. The Government, in all its departments, legislative, execu tive and judicial, is fully and openly committed to the purpose oj making slavery, no longer sectional. but national; requiring but ont more decision of the Supreme Court to render i t as legal in Massa chuaetts as in South Carolina. The Slave $de is prac&~lll opened, with a growing determination, on the part of t$'e South, tc remove all legislative restrictions that hinder its opeu prosecution Nor is the prospect more hopeful in $he Southern churches. Wt talk familiarly of their '' apostasy,,' and ye\we still remain ecclesi astically and socially, as well as politically and commercially, verj much as we were in the days of comparative darkness, and before thic "apostasy" took place. Our national Benevolent Societies stand dumb before this inexorable Power, while its advocates and apolo gists yet retain their places in their counsels and boards of direction

Is i t not time then, is there not a demand for, at least, conferen% andprayw among those who see the wrong, and who would absolve them- selvea from ail sseming countenance of so foul a scheme of cruelty and fraud ? I s it not time, that Northern Christians should take counsel together and unite their prayera for heavenly wisdom; that they

that t 6

l+n+l

my free'institutions are intimately, if not essentially, connecte

of natl-b~s-ly%g 'in -heathens daikness, that-aqery friend of Christ - should identify himself with the cause of4'reedom in-our land.

. > -. Do we speak of obstacIes dd'diiU0~111lea f6 b e encotinkred and

overcome ? In what good cause are not such to be expected ? Has .the cause of Foreign Missions fewer ? Are there less ser20us diffi- culties to be apprehended, or less practical wisdom necessary, in the endeavor to evangelize the pagan natf-sns of the eartl, than to place

=the Christian church of America in its true position on the single subject of Slavery ? Is there less demand fo? faith and confidence in God and the power of truth, when the (' American and Poreign Christian Union" enters upon the work of converting the Papal nations of both hemispheres, than when we undertake to persuLde. the Christians of our land to remember them, that are in bonds, as bound witg them ?

But our present purpose is not eo much to argue these points, as to invite your attention to one more effort, to combine the friends of Christ in some well-concerted and prayerful effort to undo the heavy burdens, and to !et the oppmssed go free." We believe that a prompt and hearty response would so give confidence to each other, reassure the hesitating, and decide the doubtful, that the way would be opened for future more vigokous and successfhl efforts. Purther plans in detail inight be given. But we prefer that they should be the result of the general deliberations of those who may identify themselves with this movement and connect themselves with this society. The principles of our " Declaration " being adopted heartily and in good faith, we can apprehend no serious difficulties in the way of marking out a line of policy which shall render them

free, I thf

effective for great and-benign results. We start, indeed, without the prestige of names and numbers ; but our confidence is in Him who hears the cry of, the o@pre&d, and in the clairi, which Truth and Right can urge whh'success~ upon the reason and conscience of

, the wise arid-gdod. o u r society i s neecessrrrily somewhat local in its origii, membrship and officers; mad yet we are not without our hopes, that ~its'iang6 shbll.y& :Becomew%ti&aE, and &hat' the reins of its mmagement shall: falldnto'th'e hands of thode' recaking them

1 4 ' from a greatly 8nl&1,@d'cdnst~rimq~ . ' '

And here' w! [rest-. our 'ples : W ~ i r r o d d respeetf~11y- and affec- tionatelp i@te you:to jqinya in &IQ wore effort to. arouse'the alum- beringewg@6s.?f'the ohmh th'the yerfoirnance of her duiy. S h t l

e .hi vph'? 1 Shdl*p&~t conflicts of opinion, or pre$&h & a l e diffem~es of sentiment upon the " metaP6jBiL!s3'

of the subject, hinder us from combining our counsels, our prayers, and efforts,-in behalf-of an object confessedly so great and good? By 'the sorrows and LL hopes deferred " of suffering millions, by our deep i&x~& in the political prosperity of our natian, by our regard for the purity and honor of the church, by our love for the Saviour, who regards every act of kindness done to the least of his brethren as done to him, by our own hopes of heaven ; and the welcome plaudit, "well done, good and faithful servant," we invite you to be one with us in this effort in behalf of Humanity and our &mmon Paith.

J. 0. WEBSTER, of Hopkinton, Mass., Pres't. signed, ) HENRY T. CEUZEVER, of Jewett city, Coon., B*. i'i

Executive Committee :-Hon. Elmcr Brigham, if Westboro ; Rev. Samuel Hunt, of Franklin; I. Washburn, Charles Ballard-and Rev Chester Fie14 d ~orcester .

any from memberdrip or donations, may be trapsmitted by mail, or ocher- wise, ?'the treasurer, I. Washburn, of Worcester, Mass., who will forward roceipt for the same.