Anniversary Of The Michigan Wesleyan Anti-slavery Society

The first annual meeting of thia Society was held at the Methodist Church in Ann Arbor, January 12, 1842; at ten o'clück, A. M. The meeting was called to order, by the appointment of S. P. Mead Chairman, and W. M. Sülliva:, Secrelarv, pro. tem. Frayer by Rev. G. Beckley. On motion, it was Resolved, That all persons whó may be present and are fvith lis on llie subject of Slavery, be juvited to act as conespondin; members of this meeüng. Moses F. Collins, Dr. T. Hoskinsand W. M. Sulüvan, were oppoinieda commi'itce to nomínate offieers for the Suciety fur the ensuitig year. Dr. T. lioskins, G. Beckley, S.Felch, . S. D. Noble and W. VV. Willets, were apnuinted a commitlce on business. On molion, the follovring persons were nominated a comtnittee on the Missionary quesiion, viz:G. Beckley, H. Dwight, D. Hillikor, J. VV. Brooksand II. Lyon. On motion, adjourned to meet at 1 o'clock. Met ntl !iiick in pursuant to adjournrr.ent. Prayer by Rev. Samuel Bebens. The Report of the corresponding Secretary was then read and accepted. The committee relative to the proposed Jliseionary crganiz-ition, reported as fullows:''That they have considered the ques tion of ilissions wilh deep and serious ntteniion, ana óave dclibcrately come to the conclusión that a Missionary Society should be puro - uncoutaminated by the price of blood, and etcrnally hostile to Slavery and oppressinn in all its forms, and nasniuch as the Missionary Society of the Methodist E. Church manifesüy sustains Slavery first, by receiving slave holders without reproof; second, by receiviug the contributions of slaveholders into its Treasury without hesitancy, and third, by appointing s!aveholder3 to its chief offices. We therefore recommend to the friends of the slave in this State, tbe organiz'ition of a Missionary Society havinw noconnection whatever with slavery." Adopted unanimously. Committee on nominations, reporled iho following listof officcra for the ensuingyear: President. Rev. G. BECKLEY, Ann Arbor Vice Presidenta. Henry Dwight, Washtenaw. Silas Pomroy, Jackson. J. D. BAtDwiN, Detroit, Corresponding Secretary. V. Meekeu, Leslie. Recording Secretary. S. P. Mead, Plymou-h. Treasurer. Dr. T. Hoskins, Scio. Executive Committee. VV. M. SuiiLivAN, Jackson, M. F. Collins, Washtenaw. Wm. BakkümJ J. Dimond, Detroit. H. P. Hoag. )On motion ihe report wosaccepted and adopted. On motion, it wa.=? Resolved that S. P. McaJ, W. M. Sullivan and S. Feltch, be appoin'ed to nominate delegatesto the contcmplated VVorlds Convention. The Business committee repnrted the following resolutions which were taken up separately and discusaed wiih spirited remarks from G. Bockley, Dr. Barnes; W.M. Sullivan, S.P. Mead, Dr. T. Hosfcins and others. They were unanimously adopted. Whereasslavery with n!I its complicatcd wrongs exists in, and is tuleratcd by the Methodist Episcopal Church in ihe United Siates, therefore Resolved, That it ia the impcrative du ty of all who love ihe church and desire its prosperity to seek by all "wise and prudent means" its purificaiion froni Ihis "complicated villany." Whoreas "Slavery is contrary to the laws of God. man, and nature, and hurtful to s'cietyj contrary to the d1ctates 0fc0n3cience and pure reliGIÓN and doing what we would not have others do unto us," therefore Resolved, That we withdravv all christian followship frorn those who after having been reproved continue in the practice ot thiögreatsin. Resolved, That the indcfatigable labors Bacnfices and sufierings of "Sunderland, Scott fy Co." in the cause uf human rights entitlo them toour wannest sympathies. Resolved, That we most heartily npprove of another "VVorld-'s Cnvention" to be held in London in 1842 ot 1843 and ihat we appoint a delégate. Resolved, That wrong voting on the subject of sl-.ivery greatly tends to neutralize our moral suasion against it. Resolved, That G. Beckley, Dr. T. Hoskins and S. Feltch be a committee to draft a memorial to the Michigan Annual conference in reference Co matters pertaining to the action of the General Conference of the M. E. Church on the subject of abolition, and report the same to ournext annual meeting. On motion, adjourned lo meet to-morrow morning at half past 8 o'clock. Prayer by VV. M. Sullivan. Thursday mornininghalf past 8 o1clock. A. Gillet in the chair; prayer by Rev. D. Ileliker. Commiltee to nominale a delégate and substituto to the "World'd Convention," rported Rev. G. Beckley of Ánn Arbor, delégate, and Rev. E. Smitb of Pittsburgh3a. as a substituto. Resolved, Thut we respectfullymemorilize the Michigan Anniial Conference i our organizod capacify to erase from íeir Journals those resolutions ujon their ecords which embarrnss any of their nembers from uniting with us in the pro. notion of the Anti-Slavery enterprise. Resolved, That we request those memers and ministers of the M. E. Church vho are abolilionists in the bounds of this tato lo petilion and remonslrate against hose odious reolutiona. Resolved, That unless those resolutions re erased from the journals of the Michian Annual Conference, we shall fcel uner no obligations to support or sanction ie members of that body as ministers of lat Gospel the design of which is to roduce "peace on eatlh and good will inong men." Ou moñón the resoluiion was laid on ie table. Resolved, That we do most earnestly ecommend lo nll ihe friends of the slavc i theJVIethorlist E. Church in Michigan, n all suitable public or private occasions o deal witb ilieir breihren in their res)tctive churebes wiih great christian fielity on the crying sin of slavery and )ro-s!averyism in ihe church, even at ie hazard of perfecutionor expulsión. Resolved, That it be recommended to II the friends of the slave, in the Methdist Episcopal church, to wilhhold all ontributions from the Missionary society f said church. Resolved, That as Mcthodists we are )ound to receive and support those minis ers whioh are appointed to our respective ircuits and stations by lhe nuthorities of be church. - Rejected Unanimously. On motion, it was Resolved, That the roceedings of this meeting be publibhed n the"Signal of Liberty," and that a colection be liftcd for the purpose of obtainng extra copies of the "Signal" containng these procecdings. A collection amounting lo ten dollars vas then taken up. On motion, it was Resolved, That the next annual meeting of this Society be lolden in Ann Arbor lbo second Wedncslay of January 1843. Prayer by Dr. Barnes. Ou motion adjoumed. AMASA GILLET, Preside it. VV. M. Sullivan, Secretary. Ann Arbor, Jan. 13th 1842. THE REPORT OF THE CÓRRESPONDING SECRETARY.lo the good Providence of God we have jcen spared to assemblc ia otir iirst Annual Meeting. In an examination of the present state of abolition in the Methodist connexion throughout our State, we have much for which we ehould bless God, upon whom we depend for success. We have had an organized existence but one year, du- ring which time we have seen hundreds of Members of the 3iethodist church, and members too of ürst respectabihty - rnembers whom the cburch ia days past have delighted to hunor,arousing froin their criminal apathy toward the enslaved of thiscountry, to be indifferent no more until they witness the tnumph of our holy enterprise, or until they arrive at that región where the "slave is free from his master, the vucked cease to trouble, and the weary are at rest." Duiing the year past owing to the lovv state of our funda your corresponding Secretary has been unable to devote mere than half his time exclusively to the service of the society. In the six months of service, however, he has been as ble to deliver upwards of two hundred lecturea and sermons setting forth the claims of the objects which has banded us together in different parts of the following counties, viz: Jackson, Eaton, Ingham, Washtenaw, Livingston, Oakland, VVayne, Monroe and Lenawee. In the report of the Treasurer you wil I observe that our nuances has buenkept good conaidering the extreme pressure of the times. Tho circular ordered at our iiret meeting was published as soon as could be afteY adjournment, and fourhundred copies gratuitously distributed throughout the State. It is but iust hovvever, that your Secretary should cali your attention to the exclusiveness of our constitution in determioing the inembeiship of pur societies. lt has been and yet remaius a formidable barríer to our succcss. I refer to that article whicli requires membership in our societies to be dependent in all casea upon membership in the JU. E. Cliurch. Tuis is productive of tho followmg difficulties with others which I might niention. lst. It affords no protectton to the reputation of its own members. The moment by an inflexible integrity to the principies of our society, a meinber may incur the dis- pleaBure of ono who has at his disposal membership in the M. E. Church, and is ex pelled in that Church, he summanly raeets the same fute in in our society.2od, lt indirectly pledgea its memhers to acts of ivjustice loward each other. It is injusticc tuward a brother to refuse him succor and help whcn lie needs it most, he needa itmost when he receives the brand of expulsión for believing and acting with Mr, Wesley that "Slavcry ie a complicated vil1lainy," but at that time we cannot with mir present constitution afford him any associated support. . 3d. It indirectly pledges its members to unite in a prosecution that may be got up against a member whose aciive abolitionism has been offensive to avowed opposers in the M. E. Churcli. We virtuaily say to the opposers of abolition in the M.E.Church expel that offensive member, and we will right or wrong, give our associated sane tion. 4th. It sanctions tho usurpations of somtof the officers of theM. E. Church wluch have wrestéd from abolitionists the:r diciplin ary rightsand immunities. In one sensein8tead of being an inflexible resistance to wrong, it is the abettor to tyranny.These, with olher objections growlngout of the same cause requirean araendment to our constilution. Sornething should be done syetematically by way of petitiiion and remonstrance to cali the attenlion of the Mich igan Annual Conference to the followiog odious resolutions whicli stand upon the records of that body. "Resolved, That it is the duty of the members of thia conference to refrain from ngitating the church. by forming aboütion societies, in or out of the church ; or by at tending Methodist Anti slavery Conven tions. Resolved, That Zion's Wntchman is Anti methodistical in its general course, and that it is the duly of the members of ibis conference not to patronize or circu Inte it. Resolved, That those prcachers which take a course calculated to injure our offi cial periodicals, to give place to abolition or other periodicals, viola'e thcir obliga tions to the church, and should be dealt wiih nccordingly. Ministers thua pledged to hostility toour friendship toward :he enslaved, present them sel vea to ub, as the instructora of our children and families in the doctrines of the Gospel. This has been borne with sufliciently long. It is but just howeverto soy, that it is probable there are members of that body not a ware of the existence of these resolutions. Let them knovv it by petiüon and remonstrance at their next session. In corumon with the lot of all mortality, we have experienced some 6ad inruads made into ournumbersby the hand ofDesih during thepast year. Among them we find our friends and folio w-laborers, D. W. Lockwood, of Inghaua County, and Geo. Shefheud of Eaton. They were both dietinguished for their attachment to the principies of our society, and some of us present, remember tho valuable aid rendered us in the formation of our society by the presence ant counsel of the former. VVhy they should be taken at this time is an inscrutable Providence. And however painful it may be with U9 to part with their valuable Bervices, it becomes us in submission to the will of the Common Father of us all, to eachofthoir departed worth to 6ay"Child, Iby Father calis; go home." They could have left behmd them no better evidence of their preparation for the bright "abode of the bleeaed" eo far as practical chrislianity is concerned, than their ioterest in the welfare of universal huruanity. Let U8 .awake to the magnitude of our work. Á life-time we shall find too bhort to accomplish all tor which we háve set out. - Faithfulness and integrity should be our chiefcharacteristics. We bave "a strong consolation" in Him who has condescended to declare the infinity of his nature on our side by calling himself the 'God of tue opn pressed," He has said "For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy now wijl I arise saith the Lord. I will set him in safety from him that pufFeth at hitn." Respectfully submitted. VV. M. SULL1VAN. MISSIONARY MEETING. In pursurance toa cali published in the "Signal of Liberty,"" sundry persons of different denominations assembled in the Methodist Church in Ann Arbor on Thursday the 13th inst., for the purpose of the organization of an Anti-Slavery Missionary Society. The meeting vvas organized by calling S. B. Treadwell to the chair, and appointing S. P. Mead Secretarj. - Prayer by J. W. Brook9. On motion, Resolved, Thnt we now proceed to the organization of a Missionarv Society. Whereupon the following was presented and adopted by the Convention.PREAMBLE AND C0N3TITUTI0N OF THE UNION MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Whereas, God haB unscalcd the fountains of life and snlvation to ihis lost worlc and made it the imperious duty of his church to "preaeh the gospel to every creature," and whereas it is vital to the honor and success of the Gospel that its promulgation among the nation9 of ihe Earth be entirely dii-connected wilh oppression and in no way be mado directl) or indireclly to sanction sin, and wherea the leading Missionary socieiies of ou Natiun support and sanction American Slavery we'therefore form ourselves into an association under the fnlloning CONSTITÜTION. Aet. 1. This Assoication shall be called the Union Missionary Society of the State of Michigun. Art. II. The object of this Society shall be to evangelize those portions of the globe, which are mosi destitute of the Gospel. Art. III. Any person who is not a slavcholder,may become a memher of this Society by sub3cribing to ihis constitution and puying annually not less than ñfty cents. And any person pnying ten dollars or upwards at one time, shall become a inember for Ufe. Art. IV. The offieers of this Society shall consist of a Presideat, five VicePresidents, n Recording Secretary Treas urcr and five managers, to be annually elected bv the Society. Art. V. It shall be the duty of this Society in collecting its funds, selectmg itdfitlds of labor, appoin'ing its officers, missionaries and agents to pariicularly disejuntenance Slavery ,nnd espet ially by refusing tn reccive theknovvn fruits ofunrequited labor. Art. V(. The duties of ihe officers of the Society as cn'emplated m the fourth aiticle, Rhalj be thoscof the samo ofiicers in similar Societie?. Art. VII. Auxilüaries whethor male or female, general or local may be formedpon the principies laid down n article lird nnd n'fih of this Gónututon. Art. Vi ir. This Constitution mi y he liercd or tunendeJ at any unuual meelng of the Society by a voteof a raajority f members present. On motion, it was Resolved, That the onvention adjourn to meet in Marshall to omplete the organizaron by the appointmentofofficerson the first Wednesday of ?ebruarv next at 1 o'clock P M.