South Congregational Church history and catalogue, 1852–1865 · scan page 64

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56  MINISTRY  OF    EEV.  MR.  NOTES,
Gospel  of  Clirist  to  ten  millions  of  people,  including  tiiree
and  a  half  millions  of  slaves,  from  whom  the  American
Home  Missionary  Society  has  withdrawn  its  aid.  But  I
do  not  perceive  that  either  of  these  facts,  or  all  of  them
together,  constitute  a  just  ground  of  offence  to  a  Christian
congregation.
Viewing  the  matter  in  this  light,  I  scarcely  need  add,
that  I  can  never  be  a  party  to  such  proscription,  either
actively  or  passively.  If  my  own  personal  gratification
were  alone  involved,  I  would  cheerfully  forego  that  gratifi-
cation for  the  sake  of  peace.  But  if  peace  can  be  had,  only
on  the  condition  of  sacrificing  a  great  and  good  man,  of
whom  the  world  is  not  worthy,  to  the  moloch  of  ultra
Abolitionism,  and  of  surrendering  those  noble  edifices,  that
pulpit,  and  the  institutions  connected  therewith,  to  the  pro-
motion of  the  same  proscriptive  and  malignant  spirit,  then
in  my  judgment  the  purchase  is  too  dear,  and  I  prefer  to
meet  the  issue  as  it  stands.  I  well  know  that  as  a  member
of  the  Church  and  congregation,  I  have  no  more  control
over  the  action  of  eitlier,  than  has  the  obscurest  of  our
members.  I  am  willing  it  should  be  so.  And  you  will  bear
me  witness  that  I  have  never  sought  to  encroach  upon  the
rights  of  the  pulpit.  At  the  same  time  I  have  some  riglits
peculiar  to  myself.  1  have  expended  more  than  $50,000
upon  the  South  Church  enterprise,  in  the  erection  and  fur-
nishing of  the  buildings,  and  in  supporting,  in  part,  the
expenses  of  the  establishment  for  the  last  seven  years.  I
have  never,  for  a  single  moment,  regretted  the  expenditure.
On  the  contrary,  I  am  ready  to  expend  $50,000  more,  if
necessary,  ty  carry  out  the  objects  of  the  enterprise  as
originally  contemplated.  What  those  objects  arc,  you  were
early  apprised ;  and  your  acceptance  of  the  station  which
you  now  occupy,  is  proof  that,  substantially,  they  met  your
a])probation.  What  they  are,  is  evidenced  by  the  history
of  the  enterprise  thus  far,  in  connection  with  the  fact  that
down  to  this  day  I  have  never  (romplained  of  the  manner  in
which  they  have  been  carried  out.  But  if  a  now  order  of
things  is  to  be  introduced;  if  the  mad  spirit  of  ultra  Aboli-
tionism, which  has  already  divided  so  nuniy  churches,  greatly
damaged  the  interests  of  the  slave,  and  brought  our  country

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Silent Grounds Collective, Church Burial & Death Records, CH-P004-0064. South Congregational Church history and catalogue, 1852–1865, printed page not verified, PDF page 64. Hallock, Gerard, 1800-1866; digitized copy contributed by University of California Libraries https://archive.org/details/historyofsouthco00hall/page/n66/mode/1up Accessed September 8, 2026.

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