Locked Out of the Congregational Church in Saybrook - but the meeting went on!

VISIT TO SAYBROOK.

            Last week we visited this ancient town—one of the oldest in the State. It is pleasantly situated at the mouth of the Connecticut, and from its principal street has a fine outlook upon the Sound. It must be breezy and pleasant for a Summer residence, but bleak and cold enough during the Winter. There are some objects of historical interest to be seen there—the old Fort and the Monument of Madam Fenwick, for instance—but we cannot now stop to describe them, or relate the histories with which they are associated. The object of our visit was to address the Temperance Society of Saybrook and vicinity, which held its monthly meeting on the 17^th Inst. The meeting was held in the Congregational Church. An audience, respectable for character and numbers, were in attendance during the afternoon, and a much larger congregation in the evening. The speaking devolved upon ourself, though there were others present who were more competent to instruct and delight the audience. It was not our fault, however, that they did not occupy a portion of the time—for we only complied with the arrangements of the Business Committee. We should have mentioned that a meeting of delegates was held, during the morning, at the study of the Rev. Mr. Crane, for the purpose of hearing reports from the several towns and societies represented. One feature of these reports struck us with peculiar force—the uniform testimony that Intemperance has greatly increased since the repeal of the law of 1845. We hear the same complaint from every section of the State. Grog-shops have multiplied, and drunkenness stalks abroad, unabashed, at open noon-day, in consequence of the corrupt and uncalled for legislation of last Spring. If demagogues cannot make good laws, they should at least have the grace not to mar those which have been framed by their predecessors. However, this unwise legislation will not be entirely destitute of a good influence. It will convince the friends of Temperance, not only of the absolute necessity of prohibitory laws, if they would break up the liquor-traffic, but that they must rely upon themselves for the enactment and enforcement of such laws, instead of entreating the interests of the cause to hollow-hearted politicians, who will not hesitate to sacrifice principle to party, whenever their narrow views of expediency may seem to demand it.

            At noon, a note, signed by several respectable citizens of Saybrook, was put into our hand, asking us to remain and give an address upon the subject of slavery, on the following day. We consented to do so, and notice was accordingly given, at the evening meeting, that we would give an anti-slavery address, in the Congregational Church, at 2 o’clock the following afternoon. Well—the afternoon came, and the people assembled—but to their great surprise, found no ingress to the Church. A pro-slavery man, who has the unmistakable merit of money, had taken the responsibility of pocketing the key and driving out of town with it—thus using against the abolitionists the best argument, probably, which suggested itself to his mind. We will say no harsh things about the man—for when even his friends are compelled to blush for his stupidity, those whom he has wronged can well afford to withhold the rebuke which is conduct deserves. In this instance he overshot his mark—for the kidnapping of the key did not prevent our having a meeting, and a right good meeting too. The ladies seated themselves on the steps of the Church, where the warm sunshine looked in kindly upon them, and the gentlemen stood around. Prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr. Bushnell [this is a different Horace Bushnell, the Deacon of the Saybrook Congregational Church, from the more famous one in Hartford]—a hymn sung by the congregation—and then for one hour, we spoke upon the subject of slavery, exhibiting its character, and showing why and how we should labor for its overthrow.—Never have we spoken to a more attentive auditory, or under circumstances that seemed to promise more of good. At the close of our address, an influential Whig, who was too much of a man to tolerate the petty tyrant to which we had been subjected in our exclusion from the Church, came forward and gave me his name as a subscriber to the Charter Oak, and his example was at once followed by several others. Upon the whole, we doubt not that the meeting will be more productive of good in the advancement of the anti-slavery cause, than it would have been, had we been permitted to occupy the Church without molestation.

            That the people of Saybrook will sanction this outrage against the rights of the abolitionists, we cannot believe. Should they do so, then it will become a serious question for the abolitionists to decide, whether a house that is barred against those who plead for God’s perishing poor, is a fit temple for their worship, who, abhorring the slavery inflicted upon others, will not consent to be slaves themselves.