Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1845-09-12
From The Free UesRewun.
Isaac II. Hopper, and the Methodist
Shareholder.

GTOW fHE TFEE ~ CNftWIVs
Isuac II. Hopper, and Jhc Methodist
~vehOId
During the late session of the General
Conference of the Methodist Il. Church,,
in the city of New FORK, that well known
friend to the slave, Isaac Il. Hopper, was
introduced to three young ladies', daughters
of a slaveholding Methodist preacher, FRONT
Mississippi. Said the Friend at whose
house they were visiting, ''This is Isaac
Hopper, one of the most fabiJ Abolitionis.5.
III the North. And these" turning to tho
ladies', ''are the daughters of a stakeholder
from the South"
BY this means they were soon well known
to each other. And the conversation which
ensued, with other interesting incidents, l.
will give in the language of Friend Hopper,
who related it to rue to-day.
'.They were very intelligent girls. | was,
much pleased with them. One of them as
sured me, however, that they could not do
without the slaves"
"'Why, Mr.. Hopper said she, i never
dressed or undressed myself until | came to
the North. And | did not know what to do
when | left home; | felt inclined to bring a
servant with me-
"'I wish thee had brought one,' said |.
"tWhyl What would you have done,
Mr.. Hopper, if you had seen her!
al should have told her that she was a
free woman now, but if she went back to the
South she would 20 az a pig or a sheep, to
be sold il occasion called for it,
",Fhey only laughed at the frankness thus
expr ,ssed, and continued the conversation for
some time, on the same subject then told
them ] should like to see them at my house
with their father, And in a few days they
came very much TO my satisfaction. We
had a long talk about Slavery.
"Said this preacher, 'Mr. Hopper, do YOU
say and think that | am not a Christian!'
81 certainly do not regard thee as a Chris
tian,'
"Why, Mr.. Hopper' do you think l can.
not get to helven!'
"That | will not say. But Slavery is a
great abomination, and no one who is guilty
of it can be a Christian or Christ-like. |
would not exclude thee from the kingdom of
heaven. To thy own Master thou dost st md
or fall. If thou dost enter there, it will be
on the ground of ignorance of the fact that
thou art living in SIM
1--WE reasoned on it at some length, when
the conversation turned upon the conduct of
Abolitionists.
"Slid the preacher, IF the Abolitionists
were all like you and Mr.. Gibbons, we could
come to some agreement on this mattcr.-
Why, | never was treated 50 well by any bo-
dy as you and Mr.. Gibbons, your abolition
friend, have treated me. But your'Abolition-
lists generally are 80 violent and abusive.'
A Friend present remarked to him that
none were more generally execrated, as vile
and abusive Abolitionists, than was the 'no-
torious,' Hopper as the Southern papers call
him. j then said the shareholders love and
make a lie in this thing
"'Well,' said he, I'VE should be glad tn
see you with us, Friend Hopper, on a visit
All! and thou would'st lynch me, or thy
friends would, if they caught me-
$50 no sir: we would treat you WE'LL
But how would you do about Slavery when
there!'
"'Why, I should tell the slaves to be o.
bedient, faithful, industrious, and never think
of running away from a good master, unless
they We're sure they could escape! and in
that case he oil as soon as possible! for if
caught, they would fare much worse than
they do now. And | would say to thee, that
"a thou claimest to be a minister of Jesus
Christ, consistency Of character, and the spir-
it of thy Master, require thee to give deliver
ance to the captivo-to let the oppressed go
Free
"Before we separated | saw tears in his
eyes. i appealed to him closely, and bore
a faithful testimony.
MY friend, dost thou have a conscience
void of olfencel When thou lest down at
night, is thy mind always at easel After
pouring out thy soul in prayer to thy Maker,
dost thou not feel the outraged sense of right,
like a perpetual motion, restless and disqui-
eted within thy breast, telling thee tits wrong
to hold these men in slavery,-their wives
and little onesl'
"To this he answered frankly, that some
times he doubted; yet upon the whole, he
thought it best and right. When they were
about leaving, one Of his daughters, a young
widow, thus addressed me:
"'Mr. Hopper, | thank God for this priv
ilegc. | never saw and talked with an Alb
olitionist before, | am now persuaded that
slaveholding is sinful in the sight of Cod
When my husband died, he left me several
slaves. have held them for five years.
But | return home now, resolved to be the
owner ola slave no longer We babe each
other FAREWELL"