Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-03-04
LETTER FROM MRS. FOSTER.
ALBloN, Mich, Feb. %, 1854.

ALBION, Mich, Feb. %, 1854.
DEAR FRIEND; We closed a highly interesting
Convention in this place, at late hour last even
ing. The results of this Convention warrant us in
considering the triumph Of truth in this place over
priesly bgotry and intolerance, a matter of heart
felt graduation to the slave and all his real friends
Mr.. Foster and myself were lccturing in Hickory
Grove in the early part of the winter, and as Al
bion was their railroad station we enquired whether
it would not be well for to hold meetings there.
We received for reply that it was the strong hold
Of Methsdism in the State, that there was large
Methodist seminary there and some ten or dozen
ministers, and that in fact there had been several
attempts on the part Of Free Sellers to create an
interest in the village, but that every effort had
failed.
Yet before we left Hickory Grove, our friend, j.
c. Mott, received n note from very pro-slavery,
Democratic lawyer of the place, inviting me to
come there to lecture From the whole manner OF
the invitation and subsequent events, it is evident
that curiosity to see and hear "Abby Kelly" was
the only motive that prompted the invitation. But
il was accepted, and on the first evening the Pres
byteran Church, which l afterwards learned was
not obtained honorably#--was well filled by an in.
telgcnt assembly who listened with interest. Al
the close Of the meeting, finding that considerable
sympathy was felt for the slave, proposed another
and enquired if house could be obtained for the
purpose. After some consultation, the Methodist
Church was pledged by one of its members, and a
meeting appointed for the next evening. But the
good friend who made the pledge found, to his ut
ter amazcment, terrible opposition arrayedo against
him. However, the house was opened and lighted
though not in in time to warm it, as our suffering
congregation could testify. Yet the moral ther.
mometer was far below the physical. Still the
interest deepened, and at the close of this meeting
we proposed to hold third The clergyman step
ped forward and said he was happily disappointed
in the character of our lectures, and that it was
doctrine that ought to be preached in evory pulpit
That although he had an appointment for the next
evening, he would give it up to make way for us,
and that he was willing We should have the house
as long as we wanted it,. | do not pretend 10 give
his language but his ideas. Yet we were told that
the next day, this same minister said to some OF
his flock that he was utterly opposed to our using
the house, but was driven to say whathe did, undcr
tho pressure of public sentiment We doubt not
that this latter statement true though the con-
fesson convcts him of falsehood on the previous
evening, The pressure of public sentiment was
indeed heavy. Some of the most intelligent inau-
ental and wealthy supporters Of the church having
snid if the doors were shut they should hencoforth
withdraw their support and, indeed the mass OF
-
II mention this fact, because, as one of the
trustees afterwards told mo, the house would not
have been opened had the question come before the
trustees. Neither, probably, would any other
church in tho village But n little truth once ut
tered, gave taste for more, Hence the house was
/ kept open.