Litchfield enquirer., 1879-07-10
WHOLE NO. 277O

from the work 1n which he was engaged. These menaces, however, did not alarm him so much as they did his friends and he could not be persuaded to adopt any measures of self-defense, being convinced that his blood, in case it should be shed, would be the seed of glorious harvest. He was man of peace, and would take into his hands no Carnal weapons, following in this precept, as well as the exam pie, of the prophet of Nazareth.
 Toward the end of the year 1881, Mir. Gar rison proposed to his friends the organization of an Anti-slavery society. The Li6erGtor of- flee was the scene of many discussion of the subject and several meetings were held for it's consideration. It was finally resolved that society should be formed, and a committee was appointed to draft constitution. The com mittee reported to meeting held Jan. 6, 1852, in the Belknap-street schoolhouse," on 'Nig- ger Hill" The night was rainy and dismal, and but few persons were present. David Lee Child, Esq, man of high character and unswerving devotion to liberty, occupied the chair. The constitution, as reported, set forth the great principle of immediate emancipation as test of membership, and upon this the discussion of the evening turned. MT. Child, Mr. Samuel E. Sewall, and Mir. Ellis Gray Loring, three of MT. Garrison's most faithful friends, while admitting that the principle it. self was sound and important deemed 1t un- wise to incorporate it in the constitution as test They would make the society broad enough to invite the cooperation of all sincere opponents of slavery, whether they believed in immediate or gradual abolition. lmmediat- ism was unpopular and they thought 1t would repel some whose cooperation was desirable. Mr. Garrison contended with great earnest ness that the doctrine of immediatisn was vi- tai, and than any society founded upon gradu- alism would be little better than useless. He appealed to the experience of Abolitionists in England, showing that the cause there had re- ceived mighty impulse from the doctrine of immediate emancipation, as expounded by Elizabeth Heyrick, Clarkson, WilberfOrce, Macaulay, O'Connell, and the other leaders of the movement in Great Britain had been con- verted to the doctrine and had confessed that much time had been lost in pursuing the tg7ets tatuus of gradualism Mr. Garrison was im- movable, and majority of the meeting coin cded with him. The constitution was adopt ed and signed by twelve persons, Messrs. Child, Sewall, and Loring refusing to sign. 1t should be said, however, that these gentlemen all joined the society few days later, and brought to it an added influence which. l am sure they were all convinced, after little re- fection, that MT. Garrison was preeminently wise in insisting so strenuously upon the rec ognltion of a principle which he saw to be hardly less important to the cause than Is the handspring to the watch.
 The constitution was signed by twelve per sons, as follows: Win. Lloyd Garrison, Oliver Johnson, Robert B. Hall, Arnold Buffam, Will liam J. Smelling, John E. Fuller, Moses Thatch- CT, Joshua Coffin, Stillman B. NewcOinb, Ben- iamin C. Bacon, Isaac Knapp, Henry K. Stockton. It is most probable that am now the only survivor of thls original band, though l have no positive assurance that MT. Fuller and Mr. Newcomb are not still living. Of Al, haa that there was not one who possessed any large influence, and I doubt if it would have been in the power of one of them to put SO much as hundred dollars into the treasury ot the society. In those days, not many rich, not many mighty needed the call of freedom. It. happened then as in so many instances before, that God chose the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, the weak things to con- found the things that were mighty, and base things and things that were despised yea, and things that were not, to bring to naught things that were, that no flesh might glory in his presence. Not those in official station, nor those of great social influence, but the com mon people, heard the word with gladness. The popular benevolent associations of the day, with their array of great names among their officers, looked with contempt upon the new society, with nobody but Quaker natter for it's president and other obscure men for managers. The advocates of the Colonization Society especially were fond of drawing comparison between the list of great states men, judges, senators, and divines that com= posed the official board of that society, and the little company of ''nobodies' who had under taken to abolish slavery by direct assault. But Wisdom was justified of her children in the end, and the little one speedily became thousand. It was not long before the Coloni- zation Society was put upon it's defense, and condemned by pubic opinion for it's double dealing and for it's apologetic attitude toward slavery.
 MT. Garrison was the center and soul of the new movement-not by any assumption on his part, but by the spontaneous sut1rages Ot the whole body of his associates. He never forgot for one moment that the cause was Gods, not mans, and that his almighty pow CT was pledged for it's success. The weapons he used were from heavens own armory, those which in all ages have proved mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. His faith in God and in the power of histruth was invincible. In the darkest hour he was conti- dent of victory, and his associates took knOwl- edge of him that his courage and hope were fed from an unseen but eternal fountain. Of his private religious experiences he said little; but if there is such a thing as walking with God in thls lower world, the strength and the delight of such an intercourse were his His faith lifted him above all fear of death and made him rare consoler when those he loved were stricken and bereaved. At the funeral of dear friend, some years ago, he said: ''Nothing in this universe do l accept with more joy and gratitude than this change which we call death Death what is iii As much manifestation of the wisdom and benevolence of God as earthly existence itself. It is an event as natural as the falling leaf or the blos- solning flower. There is no evil in it. Death it is 'Ercelsior 7 It is onward and up- ward!' It is the better and higher position nebler sphere of life. It is not to be met with resignation; but, rather, with thankful- ness and a victorious spirit, in Gods time, Come the last hour when It may, Thrust my song shall be:- TH.Gt hl5 .yH.rH .%Ge.s. s- "'I'll praise my uak.r with my breath, .r
 And when my voice is lost iu death
 Praise shall employ my nobler powers;
 My days of praise shall ne'er be past
 While life and thought and being last,
 Or immortality endures.'" " V -O6Uer Johnson, % Indepee1ent.' H-' ''ss