The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-22
AN AGED ABOLITIONIST
Noted Figure in the Anti-Slavery
Fight Visits indianapolis.
When it Required Courage to Do 1t,
Guest of George w. Julian.

A few days ago there passed through
this city very remarkable man, of
the earliest and most active of the old
Abolitionists, man whose history reads
more like fiction than fact. This was the
Rev. John G. Fee, who, with his wife,
was the guest of Hon. George W. Julian,
of Irvington. Forty years ago the name OF
this pioneer anti-slavery preacher was very
familiar to the people of these Middle and
Western States. but to the present gen.
Grafton he is a stranger, and some facts in
regard to his career may be of interest.
A representative Of the Journal called on
Mr.. Fee and was greeted pleasantly by
rather slight old gentleman, with a singu-
larly sweet and attractive face. and pos
sessing the rare dignity of unconscious
simplicity. Mr.. Fee is now in his seventy
eighth year, but retains all the enthusi-
asm and energy of his prime, and as he
chatted of his school, it's hopes and aims.
and of the questions and issues that most
involve human welfare, it not easy
TO realize that fifty years ago this man
was in the midst of the great battle for
freedom. The sight of his benign face was
an inspiration, and the kindly tones of his
voice still linger in the ears that listened
to him.
Mr.. Fees father a farmer, a men,
Der of the Presbyterian Church and
STAKEHOLDER. This son, John, was sent to
college at Augusta, KY, where he gradu-
ated, going thence to Lane Seminary.
where he took regular theological course
and where, after much discussion and
earnest prayer, he became an Aboltionist
On his return to kentucky he sought to
convert his parents to his views in regard
to slavery, and his father tried as hard
to change the convictions of the young
man, offering to send him to Princeton,
n. j., to the Theological Seminary, in the
hope that there he might be led to view
the matter differently. This offer was de-
clined.
He was invited by two churches in his
native county of Bracken to preach for
them, the condition that he would ''go
along and preach the gospel, and let the
subject of slavery alone" This, of course
n ne H1uo at not b G III Is tS ee s 1nan
dome of Mr.. Fees head, and the firm,
fearless countenance. He accepted cali
from a church in Lewis county, where
500 was promised him, but, being offended
by mild anti-savery sermon, they paid
him but $25 The American Home Mis-
sonary Society paid him $3.50 annually for
two years. but when he found that this
society was aiding fifty-two slaveholding
churches he refused it's support. Before he
him a farm in Indiana. This he sold for
81, 400. and the money he used in purchas-
ing and liberating slave to prevent her
publishing an anti-slavery manual.
He denounced slavery at all times and
in all places. He believed it duty to
speak out, as Nathan to David, "Thou art
the man." and that nothing less than such
faithfulness would ever succeed. During
his eight years of labor in Lewis and
Bracken counties he organized three anti
slavery churches.
in 1856, at the request of Cassius M. Clay,
he sent box of antiSlavery pamphlets to
be distributed in Madison county. This re-
suited in an invitation TO go there person
ally, and after preaching nine sermons he
organized a church, of which church he is
to-day the pastor. Berea, where the church
was located, was at that time wilderness
but its position was central and in a short
time school was opened, for white and
colored students and for both sexes. This
school has grown to be a college, and is
now in a most fourishing condition, with
an attendance of more than four hundred
and Mr.. Fee occupies the chair of biblical
literature.
Since the earliest days of his preaching
he has not been identified with any sect,
but is an independent preacher of the Cos
pei, illustrating his religion by his life.
During the years Of the war, and immedi-
ately preceding, Mr.. Fee was mobbed many
times, and some of his escapes seem almost
quaiied or wavered, and when at length he
was driven from the State he bided his
time only to return and, with renewed
strength and courage, take up his cross.
Slavery is abolished. but Mr. Fee is not
satisfied. He sees many things to interest
him, and many wrongs that he must help
to right The condition of the colored peo-
pie enlistS his most active sympathy, per-
haps; but the causes of temperance and
woman suffrage have no more devoted ally
The 18th of September 1894, will be the
ffteth anniversary of the marriage of John
c.. Fee and Matilda Hamilton, and through
all these years they have been co-workers
in all efforts for good. Mrs. Fee is rarely
gifted woman, and her mind is stored with
facts and "reminiscences of the long ago
She says that for many years she feared
each time her husband went from home
that he would never return alive She too
lra1t hot frrt~y
ii means to be homeless and a wanderer on
the earth. Yet Notwithstanding all the
trials and vicissitudes of her life one would
not guess that she was more than fifty-five
or perhaps sixty years old.