A history of the separation in Indiana Yearly Meeting of Friends : which took place in the winter of 1842 and 1843, on the anti-slavery question ... and some account of the action of other yearly meetings of Friends ...

Front matter

Class.

Bnnlf . ■ C

HISTORY

Preface

It is now (the summer of 1855) between twelve and thirteen years since the Separation took place in Indiana Yearly Meeting of Friends, on the Anti-Slavery question. Owing to the peculiar position which Friends, especially in the United States, occupied at and near the time of the difficulty, the true state of the case was very little known among them, nor could it be brought before the mass of the members of Society as then controlled. I trust that the feeling is now somewhat different among them ; that prejudice has so far given way, that a larger number, at least, will be willing to hear. Such need to see the documents, and to look into the matter for themselves.

Added to this, those who were children then, even in our midst, but who had no hand in the proceedings, have now attained to maturity ; they see the parties, but know nothing in a manner as to the real cause of the division. Many of them have no means of knowing what caused the Separation, nor where the blame should rightfully attach. And such as may possess some means of knowledge in this respect, have only detached portions of the controversy, and, therefore, are very inadequately furnished. To supply this defect, by placing the means of a correct understanding of the case within the reach of all, as well as to serve the cause of Truth, in preserving a faithful record of the transactions alluded to, for the information of posterity, has been my object in the compilation of the following history.

The plan of the work is to give both sides of the question — to present what each party said for itself — leaving the reader, in most instances, to decide for himself, and draw his own conclusions. It is true, I have in the Introduction exhibited the conduct and practices of our early Friends on the Anti-Slavery question, and, to some extent, contrasted them with the pro-

IV PREFACE.

ceedings of Indiana Yearly Meeting, as connected with the history of the Separation; but my object has been in this, to fix the attention of the reader on the points at issue between the parties, more than anything else.

I have omitted no document issued by either of the Yearly Meetings, or their representatives, bearing upon the controversy, that I could reasonably obtain ; indeed, none of any particular importance.

In perusing the work, the reader may discover what may seem to him as tautology, but he should bear in mind, that in following out the plan which I have adopted (which, I think, must meet the approbation of the impartial reader), of giving what each party said in the controversy, it could not be otherwise, so far as a repetition of the same thing occurs in the documents inserted.

It may be objected by some, that the publication of such a work will be likely to harrow up those unpleasant feelings which attended the parties at the time of the controversy ; but I feel confident that none will be hurt by it, who sincerely desire that a knowledge of the truth should prevail. No good can result to any Church by covering up its wrongs, or by suffering the impression to remain, that those who were really in the right were the transgressors, when a plain, unvarnished exhibition of historical facts can remove it, even if such exhibition should unfold grievous errors in the Church. Indeed, we cannot believe that the All-powerful One, He who is holiness, mercy and truth, and who is no respecter of persons, will always suffer his cause and truth to remain prostrate.

u Truth, crushed to earth, shall rise again — The eternal years of God are hers ; But error, wounded, writhes in pain, And dies amid her worshipers."

The work was commenced several years back, but various circumstances conspired to prevent its completion till the present season. I trust, however, it will be none the less interesting on account of the delay.

WALTER EDGERTON.

Chapter I

The origin of the scheme of Immediate and Unconditional Emancipation, and the Anti-Slavery movement based thereon — The approval of that movement and its advocates by the Yearly Meeting — Its change and opposition to that cause, etc - 33

CHAPTER II. 'Report of a Sub-Committee of New Garden branch of the Committee, on the Concerns of the People of Color 44

Reply to Elijah Coffin and others by the Editors of the " British Friend." 217

Chapter XX

Remarks by the Editor of the Free-Labor Advocate on the Correspondence between E. Coffin and others and the Editors of the British Friend — A Review by Daniel Puckett and others of certain Positions and Proceedings of Indiana Yearly Meeting, etc. 227

English Committee at Newport — A Response to the Address carried round by that Committee 347