there advised such of his brethren as held slaves to teach them the principles of religion, treat them mildly, and after certain years of labor set them free.[1]
Contemporary with George Fox was William Edmundson, who was a worthy minister of this society, and who also was a fellow traveller with Fox in Barbadoes.[2]Being brought before the Governor, on the charge of teaching the negroes Christianity, and thereby causing them to rebel and destroy their owners, he made an answer which we quote entire,—as it strongly shows that
the same kind of clamor against giving negroes instruction which at present exists upon the same plea, that it would be inconsistent with the safety of their masters, has existed from the very beginning; and the answer which this worthy man gave to the slaveholders of that day is admirably adapted to those of the present time.[3] In reply to the charge recited above, he says. "That it was a good thing to bring them to the knowledge of God
- ↑ Further particulars respecting George Fox's advice concerning slaves, will be found in a series of papers prepared for the "Friend," by Mr. Nathan Kite, entitled "Antiquarian Researches among the early Printers and Publishers of Friends' Books," Vol. XVII.—Editor.
- ↑ Edmundson twice visited Barbadoes, once in 1611, and once in 1615. It was during his second visit that the events referred to in the text occurred.—Gough's History, III., 61. Edmundson's Journal, p. 85, Edit, of 1774—Editor,
- ↑ "The earliest instances of such inconsistent persecution was in the Island of Barbadoes, in the year 1676, and to the honor of that truly amiable sect of Christians, the Quakers, their charity and liberality furnished the first opportunity for it by their singular and probably then unprecedented attempt to impart their own religion to the negroes."—Stephens' Slavery of West Indies, I., 234.—Editor.
