Letter from Samuel Fulton Clarke, Athol, [Massachusetts], to Samuel May, 1851 Sept[ember] 23d

Item Information

Title:
Letter from Samuel Fulton Clarke, Athol, [Massachusetts], to Samuel May, 1851 Sept[ember] 23d
Description:
S.F. Clarke writes to Samuel May stressing that he "should be happy to introduce into my pulpit to speak on the subject of slavery" anyone May is connected with, except Stephen Symonds and Abby Kelley Foster. He explains that "the cause has my heartiest sympathy" but he "object[s] to Mr. & Mrs. Foster because of what I deem the bad taste & bad temper which they have manifested in advocating the noble cause." He tells May that the Fosters and Lucy Stone held meetings in the town, "a year or two since," and the Fosters' "used harsh denunciatory language uttered in apparently an angry spirit & they stirred up harsh & angry feelings in the audience & left them in this condition." He contrasts their language with Stone who "spoke mildly & kindly ..." Clarke fears that inviting Stephen Foster to speak again "will here not only injure the cause, but injure the Christian spirit of the community also." He insists that he objects only to Foster's speaking style and "not to the cause or its advocates generally."
Author:
Clarke, Samuel F. (Samuel Fulton), 1818-1861
Addressee:
May, Samuel, Jr., 1810-1899
Date:
September 23, 1851
Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Manuscripts
Location:
Boston Public Library
Rare Books Department
Collection (local):
Anti-Slavery Collection
Subjects:
Abolitionists--United States--19th century--Correspondence
Antislavery movements--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--Meetings--United States--History--19th century
Social reformers--United States--History--19th century
Abolitionists--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--United States
Meetings
Social reformers--United States
May, Samuel, Jr., 1810-1899
Clarke, Samuel F. (Samuel Fulton), 1818-1861
Stone, Lucy, 1818-1893
Foster, Stephen S. (Stephen Symonds), 1809-1881
Foster, Abby Kelley, 1811-1887
Extent:
1 leaf (4 p.) ; 25 cm.
Permalink:
https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/2z110r26x
Terms of Use:
No known copyright restrictions.
No known restrictions on use.
Place of origin:
Athol, [Massachusetts]
Language:
English
Notes:
Holograph, signed.
Title devised by cataloger.
Identifier:
5974801
Call #:
MS A.1.2 v.20, p.128
Barcode:
39999085843900