Selections: Isaac T. Hopper And The Methodist Slaveholder

Dunng tire late session of the Genero] Conference of the M. E. Cliorch in the city of New York, Umt wel! knnwn friend of the slnve, Lsaac T. Hopper wns infrodnced to three vomior Indieg, daughters of a ïnvëh.oldu)? Methodist preocher from Mi.sisHPpj. Said the friend at whose house they were visiliiirr, "This is Isaac Hopper, one of the moat rnbid abolitionists ín tho North. And these," tnminrr to the Jadíes, "are thedanghters of a si ivelolder from the Sotnh' By this means they were soon we!I Inown to each' otber. And the conversión which ensned, with other iníerestintr incidente, I will ffive in the }angunge of frieiid ílopper, who related it to me ta day. 'They were very intelligent grh. I was noch picnse-J with them. One of them assnred me, howover, ihat slie could nol do without the s7aves. "Why, Mr. Hopper,' said she.'I neverdressed or undre?ied mse!f until I camelo the North. And 1 díd not know what to do when Í left home: I feil inclined to a servant ith me.' 'I wish t'aee had brouht one ' said T. ' 'Why? What wmild you have done, 5fr. Hopper, if yon hnd sren her?' I shou!d have told her tliat she was n free woman nov,but if shc went back to ihe South she would go as a pig Or a s?eep, to be sol.l if occasion called for it.'xuey oniy laugneu ot the Frankness thus expressed, and conlmned the conversation for some time; on the same subject. I then told '-hem Í should like to see 'hem at my house wftfi their faïher. And in a few days tiiey carne, very much to rny satisfaclion. Wc hr,d a lon ïaflc abont sluverv. 'Sard this preocher, 'Mr. Hopper, do you say ond think thnt I am not n Chiistian?' 'I certainly do not regard thee as a Chrston?' 'Why, Mr. Hopper? do yoo think I cannot jo to Iieavenf That 1 wil) not say. Bat slavpry is a grat abornirlation, and no one who is gnúty of it can be a chnstian or Christ like. I woud not excliide thee from the kindom of heaven.- Tothy ottn Mnstcr thon dost stand or ftli. Ifthon dost enter therr, it will be on the rround of ignorance of the fact that thou art líviníí in ein.' 'We rcasoned on il at sofne Ienrth. -hen the convorgation turned upon the conduct of Aboülionisfp. 'S.iid the precher, 'Ifthe abolilionisis werè nll like you and Mr. Gibbnnp, we would come lo Eome agreeaient on this mader. Vy'hy, I never Was treated so tvell by any bod v as you and Mr. Gibbons, yonr aboluion friend. have treated mV. Bftt yoiir abolitionists generallv are po violent and abusive.' ' A friend present remarked to him that none were more ?enerally execratcd,as vile and abusive abolitionists thán was the 'notorious Hopper,' as the sonthem papers caiJed me. 1 then said, the slavholdérs love ond make a lie in ttlis tllinnr. ,193'Wel!,' said he, 'we should be gÈi to see you with ns, frieiid: Hopper, on a visit.' 'Ah! and thoñ wouldst hncli me, orthy friends Wonld, if they cauhi me.' 'O p.o, sir: wo would troat you well.- But how would you do about tlnvery when therc?' i ! JiflsIsionUaaV 'Why, I shouflPfell thy slaves to be obedu ent, fait hfnl, indüstriou?, anci nover think of runninw away from 'io gnod n mnster, nnlcss they were sure -they would escape! nnd in Ihïtïcaso be off ás sonn as possible.' lor f cangbt, ihey wonld fhre miich worse than they do no'v. And I woulil sny fo lliee, that as thou c'íiifnest; to be a minister of Jesus Chrrst, congistéiiey of clmracter nrtd the ppirit thy Mnster rernire of them lo give delier;incc to the c:iptive-to eL th oppressed o-o free.''liefore we scpnrated fsaw Icnfs FS Bis eyes. I appraled to him closely, and borc a faithfu' testimony. My frienJ, dost thoti 1.a ve a mnsience void of ofTence? VVhen thou licst down at uic-ht, iá thy niiud ohvnys ai enáo? After pourir.gout thy fro-il 'm prayer to tliy Muke.', docst il.o nót feel the outrogod sen c of right, íike perpetual muíion, rcstless and dijuieted wiihin tliy brensf, telling thee 'tis wrong to hold tliese men in sluvery, - thcir u-ives and their li.ile oi.esi' 'To tiiis he ür.swered frankly.that sometimos he doubted; yetiipon the whole, lie thonglit it , best ?nd ri. ht. VVhen (liey were about , ing, one of hid dnugliterí, a young widów, t thus a.ddressed mes :'Mr. Hopper, I thonk God fort his privilege. Ineversaw and tnlked witli an abolitionist before. I am now persuaded ihat siaveholdjng- is sinful in tlie siglit of God. When my liusbund diga he lefi me severnl tlavcá. 1 have held them lor five years. Uut I return h me now resolved to be tlie owner of a sla ve no longer. We bade each otlier furewell.' This ñarrative hus in!crcs:ed inc, I think it will edify the leader. Il leaclies hs aenlinient; Abolilion is ihc truili ot üud. Slaveholdeis muy ba happily influenced by it. And tlie relation which pro slavery tnen sustain, s iliat of tatllers and miscliier'-nrakers, benvecn aboluionist? and slaveliolders. Let these i.Ione, and the issue will be a fair one and fairlv niet.