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DREADFUL EFFECTS OF
IRRESPONSIBLE POWER.
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A BELOVED friend in South
Carolina, the wife of a slaveholder, with whom I have
often mingled my tears, when, helpless and hopeless, we
deplored together the horrors of slavery, related ot me,
some years since, the following circumstances: -
"On the plantation adjoining her hushand's, there was a
slave of pre-eminent piety. His master was not a
professor of religion; but the superior excellence of
this disciple of Christ was not unmarked by him; and I
believe he was so sensible of the good influence of his
piety, that he did not deprive him of the few religious
privileges within his reach. A planter was one day
dining with the owner of this slave, and, in the course
of conversation, observed that all professions of
religion among slaves were mere hypocrisy. The
other asserted a contrary opinion, adding, 'I have a
slave, who, I believe, would rather die than deny his
Saviour.' This was ridiculed, and the master urged
to prove his assertion. He accordingly sent for
the man of God, and peremptorily ordered him to deny his
belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. The slave pleaded
to be excused, constantly affirming that he would rather
die than deny the Redeemer, whose blood was shed for
him. His master, after vainly trying to induce
obedience by threats, had him terribly whipped.
The fortitude of the sufferer was not to be shaken; be
nobly rejected the offer of exemption from further
chastisement at the expense of destroying his soul; and
this blessed martyr died in consequence of this
severe infliction. O how bright a gem will
this victim of irresponsible power be, in that crown
which sparkles on the Redeemer's brow! and that many
such will cluster there, I have not the shadow of a
doubt.
"SARAH M. GRIMKE."
[Miss Grimke is a daughter of the late
Judge Grimke, of the Supreme Court of South
Carolina, and sister of the late Hon. Thomas S.
Grimke.]
Leeds Anti-slavery
Series. No. 69
Sold by W. and F. G. CASH, 5,
Bishopsgate Street, London; and by JANE JOWETT, Friends'
Meeting Yard, Leeds, at 1s. 2. per 100.
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