Abolition & the Underground Railroad in Chester County, Pennsylvania by Mark Lanyon

Author:Mark Lanyon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The History Press
Published: 2022-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

The Longwood Progressive Friends Meetinghouse was home to Quaker abolitionists who believed actions not words were needed to end slavery. Courtesy of the Chester County History Center.

The Kennett Square Anti-Slavery Society was very active, even before LPFM came into existence. On May 12, 1838, the society issued a “Statement of Purpose of the Kennett Abolitionists,” which read:

Resolved,

That we recommend to our southern brethren that the most effectual and expeditious way of putting down abolition at the North is to put it up at the South, by breaking the fetters of the captives, and letting the oppressed go free.

Resolved,

That in the potency of the principles, which, as abolitionists, we have embraced, and in the evidences of the advancement of the cause of universal emancipation which throng upon us, we find abundant encouragement to persevere in our labors, for down-trodden humanity, and much reason to hope that our efforts, under God, will be crowned with entire success.

Resolved,

That any person who aids in restoring the fugitive to his master and in reimposing the chains of slavery upon a fellow being, whether acting as a public officer or otherwise, are guilty of a crime against freedom, humanity, and religion, and should be regarded as the abettor of a huge and cruel disposition.

Resolved,

That those professed ministers of the gospel, who attempt to justify or palliate the system of American slavery from the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, are doing more to bring the Bible into disrepute and undermine the faith built upon its glorious truths, than all the avowed and open opponents of Christianity within our land, and we are compelled to look upon them, whatever may be their profession, as in reality the enemies of the religion they profess to love.

—Chandler Darlington, sec’y197

At that time, the secretary of the society was Chandler Darlington, and the president was John Cox, both of whom were founding members of LPFM fifteen years later.198 The antislavery sentiment was heating up, as shown by the powerful statement released by the Kennett Square Anti-Slavery Society. This document was so important that it was included in the program for the 150th Anniversary Celebration of the Longwood Progressive Friends Meeting, held on Sunday, May 22, 2005.199

In 1838, the message was clear: mere words were not going to be enough to address slavery—action was going to have to be taken. The stage was set for the coming division among Quakers. Quakers were told they should not be an “accessory to this enormous national evil [slavery] but to discourage it by all the justifiable means in their power.”200 Quakers, both liberal and conservative, agreed with this statement. The issue developing was how to put this into practice, especially when it came to being involved with non-Quakers in the antislavery societies.

The divide over whether to become involved with the antislavery movement, was due to some Quakers, thinking similar to the Amish, that they should not be a part of the world and remain to themselves. Other Quakers, however, believed that in order to bring change to the world, you needed to enter the world you were hoping to change.

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