Francis Jackson Garrison, William Lloyd Garrison, 1805-1879; the story of his life told by his children: volume 2

[175] and consigning it to the ‘Refuge of Oppression.’ It compels me, he said, ‘to utter sentiments foreign to the anti-slavery enterprise, for which that enterprise is not responsible, and with which I am confident “nine-tenths” of my abolition brethren will hold no fellowship.’ The Spectator charged that the attendance of colored worshippers at the Free Church had fallen off without being diverted to the church in Belknap Street. Why?

One who has shown himself the ardent and untiring friend¹ of the colored man sets lightly by the Sabbath, the house of God, and the divine ambassadors of the Prince of Peace. One day with him is as good as another. He neglects the house of God on that sacred day, and does his own pleasure, by attending to avocations which belong to other days, and not exclusively to the worship of God. Though he pretends to do all to the glory of God, yet he does not set aside the Sabbath for the appropriate duties of religion. He writes and reads and visits as on other days, so far as he can do it and not destroy his reputation for piety. He has no reverence for the ministerial office, but holds that one has as good a right to preach as another: setting apart to the sacred office pertains not to frail man.

He thus, continued the Spectator, exerted an alarming influence over the people of color, and incurred a fearful responsibility at the bar of God. He had even warned this people against Pastor Fitch, as an apostate to be drummed out of camp. ‘Christian friends, is it not time for something to be done, not to destroy this man's influence in favor of the oppressed, but to counteract the influence of his errors which go to ruin souls?’

Mr. Garrison's reply was warm. The Pharisees watched Christ to see if he would heal on the Sabbath day. For three years the editor of the Spectator had professed a² friendly attachment towards himself, with full knowledge of his Sabbath views and practices; had praised him often. Why this attack now? ‘You have betrayed the cause of humanity, and now you naturally take refuge in formal hypocrisy. . . . Your new-born ’