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[222] prominent Unitarian clergymen at the Odeon—the ‘redeemed’ Federal-Street Theatre. Henry Ware, Jr., began the course in January; Dr. Channing and Samuel1 J. May followed in February. In April, the New York Peace Society issued a call for a representative convention2 in New York city during the ensuing month. If the cause had ever lost its interest in Mr. Garrison's mind, he had now the weightiest examples for reenlisting in it. He needed, however, neither these nor the contagion of the time to kindle his zeal in behalf of peace. He was not caught up and hurried along; rather, he chafed under the logical shortcomings of the special champions of the doctrine. Channing, who, while inclined to 3 interpret literally the injunctions of Scripture thereupon, could not reconcile them with the ‘duty of Government to apply force for the protection of rights,’ avoided, in his Odeon lecture, discussing either the right of selfdefence or the support of civil government. Hence, said the editor of the Liberator, his excellent sentiments4 would not avail much, or produce a lasting impression. As for the American Peace Society, ‘enrolling upon its list of members not converted but belligerous commanders-in-chief, generals, colonels, majors, corporals and all,’ Mr. Garrison found it ‘radically defective in principle, and based upon the sand.’ And he gave notice, as early as August, 1837: ‘I hope to be more deeply5 engaged in the cause of Peace by and by than I can at present; and unless they alter their present course, the first thing I shall do will be to serve our Peace Societies as I have done the Colonization Societies.’

On May 30, 1838, at a meeting of ‘friends of peace’6 in Boston, William Ladd being in the chair, a committee was appointed to call a convention in that city ‘for the purpose of having a free and full discussion of the principles of Peace, and of the measures best adapted to promote this holy cause.’ The committee, consisting of the Rev. S. J. May, of South Scituate, Henry C. Wright, of Newburyport, the Rev. George Trask, of Warren, and

1 Lib. 8.15, 27.

2 Lib. 8.67.

3 Lib. 8.158.

4 Lib. 8.27.

5 Lib. 7.146.

6 Lib. 8.111.

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