The Liberator

[For the Liberator.]

ADDRESS,

WRITTEN BY

ONE OF MISS CRANDALL'S

SCHOLARS.

My Dear Friends,—It is very necessary that we all have the principle of forgiveness instilled into our hearts. We should always be careful that a spirit of retaliation does not get a seat in our affections, for how very unpleasant it is to feel envious towards our fellow creatures, to have our angry feelings excited in such a manner as to think if everything does not pass along pleasantly with us we must be in a disturbed state of mind. If, on the contrary, we cherish a spirit of forgiveness, the world and all around us will assume a very different aspect. If any one has wronged us, let us in the spirit of meekness obey that injunction of our dear Saviour—'Bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you.'

We as a body, my dear school-mates, are subject to many trials and struggles, and we all know to what they are attributable—it is the prejudice the whites have against us that causes us to labor under so many disadvantages. They are so prejudiced against us that they will not suffer us to come up and be sharers in any of their privileges. Oh, prejudice! prejudice! Heaven grant thy reign may be short. My friends, although the white people may be so enraged against us as to try to break down every benevolent effort that is made in our behalf, and put every obstacle they can in our way to prevent our rising to an equal standard with themselves—I say, notwithstanding all their endeavors to do us hurt, let us be careful that we do not return evil for evil, but recompense it with good, for saith the scriptures—'If thine enemy thirst give him drink, if he hunger feed him, for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.' Soft words turn away wrath. And you are aware that ever since we have been under Miss Crandall's instructions, it has been her utmost care to persuade us not to indulge in angry feelings towards our enemies—with unceasing and untiring earnestness has she plead with us to forgive them—and now let us try to abide by her counsel, and feel at peace with all men; for we all know that this is the spirit of the Christian, and this we must possess to support us through the trials we are called to pass in this life. Yet the hope of a Christian—it is this that has supported our teacher amidst her trials, and when confined in this county prison, she could bear that bitter cup of persecution with patience and resignation.

There is no condition in life to which we may be subject but that religion will support us—it will be a comforting solace as we journey through this world, and will sustain us in the dying hour. Seeing, then, the spirit of forgiveness is attended with so many sweets, let us therefore so possess this spirit, that when we have done with all things here below, and this mortal shall put on immortality, and the soul shall wing its way into a world unknown, the plaudit may be welcome 'well done thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.' Yes, let the motto—forgive, forgive—be engraven on every heart, and let this principle of moral excellence be established through this wide earth, till all shall be forgiven both in this, and in that world

Where all the just surround the throne,

Both white and sable too,

And there partake the feast prepared

For Gentile and for Jew.