Journal Entry 6/23

Upon reading this section of the text, I was shocked to see such a difference in the views of Yankees on Christianity. Like we discussed in class, there is a certain level of ambiguity regarding Christian values in America at this period in history. It is obvious from reading about the “Christian” woman on the train in Part I that what we today see as Christian values (love, self-sacrifice, etc.) do not correlate with popular opinion back then. I knew this was the case in the south, and upon beginning Part II I was looking forward to the positive Christian role models that would undoubtedly help William and Ellen in the “free” states to the north.

There is an immediate biblical reference when William and Ellen meet Mr. Barkley Ivens, or the “good Samaritan” as he is regarded by the Crafts. The two runaways receive the utmost hospitality from Mr. Ivens and his entire family, which William calls the “first act of great and disinterested kindness” he and his wife had ever received from a white person. The family exemplifies a biblical passage referred to later in the text, from Deuteronomy 23:15-16.

“Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee. He shall dwell with thee, even among you, in that place which he shall choose in one of thy gates, where it liketh him best: thou shalt not oppress him.”

Not only did the family hide and protect these two former slaves, but they did everything they could to enrich their lives and send them along their way in better shape than they had arrived, including the daughters teaching the couple how to write their own names. To me, this embodies the true Christian believer who does everything for the unfortunate without any thought of personal gain whatsoever.

On the other hand, the text provides a startling array of some free-state “Christian” reverends’ personal beliefs regarding the Fugitive Slave Bill. One such “man of God” states, "if by one prayer he could liberate every slave in the world he would not dare to offer it." In this instance even the simple act of praying for the vindication of every slave in the world is too much for this reverend to stomach. Rev. Moses Stuart makes the point that “many Southern slaveholders are true Christians” and proceeds to utilize Mosaic Law in defense of his position, claiming it “does not authorize the rejection of the claims of the slaveholders to their stolen or strayed property.”

These abominable men attempt to use their places of power among the Christian population to convince others that the Fugitive Slave Bill is actually upholding the Ten Commandments! In reading these testimonies, it becomes obvious to me that the abolitionists were the only “true Christians” among all the free states populations. They used the support of Christian scripture to help their fellow men in their search for justice, while these pathetic excuses for reverends (supposedly the men who are meant to be role models for others in their faith) disregard the most sacred commandment, known as the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have done to you.”