Stebbins, G B. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.

Title

Stebbins, G B. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.

Creator

Stebbins, G B

Contributor

Post, Amy Kirby, 1802-1889

Date

1846 ?-11-29

Description

Handwritten letter from G B Stebbins to Amy Kirby Post, November 29, 1846?

Is Part Of

Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Rights

The organization that has made the Item available believes that the Item is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States, but a determination was not made as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. The Item may not be in the Public Domain under the laws of other countries. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information. http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/

Identifier

670

Location

Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Transcription

(Page 1)

[Stamp]

D & E GOODWIN

[Text normal]

Somerset Corners Niagara Co NY Sunday)

Nov 29^h 2 o’clock PM)

Dear Friend Amy – The only reason I can offer for writing thee

is that I “feel moved” to do so, and as thou art a Friend in principle I

suppose this will be satisfactory. This is a dreary day, the sky overcast

with clouds and the wind howling drearily around the house. I am at

leisure untill [sic] night and while away from my friends in Rochester and

from my own home on the shore of “Old Ontario” (W.R. Smith Farmington Jan^y1845 ^at JB Sanderson^)

allow me the pleasure of [climming [sic]?] through the medium of pen and paper.

As I may perhaps be a little egotistical and think the narration may possess

some little interest I will say something of my own movements since I left Sockport [sic, Stockport]

the city of [mind?] two weeks this morning. A walk of three miles through a drenching

rain ended at the house of a Mr Flagler, a Wesleyan Methodist and friend

of Anti-Slavery though not very thorough going, he invited me to attend his meeting

in the church only a few rods distant and as it seemed necessary to do so in order

to make arrangements for a meeting and I like occasionally to be present at what

is usually called (and sometimes is) public worship, I did so. The meeting was

but small and the services not particularly interesting, after the close of the exercises

a part of the congregation remained and as friend Flagler was one of the number

I sat waiting for him to come to me when a stranger gave me a cordial grasp of

the hand and said if I wished to stay there was liberty, and thus I found myself

for the time one of a Methodist Class Meeting, One after another told their experience

some in broken accents and with incoherent oppression some with more of vague

and awful ideas than anything else, and some (especially the women) with a deep

and touching earnestness of manner, that showed sincere contrition and desire for ^a^ lighter

and better life. As the class leader came nearer to me in asking each one to talk,

the question arose whether I should be asked with the rest, but it was soon settled by the

(Page 2)

inquiry “if I had any word to offer” Being called upon to speak in a class meeting was I

must confess something new, but as the request showed a liberality of feeling not common I

rose and said that my own simple views of duty led me to make the constant effort [imper]

imperfect though it might be to act as well as theorize little and act

much. that in my estimation the religion of the day was full of abstractions and that

a warm earnest love of humanity, a practical recognition of the worth and dignity

of all who wore the likeness of men without distinction of lineage colour or condition,

a sympathy with the oppressed, and earnest effort to do away all forms of oppression

and sin by the power of love and truth ought to take its place and send its abstractions

to the regions of darkness, A sign and groan here and there such as every one who

has attended a Methodist meeting must have hears and a heart Amen from one

or two persons was the only response, and the members went on. In the afternoon

at three oclock I had a very good AntiSlavery meeting and another the next evening

somewhat larger, though the strong attachment to Liberty party somewhat blinded

their eyes. Tuesday and Wednesday evening I had very good meetings at Gasport

a little village on the Canal some five miles from the Wesleyan house. Thursday

went to Lockport and had the satisfaction of walking through its muddy streets

in a drenching rain, returned to Gasport in the evening on the packet and on

Friday and Saturday went to a School house three miles south in the midst

of a well settled and rich country, had good meetings but a want of real

heartfelt AntiSlavery in the people; they are all Zealous Wesleyans, and although

the Wesleyans as a denomination[s] have more Anti Slavery vitality than others yet

when people are much engaged in any sect, its tendency is to dwarf and narrow

their views, to substitute creed and ceremony for duty, and to make them view their own

form of faith and worship as paramount to all else, Sunday morning walked to

Gasport and in the afternoon rode to Johnsons Creek five miles, had a small meeting

Monday evening graced by the presence of two clergymen, was disappointed in a

meeting Tuesday and on Wednesday went to a settlement some three miles

North west of the Creek called Quaker Street, – but so fierce was the storm that the people

did not come out and in Thursday evening, the wind howling with fearful violence a

few came together in a log cabin near the Church (which could not be warmed) Friday

(Page 3)

and Saturday evenings I held meetings in a School house at [Slades?] Corners some three

miles from here with a house well filled and interested by the presentation of the most

radical views, to night I hold a meeting in the village near my stopping place and

to-morrow go to a meeting house some five miles west to stay in the vicinity two or three days

shall go to Lindonville [sic, Lyndonville] the last of the week and from thence either directly to Rochester or

stopping at Brockport two or three days; hope to reach Rochester by the first or middle of the

week. For a few days past I have been in a neighborhood which was only some

fifteen years ago an unbroken forest, the habits of the people are yet those of the settlers

in the wilderness, living some of them in the same cabins they put up when the heavy

unbroken forest through whose solitude the stroke of the axe had never resounded[,] closed

them in on every side and life was a constant struggle kept up by strong hands and

a cheerful heart with the stupendous obstacles to be overcome before even bread for the family

could be obtained, [the toll heavy]. Now the energy and perseverance of man has changed

the aspect of nature and culitvated [sic] fields reward with rich harvests the toil of the [samen?];

But the yet unbroken forest stanch as ever around the limits of each clearing and many

a blow must be struck before it can be destroyed. I will bear a willing testimony to

the kind and cordial hospitality, the sincere honesty and independent uprightness of the [obliterated]

minded dwellers in these humble abodes, cultivated and refined they are not (for the life of

a forester gives no liesure [sic] for the culture of [exteriore [sic]?] graces) well educated they are not often.

and yet more honest and hospitable men, more kind and true hearted women (though

destitute of many graces of high and refined education) cannot be found, If those who are

surrounded by all the luxuries of life, and who have access to all the means of mental

and moral culture could but write with the ease and polish of manners, the indefinable

and yet [easily] charming grace of polished life; the sterling uprightness, the cordial real

hospitality, the kind and truthful characteristics of those of whom I have spoken, A Society,

a world of such would be a paradise. But my sheet is full and I have not said

have & want to though perhaps as much or more than you can read, A word in

regard to the fair, I C Hathaway says that the great object of the campaign

in the eyes of the Executive Committee is to get subscribers for the Standarad, that P Pillebury

and C C Burleigh are not here because they (especially the latter) are not so well qualified for

usefulness in getting subscribers as some others, So it seems but little is to be done to what we

(Page 4)

hoped toward stirring up the dormant Anti Slavery sentiment of this section

In view of this it seems to me that the getting up a Fair is a hopeless task. I had

supposed the course taken would be different but ‘tis as it is – If this hasty letter has

any interest to my friends please consider it common stock. My regards to all, names

I cannot give, though Isaac and Sarah, [Gr..?] & Mary will accept a good share.

If Catharine is in R my best love to her. I will put in a word for you to hand to her

though I think. But I must stop ‘tis so dark I can hardly see though only 3’2 o clock,

Please accept for thyself and thine the best wishes of

Thy friend

Amy Post – G B Stebbins

Monday morning nine o clock – I find my letter almost unreadable now it is cold.

It was so dark last night or all the afternoon that I could hardly see. Had a good meeting

last evening and this afternoon go west some five miles to hold three more. Oh! grieved

and abused spirit of Pythagoras!! Insulted disciples of the philosopher who held animal

life so sacred – How would ye all mourn to be with me now in my travels while the

swine killers are holding their autumnal festival? For me, a hater of dead pigs even as were

the Jews of Old this eternal sitting down to spare ribs and roasters, souse and sausages is

a greater trial than those of Job of old. And yet, such is the power of habit that I bear it with

increased and cheerful resignation every day. Will you please hand the enclosed line to

Catharine if she is in Rochester. If not destroy it. I may be in R Tuesday night, again Farewell

Thy friend

GBS –

[Text sideways]

Somerset NY Paid 5

Dec 3

Amy Post

Care Post & Willies

Rochester

NY

Tags

Abolitionism; Personal

Collection

D.93 Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Citation

Stebbins, G B, “Stebbins, G B. Letter to Amy Kirby Post.,” RBSCP Exhibits, accessed November 25, 2024, https://rclomeka2.lib.rochester.edu/items/show/2962.

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