E. H. to Frederick Douglass, June 1, 1860

LEAVES FROM THE SCRAP BOOK OF A REFORMER---NO. III.

MR. EDITOR:—The 'merry month of May' has left us, and its record of hopes and fears, joys and sorrows, are sealed up forever, only to be recalled by the aid of memory! Summer is upon us in all its glory, and this first day of June, I take my pen to note my two week's wanderings in the field of reform. My first appointment was Monday evening, May 14th, at Wellsburg, a small village in Chemung Co., where I spoke to a small but appreciative audience in the Methodist Church. I made an effort to obtain some subscribers for Frederick Douglass` Paper, but in vain. It seems next to impossible to convince even anti-slavery people that it is their duty to support an anti-slavery journal. Wednesday evening, May 16th, I spoke to a small audience at Horseheads. The majority of the citizens of Horseheads are staunch Republicans, but even there no one felt willing to take the paper.—Thursday, May 17th, I came to Addison, Steuben Co., where I was kindly welcome to the home of my esteemed friend, John Molson, Esq., who is an earnest advocate of the cause of his oppressed race, as well as an active Christian. The influence and example of one respectable, upright, colored family does much toward breaking down the barrier of prejudice, between the races, as I believe a great deal of this infamous 'colorphobia' is caused by the dissipation and recklessness of our people themselves. Monday evening, May 21st, I lectured in the Addison Methodist Church to a large attentive audience, who showed their appreciation of my remarks by a liberal contribution. Addison has one blessing not common in all places, and that is an anti-slavery Methodist minister, the Rev. J. H. Blades, who is a living embodiment of the great principles of human brotherhood. Such ministers

are needed in these troublous times and may God increase their number. The inhabitants of the Coneisteo valley are deplorably indifferent on the subject of reform of any kind; in the language of one of their pastors, 'nothing excites them but a barrel of whiskey.' I succeeded in selling one volume of the debate between Brownlow and Pryne, and two pamphlets, while in Addison. My thanks are due to Messrs. Woodhull and Curtis for their earnest efforts in my behalf. Wednesday evening, May 30th, I spoke in Rathbunville, five miles west of Addison, on the 'Irrepressible Conflict,' and although my audience was small, yet I think some good was done. My thanks are due to the Rev. H. C. Brown, of Cameron, for my appointment at Rathbunville, and for his efforts to get me a hearing in Canisteo.

The past month has been one of deep interest to the American people, as it has been a month of conventions and assemblies, and methinks the bleeding bondmen have listened with hushed breath for some word of hope and encouragement from these great ecclesiastical bodies in grave council assembled, but in vain. True, the Methodist Episcopal General Conference at Buffalo has struck a low chord in the measure of freedom, and I hope it will continue to swell until its thrilling music is heard throughout the land proclaiming that the Church is free from the blood of the bondman. But those great Presbyterian assemblies have no sympathy with the slave, no prayers to offer for him; their energies are all devoted to the heathen in other lands, and our peeled and woe-stricken people who are bedewing the sunny South with their tears must look elsewhere for aid and sympathy. The Republicans in this region are rejoicing at the result of the Chicago Convention, and from the signs of the times there is hope that their cause will triumph this year. Hoping that our Republican ship may launch forth upon the stormy waves of this national sea with Lincoln and Hamlin at its helm, I remain,

Yours for Universal Freedom,

E. H.

ADDISON, June 1st, 1860.