BristolSherman18780520_001

San Buenaventura, Cal. May, 20. /78,

Prof. C. E. P. Bancroft

Dear Sir:

I am glad to
learn by your postal [?] a Centennial Catalogue
of Phillips Academy is in course of [preparation?]
I was a member of that famous Institution during
the years 1835 & 36. (I think) Should have
graduated from it [preparative?] to Coll. in the fall
of /36. But the anti-slavery feeling in the
institution was so strong that some 50 of us
formed an Anti-Slavery Society. This act was
very offensive to our honored Instructors, Prof.
Johnson, Mr [Love?] & others, that we were requested
to disband. (The reason given was that it brought
odium on the school--kept away southern students
&c. These were the days of riots--& proslavery violence
countenanced by "gentlemen of property & standing.")
We did not see fit to disband, so were notified
that our continued membership was no longer
desired. So we we left after publishing a statement.