Alumni Reminiscences 1878 of Anti-Slavery Rebellion

But I am already violating an ancient & approved maxim "de mortuis nil nisi bonum." Mr Johnson was also a devout man, & in fair weather, a good mentor for all the well disposed [?]. He was generally respected & loved. I may say admired.

He would doubtless have appeared to much greater advantage, but for the tyranny of his superiors, the Faculty of the Seminary.

Among the interesting incidents of the time, I may state that at a "five o'clock meeting on Sunday" in the English--Stow--Academy, old Prof. Stewart, made some re marks, touching Geo. Thompson, who was to lecture that evening, in the Methodist church I shall never forget the manner nor the matter. He said,

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DAVID THAYER, M. D., 94 Boylston Street,

Boston, 187

"I warn you young gentlemen, I warn you on the peril of your Lords Salvation not to go to that meeting tonight." How that would peril the Lord we did not all of us clearly see. But some of us went,--I was one of those who did not go, if I remember rightly

Prof Stewart was a man of great influence at that time. I believe your honored father knew him well.

One morning he met Horace Eaton a student in the Academy who used to work for Prof Stewart & said to Eaton rather gruffly, "What are you boys doing over there?" Eaton, "We are acting according to the dictates of our conscience."

Prof. Stewart. "Conscience, conscience, what do you know about conscience." Eaton. "I ought to know something about ^it.^ I have sat under your preaching for two years"

I believe Horace Eaton is now an orthodox minister in New York City.

Hon. Geo. S. Towle, at 33 Bowdoin St. Boston, was one of the Abolitionists, & had the boldness to call on Mr. Johnson & argued the case with him. Towle was an eloquent speaker & took a prize at Dartmouth for excellence in speaking.

[?] Bartholomew Wood of [crossed out West] Newton ^Centre Mass^ may help you to some facts: -- he was an active man at the time refered to.

Rev Wm Barrows D D of Reading Mass. was there too--& an Abolitionist But he receded--several others, for one reason or another remain in the Academy. One or two were minors & their parents disapproved their course.

If I can recall to mind anything more of importance I will forward it to you at once.

I shall be at the anniversary on the second day, & hope to hear the [Analist?].

Please present my kind regards to your honored father, of whom I have many grateful memories.

With great respect I have the honor to be your [?]servant.

David Thayer.

P.S. Send me your Photo. I want to see if you look like your father. D. T.

In speaking of A.S. movement I may have left too much to be inferred. The excitement was produced, urged on and intensified by floods of Abolition papers speeches and documents, procured without stint over the country. --and especially into the school; and by lecturers, many and able, sent into all the important places. Among these was ^that^ eloquent foreigner Thompson who after long persuasion was reluctantly permitted to speak before the people and students upon the Hill. Well do I remember him and how we almost shuddered in imagination lest we should be swallowed whole, when he opened ^wide^ the doors of his face to pour the floods of his eloquence upon us.