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Men of the North ! your weak regret Is wasted here; arise and pay To freedom and to him your debt, By following where he led the way!
1853. WILLIAM FORSTER. William Forster, of Norwich, England, died in East Tennessee, in the 1st month, 1854, while engaged in presenting to the goveiv nors of the States of this Union the address of his religious society on the evils of slavery. He was the relative and coadjutor of the Buxtons, Gurneys, and Frys; and his whole life, extending almost to threescore and ten years, was a pure and beautiful example of Christian benevolence. He had travelled over Europe, and visited most of its sovereigns, to plead against the slave-trade and slavery; and had twice before made visits to this country, under impressions of religious duty. He was the father of the Right Hon. William Edward Forster. He visited my father’s house in Haverhill during his first tour in the United States. The years are many since his hand Was laid upon my head, Too weak and young to understand The serious words he said. Yet often now the good man’s look Before me seems to swim, As if some inward feeling took The outward guise of him. As if, in passion’s heated war, Or near temptation’s charm, Through him the low-voiced monitor Forewarned me of the harm. Stranger and pilgrim ! from that day Of meeting, first and last, Wherever Duty’s pathway lay, His reverent steps have passed. The poor to feed, the lost to seek, To proffer life to death, Hope to the erring, to the weak The strength of his own faith. To plead the captive’s right; remove The sting of hate from Law; And soften in the fire of love The hardened steel of War. He walked the dark world, in the mild, Still guidance of the Light; In tearful t…
