Fugitive slaves -- United States; Hopper, Isaac T. (Isaac Tatem), 1771-1852
"_Resolved:_--That it is with emotions too profound for utterance,
that this Society receives the intelligence of the decease of the
venerable Isaac T. Hopper, on Tuesday evening last, in the city of
New-York; the friend of the friendless--boundless in his
compassion--exhaustless in his benevolence--untiring in his
labors--the most intrepid of philanthropists, who never feared the
face of man, nor omitted to bear a faithful testimony against
injustice and oppression--the early, steadfast, heroic advocate and
protector of the hunted fugitive slave, to whose sleepless
vigilance and timely aid multitudes have been indebted for their
deliverance from the Southern House of Bondage;--in whom were
equally blended the gentleness of the lamb with the strength of the
lion--the wisdom of the serpent with the harmlessness of the dove;
and who, when the ear heard him, then it blessed him, when the eye
saw him, it gave witness to him, because he delivered the poor that
cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The
blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon him, and he
caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. He put on righteousness,
and it clothed him; his judgment was as a robe and a diadem. He was
eyes to the blind, and feet was he to the lame. The cause which he
knew not he searched out, and he broke the jaws of the wicked, and
plucked the spoil out of its teeth."
He moved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded in an official
form to the estimable partner of his life, and the children of his
love, accompanied by an assurance of our deepest sympathy, in view
of their great bereavement.
Several spoke in support of the Resolution, which was unanimously and
cordially adopted.
The Committee of the Prison Association desired to have public funeral
solemnities, and the family complied with their wishes. Churches of
various denominations were immediately offered for the purpose,
including the meeting-houses of both branches of the Society of Friends.
The Tabernacle was accepted. Judge Edmonds, who had been an efficient
co-laborer, and for whom Friend Hopper had a strong personal affection,
offered a feeling tribute to the virtues and abilities of his departed
friend. He was followed by Lucretia Mott, a widely known and highly
respected minister among Friends. In her appropriate and interesting
communication, she dwelt principally upon his efforts in behalf of the
colored people; for whose sake she also had encountered obloquy.
The Society of Friends in Hester-street, to which he had formerly
belonged, offered the use of their burying-ground. It was kindly meant;
but his children deeply felt the injustice of their father's expulsion
from that Society, for no other offence than following the dictates of
his own conscience. As his soul had been too much alive for them, when
it was in the body, their unity with the lifeless form was felt to
avail but little.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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