Message to the MASS

Jan 17, 1836

Garrison is in Connecticut, and writes to Samuel J. May, indicating that he cannot attend the fourth annual meeting of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society. Here are a few sentences of his letter.  “Let me say to the brethren who shall assemble together — Be Bold For God.  These are times in which we are specially called upon not to count our lives dear unto  us — if, living, we are to be slaves ourselves, or to work at the enslavement of others.  Nay, we shall be unworthy of an existence, if we suffer ourselves to be awed into silence by the threats of oppressors.  The cause which we advocate is not ours, but God’s; and therefore I renew the charge — Be Bold For God.”  1

1 Letters of William Lloyd Garrison – Volumes I – VI