Faculty Report on Student Anti-Slavery Society 1835

has been cheerfully relinquished. The students are united in the conviction that it is [?] for them at present to organize any society in relation to this subject.

We subjoin to the above statement the following resolution adopted at a general meeting of the members of this Institution.

Resolved that while connected with this Seminary, our duties as Theological Students have the first claim upon our attention; & fearing that the agitation of the subject of Slavery might interfere with the vigorous prosecution of our studies & with that harmony which ought to prevail among us,-- We therefore disapprove for the present of all associated action on the subject in this Institution.

In behalf of the Students

Committee

P.E. Edwards A.R. Baker James L. Thompson W.S. Tyler Samuel Wolcote

The faculty being fully acquainted with what the students had done sent the following communication to be published in the same Recorder in connection with the above.

Dear Sir:-- Permit me in behalf of the Faculty to say a few words expressive of the cordial satisfaction we feel in the conduct pursued of late by the members

of this Institution and in the position which they have arbitrarily taken, relation to the subject of Slavery. They have felt & we trust, ever will feel, a lively interest in this subject & a readiness to do what they can for the present & eternal welfare of the enslaved & oppressed. But when, at the suggestion of the faculty, they took the matter into serious consideration, they soon came with entire unanimity to the conclusion that they could not form associations and agitated the common questions in relation to slavery without encouraging the spirit of piety & brotherly love among them & essentially interfering with that intellectual & moral improvement which it is grand object of the Institution to promote. We are gratified at the frank statement above made of what they have done

because they we think it highly creditable to their character & because we hope that such an example of Sober consideration, Christian harmony, & sacred regard to the order & prosperity of the Seminary, exhibited by the whole body of its members, will not be without some salutary effect.

After these remarks on the harmonious & brotherly conduct of the students, it may not be improper to add, that on the subject of Slavery, the Faculty are of one mind.

We take the liberty to say further ^that [?] we heartily wish success to very wise & Christian effort "for the relief & improvement of the colored race" & for diminishing & removing the evils of slavery, it is a serious question with us, whether we who are called to the arduous work of training up others for the

sacred office can consistently take an active part, at present, in any existing association formed with reference to slavery or in any way intermeddle with it except so far as Christian benevolence may require to such the highest good of those in bondage after the example of the apostle Paul & other primitive ministers of the gospel.

We have, with deep regret, noticed events which have occurred in some Seminaries of learning & religion when slavery has been made a subject of special discussion & associated capacity action; & we must say we have been unable to avoid the conviction that this absorbing subject on which the community is so divided cannot be introduced into our public institutions as a subject of special discussion at the present time without interfering more or less with