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| 648 THE UNDERGROUND RAIL SO AD. belief, and even when he did look into theological matters or denounce a man's religious opinions, it was generally because they were calculated to darken the mind and be entertained as a substitute for good -works. Pursuing the even tenor of his way, he could as easily lead the flying fugitive slave by night out of the way of his powerful master, as one differently constituted could bestow bis wealth upon the mo§t popular charity in the land. His faith was of the simplest kind—the Parable of the prodigal eon, contains hia creed. Discarding what are commonly called "plans of salvation," he believed in the light " which lighteth every man that cometh into the world," and that if people would follow this light, they would thus seek " the kingdom of Heaven and its righteousness and all other things needful would be added thereunto." He was a devoted member of the Society of Friends, in which he held the position of elder, during the last twenty-five years of his life. That peculiar doctrine of the Society, which repudiates systematic divinity and with it a paid ministry, he held in special reverence, finding confirmation of its truth in the general advocacy of Slavery, by the popular clergy of his day. When he was quite advanced in years, and the Anti-slavery agitation grew warm, he was solicited to join an anti-slaveiy society, but on hearing the constitution read, and finding that it repudiated all use of physical force on the part of the oppressed in gaining their liberty, he said tliat he could not assent to that—that he had long been engaged in getting off slaves, and that he had always advised them to use force, although remonstrating against going to the extent of taking life, and that now he could not recede from that position, and he did not see how they could always be got off without the use of some force. His faith in an overruling Providence was complete. He believed, even in the darkest days of freedom in our land, in the ultimate extinction of Slavery, and at times, although advanced in years, thought he would live to witness that glorious consummation. It is only in a man's own family and by his wife and children, that he is really known, and it is by those who best knew, and indeed, who only knew this good man, that his biographer is meet anxious that he should he judged. As a parent, he was not excessively indulgent, as a husband, one more nearly a model is rarely found. But his kindness in domestic life, his love for his wife, hia son and his grandchildren, and their reciprocal love and affection for him, no words can express. It was in hia father's household in his youth and in his own household in bis mature years, that was fostered that wealth of love and affection, which, extending and widening, took in the whole race, and made him the friend of the oppressed everywhere, and especially of those whom it was a danger-' oos and anpopular task to befriend. ; The tenderness and thonghtfulness of his disposition are veil shown in |