Black Abolitionist Archive

Title: Lewis Hayden

Speaker or author: Hayden, Lewis, 1815-1889

Newspaper or publication: Boston Athenaeum -- Pamphlet Collection

Lengthy speech regarding the status of freed African Americans within the order of Freemasonry. The speaker stressed concern over growing racial prejudice within the order. He was also concerned that President Andrew Johnson was not doing anything to combat the increasing racial prejudice within the U.S. The speaker paid special attention to the wording of the Freemason doctrine regarding membership. He also gave a brief history of the order, including its goals, moral obligations and social commitment. This speech contains valuable information regarding the influence of Freemasonry in the founding of the U. S.

Description of file(s): PDF 56 page, 17,480 word document (text and images)

Title: John N. Lewis

Speaker or author: Lewis, John N.

Newspaper or publication: Emancipator

Speech regarding the irony of missionary work in Africa by men who are slaves in the U.S. and not allowed to read the Bible. Emphasis is placed on the question of civil rights in the U.S.

Description of file(s): PDF 6 page, 1,278 word document (text and images)

Title: Lewis Hayden

Speaker or author: Hayden, Lewis, 1815-1889

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper

Debate between Mr. Hayden and Mr. Githell, a slaveholder, over the morality of slavery. The speaker said it was immoral to hold human beings as property. Mr. Githell's point was that while he was against slavery, each of his slaves represented a monetary investment that he wanted to be compensated for. Mr. Githell believed God would end slavery, but that this couldn't happen yet because the slave offered economic prosperity to the slaveholder.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 433 word document (text and images)

Title: John W. Lewis

Speaker or author: Lewis, John W., Eld.

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Brief comments on the upcoming presidential election, voting, and the influence of the Church in continuing slavery. The speaker expressed his amazement that any government would pass a law like the Fugitive Slave Law.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 198 word document (text and image)

Title: Lewis Clarke

Speaker or author: Clarke, Lewis Garrard, 1812-1897

Newspaper or publication: Signal of Liberty

Narrative about one man's experience as a slave in Kentucky.

Description of file(s): PDF 5 page, 1,511 word document (text and images)

Title: Lewis Smith

Speaker or author: Smith, Lewis, b. ca. 1824

Newspaper or publication: Watchman and Weslayan Advertiser

Brief overview of speech given before an English audience in which the speaker expressed his goal to purchase the release of his four children from slavery.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 160 word document (text and image)