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The knot was cut by
Francis Jackson's formal offer of the floor to
Rynders as soon as
Mr. Garrison had finished his remarks; with an invitation meanwhile to take a seat on the platform.
‘This,’ says
Mr. May, “he scoutingly refused; but, seeing the manifest fairness of the president's offer, drew back a little, and stood, with folded arms, waiting for
Mr. Garrison to conclude, which soon he did”
Rev. S. May, Boston Commonwealth, Feb. 14, 1885.—offering a resolution in these terms:
Resolved, That the anti-slavery movement, instead of being ‘infidel,’ in an evil sense (as is falsely alleged), is truly Christian, in the primitive meaning of that term, and the special embodiment in this country of whatever is loyal to God and benevolent to man; and that, in view of the palpable enormity of slavery —of the religious and political professions of the people—of the age in which we live, blazing with the concentrated light of many centuries—indifference or hostility to this movement indicates a state of mind more culpable than was manifested by the Jewish nation in rejecting Jesus as the Messiah, eighteen hundred years ago.
Lib. 20.82.
With these words the speaker retired, to resume the presidency of the meeting.
‘The close of
Mr. Garrison's address,’ says
Dr. Furness,
1
brought down Rynders again, who vociferated and harangued, at one time on the platform, and then pushing down into the aisles, like a madman followed by his keepers.
Through the whole, nothing could be more patient and serene than the bearing of Mr. Garrison.
I have always revered Mr. Garrison for his devoted, uncompromising fidelity to his great cause.
Today, I was touched to the heart by his calm and gentle manners.
There was no agitation, no scorn, no heat, but the quietness of a man engaged in simple duties.
After some parleying, it appeared that
Rynders had a spokesman who preferred to follow
Dr. Furness.
‘Accordingly,’ says the latter,
I spoke my little, anxiously2 prepared word.
I never recall that hour without blessing myself that I was called to speak precisely at that moment.
At any other stage of the proceedings, it would have been wretchedly out of place.
As it was, my speech fitted in almost as well as if it had been impromptu, although a sharp eye might easily
