Content advisory: This article contains descriptions and illustrated depictions of slavery and related atrocities.
“Proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.”
—Iron Gray, in The Gospel of Slavery: A Primer of Freedom, 1864
Children’s literature offers a window into the social and cultural values of a given time and place by revealing what children were meant to learn. Sometimes the messages conflict with one another, giving us a glimpse into the varying ideals that circulated (and of the adults who were vying to spread their version of ethical behavior to the younger generation). Children’s literature produced during the Abolitionist movement provides an excellent example of these schisms in values—abolitionists worked to end slavery, believing it to be a sin at the national level, while anti-abolitionists supported slavery, arguing for the cultural and economic importance of the practice. The clash of these moral views is perfectly displayed in The Gospel of Slavery: A Primer of Freedom, written in 1864 by Iron Gray, a pseudonym used by the Universalist minister and evangelist Able Charles Thomas.
The Gospel of Slavery is an ABC book meant for young readers. It provides a descriptive word for each letter of the alphabet—A is for Adam, B is for Bloodhound, C is for Cotton, and so forth—with an accompanying woodcut illustration.
The prose below each picture is often outwardly religious, which was common in children’s books from this era and certainly expected in a volume written by an activist religious figure. The prose also combines aspects of these Christian beliefs with points about American national identity, citing the provision of equal rights as outlined in the Declaration of Independence, for example.
Thomas’ notes at the bottom of each page provide additional context for the text. For instance, in the entry for W, which stands for Woman:
“Certain Southern ladies claimed, not long since, that they care as tenderly for slave mothers as Northern ladies care for poor white mothers. “Possibly that is true,” was the reply, ‘but Northern ladies do not afterwards sell the baby!’—Besides this, it is the money-interest of Southerners to look well to the increase of their property, whereas a true humanity, as a principle, underlies and quickens the charitable attention of Northern ladies, above referred to.”
Both the prose and the commentary are unflinching. Thomas was no stranger to entering into the fray through public debate or authoring controversial texts that called out the interpretations of religious principles by people with whom he vehemently disagreed. He does this in The Gospel of Slavery too, in one of the most brilliantly conceived passages in the volume.
The prose in section “G stands for Gospel” praises clergymen who preach about an end to slavery and also states,
“Or if the Good Gospel be Slavery Law,
The clergy, for aught that to reason appears,
Might honestly prosper as Slave Auctioneers!”
The section commentary is scathing—and specific. Thomas states that clergymen who justify Southern slavery on biblical grounds deserve disrespect, noting their abhorrent attitude that the sale of people is no different than the sale of any other goods. Thomas then goes further, calling out a particular bishop by name. “Bishop Hopkins, of Vermont, might do a thriving business in that line, down South. Doubtless he is popular in that region, and would be largely patronized!”
The woodcut image in this section is similarly clear. A clergyman stands at a lectern and alter; text on the wall specifies that the setting is a church. The clergyman holds a gavel, however, and a poster on the wall is an advertisement, making it evident that the interior is meant to look like a slave auction site. Several enslaved people (likely a family) appear on the auction block before a crowd, so there’s no misunderstanding the association between the church space or intentions of a pro-slavery clergyman and congregation and an auction site and active members of the Atlantic slave trade.
The Gospel of Slavery: A Primer of Freedom is one of only two abolitionist ABC books published during this time period. It’s described as a primer, but the reading level of the text is a bit more than introductory. Even so, it provides a fascinating look at the moral teachings of the movement in a book form intended to be familiar to younger generations and help to shape their lives.
Special Collections holds a first edition of the book, originally a softcover pamphlet, bound into a slim hardcover volume with marbled covers. It is available to view anytime the Reading Room is open.
