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CHAPTER VI.

OBERLIN.

R. ALLEN having completed the prescribed course in Alfred Academy, determined to spend some time in advance work, especially in the study of theology. Oberlin College was then known throughout the country as not only a radical, anti-slavery school, but one in which thorough religious training was a part of the college work. This he decided was the school for him. Two other young men, after talking the matter over, determined to go with him. This was in the early spring of 1847. They had to travel by stage much of the way from Buffalo to Oberlin. They reached Cleveland on Friday evening and remained there over the Sabbath.

"Early on Sunday morning," writes Rev. A. C. Spicer, “Mr. Allen said to his companions, 'As the stagecoach leaves here for Oberlin this morning, I propose that we finish our journey to-day.' The plan was at once agreed upon, and passage was taken on the big four-horse stagecoach for Elyria and Oberlin, Mr. Allen riding on the top, with the driver, to get a better knowledge of the country.

"On the next day we made application for entrance into the college. One of the first questions asked was, 'When did you come into town?' Mr. Allen replied, 'Yesterday.' 'But [in surprise], did you not know that the rules of our college forbid all travel on the sabbath, and give definite notice that no student will be accepted who has disregarded this regulation?' 'Yes,' replied Mr. Allen, 'we had catalogues of your college.' 'Then can you expect us to receive you?' 'We were unavoidably delayed, and found ourselves in Cleveland on Friday night.

Remaining there over the Sabbath, we could see no reason why we were not at liberty to ride here on Sunday, since the stages were running on that day.' 'Then you are Seventh-day Baptists are you? All right, all right.' Soon President Mahan and Professor Charles G. Finney entered the office, to whom the young men were introduced, and to whom explanations of the circumstances were given. By both these gentlemen they were cordially welcomed, and were treated by all the professors with great kindness, and excused from class exercises and other duties on the Sabbath.

"The next Sunday, when Pastor Finney gave an invitation to all new students to unite with the church during the time of their stay in school, a special invitation was extended to Seventhday Baptists, assuring them that such church relationship need not embarrass them in the keeping of their own Sabbath. This invitation was accepted. Mr. Allen afterward remarked that he felt assured we were the more respected for the determination to maintain what we thought to be religiously right. Such steadfastness to principle, in whatever position he was placed, was ever a characteristic of Mr. Allen's life.”

UNDERGROUND RAILROAD..

Oberlin was at that time a station on the "Underground Railroad," and Mr. Spicer relates the following incident :

"Early in September, 1848, I found myself at sunset near the Cottage Hotel, when there came on the sharp run sixteen adult negroes, hatless, coatless, shoeless, and almost breathless, crying in terror: 'Oh, take care of us quick! Our masters are coming! Masters are coming!' At the same time a man from another point came on a running horse calling out, 'Take care of those men; their masters are in hot pursuit.'

"A Boston gentleman, as quick as thought, exclaimed: 'Come, follow me, boys. Friends, stay here and guard the hotel, and don't one of you look toward the college.' He immediately led the way, on a run, to Tappan Hall. Hardly were the fugitives safe there before the pursuing slave-owners were in sight.

A mass of college boys, citizens, and strangers surrounded the hotel and the streets leading to it. Thinking this unorganized force needed leaders, I went after Allen, Larkin, and John M. Langdon (a mulatto who afterward became member of Congress and also minister to Hayti). By the time we were on the ground, the pursuing party had arrived, ordered their steaming horses cared for, and supper for themselves. While they were thus engaged, a council of war was called by the gentleman from Boston, and a plan of action soon adopted. Tappan Hall was to be left seemingly unguarded, while twenty wellarmed men were to keep watch within the hall throughout the night. The hotel was to be systematically protected on every street and alley leading to it. The guards were armed with guns, axes, pitchforks, scythes, clubs, or whatever else could be grasped in the hurry. Commanders were chosen for the departments, of which Allen was one.

After supper

"That night was full of subdued excitement. the slave-owners and officers were out scrutinizing the guards and barricades. They returned to the hotel, evidently considering themselves baffled. Young Allen went from street to street among the men and boys, counseling them to hold their places, but in no case to act with rashness or use violence except in self-defense. He urged the colored people to retire, as there were fugitives among them.

"A few hours later the slave-owners came out in full force, but so formidable did they find the guards that they soon retired to their hotel, never entering the campus in which stood Tappan Hall, from whose dark windows the excited fugitives were watching every movement. About one o'clock a sheriff ventured out for a few moments, then all was quiet until morning. At early dawn the force of pursuers ordered their teams and drove to Elyria to await developments.

"Two days of quiet followed, during which plans were perfected to take the fugitives to Cleveland, where a vessel waited to carry them to Canada. Friends all along the way were informed of the situation, and prepared to lend aid if needed.

But the fugitives were guarded by such a force that they were not molested, and Mr. Allen and other members of the escort saw them safely on board the boat that was to land them in Canada.

SABBATH DISCUSSION.

"At one time the young men from Alfred were challenged by other members of the theological class to discuss the Sabbath question. The one side was to affirm the change of the day by divine authority, the other to advocate the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. One of the leaders who failed in argument made the seventh-day students a subject of ridicule for belonging to so small a sect—‘a denomination,' he said, ‘not even able to train their own theological students!' This, far from turning them from what they believed to be God's truth, only made them the more determined to build up, in the near future, a school where our own young people could secure the best of advantages, and to this work Jonathan Allen devoted his life."

WOMAN'S RIGHTS TOPICS.

Though Oberlin was co-educational, it was conservative on the subject of women's speaking in public. Miss Antoinette Brown was a member of the theological class. When each member was asked to give the reasons for the study of theology, Mr. Allen was shocked and indignant to hear the professor say to Miss Brown, "You will not be expected to state yours." She immediately arose and left the room, not being able to restrain her tears. Afterward, however, in the presence of the class, she was asked to give her experience in being called to her work.

The Alfred students boarded at Professor Fairchild's. The discussion of "woman's rights" and other reform movements of the day were agitating public sentiment everywhere. This question was often discussed by the professor and the young men at the dinner table, the discussion sometimes waxing warm, as our boys always took the woman's side.

At the close of the year Lucy Stone, of Boston (now of world-wide fame), refused to graduate because she was not allowed to read her own paper. This annoyed Professor Fairchild, and one day he asked Mr. Allen, "How do you get along with that question at Alfred?" "The most natural way in the world. If a young woman is capable of writing a paper, she ought to be able to read it," was the answer. Many years later Lucy Stone was invited to Oberlin to deliver an address.

More than a score of years afterward, when President Allen was invited to deliver the annual address at Oberlin, we were the guests of President Fairchild. One day Mr. Allen asked him how they had finally settled the question about the young ladies reading, etc., etc. "Oh, the girls made such a fuss that we were obliged to allow them to read their theses, but bless God they have not yet asked to deliver orations!" was his quaint reply.

While at Oberlin, Professor Kenyon wrote often and freely to Mr. Allen of his hopes in reference to building up the school in a higher plane, even to the establishment of a college. Mr. Allen entered warmly into his plans, and pledged his whole energies to the work. In answering his last letter, Professor Kenyon said: "Nothing has so cheered me as the words in your letter. It will take time, and it may be a long, hard struggle, but it can be done."

TEACHING IN MILTON, WISCONSIN.

In November, 1848, Mr. Allen, finding his health not good and his funds low, went to Milton, Wisconsin, to teach in the new academy with Mr. A. W. Coon. Mr. Coon, having been one of the early promoters of the educational work at Alfred, now became one of the pioneers of the same cause in the West. I mention this because the leaders in advance work are too often forgotten.

That winter Mr. Allen spent at his father's home, now full of bright young people, his father being the jolliest boy among them. His mother was happy to have her eldest son at home again, and the love of the sisters expressed itself in every form