ndship and frequent intercourse with the late
Abraham L. Pennock, a man whose unbending integrity and firm allegiance
to duty were equalled only by his active benevolence, broad charity, and
rare clearness of judgment. Samuel Rhoads, like him, while sympathizing
with other phases of the Anti-slavery movement, took especial interest
in the subject of abstaining from the use of articles produced by slave
labor. Believing that the purchase of such articles, by furnishing to
the master the only possibility of pecuniary profit from the labor of
his slaves, supplied one motive for holding them in bondage, and that
the purchaser thus became, however unwittingly, a partaker in the guilt,
he felt conscientiously bound to withhold his individual support as far
as practicable, and to recommend the same course to others.

His practical action upon these views began about the year 1841, and was
persevered in, at no small expense and inconvenience, till slavery
ceased in this country to have a legal existence. About this time he
united with the American Free Produce Association, which had been formed
in 1838, and in 1845 took an active part in the formation of the Free
Produce Association of Friends of Philadelphia, Y.M.; both associations
having the object of promoting the production by free labor of articles
usually grown by slaves, particularly of cotton. Agents were sent into
the cotton States, to make arrangements with small planters, who were
growing cotton by the labor of themselves and their families without the
help of slaves, to obtain their crops, which otherwise went into the
general market, and could not be distinguished. A manufactory was
established for working this cotton, and a limited variety of goods were
thus furnished. In all these operations Samuel Rhoads aided efficiently
by counsel and money.

In 1846, "The Non-slave-holder," a monthly periodical, devoted mainly to
the advocacy of the Free Produce cause, was established in Philadelphia,
edited by A.L. Pennock, S. Rhoads, and George W. Taylor. It was
continued five years, for the last two of which Samuel Rhoads conducted
it alone. He wrote also a pamphlet on the free labor question. From
July, 1856 to January, 1867 he was Editor of the "Friends' Review," a
weekly paper, religious and literary, conducted in the interest of his
own religious society, and in this position he gave frequent proofs of
interest in the slave, keeping his readers well advised of events