haftesbury
became on a larger scale in London. Those were days of foundation-laying
of great religious enterprises. The Home Missionary Society, the
American Temperance Society, the American Sunday-school Union, and
the Seamen's Friend Society were born about that time. In February,
1825, Arthur Tappan sent on to Boston for the Rev. Wm. A. Hallock,
who before sunrise on a winter morning presented himself at Mr.
Tappan's door. They called together a few warm-hearted Christians--among
whom were Messrs. Allen, Haines, and Chester--and the American Tract
Society was organized, and its new building was erected. It was while
in the employ of the Tract Society that Harlan Page did his wonderful
work as a consecrated laborer for the conversion of souls."

It was not Dr. Cuyler's purpose to follow these men in their later
experiences. But we take the liberty of doing so in respect to one of
the persons named, Arthur Tappan, of whom Dr. Cuyler says that as far
back as 1825 he might have been called "the most prominent Christian
layman in New York." If we step down nine years to 1834, we shall find
that same Arthur Tappan ostracized by his former associates, ridiculed
and denounced by the press, a reward of $50,000 offered for his head,
and his store assailed by an infuriated mob, and defended inside by Mr.
Tappan and his little band of clerks, of whom the editor and proprietor
of _The Independent_ was then one. It is not too much to say that in
1834 Arthur Tappan was the best-abused man in New York.

It may be asked with surprise, What had made this great change? The
answer is simple: He had become an _abolitionist_. The same zeal in the
Master's cause which led him to do so much in founding and sustaining
the great missionary and benevolent enterprises, induced him to assist
the anti-slavery cause, which had then come forward. He felt a profound
sympathy for the oppressed slave, and rejoiced to do what he could to
secure his emancipation.

It should be remarked that Mr. Tappan did not agree with those
abolitionists who denounced the Constitution and the Church. On the
contrary, he took a leading part in the formation of a new anti-slavery
society that was established in opposition to those extremists. He was
the president of that new society for many years. Mr. Tappan used the
same quiet and unassuming methods in giving his time, influence, and
money to the anti-slavery cause as he did to the other benevolent and
missionary e