He had read his Bible too literally to acquiesce easily in a state of matters under which human beings were bred and raised like a stock of cattle, while outraged morality was revenged on the governing race by the shameless licentiousness which is the inevitable accompaniment of slavery.

He was well aware that these evils, so far from being superficial or remediable, were essential to the very existence of a social fabric constituted like that within which he lived.

It was not for nothing that he had been behind the scenes in that tragedy of crime and misery.

His philanthropy was not learned by the royal road of tracts, and platform speeches, and monthly magazines.

What he knew he had spelt out for himself with no teacher except the aspect of human suffering, and degradation, and sin.
He was not one of those to whom conviction comes in a day; and, when convinced, he did nothing sudden.