[From the "National Anti-Slavery Standard."]
Just as our paper is going to press, there comes to us
intelligence of the death of our beloved and revered friend,
Esther Moore, widow of the late Dr. Robert Moore, of
Philadelphia. She expired on Tuesday morning, November 21st,
1854, of gout of the heart, after a short, but painful illness,
in the eightieth year of her age.
The writer of this first became acquainted with her in 1836,
and, at various times since then, has met her at Anti-slavery
meetings, or in familiar intercourse at her own house. Her most
remarkable traits of character were an intense hatred of
oppression in all its forms, a corresponding love for the
oppressed, an untiring devotion to their welfare, and a courage
that never quailed before any obstacles, however formidable. Her
zeal in behalf of the Anti-slavery cause, and especially in
behalf of the fugitive, a zeal that absorbed all the powers of
her noble nature, was a perpetual rebuke to the comparative
coldness and indifference of those around her. We well remember
how her soul was fired with a righteous indignation when upwards
of thirty innocent persons, most of them colored people, were
thrown into prison at Philadelphia, upon a charge of treason,
for their alleged participation in the tragedy at Christiana.
Day after day did she visit the prisoners in their cells, to
minister to their wants, and cheer them in their sorrow; and
during the progress of Hanway's trial, her constant presence in
the court-room, and her frequent interviews with the District
Attorney, attested her deep anxiety as to the result of the
impending struggle. When we last saw her, about a month since,
she was engaged in collecting a large sum of money to ransom a
family of slaves, whose peculiar condition had enlisted her
deepest sympathy. Notwithstanding her age and infirmities, she
had enlisted in this work with a zeal which, even in a younger
person, would have been remarkable. For many days, perhaps for
many weeks, she went from door to door, asking for the means
whereby to secure the freedom and the happiness of an enslaved
and plundered household.
As a member of the Society of Friends, she lamented the guilty
supineness of that body, in regard to the question of Slavery,
and often, in its meetings, as well as in private intercourse,
felt herself constrained to utter the language of expostulation
and rebuke. In this, as in other relations of life, she was
obedient to the revelation of God in her own soul, and a worthy
example of fidelity to her convictions of duty. Her step-son, J.
Wilson Moore, in a letter to us announcing her decease, says:
Among the last injunctions she gave, was, "Write to Oliver
Johnson, and tell him I die firm in the faith! MIND THE SLAVE!"
She had enjoyed excellent health the last few years, and
continued actively engaged in works of benevolence. During the
last few weeks, she had devoted much time and labor to the
collection of funds for the liberation of ten slaves in North
Carolina, who had been promised their freedom at a comparatively
small amount. Notwithstanding her great bodily suffering, her
mind was clear to the last, expressing her full assurance of
Divine approbation in the course she had taken.
This is all that we can now say of the life of our revered and
never-to-be-forgotten friend. Perhaps some one who knew her more
intimately than we did, and who is better acquainted with the
history of her life and labors, will furnish us with a more
complete sketch. If so, we shall publish it with great
satisfaction.
Happy! ay, happy! let her ashes rest; Her heart was honest, and
she did her best; In storm and darkness, evil and dismay, The
star of duty was her guiding ray.
Her injunction to "MIND THE SLAVE," comes to us as the dying admonition
of one, whose life was a beautiful exemplification of the duty and the
privilege thus enjoined. It imposes, indeed, no new obligation; but
coming from such a source, it will linger in our memory while life and
its scenes shall last, inspiring in us, we hope, a purer and a more
ardent devotion to the cause of freedom and humanity. And may we not
hope that others also, will catch a new inspiration from the dying
message of our departed friend: "MIND THE SLAVE!"