By: Curtis Schofield, Spiritual Insight

Sometimes great achievements have small beginnings. James Michener in his book, Chesapeake, records how one woman, Ruth Brinton planted seeds in 1668 that grew a crop that made possible in 1863 for President Lincoln's proclamation of freedom for slaves, to be accepted by the nation.  

Ruth was a member of a small Quaker Christian group in Maryland,  whose members believed and taught that it was not the will of God for anyone to own slaves. The seeds Ruth planted were monthly payments to the black women slaves who worked in her home. In 1668 it was illegal in Maryland to pay money to slaves. Ruth's husband, who was a ship builder, told his wife that he disapproved of her paying the slaves.

Ruth's response: I see a day when every member of the Christian church will be ashamed to hold another person in bondage...I see a day when every member of this meeting will voluntary award freedom to any slave in his or her possession...I see a day when every black person will read the Bible, and be able to write his or her own name; hold his own family together; be able to see that his children are educated; and can get jobs with honest wages...the Lord sent us Christian Quakers to America to give this message of hope."

Let us not grow weary in doing well, for if we are faithful the Lord will see us through.

Encouragement statement: “The mills of God grain slowly, but they grind exceeding fine.”

Curtis Schofield is a retired minister residing on Sand Mountain. Contact him at (423) 413-5653.