"So Much Radical Truth"

Peacemaking Heritage 18

 

The story of an early Adventist antislavery activist, excerpted and adapted from Mrs. A.E. Gurnsey’s profile of her 103-year-old father, William Gifford, published in the Review and Herald (“Brief Sketch of a Review and Herald Centenarian,” 14 January 1902, 3-4).

 

Early Life

William Gifford, the subject of this sketch, was born in Rochester, Plymouth Co., Mass., Sept. 22, 1798….

 

At the age of fourteen it was decided that he should go to live with his uncle, Captain John Atfsalt, and learn the pump- and block-making trade….[In 1831 he] went to Fair Haven, about six miles distant, built a shop, and started business for himself.

 

In 1820 William Gifford was married to Miss Mary Bowlin, daughter of Captain Josiah Bowlin. At this date he was financially prosperous, and business was thriving. My father still is, and always was, one of those outspoken men who dare to state what they think is right, and who will sacrifice much for a principle….

 

Religious Journey

My father was converted and joined the old Christian Church at. Mattapoisett, Mass., in 1819, when he was twenty-one years old, and remained in that connection till a short time before the Advent doctrine was preached, when he became dissatisfied with the faith and religious life of that people. He belonged to the same church of which Elder Joseph Bates was deacon. Later, he, with several others, took leave of their former church associations, and started cottage meetings in private houses. God blessed this move abundantly, and when the noted William Miller came to the village, heralding the great second advent proclamation, they were all ready to receive the good news of the soon-coming Saviour.

 

…[He] was a full partaker of the joys of those who expected the Saviour in 1844. After the great disappointment he shared in the sorrows of those who were looking for the Lord, but he never went back on the preaching, as so many did. He was personally acquainted with many of those early lecturers upon whom God laid the burden of the great second advent proclamation. He lived in the same neighborhood with Joshua V. Himes, the co-laborer of William Miller, and was well acquainted with him in early life.

 

Shortly after the time passed, he accepted the Bible Sabbath, through the labors of Elder Joseph Bates; and his home was a place of common resort for those who led out in giving the Third Angel's Message….

 

Principle Over Profit

Politically speaking, he was an old-time Democrat after the stiffest order, also a staunch anti-slavery advocate, and in all respects a thorough teetotaler and temperance man. From this one can readily see the outcome of so much radical truth centering in one individual, so far as business is concerned, with men of decidedly opposite sentiments. Father always kept his political flag at masthead. “No half-masts for me,” was his watchword.

 

…[W]ith him business was but a secondary matter. He could not be bought, consequently his patronage waned….

 

There were many proslavery men living in Fair Haven in those days, and father could not tolerate that hated traffic, and he was very outspoken on the subject. This also injured him greatly. While in business, his grandfather encouraged him in his antislavery sentiments, and they were among those early underground railroad men who assisted the slaves in running away from bondage. At one time his grandfather brought a fugitive home, and he settled near by. Grandmother taught him to read, and later, when the Advent truth was preached, the old negro accepted it, and died in the blessed hope of soon meeting his heavenly Master. Then too, father's ardent temperance principles greatly injured his worldly business with the shipowners and sea captains….

 

The family moved to Michigan in 1856, where Gifford lived the remainder of his life.  He had eleven children, five of whom he out-lived.  According to his daughter’s best estimate in 1902, he had twenty-seven grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.  Brother Gifford lived another two years, finally “falling asleep in Jesus” on Sabbath afternoon, December 19, 1903 in Memphis, Michigan at the age of 105 (Obituary, Review and Herald, 7 January 1904, 23).

Comments

[Jeff B]

I just put a basic Table of Contents for this series at Adventist Activism -- http://advactivism.wordpress.com/2009/08/25/peace-messenger-peacemaking-heritage-series/. Hopefully, readers will re-engage the older articles.

Grace and peace,
Jeff