“The Starting Point” of the Abolitionist Movement
Morgan Godwin’s Plea to Evangelize Slaves
1680
A book published 340 years ago by the Anglican missionary Morgan Godwyn testifies to the early critique of American slavery by a Christian minority. Godwyn merely urged the Anglican leadership to endorse the baptism of slaves. Yet Frederick Douglass called Godwyn's tract a ground-breaking step in the direction of abolition.