Program for the Anniversary of the Andover Anti-Slavery Society, 1836

Who is thy neighbor! – see him stand
With sunken cheek and eye,
Where hunger shows the empty hand
Thy bounty can supply!

Look where the sable captive sighs,
For rights enjoyed by thee!
He is thy neighbor – loose his ties,
And set the bondman free.

Columbia, favored of the skies!
How can thy banner wave,

While at thy feet thy neighbor lies
A crushed and fettered slave?

There is a blot among thy stars-
A cord is in thy hand-
A stain upon thy face that mars
The beauty of our land!

Thou noble Tree of Liberty!
Should not thy verdure fade
O’er him who would his neighbor see
Excluded from thy shade?

Who are the free? The sons of God, That hate oppression, strife, and blood;
Who are the slaves? The men that sell
God’s image for the gains of hell!

They scourge the frame, the sinews bind;
They trample on the immortal mind:
Earth can endure the guilt no more,
And God rolls on the avenging hour.

Proclaim his truth, spread forth his laws
Strike at the sin his soul abhors:
Break every yoke, the slave release,
Let chains, and stripes, and bondage cease.

Thus shall the world resemble heaven;
Oppression back to hell be driven;
And Love shall bind, in sweet accord,
ALL NATIONS RANSOMED TO THE LORD!

Ye who in bondage pine,
Shut out from light divine,
Bereft of hope;
Whose limbs are worn with chains, Whose tears bedew our plains,
Whose blood ouru glory stains,
In gloom who grope:

Shout! for the hour draws nigh,
That gives you liberty!
And from the dust, – So long your vile embrace, –
Uprising, take your place
Among earth’s noblest race,
By right, ​the first​!

Roll on thou joyful day,
When tyranny’s proud sway,
Stern as the grave,
Shall to the ground be hurled,
And freedom’s flag unfurled,
Shall wave throughout the world,
O’er every slave.

Trump of glad jubilee;
Echo o’er land and sea,
Freedom for all.
Let the glad tidings fly,
And every tribe reply,
Glory to God on high,
At slavery’s fall.