Abolitionist

Jonathan’s strong belief that slavery was wrong informed all of the important decisions he made throughout his professional life. For many churches in the early nineteenth century, slavery was a non-religious issue that they often ignored. The church he pastored in Cincinnati, even before his leadership, had taken a strong stand against slavery. Jonathan was persuaded to head Knox College because of its strong anti-slavery stance. Once at Wheaton, Jonathan even made the school a stop on the underground railroad. Jonathan himself served as a conductor for the railroad both in Cincinnati and in Galesburg.