away.

"The ground of this conclusion is a doctrinal error, namely, that
slave-holding, the relation of master and servant, ownership, property
in man, or by whatever name slavery may be designated, is in itself
wrong, and that as soon as practicable it will be abjured and no man
will stand to another in the relation of master, or owner. But whether
for good or for ill, slavery will be in existence at the last day. We
read that 'every bondman and every freeman' will see the sign of the Son
of Man.

"But should slavery be at any time, or in any country, or part of a
country, utterly extinguished, it will ever remain true that ownership,
or property in man is not in itself wrong, and that it may be benevolent
to all concerned. It is interesting to recollect that in proportion as
human relations are cardinal, or vital, they approach most nearly to
ownership, as in the case of parent and child. The highest relation of
all, that between man and God, finds its most perfect expression in
terms conveying the idea of ownership on the part of God. 'For ye are
not your own;--therefore glorify God in your body and spirit which are
God's.' If God should send one of us to a distant part of the universe,
under the charge of an angel, where superior intelligence and wisdom
were needful for our safety in temptation and amid the bewildering
excitements of new scenes, ownership for the time being, absolute
dominion over us, on the part of the angel, would be in the highest
measure benevolent. In those days when universal love reigns, it is just
as likely as not that there will be more 'ownership' in man than ever
before. By ownership I mean such relationships as we see in the
households of those who are represented in the letter of the Southern
lady to her father. There we see the weak, the unfortunate, the
dependent nature clinging to the stronger, and receiving support and
comfort, and even honor, from those who in rendering kindness and in
receiving service have their whole being refined and cultivated to the
highest degree. There are no rigors in those relationships; everything
which contributes to the welfare and happiness of a serving class is
enjoyed, and all its liabilities to care and sorrow are removed, to as
great a degree as ever happens in this world.

"Allowing that there are always to be inequalities of mind and
condition, and that what we call menial services will need to be
performed; that there must be those who will