In a letter written in 1837, referring to her brother’s visit to Philadelphia, Sarah says:  “We often conversed on the subject of slavery, and never did I hear from his lips an approval of it.  He had never examined the subject; he regarded it as a duty to do it, and he intended devoting the powers of his mind to it the next year of his life, and asked us to get ready for him all the abolition works worth studying.  But God took him away.  My own views were dark and confused.  Had I had my present light, I might have helped him.”

Angelina bore her testimony to the same effect.  Referring to Thomas in a letter to a member of her family many years after his death, she says: 

“He was deeply interested in every reform, and saw very clearly that the anti-slavery agitation which began in 1832 would shake our country to its foundation.  He told me in Philadelphia that he knew slavery would be the all-absorbing subject here, and that he intended to devote a whole year to its investigation; and, in order that he might do so impartially, he requested me to subscribe for every periodical and paper, and to buy and forward to him any books, that might be published by the Anti-Slavery and Colonization societies.  I asked whether he believed colonization could abolish slavery.  He said:  ‘No, never!’ but observed; ’I help that only on account of its reflex influence upon slavery here.  If we can build up an intelligent, industrious community of colored people in Africa, it will do a great deal towards destroying slavery in the United States.’”

The loss of her brother almost crushed Sarah, although she expresses only submission to the Lord’s will.  It had the effect of closing her heart and mind once more to everything but religion, and again she gave herself fully and entirely to her evangelical preparation.  She expresses herself as longing to preach the everlasting Gospel, and prays that she may soon be called to be a minister, and be instrumental in turning her fellow sinners away from the wrath to come.  Later, in the early part of 1835, after having re-perused her brother’s works, she solemnly dedicated herself to the cause of peace, persuading herself that Thomas had left it as a legacy to her and Angelina.  She resolved to use all her best endeavors to promote its advancement, and daily prayed for a blessing on her exertions and for the success of the cause.  This at least served to divert her thoughts from herself, and no doubt helped her to the belief which now came to her, that at last Satan was conquered, and she was accepted of God.

If she could only have been comforted also with the knowledge that her labors in the ministry were recognized, her satisfaction would have been complete, but more than ever was she tormented by the slights and sneers of the elders, and by her own conviction that she was a useless vessel.  There is scarcely a page of her diary that does not tell of some humiliation, some disappointment connected with her services in meeting.