Hotly around this point raged the strife among brethren.  Actuated by the noblest motives were both sides in the main, yet, both sides displayed in the maintenance of their respective positions an amount of weak human nature, which proves that perfection is not attainable even by the most disinterested of men.  Harsh and abusive language good men uttered against good men.  Distrust, suspicion, anger, and alienation took possession of the thoughts of the grandest souls.  Saints and heroes beseemed themselves like very ordinary folk, who, when they come to differences, come directly afterward to high words and thumping blows.  The love of David and Jonathan which once united Garrison and Phelps, has died.  Garrison and Stanton meet and only exchange civilities.  They, too, have become completely alienated, and so on down the long list of the “goodliest fellowship ... whereof this land holds record.”  To a sweet and gentle spirit like Samuel J. May, the acrimony and scenes of strife among his old associates was unspeakably painful.  Writing to Garrison from South Scituate, May 1, 1839, he touches thus upon this head:  “I now think I shall not go to New York next week.  In the first place, I cannot afford the expense....  But I confess, I do not lament my inability to go so much as I should do if the prospect of an agreeable meeting was fairer.  I am apprehensive that it will be not so much an anti-slavery as anti-Garrison and anti-Phelps meeting, or anti-board-of-managers and anti-executive committee meeting.  Division has done its work, I fear, effectually.  The two parties seem to me to misunderstand, and therefore sadly misrepresent one another.  I am not satisfied with the course you and your partisans have pursued.  It appears to me not consistent with the non-resistant, patient, long-suffering spirit of the Gospel.  And I do not believe that either the cause of the slave, or the cause of peace and righteousness has been advanced.”

The situation was further complicated by the discovery of a fresh bone of contention.  As if to give just a shade of sordidness to the strife there must needs arise a money difficulty between the two rival boards of leaders.  This is how our recent band of brothers happened to stumble upon their new apple of discord.  Soon after the formation of the National Society an arrangement was made with each of the State societies whereby they agreed to operate financially their respective territories and to turn into the national treasury the several sums which at the annual meeting they obligated themselves to contribute to the general work.  This arrangement was intended to avoid the expense, conflict, and confusion consequent upon the employment of two sets of agents to work the same territory.  Matters went on quite smoothly under this plan between the Massachusetts Board and the National Board until the beginning of the year 1839, when the former fell into arrears in the payment of its instalments to the latter.  Money from one