Imagine unrolling a hidden piece of history that completely changes our view of the past. In June 2025, American Baptist volunteers did just that when they uncovered a 178-year-old anti-slavery declaration in a Groton, Massachusetts church archive. Nicknamed the “Holy Grail” of Baptist abolition documents, the long-lost scroll – formally titled “A Resolution and Protest Against Slavery” – was written in 1847 and signed by 116 New England Baptist The Holy Grail ,ministers. Until its rediscovery, only a reprint in an 1902 history book preserved its memory masscouncilofchurches.orgripbs.org. This exciting find is breathing new life into 19th-century abolitionist history and reminding us how brave faith leaders once took bold public stands against slavery.The Holy Grail
Rediscovery in Groton: Unveiling the Lost Scroll
In the spring of 2025, volunteers were simply reorganizing dusty boxes in the American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts archives (in Grotonwood, MA) when the historic find occurred. Historian Jennifer Cromack – a retired teacher working on the archive – “was combing through” old journals when she spotted an unexpected item. As the Boston Globe and WBUR report, she “uncovered a slim box” and opened it to reveal a carefully rolled scroll in pristine condition.
Above: Historian Jennifer Cromack points to the word “Slavery” on the recently found 5-foot scroll. This archival volunteer “was just amazed and excited,” she said ripbs.org, recognizing instantly the significance of the document she held.
It turned out that Rev. John Odams (First Baptist, Boston) and Cromack discovered the scroll on May 24, 2025. The Massachusetts Council of Churches confirms that it was hidden for generations in Grotonwood: while installing new shelving in the archives, they “moved a banker’s box” and found a long narrow tube – a 4–5-foot-long, 9-inch-wide parchment tucked inside. The stunned team realized this was not just any artifact but the fabled 1847 Resolution and Protest Against Slavery, which Baptists had thought lost forever. Amazingly, the resolution had only been known from a published excerpt; no one had seen the original in well over a century.
- Date found: May 24, 2025
- Found by: Rev. John Odams and historian Jennifer Cromack
- Location: American Baptist Churches archives in Groton, MA
- Document: Titled “A Resolution and Protest Against Slavery”, adopted March 2, 1847
- Signatories: 116 Baptist ministers (mostly from Massachusetts and New England) The Holy Grail
A Resolution Against Slavery: Content and Context
What makes this scroll truly remarkable is its powerful, uncompromising language. The declaration begins by affirming that the ministers “disapprove and abhor the system of American slavery”. It acknowledges that earlier, the signers “hoped [a reformatory] movement … would make their action unnecessary,” but by 1847 they could “no longer be silent” about slavery’s “iniquitous system”. In the resolution’s own words, the ministers write:
“Under these circumstances, we can no longer be silent… Truth and Humanity and Public Virtue have claims upon us which we cannot dishonor.”
“After a careful observation of [slavery’s] character and effects … we are constrained to regard it as an outrage upon the rights and happiness of our fellow men.”
These stirring statements show that Northern Baptists were explicitly condemning slavery on moral grounds. As WBUR explains, this resolution was a “unique moment in history when Baptists in Massachusetts … took a strong position”. It came 14 years before the Civil War and 16 years before the Emancipation Proclamation, reflecting how these church leaders were ahead of their time. In fact, CBS Boston notes that these ministers even debated if slaveholders could serve as missionaries – and overwhelmingly replied “no”cbsnews.com. After wrestling with these issues, they boldly drafted this public protest against slavery, explicitly stating they owed a duty “to the oppressed as well as to the oppressor”.
This stand was closely tied to a bitter schism in Baptist history. Just two years earlier (1845), pro-slavery Baptists broke from northern congregations to form the Southern Baptist Convention. The 1847 resolution was essentially the Northern association declaring: “we reject the idea that slavery is just.” As Rev. Mary Day Hamel of ABC Massachusetts observes, this declaration happened “right prior to the Civil War” and helped shape the church’s commitment to justice.
Who Signed the Scroll: Courageous Voices of 1847
The document is signed by 116 New England ministers, most from Massachusetts. Among the names now revealed are some notable abolitionist figures. For example, the Rev. Nathaniel Colver of Boston’s Tremont Temple Baptist Church (one of the first integrated congregations in the U.S.) is listed as a signer. Another is Rev. Baron Stow, a prominent Baptist pastor active in Massachusetts’ anti-slavery society.
Above: Rev. Diane Badger (center) and historian Jennifer Cromack unfurl the newly found scroll. This photo, from June 2025, shows the pristine 178-year-old document with all its signatures (visible at right).
Rev. Diane Badger – who now oversees the ABC Massachusetts archives – calls this scroll the “Holy Grail” of abolitionist-era Baptist documents. Since its discovery, she has painstakingly transcribed all 116 names and their churches. She notes the interesting research questions that remain: Who didn’t sign, and why? Plans are underway to digitize and share the text with all 230 American Baptist churches in Massachusetts, ensuring this legacy is preserved and accessible.
The find has inspired modern faith leaders. Rev. Kenneth Young of Calvary Baptist Church in Haverhill (an African-American church founded by freedmen) said he was “awesome” that 116 white ministers so clearly “projected that freedom for our people is just”wbur.org. Indeed, the scroll demonstrates a shared resolve across congregations: even in 1847, many clergymen publicly pledged solidarity with the enslaved. As Badger notes, their oath “becomes part of our heritage” today – a legacy of justice that American Baptists still honor latimes.com.
Comparing Hidden Treasures: Lessons from the Past
| Document | Adopted | Discovery | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baptist Anti-Slavery Resolution (USA) | Mar 2, 1847 | Found May 24, 2025 | First-known public anti-slavery protest by New England Baptists. Long thought lost. |
| Emancipation Proclamation (USA) | Jan 1, 1863 | Published / Public | Lincoln’s order freeing enslaved people; instantly famous. |
| Southern Baptist Convention Split | 1845 | N/A (known date) | Highlighted national split over slavery; context for 1847 protest. |
| Dead Sea Scrolls (Israel) | 3rd Century BC – 1st Century AD | Discovered 1947 (modern era) | Ancient manuscripts that transformed biblical studies. |
| Amistad Petition (USA) | 1839 | Preserved/Public | Petition by African captives to Congress; key anti-slavery event. |
This table highlights how the 1847 Baptist scroll compares to other historic documents. Unlike world-famous artifacts (e.g. the Dead Sea Scrolls or the Emancipation Proclamation) that were widely known or quickly publicized, this Baptist resolution vanished from view for generations. Its rediscovery in a Massachusetts closet is more akin to archaeological treasure-hunting: a reminder that history sometimes turns up in the most ordinary places. Archival searches for this scroll even stretched to Harvard, Brown, and church archives in Rhode Island, all to no avail. Only by chance was it finally unearthed.
Key Insights and Takeaways
- Hidden histories matter. This find shows how much of our story can lie buried until curious researchers dig it out. As Jennifer Cromack reflects, the discovery “says something to the people of the state and the country” – it offers a forgotten chapter of Massachusetts’ legacy.
- Faith and justice intersect. The 1847 Declaration proves that religious leaders played a crucial role in the fight against slavery. It illustrates that conscience can lead to concrete action: these ministers formally voted to denounce slavery years before the Civil War.
- Inspiration for today. Uncovering this document during a Juneteenth commemoration (the unveiling took place on June 21, 2025) connects past abolition to present civil-rights observances. It has prompted renewed discussions about race, faith, and activism in New England – and perhaps encourages us to examine the values we defend now.
- Preserving heritage. The condition of the scroll (intact with no stains) and plans to digitize it highlight how archives are modern-day treasure chests. The event underscores the importance of preserving church and civic records for future generations.
Conclusion and Call to Action
The saga of this lost scroll reminds us that history often holds surprises, and that even century-old documents can speak powerfully to our times. As Rev. Diane Badger aptly put it, finding this “holy grail” joins the 19th-century protesters in solidarity with modern calls for justice. It challenges us to reflect: How would we respond if we found a similar “secret” from today’s world?
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