# XX: Visit to England explained — Father Henson’s Story of His Own Life

> Chapter companion for Father Henson’s Story of His Own Life by Josiah Henson.

## What happens

Josiah Henson travels to England to raise funds for the Manual Labor School in Dawn, carrying letters of recommendation and black walnut lumber for the World's Industrial Exhibition. He is warmly received by prominent British abolitionists and clergymen, but faces accusations of being an impostor. A committee of twelve distinguished gentlemen, including Samuel Gurney and Lord Ashley, investigates the charges and clears Henson's name. The slander is publicly refuted, and Henson returns to England in 1851 to successfully cancel the institution's debt before being recalled to Canada due to his wife's illness.

## Themes in this chapter

### Community and Leadership

Henson organizes a committee of influential British leaders to oversee his fundraising, demonstrating collaborative leadership and community trust.

### Resilience and Survival

Despite being publicly accused as an impostor, Henson perseveres, clears his name, and successfully raises funds to cancel the institution's debt.

### Moral Hypocrisy

The slander against Henson, motivated by petty jealousies and sectarian feelings, contrasts with the professed Christian and abolitionist values of his accusers.

## Character check-ins

### Josiah Henson

Visits England to raise funds for the Manual Labor School, faces accusations of imposture, and is vindicated by a committee of English gentlemen.

### Samuel Gurney

Member of the committee of twelve appointed to oversee Henson's fundraising; his son serves as treasurer.

### Little Tom

Mentioned as Rev. Thomas Binney, one of the clergymen who received Henson and served on the committee.

### Amos Lawrence

Provided a letter of recommendation for Henson and later held a draft to fund Henson's return to England.

### Victoria

Not directly mentioned in the excerpts; included as a placeholder per canonical list.

### Lord John Russell

Not directly mentioned in the excerpts; included as a placeholder per canonical list.

## Key lines

> I simply restated to them all the facts I had previously made known. I reminded them that a man who devotes himself to do good, must and will be misunderstood and have enemies.

Henson calmly repeated his story and noted that anyone dedicated to good works inevitably faces misunderstanding and opposition.

_Henson's response to the accusations, emphasizing his integrity and the inevitability of criticism._

> The ground was now prepared for me, and I reaped an abundant harvest. The whole debt of the institution was cancelled in a few months, when I was recalled to Canada by the fatal illness of my wife.

With the accusations resolved, Henson successfully raised enough funds to pay off the institution's debt within months, but was called back to Canada due to his wife's terminal illness.

_Henson's fundraising success and the personal cost of his wife's illness._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/father_henson_s_story_of_his_own_life_se/chapters/xx-visit-to-england
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/father_henson_s_story_of_his_own_life_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/father_henson_s_story_of_his_own_life_se/chapters