In 1786 one of George Washington’s slaves escaped and was helped by “a society of Quakers, formed for such purposes.” The society grew in numbers and by around 1831 it was being called the “Underground Railroad.” Since it was a secret organization it was “underground”, and it was called a railroad because they used railroad terms when talking about it (which was ‘cool’ at the time because the railroads were brand new).
Churches, especially the Quakers and the Seventh Day Adventists, provided safe “stations” along the Underground Railroad routes where fugitives could hide and rest on their journey. The people who helped were often in danger of being fined, or even wounded or killed. There was always the very real danger that if you were a free black person, you could be “captured” and returned to slavery - even if you had never been a slave before!
So why did they help? As Ellen White, a famous Seventh Day Adventist, said, “No distinction on account of nationality, race, or caste is recognized by God.” The Adventists did not see any difference between the races, believing that we are all one people and should be treated as such. Blacks and whites routinely ate dinner at each others houses in the Adventist Village - something that was not common at that time, even in the “free” north. Because of these beliefs and practices, many escaped slaves chose to settle in these kind of sympathetic places, and to help other fugitives on their way to freedom. This fact is why Battle Creek became such a noted stop on the Underground Railroad, because of the churches along this route and the helpful network that was formed between them.
If you have time, be sure to go on the tour given by the Adventist Village to learn more about their history with the Underground Railroad - check in at the Welcome Center.