The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-05-09

war ard escape from its battle fields both jusfabe
and mertOrous and having satisfactory evidence of
the general prosperity Of the coored Immigrants in
Canada, well in different parts of the United
States who industriously engaged in agriculture,
in trades, in schools, will extend every needful
aid to fugtives from oppression until it shall be
venient and safe for them to return to their native
States as freemen
The meeting was concluded with singing and prayer.
New York Slave Vigilance Committee.
A meeting held last evening, at the church
of Prince and Marion streets to hear the report of
the Vigilance Slave Committee. The church not
so crowded as it would possibly have been had tho
weather proved more favorable. However, quite 4
goodly number of colored folks mixed in with a
sprnkrg Of the pale faces congregated together
the larger portion of which the fair sex of dark
color The meeting opened with n prayer, and then
followed the reading OF very long report the sub
seems by the report, that near two hundred slaves
been provided for and the receipts of the finance
committee amounted to $685.. expenditure 5000, leay-
ing balance in the treasury in the neighborhood OF
1921. The report was adopted unanimously Two
letters then read containing donations one
tanned draft from the President of the society for
$500.
FREDERICK DOUGLASS, an intelligent looking colored
man. was next introduced to the meeting He amused
the audience with relating several anecdotes respecting
his escape from the bonds of slavery remarking that
every man born for himself no matter what his
complexion, he had right to himself he was entitled
his legs and his feet and that any claiming any
more than two feet of his own was perfect monster
(Grcat laughter and applause) As for himself, he
said he ALWAYS advocated the running away Of slaves
it always made room fer another if they did not run
away by asking their masters their freedom would
be obtained He referred to the evil practice Of
providing the poor ignorant slaves with the Bible.
This he opposed to altogether So long they
slaves, permit them to remain in ignorance; but as
soon you teach them to read that moment they be-
come unhappy ne alluded to himself nm. lie sara tnas
restless and unhappy. Mr. Douglass went on for some
length of time in this strain amusing his auditory
with lively anecdotes receiving from his admirers
shouts of appreciation. After the termination of Mr..
Douglasss speech asong was sung by three children
The subscription plate then handed around, and
quite neat little sum collected to be appropria-
ted for the relief Of the runaway slaves.
Clerical Annual Temperance Conv ention.
The annual convention Of the Clerical Temperance
Society held yesterday morning, in the lecture
of the Brick Church, in Spruce street
The convention opened with prayer, after which
the Rev Dr. De Witt called to the chair, and Rev.
r. H. Concklin of Springfield, Mass, appointed sccre-
tary.
The annual report of the Society was read by the
Rev. JOHN MARSH, showing the fourshing condition
and favorable aspect of the Society during the past
year.
Rev Dr. MINOR said that he had watched the progress
of the Temperance Society for the last forty years and
the Of that progress When the Of tempe
had declined, it was in consequence Of the de-
pendence Of its lends upon human power anda forget
funcss Of the spirit Of God which had sustained it
through a faithful ministry. If human aid alone was
used the must decline for without the power Of
God there could be no good Effected 1t is the duty Of
those who sigh for the prosperity Zion to throw aside
human aid and depend upon God who will work for the
Of temperance 1t would not do for the church
let the subject he entrusted too much to
organizations These societies good; but the
members must work in the cause, for the organi
zation is soulless thing if the members and the mi
nistry do not give it their aid 1t is the duty of the
ministry to speak Of it. and press the subject in the
pulpit-to work with the vcndcr Of the intoxicating
draught. They must depend upon God alone for sue
Rev. Mr. SMITH saidIt is now possible to fall into
The last speaker said the cause Of temperance
in a most dcplorable state. The power Of God
seemed to have left the and 1t the duty Of the
church to take hold of the matter at once When the
WsshiD Society first formed In Baltimore,
the of prayer removed from the societies, and
God shut out from their deliberations The church
then shut the temperance societies and was left
in the hands of men alone. Let put the true
spirit Of holy charity and infusc ourselves into all the
moralites OF life. and all the world. the devil him
self, cannot overcome us.
layman here to address the Convention, but
was objected to- the Convention purely clerical
lie aid he would take another opportunity Of convey
ing his sentiments to the public.
Rev Mir CosKLrs, of Massachusetts, then said that
he fully endorsed the sentiment that it not by
might nor by power but by the spirit Of the Lord that
victory over nemperance could ever be achieved This
movement had been begun under the auspices Of the
clergy and the great they committed in CIV
ing it up to the Washingtonians. If these do
anything why, in the Of humanity have they not
done it, The clergy should gladly avail themselves of
the assistance of all but they should not ren
qush the spiritual influence by which alone the
of Temperance could be made to prosper.
Rev DR.. LANSING said he somewhat Of an old libc-
raj and heendorsed the sentiments of brother Beechi
In the city Of Syracuse they excluded sectaran-
ism, but did not exclude religion They opened their
proceedings with prayer and relied upon the Divine
sisancc for success but the peculiar views of Presby
terians Episcopaans Nethodsts, Of any other
sect not permitted to be ntruded. Now Syracuse
the banner city Of temperance and where else
did the good fruits Of temperance abound.
A young clergyman contended that il was great
ror to the temperance to rrespons ibe
any other breach ofthe decalogue and it the pc
culiar province Of the ministry 20 combat II. Great
injury Lad been done TO the cause among the respecta
bic and influential portion Of society by associatng II
with men of doubtful character.
Rev. MIR. MAnsH thought the understanding was not
to refer to other agencies yet he found IL very d
cult 10 exclude them from their discussions lie thought
they ought TO confne themselves TO their own opera
tons, anda themselves as far a. they could, OF the
labors of others lie then read the following document
which, being moved and seconded, was unanimously
adopted
Convened we are in the providence Of God in this
city; from different and distant parts Of our Zion, to
strengthen each others hands, and encourage each
o'et hearts in the great Christian and philanthropc
puts OF the age ministers of Christ Of various de-
onhha'ions' are happy to respond to call to meet at
,s place Tor short period, to consider what
present duties IN relation to the temperance enterprise.
ana 10 commend 1t to him whose it is and without
wlofe blessing it cannot prosper
IL Is unnecessary for to FAY that this enterprise H.
and ever has been dear to hearts not merely ne re-.
claiming many miserable inebrintc preventing
thousands and tens Of thousand from ever The
drunkards path and dry,,s - ~ usc st fountng ' If
pauperis crime and premature 1saya but more cspc
cialy as removing of the greatest w.
the i, option md spread Of the gospcl-dcliyorn thc
church from gangrenc in Its vitals preparing The
way Of the Lord among all people. And us 1t was with
f cial reference to the salvation OF the soul that II
ctmmcnccd-as IL was based ON Christianf scf-dcnal
the OF the Lord love for Christ Righteousness and
judpm, Mt 10 the Iabors Of faithful ministers
on the Sabbath among the chief causes OF ORR
ginatpg and carrying IL forward extensively and
Ccssfuy and wherever these labors have been con
tnucd IL has not failed TO grow and prosper, while
where they have been RENTED IL has waned and lost
the affection and support OF the serious and re-
f,cting-and there is mapfcsty great increase OF
me cannot but feel that amid all multiplied
ana Hrduuus lgbors there IS loud call upon 10
npGec In and greatly increased efforts In It's be-
hnf' mat the plague may be stayed and the land be
nee.