The weekly Anglo-African. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1859-1861, 1859-12-10
Dome GorresponNente
OUR PHILADELPHIA LETTER.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. s, 1853


PHILADELPHIA Dec. 5, 1859.
Mr. EDIToR:-Last Friday was dayE
long to be remembered in Philadelphia.
Meetings were held both by the white and
scolored sympathizers with Capt. Brown, and
many of the colored menin business closed
up their stores and workshops. There
was mammouth gathering at National
Hall, where speeches were made by Rev.
VIM. Furness, Robert Purvis, Esq, andD
others. AT this meeting the most intense
excitement occurred, occasioned by theI
speeches that were made. Certain persons
went there for the purpose of creating con-
fusion, and they were successful, but someI
sof them were arrested. The persons as
ssembled might be counted by thousands /
B The pray r-meeting at Shiloh Church was
"a very creditable affairall the way through
Several very appropriate addresses were
adelivered in connection with many ierventI
aprayers to God for the peaceful end of the
shero of Harper's Ferry. l should feel most
Shappy to record some of the incidents that
'aoccurred at this meeting, as well as the one|
l5at National Hall, but time will not permit.
II The Rev. Jonathan G.. Gibbs will del
liver an Grafton at the Masonic Hall before
Hthe Banneker Institute, in commemorationl
sof the event of the execution of the remain
/ ing comrades Of the noble Capt. John
I Brown, who was martyred on the 2nd INST.
/ A committee was appointed at public
8 meeting in this city, to request the bodies
Aof these colored men now under sentence
4of death, for interment in the North, and
Dit Gov. Wise grants that request, they will
'abe brought to Philadelphia.
u Mr.. Isaiah G. Wears delivered an inter
Testing lecture before a crowded audience at
4Central Hall on Tuesday evening last, Of
(which the following is few of the most
#important points:-The subject to be treat
b ed of was Social impurities" and although
Ehe would not underrate the lectures which
kSthe people were in the habit of hearing
Il from time to time in that and other places
Il yet Mr.. Wears deplored the existence Of q
Z state of things which had rendered moral
B lectures absolete. He believed the subject
s Jas one of extreme delicacy. Ministers,
Hsaid Mr.. Wears, authors, correspondents
Nand lecturers, alike shrink from the task
s of descanting upon a subject in respect tc
(which both hearers and readers are known
d Ito be very fastidious" He did not expect
d Ito be able to point out all the evils that re
& sult from lewdness, but that it is great
land increasing evil the wise and good mos
Mreadily admit and deeply feel; that enough
Hot its disastrous consequences may be seer
Ito awaken the profoundest concern in every
sOne who desires the welfare of his people
f This vice." said Mr. Wears, sis held tC
abe the master vice of heather lands, and
would that it was confined to those dark
Mcorners of the earth; but on the contrary
we can mark in our midst the corruptine
land degrading presence of this monster
vice in all its repulsive hideousness, until
we are compelled to add our testimony tc
the unqualified affirmation of the celebrated
HPaley, that it corrupts the mind and de
3 bases the character more than any other
u single species of vice whatever Contem
lEplate for a moment the havoc of this
-Ewretched vicewithin the hallowed precincts
Eof the domestic circle-observe, if you car
awlthout weeping, the scene that presents
itself to your view. Oh it is sufficient tc
melt the heart of any save the base profit
gate who has caused it. There sits one
whose cheek is mantled with grief who i:
kborne down with sorrow, upon whose ma
ternal heart a canker is secretly preying-
the story of her protracted woe is told in
WORD. The child Of her affection has faller
& to the seducer. 1t is this that brushes he
heart, it is this that opens the living foun
tain of tears, it is this that kills her," II
this strain the lecture was finished, occupy
ing about half an hour, after which the fol
lowing question was discussed " Is tn
world growing better2" The question wa
debated very spiritedly by Messrs- |. Y