The weekly Anglo-African. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1859-1861, 1859-10-01
LETTER FROM REV. AMOS GERRY
REMAIN
MoRR1srowN, N. j., Sept. %, 1859.

Mr.. ED1roR:-Having passed very pleas
antly portion of the past week in attend
ance upon the meetings held in Brooklyn.
N. Y, by the Evangelical Association Of
Colored Congregational and Presbyterian
Ministers, and Members of these United
States" where we saw much, very much to
encourage and strengthen our heart and
hope in the sure elevation and progress Of
the colored people, in the rapid march
which they are making towards higher
and nobler Christian civilization than the
world has ever yet seen-we, at the COM
mand of duty, went, ON the 18th inst, to
Newark, n. j., in the prosecution of our
mission. We need not speak of the storm
through which we made our way-be as
sured it is remembered. During the night
the rain ceased, the wind retired, the clouds
rolled away, and in the morning the sun
arose bright and clear. Sure to see the
sun is pleasant" especially after such a
tempest. Most gloriously did he shine up
on the world, SO recently shaken by the
frowns of the storm-king q.
Blessed Sabbath morning, how sweetly
the " church going bells" chimed forth the
music of heaven, and summoned forth
thousands to the house of prayer, and to
deeds of mercy and love for their fellow
men-surely the "Sabbath was made for
man."
1t gave us great pleasure to behold in
the morning a Sabbath school of about
one hundred members, with their teachers
assembled to study their Bibles, in the
Plane street Presbyterian church, under
the able superintendent Of Mr.. Charles
Hedges, who is doing great work.
We addressed the congregation three
times on the Sabbath noble and atten-
tive one. Indeed the church, having for a
long time been under the faithful charge
of the Rev. E. P. Rogers, the poet, the
theologian, and the able and devoted pas
tor, whose praise is in all our churches,
has made rapid progress in all that consti-
tutes the strength and glory of Christian
people. A solid and permanent future is
before them, and long may both pastor and
people live to do the work to which they
are called in the Gospel. We visited the
Sabbath-school and Bible-classes and the
infant Sunday school in the afternoon
both under the superintendent of Mr..
Guild-who has been faithful to his post
for more than twenty years, and whose
heart for his work is and -truo cr
ever. With much satisfaction he looks
over the past and sees the wonderful i'm.
provements which the church and congre-
CATION have made, and are still making, in
the right direction.
There is large and fourishing day
school, taught by the able and faithful
teacher Wilbur Garrison Strong and his
accomplished lady assistant, Miss Smith.
On Monday evening we had the pleasure
of meeting large audience in the same
church, and of addressing them on the
Improvements which the colored people
have made, and the prospects before u.s."
On Tuesday the Goth, we found ourselves
up here in Morristown, where we have
come to fulfill promise made to Mr. Thos.
Cox to visit this place, and see our people
from house to house, and hold few pub
lie meetings: but the sober second
thought" of the storm, which ragged. in such
fury on Saturday, has brought it back
again in all its force, so that our purposed
Iabors have been almost defeated. The
following incident will show that the right
spirit is here. Spending a social hour in
kind family, while speaking of the
"Anglo African" the good lady said she
would gladly take it if her daughter would
read it to her; this the daughter promised
to do-so the evening hours of that family
circle are to be irradiated with the inspira.
tons of your pen, Mr. Editor, for a long
time to come. How impressively does the
need of good reading matter for our peo-
pie impress itself upon every person who
feels an Interest in their moral improve
ment. Bead, think, act" should be
stamped in letters of fire upon every mind
here is power, progress, success.
There are about two hundred and fifty
colored people in this town; they have one
church and school for their children, the
number of which of suitable age is forty
In calling at the school we found but five
children present, but the teacher, Mrs
Mary S. Sharper, said that the average at
tendance was eighteen or twenty, the rain
had kept them away-if ever that was a
good excuse we think the children justified
in tb;o casa-for the basement in which