Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-07-05
Celebration of the Fourth.


The CITY.-The dawn of another Indepen-
dence Day was ushered in yesterday by the
usual firing OF guns by men, and rafting of
fre-crackers and toy artillery by the children.
1t did not last long, however, for the young
folks and large proportion of their elders, had
arranged for an exodus from the dust and heat
of the city to the shady groves in the surround
ing country, there to enjoy the day. Soon after
sunrise, vehicles of every description, freighted
with young and merry lads and lasses, with
baskets and boxes closely packed with the re-
quisites to make q picnic agreeable at dinner
time, We're seen moving to the northern su-
burbs; the elder disciples of IZaak Walton with
their rods and lines and tin buckets, took
the route to the Potomac. And later in the
morning, the Sunday school children, clad in
their best, Were vending their way to the
various churches, from thence to proceed to
various groves to celebrate the Independence
Day Sunday schools should. BY IL O'Clock
the Little Falls and for miles beyond the forth
fcations, unoccupied; while beneath every
shade tree on the fishing points of the Potomac
a solitary fisherman might be seen watching
his float. to catch at the slightest nibble, and
perhaps Illuminating upon the momentous his
tory of our country between the present time
and s.the day we celebrate as ii was in 1776.
The city, from this general exodus was much
more quiet than on many Sabbaths OF the past
four years.
SABBATH SCHOOL CELEBRATIoNs.-The large
Sabbath school Of the English Lutheran 9th
street) Church spent the day in Corcoran's
grove, near Hardwood hospital. The arrange
ments for pleasant time We're admirable. 1t
was the pic mic of the school, but the children
were attended by their parents as well as
teachers, and extensive provision had been
made for the qualification OF all who would go
with them, and also for the gallant soldiers
who might wander into their midst. We have
not seen the order of exercises at the grove; but
know ing the energy of the superintendent, Mr..
Pratt, we venture to say that the programme
was dscreetly arranged and satisfactorily exc
cutcd.
The school of the Fourth Presbyterian Church
celebrated the day at Emmerts grove, near
GlenwOod This schools superintendent by Mr..
Bassett and as usual, the arrangements were
excellent. The children We're promptly at the
church at an early hour. so that they could all
be at the grove with their teachers and friends
by IL a. m. The order of exercises in the grove
Singing by the scholars, the Sunday School
Banner; reading of the Declaration of INDIE
pendence by Mr.. James Cunningham; aging
s.Marchng On address by w. 5. McFarlen
singing, s'Victory at Last
Both these schools were conveyed to and
from the groves i'll furniture cars lifted up for
the purpose.
McKerdree and Fletcher Sunday schools had
a fine celebration of the day at Gales woods,
wrl.rn.usic, reading of the Declaration OF In
dependence, addresses by Rev. Mr. Stitt, John
C. Hardness and others. Among the interest
ing featGres OF the occasion was the baptism of
fyeinfants by Rev. MI. Goheen, of McKen-
dree Chapel.
There were several largely attended public
pic mics in the vicinity of Bladensburg yester-
ciay; and also a very delightful private pic mic
held III Linthicum's woods. near Beltsville'
THE CELEBRATION By THE NATIONAL Mon
INTENT iCOLORED) hSSOCIATION.-1ul Cele
bration was looked for with considerable in
terest by both white and colored. Hundreds
of our citizens expected that the assembly
would be in the grounds Immediately south of
the Presidents Mansion, and as early 10
O'Clock the iron seats around the music stand
were occupied, and numbers of ladies and
gentlemen We're seated in the shade upon the
mounds, or We're lettering about the garden in
speeding the plants and trees. Shortly after IL
O'Clock the procession OF colored Sabbath
schools passed through the Presidents grounds,
h a
grounds best known as the {" White Lot"
where seats had been constructed in the will
low grove near the southern enclosure, and a
very neat stand was erected for the comfort of
the speakers and the band. In very few min
utes tie seats We're all occupied, although the
privilege of 4 seat cost twenty five cents for
the Colored Association Monument fund.
The stand was handsomely decorated with
the national flag, festooned along the front, and
rs the Sunday schools arrived their handsome
banners added to the ornaments. The children
were very neatly attired, boys and girls, in
white, and we judge that they numbered l,5OO,
and added to the multitude of adults, they con-
stltuted large audience. Credit is due the
committee OF arrangements, who We're careful
to keep supply OF good ice water convenient
Superintendent Richards had detailed
squad of the police to attend the celebration,
but there We're no disorderly acts that required
their interference.
The stand was completely filled, and among
those seated upon 1t we noticed Senator Will
son, OF Mass, DIR. Elder. Generals Harris and
Gregory, Rev. John Pierpont, number of Of
fcers of the army. quite an array Of ladies, and
full representation of the colored clergy of
the District The Union Cornet Band, former
" the band of the War and Treasury Depart
ments, was upon the stand, and performed
some excellent music previous to the COM
mencement of the programme.
Dir. John +. Cook, the chairman of the COM
mittee. called the assembly to order, and called
upon Rev. MI Anderson, pastor OF 18th street
Baptist Church. who offered very appropri-
ate PRAYER or the country and the extension
and perpetuation of liberty. This was followed
by the Declaration Of Independence, read by
John +. Cook in very distinct and handsome
style. Music-Hail Columbia Mr.. Cook read
letters from distinguished gentlemen who had
been invited to attend, among them Gov An
drew, of Mass; John w. Forney, of Philadel-
phia; Rev. Joshua Leayitt, Fred'k Douglass
and Horace Greeley.
Gen. Hunter, but in his place Prof. Howard
Day, colored, of New York, was introduced.
The speaker is young man and quite intelli-
gent In appearance. The speaker spoke elo-
GuentIy of the occasion and the circumstances
under which they assembled, and he was very
warmly applauded throughout his address,
which lasted for over an hour. Speaking Of
the assertion that the sentiment of the Declara-
ton Of Independence began with Locke, and
Sidney, and Bacon, the speaker denied it, and
declared that it dated away back before Locke,
or Sidney, or Bacon were born. He then pro-
ceeded to trace the steps Of liberty in history
from the early-year of the Christian era to the
present time. The speaker would not admit
that the fighting qualities of the colored race
Were only just developed in the late war. In
the nrst struggles OF our land Tor freedom from
British oppression the blood of the black man
had been poured out, and in 1915, on land and
sea, the white and black man had stood side by
side in defence of our nations rights.
Rev. John Pierpont was introduced by Mr..
Cooke as unwayering friend and advocate
OF human rights. The venerable gentleman had
composed poem for the occasion. UnfOrtu-
nately the reader could not be heard far from
the stand, and the mass OF the audience did not
hear a word, but the laughter of those around
the venerable poet, and their applause indica-
ted that the poem contained some pungent and
humorous hits.
Hon. Henry Wilson, of Mass was next in
trcduced, and addressed the audience. Sem
ator Wilson gave his hearers to understand that
an effort would be made in the next Congress
to secure the extirpation of the least vestige of
slavery, even to the prohibition of the called
apprentice system, which announcement was
Received with loud applause.