, 1865-10-28
Gen. Howard in zos1's Church.

Sunday afternoon last by the friends Of impair
tial freedom. to see and hear Mnjor-Gcn. 0. o.
Howard, Commissioners of the Frccdmcn's Hu-
rcau.
After the singing Of several hymns. the aor-
vices were commenced by Rev. Mr.. Howard,
brother Of the General. who rcnd from the Sl>t
chapter of Isaiah, and offcred q fervcnt peayer.
General r. Saxton, Assistant Commissioner
presided, md snid that they Ind assembled to
listen to Gen. Howard, the man who command
cd the right wing of General Shcemnn's army
on their successful march Though tho South,
and who had done as much as any other man
for freedom, through the war, and would have
givcn his life ms freely as he did his arm for the
success Of the cause. After the war had been
brought to a close, General Howard was sclcct-
cd Us Commissioner Of the Frcedsncn's bureau,
as one emincntly calculated to deal Justly with
all lie believed that he WINS the true friend Of
the colorcd man, that his heart was in the great
work to which lie had been called, and TIM. he
should have their earnest prayers.
General Howard remarked that the Secretary
of Wsr had plsecd him at the head OF the
Frecdnen's Commission and, it I've ke,ew dis
own heart, he was a friend 80 man becau.e he
wns a friend to God. Love thy ncighbor as
myself WAS n divine command, and lit could
not love God without loving his fellow-mcn.
The pledge Of the Government to the freed.
men might be temporary as a law, but nerpetu-
al III its .fccts-thnt slaves shall be forercr
free. Whatever else may fnil. ms sure as the
soul Of President Lincoln is in hcaven, that
promise shall not be broken.
rs labor you will earu Your bread. The
first thing to be done is to secure labor for
yourselves. Every friend Of the race feels anxi.
Gus for YOU. 1t is a question among them wlc.
tlcr you will continue to work on the plantations
and in tile workshops Of industry. Constant
statements are made that yosl will not succeed in
frecdon. The right Of labor is vouclisafrd TO
every living soul. 1t makes no difference what
may be the color Of the skin our Saviour loved
all mankind, and worked for nil his creatures.
but lie was especially tender Of the poor in heart.
His children can do no better than follow his
example.
The war has left MS sonic excellent fruits,-,ln
poor and the rich have their share. Il has left
AIS with broken hearts and dccp-scatci prcju-
diccs. 1t has left lis in a condition from mlicl. nc
alust emerge.
The object of the Bureau is to csrry cat the
pledge made to the colorcd rian by the late Pre-
sident LINCOLN contained III the Inst law of Con.
grcss. which lie signed. It is to make that pledge
god for cternity-a pledge for Which he laid
down his life. 1t is to establish justice between
the freedman nn,i his former master, to innlcu.
rate a system Of agreement between the land
owners and the latsorers. And it is the duty Of
its agents 10 see that such agreements arc full.
flied.
Sever revenge or rctaliatc against your Oh.
pressor. | advocate always n spirit of manlincss
bue be polite, lie kind, and bo Christlike. BE
brave enough to keep silent when yon wish, and
when you want to speak. No one can
Cypress you now md, with the
proper spirit on your part. you cannot be OPP
pressed. Your former masters propose to deal
Nth you in n liberal manner. A freeman, with
frecnaan's heart, is a better workman thau any
slave. I would have every one ofyou be a true
freeman. and exert such an influence upon 9th
ers that all shall indeed be free.
There is nothing dishonorablc IN work. Pre-
siicnt Johnson came from the poor mans path
of life, and has reached the grnndcst position in
Wy SHNeo os"tSS' u an love OF G0d IN
your heart, you cum say that you IRE q better
mnn than tile President. and demonstrate to
the world that the colored people arc worthy Of
the freedom which the Government has bcstow-
ed upon them.
Education is worthy Of your consideration.
Rcep good schools in operation. TIM, you may
send out mi .'ionarics into the interior, aud dif-
fuse tho benefits OF knowledge. I was very
much pleased with the appearance Of a school
which I visited the other day. The marked in.
telligence of the scholars surpriscd me as they
had not only made rapid progress in learning
che common branches, but improvement in all
the Accomplishments that adorn civilized life.
It seems as il the hand OF God must be in it all
to aid this people. Through education next to
labor, you will pass from darkness to light
from, weakness to strength. You have many
obstacles in the way OF Jour advancement, and
though you may not get on as fast as you de-
sire, you children and your children's children
will be blessed with all the benefits that flow
from liberty and union.
When you become really free, you can more
readily obtain the rights OF freemen. Such are
my sentiments, that come from the yearning of
my heart for the good Of your people. You
taust look forward, and hold on 10 what you
have already got. You were not the only
slaves. Many a white man was a slave 70 The