The weekly loyal Georgian., 1867-08-24
Teachers Festival,

AedcuerS EeSClVal.
We clip the following account of
the reception OF the teachers sent out
by The New England Freedmen's
Association from the .'Frcedmcn's
Record"
Our readers will be pleased to know
how Boston welcomes the self deny
ing ladies, vino leave pleasant New
England homes to teech the freedmen /:
The teachers festival took place on
Thursday, July lIth, as announced.
Soon after three the pleasant hall of
the Parker Fraternity began to be
filled with guests. Many of our most
active branch Societies were well
represented, and an hour was spent in
pleasant greetings of the teachers and
friends who were present. About
half-past four the meeting was called
TO order, and Col. Il. W. Higginson
took the chair. He requested all
teachers present to take the reserved
seats which had been provided them.
tempting them with the bribe of a
bouquet, which the teachers COM
mittee had ready. These fragrant
badges of distinction were kindly pro
yided by member of the Boston
Freedmen'S Friend Society. After
the teachers were las the President
locosely expressed it), 'lairly caught
aud impOunded," their names were
read that all might know who were
present. Over thirty names were
called. Rev. j. M. Manning then
opened the exercises by feryent
prayer. Mr.. Higginson, IN his open
luS address, spoke particularly of the
noble work which the teachers had
accomplished, and of the trying hard
ships and difficulties to which they
had been exposed; and said we owed
them such welcome as the Jesuit
missionaries received when they re-
turned from their labors among the
Indians. In answer to his call Mr..
Pratt, Miss Gardner, and other teach
ers, made brief remarks, and Miss
Osbourne gave a humorous account of
her experiences in the mud. Mr..
Arthur Sumner then sang one Of the
negro spirituals," prefacing it with
some remarks on the pecuilarities of
the negro music.
1t is impossible TO record all the
good things that were said, especially
by the President, whose racy humOr
and genuine feeling inspired the whole
audience with life and happiness. Mr..
Matthews, "a colored missionary from
Baltimore, gave very interesting
account Of the improvement of his
race in education. His own admira-
bic style Of thought and expression
was an excellent commentary on his
text. Chaplain r. NJ. Manly gave
brief account of the state of feeling
in Virginia. Rev. J. F. w. Ware
told us of the condition of Maryland,
showing how much worse it is under
its disloyal leaders than the other
States which have been reconstructed
by the Federal Government. Mr..
Eligginson then introduced to the au-
dience Mrs. Charles Bowen, from
whose lips, many years ago. he had
first heard a "negrO spiritual With
her husband and daughter she sang,
very sweetly, an air and chorus.
II think see sister Hannah,
| know her by her garments;
She's blessing in the land, ctc
The illusions to the members of the
teachers committee were very pleas
antIy received.
The ice cream and cake were ready
in due time. and while the company
partook of their refreshment ample
opportunity was afforded for con
versation. After supper other gentle
men addressed the meeting. Mes|rs.
Allen and Severance gave us more
splrituais. and Mrs. Barnes told us OF
the generous support given to her
school by the freedmen Of Columbus.
The company seemed 10th 10 sepa-
rate in spite of the gathering dark
ness. 1t was finally proposed to part
with the grand hymn of Old Hundred
sang by all present, and the meeting
adjourned for another year.
1t was emnently good time, and
we trust its pleasant influence was
a harbinger of rcfreshment and enjoy
ment to all our teachers through the
vacation.
If it were not that all were alike
interested in the cause, so that 1t
seemed rather like family party to
which each contributed to the enter
tainment according to his convenience,
we should he profuse in our acknowl-
cdgment of gratitude to the Parker
Fraternity for the free use oi their
rooms, to the accommodating janitor,
who gave us every possible assistance
in the preparations, to our friend MI
J b. Smith, who gave his valuable
services in preparing the table, to the
ladies who provided flowers for decorat-
ing the rooms. as well as to all those
who united with US with heart and
hand, in song, and in speech ana story
we offer our hearty thanks.
In many Southern home the words
of gratitude to the teachers Will hnd
an echo, and to us all is the delightful
consciousness that the joy OF the hour
was preparation for future seed-hme'
and yet more abundant harvests'
From the American Missionary