Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-09-01
Deacon blackberry and Elder Pills
bury 60 to the Negro Church.


pany with some members Of Congress
Last Sunday morning Elder Pills.
bury camo TO my room. and invited
me to accompany himself and several
Senators and Representatives TO
church. twas pleasant morning,and
Therefore accepted the invitation with
great pleasure. q had not had time
20 attend church before since my ar.
rival in Washington.) He informed
me that they intended TO 60 TO The
negro church, in the lower part of the
city; that he and Mr. Sumner had
been in the habit of attending divine
service there for Il long time; and that
il seemed almost like home to them
there among their negro brethren
That they received so much more at
tention there than they did in any of
the white churches.
expressed my delight at being
favored with an opportunity to attend
q church conducted under the auspices
of this unfortunate and heretofore
down-trodden race of our fellow citi-
zens and, after he Withdrew from my
room, took more than ordinary pains
in the arrangement OF my toilet for
the occasion.
About 10 o'clock, accompanied by
his honorable friends, the elder called
for me at my room, aud, after distrib.
uting freely among tie party some of
the contents Of my demiohn, we re.
paired TO the negro sanctuary. On
our way, the elder and | were in the
advance, and, as we turned the corner
of the street, we met an elderly gen
tleman Of color, with some books un-
der his arm. "That is elder of the
church, said Mr.. Pillsbury and, as
we approached him, he said, "Elder
Snowfall, allow me TO acquaint YOU
with my friend, Deacon blackberry,
OF Illinois, one of the apostles of hu-
man rights" | bowed and shook
hands with the elder, at the same time
assuring him of my great pleasure in
making his acquaintance The elder
returned the compliment, and we
walked along arm in arm until we
reached the church.
"What is the name of your church p
] asked.
"De church ob de Secon' Advent,
culled, sab, answered he; "an' hab
de honor to be one ob de founders oh
dis institution in dis city"
"Ah, indeed, elder," said I, "you
deserve much credit for your enter.
prise"
Our conversation then turned on
tho many difficulties he must have en-.
countered in building up his church,
in the face of the rr,judices of slave.
holders, copperhcads, aud traitors
and it was continued until we reached
the door
After entering, the elder conducted
us all to the front seats, he going into
the pulpit.
The elder seemed TO be brim full Of
sermon. lie, therefore, made short
work of his introductory ceremonies,
and hastencd to the selection of his
text, which was from the 18th chap.
ter OF Judges, and was as follows
"An' Sampson slew de Philstnes wild
de jaw-bone oh de ass"
After recounting the various ups
and downs through which Sampson
had passed, and comparing them tc
the fortunes Of the Republican party
of which he claimed TO be respec
ted member, he finally came TO the
explanation and application OF his
text.
"My breddern and sistern," said he
"from dc forcgwine, you will preserve
dat Massa Sampson am de pussonifca
tion ob de great Republican party OF
de present day. Jist like Sampson
days got de power to do anything
an dares not Delilae livin dat can
cut dar har off, nedery No, my bred
dren an sislern. An Massa Sumner
Massa Phillips. an Masaa Greeley am
dc Trinity OBJ dis great party. d.
Philistines am de obstrifferous rebel,
down souf De reconstruction meas
ures am de jaw bone with which di.
Republican Sampson smashed out d,
power oh de rebels. An now my
bredren an sistren, whar did dis Jaw
bone come from : Why, III tell yur
whar il comes FRONT 1t came from
dc great Republican Congress, which
am dc ass. OATS whar il come from
Yes, my breddren an sistern, il an
dis great loyal ass dat dis negro con
gregation hab to tank for making den
80 much better dan de common whit,
trash. Now I'll tell you nudder ting
Dar was Andy Johnsing. What dc
he 'spect to beY Why, my beIubbet
breddrcn an sistern, be 'spccted to b,
Balum, and was going to ride dis as
after he got into de Presidential char
Did he ride umy lax desc honorabl,
gemmen here, did he ride on de rumr
OBJ dis great and glorious Republican
ASST Nara ride did he get De as,
war too much for him. SO do ass hat
been riden dis would be Balum ebe,
since ) an dey's gwine to ride cbbel
odder man what won't stand by d,
great ass OBJ de present day"
This lucid elaboration Of tho mean
ing and application of his text did nor
seem 10 suit my honorable coinpan
ions, and, Ms We came up street. sever
al expressed themselves strongly !,
favor OF Congressional action ia refer
ence TO the manner in which ignoran
persons tri6cd with the sacred trpth,
of the bible. Others thought ther,
should be committee to instruct nc
grocs as TO what was proper, an,
what was not proper, 10 preach 4
border State loyalist seemed to be ex
eeedingly wroth, and was ia favor of
tnuzzling all such stupidity. lie hac
been insutcd often enough bv thos,
stupid niggcrs lie would submit 1,
1t no longer lie was for placing
white men in place who could be taught
now aud what to preach. and who
would have brains enough 10 know
lne difference between Congress aud
an ass An eastern member rebuket
Nun Tor the severity Of his structure,