New-York tribune., 1869-05-28
TIE ASSEMBLIES MEETING on BEHALF
OF FREEDMEN,


The Brick Church was the point of interest
70 large number OF the members of the two Assemblies
and their friends who arc interested in the social and
moral progress OF the Freedmen last evening The Rev
Edwin F. Hatfield d. D.. OF the New School Assembly,
pres,ded Prayer was offered by the Rev. w. G.. Miller
" North Carolina.
The Rev Joseph Williams OF Georgia, colored man,
who passed the most Of his life in slavery, made an
interesting address lie enforced the necessity OF the
people OF the North taking an active part in the work OF
Chrstaniziug and eeyatng the freedmen These people
were looking with intense anxiety aud desire to the
Christian people Of this section for help The people OF
the North have obtained foothold In the affections OF
the colored people which they should not lose' nor
Ia indifferent 20 tho duties their vantage
ground affords them. We look TO you 10 carry
on the work you have so happily begun among us and
hone YOU will not over to the tender merees OF
our former masers such was IN su3saRe9 Ile pea
n,ade nv this venerable cOlorcd man. Mr. Williams was
formerly slave In the family OF the Hon. HOWeIl COhD
In 1852 he purchased his freedom During the st tTo
years he has been laOOrlR as mlSSlonIS II oI,'s
freedmen OF Georgia, under the care OF tS rIetunS NJ
Committee c9nneced Win Inc Board 0l DO"'''O 'i''
Tne ne xt speaker was the Rev F. ]. Adams, mission
ory under tho care Of the Freedmens Commttee OF ne
New school Assembly He was formerly uu1S % t nio fr
OF the PresbyteTy Of Newark N j. TOT INC @ paS' io az
SrSsen Ch9plan 10 the senate that state In very
well prepared speech, delivered with considerable e1-
ern Christians IN the people OF his race at the aou
The people OF the North were under gea. onuEaons 70
Ills line OF labor Had It not been for the
heroic bravery OF colored fegneSht'r lu7ty"" t!m
Of tie White House being occupied G, Gy S.Ic. cen
Grant, Jefferson Davis or Gen Lee might nav nav
been residing there. They rendered most Vauan4a sen
yice during tile Again tho Ropublc9h pirS oNos
its success largely TO us. They CANNOT 40 HItout
upou help IN the future Inc speaAsr
showed how rapidly and satisfactorily the ooored people
were advancing In all the elements OF social wen
They are rising In the social scale We nave ~ tno
South ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, TWO seCreaIgS W Stato,
uaioritv of the Legislature OF South Carolina, ana
goodly number In all the different onlces OF trust our
people are saving money, and by TINS means WIZ soon soon
become entitled TO social consideration lhey arc paying
| great attention to education. The speaker gave
| some Interesting statistics ON TINS point SNOW,
| inc that there are 1881 schools Tor cOoted
people In the South Az the last report tngo weaV HO
teoehers OF whom 900 cOored showing that they
can ,nrh aa well as learn or these, l329 are sustained
by the freedmen themselves They also own SlS school
houses There these schools 10000 pupils with an
| average attendance OF $4,000.
| The Rev w. f. Mitchell, who has for years labored
amonR the freedmen under the care OF the o. b. Assem-
| bly's Committee, delivered short and interesting al
dress Christ said he worthy Tor whom ne shOuld
40 this" 30 i'm the OF these freedmen They are
worthy OF prayers, sympalmes, ana laDOrs Ihey
are emineutly patient They have borne great
expressions In their former condition, at inc
| hands OF tho officers OF the United states
Government, and since they have been eniranchsed'
They industrious It Is SANDER to say they are lazy
e could testify they were not The freedman asEes 0I
| both secular and Sunday and religious teachers and
teaching They apt scholars and use their opportu.
mites well. We should encourage them by furnishing
Tho Rev Thomas IT, Skinner d D., followed, represent
ing the Old School Assembly. He said this work was
hencef0rth 20 he carried forward by two churches aao
He was familiar with these people been 0IO9ent
p among them The saddest thing to be considered ia
connection with the is the state and prospects
the women. This Is point which has received put lso
attention. aud unless 1t " rightly 9nd enesEsusS1S A'-