The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-26
John Browns Soul" on it's
Last Forced March.
Our COlOred Citizens in Overlooking
Spirits The Grand Demon
stratioh i'm Honor of
Their EnfranchiSe-
ment.

"
States an article which has made the colored
man an equal of every American born, and, in
one respect the superior OF those not natives of
the soil. To-day the colored men of Philadel-
phia will parade through the streets of this
goodly city with their flags flying and their
drums beating, and in their overlooking joyous
ness will forget the past, the bitter past when
TO attempt such movement would have been
equal to running their necks into the halter.
They will forget the time wlen neither their
own nor their families lives were safe, tut, on
the contrary, liable to danger and destruction at
the merest breathing of the men % who then
strove for their oppression. They will forget
the time when fugitive slave to enter Phila-
phia was only to enter again into the hands of
his oppressors, and when for q colored man to
dare raise his voice was equal to almost instant
torture.
God is great God is good, and no one should
louder shout HIS praises than our newly en-
franchised citizens. To them the Father of
mercies" has been all-merciful. He has truly
'led them out of the land of Egypt and out of
the house of bondage" Their sufferings were
long continued but they have reaped rich
reward-a reward which will endure forever
and ever until the end of time. Their chastse-
ment has been great, but their reward has been
still greater and having endured the sorrows
they the better calculated to appreciate their
new-found joys.
Since sunrise our streets have been alive with
our ceored folks--men, women, and children
who had been on the tiptoe of expectation for
months past, and have this morning been turn
ing things almost upside down in their active
preparations for the display made to-day. The
wife, all hustle and furry in the arranging of her
husband for the procession the mother in the
fixing up of her son, and the sisters in their
way lending helping hand, made every colored
household lively and time pass swiftly.
A tramp along South, Lombard, Rodman,
Sixth, Seventh, and Eleventh streets disclosed
gala scene, and from every house-top, window,
doorway, and every conceivable point f1oated
the national bunting. Flags from the size
a
at hundreds of dollars added to the
decorations, and interspersed were por-
traits of those truly great, brave,
and good men who have gone before, tho
men who were champions of the colored race
when to be such was but to set oneself up to
ridicule and ofttimes punishment-tbe men who
bore the brunt of the battle and who fought the
good fight until the glorious ending, the men
who through the tender mercies of the All-wise
were allowed see the fruition of their labors be-
fore being called away.
At hundred and one different points were
seen the portraits of the martyr Lincoln and the
statesman Thaddeus Stevens. Nor was one
other forgotten: the face of "that good old
man" John Brown was also observable at diff
ferent places, whilst at Others Grant and Colfax
came in for their share of glory. Before one
place in Lombard street was arranged trans
parency, with the painting of a couple of can
mons, stand of arms, and surrounded by am
munition, and above all the words 1--WE never
spike our guns" At another was displayed
painting of the terrible day at Fort Hudson, and
at another some coored guards on picket.
Hurrying hither and thther through the
streets, we found the new voters arrayed in
clean white shirts and dark pantaloons all aim
ing for the central point, Liberty Hall, around
which were already collected many hundreds.
The hall itself could scarcely be seen, so thick
was it hung with bunting, and to enter was
matter of no small difficulty, so dense was the
crowd. Pushing our way inside we found the
different officers issuing their respective orders
and busily preparing for the parade.
The Religious Services.
In accordance with the request of the Central
Committee, the colored churches located in the
various parts of the city were opened at 8
o'clock for religious services. All were well
attended, and the utmost interest was mani
tested in the exercises by the audiences. Ser
mons were delivered hymns of praise sung aud
prayers offered, into all of which our new-made
citizens entered with Zest and fervor that are
characteristic of their race alone. The principal
centres of attraction were st. Thomas p. E.
Church, Fifth and Adelphi streets and the Cen
trail Presbyterian Church. Lombard street. below
Ninth, at both of which special dscourses,
suitable to the occasion, were delivered.
AT the Central Presby terian Church.
This edifce, situted on Lombard street, below
Ninth, was crowded at an early hour and it was
with difficulty that the Thaddeus Stevens Monu-
mental Association, who had received a special
invitation to attend reached the seats which
had been set apart for them.
The pastor, Rev. j. b. Reeve, after prayer and
the singing of a hymn, announced the text,
Psalms Xvi, 3, 3, and part OF l2:-
20 bless our God, ye people, and make the
voice of his praise to be heard
(Which hodeth our soul in life and suffereth
not our feet to be moved.
1--WE went through fire and through water;
but Thou broughtest us out with wealthy
place"
In starting the discoursethe minister observed
that we are here this morning not for discus
sion but for thanksgiving. We bless our God
to-day, would make the voice of His praise to
be heard-
First. Because He has brought us into this
wealthy place-made us citizens of so great a
country If the children of Israel on being re-
leased from their bondage offered up sacrifices,
how much more ought we to offer our thanks
giving for the great boon which He has con-
ferred upon us.
Second. We bless Him that here He has kept
our soul in life amid expressions unparalleled
in history, unless His own peculiar people be
excepted. What has not been done to crush
Out that life ? The key of knowledge was taken
away; the Word of Life perverted so far as men
could do it, every effort was made to destroy
the sympathies and affections. Yet that life re-
mains. The waters have not quenehed nor the
fires consumed 1t.
Third. We bless Him because He hath not
suffered our feet TO be moved from this land
where He in His proVidence-so dark in the be-
ginning-placed us Neither threats of foes noI
counsels of misguided friends ever moved ouI
fathers away from the confident expectation OF
having, as a race, just what God has now given
us-citizenship Here on this great continent
Gods own grand reservation for free institu
tions, for unfolding the principles OF that king
dom His Son came to establish, lie suffered
them to be placed, and from here He has no
suffered their children to move. Here to-day
we are rejoicing over new evidences that thu
tabernacle of God is to be with men, and tlra
He will dwell among them, and that they cal
dwell together in unity. In these things we re
joice, and for these we give thanks.