The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1871-07-20
room MuNICATEp
Editor Home Journal:

COMMUNICATED.
Editor Home Journal.
Please allow Il little space In your yalua-
bic paper tor the following:
On the 9th instead Of 9th inst, we, the
colored people of this place and vicinity,
met at Sharp's Spring to enjoy the pleas
urcs of a Basket Picnic, which was got
ten up by the celored folks Of Winchester;
and right here Yet me say you was correct
IN saying that We met for pleasure, and not
to honor the Fourth of July, for |, for one,
think that those who assume that the
words of the Declaration of Independence
should be construed literally, and in their
application under the constitution were
intended to embrace all mankind, render
a poor tribute to the sagacity and honesty
of the Fathers ofthc Republic. Therefore
I say to my colored friends, | will not cclc-
brate the Fourth of July, l776, In eommem-
Grafton of my freedom.
Now, let me give you some idea Of how
we spent the day. We spent it as near
like white folks as we have learned. The
picnic was gotten up by the Benevolent
Society, which numbers about thirty per-
sons, with its regular and duly elected Of
iicers, namely: David Bone, President
Richard II. Singleton, Vice President
John w. Trimble, Secretary; w. II. Sim
gleton, Assistant Secretary Mrs. e.. Butts,
Treasurer. The Society is worth about
$4,000. The money is for the benefit Of its
members; and right here | wish to ask If
there is any one around town that will sell
us u lot for Il graveyard-if so, let us know
in answer to this.
We agreed not to march to the picnic
grounds, but to meet there at 70 o'clock.
We did so, when we formed and seated
ourselves to hear the following, who al
dressed us upon some very important
subjects
ID. A. Townsend IntGmpcrancc. Rev.
Ben Darrell The Importance Of Sabbath
! Schools.
President Bone advocated the import
ance OF Bcnevolcnce among our race. He
said:
Ladies and Gentlemen :-This Benevolent
Association has hung out its tag-has UNI
flrled its bannerto the breeze, upon which
is written the holy and sacred principle
by which it is governed. These are, Peace,
Love, Fidelity and Truth. These noble
principles constitute the rules OF life by
which ali men should be governed in their
conduct toward God and their tcllow-men,
50 that man proves himself to be the no
blest work of God. These principles
should be in his very heart. 1t is Peace
that binds society together, Peace on
cath was the song that angels sung to the
shepherds on our Saviour's birth. Jesus
Christ Himself is called the Prince OF
Peace. His Kingdom is u kingdom OF
Peace. All good society is founded in
Peace. We came not to create war anC
strife in society, but in the words of Pres,
ident Grant, we say to all mankind, lie
us have Peace. Love is the second angl,
in the square of our motto. Love is de
| CluItN' Ill lIt bllIE w Dt WV lttIililiIlS "
the whole law. Paul says that tongue
shall fail and knowledge vanish away, bu
love GeUer foitcth. Faith and Hope vii
die, but Love will live to all eternity
God is Love, and that love is born of Goo
so says the good old Book. This Low
is the golden chain that binds human SO
cirty together, and unites all who hay
love to God. The difference between an
gels in Heaven ana devils in Hell is, an
gels love; this makes them happy. Devil
hate; this makes them miserable. There
fore, love is hravcn-hatc is he'll. Thel
our order comes crying to all, in the word
of the beloved st. John, Little children
love one another Fidelity is the thirc
star in our galaxy Of virtues. 1t is tn,
basis of confidence and trust, and on,
world cannot afford to do without conf
dcncG in each other. Without it, society
would fall to slaves, like Il tub withou'
hoops. Without fidelity, jealousy woult
break up all associations. We could hav,
no laws, nc rulers, no wives, no husbands
no friendship, no religion. VIII n ma
Of known faithfulncss or fidelity tells m
anything, ~ofcourse | believe him, and thi
leads me to bright, which makes me an
others happy. Our Society stands on Fl
deity.
With q few appropriate remarks TO til
ladies the speaker closed.
After speaking was over, we all ate
good dinner, and returned to our home
satisfied. II. III. SINGLETON.