New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-09-11
The Jubilee singers In Hull.

On the invitation of the Rev. w. G.. Pres
| ton, through whose instrumentalitv mainly
they were brought down to Hull, the Jubilee
Singers attended special service held in
Hope-street Congregational Church on sun
day afternoon. The notice o! this service
was very brief only being made during
Sunday forenoon. An invitation was sent
to several Sunday schools, and the scholars
belonging 70 Hope street, WyClif's, Albion,
Fish street, George street, BrOadley street,
and one or two other school. were present,
the center of the gallery being occupied by
the orphans from the Home in Park street.
Hundreds Of adults were also present, the
chapel being crowded to overlooking. Il had
been arranged with Mr.. J. =. DickersoA, one
Of the singers, to give an address. and this
gentleman having been introduced by the
Rev. W. c. Preston, gave 4 brief history OF
his past life as a slave, and spoke of the
scenes Of cruelty and oppression which he
had witnessed, especially at slave auctions,
where husbands and wives, parents and chill
dren, were frequently sold to owners who
lived at distances so remote that the chance
of these relatives ever seeing each other
again was very small. At the last moment,
and without any previous intimation having
been given, it was decided to have cOllec-
ton in aid of the Fisk University library, an
object in which Mr.. Dickerson appears to
take an especial interest. With some diff
Guilty, owing to the crowded state of the
building, collection was made, the total
amount raised being close upon nine pounds
sterling. This was considered satisfactory,
taking into account that the congregation
consisted mainly of children, and that no
intimation Of a collection had been given.
The young ladies and gentlemen composing
no hon nd of I,,hi Of
their selections, including "Steal away to
Jesus" with the Lords Prayer. The singers
attended evening service at one or other of
the Congregational churches. After service,
as the singers sat in their rooms at the Cross
Keys Hotel, they were struck by the great
numbers of young persons they saw walking
up and down the Market-place, and they
decided to 60 out in the street and sing some
of their songs. Soon they had around them
a very large audience, many of whom were
melted to tears by the deep pathos of the
simple songs. Addresses were then given,
to which the people listened with deep at
tentiOn.
The singers received an invitation from
Aid. Fountain and Mr.. Thomas Halter to
visit the Humber Training-shp on Monday
morning, but rain fell so heavily that they
were unable to leave the hotel In the
afternoon, however, the weather was more
favorable, and the much anticipated visit to
the school-shp was made, Captain Pollard
having sent one Of his largest boats, manned
by youthful crew, to fetch the singers on
board. The entire band was delighted by
what they saw, and the daily routine on
board the Southampton. The ships drum
and fife band played several selections, and
the Jubilee Singers gave some of their songs
to this youthful but highly appreciative audi
ence. Captain Pollard informed the boys of
the object the Jubilee Singers were seeking
to attain, and the lads at once expressed a
desire to help them, they having n fund which
has arisen from the gifts of visitors to the
ship. Capt. Pollard put it to them what
amount they would like to give, and sug-
gested that for them a donation of twenty
shillings towards the Fisk University library
would be handsome gift. The lads cried
out they would give the one pound sterling,
but voices arose on lall sides, two
"three," ''four," five Captain Pollard
thought, and the Jubilee Singers said they
| thought one pound sterling would be very
handsome gift. This amount was therefore
handed to Aid. Fountain from the fund, with
request that he would eXpend it in a book
or books for the University library AS the
singers left the ship the boys climbed up the
rigging and cheered heartily.
| In the evening service OF sOnCn was
| given by the Jubilee Singers in Hengler's
Cirque. The spacious building was crowded
in every part, and hundreds went away
unable to gain admission. The programme
was similar to that performed in Hope street
church on Friday night last, but there were
| introduced few songs OF more lively char
acter than it was considered seemly to sing
! in a place of worship. The very first selec.
ton aroused the enthusiasm Of the large au-
dience. Miss Jennie jackson, the darkest
Of the young ladies', sang 1.-THE Old Folks al
Home" and she was very loudly cheered
The concluding selection of the second part
was one which has been received with great
favor in America, Didn't my Lord deliver
Daniel, and why not every man? ?" The
singing of this selection created quite flrore
and the singers, many of whom had gone of
the platform, were obliged to return and sing
again. During the interval the band par.
! took of relreshment, consisting Of choice
fruit, provided by some ofthe ladies connected
with Hope street church. After the singing
of the first selection of the second part, Mr.
7. Haller stepped on the platform and pre-
sented to Mr.. White, the treasurer of the
Fisk University, the work which had beer
purchased by the boys on board the South
ampton. This was knights pictorial " OLD
England" handsomely bound, in two vol
umes. This work had been supplied at &
very liberal discount even from cost price
by Mr.. Holdich, who took deep interest il
the Jubilee Singers during their stay in Hull
In receiving the work Mr.. White said i
might be that some of the Southampton bow
would find their way to Nashville, and b,
was sure that If ever they did, so grateful
were the Jubilee Singers to them for thei
spontaneous kindness, that they would AWAY
find the latch-string hanging out Qaughte
and applause.l In the second part Their
were two solos, one The old man dreams ,
by Minnie Tate, who was loudly encored
and the other, TOO late," by Mabel Lewis
The concluding piece in the programme wa
so, wasn't that a wide river?" We ma
state that the soloists on Monday night wer
!. accompanied on the pianoforte or the guita
|. by Miss Ella Sheppard, one of the colore
ladies', who showed that she is thorough
proficient with the instruments named. o.
! Tuesday morning Mr.. T. Halter received fror
, Mr.. White q copy of the book which is bein
sold on behalf Of the Fisk University, giyin
!. history Of the several members of the band
} and Of the movement in which the Jubile
Singers are engaged. The book was in
scribed as presented TO the library Of tn
Southampton By the Jubilee Singers, and eac
: member of the troupe had signed his or he
: name on the Fly leaf. The book, which th
! Southampton boys presented to the Fis
University library, was inscribed as in con