New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-05-14
Farewell Visit Of TIA q JuDII.p Sing
ers 10 Hull. England.

On Monday night the Jubilee Singers, o
well known and SO highly appreciated in this
town, gave their farewell entertainment at
Hengler's Cirque. The building was crowd
ed to overlooking, with q very enthusiastic
audience, and in every way the concert was
amongst the most successful which they have
given in Hull. The concerted pieces and
the solos were over and over again encored,
especially the solos by Jennie Jackson, Mag
gle Porter, and Mabel Lewis. Before the
last selection on the programme was sung,
the Rev. w. {. Preston presented to the
to the singers lte-sizc portrait of the great
emancipation, William Wlbcrtorce. nmak-
ing the presentation, Mr.. Preston said il
fell to his lot, when the Jubilee Singers first
came to Hull, at the close of last summer
to q i've their concerts in the provinces, to in
troduce them to the public of Hull. Their
first concert was in the chapel in which he
had the honor to minister lIIope->trcet Con-
gregatonaD, and on that occasion he offered
to them welcome which was a prophecy of
the success they were subsequently to real
ize. 1t had, in fact, been more than realized,
for they came to raise e60GD; their first ESQ
was obtained on the occasion referred to,
and since that time not GGOU0 but clO, OI0
had been earned by them. Now their cam
paign was over they came to pay Il farewell
visit and to say goodbye. They had accom-
plished that for which they came to this
country, and they were presently to adjourn
to their transatlantic home. He was thankful
that the public had gwen them SO cordial a
welcome, but there was just one shadow
which fell on the joy Of the occasion. He
referred to the absence Of Professor White.
whom many had learned to love, not for his
works sake only, but for himself. In that
heavy affliction which had betillen him i'm the
sad and sudden death of his wife, he did but
express the feelings OF every one when he
said that Professor White had their earnest
and heartfelt sympathy. 1t would be in
their recollection that Professor White
made suggestion, prompted by singular
coincidence in connection with their visit to
Hull. The first concert given in the provin-
ces was in the town of Wilbcrforce. The
day was the LIST of August, the anniversary
of the emancipation OF the British slaves.
That was without any forethought or ar
rangement on the part of any one who had
to do with the concert. That was only dis
covered and suggested either at the time or
after the concert had been given. In addition,
was at Hull where the first clear money was
made by their friends for the fund which they
came here to obtain.
Professor White, in making alluSon to
these circumstances, expressed a strong de-
sire that there should be sent by the people
of Hull something for the Fisk University,
IN the shape of bust or picture, that would
remind the students for all coming time to
whom they owed their emancipation and all
their privileges. A few friends took up the
matter, and subscriptions were obtained bv
which it was made possible to procure a por-
trait of Wilberforce. That portrait had been
painted by their townsman, Mr.. benjamin
Hudson, Spring-bank.
10 mfr preSfOpN cnul.l COW ,,;,l,o,,,
tatiOn, that although he had seen so MANY
pictures by that always successful artist. he
had seen none more satisfactory than the one
he had the honor to present to the Jubilee
singers. That portrait would be accompa-
MED by the Life of Wilberlorce, % vols.
and his correspondence . vols. II by his
sons. 1t would be great JOY to all who had
taken part in that matter, to know the .Ju
bilee singers would carry that remembrance
with them, There might be many more cost
ly gifts and many more handsome donations
that would enrich Fisk University, but there
was no gift that they would carry across the
Atlantic that had been prompted by feelings
OF truer regard, and, thanks to the artist, he
believed that among the many valuable pres
ents, theirs would be worth place. He had
therefore much pleasure in presenting to
FISK University the portrait of their honored
toWnsman-William Wilberforce.
In conclusion, Mr.. Preston expressed a
hope that the Jubilee singers would be car
rled safely back to their filr-ofl home. and
that they, as well as the many who had heard
them here might be the better for their
visit.
The gilt was received by Mr.. Holmes, one
OF the singers. He first thanked the audi
ence for the kind reception which had been
accorded to the jubilee singers, and said that
on behalf Of the other members of the band
he expressed the deepest gratitude for that
beautiful picture. In August last they came
here rejoicing that they - the children of
bondage-had escaped by the blessing of God
and had been permitted to come to the home
OF that great and good man, whom they all
reverence-William Wilberlorce. 1t was at
Hull that they realized their first money to
build Jubiee-hall, and since that, their sue.
cess had been greater than they could have
expected. The formation of the Fisk Uni
yersity had been laid with American green
backs" and ere long it would be capped with
British gold. They felt sure before thew
started that it would be done, but it had
been accomplished sooner than they expect
ed, and he could only now say how deeply
grateful they all were. for the generosity Of
the British public to the Jubilee singers.
They WOnlh with