Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1874-01-03

Lineoln's famous emancipation prOclp-
nation, the day was properly observed
by the colored portion of our community.
In the morning, at 1917 O'Clock, the
celebration commenced at Zion A. NJ. i.
Church, where very appropriate and
Interesting services were held and mos
excellent sermon preached by the Rev. II.
Jolly. Mr.. Jolly chose for his text part
NJ the first verse of the 18th chapter Of
Exodus-'I will sing unto the Lord for
He hath triumphed gloriously," The
exercises at Zion Church were continued
until afternoon, when the audience was
dismissed but re- assembled AZ 2 O'Clock,
when it was eloquently addressed by Rev.
l.. Patterson, upon the duties obligatory
before the colored people - day"
AT night the anniversary was further
celebrated by mass meeting at the City
Hall, which, before proceeding 10 business,
elected the following officers
President-Abraham Murray.
Vice Presldents-R. II. Lewis, +. A.
Hood and John Dillehay.
Secretaros-J. b. Myers and j. d.
Rawllns.
The hall was profnsely decora ed with
the flags and banners of the different
societies attending the meeting In body
and good portrait of President Lincoln
was consipciOuslY displayed. The names
/ of Clay, Frelinghuy5en, Stockton and
| Houston were also CONSPICUOUS, as were
quotations from the Federal constitution.
| To the right, the portrait Of Crispus
Attacks, colored, who shed the first blood
| for American Independence, was sus
pended from the wall, and TO the left
could be seen a representation Of the
slaughtering of oolored troops at Morris
Island, Fort Fisher, Fort Pillow, Peters
burg and Richmond, with an admonilion
TO remember the same.
After some excellent music from the
Moant Vernon band, the President intro
duced d. H. Gustus, who read, with I'M
speakable pleasure, what he termed one
of the greatest State papers ever written.
the emancipation proclamation, which
freed, In one day, 100000 slaves, or
gave new life to Just that many human
beings.
The reading of the proclamation was
received with applause, and after ii had
subsided, the Rev. 7. g. Ste yard was In
troduced to the audience, and for more
than an hour spoke aoceptsbly 10 the
large crowd, and was time and again
vigorously applauded.
Mr.. Steward said the occasion which
called them together was, indeed, an i'm.
portant one, and be wished that the task
of addressing the audience had bsen i'm
posed upon some one with more eo-
quent tongue, to some practical man Oi
his color who had tasted and drank moro
freely Of the bilters Of his race and theil
bondage.
Every nation and every age, he said
had been marked by some peculiar charac
, teristic; and although the statement
would probably seem Incredible If not
e monslrous, he commended that Americi
J was a country of morality and virtue aud
. this an age of thought and intelligen
{ reasoning. Crime exists now, it is true
I it had existed in all ages and in ever!
D country, but the bad deeds of to-day ar,
not SO numerous, In proportion to tn
population, as they were q century o
even half century ago, while tue goo'
done Is infinitely greater now than then
D We live now in an age of inquiry ant
truth and morality. This had not beer
= illustrated more plainly than when
D band of politicians thirteen months sine
t had attempted to elect Horace Creole
I President, with no code of lmoralty t
4 back them.
e To the humble Christ of Galllee, tn
e speaker commended, this age Of moralit
e and purity was in great measure due
{ and through His instruments slavery, IN
4 bulwark Of more than half century c
l. injustice, had been demolished. 1t wa
c not until after this act Of justice that "
= were allowed to view this country, an
!, from this work of amalgation, II h
might be allowed so to speak, will gro
, up beautiful civilization and a rae
never before equalled.
! The question, whence came the negro
- was answered at length. The Authr'
:, biologists claimed that be came from th
~ monkey, but Mr.. Steward, by comparin
~ the anatomy of the two, showed how ia
,a lacious such conclusions are. 10 is aga
~ claimed that the negro belongs to mol
i, IL historic race, but the speaker said II
"a people living can trace, their hlsiol
~ through the Bible so satisfactorily as Il
"a cOlored race. We are the children of
ne common father, and, if outside Of Adaf
% we are beyond Christ and but few, j
I, deed, have ever been wild enough to a
es,, sert that we have no souls TO save.
"a we are an inferior race, what will you
~. with the monuments We erected In Ely
W. over 5000 years ago aud which stand {
ID day uuequilled and a wonder to maukin
%, If ignorant, why did the scholars Of Roa
"A and Greece go to Egypt for addition
"a knowledge In centuries gone byffhe ntg
r i,a has yet great natural gifts. He is a pc
- and orator by nature and his soul is I'll
-, with music he is an arlstocrat IN iii
he Is a man of the future. The speak
closed by exhorting his hearers to becol
AT intelligent aud learned and amass weali
ZEN which would make them "white a
Dol respectable" much sooner than amall
In tion.
,ieo. w. Roberts was next introduc
BILE to the audience. One of the most gra
ere fying things to the speaker was the pr
he ilege OF living to see all persons, withC
7. regard to cast or color, meet under gu
ch. circumstances as the anniversary "
rO- being held under, and he said that Ct
lily gress, not the State Of Delaware, was
md be thanked for being permitted to h
such meetings. 1t had always been
vas aim of the latter 10 persecute the eolol
ent race.
ith Rev. Fielder Israel was called for,
id, said he would only Offer the follow
ied resolution, which he hoped would
the adopted by the audience rising
and solemn silence with uncovered heads
hu. Resolved. That this meeting, assemble,
lO0l the CITY Hall OF WILMINGTON on Em4ucl
the efforts OF that sainted man, TnomaB G
h, rett in behalf of our race, and that we '
keep his memory green In our hearts
us, homes forever.
The resolution was unanimor
.or adopted in the manner Mr.. Israel desil
hsd The following gentlemen were {
rrv appointed a committee, with Mr.. Muf
49, as chairman, to make arrangements
bis another anniversary meeting I'VE
III I months hence;
iraai First Ward, c. 8. Agnes Second, {
' IN Reason Third, W. II. Clayton Fou
IN D. II. Gustus Fifth, j. II. a. NY
e 10 Sixth, j. P. Walker; Seventh, D..
o,'r Hamilton Eighth, A. Murray; Mi
, bis l.. Coffin Tenth, II. Collins.
MS Mr.. Guslus here announced that
Tuesday evening a meeting In memOr
John W. Layton, deceased, wou d
e, aI, held in Union A. VI. f. Church.
X Mr.. Pickles being loudly called, c
. TN forward and addressed the audi
uau briefly. He was glad to be presen
aseS such an occasion. 8 few years ago
snui millions of your race were 10 slav
w but, thank God, the stars and ST.
,'iou float over none but freemen to-day.
a 10 was singular TO see sseh q meetlnl
~ that then ln progress, especially VIII
~ ~ was considered that but a few years
4 INT elapsed since Garrett Wilson, a col
preacher, was one night arrested in
49,. city and fined $500 for being out Of
house few minutes after 9 O'Clock
-. the Republicans are successful in
- State at the next election, they will
.t.l, out the bleol, code which still exists
:. ~ and viii build scloOl-housee on G
- hill aud in every valley for the educi