Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-04-22

The Amlg-1lAveRy Centennial.
OLD GUARD aAroArHRRED-THE OCCASION. AD-
DRKssKs, DC.
spsets, Report ,Or the Commercial.
The Centennial Anniversary Of the Pennsyl-
vania Society for promoting the Abolition Of
Slavery, was held In Philadelphia, Wednesday af-
tsrnoon, At Concert Hall momsntous occasion
slavery movement, who have 30 wonderfully
found themselves converted from church mill
tant to
cauRcH TRIUMPHANT
within the frat hundred years since the incep-
Tho thronk that at m early hour assembled in
the hall Of mssting showed but sunah sprink
ling Of nnsynpathetc or unAcenstoraed sight
sesrs in comparison to the number Of familiar
faces, ssen at every turn, Of those long known
IN kindred IL less jubalant gatherings while the
platform was attingly crowned with venerable
hsads grown white In the service OF the cause
Hon. Henry Wilson, Rev. Dr.. W. H. Furness.
DR.. Wn- Elder. Frederick Douglass, Lucretia
Mott, Ably Kelly Foster, Robert Purvis, Chas.
O. Barlsigh, William Still, hshop Campbell, and
Others, were among the noticeable tenants Of
the slssatsd AeAta. Youth vas et discount in
this centennial celebration, for 1t WAS that Of =
triumphant ands completed fact page Of his
tory now folded and laid away.
TIE MEETING WAS OPENED
by prayer by the reverend and venerable DR.. W.
n. furness, and called to order by the chairman,
tod States, who in . short address expressed the
unusual pleasure which he felt in being called
to preside in such an assembly and for such =
purpose reviewed the lators and the triumph
ant success OF the society, and reminded his
hearers that though much was done, much yet
remained to be accomplished, that there are
&c ars TO be healed, preju1ices to be worn away /;
work to be done for the elevation, not alone Of
the black man, but Of the white, who suffered
almost equally in the degradation of his neigh
Dor.
Music followed, song or rather chant by
members Of the perennial Hutchinson Family,
the words. As we'll as we'll as music, being prob
ably the offspring Of the singers own genius !;
hymn in honor Of the glorious occasion, de-
clared to pe ~ Millennium" in which
H "An WarliEe weapons now we see,
Made implements Of husbaudry,
-PlOughs and pruning hooks"
Robert Purvis read
ANuNBER OF LETTERS
from expected guests Of the occasion prevented
BY various causes from being present; VIM. Lloyd
Garrison, Wendell Phillips, Geo. W. Curtis, and
G. W. Julian, all expressing hearty sympathy,
congratulations for the past, and plans Of fur
DR.. William Elder gave the historical address
Of the occasion, tracing the rise and progress of
anti-slavery effort, from period even preceding
that Of the centennial now commemorated down
to the present time. He could not undertake,
he said, to give the biographies nor even the
names Of the
GREAT HOST OF LABoRERs
In tho cause whose memories confront us to-
day, no more than to count the rills from q
thousand mountain tops which form the mighty
rivers that girdle the world. We cannot point
to the birth Of anti slavery. for like Topsy ut
was never made it growed." During the last
this there WAS great awakening, an outpour-
ing Of the spirit Of freedom upon the world in
which the grand idea of equal human rights
dawned upon the world. This was the era Of
the beginning of our national life, grand
birth. hour for = free nation. The chief points
touched upon, noting that they we're directed
against the slave-trade rather than the system
itself.
THE EARLY WORKERS scoTcHEp THE SNAKE
aad thought they had killed it they cut of the
branches Of the tree aud wondered whom it put
forth new growth. 1t wAs not till 1880, that the
theory OF immediate and unconditional emanci-
patton was put into practical shape and became
the vital force Of the struggle. The speaker
went on to give many interesting and amusing
incidents Of the Anti-Slavery fight of thasa lat
ter days. chiefly those OF his own ground in
Western Pennsylvania. He claimed for Pitts
burg what Philadelphia could not boast, that no
fugitive had ever boen sent back to bondage
from her midst. The rowdy element which In
the east pelted abolitionists here took up the
very paving in the street to drive out the
aave-hunters.
Dr. Elder was succeeded by
FREDERICK DOUGLASS,
who contrasted this Centennial with that whose
grand celebration 10 preparing for next year.
He claimed for this field ~ much tho broader
~ philanthropy is greater than patriotism. The
Centennial Of '76 commentaries nationality,
that Of rs universal human rights; tho one il
transient the other eternal. by way Of point
ing the progress that the African race has made
in worldly position, Mr.. Douglas brought for
ward quaint little book written not quite two
zealously oontended for the extreme doctrine
that 1t was not sin to baptiBe an infant Of Az
rcan blood!
Tho worthy author seemed to have been in.
stigAted 10 the expression Of these dangerous
vieWp, ''by ono Of those meddling and olficious
poodle called Quakers," people who have
egged on tho rest Of the world in this direction
ever since.
TEE GREAT SENSATION.
Of the audience waS the appearance OF Lucretia
Mott ~ the next speaker. HAndkerchefs were
waved and many lose to their feet a. she came
forward. The same face, spiritualzed rather
than worn with age, whioh has 10 long bsamed
serene peace In the forefront Of the battle the
same siivsr speech, still clear and unfaltering,
were here. Her words were few and addressed
TO the future mther than the past. She spoke
Of plans for education-for moral sducation-as
what " we must do" then, after pause, added,
with . beautiful radiant smile "No, you must
do; for 1 am done !" While she spoke, the
President remained standing. fitting and grace.
full expression Of tho general feeling OF venera-
| tion which
| MOVED THE HEARTS
Of the assembly. Succeeding this, as at othei
intervals, tho Hutchinsons gave the " Song OF
the Furnsce Blast, and similar inspiring strains
G. O. Burleigh made short but eloquent ad
dress In his well-known earnest and stirring
manner, At the close Of which the Presiden
announced the close Of the session, notifying
the audience Of an evening meeting to be hell
At Bethel Church, on Sixth street, below Pine.
The benediction was pronounced by BishoI
Campbell, Of tho African NJ. E. Church, and th'
meeting dissolved.
EVENING NETTING.
The meeting in the evening was addressed b.
Mrs. 7. E. W. Hayes, Abby Kelly Foster, Vic
President Wilson and others, aud continued to
late hour. Mrs. Foster made vehement attac
on Abraham Lincoln, whose fame Mr.. Wilso
ardently defended.