Daily Republican., 1879-09-01
THE BIG QUARTERLY.

OF TIE BIG QUARTERLY.
q Ten Thousand COlOred PsOpl
J. Present-A More Moderate Obs
& vance Of the Ser vices-Hew th
9 ThrOngs C0ndacteA Themselys .
The "Big Quarterly" was an unus,
: ally quiet one Notwithstanding the ver
large attendance. For miles aroun
the people had for weeks been prepal
ing for the event and as they entere,
our city in all kinds Of oonveysncss
Flashing jswelry, new store clothes ant
other visible evidences of temporary
wealth were seen everywhere.
| Residents from the lower portion O
the Peninsula came and mingled har.
moniously with the super-exq uisitc
from the environments of Philadelphia
or Chester. From the points below on
both sides Of the river the people came
in boat loads. The kitchens Of Middle
town, Smyrna, Dover and other points
were emptisd for one time at least in
the year, Of their occupants, and Will
mington, the objective point by ten
O'Clock in the morning was alive with
some ten thousand strangers.
The occasion is social rather than
a religious one, and they came to Quar-
terly to see old friends and make new
aoquaintsnces. This has been the case
for years back. Then the day was
more generally observed. There was
no restrictions placed upon the sale Of
eatables, and consequently for squares
around, booths and restaurants lined
the curb stones and gave the event the
appearance of great "fete."
The late order Of the Mayor warning
the people not to obstruct the sidewalks
with eating stands had the effect of
keeping the streets clear Of this nuis-
ance. The immense throng managed
to get something to eat, as the order
did not restrict the erection of booths
on private property and private alleys,
as well as doorways and windows
served the purpose Of extemporized res
7'! t.'|"
In order to give an idea of the num-
bsr in attendance we give the arrivals |
By Edwin Forrest" Of Philadelphia,
500; "Mary Morgan" 300; "Clio,"
steam packet from Odessa, 12O; "Per-
ry," of Salem, 200. In addition to
this there were five extra trains, 1900
Of the passengers coming up the Della
ware road. There were trains from
Philadelphia, trains from the Eastern
Shore and other portions Of Maryland.
The common centre was the churches at
Ninth and French streets. Around
these they kept continually moving,
making it the next thing to impossible
70 get into the interior. At ten O'Clock
he first service began. Those leading
we're divines from various parts of the
peninsula. Ii
1t didn't take long to organize the
Meeting. The church was crowded to
uffocation. A fat apostle with gold
im glasses was preaching. He was
'arnsst. He was emphatic. Exps-
len Q had taught him how to draw on
he sympathies Of his audience, and ere
ong "amsns" and "halleluj abs, ''came
rom all parts Of the church. The
deepest feeling was manifested. The
minister kept up continual and not
lnmusical patting Of his foot on the
loor, and as his ardor increased. so in
reased the continual stamp until at
asst no time could be observed.
From all parts of the edifce ecstatic
ries and shouts were borne upward and
very now and then heavy body
rould suddenly shoot upward give three !
r four energetic jumps and collapse !!
as if it had been designedly
at down upon. A meeting of this
eople is peculiar. A strong devotion
haracterizes their services Physioli- o
ically they are demonstrative, and this ;,
ometimeS untowardness is only pe- :,
lliar manifestation of the depth of their n
'eling. i, j.
White people were present in great
umbers, especially was this so in the
raveyard, back of the church. Here p
nd there on the tombstones were fl
erched persons of every line, crunch CT
,g peanuts, while their vandal feet fs
arelessly kicked the dirt from the 81
ounds of the dead below. The tent o.
as rudely constructed board one.
here was large attendance here as
ell as in the church. Senator Harry n
,arpley, Democratic nominee for Pres. u
ent of City Council, occupied a posi- 10
IN near the amen corner, within the :
ladow of the pulpit. 4
;eeing the Senator's intellectual coun- =
nance smiling benignedly upon him,
10 speaker evidently determined to D
AXE an impression. As is usual with ~
me colored divines they take their
KITS and leave the explanation to ''
evidence. He took his subject from
hn and after frankly stating that he
dn't know what he would do with it, NJ
began his discourse. He rambled
ound recklessly among the Proverbs,
ot-d, Moses interviewed Matthew and ]
lyed havoc among the Psalms. Ever Wi w.
anon he would ask the prayers Of fss
, people to aid him in his explana- ia.
n. Then he would again begin his So
,ultory rambling discourse. In the an
lrse of an hour inspiration suddenly
uck him. S;o Se
He grew more emphatic and more fro
cited until at last the people present no,
,an to enter into the spirit and hearty arr
ponses came in from all quarters. for
. of the brethern in order to enter car
III more freedom into the service took az az
his duster, his coat and hat and be-
/ an old fashioned up and down -.
,ut. In the midst of his devOtions he A
ldenly turned and seeing that his Cle
thes had disappeared his interest in '
ritual affairs immediataly fOrsOOk rep