The daily gazette., 1883-08-27
THE "BIGs QUARTERLY.
THE coLoREo PEOPLES AN
NuAL JUBILEE.
SCENES ALONG FRENCH STREET
A Large Number Of Visitors How They
Looked and How the Day was spent
The Services

sBless the Lord, they're all here," said an
old colored man In front of the African
Union NJ. K. Church yesterday, and it really
looked as though all the dusky Inhabitants
of Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and
New Jersey had congregated on French
street between the creeks. Both sides of the
street were packed with the colored people
who had come to take part in "Big Quar-
terly" They had come from every direc-
ton, by steamboats, and trains, until about
5000 strangers had arrived. The steamers
Delaware, Edwin Forrest, Major Reybold,
Susie Mccall, Wilmington and FELTON,
brought large crowds from Philadel-
phia, Salem, Delaware City, New Castle,
aud Chester. The P. w. & B. and Delaware
Western trains both brought large crowds
from various points. Fully two or three
thousand more would have been on hand
from lower Delaware and Maryland but the
railroad company refused to run trains on
that road on account of the trouble on the
train two years ago.
Upon the arrival of the trains and boats
the objective point was the little African
Union Church on the west side of French
street below Ninth. All manner of vehicles
were here to convey there who wished TO
ride. The wagons were of various colors,
shapes and conditions. From the fancy
it's BOARD seats One attracted considerable
attention. IL WAS devoid OF springs and the
curtain was torn In several places. On the
sides was chalked the sign "hacks fur the
church" In place of seats were four or five
ropes drawn across with straw on them.
The horse looked as If he had seen better
times and on his right rump bore the brand
"U. s. tell-tale of his age, An old darkey
of about 65 winters was IN charge, and the
team excelled the famous "one-horse shay"
for it looked as it would all come apart at one
and the same time, horse, driver wagon
and all.
The scenes on the street were interesting
and in some cases amusing. The dress of
the crowd attracted the most attention. In
= large number of cases both the men and
women were dressed neatly and stylishly,
but the large majority were got up regard
less. Justice could not be given to the pic
turesque and many colored costumes that
were worn by some of the dusky damsels.
Among the men more taste was displayed,
but some of the older ones wore suits that
would discount a Carncross or a Wilson.
Here and there could be seen dusky belle
aud her beau, and their utter disregard OF
of the critical eyes of others was supreme.
His attentions to her, his politenees, and his
dignity when he met one OF his ordinary ac-
miration and wonderment in the look er-on.
All the day French street was lined with
booths and stands in alleyways and houses,
where numbers of enterprising eolored
women aud men were feeding their hungry
customers, who came in lively style all day.
At the church the crowd was immense,
running out to the middle of the street, and
it was impossible for one to make his way
through. Entering from King street large
tent about 30 by 60 feet was erected. This
was packed and exercises were held in both
this and the church three times during the
day. At intermissions they would form
circles of about II or Is with one in the
middle who was generally the new convert.
Here they sung and shouted, rocked from
side to siie, and clapped their hands in re-
gular time. Great beads of perspiration
rolled down their faces but they
all seemed incapable of exhaustion
Their songs seemed to have an unlimited
number OF verses. They would continue
this way for about an hour, when some
''brother' would start prayer and the ex
citement would become intense. At one
time during the day three of these gather
ings in the yard and two in the church were
in full blast
About O'Clock the crowds commenced
to go and before the crowd was pretty
well cleaned out.
This peculiar religious event originated In
a small way about 70 years ago. At that
time there were no colored churches here,
and The members around the neighbor-
hood formed society without regard to
denomination and called 1t Union of
Africans. From this was formed the church
before mentioned, and at the establishing OF
the church, it was decided to have four
meetings year of the congregation. One
| of these was determined upon as being the
annual Conference and fixed for the last
Sunday in August. At this meeting the
ministers, ,leacons and trustees were to meet,
look after the financial and spirit
ual welfare of the people and
endeavor to secure converts to the
church. This movement grew in popularity
and for the last Is years immense crowds
have attended.