Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-03
SENATOR SHERMAN talks.
He Tells Story Regarding a Collec-
ton in "A Colored Church.
From the Washington Post.

From, the Washington Post.
Senator Sherman, surrounded by half q
dozen colored bishops, delivered brief
address to an immense congregation in
the new Metropolitan A. NJ. E. church, on
NJ street, last evening.
"When first came to Congress-" said
the Senator, "a little over thirty years
ago, | would have been booted at if | had
attempted to address a congregation like
this OF people of your race and color.
Tonight it is a pleasure for me to talk to
you" The audience applauded this SEN
tlment with great warmth. You col
Ored people," he continued, shave now
the same rights as the highest, the rich
est or the most learned. Your equality
with all other American citizens Is de-
clared I'M the constitution and the laws,
and it is your duty to assert your rights
on all OCCASIONS. The time, / hope, is not
far dlstant-although IL may seem to you
to be coming slowly-when, whether you
are rich or poor, learned or ignorant. the
black as we'll as the white may stand up
IN South Carolina or Mississippi as well
as at the rational capital and demand
the rights which the constitution and the
laws give YOU" This fling at the South
ern States was applauded by Robert
Small, colored Congressman from South
OaiOihas VIM was present, anu MS dp-
plause was followed by that Of the other
listeners.
Turning to finance and starting out with
the remark that he was sometimes called
tlnancier, the Senator said ''You col
ored people are not thrifty enough; you
must save money and accumulate prop
erty. You are free, you are INDEPENDENT
now; YOU must be selt-dependent now;
for That s the highest law of freedom.
elf this church is yet in debt, try to pay
that debt as soon as possible. There is
one lesson in finance which think should
be known to every citizen, however high
or low, and that is to keep out OF debt.
Avoid debt as you would a pestilence.
Do not be so anxious to wear good clothes
as to do good to Others"
THE SENATOR TELLS A STORY.
In this connection tue Senator told a
story about the first time he ever visited
cOlored church. 1t was away down in
South Carolina, before the close of the
war. He and a number of Senators, in
GLIDING Simon Cameron, were on an eX-
cursiOn, and having their attention at
tracted to little ramshackle hut in which
the colOred people held their religious eX-
ercises, they decided to go in. The old
colored preacher cut his sermon short,
and closed with reference to the fact
that there was a debt of some Sl79 on the
church. Then casting sly glance at the
Senatorial eXcursionsts, he remarked:
cam | think this would be a very good
time to take up a collection" The
Senatorial party, so Senator Sher-
man said, contributed 5000 on the spot.
When Senator Sherman returned to
Washington he told the story to a gentle
man, who, by making timely use of it,
soon afterward managed in the same way
to wipe out at one stroke the debt which
up till then had hung over the Foundry
NJ. f. Church, at Fourteenth and G
streets.
Senator Sherman was the only member
OF Congress, except Small, who attended
last night, although Speaker Carlisle and
several Others had been expected. As
soon as he finished his address he left.
FINALE TO THE INCIDENT.
Then Bishop Warman, VINO was acting
as chairman, got up to tell what he knew
about the little incident which the Sena-
tor had narrated. "All that the Senator
says is true" said the Bishop. 81 know
all about it because / called on the pastor
Immediately after it happened. That pas
tor was not only pastor; he was also Mayor
OF Mitchellsvllle. the first colored Mayor
ever elected In South Carolina. ] called
on him and told him that as understood
he was the Mayor, i, as stranger in this
clJys desired 10 pay my respects 10 MIN.
Yes, guess rs de Maer,' said he. 'All
de great men In dis var kentry knows me
and comes from all parts to hear me
preach. Members of Congress hears Of
me up in Washington and comes right
down her to listen to my sarmOn. Jest
other day de whole blessed 'Nited States
Senate cum'd right down var and gagged
seats in my church." And the pastor
then told the story of the Senatorial visit
substantially as related by Senator Sher-
man.
Robert Small delivered a short address,
IN which he remarked: "Some people
think we colored folks are going to emf
crate to Liberia. | wish they could see
this magnificent temple. No, we amt
agoin' to Liberia, nor any place else.
We're goin' to stay here. We're seven mill
ions strong, and Wen add another million
at the next census" The colored Con-
gresham had proceeded but a short
distance when be became somewhat con-
fused, and looking at all the Bishops
around him he confessed that he was out
of his latitude. 81 can't get my bearings
here" said he, ''but when the hat comes
round I'll give all 1 can afford"