St. Paul daily globe., 1886-05-26
FOR FREEDM EN-.
Interesting Facts Brought Gut Re-
Garding the Negro.

A meeting was held at the House of
Hope church last evening to discuss the
work of the Freedmen's board of missions.
DR.. r. II. Allen, secretary of the board,
being present. On the stage were seated
Gen. Johnson, Dr.. Christie and six colored
clergymen: Revs. A, A. Jones, Madison,
Ga; NJ. &. johnson. Columbia. S. c.; e.
W. Williams, Abbeyille. S. c.; Solomon p
Hood, Beaufort, S. c.; Henry C. Maybry.
Chadbourn, n. c.. and II. B. Thomas,
Orangeburg, S. G. Gen. johnson presided
The church was well filled. generous pro-
portion of the audience being colored people
Gen. johnson stated the object of the meet
ing and announced Rev. DR.. Allen, secretary
of the board.
Dr.Allen said that there were 500 little freed
men born in the United States, doubling their
population every twenty years, already hold
ing the balance OF power in eight Northern
states, and in twenty years would hold it in
ten. The first cry of this people after being
liberated was for an education, and after
study of them for twenty years, he knew the
negro children would learn just as easy as
white ones. They began on absolutely moth
ing twenty-three years ago. pennless, friend
less and homeless people on the face Of the
earth, with nothing but their muscles; now
they own over 100000 acres of land. A
parallel in race advancement could not be
found in The whole history of the werld They
were the most improbable of races, and the
only race he knew of naturally impressed
with the gospel. He believed the white peo-
pie were responsible for the negroes low
moral life. He closed with an appeal for
help to give them school and church
privileges.
Gen. johnson then introduced the Rev.
NJ. G. johnson, who was born a slave and
had learned his letters since the war. Mr..
johnson spoke at some length of his eX-
perience as a slave. being Is years old when
set free. Rev. S. a. Hood was the next
speaker. He used the highest class of En-
glish, speaks in a heavy, pure, bass voice,
with excellent musical effect, with all the
emotional fervor and natural eloquence of
his race. He spoke for something over ten
minutes on the condition of the negro and
was listened to with rapt attention. Rev.
A. a. Jones Of Georgia. addressed the
audience briefly on the progress made in
his state in the education of his race. Rev.
E. ". Williams was the last speaker, the
hour having arrived when it was necessary
to close and enable the speakers to return
to Minneapolis. His address was very
brieS and with great power pictured
the needs of his race at the
present time, and in praise of the work
done by the Presbyterian church for the
negro. He asked aid in the construction
of a school house at his home.
Miss Lucy c. Laney of Augusta. Ca. a
coIored school teacher. was introduced by DIR.
Allenias one of the Southern teachers who
had just arrived tonight, and had never
made a speech in her life. Turning to Dr.
Christie he remarked that if it were not un-
orthodox he would like to have her address
the audience. Receiving assent a smile
Il coto
She made very earnest appeal on behalf
of the women of her race to aid an indus
trial school for negroes which she had
started in Augusta, Ga. She closed with
the frank avowal that she came begging,
and was heartily applauded.
On motion of W. B. Dean collection
was taken up to be divided between Miss
Laney and Mr.. Williams. the latter to get
the smaller share. and S103.54 was raised.