Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-08-29
Sunday was big ouarterlr.n

they termed the Union of Africans" an
organization of no particular sect. Its
membership gradually increased aud
finelly it becsme the African Union Free
Colored Methodist Protestant Church.
whose name now ia generally mentioned
with the words Stree" and 'colored"
omitted. For years the society held
meetings quarterly for the purpose of
escertainipg it's religious, moral and
financial condition. One o. the four
meetings held each year was called "Big
Quarterly" and it always was held in
this city. 1t was what other religious
bodies call annual conference. On the
Saturday preceding "Big Quarterly" Sun
day there would be nesting at which
business affecting all the churches in the
denomination would be transacted, md
Big Quarterly" Sunday would be gala
day and the occasion for great religious
revival. Subse q 1sntly each church
edopted quarterly conferences and the
church at large annual conferences.
After these changes had been effeuted.
"Big Quarterly" was continued, but
merely as social snd religious reunion.
The A. U. NJ. p. Church in this city, on
French street, between Eighth and Ninth,
at which big Quarterly" is always held.
closely initiates the original formgIity by
holding one OF It's gu srterly oooferances
on the Saturday preceding Big Quar-
teEly" Sunday.
At last Saturdays conference routine
business was transacted
Some years ago 5000 or 10000 people
we're seen at each "Bie Quarterly" but
for Eve years the attendance has been
dwindling, Notwithstanding the fact that
the occasion is exceedingly interesting.
Sundays "Big Quarterly" differed
from some of it's predecessors in several
respects. The attendance was less. The
sermons were more scholnriy aud the
audiences better behaved aud more atteu-
tive. Prayer meetings were confined to
the church and the tent, and although
they afforded entertainment for crowds,
they lacked some of the old Tins fervor
and closed sooner than heretofore.
Behavior on tho atreets YVES better and
there were fewer cases OF drunkenness.
Few, il any, drinking places could be
patronized and about ell the liquor that
could be had was what was seoreted in
hip pockets. Loudness OF dress was
scarce and the rural styles which once
provoked 80 much merriment were not
seen. Men from Eookum and the swamp
districts did not come. If they wore
present their identity could not be estab
lished by their apparel. Most OF the
clothing was neat and ordinary.
A finer day could not have been had.
At an early hour colored citizens were
Rstir and Immediately after breakfasting
were hurrying TO the wharves aud rail-
road stations to meet relatives and
friends. All forenoon the wharves and
railroad stations were thronged and when
bost or train came in there was good.
Dstured jostiing between those who ex-
peoted relatives and friends and those
who wero spectators. Some OF the
greetings were decidedly amusing and
all were hearty. Crowds promenaded
Frsnvh street all day and Fourth street
from French street to the Christians was
shronged all morning. Probably 4,UOO
people visited the city. By .. IN.
nearly all the visitors had departed.
TIE SERVICES.
Services continued from 10 q. IN. until I
p. m. without intermission and preaching
occurred in the church and in the tent sim
ultaneously. In the morning the Raw.
Edward II. Chippey of Newark preached
in the tent and the Rev. Lorenzo Dow
Blackson Of Philadelphia, who has been
minister for half century, preached
III the church. During the afternoon the
u
the tent and tbs Raw. Daniel Russell, Jr.
of this city preached in the church. Al
night this Rev. Mr.. Blaokson preached in
she teat and tho pastor, the Rev. q. "
Peterson, preached in the church. Sew
eeai collections were taken, those In the
tent being lifted with dinner plates. The
sermons wers sandwlched with prayer
meetings. Inc greatest interest wai
evincsd in tho latter. Services in the tent
continued wi,nout interruption until II
p. m. and the last service in the cAurct
closed au hous later. During the after
noon the prayer meeting in the ohnroh
Jagged occasionally and rest had 10 be
taken once Nr twice. At no time while
the services we're in progress were there
less than 1000 people present. The ten
was always thrOnged and at the front nnl
rear stood people seven and eight line
d ep. Pastor Peterson was master o.
Ceremonies in the church and the Rev
p. Spencer Williams hsid like office in
the tent. Among those interested by III,
afternoon services were the Bevs. Lafay
cite Marks, d D., j. b. Pa-melee end w
l.. :. Murray, Pm. ID. ..@..
The prayer meetings possessed an al
most indescribable fascination. In tue
basement OF tue church q hundred o
more men formed o circle and swsyed /,
and fro, sometimes fast and soms.ime
slow, according 10 tho metre of the hymn
sung. The room wac ssihlng and tc
person standing outside the door the dus
and impure air that oarn0 out was mos
unpleasant. Those who formed tine inne
Is line of the human ring were the most vic
lent in their movements and most of th
time perspired go freely that they ooul
not have been moro wet if hose ha
NJ been turned upon them. FranticRIlJ the
urged one anorher to more violent feat
l Of gymnastic devotion, clapping thei
hands, jumping and shouting, and occa
sionaiiy groaning. When they gre,
weary they dropped upon their knee
and prayers were offered. The wcms
~ were modest and did not help forg
M rings. Instead they sang and watche
~ the proceedings with interest. III
prayers were uttered with surprising eli
quence and were clothed in expression
pleasantly original. The music had
weird sound. How the gymnastics coul
pants resting caused no little wonder.
consequence of the violent exercise man
W Individuals in all probability could {
midnight have slept as we'll on cellai
door as they could upon feather be
and il somebody's hands are not blistere
"A to-day it will not be far short of mlri
M ole. Last year while prayer meeting
IA were being held in the church and IL
tent, two or three were in progress on
doors in the graveyard. Yesterday nj
more than two prayer meetings were bel
at one time. The phraseology OF man