The national leader., 1889-01-05
January Isl, 1889, in Alexandra. Va
The Twenty-SixGh Anniversary Of the
Issuing of the Proclamation.-Ob-
served Under the Auspices of
the Frederick Douglass
Club and Library Asso.
citation.

Club and Library Asso-
citation.
LAHGEST GATHERING OF ITS CITIZENS
EVER HELD.-THE THIRD BAP-
TIsT CHURCH PACKED.
Reported for the NATIONAL LEADER.
ALEXANDRIA. VA, Jan. I'd, 1898.
Hardly had the sun gone down on
last Tuesday evening before the eager
crowds OF emancipation celebratOrs
were seen vending their way to the
Third Baptist Church, corner Princess
and Patrick streets, Of which that
-minent preacher, Rev. Wesley L
Graham. is pastor. By seven O'Clock
the church was densely packed, the
audience numbering over 2000 souls,
and as many more who could not OBJ
tain entrance. The meeting was held
under the auspices of the Frederick
Douglass Club and Library Association.
The church was decorated with
national flags and emblems Of varl-
| GUS kinds becoming the occasion. On
the latform sat many leading men OF
| the race among them Frederick Doug
lass Jr., associated editor NATIONAL
LEADER, Rev S. M. Johnson OF Zion
Baptist church, Prof. E. D. Scott OF
Petersburg, Rev. FitZhugh of Wash
ington, Rev. r. Fl. Robinson of the
N. e. Church. Rev. j. Strange OF
Norfolk, T. A. j. Clemons Esq and
In the audience were seated many
prominent, white citizens. Among the
prominent persOnages In the great au'
| hot of.id nv nit
| A. Jackson, William Gray who can
count his wealth up in the ten thou.
sands, the prosperous plasterer, Jas.
Clayett, VIM. H. Bruce, an old Alex
andrian, Rev. Nathaniel Coll one OF
the valley veterans, Rando!p Whittle,
| r. Il. Hopkins, George Holiday
it was a representative audience, every
church society, club, AMI trade had its
repres sntative. All vieing with each
other in harmony at the grand festival
Of their freedom. Letters of regret were
read FROM Hon. Frederick Doug lass
who had made apreviOus engagement In
Philadelphia. otherwise he would have
been present. Hon. l.. w. Colbert,
Hon. Park Agnew. Rev. Fields Cook.
r. B. Robinson OF the NATIONAL
LEADER and others. The choir rem
dered excellent music. The meeting
was opened with prayer by Rev. Wes-
ley F. Graham. His Invocation was
beautiful, grand and soul stirring. The
following letters were then read by
Mr.. William A, Garter:
GENERAL HARRIsoN's LETTER.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND D3c. II '55.
MaGnus L. Robinson. Alexandria. Ia /:
DEAR SIR: 1t gives me pleasure to
acknowledge the receipt Of your letter
of December Is, written on behalf of
the Frederick Douglass Library AssO-
citation. and extending the congratula-
| tions Of your association upon the sue
cess Of the Republican ticket in
November last. am glad that your
people feel that this result will aid
them IN the promotion of those wise
schemes for their educational and in.
dustrial improvement to which, you
refer. and beg to assure you Of my
hearty sympathy and cooperation.
You have shown great patience under
severe trials and there may be yet fur
ther calls for the exercise of this
hemely virtue. 1t is quite possible
that the high expectations of our
! friends may not at once be realized,
but we can at least keep things moving
in the right direction. Thanking you
again for your friendly words, and re
newlng the assurance of my most
sincere and friendly interest, | am,
very truly yours,
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
LETTER OF vICE.PREsIDENT- ELECT.
IS FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK,
December, "a, 1888.
Mr.. MdGnus L. Robinson, President,
alexandria. Vd.;
DEAR SIR: l have the honor to ac-
knowledge the receipt of your invita-
ton to be present on the occasion Of
the celebration by the colored citizens
of Alexandria, Va. i, OF the twenty y-sixth
anniversary Of the emancipation proc
lamation of President Lincoln, which /
regret am unable to accept. 1t gives
me pleasure to congratulate you upon
the first celebration Of this anniversary,
which should be the great annual festi-
val and thanksgiving day of the colored
race. 1t Is we'll too for you to look lack
from the historical standpoint of old
Alexandra, over the quarter Of CEN
tury of struggles made by your race to
be worthy of citizenship and freedom.
There is in the progress made cause for
encouragement and sincere congratula-
tlon, but you must accept this pro
gress as only the first step and as an
incentive to further endeavor In cultl
vation and intellectual advancement.
With best wishes for the success of
your celebration, believe me very truly,
yours. S
| LEVI P. MORTON.
The President of the Douglass Club,
Magnus L. Robinson, who presided,
then spoke as follows:
REMARKS BY MAGNUs L, ROBINSON.
| EDITOR OF THE NATIONAL LEA.
DER" AND PRESIDENT OF
THE DOUGLASS CLUB.
Friends and Feltow Citizens:
Under the auspices of the F. D. G. s.
L. a, we have assembled here tonight
to celebrate and expatiate an occasion
of great interest, perhaps more pleasing
in its realization, than has ever been
our pleasure to chronicle IN this, the
City of Alexandria. We are here to-
night NOT mert.lv aa tho racinianta of