Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-09-04
Anla opAnrnR ~, ,AoLINs.

Ohupch on Freucn street, between Eighth
and Ninth, which is the great rendezvous
OF the coloTea people at this annual re-
ligious gathering, Is only q shadow Of the
immense concourses Of long ago.
"Yon understand the reason don't
you ~ prominent oolored citizen re-
marked to reporter of the GAZETTE.
"it is simply" the former continued,
"hecause there is now no necessity for
the meeting. Long ago, before the war,
the slave. owners OF the Peninsula gave
their slaves free day on Big Quarterly
Sunday. You know at al other times
whenever a slave left the plantation II was
necessary for him to get pass from the
master or oyerseer. On Big Quarterly
Sunday they did not need it. Il was q
general holiday everywhere. For weeks
before the great annual holiday the COL
ored people made their preparations
They locked hsre from all parts Of the
Peninsula, from Maryland and Pennsyl-
yania. They came in oI-teams or afoot
TLey ali got here, sometimes as many AZ
10000 or Is, 600.
Now, you see, they have their freedom
and their own churches, their social and
political organizations and there is no
special reason for the observance of "Big
Q 'Rrterly" only as the continuance OF a
worthy reisious gathering Just as the
white people hold cam p-meetings. Wsslso
hove our annual camp meetings in differ
ent parts OF the State 30 that, also, works
against the need OF people coming from
100 miles away, a. hundreds used to Is
years ago to attend big Quarterly" here.
The speaker, who was one OF the lead
I'M IN, ha n.lAHaI
ton AZ German Hall, explained also that
the annual gathering in this city ls made
the opportunity by some eyil.disposed
colored citizens OF sun Jay street trethck-
ing. This is illegal and il yehementiy
opposed by the Influential nolored people
OF Wilmington who are only anKiou5 10
demonstrate to the public that their race
is lagAblding one.
at the close Of his sermon OF the zion
Church, Ninth and French sire IS, on
Sunday morning. .tle ReV. j. Hudson
Rltdick, made aDecini aiiUsi5n 20 this
abuse add asked al his audience 10 40
stain f-om encouraging this illegal suu-
day stree; traffic.
Ehe religion services and tent meet
iugs OF the colored people in recent Big
Quarterly" anniversaries belray gres.
eoutras; 10 The spectacle OF former days.
There a nutieeauig abAtensnt Of the
peculiar pnyscal DEMONSTRATIONS. Re
lig;uus enthusiasm il restricted more IL
conformity to what is customary III the
religious meetings OF white people.
Tbia is largely due to tits tqence OF
the oolored clerRy who have occupied the
city pulpits during the las: Jeolde. Chey
are educated men who are striving hard
for the lettering Of their race. r1oa.
sands however, OF the old folks pretsr
the noisy enthusiasm and physical no.
compartments OF the Old Times Shout
lag, clapping and dancing Ia a ring with
ecstatic CALCULATIONS and hysterical cries
are TO many Of the old FOLKS the only
evidence of ''haying religion
These exhibitions wsrs Of course the
annual attraction for Thousand Of white
people who were drawn TO tho tsnts sim,
ply thEou4 curiosity. The nose inteili-
gent Glasses among the colosed people
appreciate the circumstances only ~ a
scandal and are doing their bsst to with
stand the evil. With the gradual de-
cadence OF big Quarterly" os u church
holiday, aud the absence OF thousands of
country people from o5scnre cnrnsrs OF
LAG DtHhEt hAN VAkg Ha7A0Eh WAll uuu Iutlr
work OF civilization greatly helped. The
recent convention il eu incident which
will strengthen their hal dis az tue best
coiOted mon of the oily arc low banded
together for the Avowed purpose OF im.
proving tie condition OF the rese 10 70.
ligious, educational ami social depart
ments.
TIE CROWDS AND THE SERVICES.
In many respects the "Big Q1artetlyt
hold Sunday differed from preceding
ones Although visitors were fewer thure
was a marked Improvement otherwise.
The Improvement was noticeable psrticu
lRrly in education, conduct and dress.
Ihosa VINO had charge OF the "Big
Quarterly wers much Rrstifsd al these
Indications Of advancement aulang their
people The cglored folks deserve credit
aud should be congratulated
SuninyH BeryiGss were enthusiastic,
hat less boistefou5 than heretofore. The
preachers were eiOqueut anu their hsr.
nous displayed ouAaiassabla depth OF
thought. Tns sUsirg gSnarallg vas
ausicR! aud some /. hi vocRlists, espe-
ciaiiy the eHUiF ~ Al r. 4. z. OnufCh.
gave evidence ot vnina culture. At wor,
chip the alien iRnGe was lAF0er thar
usual and fha auaf NeaB sesmsd more ~
tenise. PronIrra rg during hours fol
9praiip vas ooiapara lively hight. There
Was 10 dts0rle- in the violnity OF tht
eau.eh ara SCARCELY any in the whoi,
city. IAo eLcsi.ant conduct HAsa rAattei
IL general appreciation and commenda
ton. sJms of tbs visitors had eEef
/ ciaed much cars in tbs preparation o.
their tCi!uis anu some OF tie costume,
I were herdsome.
1. is estimated that there we're between
100 and 5000 visitors in the CITY OF
sunday. There We're few arrivals 0C
Saturday evening but the bu o. Ell,
Pc I1urpera arrived RbGnt 10 o'clock OF
Sunday morning. Between l,UU0 srt
+ 200 persons came ty tha p. W. ~ Is
I ri ROAD, about $40 came oY the Is. 4 d.
ptyGJ 200 by me W. Il H.. about / 7Ut
by the boats from fhiadelphls, ~,
about 500 by steamer Major ksybold
lhs Latter cams from Nalem, Dslawar
y oily end Now Castle, and asrc landed d
Wilmington Il Northern pier, whenc
they were brought oy W. 4 N. train
Crowd assembled early AZ tie railrSa,
stations and steem boat laudin2a. awAttiu,
the ernval OF friends or ss sight sAets
pne panorama ii these pllrss W., Ia
teras,Ig, and the lockers on fingered 70
Eoura.
People began to assemble Ut a. u. Nj
P. Church a. eariy CD O'Clock. Love
feast, Conducted BY the Rev. Pete
Spencer Williams, continued from 6 to
o'clock aud excited much Interest. Ser
mons were preached simultaneously i
the church aud n the tent bsck OF ii.
Ths hsy. Daniel Russell, president Q
Middle District Conference, prsauhsi /
the church durirg the morntng and N
Rev. George Cammie OF Pliiadelphit
preached in the lent For his text til
FORMER ohoae Hebrews II, 81 and tn
latter quoted Genesis III IL.