The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-01-03
EMANCIPATION DAY.
The ColOred People I'm Great Mum.
bers Assemble at Abbeville to Gel.

ebrate the Anniversary Of TheiI
Freedom.
Abbeville, S. c., Jan. !. 1894.
Editor Press and Banner:
| Probably for the first time in the history o
| Abbeville the colored citizens celebrated tina
memoraole day on which their freedom wa
gloomy weather that the preceding day ant
night seemed to predict, yet on the approach
| Of the morning the clouds had been driver
away and the sun with the handkerchief o
Its sllken rays dried up tho misty tears
earth.
Like steady stream. the people were soor
making their way to the city from every di
About one O'Clock the procession. led by tn,
| brass band. masons and other societies, fol
lowed by vast multitude OF men. women arc
children, with flags and banners floating up
on the breeze moved of:
The Poplar Grove Davidic High School wat
made the starting point, down by the R. & D
depot, thence through Main street and bach
to the school house, where the exercises o.
the day were commenced.
AS Profs. J. w. Norris, A. ]. Jamison, T: A
Saxon and Revs. Means, Gregory and John
son were ushered to the stand, they were
loudly applauded by a concourse of about fif
teen hundred people.
Rev. l. II. White being absent Prof. A. J.
Jamison acted as master Of ceremonies.
Invocation by Rev. Gregory, after which
Prof. Il. A. Saxon WAS introduced and made n
rousng speech on the purpose and import oi
the occasion.
MIR. j. B. Beck then read the "Emanci ton
Proclamation" after which a collection was
raised.
Prof j. w. Morris, orator OF the day, was
then Introduced with great applause This
world renowned man as he reviewed the past
history OF the colored man, showing his mer-
its, hia achievements and his possibilities.
was listened to with unusual interest.
With his flights Of oratory, interspersed
with humor. his unsurpassed rhetoric and
logic he made an Impression upon his hear
ers that time itself will not erase
The day will always be referred to with
pleasure by those who attended. The day
that awoke in the bosoms Of the colored citi-
zens of Abbeville feeling Of gratitude and
appreciation OF liberty, but paramount to all
this is our appreciation Of Prof A; J. Jami.
Davidic High School. who was the prime
mover Of this plan. Every colored citizen In
this county will ever after love and esteem 80
worthy man. And he stands at the head or
our institution inviting our sons and daugh-
ters. Let them come and be tutored under q
faculty that Is abreast with the age In which
we live.
A goodly number Of the crowd re-assembled
In the church at 8 o'clock TO listen to lectures
by Profs. Morris and Saxon, whose timely
words Of advice were gladly received.
The crowd then resorted 10 the school house
building and were beginning 10 enjoy them.
selves when suddenly the cry OF fire! fire!
was heard from every direction. And soon
street to the residence OF Rev. E. w. Will
liams, which was fast being enveloped In
flames. Siren uous efforts were made to save
the furniture and adjoining building. We
we're then made to think that Abbeville with
all lis improvements lacks fire company.