The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-01-02

The 3lst anniversary OF the Emancl-
patton Proclamation was celebrated by
the coiored citizens OF this city and vi
cinity yesterday. Rev, w. H. Heard,
ID. D.. delivered an eloquent sermon
at TO- 0a. IN. to a large and apprecia-
tive audience In Bethel A. M. L.
Church. Ho was followed by DR.. Wat
son OF Kansas. In short talk relative
to the duties confronting the colored
people OF to-day. In the afternoon a
meeting was held in the A. u. 81. p.
Church. at which Mr.. ID. z. Hamilton,
Jno. Wise, CEas. Dolly, Thos. Postles,
Rev. nj. f. Sluby and others recounted
their experiences during the period
OF and Immediately following the ex-
istence OF slavery IN this.country.
Among other thlngs Mr.. ID. p. Ham
iiton described the operations OF the
Underground railroad, and said that
he. associated with Thos. Garrett and
others, had assisted In running of
22D0 slaves from the peninsula. In
the evening services were held In the
A. U. M. L. Church. Miss Annie
Brown opened the meeting by reading
the Proclamation OF January 1858. Inc
Rev. Y. Lee Jefferson. OF Gilbert Pres.
byteffan Chursh, delivered the ora.
ton.
After recounting the sufrerings and
ed TO indure for two centuries. hs
graphically depicted the horrible
depths OF immortality into which the
colored people were plunged at the
emancipation by the Institution of
slavery. aud In contrast pictured beau.
tifully the home and the llreside OF to.
day. proving by statistics the gigantic
strides toward christianization and
civilization made by the race since
ie,u M tn CHI th
lie that the colored people were the
Interiors morally OF other people.
lie then spoke OF the financial stand
ing and OF tho intellectual culture OF
the race. and In q brilliant peroration
urged upon them the necessity OF ac-
curing wealth and knowledge as q
people, as lever to crush out the in.
sane prejudice existing between the
two races, Kev. ]. l.. Jarvis anu Wm.
L. Guy then spoke briefly In relation
to the subject. The secretary Ii. q.
Robinson read a minute OF tue pro.
ceedings OF the day. After which the
following resolutions were unani-
mously adopted:
Whereas-On the first day of Jan.
uary 1858 the President OF these U. s.,
as war measure. promulgated an
instrument, known as the Emanclpa.
tlon Proclamation. by which freedom
came TO over 4.O00J0,0O0 OF Gods
creatures.
Whereas-Tne signing OF said Pro-
elamation made It possible for the
persons SO freed to participate la the
blessings OF that self evident truth
proclaimed in the Declaration OF In
dependence That all men are created
Tree and equal, with certain inaliena0le
rights, among which are Life, Liberty
aud the pursuit OF happiness"
Resolved. That we, ns citizens OF
Wilmington, County OF New Castle
and state OF Delaware. exert ali our
powers toward the requirement OF all
the rights and privileges vouchsafed
us under the Declaration.
Resolved, Ihat we celebrate the first
day OF January as the Independence
dag OF the colored people and deco
rate our homes and places of business
in an appropriate manner.
A committee of ladies' and gentle-
men was elected to conduct tie cele.
biation OF 1895 and the meeting ad.
journsd. II. q. ROBINSON.