New-York tribune., 1903-06-21
OLD DAYS 1T LONGWOOD.
Jubilee in Memory of the Famous
4nti-SIaUery Meetings.

Hamorton Penn. June 20 (speciaD.-A notable
jubilee held here recently at the Lohswoo0
meeting house. sanctuary built and dedicated 10
human freedom fifty years ago. and ever since
maintaining the high ground taken by the founders
of the society. A little more than fifty years ago
annual meeting of the American Antl-SlaVefs
Society held in the quaint old Friends meetine
house at Old Kennett, behind whose walls MAX
wells rihemen had awaited the approach OF the
/ Hessian wing of Howe's forces marching Iroiii
Kennett Square TO attack Washington on the Bran
dywine The Hessians who fell here were buried
! in the little graveyard. Then the meeting mousse
thrved in peace and serenity Till the anu-siavery
question rent the local Society Of Friends and
caused the separation.
At this meeting of the Anti-Slsvery Society Gar
risou was present with his dogma that the "eon-
sttution league with death and covenant
with hell" and the society. as State BODY met
to decide whether to follow the Garrison dicturn
+ of no compromise with slavery, or to adopt the
more conservative policy of working out the qdes-
ton through party agitation. The meeting house
soon became too small for the crowds that gath-
cred, and speeches made in the open air AT
the conclusion a vote taken, each man and
passing into the meeting house by one door
and out at another. while members selected by
either side kept tally. Husbands and wives sepa-
rated this momentous question. and brothers
and sisters, fathers and sons, and lovers ano
sweethearts moved the right or the left as their
consciences prompted them.
advocates peacetul
party lines carried the day but the contention had
been SO earnest that conservative Friends took
steps to prevent further assembages OF that sort
in the meeting house. The members Of this and or
the adjoining meetings who were convinced that
there question more important than this
separated themselves and built within mile or two
of Old Kennett. meeting house which tney
called Longwood, and which they dedicated to
human freedom and toleration upon every subject.
Upon this broad platform all men with message
to huma nkind cordially invited TO stand On
that platform stood Garrison Burleigh, James Rus
sell Lowell. Theodore Parker George Thompson
the eminent English Member of Parliament and
antf-slavery agitator; Lucretia Mott, Moncure D.
Conway Thomas Wentworth Higginson Gerrit
Smith o. B. rockingham Lydia Maria Child Abb
gail Foster Oliver Johnson, Samuel May ana
others who then or afterward had national reputa-
tions. Among them 'Sojourner Truth, black
as ebony and as uncultured one born In slavery
must perforce be. Almost wttchlike In her appear
ance she poured out torrent OF eloquence thar
completely surprised and thrilled her hearers
Those who attempted to answer the sallies OF TINS
ignorant slave woman soon regretted the enconn-
ter for in repartee she was able to hold her own
without aid.
1t was from this platform that Theodore Farker'
in 1858. delivered four notable dscourses whlch
drew much attention at the time and after"aru.
not only on account of their depth and scope ana
the eloquence of the preacher. but as marking the
beginnings of what has been termed the hoerai
movement in that part of Pennsylvania. The year
Iv meetings were cheered by letters from WHITTIER
James Freeman Clarke, Edward Everett haie'
Joshua r. Giddings, Cassius n. Clay, who. though
Kentucky born and bred, was an opponent OF
slavery besides a host of others who were fore
most in the fight against human wrong. The
Hutchinson family Of singers then in the full flush
of their powers, came annually to the meetings
and here at a later date also appeared Theodore
Tflton while he yet the loved protege Of Henry
Ward Beecher.
In 1862 the yearly meeting prepared g. memorial
TO President Lincoln, praying him to emanclpate
the slaves and sent committee to present IL IN
person. This committee was presented 10 the
President by David Wilmot. the author OF the IA
NOUS 'rWilmot proviso.'' President Lincoln a1ter
telling the committee how gratiied he was that
they were not applicants for office. went on TO say
that he had retracted nothing from his Springnemia 10
speech from which they had quoted, but tnat IN
fbe present condition Of the war mere decree
could not abolish slavery. If" said he' a decree