Year: 1865




street Colored Sunday. School, last Friday
evening, May 5th, were exceedingly inter
esting This school was started in this city
more than a year ago, by Rev. Mr.. Conway
and Col. Hanks. 1t has been continued to
this time, full Of interest and benefit to our
people. Many of the leading men of the
nation have visited it, and pronounced it as
interesting an institution as they ever wit
messed in any part of the world. For many
months the children were taught orally en-
nldSse, but now they are regulated in classes,
each one of which has its own teacher. At
the commencement but few children could
be found who could read, but now it is graft
flying that nearly all are able to rC -.d the
New Testament in fine print. Last summer
splendid national flag was presented by
Dr. Burchard's Church, in New York, to
this school.


The flag was accompanied by a splendid
bible, which will long remain as an evidence
of the warm sympathy felt for the cause of
freedom by our friends in the North.


After large efforts on the part of Mr.. Har-
mount and the other officers and teachers of
the school, the children were fitted for the
splendid exhibition which delighted us on
this occasion. Many enemies Of freedom
were present who went away wiser and bet
ter men. The large audience room of the
St. Charles street Opera House was filed
and hundreds went away without being able
to gain admittance. There were officers of
the army and navy with their families
there were prominent citizens of this and
other States, all of whom were pleased and
surprised at the progress manifested BY the
children. The Hall was beautifully decora-
ted with flags and emblems.


There were about fifteen hundred children
present, all of whom were tastefully dressed.
Those who participated in the exercises on
the stage, made as pleasant an appearance
as any children ever did anywhere.
| The exercises were exceedingly well con-
Quoted both by teachers and scholars. Pro-
fessor Williams and his son had charge of
the music. We found them, where they
always are found engaged in every good
word and work that is intended to elevate
humanity and secure happiness to men.
| The colored people of Louisiana are indebt-
| ed to Mr. williams and his family for many
| earnest services. They have been connected
with this school from its origin. We are
proud that we have among the colored
people such untiring and devoted spirits.
Lieut.. Fosters class in the ceremony of
"The PRESERVATION done well. The Lieu
tenant may be proud of the success of his
class on this occasion. All the children
done better than we could expect consider
ing that this was the first exercise of the
kind ever witnessed in this city.


When the children had concluded their
pieces, Rev. Mr.. Conway, the Superin-
tendent, stated that the school had
been in existence more than a year
that it had recently been taken in charge by
that noble society that had done so much
for the Freedmen of the South" The Ma
tional Freedmen'S Relief Association that
| the present success of this anniversary was
due, in a large measure, to the efficient aid
of that Association. and to its untiring agent
in this department, Mr.. Harmount, who is
the associate superintendent Of the school;
and chat now there are several fourlshlng
Sunday schools among the colorcd people OF
the city Of New Orleans.


Gen. Banks was introduced by Mr.. Har-
mount. He was greeted by the children and
by the whole audience with long continued
cheers and waving of banners. The General
who had given these children their free
schools, and whose sympathy for them had
resulted in such tangible good to the whole
colored people of Louisiana, was greeted
with such a warmth of welcome, that for
many minutes there was not room for the
hearing of word.


He made an excellent address, and we
only regret that we cannot have 1t WORD 1ol
word to lay before our readers. he SAID
among other things Z" that he not only ex
nected TO see the time when the colored
| man would wear stars, but that he Woulo
rise higher and secure the power by which
stars were conferred" This sentiment met
with hearty cheering. 1t must have oeen
hitter nil to rebels and to such foolish per
sons among as try to induce our people to
believe that the General is not q true Irlend
to us, No words stronger than these ever
fell from any lips. No man has done more
to bring our people up to "the stars tnan
the General has in his marvellous school
plan. BY that nearly fifteen thousand ol
our children are now receiving free
education in this department. He said
that among the last words the lamen
; ted Lincoln uttered in his hearing
was the "hope that very soon this school
plan might reach all the States of the South.
The happy children departed to their homes
being pleased themselves and having
pleased every lover of the Sunday School
who was present.


DR.. Newman followed in an excellent
| speech in his usual warm style.