Year: 1876

"


Rev. David Wills, D. D., last night deltv-
cred, at Masonic Temple, lecture upon
"Unele Tom Without Cabin, }" for the ben
eft Of St. Johns Club. The large hall in the
Temple is well adapted for lecturing purposes.
The audience was large and attentive. The
lecture is the same that DR.. Wills delivered
last August in Philadelphia before the Ma
tional Institute of Education, and which then
received high encomiums for its sound views
and correct representation of the present con-
dition of the human race. His long residence
In the South enabled the lecturer to treat the
subject in an effective and interesting man.
ner. During the delivery Of the lecture hearty
applause was frequently elected by the noble
and patriotic sentiments advanced.


The lecturer referred at the outset to the
question of slavery, and said he was not there
to denounce it, or to pronounce eulogy over
its dead body. 1t had, in Gods providence,
been swept away, and no resurrection of 1t
was ever possible, and in this he was deyoutly
thankful. The time has come when all ele-
ments of discord must be eliminated from poll
tics.


DR.. Wills then proceeded to sketch the con-
dition of the negro when he had q cabin, or
was cared for by his master, saying that the
relations of the two races were mainly those
OF kindness and sympathy, though he admitted
that there were cases of cruelty on the part of
masters. But, he said, the laws were quite
severe against 1t, and they had often been en-
forced, even to the infliction of the death pen
atty. He praised the patience and devotion OF
the negroes, and said we must never forsake
them. They must be elevated, and the whole
country must unite to do it.


He then pictured the poverty of the blacks
at the close of the war, their crude notions Of
freedom and love of gsudy display In quite
hum0r0ua stvla He said the are NIL
tually dependent and must dwell together in
peace and harmony. Referring to the confer
ring Of the franchise upon them, he said he did
not propose to discuss the question of the wis.,
dom of universal suffrage, but the amend
ments to the Constitution are f1nslities, and
not to be disturbed. All interference with the
exercise of the franchise by intimidation and
force is to be deprecated. But wealth and
brains always rule In all communities, and un-
til they acquire education and wealth the col
ored race cannot expect to be advanced to
positions of honor and trust. Referring to the
subject of their education, he paid high CON-
pliment to the progress which many of them
had made, and said they ought to be educated
to the full extent of their capacity, as there is
no rational liberty or religion apart from
certain amount of education. The African
has never yet contributed anything toward the
progress Of civilization, but the world is now
looking to the race to furnish its quota of tai
ented men. The religious element in their
character is avery strong one; they must wor-
ship at some altar. But their zeal is often not
according to knowledge, and they need sound
scriptural instruction. This is important, not
only with reference to their elevation here, but
TO fit them for service as missionaries to their
brethren in Africa-a work for which they
seem in many respects especially fitted. He
closed with graphic sketch of the conversion
of an old negro named Punch through the
efforts of the pioneer Methodist bishop, As
bury,