FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   735   736   737   738   739   740   741   742   743   744   745   746   747   748   749   750   751   752   753   754   755   756   757   758   759  
760   761   762   763   764   765   766   767   768   769   770   771   772   773   774   775   776   777   778   779   780   781   782   783   784   >>   >|  
f the Society, drawn up by the secretary, a colored man, was read. It was creditable to the author. The Rector in his address affectionally warned the society, especially the female members, against extravagance in dress. The Archdeacon exhorted them to domestic and conjugal faithfulness. He alluded to the prevalence of inconstancy during past years, and to the great improvement in this particular lately; and concluded by wishing them all "a happy new-year and _many_ of them, and a blessed immortality in the end." For this kind wish they returned a loud and general "thankee, massa." The Governor then said, that he rose merely to remark, that this society might aid in the emancipation of millions of slaves, now in bondage in other countries. A people who are capable of forming such societies as this among themselves, deserve to be free, and ought no longer to be held in bondage. You, said he, are showing to the world what the negro race are capable of doing. The Governor's remarks were received with applause. After the addresses the audience were served with refreshments, previous to which the Rector read the following lines, which were sung to the tune of Old Hundred, the whole congregation standing. "Lord at our table now appear And bless us here, as every where; Let manna to our souls be given, The bread of life sent down from heaven." The simple refreshment was then handed round. It consisted merely of buns and lemonade. The Governor and the Rector, each drank to the health and happiness of the members. The loud response came up from all within and all around the house--"thankee--thankee--thankee--massa--thankee _good_ massa." A scene of animation ensued. The whole concourse of black, colored and white, from the humblest to the highest, from the unlettered apprentice to the Archdeacon and the Governor of the island, joined in a common festivity. After the repast was concluded, thanks were returned in the following verse, also sung to Old Hundred. "We thank thee, Lord, for this our food, But bless thee more for Jesus' blood; Let manna to our souls be given, The bread of life sent down from heaven." The benediction was pronounced, and the assembly retired. There was an aged negro man present, who was noticed with marked attention by the Archdeacon, the Rector and other clergymen. He is sometimes called the African Bishop. He was evidently used to familiarity with the
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   735   736   737   738   739   740   741   742   743   744   745   746   747   748   749   750   751   752   753   754   755   756   757   758   759  
760   761   762   763   764   765   766   767   768   769   770   771   772   773   774   775   776   777   778   779   780   781   782   783   784   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

thankee

 

Rector

 
Governor
 

Archdeacon

 

concluded

 

capable

 

bondage

 
returned
 

heaven

 

society


Hundred

 

colored

 

members

 

happiness

 
response
 

health

 

consisted

 

lemonade

 

simple

 

refreshment


handed

 

present

 
retired
 
assembly
 
benediction
 

pronounced

 
noticed
 

marked

 
Bishop
 
evidently

familiarity
 

African

 
called
 
attention
 

clergymen

 

humblest

 
highest
 
unlettered
 

concourse

 
ensued

animation

 

apprentice

 

island

 

joined

 

common

 

festivity

 
repast
 

improvement

 
wishing
 

inconstancy