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One of the most hopeful facts connected with
the advancement of society in Washington is
the large number of unusually intelligent men
to be found in it. We do not know a
nity
lar
more in concert in the advancement of our
mon
We had not the opportunity to make the
quaintance
with whom we came in contact, afforded us
much pleasure by the revelation of their
perience
The first name which suggests itself is that
of the Rev. David Smith. This gentleman is
the oldest minister of the A. M. E. Church now
residing in this city, and perhaps in the whole
country, and a history of his life would be a
work of very deep interest to our people, as it
would afford us a grand insight to our history
for the last fifty years. Mr. Smith has been
married three times, but has never wasted any
time in courting. If a woman would assent to
his proposal, well; if she would not, his duty
was plain before him, and he sought her that
would.
Rev. Anthony Bowen,
M. Turner, Rev. R. H. Dyson, Mr. Carter A.
Stewart, Rev. J. D. Brooks, Solomon G. Brown,
Rev. J. P. Hamer, Rev. J. A. Handy, Thos. E.
Green, Rev. James H. Thomas,
A. Boulden, Jordan E. Snowden, John A.
Johnson, A. Winfield, Rev. J. J. Herbert,
Benjamin E. McCoy, John Reed, R. H. Booker,
brother, Thos. Smith, Thomas H. C. Hinton,
Rev. W. Wilson, and others whom we could
name are gentlemen well calculated to fill,
with credit to themselves, the posts which the
new order of things has thrown open to them;
and many of them are fully alive to the duties
of the hour.
The great number of colored churches is
ther
We cannot say that the following is a complete
list, but it is as near correct as we can make it
at this time.
First Baptist church, Rev. S. W. Madden,
Pastor; Second Baptist church, Rev. C.
yard
Bouldin, Pastor; Fourth Baptist church, Rev.
Methodist Episcopal: Asbury church, Rev.
J. D. Lambert (white); Ebenezer church, Rev.
Mr. Sparks who is also a white gentleman.
African Methodist Episcopal: Israel church,
Rev. H. M. Turner, Pastor; Mission church
(Island), Rev. J. J. Herbert, Pastor; Union
Bethel church, Rev. J. A. Handy, Pastor. For
list of Zion Wesleyan churches see
ment
Fifteenth Street Presbyterian church, Rev.
Mr. Evans (white) Pastor. This church was
built through the exertions of the late Rev.
John F. Cook who is named with great respect
by all the colored people of the city regardless
of sect.
The desire and intention of the people to
advance are beautifully illustrated by the
large number of private schools which they
now sustain, regardless of the fact that all the
property-holders among them now pay taxes
which go to support the white public schools.
The largest school is kept by Mr. Geo. T.
Cook, a son of the Rev. Mr. Cook, above
tioned
the good order of the school and respectful
bearing of the scholars toward him would have
informed us that Mr. C. is a first rate teacher.
The second in point of numbers is the school
taught by Mr. John F. Cook, another son of
the late Mr. Cook.
Mr. H. P. Jones has a school in the rear of
the Capitol, and Miss Rebecca Wells also; Mr.
E. Ambush, Mr. Jos. Ambush, Miss G. Dyson,
Mrs. Maria Stewart, Mrs. Thomas, Mrs.
ington
daughter, Rev. C. Woodyard, Misses L. Coke
and Waugh, Miss E. Smith, Miss M. Jones and
Mrs. Brooks (Island). In addition to these,
there are many night schools in
ent
the freedmen and women, who are obliged to
work all day, to secure an education; and it
afforded us great pleasure to see with what
avidity they study to become intelligent. This
appears to be characteristic of both old and
young in this city.
The close attention which the children pay
to their lessons, and the avidity with which
they seek to acquire knowledge, presents to
the mind's eye a glowing picture of the swiftly
coming future, when the equality of all
fore
slavery and its twin sister, caste, shall have
sunk from view, then will these children be
thoroughly prepared to act their part upon the
stage of life.
We deemed it a great privilege and favor
that we were permitted to speak a word to the
children of most of these schools.
In addition to the above-mentioned schools,
there is one at the Freedmen's quarters, over
which the Rev. W. A. Benedict presides. He
has one male and several female assistants, all
ladies are thoroughly devoted to the work
which they have in hand, and hence the school
is very successful.
There are but two societies of this kind in
the city; over one of which the Rev. H. M.
Turner presides. This is known as the "Israel
Lyceum" and meets in the basement of Israel
Church.
The other, over which Mr.
presides, is known as the "Island Literary
Association." We had the pleasure of
ing
many of
for our paper. We also owe them thanks for
the rich treat afforded us in listening to their
essays and debates as well as for the splendid
audience which they secured
mering
The ladies of the Island have
selves
pleased to call "
Beneficial Association No
ing
Elizabeth Stootly, President; Mrs. Lucinda
Myers, Vice-President; Miss Laura Simms,
Secretary; Mrs. Sarah P. Stevenson, Treasurer.
These ladies, as representatives of the
ciety
for the honor done us in calling their society
after our paper, but also for the support which
the members have individually given to it.