Civil War Washington

WASHINGTON CITY.

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 commu-
nity​ that presents a better face in this particu-
lar​, and the only regret is, that they do not act
more in concert in the advancement of our com-
mon​ cause.

We had not the opportunity to make the ac-
quaintance​ of many of these men; but those
with whom we came in contact, afforded us
much pleasure by the revelation of their ex-
perience​ during the slavery times.

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, Wm.​ Slade, Rev. H.
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, Wm.​ Orr, Rev.
A. Boulden, Jordan E. Snowden, John A.
Johnson, A. Winfield, Rev. J. J. Herbert,
Wm.​ A Taliaferro, Rev. Samuel W. Madden,
Benjamin E. McCoy, John Reed, R. H. Booker,
Wm.​ Hubbard, (Rev. Jacob Ross and Rev.
Wm.​ Hicks, of Georgetown), J. A. F. Cook and
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.

CHURCHES.

The great number of colored churches is ano-
ther​ important fact to which we call attention.
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. Wood-
yard​, Pastor; Third Baptist church, Rev. A.
Bouldin, Pastor; Fourth Baptist church, Rev.
Wm.​ E. Walker, Pastor.

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 advertise-
ment​ in another column of this paper.

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.

SCHOOLS.

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 men-
tioned​. Had we not been informed of the fact,
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. Wash-
ington​, Mrs. McDonalds, Rev. Mr. Handy and
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 differ-
ent​ parts of the city, thus giving a chance to
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 be-
fore​ the law shall be acknowledged, and when
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
of whom are white. These gentlemen and
ladies are thoroughly devoted to the work
which they have in hand, and hence the school
is very successful.

LITERARY SOCIETIES.

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. Wm.​ A. Taliaferro
presides, is known as the "Island Literary
Association." We had the pleasure of attend-
ing​ [some?] its meetings, and received from
many of [the?] members a very generous support
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 [to?] hear our stam-
mering​ remarks.

The ladies of the Island have [formed?] them-
selves​ into a society which they [have?] been
pleased to call "The Anglo-African Daughters'
Beneficial Association No. 1," and the follow-
ing​ are the names of its chief officers: Mrs.
Elizabeth Stootly, President; Mrs. Lucinda
Myers, Vice-President; Miss Laura Simms,
Secretary; Mrs. Sarah P. Stevenson, Treasurer.

These ladies, as representatives of the so-
ciety​, will please receive our thanks, not only
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.