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324 HISTORY OF MARYLAND.
" We, therefore, sincerely hope that it will not be considered superfluous or indecorous if we detail a few particulars why we and our brethren are bound by the most sacred
duty to act as good and conscientious citizens, by carefully and scrupulously avoiding all
interference, and attempts to interfere, and all manifestations of any intention and a wish
to interfere with the peculiar interests, concerns and laws of the community in which
we live. First, wTe have, within the said city, ten places dedicated to the social worship
of Almighty God, wherein wre are permitted to worship the Lord according to the
dictates of our own conscience, and are protected by the laws of the community;,
secondly, we have among us from thirty-five to forty benevolent institutions, both
male and female, for mutual relief, each of which numbers from thirty-five to a hundred and fifty members, and much of the money thereof is in some of the savings institutions of this city—and, also, among us there are various mechanics and others, who have,
by industry and frugality purchased houses and lots of ground, horses, drays, carts and
carriages—all of which are sustained and protected by the laws of the community;
thirdly, the endearing and social relations among us, of husband and wife, father
and mother, of brother and sister—our many week-day and Sabbath-schools, in which
we are trying to train up our children in the way they should go; by acting thus, we
hope, with the blessing of the Lord, to form in them the basis of moral virtue, a correct
and well regulated mind, whereby they will be led to abhor vice and immorality, and
keep the good order and appreciate the peace of the community in which they live as good
citizens; fourthly, the various employments afforded the free colored population by the
humane and influential white citizens—the respect that is showed to the orderly and discreet part of the said population by the captains of steamboats and the owners of other
public conveyances, when passing to and from this city.
" Surely, while possessing the benefits which industry and integrity, in this prosperous
community, assure to all its inhabitants, enjoying the rich blessings of the religion of Christ,
by opportunities of worshipping the only true God under the light of Christianity, each of us
according to our own understanding, and having afforded to us and our brethren the means
of facilitating our condition, whereby we are enabled to make great mental improvement—
all of which are enough to convince us and our brethren that whatsoever tends to disturb the commerce, to molest or destroy the peace and harmony of the community, that
the colored population always feel the greatest pressure. Can the thinking, wise and
humane part of the white citizens of this great community be led to believe that we, or
our brethren, in view of the privileges herein detailed, and the awful calamity that must
come upon us and our brethren, should we, or they, or any member thereof, be so perfidious as to become the abettors or destroyers of the public order and tranquillity in any
way whatsoever ? Now, dear Sir, in view of these particulars, we can emphatically
say that we believe that not only the congregations over which we preside, but
the other colored congregations also of this city and vicinity, and the colored population
generally, are on the side of peace and good order, and are determined, with the
blessing of God, to pursue the same blameless course of conduct as heretofore. Therefore, we will, by Divine permission, faithfully and conscientiously, support with fidelity
our pledge, herein given; and may the day be darkened, whensoever we, knowingly
and willingly, deviate from our pledge.
Signed in behalf of the said colored population.
" JOHN FORTIE,
"Minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Sharp Street.
" NATHANIEL PECK,
"Minister of the Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church.
" WILLIAM LEV1NGTON,
"Rector of St. James' P. E. Church, Baltimore.
"September 26,1835." 1
1 Niles' Register, xlix., pp. 40-72.
| Title | History of Maryland - 3 |
| Creator | Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas) |
| Publisher | J. B. Piet |
| Place of Publication | Baltimore |
| Date | 1879 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000355 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | 324 HISTORY OF MARYLAND. " We, therefore, sincerely hope that it will not be considered superfluous or indecorous if we detail a few particulars why we and our brethren are bound by the most sacred duty to act as good and conscientious citizens, by carefully and scrupulously avoiding all interference, and attempts to interfere, and all manifestations of any intention and a wish to interfere with the peculiar interests, concerns and laws of the community in which we live. First, wTe have, within the said city, ten places dedicated to the social worship of Almighty God, wherein wre are permitted to worship the Lord according to the dictates of our own conscience, and are protected by the laws of the community;, secondly, we have among us from thirty-five to forty benevolent institutions, both male and female, for mutual relief, each of which numbers from thirty-five to a hundred and fifty members, and much of the money thereof is in some of the savings institutions of this city—and, also, among us there are various mechanics and others, who have, by industry and frugality purchased houses and lots of ground, horses, drays, carts and carriages—all of which are sustained and protected by the laws of the community; thirdly, the endearing and social relations among us, of husband and wife, father and mother, of brother and sister—our many week-day and Sabbath-schools, in which we are trying to train up our children in the way they should go; by acting thus, we hope, with the blessing of the Lord, to form in them the basis of moral virtue, a correct and well regulated mind, whereby they will be led to abhor vice and immorality, and keep the good order and appreciate the peace of the community in which they live as good citizens; fourthly, the various employments afforded the free colored population by the humane and influential white citizens—the respect that is showed to the orderly and discreet part of the said population by the captains of steamboats and the owners of other public conveyances, when passing to and from this city. " Surely, while possessing the benefits which industry and integrity, in this prosperous community, assure to all its inhabitants, enjoying the rich blessings of the religion of Christ, by opportunities of worshipping the only true God under the light of Christianity, each of us according to our own understanding, and having afforded to us and our brethren the means of facilitating our condition, whereby we are enabled to make great mental improvement— all of which are enough to convince us and our brethren that whatsoever tends to disturb the commerce, to molest or destroy the peace and harmony of the community, that the colored population always feel the greatest pressure. Can the thinking, wise and humane part of the white citizens of this great community be led to believe that we, or our brethren, in view of the privileges herein detailed, and the awful calamity that must come upon us and our brethren, should we, or they, or any member thereof, be so perfidious as to become the abettors or destroyers of the public order and tranquillity in any way whatsoever ? Now, dear Sir, in view of these particulars, we can emphatically say that we believe that not only the congregations over which we preside, but the other colored congregations also of this city and vicinity, and the colored population generally, are on the side of peace and good order, and are determined, with the blessing of God, to pursue the same blameless course of conduct as heretofore. Therefore, we will, by Divine permission, faithfully and conscientiously, support with fidelity our pledge, herein given; and may the day be darkened, whensoever we, knowingly and willingly, deviate from our pledge. Signed in behalf of the said colored population. " JOHN FORTIE, "Minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Sharp Street. " NATHANIEL PECK, "Minister of the Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church. " WILLIAM LEV1NGTON, "Rector of St. James' P. E. Church, Baltimore. "September 26,1835." 1 1 Niles' Register, xlix., pp. 40-72. |
