the hope that I might be able to say something more satisfactory relating to matters I had inquired about. I cannot but grieve that I had not written and said all that was in my mind to say. Mr. Douglass' little visit to us seven years ago will always be a great pleasure to look back on. I have been always particularly glad that my children could remember his venerable and noble figure. Last night I was thinking of the reunion which may have taken place, the meeting with many of the old associates, and I thought that, after his own family, there would be few who, if permitted, would welcome Mr. Douglass with more warmth than my father, who loved him for his gifts, for his early sufferings, and for his great work for both races. It is with a true personal sorrow that I venture to send you these few lines, * Believe me, dear Mrs. Douglass, Yours very truly, * * * Helen P. Bright Clark MRS. FREDERICK DOUGLASS. II GROVE STREET, BOSTON, MASS., February 23, 1895. Dear Friend: All classes of New England unite with the civilized world in mourning the death of your distinguished husband. The notices in our leading journals but feebly express the universal feelings of our hearts in the death of one we dearly loved. God called him suddenly because of his life work of faithfulness. "The King's business demands haste," and only responsible messengers are ordered "into the presence of the King." His work for humanity was his preparation to enter into the rest prepared for the children of God. May his soul rest in peace! Respected Madam: The officers and members of the "Society Sons of New York" desire to tender to yourself and family their deepest sympathy for the loss sustained by you through the death of your devoted husband, our honored friend and the nation's statesman, Frederick Douglass. He has ever held the choicest place in our hearts for his gracious interest in our society, and, in accepting the title of "honorary member," he gave fresh impetus to our efforts, and proved his love for the race which is constantly seeking "a nobler manhood." Yours, with profound regret, THE SOCIETY SONS OF NEW YORK. W. H. CARTER, Chairman Executive Committee. MRS. FREDERICK DOUGLASS. WASHINGTON, D. C., February 23, 1895. Most Bereaved Lady: I would bear thee up and lay thee on the breast of thy martyred husband. His labors are finished; he has kept the faith; his course has been consistent; he has stretched onward and reached the mark. He was the Toussaint l'Ouverture of the nineteenth century. He looked like our Saviour, and did nobly emulate Him by being the saviour of our people. Yours, in most sincere sympathy, CHARLES A. BRADLEY. DEAR MRS. DOUGLASS: 12 BLANDFORD Road, BEDFORD PARK, LONDON, February 26, 1895. I have been thinking of you all these days since the first telegram brought us the sad tidings of your loss, of the colored people's loss, of woman's loss, of America's loss, and I must put my hand in yours to let you know, in a measure at least, how much I feel for you. I know that the light of your life is darkened, and that henceforth nothing will be quite the same to you as in the happy days when he stood by your side, and you felt in all your woman's soul that he was yours, and that you stood together, one and strong, in the unity and strength of your love. Frederick Douglass was a noble man and you might well be proud of him. * * * As yet we have only the cable messages. I hope the Woman's Journal will give full particulars. He was always a faithful champion to woman; a true knight of chivalric mould as ever was. Nearly seven years have passed by since I was at your charming Cedar Hill. * * Always in sympathy and sincere affection yours, FRONTIER LODGE, NO. 14. KNIGHTS OF Honor of the WorLD. HARTSHORN, INDIAN TERRITORY, February 26, 1895. MRS. FREDERICK DOUGLASS : The sad news of the death of so noble a man as the Hon. Frederick Douglass meets our ears in our little city with profound sorrow, and we feel with heartrending sympathy for you and the loved ones. Not only you have lost a husband, but the race has lost the noblest man of our race. With these words of condolence, may the God of peace be with you and ever console you in the hour of bereavement. We, this sacred order of Knights of Honor, have lost a loving brother, as well as a race leader. We beg to remain yours in truest sympathy, DEAR MRS. DOUGLASS: W. S. WEBBER, A. TURNER, CHARLES VINCENT, of Frontier Lodge, No. 14. 8 CLIFTON PLACE, BROOKLYN, N. Y., February 26, 1895. I cannot refrain from expressing my sincere sorrow and regret at the passing away of your noble husband. One of the earliest recollections of my boyhood is that of sitting on his knee, in my father's house, in Providence, and listening to his stories of his life in slavery and his escape to freedom. Contact with the brave pioneers of the anti-slavery movement, I count as one of the chief factors in my moral training. None came to our house, I think, who was so much loved as Mr. Douglass. There was no bitterness mingled with his earnest devotion to the cause of freedom. He was always genial, kind, brimming over with the pure wine of human nature. Of all the men of our time, I know of none who can be named as surpassing him in genuine achievement. The time will come when America will be proud to give him place among the noblest of her sons, and when we shall look back upon their petty race prejudice, the long-dying heritage of chattel slavery, with wonder, shame and sincere contrition. I honor Frederick Douglass, too, as the friend of religious as well as secular liberty-the large-minded champion of every factor which goes to make up our progressive civilization. With sincere sympathy with you in your bereavement, believe me, Faithfully yours, Lewis G. Janes President of the Brooklyn Ethical Association. 171 WARWICK ROAD, C., SPARKHILL, BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, March 1, 1895. TO THE FAMILY OF THE LATE FREDERICK DOUGLASS. Dear Friends: Our annual meeting was held in the Priestly Road Church, on February 26, 1895. Having listened with feelings of deep emotion to the eulogy on the late and much lamented Frederick Douglass, delivered by the Rev. Peter Thomas Stanford, D.D., England's colored preacher, it is resolved that the officers and members of the Sturge Lodge No. 7, Independent Order Good Templars, and visitors assembled, do hereby earnestly desire to express to the family of our departed brother, and to the race to which he belonged, our deepest and heartfelt sympathy for the great loss they have sustained. The unselfish, devoted life he lived has, we feel assured, won for him a crown of everlasting glory. His name will always be held in sacred keeping by us and by all lovers of liberty throughout the world. We would further desire to say to our beloved friends in America that, while we must needs share with them their grief and weep with them in their hour of affliction, we must also entreat them to share our thankfulness to God for having raised up such a noble man, and with us to bow submissively to Him who doeth all things well. It is further resolved that a copy of our resolutions be forwarded to the family of the deceased and to the national colored papers of America, and to the Watchward I. O. G. T., England. MRS. FREDERICK DOUGLASS, WASHINGTON, D. C. R. SMITH, Secretary D. G. C. T. CALDWELL, OHIO, March 1, 1895. Dear Madam: I have learned with sorrow that my dear friend, your husband, Frederick Douglass, has been called away from the scene of earthly labor and trial into a brighter and better world. It should be with us, as doubtless it is with him, matter of sincere rejoicing that this life of pain and sorrow is exchanged for one free from all suffering and sin; but such is our nature that we must weep, even when our friends pass to a brighter shore. I know that when my darling son was so suddenly taken from me, you and he both wept with us, though we could not but know that the lad was better off over yonder on the ever green shore." Such is our frailty that we weep and refuse to be comforted when death takes our dear ones away. "We shall meet, but we shall miss him " forever and everywhere, and where not? What great scene these forty years where he was not a conspicuous figure ? If I went to a National Convention, he was there! if to the National Encampment of our G. A. R., who all loved him as a comrade, he was there. In the great cities, in the towns, in the corridors of the Capitol, I was not surprised any day to meet Frederick Douglass; always modest, always self-forgetful, always mindful, first of all, of the comfort and welfare of others; genial and with a smile, how warm was the clasp of his honest hand, the beam of his friendly countenance. During the first days of our journey through Indiana, in 1880, he was sad and hopeless, and talked of giving up and going home. Our meetings were slim and wanting in spirit and enthusiasm. His keen faculties took it all in, and, naturally he traced it all to Grant's defeat. But one morning when I came down to breakfast, the stalwart man with the flowing mane of snow was beaming with smiles. "Say, Dalzell," he said, cheerily, "did you hear anything drop in the night?" I was puzzled and stupidly said, "No." He laughed outright. 'Look at that," he exclaimed, handing me the morning paper, and pointed with one bronze finger to the headlines. I saw it all at a glance, "Grant and Conkling at Warren," and I saw why he smiled. After that all went merry as a marriage bell. Our meetings became larger and the enthusiasm intense, until, towards the last, he traveled in one continuous ovation, and Indiana was ours and Garfield elected. I knew him well. He had his moods. "He wrought in sad sincerity." He was too large and good for malice, revenge, envy or petty meanness of any kind. Conscious of power, he was always modest. I never heard him boast of anything,—least of all, of anything he had said or done. Praise enough, even flattery enough, had been accorded him in both Europe and America, to have spoiled an ordinary mortal, though his skin were fair as Parian marble. But it did not spoil him. His ideal was lofty, but, of course, unattainable in mortal life; but in the sweet rest of heaven, to which I believe this good, kind soul has surely gone, that ideal will, in God's own time, be realized. I shall miss him while I live; but no heart can know your sorrow or enter into the sacred domain of your affliction to offer you the sympathy and comfort you so much need in this, your great trial. May God comfort you and the children of our departed friend. Most sincerely, LM. Rolzell. THE QUARRIES, Dear Madam: Your telegram, so soon after the letter from Mr. Douglass, written on February 12th, was very touching. The English papers had told us of your loss, and were full of the most appreciative notices. |