Record Data
Source citation
Abby Howland Woolsey to Eliza Newton Woolsey Howland, December 5, 1859, in Abby Howland Woolsey and Eliza Newton Woolsey Howland, Letters of a Family during the War for the Union 1861-1865 (2 vols.; Privately published, 1899), 16.
Recipient (to)
Howland, Eliza Newton Woolsey
Type
Letter
Date Certainty
Exact
Transcriber
Transcription adapted from The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston (1899), by Abby Howland Woolsey and Eliza Newton Woolsey Howland
Adapted by Michael Blake, Dickinson College
Transcription
The following transcript has been adapted from The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston (1899).
8 Brevoort Place, Dec. 5, 1859.
My dear Eliza: I went round to Dr. Cheever's lecture room for half an hour. I found it crowded with men and women -- as many of one as the other -- hard-featured men, rugged faces, thoughtful faces, some few Chadband faces; plain, quiet women; none that looked like gay, idle, trifling people. I entered just as some one suggested five minutes of silent prayer, which I have no doubt every soul of us made the most of, and then Dr. Cheever, who had the chair, gave out that hymn, "Oh, glorious hour! Oh, blest abode! I shall be near and like my God," etc. Mr. Brace made a fervent prayer for John Brown. Then a Methodist brother made a few remarks -- said "it did him good to cry Amen. It proved you to be on the right side and that you were not afraid to make it known, and it didn't need a polished education to help you do that much for truth." Then they sang, "Am I a Soldier of the Cross?" everybody singing with a will, and, indeed, throughout the meeting there was much feeling -- some sobs and many hearty Amens.
The public feverish excitement constantly increased and carried our family along in its stream.
