A remarkable original account of John Brown’s Black Detroit comrades gathering at that city’s Second Baptist Church on the night of his execution, December 2, 1959. The article gives sense of the movement of which Brown was a part, the rarely seen Black internationalists who waged the struggle against slavery here as part of a larger struggle for African liberation and human freedom. The revolutionary meeting is chaired by William Lambert, leader of the Detroit ‘Underground Railroad’ and paramilitary ‘African Mysteries: Order of the Men of Oppression’ anti-slavery organization. Detroit, across the river from Canada, was an important support base for Brown with many mentioned below also at Brown’s convening of Black support, the 1858 ‘Chatham Convention’ in Ontario. These are the people who made the Civil War a war of abolition; a revolution.

‘Detroit Remembers John Brown’ from The Weekly Anglo-African (New York). Vol. 1 No. 22. December 17, 1859.

On Friday evening, December 2d. 1859, pursuant to previous notice, a densely crowded meeting of colored citizens convened at the Second Baptist Church, Croghan Street.

The Meeting was called to order by Wm. Lambert, who briefly referred to the solemn event of the day as the cause of the meeting. He then introduced the evening’s program.

Prayer by, by Rev. Wm. Webb.

Reading of the 9th Psalm, by Rev. A.P. Green.

Music–Ode to Old Capt. John Brown by Profs. Martin and Brown’s Liberty Songsters.

Religious and Anti-Slavery Character of Brown, by Revs. Messrs. Anderson and Green.

Music–Daughters of Zion, by Liberty Songsters.

The religious exercises being over; Mr. George Hannibal Parker, President of the Old Capt. John Brown Liberty League ascended the platform and took the chair.  The meeting then assumed a more deliberative and revolutionary character, whereupon Wm. Lambert presented and read the following declaration of sentiment and resolves, which were enthusiastically received:

Whereas, We, the oppressed portion of this community, many of whom have worn the galling chains and felt the smarting lash of slavery, and know by sad experience its brutalizing effects upon the soul if its victim, and

Whereas, We, by the help of Almighty God and the secret abolition movements that are now beginning to develop themselves in the southern part of the country, have been enabled to escape from the prison-home of slavery, and partially to obtain our liberty; and having become personally acquainted with the life and character of out much beloved and highly esteemed friend, Old Capt. John Brown, and his band of valiant men, who, at Harper’s Ferry, on the 16th of October, 1859, demonstrated to the world this sympathy and fidelity to the cause of the suffering slaves of this country, and by bold, effective, timely blow is now causing the South to tremble with a moral earthquake as he totally and freely delivered up his life to lay as ransom for our enslaved race and thereby, “solitary and alone,” he has put a liberty ball in motion which will continue to roll and gather strength until the last vestige of human slavery within this nation shall have been crushed beneath the ponderous weight, Therefore,

Resolved, That we hold the name of Old Capt. John Brown in the most sacred remembrance, now the first disinterested martyr for our liberty, whereupon the true Christian principle of his Divine Lord and Master, has freely delivered upon his life for the liberty of our race in this country. Therefore will we ever vindicate his character through all coming time, as our temporal redeemer whose name shall never die.

Resolved, That, as the long lost rights and liberties of an oppressed people are only gained in proportion as they act in their own cause, therefore are now loudly called upon to arouse to our own interest, and to concentrate our efforts in keeping the Old Brown Liberty-ball in motion and thereby continue to kindle the fires of liberty upon the altar of every determined heart among men and continue to fan the same until the proper time, when a revolutionary blast from liberty’s trump shall summon them simultaneously to unite for victorious and triumphant battle

Resolved, That we tender our deepest and most heart felt sympathy to the family of Capt. John Brown in their sad bereavement, and pledge to them that they shall ever be held by us as our special friends, in whose welfare we hope ever to manifest a special interest.

After the reading of this declaration, the “Marsellaise Hymn” with the able and eloquent speeches of the Revs. Messrs. Anderson, Green, Webb, and Mr. John D. Richards, who responded so ably and eloquently to the declaration that the fire of liberty was kindled in the hearts of the whole assembly, in whose remembrance the name of Old John Brown will never die.

After a general expression upon the declaration, it was resolved that the several colored churches be dressed in mourning for thirty days, and that appointment be made for the preaching of the funeral sermon of our much beloved friend within that period.

Rev. Mr. Webb, from the Finance Committee, reported that the “League” had twenty-five dollars in hand, ready to send to Mrs. Brown, which would be forwarded to her as her mind becomes a little composed from the effects of her sad bereavement.

On motion, it was resolved that the proceedings of this meeting be presented to the city papers for publication, and that copies be sent to the several anti-slavery papers throughout the country, requesting them to publish the same.

On motion, the meeting then adjourned, to meet again on Friday evening the 16th inst., and the assemblage arouse under the soul stirring strains of the patriotic song, “On to battle–we fear no foe.”

PDF of original issue (large file): https://archive.org/download/WeeklyAngloAfricanI/Weekly%20Anglo-African%20I.pdf