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that it was found necessary to make a strong effort to secure a building. Consequently, on July 31, 1809, the congregation appointed a committee to wait upon the Evangelical Society, and confer upon some plan whereby a house of worship could be secured. This committee met the society, and made their business known. With a promptness truly Christian the society at once appointed a similar committee to meet the committee from the colored people on the subject. After due consideration was had upon the matter, the committee from the Evangelical Society made to that body so favorable a report that the society ordered the following address to be signed by the President and published, and which I now insert not only because it may be regarded as a relic of that early day of Presbyterianism in Philadelphia, but of the excellent and Christlike spirit that it contains.
At a meeting of "The Evangelical Society of Philadelphia," held July 31st, 1809, the committee appointed to confer with a committee from the people of color on the subject of erecting a house of worship for their use, made a report which was approved, and the following address ordered to be signed by the President and published.
TO THE PIOUS AND BENEVOLENT.
The attention of the pious and benevolent is now called to a consideration of the condition of the people of color, in this city, as it relates to the means of religious instruction. The population of this description of people has of late become very numerous amongst us and is daily rapidly increasing. The education of most of the in has been extremely defective; and many have come here with habits very little compatible with the peace and good order of civil society. Your officers of police, your guardians of the poor, your justices of the peace, your criminal courts, your prisons and work-houses, can
