The Anniversary Meetings.

FRIEND DOUGLASS:—Much is to be learned
from these meetings. On some of the most
popular ones, much grief was expressed re
specting the spread of infidelity—especially
as the fruits of the labors of some "modern
reformers." One speaker quoted the sayings
of French infidels as horrid specimens of
blasphemy. But none of them equalled the
illustrations which he had at his very door,
which were in front, and on right and left
of every platformprominent men who,—with great appearance of sincerity of effort
for "the spread of the Gospel," are yet loyal
to the Fugitive Slave enactment! No French
infidel, or any other sort of infidel, ever in
sulted God so much in a word, and such a
position does in ACT; for, "actions speak
louder than words."

The anti-slavery and temperance meetings
were rich. If I tell you about Frederick
Douglass' speech at the Tabernacle, you
won't print it, so let that pass—only one
word of good natural criticism you will al
low; there is some reason to regret, that
having such an occasion, he did not secure
time to more fully rebuke the ecclesiastical
arrangements, and the predominating religi
ous creeds and organized church fixtures,
which sustain slavery more than all other
influences combined.

You need not think that I now forget the
Colonization Society, and the President of
the U. States and his party, including D. S.
Dickinson and Henry B. Staunton. All
these are in mind; yet my pen makes its
record.

The Thursday morning meeting of con
sultation was truly encouraging. To hear
Arthur Tappan, Lewis Tappan, Wm. Good
ell, S. S. Jocelyn, F. D—, F. Jackson, &c.,
consult together on such great questions as
were the objects of investigations, was inex
pressibly refreshing to the soul. The sug
gestions of O. M—, respecting labor thro'
the State, if faithfully carried out, must be
very salutary in saving honest sort of well
meaning people from the power of tempta
tion to do iniquity at the ballot, when such
men as Washington Hunt ask our votes, in
opposition to some well-tried friend of Free
dom. Success to the scheme in that direc
tion. Said Christ to Peter, "When thou art
converted, strengthen thy brethren."

At Metropolitan Hall, last evening, by
faith we enjoyed the Maine Law. We saw
it coming. NEAL DOW is truly a great man;
for, he makes no parade about his greatness.
When he said to that vast and discriminat
ing throng, "In the Empire State you will
have the Maine Law—it is only a question
of time," the applause uttered forth such
an AMEN as must be recognized as the con
centrated and ultimately prevailing prayer
of the earnest friends of the cause through
out the State. At the close of the meeting
we had the pleasure of seeing the hearty
shake of hands of Neal Dow and Thomas L.
Carson. If any ask, "Can we get the Maine
Law?" the short and rhyming answer is
ready—

Neal Dow,
Tells how.

Yours,

J. R. J.Johnson, James Rawson

Probably the frequent correspondent of Frederick Douglass’ Paper, James Rawson Johnson, an African American abolitionist from Syracuse, New York. Johnson was a supporter of the Liberty party and the religious abolitionist cause, as well as hydropathy. FDP, 26 June, 11 September, 9 October 1851, 1 January, 12, 26 February, 25 March, 8 April, 20 May, 9 July, 15 October 1852; DouglassPapers, ser. 3, 1:582-84, 587-88, 590-92, 596, 599.

WILLIAMSBURGH, L. I., May 13, 1853.