Letter to mother from Charles Lucious Anderson

Dear Mother,I have been toasting my shins the greater part of the time today over the stove today trying to collect a few scattered thoughts...I was thinking this afternoon what a noted place the Stock Room of the Lowell Machine Shop was for free and open discussion of all subjects Politics, Religion, Temperance & every subject moral & immoral which was ever said or thought of by man, has been discussed & rediscussed till it has been worn out again & again.Yes, I will defy you or any other person to mention a subject which the old Stock Room has not listened to the merits and demerits of it by the Job Hands & others of the L.M. Shop.Could you look in upon me sometimes you would think I kept a regular grocery by the number standing around the stove. But Mr. Burke open the door and walk in and they will scamper about as quick as a flock of sheep scared by a dog.Re. E. B. Foster delivered the first lecture before the Young Mens Christian Association a week ago last Monday evening. Pronounced by all to be the greatest lecture delivered in Huntington Hall this winter. ..The hall was full to overflowing, many standing up around the doors and in the passageways which could not be seated. I have no doubt but more than two thousand persons listened to him.He presented in his lecture those ends which the association intend to carry out...This association intents to seek out employment for young men coming to the city who are strangers from the country and place them in good boarding places to shield them in every possible way from the demoralizing influences of city life...He spoke of the unsettled character of the population of our city and dwelt at some length on the manner in which the great proportion of our young men are born and reared in their country homes, with all the moral & religious influences thrown around them which can be, then spoke of their coming to the city and having no family ties to throw around them a net-work to shield them from evil; of their wandering forth into the streets on some pleasant evening and attracted by the gorgeously lighted saloons, are enlisted to enter and there take the first lessons in the downward part to ruin.He spoke with such eloquence...many were melted to tears & the most profound stillness reigned throughout the hall......Rev. D.C. Eddy delivers the next lecture...I put on my hat and coat & started for a walk. In passing through Hurd Street I noticed the vestry under the large Methodist Church was lit up & having a kind of idle curiosity to know what was going on within I entered & took a seat, not knowing that I might be an intruder. The vestry which was a very large one was filled mostly with young persons from the ages of seventeen to twenty five years of age, mostly females. A table was spread before the speakers desk with bread & water & several gentlemen were passing round the same to the congregation, while the minister was haranguing the audience on the subject of religion with stentorian voice & gestures the most severe....;;;;they got worked up to such a pitch of excitement that I deemed it proper for me to leave.I have endeavored to give you dear mother a short description of a "Methodist Love Fest." ... <....I can remember going to an evening meeting of James Burnahs......I thought the minister would preach all night...noise enough awaken all the neighborhood...Wendall Phillips lectured before the Institute last evening - Subject: "Philosophy of Reform." He is a very good speaker indeed...He said of we are going to bring about reform we must commence at home & educate the masses & not for it in the church & Politician. In speaking of the politician, he said he once asked a veteran in that service "What is a Politician" His answer was "A politician is a man who serves God just so far as not to offend the devil." He was very severe on our schools, ministers & institutions for not crying down the sin of slavery, or perhaps I should say for not doing more to put down slavery. Slavery is his Hobby I should think....Yesterday it rained all day, today it has snowed...Yours, C.L. Anderson