ABSTRACT
Before entering upon a consideration of the painful events of 1865, a brief review must be taken of those movements of a religious and social character which marked the period since emancipation. A purer code of social morality had been introduced among all classes of society. In the days of slavery, it was a rare thing to find a married overseer or book-keeper. This state of things no longer exists; and while it would be idle to deny the existence of much social impurity, a vast improvement has taken place in this respect. Where vicious habits are indulged, the fact is more generally known than in the great cities of Europe, for in small communities these things are not hidden as in the great centres of population.
