Bells Are Ringing

On Saturday, January 5, 2013 the Village of Southampton will honor President Lincoln’s signing into law of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.

The event begins at 1:00pm where everyone is invited to bring bells to open Bells Are Ringing at the corner of Job’s Lane and Main Street in front of the First Presbyterian Church located at 2 South Main Street in Southampton. All the church bells of Southampton will ring in unison for one minute. Afterwards participants are invited into the Church to hear the Bell Choir of the First Presbyterian Church and gospel music by Showers of Blessings from Kings Chapel Church of God.  A Public Reading of the Proclamation will be led by Rev. Richard Boyer, First Presbyterian Church and other local clergy.

 At 2:30pm a Roundtable Discussion takes place across the street at the Rogers Mansion, a property of the Southampton Historical Museum located at 17 Meeting House Lane. Carol T. Spencer, founder of Diaspora Books, will lead a panel of historians and authors on the meaning of the Proclamation and how it affected the nation and its citizens.

 The celebration continues after the discussion with Jazz and Poetry (and Food!) at the Rogers Mansion beginning at 4:00pm and ending at 5:30pm. Brenda Simmons, Director of the African American Museum of the East End, will lead a festival of music and poetry by local jazz musicians and poets. A variety of appetizers and refreshments are being provided by local restaurants, delicatessens and caterers.

 This Event is sponsored by the African American Museum on the East End, Diaspora Books, First Presbyterian Church, Rogers Memorial Library, Saint John’s Episcopal Church, Southampton Chamber of Commerce, Southampton Historical Museum and the Village of Southampton.