The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1881-01-01
SATURDAY, JANUARY l. 1880.
GENERAL GRANT.
The great General becomes a mem
Der of a Trenton organi-
cation.
A GRACEFUL ACT.
The full Text of the Conmuni-
cation.
A CHARACTERISTIC LETTER.

Ever since the first sable-hued Ameri-
can set foot in Trenton, the condition
of public sentiment in this city, in re-
gard to the colored people, has been,
until recently, in the highest degree
deplorabe. Color prejudice in the
Jersey Capital has been SO pronounced
and virulent, that for years a black
man could get employment of only
the meanest and most despicable kind.
He could go into no restaurant and
get meal, register his name and re-
main over night in no hotel, and un-
less he was a Methodist, he could wor-
ship God in but one church in the
city where he was not compelled to
occupy prescribed seat. He could
not give his children a respectable
education, nor have his remains de-
Gently inferred in a public cemetery,
unless his friends were content to let
them rest in the "potter's field" He
received no political patronage, had
no political right recognized-save the
legal right to cast his ballot.
This condition of affairs prompted
few of the more
INTELLIGENT COLoRED MEN
to take into consideration measures
looking toward the betterment of the
condition of the race in this section.
1t was determined to form a non par
tisan club, which should include in
its membership what little there was of
intelligence, wealth, and character
among the colored people, and as
many as possible of the progressive,
liberal-minded citizens of paler hue.
The object of the association should
be the
OBLITERATIoN OF RACE PREJUDICE
as far as possible, by establishing
friendly relations through social inter
course between the more intelligent
representatives of both races the OBJ
tainment of decent, remunerative en-
ployment for reputable colored men
the mental improvement of its members
by debates, lectures, newspaper and
periodical reading, &C., and the pro-
lection of the race in every legal right.
The constitution provided for twenty
five active members, fifty contributing
members, and seven honorary mem
bers. An organization was effected
on the second of February, 1871
and
A VERY HUMBLE ORGANIZATION
1t was The first meeting was held in
the third story front room, at No. ia
North Greene St. The room was
lighted by three tallow candles stuck
On the window stills. The furniture
consisted of a small stand, furnished
by the President, and an old bench,
brought on the shoulders Of the writer
of this article. A small stove was
soon after loaned, and supplied with
fuel by liberal demands upon the bench
and the appropriation of some dis
carded foot-gear left by a previous
occupant of the premises.
The organization was completed by
the election of J. M. Herbert, Presi-
dent; A. T. Weber, Vice President;
X. ?. Jackson, Secretary, and VIM.
Conover, Treasurer. During the
hrst year no honorary or contributing
members were elected.
Since then, the substantial progress
OF the association has been almost I'M
interrupted. How nearly the objects
Tor which it was founded have been &C
compllshed, is attested by the fact that
to-Gay black men are employed in
many OF the potteries and other manu-
featuring industries, colored girl has
nonorably graduated from the State
Normal school, but one hotel and one
restaurant object to accommodating
any respectable man who can pay for
~ no cemetery association refuses to
inter the remains of a citizen, on ac-
count OF the color of his skin, The
SENTINEL, a newspaper, edited and
owned by black man, weekly circu-
lates nearly two thousand copies
among the wealthiest and most intel
llsent people in the city, and at the
annual Christmas dinner of one of
our oldest and most respectable fire
companies, last week, a colored man
was among the invited guests.
"A RESPECTABLE ASSOCIATION.
The Eclectic Club, the organization
winch more than any other agency
mas been instrumental in bringing
ABOUT this desirable state of affairs, IS