The state journal., 1884-04-12
H0WARD'S LETTER.
COLORED CITIZENS MEMO
RALIzING EX-MAYOR KING.
Douglass Lecture-C Colonel Pur-
nell Takes His Seat in Coun-
cil-Society Briefs.

1
cil-Society Briefs.
PHILADELPHIA, April 10.-On Mon
day, Mayor Smith was inaugurated
and Samuel G. King has passed into
history as the best mayor in the in
terest of the colored citizens that has
ever held the Office in this city. On
Friday last, he was visited by about
twenty-five Of the leading colored
citizens. Their mission was to pre-
sent to Mayor King an address eulo,
giving him for his manly course in
placing colored men on the police
force. The address was engrossed
| by a colored man and encased in a
handsome plush case made by COL
ored woman. The address was as
follows: Esteemed Sir: Permit us
hereby to express oar heartfelt ap-
probation Of your recognition Of the
eligibility Of colored citizens to
whatever any other citizen is eligible.
You have not prescribed them to
| special or mental places. but put
them wherever they were competent
and the morale of the police force
admitted. We are sensible Of the
difficulties that confronted you in
this matter, and therefore commend
you all the more for daring TO do
justly in the face of opposition. The
truly noble men of the world are few.
Motives too often are miejudged, and
one need ever remember these words
Of Shakespeare
"Though thou be pure as snow
And chaste as ice,
Thou shalt not escape calumny."
1t is only those great in goodness
of heart, helping those who need
helper, that posterity remembers
with pious feelings. God be thanked
for William Lloyd Garrison, John
Brown, a Charles Sumner, an Abra-
ham Lincoln, Thaddeus Stevens, a
Samuel G. King. That your good
example may continue and your de-
clining life be peaceful is the prayer
of your fellow citizens" There were
twenty six names signed to it, promi.
nent among whom were: DR.. 7. T.
Tanner, of the Christian Recorder
William Still, ST.. Robert Jones, Sr.;
Benz amin Harrison, ST., and Robert
Pnrvia These gentlemen also made
short speeches, which were answered
by Mayor King in deeply moved
manner. Thus was the gratitude
shown, in slight way, by the col
ored citizens for the unsolicited and
generous acts of Samuel G. King,
and our only hope is that the present
Mayor, William B. Smith, will con
tinue in the path so plainly laid out.
Mount Olive Lodge, No. 964, G.
U. o. of o. F., will celebrate their
thirty,sixth anniversary by rendering
to the public and members of the
Order concert at Musical Fund
hall, on Thursday evening, May /.
On Monday last, Col. Jacob Pur-
nell, the first colored representative
of the colored people, took his seat
in the council chamber, and despite
his being the first colored man there,
he was accorded hearty reception
by his colleagues, and no doubt will
not be hampered in any manner by
the slight difference in color. Mr..
Purnell now has chance to distin.
guish himself and also to bring honor
on the race, and we hope to soon
show that he has grasped the oppor-
tunity and is working in the right
way.
There is to be grand testimonial
benefit rendered to Miss Henrietta
Vinton Davis by the citizens in May.
Miss Davis will be assisted by Mr..
Powhattan Beatty, a celebrated ira
gedian, and by Madame Ridgway,
who will make her debut on that oc-
casion. Scenes will be taken from
Macbeth" =" Romeo and Julie" and
"Ingomar,' in which they will ap-
pear in full costume.
Hon. Frederick Douglass delivered
his lecture in aid of Berean Presby-
terian church at the Academy OF
Music on Tuesday evening. His
subject was "John Brown He
gave highly interesting history Of
the life and labors of his subject ]
also of his connection with him. A
slight allusion was made to bis re-
cent marriage, which passed by un'
noticed by the audience. The at
tendance was good, about two-thirdt
of the audience being white persons
An Easter entertainment will bt
given by Bethel A. M. K. Church
for the benefit of the church, com
menoing Easter Monday night, Apri