Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-08

afternoon. Although there are forty-three
colored Baptist churches in the District there
were not half that many delegates present. in the
church this morning when the exercises Of the
day were opened. The new president. Rev. W.
). Howard. presided today, and the devotional
exercises with which the work Of the day was
commenced were conducted by Rev. Mr.
Champ. Rev. Mr.. Williams aud Rev. Mr. Scott.
The principal item of business up before the
convention was the consideration of the subject
| OF the Old Folks Home. About q quarter of a
century ago the idea of establishing in
this city a home for poor old colored
people OF the Baptist denomination. es-
pecially ministers and their widows was started
some years later a tract of ground was donated
10 the Baptist ministers for this purpose by q
generous white woman, Mrs. Stoddmrd That
Is the position in which matters have been
ior Years, and according to the
speakers this morning nothing has been done
beyond passing resolutions on every possible
occasion setting forth the desira ability of such
an institution. The ball was started rolling at
the meeting this morning by an address from
Rev Sandy Alexander on the subject of the
''Old Folks Home"
| PATRIARCH OF THE CHURCH.
Mr.. Alexander is generally known among
the colored people OF the District as the
father Of the Baptist Church. inasmuch as he
Is the Oldest minister OF the denomination
here, having grown old in the service He has
seen a large number OF summers, but his
influence among his people has been on the in
crease all the time and his word Is ever
mighty power with them. He was the patriarch
OF the convention and his remarks were
listened to with a great deal OF attention.
albeit bis hearers did not all agree with
what he had to say In fact there was con-
siderable feeling shown about this matter of
establishing a home. Every one knew Just
where the blame should go for the dilatory way
Ia which the matter has been handled. but no
one was willing personally to shoulder any of it.
Mr.. Alexander thought the blame should all go
to the ministers OF the city who
have failed to interest themselves in the
movement, and he made quite a stirring
speech, in which he told his hearers
what ought to be done. and found
He could speak with authority. for he came to
Washington in the year 1881. when Gen Jack
son was in the White House. and when there
was only one Baptist meeting house in the Dis
trict. As he likes to put it. in those days a
quart Of wine was sufficient to give COM
munion to all the Baptists there were in WASH
ington. The only church then here stood at
the corner of 18th and streets aud its pastor
was DIR. Brown. The colored people had part
OF the gallery set apart for their uses, and DR.
Brown used to address them You colored
people up there"
DONE.
In his speech this morning Rev. Mr..
Alexander said that there were forty
three coiored Baptist churches in the
District and not a thing had been done
Tor the interests Of humanity. The white
Baptists were all the time asking them what |
they had done in the way Of maintaining edu- !
cational and charitable institutions aud all they
could do was to point to promises that they had |
never kept. |
There's altogether too much gsssing and |
too much resoluting amorg you. and you don't |
get together and work and pay money We |
are all very good at passing resolutions. We |
gather together and pass resolutions to this !
effect: Resolved. that we will have an |
Old Folks Home. Resolved, that we will have |
university. and Resolved that we will have a 4
church organ. But We don't get them |
because we don't do anything but talk /
about them. The trouble is all with the min /
listers. They are divided and this keeps the /
churches apart. We talk about a union of |
ministers, but we haven't go. anything of /
the sort. We might call it meeting but not a |
union. Now II We are willing to 90 /
ahead with this thing and get something
tangible instead of a lot of gas and resolutions
am willing to 60 back to my church and lay
the matter before them. but I certainly shan't |
as long as We are chasing shadows as we are do
ing now III We are going 10 drop this \
whole business tell me SO now and then
will devote all my attention to the Grimes
Academy. There's an institution that ought TO
have more consideration ut the hands of MS
people. What's the use of ali the time
helping other institutions when their
people take better care Of them than we
10 OF our own. Now, as to the matter OF de-
yrees Of doctor Of divinity, let me ask you whv
rou people that want such a degree don't give
your ESQ to Grimes Academy instead OF
giving 1t to some academy way off some-
where TO get your d. ID. oh. YES. / know
" lots OF Won that got their degrees that way.
But let's take care OF our own institutions first
.ets do something and quit talking about
Icing it."
OTHER VIEWS.
When Mr.. Alexander got through with his
iery talk there were a dozen men on their feet
eady to talk Rev. Mr.. Scott. who first got
he floor, said that, in his opinion. the fault
IL lay with the committee OF the Ola !
'olks Home. In the past two years the
resident OF the committee had not called a
meeting and it Was evident to him that
hey were sleeping and were not going TO
Rise He advocated putting men on the COM
littee who would do some actual WORK Sec
ndly. he blamed the trustees OF the home more
nan he did the Minister'S for be thought that
the matter was ever fairly and honestly mt |
efore them the laymen of the churches ;
'ould raise all the money necessary Quick
nough- de did no: Ike the location of the
cheme Of getting the deed of gift changed SO
hat they could secure another site with the |
roceeds OF the present The matter was also
iscussed by Rev. W. B. johnson. ID. d., Rev.
= S. Thomas aud Rev. Mr.. ". A. Credit.
NEW oFFrcERs
The following new officers have been elected !
the convention for the ensuing year:
Rev. w. j. Howard, president and moderator;
ev. Sandy Alexander. frs; vice president: Rev.
ebert johnson, second vice president: Edward
Walton. recording secretary: Rev. J. I. Low
u, corresponding secretary, and Joseph Man
ing, treasurer.
Shiloh Church of Fairfax county. Va. and $
he Walker Memorial Church of this city were
ssterday admitted to representation in the !
YESTERDAY AND THIS EVENING
Last evening the session was opened with
'ayer BY Rev. ID. Morris, and a voluminous .
'ticle on the history of the colored churches
as read by Mr.. J. w. Cromwell. principal of \
e Garnet School in this city.
The program for this evening includes a
'per ON the subject. 1.-The Necessity of
rimes Academy, Rev. l. V. Bryant. princi- 4
Il. and miscellaneous business. The conven-
on viii probably adjourn tomorrow. @