Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-24
UNION OF TENTS.
Prof. Brownies Address at the Meet.
Ing Of the Order Last Evening.

The Metropolitan Baptist Church. on r
street between 18th and 18th streets. was
crowded last evening TO witness the exer-
cises of the Washington Tents OF the ]. r.
Giddings and Jolifee Union of the United
States of America. The southern division
of the order is now holding it's twenty
eighth annual session in this city. This
order is one of the oldest and strongest
benevolent organizations among the col
ored people. II received it's charter sixty
years ago. About three hundred of the
members OF the Washington tents, robed in
white and bearing the colors. marched into
the body of the church TO listen to an ad-
dress which they had invited Prof. Hugh
NJ. Browne Of the colored High School to
deliver
Prof. Browne spoke of the past and pres
ent Of the race, and characterized the fu-
ture as full of promise of development and
progress.
ave have before us today" he said. ..the
records of the experiences of two and a
half centuries OF slavery in this country;
the records OF thirty years freedom in this
country: quite an extensive knowledge Of
Africa and its peoples. and the records OF
the civilizations of all the other races and
peoples which inhabit the earth The tirne.
1 believe. has fully come for us to widen
the horizon OF the negro problem and read
our destiny between the lines of these rec
ords. We shall fail to discover Gods pur-
pose concerning US IL We fix our attention
history. We must take in the whole circle
OF His providences IL We would come TO
know by what path He leadeth us and 10
appreciate the design running through them
All a glance al the history OF races
and peoples will show that each on its on
ward and upward march has passed through
three distinct stages, viz: Egypt. the wilder
ness and Canaan. and that the hrillisncy OF
Canaan has most largely depended upon the
lessons learned in Egypt and the discipline
Needed In the wilderness.
start Ont for Himself.
when cur training in the wilderness
shall have cemented us into a nation able
to take care OF itself. we shall enter our
Canaan. We. who are now living. may not
be allowed to enter because OF our disobedt-
cree. but the Inheritance will fan 10 our
children. / have neither the time nor the
disposition TO discuss at this time either
the location Of our Canaan or the mix and
honey which shall flow SO freely there /
cannot possibly DO better in this matter
than TO quote from a distinguished writer
IN recent number OF the Educational Re-
view: The Negro is being prepared for
c-uzenship and self-government: he is being
lifted out OF barbarism into civilization. and
as soon as he is able to take care OF him.
self and TO carry on the lessons Of his youth
he viii willingly coalesce into states and
communities and start out for himself.
Ana the hand OF God will reach down and
gather him together and put him some
where on the face of the earth where he
can work out his own destiny in his own
way. When this time comes. Il will be
done slowly and without jar or hurt to the
cuth or to the negro Let me conclude
with the remark that If we study our pres
ent condition and environment in the light
which 1 have limited, we shall find that
all things work together for good 10 them
that love God"
The Other Speakers.
Remarks were made also by Revs. Bishop
johnson. Bryant. Robert johnson and
Mrs. A. NJ. Lane OF Norfolk, Va: Mrs. II.
r. Taylor Of Hampton, Va. grand travel
ing deputies; Mrs. NJ. A. T. Chandler ana
Mrs. V. A. Waller OF this city.