Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-07
FIFTY YEARS A PREACHER.
Rev. Alexander Crumneu to Ccle
brate an Unusual Anniversary.

The fiftieth anniversary Of the ordination
of Rev. Alexander Crummell, d. D., to the
priesthood OF the Protestant Episcopal
Church will be celebrated at st. Lukes
Church on Sunday, December .. The ami
versary sermon will be preached by tho
rector, and there Will be an early celebra-
ton OF the holy communion, and special
service of sacred song in the evening On
Monday evening, December 10, a collation.
will be given in ST. Luke's Hail. with
presentation of gifts to the rector.
Rev. Dr. Crummell is an interesting man
With an interesting history. Royal blood
flows in his arteries his grandfather hav-
ing reigned as king of FINANCE, country
adjoining Sierra Leon in West Africa. The
Star man found the reverend gentleman
in his study this forenoon. 1t was a
modest apartment, but ii was full Of books.
Manuscripts also abounded. Portraits of
distinguished regroes, among them being
those OF Frederick Douglass and Bishop
Crowther, hung upon the walls. There
were also a pair of dumb bells and a wall
machine, with which the doctor hed been
keeping his muscles hard. He Is a tall,
spare man, very dark, and quite interest
ing to talk with. He has the enunciation
of a man OF culture. There are no flaws in
his accent nor in his pronunciation.
He VIII Soon Retire.
Pointing proudly to his cases of books
he said: This is the result Of fifty years
Of labor. That case of books was with
other of the volumes in this little library
We're also with me over there in the dark
continent. After fifty years OF gospel
preaching In Europe, Africa and America
and after a longer term than that of COS
pei service am about to retire. 1t makes
me feel sad to do this, even though feel
too old for active work now. But must
do something. can't remain idle
''Why not go into literary work. sug-
gested the reporter.
'That is probably what 1 shall do. I
have vast mass of manuscript. some OF
which ! partially prepared over twenty
years ago."
DR.. Crummell was born in the city OF
New York a long time ago. His mother
and her ancestors for generations had been
free blacks, but his father, who was the
son of Finances ruler. by some eraceless
stroke of fate was made slave. He used
to entertain little Alexander with stories
of trips through Africa with his royal
papa's caravans and of the homage which
the kings and princes Of other states paid
him. Alexander went first to school at the
Mulberry Street school, New York city.
which was then run by the Quakers
FanaticaI Outbreak of Race Prcju-
dice.
In 1881, when the High School was es-
tablished by Rev. Peter Williams, Alexan-
der attended, and took up the study of
Greek and Latin. In 1885 q school was
opened at the little town of Canaan, away
up in New Hampshire. The Idea Of tho
founder was that II Should be conducted
without reference to race, creed or pre-
vious condition. Alexander attended. 1t
was not long before the biased people or
the neighborhood pulled the school build
ing from its moo-ings, tumbiod IL down
into a nearby swamp and chased the pu-
pills out of reach.
The exiles then won't on to Oneida, whore
in 1896 free school was opened In 1888
Mr. Crummell became candidate fo holy
orders and after much opposition In other
jurisdictions was ordained to the dS3conate
in the diocese of Massachusetts Just hfty
years ago on Sunday he was ordained
priest in the Protestant Episcopal Church
in Philadelphia, at st. Paurs Church, by
the Right Reverend Bishop Lee. He served
as priest In Philadelphia for two years. and
then did two years duty at New York.
Failing to receive the required support in
Gotham, he went to England to solicit
funds for the purpose of building church
in the Lew world. While in England he
entered the University of Cambridge and
graduated there in 1852. Owing to poor
health he was advised to seek tropical
cline, and went to West Africa as mis-
sionary.
There he remained for twenty years. He
returned to the United States In 1878 and
assumed charge of st. Luke's Church. this
city. He has been here ever since: DR..
Crum,nell has published a volume OF ser
mons and two volumes of addresses He
told The Star man that he haG spent his
life In efforts to upbuild hts ranA