Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-03
Eloquent and Brilliant Eulogies Of
fered.
PILOT, hero, GENIUS AND ORATOR
Many Interesting Lights Thrown
Upon His Character.
LARGE, EARNEST MEETING


bidding weather of the evening. The mem
bers of the family of Mr.. Douglass were
present, and sat together in the front part
Of the church. The exercises consisted OF
speeches by men who had known Mr.. Doug
lass, ard served to throw clear light upon
the character of the man. Rev. William v.
Tunnel OF King Hall Episcopal Chapel Of
fered prayer, ana Robert II. Terrell, who
presided during the evening, in a brief
speech set forth the purpose of the occa-
sion. DIR. Charles B. Purvis followed in an
eloquent and well-conSidered tribute in
which he related many interesting recol-
lections of Mr.. Douglass, and alluded to
the hardships he endured and the obstacles
he overcame. The speaker dealt unsparing-
ly with the limitations which surround the
colorel race at the present time. The in
stltutlon CT slavery, he said, was dead but
its spirit still lived, as was shown in the
Teamoh incident liz Virginia the other day.
And In this connection Dr. Purvis told
what Mr.. Douglass said to him in relating
his first visit to Abraham Lincoln. HE
received me- said Mr.. Douglass las one
gentleman always receives another. Mr..
Lincoln was one of the few men who al
ways left me with the feeling that my skin
or my blood were in no way different from
his owIn" The speaker compared Douglass
with Webster. between whose conditions
and opportunities there was I wiz, iif-
ference, and told q story that Illustrate
the moral fiber of each. When Webster.
was criticised for his apostasy to the cause
CT freedom, in resentment of the criticism
visited upon him, one day said: ut IS fool
ish to re-enact the laws of God" When
Douglass heard this he said: 1T is worse
than foolish to re-enact any other"
Knew Him Fifty-tvo Years Ago.
Rev. Alexander Crummel of ST. Lule's
Episcopal Church read careful analysis
OF Mr. Douglass character, relating how he
first met him. fifty-two years ago. at a
civil rights meeting In Boston. Mr.. Crum-
melrs effort was nicely appreciative and
thoroughly eloquent in his description of
the man. John S. Durham of PHILADELPHIA.
VINO succeeded Mr.. Douglass as minister
to Hayti. spoke of his universally represent
tative character. He said Douglass was
more than an American. He was citizen
of the world. He wished he had lived
IN London or some European capital where
MS color would not have been a bar to his
reception in the highest society of the
world.
Mr.. John r. Lynch, who followed. said
Mr.. Douglass preferred to live where he
could serve his race. His first aim and
nope was for the betterment of the colored
race. On one occasion Mr.. Lynch took
young man to see Mr.. Douglass. and
something was said of the almost hopeless
condition of the negro race when Mr.
douglass said INV young friend, always
hold up the good traits of the colored race;
their enemies will be sure to mention the
rest"
T. B. s. Pinchbeck, in an earnest eulogy
told of his long acquaintance with MIR
douglass. and spoke of visiting with him
the day he died, and how pleased he was
with the honor paid him by the Womens
Council.
Interesting Anecdotes.
Rev. Rush R. Shipper of All Souls
Church pleasingly told several stories of
his acquaintance with Mr.. Douglass, first
In Chicago and then in Washington On
one occasion in Chicago Mr. Douglass
provoked the anger of a large audience
by his criticism of Daniel Webster for
his famous Seventh of March speech"
when, as Mr.. Shipper said, Webster buck
led and cringed to the slave owners. 1t
looked as If Douglass could not go on with
his remarks he had so enraged the au-
dience. But he waited until the din ceased
then ne recited a passage which he had
committed to memory from one of Web
ster's earlier speeches, in which he pleaded
so grandly for freedom of speech The
effect was electric, and the audience cheer
ed Douglass as enthusiastically as it had
before Kissed and booted him. Another
time at convention of abolitionists of the
state of Illinois white man made a
speech saying that the negro was so
thieving. SO immoral, so Incorporate and
untruthful that it was impossible to re-
deem him, even if he were made free
Douglass was called next, and he saw his
opportunity. Our race" he said, lis sim
pie; 1t Is imitative-very initiative We
do as We see our masters do When the
white man ceases to steal, to drink, to lie
and to be immoral then we will have hope
for ourselves" The fine sarcasm of the
retort aroused the great audience to the
widest applause.
Matthew Arnold at the First Congrega-
tional Church twelve years ago, when,
after the distinguished Englishman had
&C nc!uded, Secretary Chandler, who pre-
sided ron, ofi-c f.ov, i.
tinguished men in the audience Seeing
Mr. Douglass. he said: II see before me
the greatest orator in America, and 1 call
upon Frederick Douglass to speak" Mr.
douglass arose, and. in a fine manner re-
framing from speech. moved the thanks
of the audience to Prof. Arnold for the
pleasure his lecture had given them
Rev. w. A. Credit of the Berean Colored
Church read warm eulogy of Mr. Doug
lass. letter was read from Mrs. Charlotte
Forth Grimke and Mrs. Lena Mckinney
sang effectively a solo, Miss Bruce accom-
panying her at the organ.
Resolutions of Respect.
Mr.. F. G. Barbados offered and the
n Getting adopted, resolutions of respect TO
Mr. Douglass, after which DIR. Grimke
pre- nounced the benediction.
THAT fame and homer from no condition
RISE" say these resolutions was exempli-
fled in his life more than in that of any
othcl VI his Tune. Tie was slave,
yet he became chieftain in the army of
antf-slavery men and women; for twenty
hve years his clear voice in stentorian tones
rang out for the nationality of freedom
His battle cry was Let my people CO."
His contribution to the anti-slavery cause
makes a splendid chapter in it's history
The story of his own sorrows and suffer-
ings. no less than his eloquence, touched
the hearts of two continents and did much
toward winning for the millions of bond
men in America the sympathy of Christen-
dom. And when the emancipation and the
enfranchisement of his people came, he
then turned his attention to their prepara-
ton for citizenship. with all it's dignities
and responsibilities. His voice and his pen
and his personal influence were always en-
listed in the cause of the oppressed. He be-
lieved profoundly in the brotherhood of
humanity, and in the equality of races,
and during his entire public life he never
once compromised his convictions to any
expediency, or policy, for the purpose of
advancing his own personal ends. Every
where in his speeches and writings shine
out noble sentiments and lofty standards
of duty-indices of the purity Of his
thoughts, the greatness of his soul and the
beauty of his character. The lessons of his
public career will be an inspirati ton to the
present and future generations of the
American negroes to righteous determine
ton and aspiration, for attaining the high
est possibilities of our country. Such was
his private life that mothers will endeavor
to teach their sons to emulate 1t and keep