Evening star., 1896-02-19
FREDERICK DOUGLASS.
His Day Appropriately Celebrate
With Speeches and Music.

His Day Appropriately Celebrated
With Speeches and Music.
Not les. than 1000 persons assembled last
evening at Metropolitan A. NJ. F. Church,
NJ street between 18th and 10th streets
northwest, to attend the celebration of
Douglass day, under the auspices of the
Bethel Literary and Historical Association.
The event was Of great interest, AMI the
program was aptiy and eloquertly described
by Pew. DIR. Wallace Radcliffe, pastor Of
New York Avenue Presbyterian Church,
who spoke after most of the exercises had
been rendered, as containing nothing, as
he had feared it would, of funereal char
acter
A fine portrait Of Mr.. Douglass, which was
presented by him to the Metropolitan
Church during his lifetime, was placed on
the pulpit platform in full view of the au-
iience Mrs. Douglass widow of the de-
ceased; his daughter, Mrs. Sprague, and
two sons. Lewis and Charles, were also
present, and occupied seats in the body Of
tn. church.
Mr.. Edward A. Clarke presided, and Miss
Laura f. Joiner was secretary.
A touching tribute to the memory Of
douglass was read 10y Mr.. w. A. Joiner,
v,ho had an Interview with Mr.. Douglass a
few hours before his death.
The oration Of the evening was delivered
by Mrs. Mary Church Terrell of the school
board. Her theme was, Lessons to be der
rived from the life of Frederick Douglass"
and she handled the subject in a mastery
manner. Her address abounded with good
advice to the young men of today, but she
laid especial stress on the necessity and
fairness of demanding absolute equality be-
fore the law. This sentiment was enthu-
siastically applauded, as was also her re-
mark. las Douglass was without reproa ch
In office, he was without blemish a home"
Rev. w. V. Tunnel of Kings Hall School,
a branch of Howard University, who, like
MIR. Joiner, preceding speaker, had talked
with Mr.. Douglass short time before his
death. read portion of a lecture, which
was founded mainly an incident which
occurred during his last visit to Mr.. Doug
lass.
Mrs Ruth G. D. Havens of Wimodau2hs:s
read long but excellent poem on Douglass
She "a serted that Douglass was the great
champion of womanhood. The women of
the United States, both white and black
were. she said, slaves, and their rights un-
recognized by the men-not ore of whom
would come 10 the rescue Of his sisters
from their bondage until Mr. Douglass
raised his voice in their behalf 1t was Mr..
Douglass, she declared. who recognized the
fact that If we are to have free sons We
must have free mothers. At the conclusion
of the reading of her poem Mrs. Havens was
heartily applauded.
The music, which was given by the choir
of the church, was remarkably fine hut the
enthusiasm OF the audience could scarcely
De Kept within proper bounds when Prof
John y. Layton. the leader sang as a solo
six Feet of Earth Makes Us All of One
Size. In response to an encore Mr. Lay
ton repeated verse of the selection in
which special reference was made TO Fred
erick Douglass
Rev. DIR. Radcliffe's address was next. and
his theme was "A Few Incidents in the Life
or Douglass" In prefacing his address
proper, DIR. Radcliffe said he felt honored TO
be present on an occasion whore there had
been such constant flow of eloquence and
OF beautiful poetry as there had been during
the evening. His address was an able and
scholarly production, and he was listened TO
during its entire delivery with unfiagcing
interest by all present, and at its close was
vigorously applauded.
The final address was delivered by Miss
Matte X Bowen, who spoke on Douglass
Love of Honor" which she attributed TO the
careful training of good mother.