Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-28
Annual Meeting Of a Society Of COL
ored Educators.
REV. ALEXANDER CRUMMELL PRESIDES
Reports Received and Addresses by
Prominent Members.
OBJECTS OF THE SOCIETY

1 ne HrSt session OF the annual meeting
Of the Negro American Academy was held
this morning at 1890 o'clock in Lincoln
Congregational Church, 18th and
r streets northwest. The morning session
was not largely attended, it being purely a
business one Rev. Alexander Crummell,
pastor of ST. Luke's Episcopal Chapel,
president of the academy, occupied the
chair. ]. w. Cromwell acted as secretary
Rev. Mr.. Crummell made a short address
outlining the plans and objects of the acad-
envy. He explained that it would take time
to develop fully the academy for the benefit
of the race for which and for whose benefit
1t had been organized. He stated that at
present there WAS too much of generaliZa-
ton of literary tastes and scientific sub
Jects among the negroes of the United
States. There should be a scheme carried
out. such as intended by the academy. for
bringing these tastes and objects into a
more coherent form.
There was bound to be a development of
literary culture and refinement among the
colored race in this country. he said, and
some society or organization such as the
academy was needed to evolve this form
the present incoherent matter which char
acteriZed 1t.
Academy i'm It's Infancy.
while the academy is small" he stated,
'it must be remembered that it is in it's
infal.cy, and have no doubt that the socie-
ty of which have the honor CT being pres
ident will have pow erful effect on the fu-
ture possibilities and achievements of the
negro race
At the conclusion of his address the pas
tor of Lincoln Memorial Church, Rev. A.
+. Miller, offered prayer and asked for di
vine aid to carry on the work of the acad-
envy The secretary, ]. w. Cromwell. read
the minutes Of the previous meeting which
ere approved. He then read his annual
report.
The report stated that during the wear
there were published. under the auspices of
the academy, a thousand copies of papers
relating to the negro race. one of which
was Race Traits md Tendencies" Tn
usual correspondence, 1t was stated. had
been necessary to get the occasional works
before representative educators and men
in professional life.
There should be known to MIN. the secre-
tary states. the name of at least one en-
erget.c. enthusiastic. unselfsh worker in
every institution for the higher education
of the race. and in every town or city hay
ing an aggregate CT 5000 negro population.
There should be known, further, TIE adj
dress of some physician in every city pos
sessiES 10000 or more coorei popu!a ton. a
trained lawyer in every densely populated
community, and at least enc minister of
each denomination in every southern state
who believes the social welfare Of the race
is of sufficient Importance to justify the
and consideration OF social
forcing of moral and religious duties.
The secretary declared ne the neces-
sty fer a year book, which will give such
respecting all the varied negro
observation-disclosures, nplter.al and re-
!igious-political in the enlarged sense, as
well as will be servceable to the increasing
number of those seeking for information
on all the different phases of the negro con-
dltlon as a race.
Grounds for Hope.
There is more than hope" the report
declares, that before the dawning of an
other century, such a year book will be
produced. to continue from year to year,
and thus be reliable index of the progress
the growth and development of the Aneri-
can negro
The secretary stated that in this connec-
tion 1t was worthy of mention that the
scantest notice had been taken of the
work of the academy by the colored press,
with one exception.
The need of a year book was discussed
by the members present, and the fact was
greatly deplored that there were few
statistics, reliable ones, it was stated re-
garding the negro race in the United
States. 1t was claimed if such statistics
were secured, many of the statements made
regarding negroes in this country could be
successfully refuted Reference was made
to the article published recently in Geor-
gia paper giving alleged facts and figures
to prove that the coiored popula ton in the
United States is dying out and would in
time disappear altogether. If statistics
existed, it was claimed, the reference to
the decadence of the race could be shown
positively untrue.
motion was made by L. B. Moore that
statistician be appointed to cooperate
with a committee of five from the acad-
envy to gather material regarding colored
churches, school work, teachers, illegiti-
macy and death rate. property in town,
cities and country, and negro photography.
wa mr. a6 NV low T. Crin hot
the report be adopted. A motion was then
made by Kelly Miller that the report be
adopted, including the suggestion of l.. b.
Moore. and referred to the executive COM
mittee, with power to act, which was car
ried.
The report of the treasurer was read and
referred to an auditing committee, consist
ing of j. H. Smythe. W. H. Ferris and w.
3. Hayson.
A motion was made by Kelly Miller, that
meetings of the academy be held quarterly
in addition to the annual meeting. The
matter was referred to the executive COM
nittee, with power to act at the next an
nual meeting.
National In Scope.
President Crummell made the suggestion
that the academy should be in touch with
the negroes throughout the country. While
this organization Is national in scope and
character, he stated, It's branches were
very limited now. He thought that the col
cred population, particularly throughout
the south, should be reached in some man
her. The subject was discussed at consid-
cradle length. The matter of issuing pub
cation was also postponed for further
action.
The afternoon session adjourned for
luI CHI, which was served by a committee
&C insisting of Mrs. F. j. Grimke, Mrs. A. P.
Miller, Mrs. Alexander Crummell, Mrs. ].
w. Cromwell and Mrs. J. A. Johnson. The
afternoon session was devoted to the cleo
ton Of officers.
Annual Address and Other Matters.
The annual address Of President Crum-
nell will be delivered this evening. His
subject will be 1.-The Attitude of the Ameri-
can Mind Toward the Negro Intellect"
Rev. J. Albert johnson will speak on 1.-The
Critics of the Negro
Two papers will be read tomorrow MORN
ing, the first on obstacles in the Way of
the Negroes Progress in the United States"
by Rev. Matthew Anderson of Philadelphia.
William H. Ferris of New Haven, Conn,
will read paper on The Bearing and the
Theory of Christian Evolution on the Des-
tiny and Progress of the Negro Race" In
the evening G. NJ Grisham will talk of
Aims in Negro Education" THE Outlook
of Scientific Work Among the Negroes"
will be discussed BY ]. w. Hoffman. At the
evening session Paul Lawrence Dunbar will