Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-10-01
FROM HUNTINGTON.
Emancipation Exercises--A Fine Ora
tion-A Sudden Death--Literary
Society Ke-orgaEized.

Thursday night, September 23d, at the
First Baptist Church. the Emancipa-
ton was celebrated with speeches. pa
pers, solos and hymns Of praise. Not
with standing the inclemency OF the
weather there was a splendid attend
ance and the night was one to be long
remembered in our city.
Opened ny singing the Battle
hymn Of the republic Then Mr.. J.
w. Scott stated the purpose OF the
meeting in few choice words. A pa
per on that great and illustrious man,
Abraham Lincoln, by the stroke OF
whose pen liberty was proclaimed 70
000, 00C beings and to whom too much
honor cannot be given, was read by A.
q. Davis. Prof 9. II. Barnett. A. r ,
then delivered a speech in praise Of the
Abolitionist.
1t was received with great applause
by the audience. Prof Barnett eulo-
who despite the laws against it stood
up Tor the freedom of the blacks
William Lloyd Garrison, who had the
pluck to edit a paper agRinst slavery,
knowing that it would meet the disap-
proval OF his countrymen; ChRs. Sum-
ner. who stood up in the Senate de-
Tending the slaves, mot because he
loved the Negro SO much" he said.
but because he loved justice more ~
Mrs. ii. b. Stowe. Fred Douglass, VIM.
Still. j. u. Whittier and a host OF others
should be endesred TO our memory.
Mrs. f. Perkins rendered a very
choice solo. Miss W. r James read
the Emancipation Proclamation which
was highly enjoyed from the fact that
it is SO seldom read.
II The orator nf the dou was w II Dor
don, Ii. B., who made a deep impress
sion on the audience fro N his subject.
'Emancir alton, what is it7"
/ Lawyer Harris, OF HRrrisonburg, Va.
was introduced and made a short
lspeech. advising the Negroes to buy
property and open up business houses
and thus give employment to our
Iyoung people, who are graduating
from the Colleges, Seminaries and
High Schools yearly
| The following were called upon and
responded with neat speeches: DIR.
w. 8. Kearney, w. +. johnson, Mrs.
10. II. Barnett. Mr.. A. A. Bobson and
Winston Byrd.
The meeting summed up as whole
was a glorious manifestation for the
first effort. Ve hope that the other
towns will take up this effort next
year and let US make the mountains
echo with the voices OF praise from
Iyouug aud old. aud show by our &C.
sions that we appreciate our liberty.
The white people celebrate the 4Gh OF
July, Labor Day, Washington's Birth
day, etc., but what does the Negro eel
citrate and what right has he to cele-
brate? The Declaration of Independ-
ence did not or does not interest the
Negro to any great extent but, we
have heretofore celebrated it with as
much pomp and displayed as much en-.
thusiasm as the white man.
Let the Negroes of America come to-
gethsr as people, make the 22nd OF
September our National Holiday and
celebrate it with as much propriety at
the white man does the 4th of July.
Lawyer w. H. Harris, formerly oil
Ronceverte, but now of Harrisonburg
Va, is to be seen on our streets this
week. He is canvassing little pam.
Iphlet entitled, The Future of the
Dark Continent" written by himself
1t is a very neat little work and should
be in every Negroes home.
Henry Mcqueen, head waiter at Ho.
tel Adelphia, left last week for Knox.
vile, Tenn.
The sudden death of Mrs. Wellman
who lives near the G. & 0. shops, has
cast a deep gloom over this: COM
munity. Precious in the sight of oul
Lord is the death of his saints"
Mrs. Wellman, though 56 years o.
age at her death, may be classed with
the pioneers of this city, having come
here when it was in its infancy. She
was an upright Christian and loving
mother. She was a strong and faith.
full member of the NJ. Z. Church beinf
one of the first members to join wheI
the church was organized, and always
q willing and ready worker. The fun
eral services were conducted at the
n. E. Church Thursday by Rev. Steele
in solemn and imposing manner
She leaves to mourn her departure sew
en- children. To the bereaved family
we extend our heartfelt sympathy
The family wishes to thank those whC
assisted in the burial.
; Rev. Morris Johnson and Archie
} Woodson, our home brethren, occupied
the stand a. the First Church Sunday
The Douglass School Literary Socie
ty met last Friday for the purpose O
reorganizing for the ensuing year
This society organized about five years
> ago, has been of no little value to the
scholars who attended. 1t has eiveI
( them exactly what they will neeC
when thrown in the world to comba
for themselves. The following organi
zltion resulted: President, Susie
Woodson Vice, Carrie Maugguim
Secretary, Rosa Winston Assistant
Willie Taylor; Treasurer, Thos. Wood
son Critic. A. Cornelius Davis; News
Ipaper Editor, Amanda James.
Little Tommy Franklin, who haC
such bad attack of the whoopint
cough is somewhat improving, bat ye
very sick child.
Willis Underwood has recovered
from an attack OF fever.
As we write, the sad news of TIT
death of MIRA. Susie James is brough
to as. At the time OF her death shl
, was in Burlington, but we understand
that the funeral will take place at Gal
lipolis tomorrow. We will let yor
know more about it in our next let