Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-11-04
MRS. MARY: UBURoH TERRELL
HERE.
An Enthusiastic Audience ereets Her

Despite the inclemeDt weather there
Was brilliant asRemblsge Of Rich
mond's literary talent at the True Re-
formers Hall, on last Monday night,
Oct. 3lst, to hear Mrs. Mary Church
Terrell, President OF the National As
sociation OF Colored Women who had
been announced to lecture on the
Bright Sjde," under the auspices Of
the Y. M. @. A.
On the rostrum were seated the fol-
lowing well-kDown persons: Presid ent,
r. T. Hill, of the Y. al. @. A., who pre-
sided; Rev. w. z. Graham. ID. ID. I;
Mrs. NJ. Mitchell Walker. R. w. g s.
of the /. D. OF st. Luke Grand Master.
w. =. Taylor, OF the @. T. U. o. OF
True Reformers Profs. DiVgs, Cole
man and J. E. Jones OF the U MON Uni
versity faculty DR.. L B. Tefft. Presi-
dent OF HsrIshorn Memorial College F;
G.. W. Lewis, Esq; DR.. r. Emmett
Jones, Pref. D. w. Davis, Q. VIM.
Moon, Rev. James 81. Holmes, D. D.,
Rev. DR.. Mcclure, Mrs. R. K. Jones
and Mrs. Coleman OF the Hsrtshorn
College faculty, and Mrs. Rosa d.
Bowser.
Tic tTtiJf rrfF,im v3f vel J
dered. 1t was as follows:
Solo, @. g. Williams: Prayer. Rev.
W. +. g, sham, d. d. I; Music by Quar-
tette composed Of Mrs. H. B Burrell.
Miss Mary Evans. Garland Halter and
Thos. Hopkins; Duet bv Madame 8. A.
Kemp Burrell and Mr.. @. VIM. Moon.
The speaker for the evening was then
introduced by Madame Maggie Mitch"
eli Walker.
Mrs. Mary Church Terrell stepped
forward amid applause and began the
delivery OF an admirable lecture on
the bright Side" OF the Negroes case.
Her manner was pleasing and she
spoke in tone audible in any part Of
the hall and with an ease and grace
that was remarkable. All eyes were
bent on her as she depicted the Negro
in the past and present, and told Of his
possible future.
The speaker took up the conditions
OF the colored people and discussed
them one by one until she had covered
the entire ground, showing the pro-
gress made by our people under the
most trying circumstances since eman
cipation. Turned out in the world
homeless, penniless and without being
able TO lock out for themselves. they
were now worth millions. She depre-
Gated the idea that there were those
who claimed thst the Negro was stead
lily losing ground along the line Of
skilled labor, declaring that such was
not the case, and brought facts to
prove her assertions. She declared
hat there were more skilled laborers
han there were jobs to secure.
she said that we could not expect to
live and lift ourselves above our pres
ent conditions by the trades only. No
race can expect to stand on q firm basis
who acquired trades only. While we
must advise some OF our boys and girls
TO take the Industrial trades, but st the
same time let US sncours &c them to
take up the professions. IL would be
just as wrong TO make all our boys car
penters, shoemakers and our girls
dress makers and laur dresses. SIS it
would be to make them all professors,
lawyers and doctors but let Us have
both: Scholars to instruct, ministers
to lead, and doctors to heal all our ills.
She dealt the credit system in vogue
on some of the large plantations
Of the South a severe blow; showing
where men and women grow up from
childhood and are never allowed to get
q penny that they can call their own,
but alter working a whole year they
end up in debt to the commissary.
No nation is so thoroughly honest as
the Negro. In demonstrating this she
took the history of the native Africans,
anu even the American Negro and
showed his devotion during the civil
war, when his opportunities were any
thing but small.
II the Negro has become q rogue he
has done so since he reached this
country, and it is no more right to
stigmatize the Negro as o rogue, b.
cause one Negro happens to be light
/ fingered, than to stiemAtize all white
men az rogues because some white
banker or perhaps Sunday School
| teacher absconds with princely sum.
She took up morals and showed where
it had been q decided improvement
upon them, and paid q tribute to our
women that was as deserving rs it was
conservative. The entire address was
punctuated with applause.
General Secretary Burrel needs to
be congratulated for having been able
to secure the services OF this estima-
BILE lady. Those present need to com
pliment themselves that they did %!
stay away on account of the Indictment