The times., 1899-05-27
some SOUND ADVICE
TO T'HE COLORED RACE
Exercises Held in Rankin
Memorial Chapel.
Meeting Of the Alumni Association
OF Howard University.
Anniversary of tht
Theological Depnrtment-The
Graduation Exercises.

The twenty-sixth anniversary of the
Theological Department of Howard Uni
yersity was celebrated yesterday by a
meeting of the alumni association in the
morning. elaborate graduation exercises
in the afternoon, and a banquet in the
evening. The exercises were held in An
drew Rankin Memorial Chapel on the
grounds of the university and were largely
attended Four divinity students received
certificates to preach, and will enter ac-
lively into evangelical work.
The exercises of the day were opened in
the morning by the alumni conference
DR.. J. Z. Rankin, President of the univer-
sity, presided. and delivered an address
of welcome in which he noted the various
improvements which had been made in
the course of study and methods of teach
ing since the graduating of many of those
present.
An extended discussion was INDUCED in
on the subject of How can the colored
minister best serve his people in these
critical times?" Prof. Isaac Clark of the
faculty briefly outlined the scope Of the
subject, and suggested that ministers
should adapt their teachings to the teach
ings OF the present day.
Rev. McHenry ]. Naylor, of Baltimore,
tinction between the work of the colored
preacher and the white. Race prejudice,
poverty, ignorance, and increasing crime
among the colored race clearly indicated
that conditions were not equal. He
strongly condemned the practice of eX-
citing the colored man to retaliation, and
criticised the blind adherence of the COL
cred voting population to the party OF
Abraham Lincoln. That party had long
since changed many of its vital principles
since the war The speaker considered the
present time to be the TRANSITIONAL reriod
of the colored race, and urged that moral
sentiment be stimulated in preference to
the passage of Congressional or State leg
islation.
A paper was read from Rev. E. E. Scott,
of Shelby Ala. The paper treated terse-
ly on the question under discussion. Politl-
cal reimbursement is not now enjoyed by
the negroes of the South in spite OF the
amendments to the Constitution, and the
writer thought that until just govern
ment was provided for the residents of the
United States, the extension of our power to
the Philippines Cuba, and Porto Rico pre-
sented us in a ridiculous light to the other
nations of the world. Much of the re-
ligion of the negro race, DR.. Scott thought,
existed only in the place of meeting.
DR.. l. L. Thomas, pastor of Albany
Methodist Episcopal Church, and Rev.
John Shippen, OF New York, also partici-
pated in the discussion. The meeting ad-
journed just before the time for the grad
uation exercises, after which another ses-
sion was called. and the yearly business
of the association transacted.
The graduation exercises were opened at
o'clock by a selection from a auartette,
consisting Of Messrs. Stephens. King. Pat
teTson, and Wright. a scripture reading
was given by Rev. r. E. IIaert, and the
invocation pronounced by Rev. W. V. Tun-
nell, \. NJ, S. T. B.
Rev John l.. Eweil, Dean of the univer-
sity, made statement in regard TO the
personnel OF the graduating class. the
members of which made brief addresses,
after which certificates were presented to
them by DR.. Rankin, and parting words
of counsel given by Rev. R. G. Hoyey. A.
NJ. The choir of the Fifteenth Street Pres
byterian Church rendered several selec-
tions during the exercises. handsome
Bible was presented TO each graduate by
the Washington Bible Society.
The graduates and the subjects on which
they delivered addresses follow: William
w Barnum, of Wake Forest, \. G., The
Humanity Of the Lord" John Hammond,
of Hamilton, Can, How Can the Conver-
sion of the Heather Be fastened" VIII
liam E. Moore, of Boston, Va, Benefits
of the Study of Church History" Milton N.
Sparks. of Gretna. La, The True Aim
OF the American Negro"
At the alumni dinner, which took place
in the evening at Miner Hall, toasts were
proposed and responded to, the graduates
of the day initiated into the association,
and q general reunion held.
The law department of the university
will graduate a class on Monday night at
the First Congregational Church. On
Tuesday night at the same place the COM
bined anniversary celebration of the nor
NAL preparatory, and college departments
will lake place. Rev. DR.. Stafford viii