The colored American., 1901-09-28

prIdte poeLu "uIcn lie himself had r,,,
posed especially for this occasion ITH'' Tr1
tive principal addresses were da1tD iIe
cred by Rev. ]. II. Welch. Dasror ~
Emanuel a. NJ E. Church and III VI
NJ. W. Gilbert, pastor Of Central Ror
tist Church. DR.. Gilberts address W,
considered especially good. Il does ms
take such an occasion as q maroorioI
service TO a great and good man -
call forth elOquence and thOughT fron
Dr.. Gilbert, but when such an occasion
does present itself he is better tboD
usual. There was a large crowd nraS,
ent inasmuch as labor Of all kind
was generally suspended for the day
The cOlOred people Of Charleston an,
parently felt that no race or class ~
people in the United States had greater
cause to lament President AIcKinIpys
untimely death than they, and We
think they are right.
On Thursday night the writer at.
| tended the regular monthly meeting of
| the Sumner Literary Club at the h0ma
Of Mr.. L. K. Masbeth. This club was
organized over twenty years ago and
has a membership Of fifteen men. It
| has for its object the discussion Of mat,
| ters Of public interest, and no member
| is allowed or desires to talk Oh com
| mOnplace topics. 1t is exclusively a
| high-claSS literary organization, the
| gentlemen belonging TO it being all
| highly cultured. At the meeting Thurs.
| day night Mr. s. ". Bennett read
paper on the subject Has the Negro
| PrOLted by the Period of Rec0nStruc-
| ton and the Organization of Separate
| Churches?' Mr.. Bennett took The
ground that in reconstruction days
more harm than good had come to the
| Negro by reason Of the fact that he
| paid more attention to politics than 10
| business and industri development.
| He also asserted that the COl0red
preachers were the prime promoters Of
| the evil, because they WrOngfully used
| the influence of their calling TO further
| their political interests In the general
discussion which followed the paper
Rev E. n HOllings and DR.. Robert J.
Macbeth vigorously opposed Mr. Ben
| nettS views. After the meeting ad-
iOurned all members present and the
visitor partoOk heartily Of the very rel
isLable repast which the host had pre-
| pared for them.
| MIR Charles Winter Woods enter
tainment in the interest of the Negro
| Department of the Exposition was Il
notable success. Mr. Wood possesses
the true dramatic gift and If he We're
a white man would be a star in some
fine tragedy. While he was giving
certain selections the audience sat al
most breathless. Mr.. Wood left the
next morning after the concert for
New York, where he goes to study TOT
two years.
| 4 large number of photographs OF
business places Of progressive Negroes
throughout the country were received
at the Negro Department Office tliS
week These photographs are 10 De
on exhibition in the Negro Building
, and will doubtless attract consideTaL &
attention.
Miss Ray Z. Tucker, the noted
| prima donna of New York, will appear
ar a large concert to be given under 'Ht
I auspices Of Mr.. Sidney Z. W0odWaTl
on Monday night. October 1. MIS-
Tucker and Mr.. Woodward are WEI
= known and will draw large auu-eNe'
on the night Of the 7th.
t Mr.. Charles II. johnson. inStFuclo.
2 in French and German at claim III
versity. is in the city for a few ual
Q on his way to Clafiin. Mr.. Johnson !, J,
7 a young man Of great intellectual am u
t ity, and will make name for A.ils'i
e IN the literary world.
q A musical and literary entertalhLHt,n
: will be given by the teachers. gfduiu
iates. and students of Claflin JnLFeL'-,'
on Wednesday night. September -. q
Old Bethel NJ. E. Church. A treat !
in store for all who attend the con