The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-07-07
THE DUKE HOSPITAL
Accepted by the Co|ored Peo-
pie Amid Rejoicing.
The Negroes Will do All in Their Power to Sup
port It and Mr. Duke May Himself
EndaW n.

IOuftn Oh July ike the last IOurtH Ol
July to the colored people of Durham
and it's vicinity. The first day of jan
uary is the negros own day-his natal
day, and he Nalone celebrates that day
as the greatest, the truest epoch mark
ing day of American history. The fourth
of July is the common natal day of the
American citizen, and may he ever
cherish it as the richest legacy ever re-
ceived by the American people, the gift
of the fathers.
The colored people of Durham were
peculiarly rcjoiced and enthusiastic be-
cause of the great benefaction of the
Duke family in erecting and furnishing
for them q fine, spacious and ideally
situated hospital building. The fourth
of July wa,ss the time set apart to lay
the corner stone of the building and to
demonstrate how thankfully this mag
nificent gift is received by all the coll
ored people.
Mr.. Washington Duke has given to
the white PEOPLE more than million
dollars for their various charities, sas
schools, churches, asylums, etc. He
has also helped colored charities a great
deal.
DR.. A. NJ Moore. the Oldest colored
doctor in Durham, and who is highly
respected alike by white and colored,
suggested to Mr.. Duke the great and
urgent need of a hospital for our peo-
pie; and, i'm this he was seconded by
Mr.. John Mcrrick, another able and es-
Unable colored citizen who has at
heart the welfare and advancement of
his people and his city.
The building alone cost $500 and to
furnish it will make the cost from $1,000
to $4,000 more, all of which the Dukes
have cheerfully appropriated. The prop
erty is controlled by board of trus-
tees, who, ill the main, were selected
by Mr.. Duke himself. They are men
who have proven themselves capable
in business and in other important
matters and are: John Merrick, presi-
dent; j. A. l0odson, vice president A..
NJ. Moore NJ. D.. A. r. Moore. M. H.
Christmas, w G. Pearson, secretary.
r. B. Fitzgerald, treasurer; l.. s. War
rem, M. d., j. e. Shepard, Albert Arm
strong, Jno. w. .O'Daniel, c. c. Spald
in~
There was q grand parade and in line
were the colored firemen, a brass band,
a string of carriages, the trustees, the
ministers of tile city, the order of Free
Masons and others. The line of march
was from the Duke factory to the court
house, where the program Gas an
nounced) was carried out. Within the
bar enclosure sat the trustees. minis
ters, Mr.. Washington Duke, DR.. John
G. Kilgo and others. President Mer-
rick in his brief but pointed explana-
tory remarks stated what had been ac-
complished how the colored people re-
garded the git. and introduced the
Reverend Dr. John G. Kilgo, president
of Trinity College, as the orator of the
day. No outline of DR.. Kilgo's speech
is attempted. He is great man and
he made a great speech. He towers
above nearly all of his contemporaries
in North Carolina today. He has a lib
eral mind and a. great soul, and no man
has a finer sense of justice and absolute
fairness than DR.. Kilgo. A school is
usually considerdtl the light of a COM
munity and the people come to do and
think as the school does and thinks.
That being true, the broad principles,
the high sense and the air of freedom
which are set forth and great stress
laid upon at Trinity College will yet
pervade this entire locality and Durham
will be the most liberal minded ana
fair city in the State If not the south.
DR.. Kilgo's fine vein of native hurnor
is useful to him both in private think
ing and public speaking, and while he
spoke of Abraham Lincoln one could
not help thinking there was something
alike in the two men. Mr.. Duke was
visibly affected. At times the tears
would flow freely down his cheeks ana
at others Dr. Kilgo had him smiling
He enjoyed, seemingly, the grafton and
the occasion. The sight was impressive,
nor will it be soon forgotten The old
gentleman will spend his last years
fully conscious that his sift is truly APP
preciated, and will prove an incentive to
the colored people to help themselves.
1t will so prove
Prof w. G. Pearson, principal of the
Whitfield graded school, made brief
but earnest and eloquent response,
thanking Mr.. Duke on the part of the
colored folk for his munifiGence.
The audience sang, Nearer My God
to Thee" at Mr.. Dukes request. A coll
lection of near $4,000 was taken when
the march to the Lincoln Hospital
grounds was resumed The corner
stone was laid by the Masors, Rev. J.
j.. Worlds, of Raleigh, taking, con-
spicious part. Another stone was laid
by the Odd Fellows.
The lady. board of managers contrib
uted largely to the success of the great
occasion Near 500 was realizSd from
their efforts with their tables, enter
tainments and such.
In these days of turmoil and strife it
is refreshing to know that charities and
charitableness are yet alive, and it is
wholesome to know that they express
themselves in beautiful and beautifully
furnished hospitals and iii other ways
as good. Some kind friend will most
surely make yearly contribution for
its support. Mr.. Duke may, himself ,en-
dow it. 1t will then be secured to pos
terity, and may it be.
Yours truly,
G. H. SHEPARD. NJ. ID.
Durham, N. c., July 6.
i wish to truthfully state to you and
the readers of these few lines that your