The colored American., 1902-07-19

CREATE ana sustain.
CAREER OF REV. w L. TAYLOR.
Worthy Grand Master Taylor is
native of Caroline county, Virginia. He
is still a comparatively young man, hav-
IN been born in 1854 Educational ad-
vantages for the colored race in those
days were very meager, yet he was am
bltlous TO find a way to better things
for himself, and SO he resolved to make
a way If he could not find one. He OBJ
tanned what education he could by at
tending the short terms of the schools
IN his county-all the spare moments he
had were spent In reading and study.
Finally, things shaped themselves so
he could attend Richmond University
AT this institution he made an enviable
reputation for scholarship and deport-
ment and won the good will of all. He
left school in 1879 and up to this time
there had been nothing eventful in his
lite save that he had always been of a
religious turn of mind. Mr.. Taylor
early realized that life itself is a school
and that studying should by no means
end with school life-the school fur
nishes only the implements for work
ing out life's deStinieS AS a conse-
Quence he devoted himself with char
iacterlStic energy to a study of those sub
Jects and questions that were of vital i'm
portance not only TO himself, but to his
race.
In 1880 he was licensed to preach
and at once took pastoral charge of
Pleasant Grove Church, in Caroline
county, and afterWard served in like
capacity the congregation of Mount
Zion Church, in Louisa county In 1888
he took charge of the public school at
| ReaVer Dam w fanoIt OrocI
ed at the same time, and soon became
the beSt-knOwn leader in his vicinity
The story of how he left there for his
larger sphere has already been told
AS a pulpit orator and later as a
platform industrial advocate his deliv-
cry has always been characterized by
great zeal and earnestneSs. He never
talks for the mere sake of talking, con-
sequently when he is announced for a
sermon or an address, the people
know that he has something of interest
to say. He employs no fiowery rhetoric,
but appeals to the common sense of
the masses and the classes bv plain. old
fashioned truths and homeSpun logic,
told in spicy epigrams and catchy stories,
and gives everybody to understand that
he means nothing but business" He
is tireiess in the pursuit OF an object,
and the Order may never know in detail
just how much its remarkable growth
and financial soundness is due to his
watchfulness, painstaking care and
: shrewdness in dealing with innumerable
2 varieties of humanity. As Worthy
= Grand Master Mr.. Taylor's administra-
ton has been eminently successful and
the Order has grown and expanded and
kept pace with modern conditions.
There las beer -6tt2hl,' large increase
in membership and by his recommends
tion the industrial and mercantile de-
partment was established, which Is
Y Iproving effective in intoxicating public
4 spirit. business instinct and atfOrdlng
= employment to young colored men. He
4 also recommended the establishment OF
the Brownsville settlement in honor OF
;, President Browne This settlement IS
!, Egrowing and is located seven miles from
. Richmond. No stronger head could have
= been chosen than Mr.. Taylor, and there
! is no doubt of his being continued in
q definitely.
INFLUENCE OF THE TRUE REFORMERs.
: The United Order of True Reformers
: is unquestionably the strongest secular
: business corporation controlled by Ne
e groeS in the world 1t is cOnfessedly
a the greatest factor that is at work today
n for the upbuilding of the colored race
= in the South. 1t goes hand-in hand with
\ the progress and prosperity of the race
I and its benign influence will never
e cease. so long as a hope for better things
: in this life inspires the breast of man
{ . l.