New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-07-05
A COLORED SETTLEMENT.
CARRY ON WORK SINCE JACKSON -
VILE FIRE

THE colored people Of Jacksonville, Fla, who
became destitute by the fire Of last year are re-
storing lost fortunes with wonderful bravery
and heroism' said Mrs. J. Milton WaldrOn of that
city yesterday Fully one-half of the ten thou
sand people made homeless by the fire were col
ored people"
Mrs. Waldron, who is in this city present. is
head Of the work for women and girls in the Bethel
Bible and Industrial School of Jackson Vile. and
IS the wife Of the Rev. Mr.. Waldron pastor of the
Bethel Baptist Church.
Mrs. Waldrons home, the church and the school.
all Of which were destroyed, were the centre of
q social and religious enterprise which reached
hundreds Of people. Upon the return TO Jackson
VILE Of Mr. and Mrs Waldron in the fall it is ex-
pected that adequate structures will be built for
the church and school and that the work will be
resumed with enlarged resources
Although 80 per cent Of the nine hundred mem
hers the church lost everything that they owned
by the disaster, the members pledged themselves
10 raise $5,eOG toward the buildings. and they
already have a considerable part of the amount
in addition to that sum. about $500 has been
raised toward the $4,000 needed for the buildings.
Mrs. Wadron's home open to her parish
toner's al times. and its influence was con-
spicUous in their bettered habit o. living and
their improved methods Of housekeeping. There
frequent little teas, whore the dantiy spread
table, with its centrepece OF flowers, snowy nap
kins linen, and its properly prepared food did
not escape the notice Of the guests. All We're as
faithfully copied as circumstances and ability al
lowed when the minister and his wife returned the
visit. To entertain the pastor and his wife is the
ambition Of every housekeeper there, and such en-
tertainments are sure 10 result in improved do
mestic ways. In friendly calls and visits tactful
suggestions made as 10 needed reforms. Would
not little muslin curtain that window make
your home look pretty?' If your floor were white
and clean this would be lovely room" and similar
hints seldom pass unregarded
Mrs. Waldron feels great sympathy for the col
ored girls Of the South, who have few recreatons.
For their benefit she instituted reading circles,
classes in cooking. domestic science. sewing and
dressmaking Illustrated lectures and entertain
Tnents were frequent. The circulating library,
which brought great deal of JOY to people OF all
ages, lost. At weekly mothers meetings there
the home and kindred topics for the men, there
were reading rooms, open day and night ana Tor
All social rooms ana PERIODICAL socldDies. hnGtr
garten was one Of the last enterprises. A girls
club viii be started in the fall.
The church that was destroyed seated eleven hun
dred persons The entire plant comprised five build
them were orderly quiet meetings This innova-
ton alone had aroused the antagonism Of certain
10 say one day: 'Hain't got no 'Igion in that
Church-don't even let them holler."
Bethel Baptist Church has an interesting his
tory. The society was orsanized long before the
Civil War ana a small building was erected IN
which the white people occupied the ground floor
W. h yybitp T,tn}1eTs drif,ed VA and The ne
groes took their seats the floor. After the close
II n the former members returned and de
rnanded that The blacks 20 back to their ga lery
coiored people refused 10 change their sttngs, tell
ing the white people that their turn had come
sit in the gallery The matter finally went into
the courts. and decision was given that pos
session is nine points Of the law the white peo-
pie would have 10 sit IN the gallery or elsewhere.
compromise was effected.
Five hundred dollars given the colored
people, and they built another church.
The aim Of both Mr.. and Mrs Naldron has been
20 make their people Independent and TO impress
%. on them the duty and necessity Of doing all in
them intelligent, thrifty and useful Christian men
ana women