The colored American., 1902-03-22

several industrial departments were
closed The burning of our big barn,
where a blacksmithing establishment was
to be operated, was a serious loss. 1t
has not been rebuilt as yet. Light and
shadow played upon our work. Real
izing all such work must demand great
sacrifices, and we have made them, and
are still making them, and while our eff
forts have been of some good to this
community, | am reminded of what Prot.
Wright said to General Howard, when
he, Wright, was an humble student ::
Tell EN- General, we are coming. |
want to say that this industrial work L
begun, is coming front, despite all anon
ymous writers, who would hurt the in
terests of dear old Alexandria, posing
as they do to expose wrong.
To further show that this school has
an existence (your Alexandra cores
pondent to the contrary notwithstand-
ing) was brilliant gathering of repre-
sentative Negroes, seated upon the plat
form of the chapel room of the John
Hay Industrial School, October 9, 1893,
with every seat filled by Alexandria and
visiting friends. Among the eminent
colored men that graced this occasion
were Mr.. w. H. Carney, the hero of
Fort Wagner; the learned John w.
Cromwell, Esq, Major c. B. Fisher, a
war veteran; the veteran journalist, w.
Calvin Chase, who made complimentary
speeches and saw with their own eyes the
building wherein this school is growing
step by step. 1t has an existence and ex-
lists now. On later occasion the Rev.
Geo. S. Duncan, a distinguished white
SlNvta Of II
c., visited this school and made a flag
address. AT that time hundreds of Al
eXandrianS were present. The school
had an existence then. The school ex-
lists now and with the aid of those who
are trying to build it up, being an abso-
lutte necessity to this Communny-it is
sure to succeed in its mission, as the sun
rises and falls, your anonymous Alex
andria correspondent to the contrary,
notwithstanding.
l hold high personal endorsements
anent this work, not of the usual, stereo-
typed formula, but from honorable, re-
sponsible officials of this city, business
and private citizens, which | will not
parade in this letter, but to those who
are interested in this work upon pure
md helpful motives | will take pleasure
in showing to their entire satisfaction.
| was chosen secretary of the John
Hay Industrial School when it was in
cOrpOrated, being one of its founders |
served as its secretary until December,
1901, when | was chosen its president.
At the same time Rev. Robt H. Rob
inSon was elected and accepted the office
OF secretary-treasurer.
Our SeCretaTy-treaSurer, the Rev. Rob
ert II. Robinson, is a gentleman who is
one OF the three surviving members who
organized the Washington Conference,
1869. A Christian gentleman who has
served acceptably every NJ E. church of
the Washington Conference in Washing
ton city; a Christian worker who has
served Roberts Chapel, where he too was
born and reared, as steward, trustee,
class leader, Sunday School superintend-
ent, exhorter, local preacher and finally
It's pastor, and went out in 1864 as its
only representative to join the First
colored M. E. Conference which has
made history for the race A gentleman
who enjoys the acquaintance and being
tavorably known to men like Hon. Tohn
F.Cook, DR.. Purvis and a host of others
OF their standing; race leader who was
one OF the first with late Henry High
land Garnett to organize the first con-
vent1on in the South that asked for man
mood suffrage; lover of his people who
run the gauntlet in ante bellum days to
open ond teach night school for bows or
Young men in Alexandria, when it called
Tor the lash to teach a colored ner-
son; IN short a gentleman whom, no reo-