Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1902-08-13
THE GARDEN OF EDEN
Is the Southland for the Negro
Says @ and Master
Clark.
WHITE PEOPLE OF ARKANSAS
HAVE NEVER BURNED
CHURCHES
And School Houses of the Negro as
Has Been Done by People
Of Ohio.
coLoRED MASONIC MEETING

AHe 81 anu lou6S VI uC6lO 4NdSOlS, III
session in this city, is attended by ov-
er three hundred delegates from all
parts of the state. and will continue
in session until Friday night.
The first session was held yesterday
in the hall out at Jones park, and
was presided over by Hon. Moses A.
Clark, grand master who is one of
the most remarkable men of his race
in the southland and one of the most
noted negro Masons in the United
States. For the past twenty.one years
he has served as grand master, taking
hold of the fraternity when there was
only thirteen lodges with 272 mem
bers and now they have over 200
lodges with 4,500 members, and is in
good financial condition. A lot has al
ready been purchased in this city at
a cost of $1,000 and cash paid for it,
and the foundation for the new negro
Masonic temple is being laid and every
thing in readiness for the laying of
the cornerstone tomorrow.
Grand Master Clark is considered a
leader of his people, in the South. if
not in the country. In his annual ad-
dress yesterday afternoon, he made a
cordial welcome to the members of
the thirtieth annual session OF the
grand lodge of Arkansas, and congratu-
lated them upon what they had ac-
complished in the past He found
much good in the work being done
by that body in this country and he
thought that in the future much more
would be done for the race. He review
ed the work of each subordinate lodge
speaking of the condition, financially
and otherwise. The lodges had collect
ed during the year $39,OS78S and had
expended for expenses, $19,2S4.39 and
had contributed for charity $16.3rO.45.
This was considered a good showing
for the negroes throughout the state.
Concluding his address Grand Mast
er Clark paid high compliment to the
Southern states. the home of Ameri-
can negro and the garden spot of the
world In his opinion the Southland
is to the negro a paradise. the garden
OF Eden. No country in the world"
he said, presents such wonderful IA
cllities for the full development of our
race as does this southern country.
Here you are acquainted with each
other. You see necessities that tend to
build us up, and can lay hold and util-
lze the demands, that, perfectly appre-
clated. will place us upon the topmost
round of the ladder of excellence and
prosperity. Here the society is al
ways we'll organized and understood.
Land is cheap AMI every one can build
his own home and pay for it and re-
joice beneath his own vine and fig
tree
A strong plea was made for educa-
tlon, and the white people were thank
ed foH the help rendered the negro in
his efforts to build up himself. The
speaker said that there had never been
an effort on the part of white people
in Arkansas to destroy negro churches
and school houses as had been done in
some parts of Illinois. but on the 9TH
er hand they were willing to help
build them that the colored people
might work out their own salvation.
He spoke at length in favor mechanical
and agricultural training and thought
that there should be more such schools
IN the South for the negroes. as such
institutions furnished respectability