The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-10

The National Afro American council
convened yesterday morning at the
senate chamber of the state capitol
There We're over fifty authorized dele
gates present, and with the visitors
present the hall was filled to it's ca.
pacity.
The morning session was devoted to
addresses of welcome and responses.
Gov. Van SAINT welcomed the delegates
on behalf of the state, Mayor Robert
A. Smith on behalf of the city of St.
Paul, and Harry Shepherd, of st. Paul,
on behalf of the colored citizens of
st. Paul, and Mrs. DIR. ]. E. Porter on
behalf of the ladies. The delegates
were welcomed on behalf of the
churches by Rev. Timothy Reeves, of
Minneapolis.
Responses were made by the Rt
Rev. H. c. Smith, of Michigan; Hon.
T. Thomas Fortune, chairman of the
executive committee, New York;
Mrs. Josephine Slime Yates and Col.
William A. Pledger, of Georgia, Sec
ond vice president of the council.
During the morning session Booker
T. Washington, president of the Tus-
kegee institute, arrived and was es-
COrted to seat on the platform.
Carolina, presided over the afternoon
session, and after prayer by Rev. ].
c. Anderson, of st. Paul, the report of
the committee on credentials was re-
ceived. The Rt. Rev. Alexander Wal
tiers, D. D., of New Jersey, president
of the council, delivered his annual
address and spoke on the progress of
organization and the good that it had
done for the race.
The rest of the afternoon was given
over to hearing reports of the officers
of the council and the appointment of
committees. The afternoon session
was concluded with discussion on the
Best Means of Organizing the Afro
American Council" The discussion
was taken part in by a number of the
prominent delegates present and was
very lively.
Mrs. Yates Message.
Last evening a musical programme
and entertainment was given at the
House of Hope church, corner of Fifth
and Exchange streets. The capacity
of the. church was taxed to its utmost
and Rev. DR.. H. T. Johnson, of New
Jersey, who presided, made the intro
ductory address. The principal address
VI Tic evening was IlldQG ny A1ISs u.
Silone Yates, of Kansas City, Mo-,
president of the National Association
of Women. She spoke on 1.-THE Twen-
tieth Century Negro and His Oppor-
tunities for Success" and said in part:
"Endymion." a mortal says the Greek
myth, was visited in his dreams by a
goddess, and the poet Keats, with de-
lghtful imagery and matchleSs power of
portrayal, makes use Of. the legend to
show how the the inspirations of that
face follow the young man until finally
1t lifts his soul into the abodes of the
gods.
Inspiration is the keynote of the shad-
owy myth and of the mastery poem.
Inspiration comes to races as we'll as
to individuals when the inner conscious
ness is ready for the change that must
external life. Then the soul of the people
has as it were, its real birth.
Evolution of the Negro.
Recently, comparatively speaking, in
SEPARATION came to Japan. AS a res E.
witness the change in the government.
religion, manners and customs of the
Japanese of today as compared with
those of fifty years ago. And come to us
it must will. this heaven-born inspira-
ton, filling the soul of our race with
songs that have never been sung, with
words that have never been written or
spoken, with principles never before for
mulated and materialized.
For nearly three centuries a remark
able chain of events has been preparing
the negro for a higher evolution, and the
end is not yet. He is now passing
through fiery ordeal scarcely less cru