Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-17
SLAVE EMANCIPATION
CELEBRATION OF THE FORTY
FIRST ANNIVERSARY.
Exercises Held at Zion A. II. e.
Church-Addressesb by Promi-
nent Speakers.

The forty-first anniversary Of the eman-
cipation of slaves in the District of Co.
lumbia was observed last evening with
patriotic exercises held in the Zion A. M.
E. Church, under the auspices Of the Blaine
Invincible Republican Club. There was an
immense audience present, all the seats
and every available standing space in the
structure being occupied. Glowing trtb-
utes were paid by the speakers to the
memory Of the great emancipation, Abra-
ham Lincoln, and also to the progress
made by the colored race since the shac-
kles of slavery were broken.
Perry H. Carson, who for twenty-seven
years past has been president Of the Blaine
Invincibles, presided over the exercises.
and addresses were made by DR.. Robert
Reyburn, ]. c. Dancy, recorder of deeds
for the District, and DR.. G. B. Purvis. A
feature of the program was the reading
Of the emancipation proclamation by Mrs.
Julia Mason Layton.
Mr. Dancy was the first speaker, and he
declared that the proclamation which set
the colored people free came from man
who did more for the country than any
other man, not even excepting George
Washington or Thomas Jefferson.
Institutes Comparison.
He contrasted the differences in the early
lives of Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln.
and showed what great obstacles the mar
tyred President had overcome.
Mr.. Dancy related incidents in the great
leaders, life, leading up to the nomination
and election of the rail-splitter to the
presidency, and his signing Of the proc
lamation which set free over four million
people. He said in closing, that the men,
DRY Of Lincoln would grow more inspir-
ing with each year. because the nation.
by reason Of his policy, had come to be
the center of the eyes Of the other ma
lions Of the world.
DR.. Reyburn in the beginning Of his
address said he agreed with the previous
speaker that Lincoln was a greater man
than either Washington or Jefferson. He
wildly described the incidents bearing on
the assassination of President Lincoln and
the effect Of that act upon the American
people. DR.. Reyburn also sought to prove
that the emancipation OF the slaves and
the adoption Of the thirteenth, fourteenth
and fifteenth amendments to the Consti-
tuition were not failures. He quoted sta
tistics showing the decrease in illiteracy
among the colored race from 81 to Al per
cent during the ten years from 1880 to
1900. The race, he said, is fighting against
heavy odds, but it is developing.
Mrs. Layton's Address
Before reading the emancipation procla-
nation Mrs. Layton made short address.
during which she declared that the burden
Of the development of the race lay upon
the mothers in training their children in
heart. mind and body. Following the
reading Of the proclamation DR.. Purvis
made a patriotic address.
letter was read from W. E. Curtis,
in which he referred to the late President
Lincoln as follows: "Thirty-eight years
ago on the 18th of this month Mr.. Lin
coin made his last public speech in re-
Spouse to a serenade and a demonstra-
ton Of rejoicing by the people over the
capture of Richmond; and, contrary to his
usual custom, he took the people into his
confidence and discussed the reconstruct
ton Of the government Of Louisiana. He
advocated the policy of comforting suf-
frage upon the colored men who had been
In the army during the war, and in q
letter to Gov. Hahn Of that state he made
similar declarations