Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-17
REJOICE TN FREEDOM
coLoRED RACE CELEBRATES
EMANCIPATION ANNIVERSARY.
The Exercises Held at Friendship
Baptist Church Last Night-Ad-
dresses and Music.

The Emancipation day ceremonies held
under the auspices Of the Lincoln Enamel
patton League Of the District of Columbia
at Friendship Baptist Church yesterday
evening surpassed in number attending. 1t
| Is conceded any celebration Of the event In
this city In several years. President James
w. Poe, Rev. DR.. Alexander Willbanks and
the joint committees of the church and
league received the commentator OF the
assembled hundreds. who came from every
section OF the city and its suburbs The
decorations were tasteful and profuse.
About the pulpit stood circle Of tail palms
and choice flowera. In front were the por-
traits Of Presidents Roosevelt and McKin-
ley. and In the center were pictures of Lin
coin. Frederick Douglass and Booker T.
Washington. Above the pulpit a large
white bordered banner was the single word
Lincoln" placed in the ceTter In large let
tiers. About the walls and throughout the
building American flags hoated and long
streamers Of red, white and blue were con-
spicuous.
The ceremonies began with an opening
chorus by the choir. Following this Rev.
DR.. Alexander Willbanks, pastor OF the
church. introduced Rev. o. H. Wood. who
read a scripture lesson. and Rev. DIR. A. M.
Patterson offered prayer. He thanked God
for Lincoln. Grant. Douglass, Roosevelt.
the progress or the colored race for the
great American nation and for its flag.
loved and honored all over the world.
The master OF ceremonies then introduced
James w. Poe, president OF the Lincoln
Emancipation League of the District OF
Columbia. who delivered the opening ad-
dress. He said in part:
This great assembled throng Is demon
stration OF the increasing love Of liberty
and freedom by our race. The task Of
speaking TO you tonight in elaborate ad-
dress belongs to others who have been Sc
lected for that purpose. Forty-four years
ha npt hA OF fcf NJ
Columbia, by special proclamation Of Lin
coin. were just emerging from human
slavery of 246 years. One year later fol-
lowed the general proclamation, and four
and a half million people, heretofore slaves,
walked out into freedom. 1t Is these events
that we have gathered to fttingly cele-
brate.
Our progress stands without an equal In
the worlds history. Our proud achieve
ments deserve the applause of the world"
Achievements Of the Race.
Attorney r. r. Horner was then intro
duced and delivered an address outlining
the achievements OF the race In it's forty
three years OF freedom. He said in part;
1--WE have performed well our part in war;
in peace and in industry We won renown
on many battiefleids, and the black boys
In blue Won for the race a fame at the
charge at San Juan Hill which will be as
undying our American name and as last
the black troop In that great conflict OF
arms the bones of our great President, The
odore Roosevelt, might have been bleaching
In a hero's grave
The congregation sang THE Old Account
Was Settled Long Ago." led by Rev. J. NJ
Little, a white minister. Mr.. Little then
spoke On the evils Of child labor, and paid
high tribute to the great progress of the
black race in this country.
Rev. ]. r. Mclaughlin, also a white min
lister, followed. his address eliciting much
applause. He said: ''The time Is coming
when white people will denounce from the
pulpit such outrages that committed at
Springfield, Mo. Easter eve. when the
holy cross was rising in all or Its SOL
emnity before the Christian world. Lynch
ing VIII cease and hatred OF the colored
race will cease. Our Christian civilization
viii sweep 1t away. We are Americans all.
All men, regardless OF creed or class. are
lifting up the tocsin of liberty"
Mime. E. v. Priolean sang a solo. Jesus.
Lover of My Soul
The Closing Exercises.
Attorney Thomas l.. Jones was next in
troduced. and as he rose he was greeted
with loud applause. THE rainbow beauty
of the great audience before me is in keep
ing with the gorgeous decorations around
me-" he declared. ours is the most beau
tiful race God ever made You can get
any shade from 1t you want. 1t is a great
race. an humble race, sympathetic race.
loyal race, a God-feartng race, and a
hberty-loying and patriotic race. Who ever
accused 1t of disloyalty, treachery or
treason? 1t loves the Constitution and the
flag of our American republic. Its blood
has been shed In It's defense. One hundred
and eighty-six thousand black warriors
sleep ON the battlefelds of our country who
fell that we might enjoy the freedom and
liberty which celebrate tonight. The
white people who did not know this are
gradually finding 1t out.
Tat fGnn ha of
honesty. Let US trust IN God and all Will
be well. We will succeed-we must sue
coed"
Miss NJ. l.. Macdonald delivered an adj
dress that was punctuated with applause.
She followed much in the line of the other
speakers.
The exercises closed with a cornet solo,
Loves Response" by Clarence Bakey.
With the benedidUn by DIR. Willbanks the
celebration closed. The lateness of the
hour made it necessary to omit part of the