The new age. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1896-1905, 1906-01-06
OUR CHICAGO LETTER
December 1e, ]

Mr.. Jacob Anderson, colored man
mitted suicide on last Monday.
On last week Mrs. S. J. Gray, of
Chicago, was expelled from the st.
Johns Grand Chapter, Order of East
ern Star for the state of Illinois. This
is the same Mrs Gray that was short
time ago suspended from the Daugh-
tiers of Sphinx for misappropriation of
funds of the order.
Mr. John G.. Jones, grand secreta-
ry of the st. Johns Grand Lodge of
! A. F. & A. Masons Of the state of
Illinois, will leave Chicago for Pitts
burg next week and will deliver an
address to the colored Masons of the
state of Pennsylvania on December 81,
on the Origin and Legal Status of
Freemasonry Among Colored Men in
the United States"
A new Court of Daughters of Shpinx,
which was named Evening Star Court,
was organized in this city last Mon
day Mrs. Lizzie l.. Lewis was elect
ed Most Worthy Grand Matron. The
Court is composed of large number
of prominent colored women of Chi
cago The work and the ceremonies
were conducted by Mrs. ]. H John
son, a deputy of the Daughters Of
Sphinx of the state Of Illinois.
Your correspondent is now visiting
the colored churches and Sunday
schools in this city to see what prog
ress they are making. Quinn Chapel,
which is located on Twenty-fourth
and Wabash avenue, was organized in
1847 and is the oldest colored church
in Chicago. They have a member
ship of 1900; valuation of church
property, $125,00O. Rev. D. p Rob-
erts is the pastor of the church. The
church owes about $4,000 on the
debt of the church.
Mr.. Robert H. Harper, a colored
man who is clerk in the postoffice
of this city and Sergeant Major of
the Colored Eighth Regiment Of ILL
nois, was arrested for opening letters
and stealing money out of them on
last Monday, and as soon as he was
arrested, like all other poor empty
headed mortals, confessed all that he
had done and told the inspector that
arrested him that he had been steal
ing ever since the second day after
he went into the office. 1t Is re-
ported that he has stolen thousands
and thousands of dollars. He pleaded
guilty and was remanded to the Cook
county Jail to await action Of the fed
eral grand jury.
The Butler Mission, of 224 West
Forty-seventh street, is conducted by
one William Gray. Your correspon-
dent does not know, and after max
ing inquiries was not able to find out
what religious denomination this mis-
sion is connected with. 1t has mem
bership of about ten persons, includ-
ing the aunts, sisters and brothers
in-law of William Gray and his wife.
They hold services in the lower part
Of house at 224 West Forty-seventh
street. They own no property and we
understand that very wealthy white
man in this city, named j. W. Butler,
pays the rent of this place and the
running of it, with the understanding
that a kindergarten school should be
conducted there for the benefit OF the
colored children of Chicago. From
what we have been able to learn and
see the kindergarten school is COM
posed of three children, and it is the
opinion of your correspondent that
the money that Mr.. j. w. Butler ap-
propriates in that direction is of no
benefit or use to the colored people
of Chicago, and it is money and time
wasted for no other purpose than to
keep one or two indulgent individuals
from working hard and making an
honest living for themselves. The
sooner Mr.. Butler looks into the mat
ter and stops contributions to that
place the better off the colored peo-
Dle of Chicago will be-