The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-04
NORMAL SCHOOL
HAS CELEBRATION
Negro Institution Observes Its
Thirty-frst Anniversary
w. H. COUNCIL SPEAKS
Annual Meeting of State Association
of Elks Has Been Changed From
May ID to June q, at
Huntsville.
W. H. COUNCIL SPEAKS

Huntsville May Special. )-Appropri-
ate celebration of the thirty-first ami
versary of the founding OF the Agri-
cultural and Mechanical College for Ne
groes took place Tuesday and there was
large number of visitors present in
GLIDING several distinguished colored cit
liens. The students held an interest
ing meeting in the morning and the af-
ternoon was devoted to a May-pole drill
and outdoor sports. Former graduates
of the institution held meeting and
President William B. Councill who found
ed the institution, and has been at It's
head ever since, delivered an address
on For What Must Normal Stand To-
day?' President Council said the in
stitution was established for the purpose
of furnishing teachers for the negro race
whose heads, hearts and hands should
be developed along lines most useful to
mankind. II am glad to say" he con-
tinued, that the twelve hundred grad
yates who have gone from this institu-
ton have reflected credit upon the Amer
lean people as well as upon themselves.
Not single one of these graduates and
none of the undergraduates has ever been
convicted of any character of crime.
am justified in saying that over IS per
cent of the graduates are useful, indus
trious citizens owning their own homes
| believe that the skies are brighter and
hope Is inviting and cheering today.
have nothing but a grateful heart for
the kindness nd oil
sources during these long years, and
feel that the future has no less In store
for us.
THE continued existence of our race
in this country depends upon continued
intelligent usefulness. For this purpose
these educational institutions were plant
ed all over the south, and the people have
right to demand OF these schools the
work for which they were created. This
is pre-emnently the age of industralism
and no man can succeed who does not
recognize this fact. 1t has been sought
to imbue our boys and girls with this
spirit so that wherever a normal boy or
girl goes there will be at least one of
that community for peace, good will and
industry and all that goes to make up
the highest humanitarian"
Date Is Changed.
The date Of the annual meeting of the
State Association of Elks has been
changed from May IA and 10 to June
and 5. just three weeks later. Two con-
siderations induced the executive COM
mittee to make the change. one being
that the grand lodge. Knights of Pythias
and vice versa attendance at both meet
ings would have been reduced. Another
reason Is that Grand Exalted Ruler
Brown. who has been called to San Fran
cisco to look after the relief of Elks
in distress. would not have been able
to be present in the ceremonies of lay
ing the cornerstone of the Elk theatre.
Local capitalists entered into an inter-
esting contest for the capture of the
city's new issue of street Improvement
bonds bearing per cent interest and rum
ming ten years. The successful bidder
was Luke Matthews whose bid was &c.
$3.50 The other bidders were A. T.. Rison,
bidding sl025O; j. R. Boyd. sl0,15G and A.
Fletcher, s10,112.5O The bonds were
delivered today. The money realized
from the sale will be expended in pur-
chasing street building machinery and
repairing streets.
The council elected Ed Spelce as a
regular member of the day police force.
succeeding Capt. John Smith. who died
last week.
Huntsville relatives have been informed
Of the death of Mrs. Laura Allen Ayers,
formerly of this city at Jacksonville.
Fla. aged years. Mrs Ayers was a
daughter of the Rev. John Allen. the
first pastor of the Presbyterian church
here. She was an aunt of DIR. John A..
Wyeth of New York and was related to
many prominent families in this section
OF Alabama.
Miss Bessie McAnnally. one of the most
popular and accomplished young ladies
in Huntsville social circle was married
yesterday to DR.. John b. Steele, assis-
tant city physician of Chattanooga The
wedding solemnized at the home of
the brides aunt. Miss Mary Larned New
man. in the presence of small party Of
relatives and intimate friends, the Rev.
Willoughby Claybrook. pastor of the
Episcopal church. officiating. DIR. Steele
and bride left on the early train for
Chattanooga.
L. j. Cantrell. a prominent citizen of
Lowe village, died yesterday afternoon
after lingering Illness. He was 81 years
old and leave a widow and six chill
dren. The body was shipped to McMinn-
Vile, Tenn.
Gordon Laughinghouse, the 11-year-old
daughter of Mr.. Murphy Laughinghouse
died at Gurey yesterday. The mother Of
the child died only two weeks ago