The Washington bee., 1907-05-11
MR. LAWSON REBUKED
SECOND BAPTIST.

There was lively time at the Second
Baptist Lyceum last Sunday afternoon.
The subject of discussion was temper
ance, In the absence Of President Alex
ander Richardson, Mr.. Jesse Lawson
presided The principal speaker was the
secretary Of the white w. c. T. u. The
lady IS very entertaining speaker.
She thought that a separate union would
be more beneficial to the colored people
She also stated that a great deal of in
toNlcatlon could be found among the
ignorant colored people in the South and
many OF them foated to the large cities.
which made It distasteful to the better
element Of colored people She also
gave statistics showing the amount of
liquor sold and consumed by the people
and the effect it had upon the system.
She thought that the colored people es-
peclally should interest themselves in
closing up the saloons At the conclu-
SION OF his address she said that she
would call upon Mrs. Rosetta E. Law
son and ask her to say something. lust
.as Mrs Lawson was about to speak.
acting President Jesse Lawson interceDt-
led and stated that the lyceum would
not depart from its usual custom He
therefore. suggested that a collection be
taken up and if any one wished to dis
.cu5s the address he could do so. After
the collection the address of the secre-
tary was open for discussion. Mr. w
Calvin Chase secured the floor and stated
that he didn't agree with the secretary:
that there were as many drunken white
persons as there were colored and as
many ignorant whites as there were col
ored. So far, said Mr.. Chase, as the
saloons beng closed and being danger
Gus to the people, no man was compelled
to drink liquor if he didn't desire TO do
so. he government licensed the sa-
looms, hence they had a right to be
opened. Temperance organizations were
IN the business for money making as
well as the saloons. No one was in the
business for his health and all of this
talk about temperance was folly.
Prof. Jones took the floor and agreed
in part with Mr.. Chase Rev. L. C.
Moore thought Mr.. Chase was in error
and he regretted that he was forced to
disagree with him.
Mrs. Lawson was next recognized and
stated that she did not agree with evev-
thing the secretary said, but so far as
the work of the w. c. T. u. was con-
cerned, 1t did not recommend saloon
license IN any shape or form. She re-
viewed the work Of tse colored w c.
l. u. and her own work. Time was
then called on her by the president.
which prevented her from finishing her
address. Mr.. Chase moved that ten
minutes more be allowed her, which was
duly seconded, but the chair refused to
entertain the motion.
Mr.. Chase asked the chair If he IN
tended to be governed by parliamentary
law. If so he had a motion to offer.
Ihe chair was not inclined to recognize
any motion but Mr. Chase insisted on
stating his motion, which was as follows.
mat the Second Baptist Lyceum did not
approve of separate w. c. T. U or
ganization This motion was duly sec
onded but the chair declined to Dut the
motion. Mr.. Chase stated to the chair
.t he did not put the motion he wouId
appeal to the lyceum. The chair stated
that he would not put the motion. there
tore Mr.. Chase appealed from his de-
clsion and as the chair again refused TO
put the appeal, Mr.. Chase put the ap-
peal to the lyceum, which was sustained
unanimously, thus giving a just rebuke
TO the chair. This vote was not onIv
surprising to the secretary Of the w.
I. l. y. but rebuke to President Law
sons arbitrary ruling. Addresses were
made by several others and the exercises
were concluded by a reply of the secre-
tary, who seemed to be disappointed at
TIE action and sentionent of the differ
ent speakers.
Mrs Height furnished the music.