Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-07
MEETING OF TRUSTEES
AFFAIRS OF CoLoRED SOCIAL
SETTLEMENT DISCUSSED.

An important meeting of the trustees OF
| the colored social settlement, located at lie
| and 11S NJ street southwest, was held Wed
| nesday afternoon. 1t was decided to alter
| the bylaws so that all subscribers Of 81
| or more to the support of the work will be-
| come members of the Colored Social Set
| Element Association, and be entitled to vote
at Its annual meeting for the election OF
| the board of trustees. 1t was also planned
| to call the members of the association to-
| gether occasionally for conferences as to
conditions and problems encountered In the
alleys shacks and neglected colored COM
munities of Washington. 1t reported
| that Miss H. f. Crippen, although depend
| ent upon her salary as government clerk,
has been so well pleased with the work of
| the settlement that she had agreed to give
! the use of the house at 11S NJ street for the
| nominal rental of $40 a year. only enough
| to pay the insurance and taxes.
! The need for larger building equipped
| for cooking classes. carpenter and iron
work. and supplied with public baths. room
| for a day nursery. and accommodations for
| the settlement kindergarten was discussed.
Rev. John Van Schaick, Mr.. Charles F.
Weller, Mrs. a. j. Cooper and others sug-
gested that plans be prepared during the
summer, In order that the necessary build
Ing and equipment may be secured by next
fall. 1t was stated that the successful
work of the settlement since 1902 gives evil
dence of the need for an enlargement of it's
facilities.
Mr. Van Schaick said there are only two
or three colored social settlements in the
world 1t is evident that this method of de-
veloping thrift, industry and improved
standards of living among neglected COM
munities is especially applicable to the
modern problem Of the city negro. This
pioneer settlement in the national capital Is
destined to be of great service not only
here, in the largest colored city in the
world. but. through the force of it's ex-
ample, In other cities where the problem
presented by neglected colored communities
is beginning to receive the serious con-
sideration of resourceful citizens.
Report Of Work Done.
Mrs. Sarah Collins Fernands, the Hamp-
ton graduate who Is giving her whole time
as the chief resident worker at the settle
ment. practically without compensation,
made a report of the work accomplished
during the year at total expense Of less
than $500. She said that the children of
the working mothers who are now cared for
during the day in the day nursery will have
to be turned out unless $500 can be secured
to support the work during the summer.
Other activities, including the branch of
the public library and the reading room
where young men and boys are invited to
gather at night instead Of frequenting the
disreputable saloons near by, may also have
to be abandoned unless funds are forthcom-
Ing. The various members of the board
pledged themselves to raise definite proper
tons of the money needed for the balance
of the years work.
An executive committee was appointed
comprising Mrs. A. ]. Cooper, formerly
principal of the NJ street High School; Mrs.
Bette G. Francis. formerly a member of
the board of education, and Mr.. James E.
Walker. principal of the Syphax School
near the settlement The chairman of the
trustees, Miss Sara W. Brown assistant
principal of the colored normal school, was
authorized to organize a committee on men,
bership to make public the plan for the for
nation of an association, and to arrange
for conferences as to the civic problems
encountered by the colored social settle
ment.
Treasurer Elected.
Mr.. Henry F. Williams. assistant chief of
the weather bureau. was elected treasurer
of the settlement in place of Mr. E. g.
LaFetra. who is to leave Washington. Mr.
Williams announced that contributions
could be sent to him, either In care of the
Union Trust Company or at the weather
bureau.
The trustees present at the meeting were
Rev. Francis j. Grimke of the Nineteenth
Street Presbyterian Church. Henry E. VIII
ltams, Mrs John r. Francis. Mrs. A. j.
Cooper, Charles F. Weller. James E. Wal
ker and Rev John Van Schaick. Prof.
Roscoe Conkling Bruce, the new assistant
superintendent of schools, who Is an active
member of the board, reported his inability
to be present on account of school duties.