The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-11-14
! GALA ] |. DAYS
Mere Those forMer-
Ger CO. Metropolis
Which, State Librarian Starks Spent
:, With the Lodge and Business :
Men OF Bluefield Last Week
Especial; to The Adyocate.)

l 81
I Bluefeld, w. Va, Nov. 6.-Tues-
day, Nov. 5th, and Wednesday, Nov.
9Th; have been notable days for coll
ored people and especially the mem
bers of the knights of Pythias and
Order Of Calanthe, in Bluefield, the
occasion being the visit Of State LII
brarian and Supreme Chancellor S.
w. Starks to this city. Mr.. Starks
Is always a welcome visitor to this
part Of the State and his coming had
been widely heralded by the COM
mlttee in charge and many promin-
ent race men Of the coal field met
him here for the purpose of confer
| ring with him upon subjects Of in
terest to the race in the State. The
| particular purpose of the invitation
to Mr.. Starks was to interest him in
the rapidly growing city Of Bluefield
| with a>vtew Of having him induce
the Pythian Mutual Investment Asso-
citation, of which he Is founder and
president and which owns buildings
In Charleston and Huntington, to
make similar investment here. Mr..
Starks arrived Tuesday afternoon at
O'Clock and was met at the depot
| by the reception. committee Of which
S. W. Allen, one Of Bluefield's. sue
| cessful race men and prominent
mittee and their guest entered the
carriage which was in. waiting and
escorted by >Blaefie1d's splendid brass
band were driven to the beautiful
residence of Mr.: and Mrs. Ellis on
Bland street, where Mr.. Starks was
domiciled while here.
4 The program provided for a public
meeting atfRa1eigh Street M. .NE.
Church ON the evening Of Nov. 5th.
Before the hour arrived for Prof. J.
D. Coleman,< the master. of ceremon-
les, to call the, meeting to order the
beautiful aRd spacious church edi-
flce was filled, with BIuefield's most
Representative citizens. The program
which was. rendered was as follows:
! Music, Bluefeld Orchestra
| Singing, Scott Street Baptist
| Church Choir.
| Scripture Reading and Prayer, Rev.
P. H. Edwards.
Address, Prof. J. D. Coleman.
Music, Bluefield Orchestra.
Introduction of Speaker, Attorney
w. H. Randolph.
| Address, Hon. S. w. Starks.
After the rendition Of the above
program a banquet was served in the
entertainment room Of the church
and reception was given in Edwards
| Hall.
! Mr.. Starks' address fully met the
| expectation Of his many friends and
admirers, and all who gained admis-
sion to the church were greatly bene-
flied by having heard it. He spoke
Of the great advancement and work
being done by the knights Of Py-
thias throughout it's various branches,
such as the Order of Ca1anthe, the
| woman S department, the military de-
partment our only West Point, the
{ Endowment or Insurance. depart
ments, the Temple and Sanitarium
department which has recently pur-
chased business block In the city
of Chicago, and the Pythian Mutual
Investment Association which owns
more than $5O,OOO.O0 worth Of prop
| erty In this state. He said that such
work Is counting largely In the upIift
Of the race. His speech was not con-
fined to Pythianism. He also spoke
| Of the progress and advancement Of
| the race as we'll as some Of its needs.
His advice was plain and timely, and
we will be disappointed If his wise
| t., L
| future. He spoke forcefully Of the
educational advantages being given
the colored youth Of West Virginia
by the spirit Of fairness OF it's clti-
zens and sincerely urged the mem
bers Of the race to take advantage Of
1t. Mr.. StaRks was the recipient of
many hand shakes and congratula-
tions at the end Of his address.
On Wednesday morning the COM
mittee which had been appointed for
the purpose and which consisted Of
Mr.. S. w. Allen, Prof. H. Halter and
| Mr.. N. M. Martin, secretary Of the
Y. M. G. A., drove Mr.. Starks through
the city In order that he might see its
| wonderful growth and at the same
time visit some OF the many credit
able business establish owned
and conducted by race men. In this
connection 1t might be stated that
| Blueaeld has successful colored meS
in ali the professions and walks Of
life. There are seven grocers, two
drug stores, furniture store, jew
eler, five doctors, real estate dealers
| transfer men, railroad men, BARRIERS,
printers, lawyers, carpenters, brick
masons, plasterers, restaurant keep
1 ers, and others. Among other
places visited was the Bluefeld Col
Izoa k,,ta L,n So