Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-18
At Howard University.

"reminiscences of the life of Whittier
| were related by DR.. Thirkield at a meet.
| ing held in Rankin Memorial Chanel of
| Howard University last night DR.. Thr-
kleld told of visit to the poet in 1889
and of poem Whittier wrote to be read
| at the dedication of the library of Gam
mon Theological Seminary of Atlanta.
| Ga. This poem, DR.. Thirkield said, was
later pronounced by the New York indie
pendent as one of the standard short
poems written by Whittier. Dean William
Allen Wilbur of the George Washington
tiers life.
The subject of Dean WiIburs address
was THE Quaker Poet" and after a
brief description of the works of the con-
temporaries of Whittier he said: 1.-TWO
| things are clear to us today, first that
Whittier was important in the events
leading up to emancipation, thus realiz-
ing his political ambition, and second
that the high moral incentive of his anti
| slavery convictions supplied to him the
motives which gave him poetry to write :;
and so he realized his literary ambition"
Recitations of Whittier's poems were
given by c. b. Washington. Bertha
| Mundy Kathleen Burner and Charles E.
Smith, students of Howard University.
Special hymns were sung by the audience.
| after which the meeting came to close
with prayer by Dean Moore.
Bruce School Exercises.
| A large and enthusiastic audience as
sembled at the Bruce School last night to
pay honor and homage to the memory of
| Whittier. The pupils gave recitations
| from the works of Whittier and sang ap-
propriate songs, following which short
addresses were made by prominent speak
ers. including DR.. Wilbur Z. Thirkield
president of Howard University: Judge
| William II. De Lacy of the Juvenile
Court: Mr.. r. c. Bruce. assistant superin-
| tendent of public schools. and f. NJ. Hew-
| lett. The exercises were held in the
Trinity A. NJ. E. Zion Church and its
| seating capacity was taxed to its utmost.
DR.. Thirkield gave several personal
"reminiscences including his first meeting
with Whittier, and Judge De Lacy read
a poem from the works of Whittier and
gave advice to the school. He said: Have
high ideals, study the life of the great
poet of freedom and follow its example
in sincerity. uprightneSS, charity, indus
try and virtue.
The remarks of Mr.. Bruce were of the
same practical nature. as were also those
of Mr. Hewlett. who said: "Whittier's eff
forts for freedom rank with those of
Garrison Lovejoy, Harriet Beecher Stowe
and Frederick Douglass He also
paid tribute to the late Senator B. X
Bruce, after whom the Bruce School is
named, who was born a slave and became
a senator of the United States.
At the conclusion of the program. with
DR.. II. l.. Bailey. supervising principal
of the eleventh division. presiding, Mr..
NJ Grant Lucas, the principal of the
school. called for brief words from the
parents. and responses were made by DIR.
A. j. 1Gwathney. Mr.. A. Faskey. Mr. s.
Wren, Mrs. Ware and Mrs. Upton.
At the Banneker School.
Al the Banneker School four pupils OF
the seventh grade gave sketches from
Whittier's autobiography covering the
salient points of his career. Next came
quotations by individuals and pupils Of
the sixth grade. The Mystic Christ
mas was given by Carrie Byrd Ths
eighth grade, in concert, read selection
THE Mayfiower" was given by pupil,
from the fourth grade. Howard at At
lanta" was recited by William c. Malord
an eighth grade pupil. after which thu
principal Mr.. J. w. Cromwell. read al
unpublished letter of Mr.. Whittier, writ
ten at the time of the celebration of thu
SEVENTEEN birthday anniversary of Fred
erick Douglass in this city.