The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-22
ENCAMPMENT HERE
NEGRO WOMEN ATTEND
FROM SEVERAL STATES.
Biennial Session of Giddings and Jolli-
fer Union Taking Place Today-Has
Twenty Thousand Members.

The nineteenth biennial session of the
Right Worthy National Grand Encamp-
ment of the Joshua r. Giddings and Johl-
fer Union convened in this city today in
the ST. James African Methodist Episcopal
Church, in Union street, opposite Hamiltoi;
street. There are in attendance negro
women from all parts of the country who
are representatives Nof more han 10000
members of the order.
The organization is for women exclusive
ly and men are not allowed membership III
the order.
The organization is one of the largest
among the negroes in the United States,
and was started in 1854 in Ohio. Since
that time its tents have spread into al
most every State of the Union
The session of today was called to order
by Mrs. Martha Vidito. of this city, who
is the right worthy national grand senior
matron, and will preside over all the de-
liberations of the session until Friday;
when the election of officers is to be had.
Mrs. Eliza A.. Parker. of Chester, Pa;
is the right worthy national grand secre-
tary. The other officers are: Right
worthy grand deputy matron, Mrs. Mary
E. Carly. of Wilmington. Del right
worthy national grand junior matron, Mrs.
SD. Harrison. Philadelphia; right worthy
national grand treasurer, Mrs. c. r.
Bryant, Hampton. Va; right worthy ma
tional grand o~ratress. Mrs. S. E. Williams,
Newark; right worthy national grand
mistress of the wardrobe, Mrs. Fannie
Richards. Brooklyn, N. Y; right worthy
national grand ~tyleress. Mrs. Louisa
Braxten, Washington. d. c.; right worthy
nationay grand co1ductress, Mrs. M. g.
Bentley, New York city; past grand senior
Matron. Mrs. Mary c.. Stewart, Hampton,
Va; past deputy grand senior matron,
Mrs. Florence E. Lane. Jersey city.
The encampment is composed of dele
gates who are elected by It's three dis
tricts, and Is here as the guest of the
Most Worthy Eastern District Grand Tent
3. The subordinate lodges are called tents.
and most of the tents take their names
from women of Biblical characters. The
organization is a secret one, and all of its
deliberations will take place behind closed
doors.
This evening there will be a welcome re.
ception to the grand officers and delegates,
which will be followed by a musical and
literary entertainment The Mayor of the
city has been invited to welcome the dele
gates and the pastors of the negro churches
VIII speak. Mrs. Alice w. Wiley, of Brook
Ign, will deliver the address Of welcome or
behalf of the district, and Mrs. Maggie
Walker, president Of the st. LulSe's Bank
OF Richmond, Va. will respond on behalf
OF the national body. Among the Others
who will participate In the exercises Of
the evening will be the Rev. w. o. Davis
pastor of st. James A. NJ. f.. Church
Miss Hattie DeGrant Miss Gertrude
Moody. Miss Angelina Robinson, of Brook
lyn, and the Purvis family.
The superintendent of the order who
have supervision Of the various depart
ment work are Mrs. A. M. Lane, Norfolk
Va: Mrs. Sallie Il. Bowney. Norfolk, Va.
Mrs. George A. Queen, Newark; Mrs
Lydia v. Thomas. Philadelphia, Pa.
The organization was started before tn,
Civil War, its object at that time beinl
to assist the negroes who were in SLAYER,
and to help them to freedom. 1t wa
named in honor of two Ohio abolitionists
Joshua r. Giddines and John Jollifer
After the war it was changed to an or
ganlzation of a sick and benefit charac
ter to aid negroes. and its growth sine
that time has been remarkable.
On Thursday evening there will be
white reception In which all of TIL
members OF the order are to wear white
! be the master of ceremonies, and Mis-
Minnie Smith Johnson, the accompanied.
: The committee having charge of the ar
engagements for the encampment follows
Miss Florence f. Lane, chairman; Mrs
M. G. Bently, ce-chairman; Mrs. Mar
S. Gale, secretary; Mrs. E. S. EppS, as
sistant secretary; Mrs. s. II. Williams
treasurer Mrs. E. N. E.. GoldsborOugh
assistant treasurer.