The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-21
NEGRO LEADER
PRAISED BY
HIS RACE
True RefOrmers Celebrate
Anniversary Of Birth Of
Vim. Washington BrOune.

The marvellous rise and progress of the
United Order of True Reformers-the
largest and wealthiest negro organization
in the world-was related in this city
yesterday at the anniversary cele-
bration Of the ffty-eighth birth of its
founder, William Washington Broune.
which was held in the Mount Zion Baptist
Church, in Thomas street, opposite Her
mon, of which the Rev. j. R. Brown is
pastor. f.
The celebration was held under the
auspices of Newark Division of the order,
and at it a silver offering was made to
the fund that is being raised for the cree
ton of a monument to Founder Broune at
Richmond, Va, the headquarters of the
order, and where the Reformer's Book, the
first negro book established in America is
located. The exercises were under the
direction of S. H. Baskerville, chief of
Newark Division.
The members and officers of the various
fountains, as the subordinate lodges are
known, accompanied by the Rosebud
nurseries, as the children's branches are
called. assembled Mt the church In full
regalia at 2:30 p. m. and marched into the
auditorium, where exercises were held.
These began with the singing of MY
Country, IT'S of Thee Then Chief Bas-
kerville read the S4th Psalm. Prayer was
offered by the Rev. T. r. Redd, pastor of
the Galilee Baptist Church.
The gathering was welcomed to the
services by Vice-Chief J. b. Leuter. The
choir of the church, under the direction
of Prof. Henry Dellegall, rendered a selec-
ton, and the response on behalf of the
various fountains was made by James G..
Hunter. The Song of the Psalm was
rendered by the children of Rosebud
Nursery 1868.
The Rev. Solomon Porter Hood, D. D.,
pastor Of the st. Pauls American Method
list Episcopal Church of Orange, delivered
and address on "W. W. Broune. the Chris
tian and Organizer" and took occasion to
pay excellent tribute to the character of
the Rev. Mr.. Broune as a Christian min
lister and lover of his race, who looked far
into the future for its betterment.
William Washington Broune, Firancier
and Race Leader was the subject of an
address by the Rev. j. r. Brown, who
told of the humble start Of the order in
Virginia in 1881, and said that 1t consti-
tutes the most remarkable negro organi-
cation in the country, having fountains In
every State in the Union, with but five
exceptions, with a great banking house
and headquarters at Richmond, with opera
houses in several cities, with halls in many
towns and with landed possessions in
many States.
While paying excellent tribute to the
founder, who died in 1897, the Rev. Mr..
Bro IN took occasion to note the remark
able progress of the order since that time
under The leadership of the Rev. w. L.
Taylor, the present grand worthy master.
He told of the efforts that were being
made by the membership of the order to
erect a suitable monument to Founder
Broune, and said that not only the mem
bers of the order, but every negro in
America should aid in the movement, de-
elaring that William Washington Broune
held the foremost place of all the great
men of the negro race and that in his life
time he had led the race into doing tan
gible things.