The Washington bee., 1908-03-28
BOOKERT WASHINGTON

Tuskegee Wizard Cheered to the
Echo at Metropolitan Church by
1900 Ethusiastic Sympa-
thizers.
Eminent Industrialist Honored by All
Washington - An International
Event - Legislators, Diplo-
mats and the Masses as One
DR.. Washington'S Illuminating Ad-
dress-The Cadets -DfiA = Sump-
tuous Dinner at Lassiter Home
The Wizard" Delighted as NeV-
er Before - Hundreds Turned
Away.
An immense throng which filled
every available inch of space in the
Metropolitan A. NJ. E Church on NJ
street. between 18th and 10th streets
northwest, assembled Wednesday ev-
ening of last week to hear DR.. Book
er T. Washington lecture on "Ths
Advancement of the American Peo-
pie" The thoroughfares adjacent to
the church were crowded long be-
fore the doors were opened, and
shortly after seven o'clock standing
room within was at a premium and
late comers were unable to secure ad-
mission at any price. The vast au-
ditorium-the largest owned by col
ored people in this section OF the
country-has never contained a more
brillian assemblage, fully three thou
sand persons being in attendance, and
half as many more were turned away.
The coming Of the well-knOwn expo
nent of industrial education and prln-
ciDal OF the famous Tuskegee Insti-
tute had been heralded far and wide
for fortnight, and deep interest
had been aroused among all classes
of both races, each vieing with the
other in their eagerness to extend
TO him a welcome commensurate with
his eminence as a statesman and with
their own conception of his value to
the Republic. He came upon the IN
vitation of the Metropolitan A. NJ.
Z. Church and its allied Organiza-
tions, the latter including primarily
the Bethel Literary and Historical
Association. The committee in charge
of the arrangements consisted of Mr..
Henry Lassiter Rev John H. Welch,
pastor of the church. and Miss Marie
A. d. Madre, president of Bethel
Literary Society. When DR.. Wash
ington last visited this church, four
years ago, Mr.. Lassiter was also in
charge of the details. and the sue
cessful outcome of that memorable
occasion was more than duplicated
In this instance. Not a single stone
was left unturned to make it the stel-
lar event of the times, and so general
was the enthusiasm that the reception
outstripped continental bounds and
took on an international charcter, as
invitations to be present were accept
ed not only by the highest oficiary
of America, but by representatives OF
the Diplomatic Corps from many for
eign governments, a partial list OF
whom we give below
On the Platform.
Hon. William Howard Taft, Sec
retary of War: Justice John NJ. Har-
Ian, of the United States Supreme
Court; NJ. Jusserand, French Ambas-
Sador; Hon. James Bryce, British
Ambassador. were among the nota-
bic persons who accepted invitations
TO occupy seats upon the platform
but We're unavoidably detained by
previous engagements. Some of those
who graced the rostrum were: Con.
gressmen NJ B. Madden, of Illinois
P. P. Campbell, of Kansas; ]. War
rem Keifer, of Ohio; DR.. W. P
Thirkield, president of Howard Uni
versity; DR.. Robert Reyburn, dean o
Howard Medical School; Capt. ]. F
Oyster, DR.. B. w. Everman. Mrs
Ellen Spencer Mussey and Mrs. NJ
Church Terrell, of the Board of Ed
ucation; Justice Robert H. Terrell
of the District Court; Register w
7. Vernon; Auditor Ralph w. Tyler
Prof. A. T. Stuart, superintendent o
the Washington schools; Prof. R. c
Bruce, assistant superintendent Com
missioner H. B. F. Macfarland, o
the District of Columbia; Miss Luc,
E. Moten,principal of Normal Schoo
No. ?; DR.. w. Bruce Evans, princi
pal of Armstrong Manual TRAINING