The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1908-03-26
Of Tuskegee Meets
With Cordial
Reception
Men and Women of Every Walk of
Life Greet the Foremost Negro
the Century-Thc Gospel of
Hope His Prevailing Theme.

IA,
M. E. church, assembled last We'd
nesday night to hear DR.. Booker T.
washington lecture on The Ad-
vancement of the American People,"
For hours before the opening of tho
doors, the streets were filled with
people nurrying in the direction OF
the editice. Standing room was at a
premium in few moments and hun
dreds of late comers were unable to
secure admission at any cost Fully
5000 persons heard the "Wizard' ;,
and half as many more were turned
away.
The coming of the well-known ex-
ponent Of Industrial education and
principal Of the famous Tuskegee in
stiute had been heralded far and
wide for a number of days, and ali
classes Of our citizens, from the
| highest officials to the humblest
worker, were all agog to greet him
and make him welcome in the ma
tion's capital, where his visits are
always an absorbing event He
came upon the invitation Of the Met
| lropolitan A. NJ. e. church and it's al
lied organizations, the latter incIu-
ding primarily the Bethel literary
and historical association the most
noted organization Of it's kind in the
country. The committee in charge
of the arrangements consisted of Mr.
| Henry Lassiter, who so successfully
managed a similar affair four years
ago: Rev John II. Welch, pastor of
the church, and Miss Marie A. D.
| Madre, president of Bethel literary
society. Dr. Washington's triumph
| al reception Of 1904 was more than
duplicated on this occasion, and his
visit, was, al Things considered, the
most satisfactory he has ever made
. here The affair, by reason Of the
! manifest interest taken by the pres
ident Of the United States. the cabi-
net, supreme court, members Of con-
gress and diplomatic corps, took on
not only a national, but an interna-
| tional aspect.
Again the Gospel of SeIf-HcIpfulness
| Dr.. WashingtOn's address of one
hour and a half was listened to with
| the closest attention, and his many
salient utterances on the gospel Of
self-helpfulness, how races may solve
their problem by solving individual
problems, how principles endure
when issues have had their day in
the foreground Of human interest,
the beauty Of hopefulness, Of refus-
ing to become embittered by tempo
I,,;o I
clustering around his mastery story
OF the rise and development Of Tus-
| kegee institute down in the black
| belt Of Alabama-stirred anew the
| fires Of ambition, Of optimism and
| courage in the breasts Of his hear
ers, and every man, woman and child
went away better in heart, better in
the spirit that makes for achievement
and more determined than ever to
live up to the lofty teachings voiced
| by this wonderful character. Re-
[ peated demonstrations Of hearty ap-
proval were INDUCED in by the great
| audience, and his apt anecdotes il
Illustrative Of the peculiarities Of the
! race, and the quaint recital Of the
strivings Of the humble folks Of the
south to get up by their own might,
evoked no end Of laughter and ap-
| Dlause. He was never inesu better
humOr, and scored q big hit when
he told a joke, somewhat at his own
| expense to the effect that there must
| be d conspiracy afOOt to make him
learn new speech, as several differ
cnt subjects had been announced for
hfm at various points without con-
sulting him, and he could place but
one Interpretation upon such a series
Of coincidences-the managers were
! giving him o hint that be ought to
get q new speech. He made the bar
gain-a fair one, he thought--that
he would get q brand-new speech
when the people whom he loved and
worked for would indicate by their
lives and results that they were liv-
ing up to the doctrines of the old
one. At any rate, Dr.. Washington
said much that was new and much
that was old-but it was all good
and squared with the principles and
ideals that have been his text
throughout the years Of his conse-
Grated leadership.
| At the conclusion Of his magnifi-
cent effort, the audience arose
amid tumultuous cheers and gave
him the Chautauqua salute, and
hundreds crowded the rOStrum ca
ger to get q change to grasp his hand
and extend congratulations.
Scenes and Incidents.
DR.. Washington reached the city,
Wednesday, at, AIS p. m, coming