Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1909-06-04

What could be more appropriate
name. then. for a Negro fraternal or
der than that Of the beautiful and gen
tie roe, always an object Of special
fondness in ancient times and even to
this day spoken Of in terms Of endear-
ment in the east-the meek, black
eyed. loved and lovable gazelle? That
Negroes should select the name of this
animal for a great fraternal and be-
neyolent order Is significant and full Of
meaning. Among the higher order of
animals the Negro is the chased roe"
of modern times and "the sheep that
no man taketh up" He is just now
beginning to turn to his own people
and fee every one into his own land"
The Roebucks owe their origin chief
~ to Mr.. William Preston Moore Of
Brooklyn, who was imbued with the
idea two years ago that Negroes might
better employ their intellect and tai
ents In originating and constructing a
great Negro fraternal order Of their
own which would not suffer by com
parison with any organization Of white
men. This has been accomplished, and
the basis OF the organization Is the
roebuck Of antiquity, variously called
the fallow deer. roe and gazelle, char
acteHzed by its beauty, gentieness and
loving disposition. Love, charity, gen.
tleness, beauty Of life and character
these are the fundamentals of Roe
buckism. Love to God, love to fellow
man (Which, broadly interpreted,
means charity, gentleness of~manner
and the cultivation of beautiful lives
and characters--these are the chief
claims Of the Roebucks Of America
and Elsewhere. They are claims that
ought to appeal to Negroes everywhere
and inpel them to investigate this
unique order, which is striving to weld
together the Negroes Of the United
States, Africa, Haiti, Santo Domingo,
Cuba, Porto Rico, Australia, Canada,
South America, Central America and
the West India islands into one com.
pact brotherhood, each for the other
and God for all.
The coming Of the Roebucks at this
critical period in the history of the
Negro In America Is significant as
showing the desire Of thoughtful and
progressive Negroes to delve into these
African mysteries and problems and
evolve from them an original Negro
fraternity. The mission Of the Roe
bucks therefore Is to originate, not to
initiate. 1t is an order based on Afri-
can ideals. history. philosophy and sci
ence. Africans were once the school
masters Of the world, born to scholar
ship. and the Greeks and Romans Of
old time journeyed into Africa annual
" to sit at the feet Of its black philos.
ophers and drink In wisdom. The de-
scendants OF these blacks scattered in
every habitable part of the globe are
the fesiduary legatees Of this wisdom
and learning. buried In Africa's sands
craven on her imposing monuments
and temples and reposing In the tombs
Of her mighty rulers. The mission Of
the Benefcent and Philnnthropic Or
der Of ROebucks Of America and Else
where is, first, emancipation from fra
ternal slavery; second, organization
third, cooperation; fourth, the yindi
cation Of the ee4oT and character Of the
Negro; fifth, the Consolidation Of intel
sligent Negroes throughout the worl(
Into one mighty raciai fraternal broth
erhood. the basic principles Of which
/ are love to God and fellow man, gen
tleness Of manner and beauty Of char
4 acter.