Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-20
Received at White House.

/
The evening meeting was preceded in the
afternoon by reception of the colored
ministers Of the Washington conference,
about $50 in number, by President Roose-
welt at the White House. There they
| listened to a short address by the chief
| executive, in which he emphasized the
need for larger contributions by the
| colOred people of this country for the up
lift of the colored millions of Africa.
| Bishop Hartzell spoke feelingly of Pres
| ident Roosevelt and of his interest in the
African jubilee. Il regard him as the
| most remarkable single personality on
| earth.' he said. He pleaded the cause
| of missions before the most remarkable
| missionary gathering ever held in the
Capital city, and his address will be his
| toric.''
Vice President Fairbanks was received
| last night with great enthusiasm. His
| appearance at the rear of the church was
| the signal for an outbreak of applause
| that lasted until he had taken his seat on
the platform; and when he rose to speak
| every member of the large audience rose
| to give him rousing Chautauqua salute.
| The Vice President declared that it was
particular pleasure to be introduced by
| Bishop HartZell, than whom. he said, he
| had never known better man.
And I am glad to be here under the
| auspices of the Methodist Episcopal
| Church., he continued. Its influence is
/ great anu is SIOW1lS greater, ana Is eX-
| tending to the uttermost parts of the
| earth. Wherever 1t is found it is WELD
| ing positive and profound influence for
| good.
THE occasion is interesting to me- not
| only because 1t is the ceebra ton of the
| African diamond jubilee, but because 1t is
| a celebration among a people who have
| made wonderful progress in the past fifty
| years. 1t is a tribute to the colored race
| in bondage fifty years ago. that you are
| a aTph her tn nj an6 nfrih lIfc
for the uplifting of your brethren in dis
tant land. 1t has, perhaps. no counter
part in the history of mankind. Its
progress since Lincoln''-and the mention
| of the martyred Presidents name was
greeted with prolonged applause
| been wonderful.
Prophetic of the Future.
| 1.-The colored race has been running
pretty rapidly since it was given it's lib
erty. But 1 have faith, when / witness
the devotion to church affairs, to schools,
to the development of industry and edu-
cation, to the inculcation of high prin-
| ciples in it's children, that it's accomplish
ments in the half century are all pro-
| phetic of a larger future of the colored
| race.
And 1 am gratified to see the growth
| of the missionary spirit in America 1t
| has not only supported home missions,
| but has reached out into all countries,
| seeking to establish the dominion of the
Christian church everywhere. l believe in
| the elevating power of the Christian
| spirit. And l hope the Methodists. both
white and black, will send to Africa the
evidence of their interest in the people
| there"
The first speaker Of the evening was
Rev. d. w. Hayes of Baltimore. He
urged the need of pushing the missionary
| work in Africa.
| Had missionaries instead of man-steal-
| erS been the first persons to visit Africa,
| had the money spent for rum in Africa
| been spent for Bibles, how different would
| have been the progress of that land he
| said during his remarks
DR.. Thirkield in his remarks pointed out
| that the invitation 10 help Africa was an
| invitation to join twenty-four-hour-a "a
| day club, because the African mission
| aries are working while the church work
| ers in this country are sleeping.
| The meeting was closed with a brief
| address by Bishop HartZell, in which he
| described some of the work being done
| in the dark continent and with the taking
of collection for the jubilee fund