The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-26
WOMAN MAKES ADDRESS
 AT MILES MEMORIAL

An impressive address on the ordinary affairs of women's work, and the great part they can have in the upbuilding of the negro race, by a well known negro woman of Alabama, was the feature of the days exercises at Miles Memorial col lege commencement yesterday.
 Fannie Hawkins, the president of the Home Mission society of the Alabama conference, colored Methodist Episcopal church, gave some sensible advice to the young woman attending the school, advice that is of practical benefit to the women of the race at large She laid particular emphasis upon the doctrine of soap and water and personal cleanliness, which she maintained was absolutely necessary to be taught in the country homes and every where among a large class of the negro people.
 Along this line the speaker said T am much impressed with the cleanliness of the girls dorrnitory here. Your beds are | neat and clean, your floors shine, your halls are spotless, your rooms show taste | and your dresses are exceptionally neat | This matter of personal cleanliness and cleanliness of surroundings goes hand in hand with moral cleanliness. Clean bodies are usually accompanied by clean lives. l Be clean in all of these things" 1 The speaker is good representative | of a large class of educated young wom- 1 en of the race in the south. She has done much to raise money for the Miles Me morial college.
 Dr. G. F. Welch, secretary of the board | 4to D n Moc1 1aa ny of Birmingham both made strong ad- dresses, each laying particular stress upon the importance of work and self help. | The annual musicale was held last night at the Thirgood c. M. E. church, large audience attending the exercises Prof. | William F. Lew of Cambridge, Mass, a l musician of considerable note, has charge of the musical department, and present. ed an excellent programme. An interest l ing fact with reference to Professor Lew was brought out by Dr. Bray in his in- 1 troductory remarks It is said that Pro- lessor Lew comes from an unbroken line | of colored patriots who were active, not only in the revolutionary war from Mas sachusetts but his ancestors, as colored men, helped the Massachusetts colony out l in its quota in the old French and h. | dian wars, on both his paternal and ma I ternal sides. The Massachusetts records, | 1t is said, show that the Lews were the | musicians from the Massachusetts quota | from the old town of Groton. They have I since had a great record as musicians l through Essex and Middlesex counties.
 The following programme was present. l ed in an acceptable manner:
 Gunod, "Soldier's Chorus from Faust"
 Invocation.
 Chopin, Polonaise Militaire in A Flat, Jessie Collins and Professor Lew
 Tours, '"The New Kingdom" Essie l O'Neal
 Rodney, "Clang of the Forge"
 (a) Greig. Butterfly. Koelling. Hungary l (Rapsodie Mignone) Mrs. c. A. Payne. Coener, Lovely Spring." J. R. Barnes.
 Paper. why Should the Negro Study the Highest Branches of Music?' Sadie l P. Holland.
 Ball, ''To the End of the World" E. O. | Wyatt.
 (a) Lysberg, '"The Tountain;' (b) Game, La Czarine," Jessie Collins. 1 Andrews, 70, For Day in Spring." l Charlotte Moore.
 Emerson, "Where Are You Going to My Pretty Maid?'
 The board of trustees, Bishop R. s. Will Hams of Augusta, president, will meet this morning at 10 o'clock. The annual re- port of the president will be presented by
 Dr. James A. Bray, and other matters | connected with the institution will be ] considered. It is believed that steps will
 be taken to begin work on the new boys
 dormitory, in order to have 1t ready for | occupancy at the beginning of the fall
 term The exercises of the normal and
 college preparatory departments will be
 held tonight on the campus at Vineville.
 Special cars will be run from the city be- ginning at o'clock.