The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1911-03-02
ATTEND THE BANQUET IN AP-
PRECIATIONt'OF MURPHY'S -
LONG SERVICE.
Agljjel,d Edliit6t L Praised
IS civil War Veteran, thirty-thirtl
degree Mason, has published the
Afro-American Ledger since 1897
and takes firm stand for u nation
al Negro daily.

The big banquet that was pulled off
mere IN honor of John II. Murphy,
me veteran editor OF the Afro-Amer-
ican Ledger last, Friday night Is
stlll the topic Of conversation here.
ne affair was held at the Nazarita
HALL and was attended by prominent
persons OF this city and WASHINGTON.
and was an appreciation of Mr.. Muir
phy,s service In race Journalism, as
well IN honor of his having celebra-
ted his SEVENTEEN birthday Christ
mas day
Rev. DR., Ernest Lyon, former
minister to Liberia, presided, and
City Councilman Harry S.Cummings
acted as toastmastcr.
Inc speakers and the toasts to
which they responded we're: DR.. J.
Taylor, Philadelphia, "The Medical
Irotession"; c.. C. Fitzgerald, "The
Legal Profession;" Rev. w. A. G.
Hughes, ''The Ministry" Prof Ma
son, A. Hawkins, Education and
Public Opinion;" Hugh e. Macbeth,
editor of the Baltimore Times, "Our
Guest, The Journalist" r. w.
thompson, Of Washington, "The
General Correspondent" w. G.. Nc
Card, The LADIES'" Franklin f.
Johnson, the Afro-American Ledger,
The Local Reporter" DR.. a. O.
spencer. Morgan College, THE Col
lege. and the Newspaper" and DR..
Whltfield Dinsey, who spoke on
pioneer Race Journals"
Mr.. Cnmmins, in introducing the
guest Of honor, said: Editor Muir
phy, IN whose honor this banquet is
held, stands for that which is best In
the life and sentiment Of our peo-
i plR. = Being the eldest of our edi-
fofs&!he is loved and revered by us
halSa lis; entitled to the respect and
s'tprort'i of the entire population.
we meet tonight to do honor to him
who week by week chronicles the
''doings of the best of our race"
In his address, Mr.. Murphy said
that a national Negro daily was an
absolute necessity, and that the
next five years would demonstrate
that fact. Rev. DR.. Hughes had
that the race is growing more in
tuential and would continue to do
so.
THE place now occupied bv the
ministry, as the leader in secular
atfa1rs', he said would fall upon
the shoulders Of the race journal
lst. No one would more welcome
this change than the ministry, for
they realize the tremendous i'm
portance of the race papers, when
they are managed by capable, far
seeing and bfoad~minded men"
Mr.. Thompson said that there was
a growing number of wel1-eduipped
men Of character in Journalism and
tnat the near future would offer as
great rewards to Negro Journalists
as the other professions.
MIR. Murphy, in replying to the
many ~encoaainms- passed him.
told Of mis- hardships in the early
days Of the Afro-American Ledger,
and said that at one time he would
have sold it for a song, if a buyer
had come along. He mentioned the
great advance that had taken place
in the quality Of race papers during
the past seven years, and said it
foretold good future.
Among those who sent letters Of
regret were: DR.. Booker r. Wash
ington, head OF Tuskegee Institute;
j. Thomas Fortune, the veteran
Journalist; Dr. w. e. B. Dubois, of
New York; DR.. J. H. n. Waring. of
Washihgton; Chris J. Perry, editor
Of the Philadelphia Tribune; J. G.
Gilmer, editor Of the Charleston,
tW. Va.) Advocate; Rev. I. l..
Thomas. field agent of the Church
Extension Society Of the M. f..
Church; President w. S. Scarbor-
Ough, of Wherefore University and
y. B. Dodson, Of the Afro-American
Press Association.
DR.. Booker r. Washington, who
vas one Of the many subscribers,
said in his letter:
There are few men in any race
who have rendered more unselfish,
constant and useful service than Is
true Of Mr.. Murphy, and we should
honor him to the fullest extent.
There are two elements in connec-
ton with this banquet that please
me immensely. One is, we are hon
oring man while he is living; the
second element is, We are honoring
a man OF our own race"
Mr.. Fortune, In, his letter, wrote: