The Washington bee., 1911-08-19
At DURHAM, \. c.
DIR. Shepard's Great Speech
THE GREATEST SUCCESS YET
Durham, n. C., Aug 8.


Although some OF the greatest lee
tarers OF the white race have Deen
here during the present session OF the
summer schcgl and chautauqua OF the
National Religious Training School,
but none has oCCasiOned such an
Rniuue ovation as was rendered Dr.
ID Webster Davis, the noted poet,
author, preacher, lecturer and
,taunch defender for the rights OF his
race When Dr. Davis announced
,hat the State Of Virginia had accepted
AIS new history of the Negro race, to
he used In the Negro schools OF that
State he elected such a pronounced
applause from his large audience,
composed of teachers, preachers and
an enthusiastic lalty. Following some
of the most talented men IN the
white race, and leCturing to a class OF
people inteligently prepared to re
ceive and appreciate the best TO be
heard at a summer school and chau-
tauqua which the National Religious
Training school IS giving the race, Dr:
Davis has sustained his well-earned
reputation by his lectures, which
were inspiring and uplifting.
DR.. Davis began last Thursday al
ternoon with a series OF lectures on
Negro Ideals These lectures were
gems, and exhibited profound thought,
careful research and careful historical
work. The ability to be manly and
courageous and not cringing IN one
attitude on questions of vital import
to the Negro folk, was a cardinal tea-
ture of his lectures, and will undOubt-
edly become a leaven for great good
IN the life of those who heard him
and were greatly benefited, so that
they will return 10 their respective
homes imbued with the spirit to reach
the other fellow and make HIM pO-
tent element in racial development.
The inspiring hymns of the grand old
characters which have the power to
reach the soul and create ennObling
ideals for their children now enjoying
only distinctive American music, the
Negro should feel proud of some
which represented character and reg
istered his hopes. ambitions and
ideals. That every person OF ebony
realizes himself as he has never be-
fore realized himself in all the history
of the world. He demands that no
mere accident or incident of his life
shall rob him of his rights as an Indl-
vidual. Anywhere OF everywhere he
is a man, and has tiIc rights that be
long to him as a man. HI IS always
"a man for a that" said DR.. Geo. Mil
Ter, pastor of the wealthy Protestant
Methodist Church, at Stubenvllle, o.,
IN delivering one of the ablest ad-
dresses Thursday OF last week, on the
subject The Neighbors, In talT
and deliberate manner he touched
upon the race question IN manner
that created prolonged applause at
times during his address. He SAID IN
reference to the rights to individuals
that this demand for individual
rights rises above all distinctions OF
color. Color is an incident Of life and
: distinction of nature that shall not
in any wise interfere with the high
demands of the individual. One color
IS no more a badge OF distinction than
another Is OF infeTioTlty. Individual
worth recognized and rewarded IS the
ideal of the present day. 1t Is this
that give rise to most, II not ALL the
friction of the present age.
He sat himself square on the race
question when he exclaimed About
all that | have to say about this race
question is to reassert my former
premise that after all the race ques-
tion as every other question of real
importance in our day over which men
divide is fundamentally a question
that grows out OF the demand for in
dividual rights, With this demand |
am in full sympathy. Any other posi-
ton is out of harmony with the Chris
tian spirit This address was strong
and unCompTomlS1ng.
The Bible class taught by Venera-
bic Archdeacon w @ Avant, D. D.,
and other departments of the school,
are visited by a number of prominent
visitors from various sections of the
country. The summer school and
chautauqua will close Sunday, unpar-
alleled by educational movements OF
the race in this section of the coun-
try