The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1912-04-20
RELIEF SOCIETY
CENTURY old
First New York African Body
Was Organized In 1908.
STARTED IN sCHOOlHOusE.

Interesting Historical Sketch Of an In.
eerporated Organization Which Came
Into Being Long Before the Dawn Of
Freedom - Legislative Acts and
Names Of First Officers.
New York. The New York African
Society For Mutual Relief was organic
ed in 1908 and chartered by the legis-
lature of New York In 1910. the bill
granting it charter being presented
by Assemblyman Brewer. The socie-
ty was organized June 6. 1903. in the
schoolhouse for colored children on
Rose street. a constitution was adopt
ed and the following roster Of officers
elected for it's government:
william Hamilton. John Teasman,
Henry Sipkins. Adam Carman, Daniel
Berry. Adam Ray. Daniel Brownhill,
James McEwan. Henry Rouse. Samuel
Charley. Richard Tankard. Samuel
Clause. Benjamin Slighter and Peter
Vogelsang. A permanent organization
having thus been perfected. these gen.
tlemen proceeded to petition the legis-
lature, praying for an act of fncorpora-
ton.
Their petition was read and referred
to select committee consisting Of the
following members of the assembly
representing New York city:
Thomas Farmar, Solomon Town
send. Augustus Wright. Samuel l.
Mitchell. Abraham e. Brewer. Caleb
Pell, Samuel Torker. John P. Anthony,
Ichabod Proll. B. M. Van Buren, and
Adrian Hegeman. This committee re-
ported favOrably upon the bill. entitled
IAN act to incorporate the New York
African Society For Mutual Relief"
which had been ordered to a second
reading.
On March %. 1910. a message from
the honorable the council Of revision.
delivered by its secretary. was read.
to the effect that it did not appear i'm
proper to the council that the bill en-
titled IAN act to incorporate the New
York African Society For Mutual Re-
lief land others mentioned. including
the Mechanic bank) should severally
become laws Of the state. The late
John j. Zuille in his historical sketch
Of this society says:
Thus began the corporate existence Of
our ancient and honora bic institution-an-
Client because the first society OF its class
organized among us to receive legislative
IL 60 sf<N6
more than eighty-two years 1t has stood
the test Of severe public scrutiny and to-
day stands unsullied in its reputation,
bearing aloft all its honors, challenging
the admiration Of the community. carry
ing with It the esteem of young and old
Of the present generation, increasing In
strength. advancing in the accumulation
Of property and in all the elements that
constitute the greatest responsibility and
highest Of its class.
Our Incorporation was far in advance
of the spirit of the age. 1t was six years
before the legislature had passed the act
to make New York free state and about
seventeen years before such act should
take effect. 1t was to usher in an incor-
porated society before the manhood Of its
membership was acknowledged by the
community at large, but It was the law.
March q was made a memorable day.
10 CelcpTdtc ~ III an appropriate tldnuors
to appear on the public streets with n.y.
ing colors and a band Of music for the
first time would surely attract q mob and
the consequences were feared among our
own members and to some extent our
friends.
One friend remarked and his remark
was echoed by others, Your society has
q perfect right to every immunity which
every other society has under its act Of
Incorporation. and the city is bound by
its obligation to preserve the peace. to
protect and defend you, but such is the
malignity Of public prejudice that the au-
thorities would be entirely powerless to
protect you on the streets, and you would
be torn in pieces by bowling mobs." New
ertheless arrangements were completed
and the society. headed by q full band
composed Of Negroes. marched through
the streets Of the city.
I'VE will go though death stares US in
the face" said Hamilton Latham Teas
60 with hearts Of true men. BY their dar-
ing they compelled the monster public
prejudice to falter in its step. So the men
grasped him by the throat, hurting him to
the earth, trampled under foot his pros
trate body, proclaiming themselves victor
over him with the right secured to march
through the public streets Of the city at
win then and thereafter forever.
At this celebration, memorable in the
history Of the Negroes of New York
city and state. the constitution and
dispatches Of congratulatory nature
were read. An ode composed and set
to music by james Latham. one Of the
founders Of the society. was sung. The
procession marched past the homes Of
the gentry in the fashionable and aris-
tocratic sections and was greeted with
cheers and the waving of handker-
chiefs. Being thus recognized by the
best people in the city. the rowdy ele-
ment feared the consequences Of any
interference with them.
These celebrations were kept up for
a number of years and were the prin-
cipal features Of the social life Of the
eolored people. The example set by
the African society was followed by
other benevolent societies But after
few years the African Society For
Mutual Relief abandoned this form Of
celebration and substituted one more
suitable
On March ~. 1S4O. on motion Of the
Hon. A. Fl Livingstone. state ,sena-
tor. bill granting a renewal Of the
charter of the sOciety or to extend the
act of Incorporating the New York AT.
ricaD Society For Mutual Relief was