Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-09-23
Lauded by DR.. CIaxton for
Progress It Has Made.
Speaks at Observation-Disclosures
Meeting.
RAJ CONDITIONS BETTER
President Taft Invited to Deliver
Address at Metropolitan.A. M. E.
Church Tonight.

That it was to the generosity and
sense of justice of the white race that
the negro in this country owed the
fact that he received a free education.
and that the members Of the negro
race must look to that education for
moral. physical and mental better
ment. were the declarations Of DIR.
Philander p. Claxton. United States
commissioner of education. in an adj
dress at this mornings session OF the
National Sociological Congress. held
at Metropolitan ~ NJ. E. Church in
ffftieth anniversary Of the enancipa-
ton. The congress has delegates at
tending it from all parts Of the United
States.
mo other fifty years in the history Of
the world in any place have been like
the fifty years just passed. declared Or.
Claxton He then went on to describe
the progress made along mechanical and
moral lines.
II am mostly interested in education.
not for education alone. but for educa-
ton in regard to building up the people.
declared the speaker THE great purpose
of education Is to find means by which
we can be lifted to higher plane and
our condition bettered.
/ The negro race has taken advantage
of the opportunities given it for ad-
vancement. You must remember. though,
that it was done by a good people out
Of the kindness Of their hearts. 1t had
before
Dr. Claxton pointed out that illiteracy
in the negro race had been reduced from
nearly 100 per cent at the time OF the
civil war to only 3O.5 per cent in 1910 He
commended the race for taking advantage
Of its opportunities.
Il do not know Of any people in any
part Of the world at any time who, in
SO raised themselves from such a state
of illiteracy."
DR.. Claxton then spoke of the benefits
of education. Not only did 1t have to
do with material work. he said. but
life itself depended on it.
Anywhere in the world where you
find people educated so that they can
control the forces of nature that coun-
try grows rich and there is no power
on earth can stop it."
The speaker asserted that moral con-
ditions are better now than they were
hundred years ago. or ever before
Prof. Jesse Lawson Of this city also
spoke briefly. Rev. w D. Jarvis led the
devotional exercises.
President Taft has been invited to de-
liver an address tonight. Several add
dresses. as well as musical selections. are
scheduled for this evening at the same
church.
The celebration of emancipation was
observed yesterday in many Of the col
ored churches of this city. DR.. S. NJ.
Newman. president of Howard Univer-
sity spoke at Metropolitan A. NJ =.
Church yesterday on THE Fruits of
Fifty Years Of Freedom"
Rev. Bishop Johnson spoke at the Sec
ond Baptist Church. in Sd street north
west. declaring the freeing Of the slaves
in this country had affected the Ameri-
can people legally, morally. sociologtcally
and spiritual a.s no other thing had ever
done. Rev. Simon p. w. Drew, pastor
Of the Cosmopolitan Baptist Church, call
ed attention in his emancipation sermon
to the amount of property owned by the
negro race.