The Denver star., 1915-03-13
RICHMOND ELKs
are PROGRESSIVE
Order In Old Dominica Capital
Holds Mass Meeting.
ALL FRA1ERMlTIEs UNITE.

ALL fRA1ERhlTlE UNITE.
White People Of Richmond Manifest
Great Interest In Plans For Enter
tanning President Wilson At Forth
coming Exposition-csIebratien to Be
Held on Famous State Fair Grounds.
Another demonstration Of the friend
ly cooperation existing between the
white and colored people of Richmond,
Va, was made evident ut great mass
meeting held in JohnstOn's auditorium
on West Leigh street, Richmond. on
the evening of Thursday, Feb. Is. when
it was announced that the Virginia
state fair grounds had been secured for
holding the coming fiftieth anniversary
celebration by the colored people for a
month, beginning July 4. The meeting
was held under the auspices of the
Capital City lodge of Elks. and nearly
all of the secret and benevolent socie-
ties of Richmond were represented by
from one to three delegates.
One of the main features Of the meet
ing was the shaping of plans to enter
tain President Wilson. who will be the
guest of honor of all the people on
Virginia day. Thursday. July 15. After
a thorough exchange of views from
the delegates the meeting adopted the
following set of resolutions:
Whereas. There is to be held in the city
of Richmond, Va, mammoth exposition
and celebration in commemoration of the
fiftieth anniversary of the emancipation
and achievements of the Negro. commence
ing July 4 and ending Aug. I. 1875: and
whereas, the holding of such q celebra-
tion has been commended by congress OF
the United States and the president OF
the nation: and. whereas. the colored
people throughout the United States
manifesting great interest in the coming
exposition and the best element of white
people is encouraging and stimulating the
promoting of said exposition: and
whereas. every organization. business con
cern, club. etc. is interested in promoting
plans to participate In the said expos.
tion; therefore
Be it resolved by this convention Of
the delegations from the various colored
organizations OF the city OF Richmond
and vicinity. assembled at Johnson's
ditorium. in the city OF Richmond. this
18th day Of February, 1915. that we will
turn out in a body. carrying banners and
floats to designate and distinguish our
various organizations and to show the
progress made by them on the said "Vir
ginia day" Thursday. the 18th ~ July.
and that we invite all OF the1 ma I
institutions. clubs. benevolent or31niza-
tions and business concerns TO t,1rn on;
in body Virginia day and march to
the fair grounds.
Resolved a - invite CIfi.
zens of Richmond generally to unite with
US and turn out in body to do honor
to the occasion OF Virginia day: further.
that we petition the white people who ire
employing colored people to give them a
holiday on the 18th OF July SO that they
may be able to unite with US in bent
ting manner to celebrate the event Of
Virginia day: also. that we ask all Of the
proprietors of the tobacco factories. Tred-
egar works and all other concerns en-
ploying colored people to give them-a bol-
lday on that day.
Resolved, further. that this convention
now assembled as aforesaid. pledges IT.
self to do all In its power to carry out
the object and purposes of this conven-
tion-a steering committee to be appoint
ed by the chairman of this meeting to
make preparation for the proper ce1ebra-
tion by the colored people OF Richmond
for Virginia day. which committee shall
not exceed nine In number. and the chair
man of this meeting IL to be offico
chairman of the said committee and the
secretary of this meeting to be ex oflcIo
secretary of the said committee. This
committee shall meet once a week and
make suggestions for carrying out the
purposes of this convention and report
their acts to the convention at its meet
ings from time to time, and that every
delegate of this convention shall be re-
quired to invite every society. lodge or
assembly of colored people which u not
represented at this meeting to send dele
gates to tho next meeting of this conven
tion. M
Resolved. finally. that 1t shall be the
duty Of the delegates present to inquire
and ascertain how many lodges societies
and clubs or other organizations that are
not represented at this convention. and
that we extend our thanks to the COVER
nor of Virginia. Senator Martin and Sem
ator White of Alabama for their encour-
agement and support. and also to all of
the white people who have given their
encouragement and support. We take
this occasion to invite all of the people
throughout the country to visit this ex-
position between the 4th of July and the
4th of August and pledge to them our
best endeavor to make them happy during
their sojourn in our city, guaranteeing to
them continuous happiness while with Us
Respectfully submitted.
Committee of the Capital City Lodge Of
Elks.
John P. White. chairman: W. A. Smith.
w. H. Williams. Dan Booker. Nelson 8.
Harris W 8. Cowan, ex-ruler: A. J
B. Jackson. w. r. Green. Dr. r. F. Jones.