Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1915-03-27

ME-. I ROPOL.lS
Health Week Widely Oh
served Here--Mrs. Walters
Speaks 1.-THE Birth of Ma
ton" in Court, IN. E.. Con-
ference Here. d. ..5.
tXilcn's Natl News Bureau, 252 W. 5srd st. /.
New York City March 22.--Dr.
Booker T. Washington's call that the
Negroes throughout the country SGT
aside the week Of March 21st, as
Health Week, at which time the health
status Of the Negro Is . be studied
with reference to inqufring into CON.
ditions that causes such q large death
rate among Negroes especially In the
large cities. was widely observed iii
this. city. Never before has there been
SO much interest manifested In 8
movement las the interest shown In
this call to observe Health Week Men
and women in oil walks Of life took
a keen interest in the week, and be.
sides the wide advertisement through
THE cGlored press Of this city, there
were thousands Of cards and circulars
distributed throughout the city during
ithe race to observe this week. Is
Among the notices that attracted
wide attention were the number OF
cards distributed through the city
which Tcall attention to the following
facts. There were 1851 deaths among
Negroes last year, that 25 out OF every
Z 1000 persons who died In New York
last year were Negroes, that every
three2and one.half hours Negro dies
lin New York, and that every seven
hours q Negro dies In Harlem, and
that 2 out of IL Negro babies die he.
fore reaching their first birthday.
These facts attracted widespread
interest and call attention In Sorce-
full manner to the necessity of taking
notice Of the health status as II sur
rounds the race. Special notices were
given from tho pulpits throughout the
city 'last Sunday and there. were dis
oussions IN private homes among tam
lilies. .".r,i
Last Monday evening q large mass
meeting, known as g Better Health
Mass Meeting was held at the Mt.
Oltvet Baptist Church in West 63rd St..
The feature Of the evening was the
Illustrated address on ""Why eflo Babies
Die" The speakers were DR. Martin,
of the Board Of Health, F. C. Meyer
of the Child Welfare Committee, DR..
A, S. Reed and DR.. Charles Roberts.
Rev. DIV. P. Hayes, pastor Of the
church, presided. It was one of the
most Significant meetings held I'm this
city and gave Health Week q good
start. During the week there were
various conferences which had for
their object the studying OF the heath
problems Of the Negro. IS :, /. \"
Mrs. WALTERS SPEAKS.
Mrs. Leila Walters, the accomplished
4 Wife OF Bishop Alexander Walters
spoke before a large audience last
Sunday afternoon at the st. Marks
'Eycenm. The announcement of the
appearance Of Bishop Walters attract.
led q large audience, but owing to en-.
'gagements In the middle West, the
Bishop was unable to be present, and
I Mrs. Walters took his place. 4 Mrs,
X Walters, who Is one Of the most noted
club women Of the race spoke on the
work the African Redemption Society
ofswhich she Is president, ID doing for
the tChristianizing Of Africa. = tI@5>;.. n
Mrs. Walters said that she was
proud OF the distinction that came to
her to speak before the lyoeum, be-
cause 1T was one OF the most historic
{ lyceums of the country. Mrs. Walters
told Of the urgent need OF, sending
missionaries to Africa and said that
the mission yworle in Africa was one
of the saddest blots ON the worlds
history and was one Of blood-shed, Il
r 'ft0ne ,of ,ahe most crying needs Of
the church," declared Mrs. Walters