The Denver star., 1916-01-08

Teachers' association held its eleventh
annual meeting. Local business leagues
were organized in the following cities:
Camden, N. J.; Cleburne, Tex; Spring
field, Mo-; Anderson. S. c.; Brinson,
Ga; Ramer. Ala; Staunton, Va:
Gainesville, Tex. and Mason, Tenn.
The latter part Of May the majority
OF our educational institutions closed
with the graduation of large numbers
of young men and women well pre-
pared for service as teachers and lead
ers In the various sections of the
country. The month was also nota-
BILE in religious circles. especially in
the south. where many associations
and conferences held their annual
meetings. An increase in membership,
efficiency In church work and liberal
giving for education, home and for
eign missions were indicated by the
reports rendered by the church OH
Gals.
important Meetings In June and July.
Early in June commencement exer-
cises were held at the Virginia Union
university. Howard university, Wilber-
force and other schools for higher
training The New England Baptist
missionary convention held its annual
meeting in New York, with the largest
attendance. perhaps. in its history.
This convention reported large In
crease in the number of churches free
Of debt and the largest amount of
money collected throughout its juris-
diction since 1t was organized at Prov
idence. r. l.. in 1878. The National
Baptist Sunday School congress met
at Birmingham. Ala. with an attend
apce of over 25,OOO.
Chief among the many events which
occurred in July were the annual meet
Women's Clubs. held at Syracuse,
N. ", and the Northeastern Federation
of Women's Clubs. which met in Phil
adelphla. The event of the month
which attracted national attention.
however, was the exposition held at
Richmond. Va. which opened on July
8 and closed on the 9th. For this
event congress appropriated SIS, 900.
Giles Il. Jackson was the chief pro
moter of the exposition. He received
liberal financial support from the
states Of Virginia and New York and
the hearty cooperation of many per-
sons Of prominence In the several
states
Thrss Great National Gatherings.
Three big gatherings OF national Inn
portance held during the month Of
August brought together persons from
possibly every state In the Union.
They were the National Negro Bust
ness league. held In Boston: the
eighteenth biennial session of the su
preme lodge OF Knights of Pythias Of
the World and the eighth biennial SEES
sion OF the encampment OF the uniform
rank department Of the order with the
Supreme Court Of Calanthe. held at
Columbus. o.. and the opening Of the
Lincoln jubilee and hnlf century ccie-
bration at Chicago. which lasted from
Aug. % to Sept. 16. Bishop Samuel
Fallows was president of the commits
sion under whose auspices the celc-
bration was held. A meeting OF an
other organization Of great Importance
was that Of the Ancient Order Of Mys
tic ShrIners. held In New York.
The largest religious gathering of tbe
year was that OF the national Baptist
convention at Chicago in September
This convention split on the question
Of ownership Of the National Baptist
Publishing house at Nashville. Tenn.
The matter is being settled by the
courts of Tennessee, which have juris-
dictiOn on account of the publishing
house being located in that state and
from which state its charter was se-
cured.
Educational and Legal Matters
Among other events Of the year may
be mentioned the raising the curricu-
lum Of the West Virginia Colored in
stitute to college rank and changing
its name to the West Virginia Cole
giate institute. The nullifcation by
the United States supreme court OF the
grandfather clause In the laws of Mary
land and Oklahoma was a long step
forward toward law enforcement The
decision of the court created great In
terest throughout the nation.
In commenting on the courts deci-
sion Rufus Lewis Perry. the noted
Brooklyn lawyer. says:
by the decision Of the United States
supreme court in the Maryland md
Oklahoma cases the man Of color has
come into his own again; the race has
been advanced to its constitutional
rights In the states south of the Mason
and Dixon line. Prejudice hns receiv
cd its deserved rebuke and constitu-
tional rights acknowledged. The cry
Of 'Watchman. what of the nightT
has for its answer. All is WE'LL"
The result Of the annual meeting OF
the Negro Organization society. held
Mt Petersburg, Va, showed the society
now works through 26S organizations.