The forum. [volume] (Springfield, Ill.) 1904-192?, 1916-12-16

Notable Group Of White Women to
Aid-Mrs. TaIhsrt's Leadership.
BY JOHN E. BRUCE crit"
The National Association of Colored
Women, of which Mrs. Mary B. Tai
bert OF Buffalo Is president, is making
a herculean effort to raise funds to
lift the $4,000 mortgage off Of the
Douglass home at Anacostia, District
Of Columbia, and the disgrace off the
race for which Mr.. Douglass suffered
insult and contumely at the hands Of
organized mobs, for its past neglect,
apathy and failure to show its appre-
citation OF the greatness of Frederick
Douglass, by coming forward now as
he came forward In the days when
our forbears writhed in chains of slav-
cry, and denounced In virile language
the hell black crime of human slavery
These good women of the National
Association Of Colored Women have or
are about to circularize the teachers
and pupils of our Sunday schools and
day schools throughout the United
States urging cooperation with their
association by the formation Of Sun
day school and day school leagues and
that the teachers In the schools be-
come members of these leagues and
such adult members of the Sunday
schools as may be interested In the
project
Ten is the number required TO form a
league. These teachers and others or
ganizing leagues are requested to offer
their leagues as Christmas present to
the National Association of Colored
Women. This can be done by sending
at once for an application blank and
the payment of 10 cents per year per
capita. No other dues or assessments
are allowed or expected. The money
thus sent is to be used for postage,
stationery and literature. ito make our
voice heard" reads the circular before
me. And surely you will realize with
us that we need the very closest CO.
operation during these days In which
we are travelling through the wilder
ness. Our president has issued call
to save the home OF Frederick Doug
lass. We want you to help us save
that home. WIN you hold a short me-
mortal service on Sunday, Feb 49, and
tell the children something about Doug
lass, who framed the immortal SEN
tence, God and one are Majority"
IL you love your race and If you are
proud Of the achievements of its great
men and believe in honoring them for
the deeds they have wrought send for
program and other details about
Douglass day to Mrs. Mary B. Talbert,
521 Michigan avenue, Buffalo. Mrs.
Talbert informs me that Mrs. Nettie
L. Napier. 100 Fifteenth avenue. North
Nashville, Tenn, has been appointed
special treasurer to receive all con-
tributions for this fund. Mrs. Napier
is a daughter of the late Hon. John NJ.
Langston and the wife of Hon. James
C. Napier, former register of the Unit
ed States treasury.
Another interesting point In her let
ter is that among the women afiliat-
Ing with her organization are group
of the most noted white women In the
United States, a few of whose names
are as follows: Jane Adams, IONA
Gale, Grace Abbott, Anna Strunsky
Walling, Katherine Leekie, Rhetta
Walling, Katherine Leekie, Rheta
Childs Dorr, Miss Fola La Toilette,
Florence Woolston, Sophronia Brecken-
ridge, Esther L. Kohn. Mary Rozet
Smith, Harriet P. Thomas and Anna
0'Hagan Shinn.
This is q gratifying list and ought
to be sufficient to spur our people on
In a mighty effort to save the home Of
Frederick Douglass and to make 1t the
Negroes mecca for generations yet I'M
born. Every Negro boy throughout
this land should be asked to give from
l to 25 cents as bis contribution to
this object, and every Negro man and
woman with any red blood in their
veins ought for their own self respect
to give at least ST.
There should be a rivalry between
the boys and girls OF school age to see
which can raise the largest subscrip-
ton toward this fund. I believe our
girls could raise $500 more than the
boys because they have got more vim
and push In them than some Of our
boys. The contest is on. and time will
develop whether We Negroes can do
big things In big way. Douglass was
a great leader and great man, but
not ten Negroes In hundred really
know how useful and great he was.
We don't read enough about our own
leaders.
mt A. c,,,. ar;lti.nt a.o.ntior.