Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-09-11
HOLDS
BIENNIAL SESSION
CoIored Odd Fellows Body
Welcomed to City by CON-
missioner BroWnIoW.

The eighteenth biennial movable
committee of the Grand United Order
of Odd Fellows. colored, today con-
vened for its opening session at Con-
vention Hall. Members of the House.
holds of Ruth and of the Past Grand
Masters Councils. allied organizations
which also are to hold sessions this
week, attended today's meeting, which
was open to the public.
Commissioner Louis Brown1ow well
coined the delegates and members of
the various organizations.
Il welcome you not only as members
of this order. but also as American citi-
zens,' said Commissioner Brownlow.
Il am glad when fraternaI orders meet
In Washington. because it gives Amer
leans an opportunity to see their CAPT.
tai. wish especially to welcome those
Of you who are in this city for the
first time.
Washington is the metropolis of the
colored race There are more colored
persons here than in any other city Of
the United States. They form an in
tegral part of the citizenship of which
Washington is proud.
I'VE are now completing a well
equipped colored high school. named
for Paul Dunbar, the great negro poet,
It is to be the most advanced institu-
ton ever erected devoted exclusively to
the education of the colored race. We
try in Washington to give equal OPP
portunities of education to the colored
race"
Response by Prof. Pickens.
Prof. William Pickens of Baltimore,
Nd. who made the response to Mr..
Brownlow's welcome, attacked 'hy-
phenates," saying the negro in America
had always proved himself faithful and
loyal
Citing the part which colored men
have taken in the wars in which this
country has engaged, Mr.. Pickens said:
No one, not even the negro's worst
enemy. has ever questioned his patriot
ism. No one has asked him what coun-
try he would stand by in case of war
between this and any other power.
II sometimes doubt whether the ne
groes' best friends are in the north or
the south. but I am sure of one thing
that is, that the best friend the Ameri-
can white man has in all the world is
the American negro"
DR.. ]. c. Norwood presided. James
H. Coleman is chairman Of the grand
committee of arrangements for the ses-
sions.
Others Slated to Take Part.
Others scheduled to take part in the
session today were William B. Harris,
fomer district grand master: Judge w.
r. Morris. Charles S. Hill, district grand
master; Dr. /. l. Roberts, grand direc-
tor; Mrs Mary L. Barber, representing
the households Of Ruth in the District
of Columbia; Mrs. Nora Taylor of Chi
cago, ILL.,; w. l. Lee, former district
grand master: E. H. Morris, grand mas
ter: Mrs. Mamie A. Jackson. Mrs. Mary
Parker, James H. Coleman and Rev. E.
P. Jones. Devotional exercises were
conducted by Rev. William ]. Howard
Tonight an informal reception is to
be held at Convention Hall. Music for
the occasion will be furnished by the
Odd Fellows Band of Wilmington, Del.
Business sessions are to begin to-
morrow In addition to the regular
business of the organization, including
the election of officers the latter part
of the week, several sightseeing trips
are to be made. These will include
tours of the public buildings and a
trip down the Potomac Saturday morn
ing.