The broad ax., 1918-01-05

TIIB EMANCIPATION CHURCH
AUSPICES OF STANDARD LITERARY SOCIETY,"
TUESDAY AFTERNOON NEW YEARS DAY. WAS A VERY ENJOY.
ABLE AFFAIR.
JUDGE JOHN STEIK HON. B RILEY OF BIRMINGHAM, ALA
BAMA SPEAKERS REV. I. K WILLIAMS, THE
ELOQUENT PASTOR THAT CHURCH. INTRODUCING THEM.

The Emancipation Celebration at Oil.
vet Baptist Church New Years day,
given by the Standard Literary Society,
surpassed all such celebrations held in
this city for many years in point of
variety, uniqueness and excelency of
program. The folk lore songs, rendered
by the Polyphonie Choral Union, were
appropriate. The recital Of the Eman-
cipation Proclamation by Miss s. NJ.
Fisher was unique. The addresses Of
Judge John C. steIk and the Hon. B. F..
Riley, publieists, were replete with phi
losophy, craftsmanship and American
ism.
1t is a rare privilege to listen to a
judge Of Judge Sticks unusual intel
leetual attainment. In his remarks he
pointed out many valuable lessons to
the mother and daughter learned
through his experience in the Court OF
Domestic Relations. He especially en-
)hasized the necessity for home train
ing of the girl, that she may te pre-
pared to take care Of her own home and
thereby avoid much domestic diseord
brought about by ignorance and ex
trayagance.
The Hon. B. F. Riley, of Birmingham.
Ala, delivered the principal address of
the afternoon. After very compliment
tary introduction by Rev. L. Z. Viii.
iams, pastor Of olivet Baptist Church,
Dr.. Riley spoke at length on the sub
Jet "Boon of Liberty" The points |
emphasized by DR.. Riley, if done by a
Northern or Eastern Emaneipationist, |
would have been remarkable in point |
If liberality, but coming from q de-
Icendant Of an ex-slaveholder, born and
'eared in the middle Of the South, makes
lis utteranees more surprising, yet in
iicative Of the present state Of the
better thought, both North and South.
Dr.. Riley emphasized the thought that
Tod made man morally and religiously
quail and that freedom begets RESPONSE
'ility; that where there is no liberty
here is no responsibility; that it is to
he mutual interest Of the American
'eople that the Colored American should
hare equally in responsibility, and to !
hare in responsibility he must have
quail liberty. He recited many in
tanees and experiences in his effort to
ring about a better understanding be-
ween the races in the South. He told
how when he first began the advo-
acy Of the Celored mans cause and
he condemnation oflynehing and other
-rong treatment Of the Colored man in
be South many Of the white people
him, but that since he had
ersisted for the last ten years in say
g and doing the things which he be- ,
eyed to be right, a committee of one
undred leading white people of the
outh had met in convention and I
lodged themselves to secure the cleo
on to Office of such men as would i'm
artially enforce the law.
On the question of social equality 1
T. Riley takes q common sense view.
e stated that social equality is a ques-
on Of personal preference. He stated g
lat many of the COlored people select s
leir associates, and he aecords the same /
rivilege to both white and Colored. {
he old question of the "Negro 8 s
ace" in the South is answered by h
T. Riley by stating that his place is a
herever he can be of the greatest d