The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1918-09-21
PRICE, sc.
A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS.


The Corner stone laying of the beau
tiful new and imposing building now
being erected for the AGED AND IN
FIRM NEGROES of Jackson County
last Sunday was an overwhelming
success and the attendance far sur
passed the expectation of the General
Committee.
Five hundred people went out from
Kansas City alone while large delega-
tions were present from Independence,
Lee Summit, Parkville, Liberty and
Pleasant Hill; and considering the
threatening weather and the distance
{ Is miles from Kansas City, which
could only be reached with a convey
ance, it was truly one of the most re-
markable gatherings in the history of
this county. More than one hundred
and fifty Masons in uniform were in
attendance and quite a few as we'll as
other friends were left at the Masonic
Temple on account of the impossible
ity of securing more vehicles. Prof.
Blackburn's Masonic Union Band fur
nished music for the occasion and
gave a delightful concert at the
Temple before leaving the city, while
the Masonic Choir of forty voices un-
der the direction of Mrs. Eva M. Fox
won the hearts of all present, white
and colored, by their delightful rem
ditions.
Addresses we're delivered by Prin-
cipal ]. R. e. Lee of Lincoln High
4 Scnooi, Fruf. ~Herriford of the -. w.
| Yates School, Prof Coles, Past Grand
Master of Masons and principal Gar
rison School; Prof. Harrison of Inde-
pendence, principal of the Attucks
School of this city; Mr. F. A. Harris,
secretary of the Y. NJ. C. A. Mr.. ]. J.
Mattjoy, probation officer; DR.. How
ard NJ. Smith, superintendent of the
Home, and all three judges of the
County Court, Judges Woodson, Pen
dleton and Bulger; Rev. T. G. Nc
| Campbell conducted the religious eX-
ercises preceding the speech making,
while Hon. Nelson C. Crews was mas
/ ter of ceremonies for the afternoon.
At the conclusion of the speech
making Mr.. Crews introduced Mr.. e.
| G. Lacey, Grand Lecturer for the Ma
sonic fraternity, who in a few we'll
chosen words presented the Most Wor-
shipful Grand Master of Missouri and
Jurisdiction, w. w. Fields, of Gamer
on, Mo-, who after a few brief re-
marks proceeded with the impressive
beautiful Masonic ceremonies of lay
ing the corner stone. Mr. Richard
Fullbright, Grand Standard Bearer,
carried the beautiful banner of the
Grand Lodge, while Brother Nelson
Wallar, Master of Liberty Lodge,
| proudly carried Old Glory. 1t was a
glorious day and the first time in the
history of the state when a Negro fra
ternal organization was invited and
| performed the ceremony of laying the
corner stone of public building of
this character.
There were many amusing incidents
> connected with the trip to the scene
of the corner stone laying and return
ing. Several of the automobiles that
started failed to reach their destina-
tion, while many of the occupants of
the other cars were drenched by the
downpour that came Immediately af.
ter the conclusion of the program.
EXTRA-As we go to press, com
munication has been received from
the Government at Washington an
nouncing that unless the court can
s prove conclusively that the new build
ing is an imperative essential that
work will have to be discontinued un
til the termination of the war; that
! no iron, steel, copper, brass and Other
! war requirements can be permitted
! to enter the construction of any build
} ing until all the needs of the Govern
} ment are satisfied. The court and the
) general committee are preparing let
) ter to be sent to Washington urging
; that the immediate completion of The
: building be not delayed.