Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-09-20
Aliens National News Service
221 w. 1876 St New York, N. Y.
=, (By Cleveland G. Allen.)

Negroes Of this section tittingly
observed the 300 anniversary M the
races entrance to America and prom
incnt speakers who were the annivcr
sary orators recalled i'll striking
manner the remarkable climb of the
race to victory and to a definite and
fixed place in American life. The
most notable celebration was held at
the Shiloh A. Nj. Il. Zion Church in
West Brighton S. l.. OF which the
Rev. III. w. Van Pclt is The pastor.
Rev. Van .Pclt organized the move
ment TO hold this celebration and
the programme brought TO the church
some OF tho most prominent men and
women Of the race in This section.
The celebration began OH Labor
Day with IL large outdoor meeting
held OH tho lawn OF the church. Prom
incnt men and women OF the race who
testified by that achievements that
the race had just cause to hold this
celebration sat on the platform and
fully five hundl cd people were pres
cnt at tho opening day Of tho cele
bration. Assisting In the celebration
were members OF The Roosevelt Com
munity Club which has been formed
Cor the purpose OF keeping alive tho
memory OF the late Theodore Roose-
welt. -,
The speaker for tho opening day
was tho Rev. H w. Van Pelt. who
reviewed the progress Of tho race
since it landed here Tn 1919 and said
it was proper that tho race should
take note OF its great advance. He
recalled in n striking manner how
the race had won Ats freedom and
said that there was no case in his
tory its parallel.
Special music Was furnished by
the choir of the church and the feat
urc of the music was the singing of
the Negro Folk songs which fitteu
well with the occasion. On Tuesday
the orator OF the OCCASION was the
Rev. l.. w. Boynton pastor of the
ST. Phillips Baptist church at Staple
ton. S. l.. Rev Roynton who is n
graduate OF benedict College in Col
umbia. S. c., thrilled the largo audi
ence present as nc told the story of
the rise OF the race in this country.
He spoke OF the religious progress
of the race and said that it was this
part Of the race that will keep it be
lore the world
On Wednesday evening the cefebra
ton was given over to the fraternal
orders. Prominent Odd Fellows
Knights of Pythias and representa-.
tivcs Of other secret orders were pres
ent and told what the race was doing
In this direction. The speakers dcclar
cd that the members of the secret or
ders were among the most substan-
tial of the race and that no part of
the history of the race was more
worthy Of note than the progress
made by the large secret organiza
tions OF the race. Reference was made
to the management Of the Negro
Bank under the control of the Ord
er Of st. Luke's OF Richmond, Va,
or which Mrs. Maggie l.. Walker Is
the president and of the 100000 OF
flee building under the control of
the Odd Fellows in Atlanta, Ga The
service on Thursday evening was
one of the most imposing of the
series. A large gathering crowded
the auditorium Mrs DruciIla Poole
one of the progressive young women
of the race presided. Musical mum
bers were rendered by the Misses
Frances Milford, graduate of The
New York Conservatory of Music,
and Maybelle Winchester.
The speaker OH 1hia occasion was
Cleveland G. Allen the well known
newspaper correspondent and a stu
dent OF New York University.
Mr.. Allen spoke for the younger
group of race leaders and was fire.
ancntly cheered as he reviewed the
progress and development of the
race. He traced the development of
the race, told how it fixed its place
in American life and portrayed the
story OF the race from fifty-two
years ago when it emerged out OF
slavery without an economic foot
hold and it's place among the fore
most races of the world today as the
result of its dominant will and cOur
age. He closed his address by leading
the we'll known folk song "Rise and
Shine and Give God the Glory.
The five days celebration was
brought to close last Friday even
ing. The celebration which had been
going on during tho week had at
tractod the attention of II large mum
her OF prominent white citizens who
were present ut the last meeting.
Rev. Van Pelt presided and praised
the citizens OF the borough for the
interest that they took in the matter.
The speaker for the last evening
was Honorable George r.. Wibecan,
of Brooklyn, N. Y, one of tho fore