The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-20
COLORED BAPTISTS
PLAN REUNION

Tho colored Baptists Of Virginia are
planning to hold ! reunion meeting In
this city beginning July 30. A feature
OF this meeting will be the ter-centen-
airy celebration Of the landing of the
first negroes at jamestown, Virginia,
in the year 1919.
The history of the colored race in
this country. its wonderful strides
from heathentsm to civilization render
it fitting. the colored leaders declare
that some notice should be given to the
time of the beginning OF the race in
America
While some Of the co1ored people ex-
press opposition to the idea Of cele
hrating an event that involved the
slavery conditions OF the race there
II an overwhelming majority who share
the sentiment of Fred Douglass who
said. I'VE should praise God not SO
much for the heights to which we have
attained as for the depths from which
we have come" In this connection
Rev. T. D. Lewis. pastor of Second
Baptist church. colored. says:
May I state that there is no phase
Of our history Of which We should be
ashamed. for our career as race does
not differ very essentially from that
Of some Of the most powerful and
, progressive races of the earth There
is such thing as helpful opposition.
Many of the more intelligent col
ored people have become to look at
slavery not as curse from God. but
as . school to which Divine Providence
directed our race as a means by which
we should be trained to fill an honored
place IN one of tho greatest nations on
earth.
Tho Indian accepted no such place
IN this country. and consequently Is
not far removed from where civilixa-
ton found him 800 years ago. He Is
still a racial infant which must be
housed. fed and clothed by the govern
ment; but such LIS not the condition of
our race; are not a ward Of the
nation but producers. Dwelling in the
tents Of tho white race. even as
slave for two centuries and a half we
obtained information touching the USE
full arts, which Information is denied
the Indian and would have been i'm
possible to US had we not been brought
into contact with such people as these
with whom we have spent 800 wears.
Service is the road to honor and ra
ciai greatness. certainly to true free
dom.
Viewing matters in this light,
do say that TO the dark fact Of slavery
tf>~r~ is a somewhat bright side hence
do not regard Il curse abso-
lutely. hut rather . Divine Providence.
Therefore WE arr OK the ap1n ION that
past slavery conditions should he no
bar to our celebration OF that impor-
tant event OF the landing OF the first
negroes In America. IN event which IL
vitality connected with the history OF
Virginia and also that Of the United
States
During this meeting addresses win
be made by some Of the distinguished
white men Of Virginia, together with
some Of the leading men and women Of
our race who are known to have ora
.crical ability Of no mean character,
a large number OF colored people
from ali parts Of the state will attend
this meeting and members Of the race
from other states not a few. for 1t Is
commonly agreed that negroes IN all
parts OF the country trace their begin
ming to this state
According TO present arrangements
great mass meeting will be held In
the evening of the seth at the City
Auditorium at which time music will
ne furnished by choir ~ 500 we'll
trained voices Of the coiored people
The public is Invited to attend this
meeting.