The broad ax., 1922-09-30
BRILLIANT GRAFTON ON
BISHOP SAMUEL FALLOWS,
DECEASED

Metropolitan Community Center
September p, 1922
Hon. James G. Cotter. Assistant
L. s. District Attorney.
When the parents OF Samuel Fal
lows. in lS+S, changed their place OIL
habitation, the British Empire lost one
Of her most magnificent products, and
America gained one of her most val
liable acquisitions.
Samuel Fallows. born and reared n
an atmosphere of freedom, believed in
his heart that slavery was wrong, and
his convictions against it became SO
strong that he shouldered a musket
and took his place in the front ranks
of the Union forces under Old Glory
against slavery and for the preserva-
ton of the Union.
When the war was over and the
Shackles had been stricken from four
millions of weary limbs, he devoted
himself TO his own education TO the
end that the nation soon knew him
as a great orator and educator, philo-
sopher and soldier, eminent prelate
and man of letters. His mind was
so we'll developed that he was able
to carry on successfully a multitude
OF enterprises at one and the same
time He afterwards began to apply
his superior talents to the service OF
his fellowman, and out of his great
heart of hearts there went sympathy,
and from his warm hands, succor and
assistance to every worthy individual,
cause or institution that sought his
aid.
/ have said that he hated slavery.
Well, when he was called upon some
years ago by the Honorable Edward
F. Dunno. then Governor of this
State, to serve as chairman of the
Commission appointed to celebrate
the fftieth anniversary of Negro Free
dom in America, he responded to that
call just as he did back yonder in the
sixties to the bugle call of war; and.
through his matchless devotion and
ceaseless efforts this Exposition was,
perhaps, the greatest of the kind this
country has ever seen. The story of
his labors in connection with this
work may best be told by others who
honor us with their presence and
who are here to give their own testi-
mony concerning the worth and
character of this great man.
1t was while he was serving on the
Illinois Commission that your humble
servant came in contact with him, and
received from him many words of
hope, and inspiration. 1t was there |
obtained my first fleeing glimpse of
his transcendent greatness. 1t was
there his true character was fully re-
vealed. l have said he hateo slavery.
Well, he hated the ghost of slavery,
and the last and, perhaps, most notable
service he ever rendered in this life
was when he made open and public
denunciation of that vicious institu-
ton known as the Ku Klux. Khan,
which was and is, indeed. the ghost
of slavery.
AS chairman of the American Unity
League, his action against this or
ganization was so salutary in its moral
effect. that other leaders throughout
the land, more or less prominent
than he, have emulated his high exam
pie and taken up arms against this
collosal evil Such was his courage
that had he lived, the Ku Klux Khan
would have felt, and continued to feel,
the heavy weight of his strong right
arm, because, when he put his hand
to the pillow, he never looked back.
But, my friends, nature has done
her work and Samuel Fallows has
been called to his long reward. Even
did time permit, words are inadequate
10 express the emotion we feel in our
hearts on account ct his passing away.
But he has 50 lived that his soul has
needed the admonition of the sainted
poet, Oliver Wendell Holmes, who
iang: