The northwestern bulletin., 1923-03-17
500 PEOPLE SEE
MORTGAGE ON
BUILDING BURNED
First Lodge Building in North
west Bought and Paid For
in Eight Years.
REV. L. w. HARRIS LAUDS
ACHIEVEMENT IN SPEECH
Pres. George L. Hoage Thanks
Public for Support Assoei-
alton Has Received.


What may be regarded as one OF
the most impressive events in the
history Of the Negro in the Northwest
besides being a signal achievement
throughout the fraternal world of
Colored America was the public re-
ception held Tuesday night at Union
Hall, Kent and Aurora. by the Union
Hall Association at which time the
mortgage on the hall building was
burned making the property free of
Indebtedness and the first building
to be built maintained and paid for
by Negroes in the Northwest.
Took Eight Years.
One Of the most remarkable fea-
lures connected with the deal was
the fact that 1t only took eight years
to pay for the building.
On March IS, 1914, eight years ago
the representatives of Mars Lodge of
Odd Fellows and Perfect Ashlar lodge
OF Masons met at the home Of Mr..
Richard M. Johnson, 572 Kent Street,
and effected permanent organiza-
tion, incorporating June 8, 1914, as
Union Hall Association" with the
consent of both lodges and eight
members from each lodge as repre-
sentatives, as follows: s. Edward
Hall, James E. Murphy, John II. Dill
Richard M. Johnson, George
L. Hoage. Charles H. Miller, William
T. Francis, Frank B. Simpson, John
B. johnson, Marion A. Boiling, Freo
d. Parker, Clarence Fl. Roper, Oba-
diah ID. Howard, Charles Brown, Wit
liam F. T. Chandler and George B.
Lowe. The first nine named were
elected the first Board OF Directors.
The final payment on the property
was made February %, 1928. Today
the tax value of the property is
$4,000.
Render Excellent Program.
The program arranged for the oe-
casion was an excellent and very 1T
ting one. Beginning promptly at
$3.50. Mr.. George L. Hoage as master
of Ceremonies served very we'll. The
program was as follows:
Song -........... "An Hail the Power o;
Jesus Name"
-
Pastor of st. James A. M. E. church
Scripture Reading :. Rev. A H Lealtad
Rector of st Philip Episcopal churcn
Remarks -............... s. Edward Hall
First President of Union Hall Asso.
Soprano Solo ........ Miss Ruth Brown
"God Touched the Rose'-Marry h.
Brown.
Remarks .......-.. Huron J. Shelton
Past Grand Master OF Masons
Instrumental Solo = Prof. w. A. Weir
Remarks ...--... VIM. T. Francis, Esq.
Attorney for Union Hall Asso.
Selection ....... Harmony Quartet
c. ID. Jackson, L. Jackson, b. H.
Miller, C. Fl. Miller
Remarks .Chas. e. Charleston
p. Secretary of Mars Lodge No. 2202,
G.. U. O. of o. F.
Remarks ...-AimerricQue d. Barksdale
Master of Perfect Ashlar
Lodge No. 4, F. and A. M.
Baritone Solo .........-Mr. b. Fl. Miller
"Arm! Armi Ye Brave!"-Handel
Remarks -..-... VIM. r. Morris, Esq.
Minnesota's Fraternal Nestor
Statement Jas. e. Murphy
OF Union Hall Association
Selection .............- Harmony Quartet
C. d. jackson, L. Jackson. B. n.
Miller. c. H. Miller
Render Excellent Program
The program arranged for the oc-
casion was an excellent and very At
ting one. Beginning promptly at
$3.50, Mr.. George L. Hoage. as master
Of ceremonies, served very well. The
program was as follows:
Following the selection by the Har-
mony Four, the ceremony Of burning
the mortgage was begun. The mort
gage was borne from the rear OF the
hall by four little mortgage bearers,
namely Misses Elizabeth s. Walker
ana Doris Coins. and Masters Byron