The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-23
BIRMINGHAM GE ETS HIGHEST ? RIA $ [ 0F NEGRO LEADER
Oscar w. Adams Pictures Ideal Conditions Here For
 Members Of His Race

- minEham for negroes lueal laDOL conditions, high wages and the cor dial relations between the white ana negro races were eXtolled by Oscar w. Adams, speaking on behalf of the scity, at the forty-sixth annual ses- Bsion of the negro Alabama Grand Lodge Ancient Free and Accepted Masons which opened at o'clock Tuesday morning at the new Masonic Temple, with the Grand Master Wal ter Thomas Woods officiating. The spacious audit torium was filled with 000 delegates who applauded vigorously as Adams declared Bir- mingham the best Southern city in , America presenting more future ana greater opportunity for members Of : his race than they could possibly : find elsewhere. More than 750 lodges i were represented with an aggregate membership of 24,000.
 : Devotional exercises were con ducted by the Grand Chaplain, G. ]. W Mitchell, the address of welcome on behalf of the city was delivered by W. Marvin Woodall, assistant city attorney, and response by w. H. Mix ] on, of selma, one of the best Anown ! and most influential negro Baptist { preachers in the United States.
 Committees were appointed on credentials, education, jurisprudence, | charters and dispensations, endow-
 
 turns of lodges, laws of subordinate ! lodges, obituary, works and lectures, ] appeals and grievances, resolutions and temperance, after which followed i the annual address of the grand mas ter, replete with sound advice to the delegates and frequently inter rupted with prolonged aplause. . Opportunity in Birmingham
 The principal address of the night session was made by Oscar W. $ Adams, on behalf of the city, at the Sixteenth Street Baptist church. He f spoke earnestly and Interestingly of the wonderful opportunities he de- i clared existed in Birmingham, Jeff ferson and adjacent counties for ne- groes, and especially did he empha- ! size labor conditions, the high wage and the cordial relations existing be- ]. tween the white and negro races. We have complaints" the speak CT said, "even in this glorious and :. prosperous city, but with faith in , God, ourselves and In those who have . charge of the government we expect we see them every day in the press. in conversation and in improvements in the interests of our people. It Is z altogether pleasing and should invite consideration when we tell you that the board of education Is now erect ing a high school for the negro peo- pie at a cost of $20O000. We must build a finer and better relation among ourselves. We must under stand more thoroughly how to gain friends and not lose them. It Is nec- essary that we look within. All the troubles, prejudices and jealousy are not out of the circle. There is far too much pickering and misunderstand- ing among ourselves that Is costing the race no little in reputation and
 
 thoroughly balanced life, moral and christian fortitude. loyalty to race, community and nation we can over come.
 The best negro people in America live in Birmingham. They have in the banks of this city more than two and q half million dollars. Bir- mingham has a progressive group of negro citizens and they are attract ing the attention of the entire na- tion. The best white people anywhere in the world are the white people of our city. They are moving cautious ly and substantially in the interest of the negro. We trust and have faith in that element of white people who see humanity as Gods creation.
 Birmingham Best City
 We claim to have the best South ern city in America. It has more future and guarantees a greater op- portunity for the people of my race. There are more than 70,0O0 negroes in this city and those who work with their hands can find plenty to do and the professional and business men are all busy and have the respect and confidence of race members and that of the opposite race.
 You are welcome to our city" he said, because you represent charac- ter, thrift, industry and christian for titude."
 Addresses also were made by J. A, Welton. c. L. Proctor and others and happy responses by pr. w. H. Nixon Dr. w. J. Turner of St. Louis and the wife of H. M, Gibbs of Montgom- cry, president of the Colored Wom- ems Baptist State convention. The song service was feature of the welcome exercises.
 Equally as many delegates filled every available inch of room in the temple when the Wednesday morning session opened at o'clock with de- votional exercises led by Grand Chaplain c. w. Mitchell, after which the grand officers read their annual reports.
 J. O. Diffay, grand treasurer, re- ported receipts amounting to $14,- 994.30. with balance on hand of $7,2O7.75, not including $2,000 col. 1ected at the meeting.
 K. B. Hudson of Selma, endoWme ent treasurer. and secretary Of the Ma tional Baptist convention, reported receipts for the year amounting tc $360, S76.50. including $250,26S.56 or the temple. leaving a cash balance on hand and In the banks of $23, 661.15 Reports showed the increase of en- dowment receipts to be $9769799. $500 Membership Gain.
 The report of pr. l.. l.. Burwell oi Selma, grand medical director showed that 4.500 new members had been registered in his office during the year, against 222S for the pre- ceding year. This showed, he stated the growth of the order in member ship for the year ending August 1.
 The report of paramount interest to negro Masons was that of the tenn - pie commission, composed of Grand Master Wood, chairman; r. D. Davis W. H. Ward. A. A. Peters and Dr. R. B. Hudson, into whose hands the placed. The report showed among other facts. that the seven-story brick and steel structure will cost when completed s525, 900, exclusive 6f the purchase price of the lot. The report created great enthusiasm and resulted In the unanimous reappoint- ment of the temple committee
 All the grand officers whose re- ports were read were reelected without a dissenting vote.
 Among those who delivered ad. dresses were: pr. J. A. Bray Dr F. T. Belsaw, A. A. Peters, w A. J Berry and others.
 The lodge will convene at o'clock