Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-11-01
Kennebec Co. Cong.
Convention Closes
With Fine Address

What was perhaps the, finest ad-
dress which Winthrop has heard in n
long time was given by Mrs. Ida
Vose woodbury. of Boston, at the
closing session of the Kennebec
county association meeting held at
the congregational church, Tuesday
evening.
!. Mrs. Woodbury.. taking as her sub
/ ject, America, What?" set forth in
startling clearness some of tho
problems which her wide experiences
| IN home mission work have brought
before her attention. AmericaniZa-
/ ton was really the theme Of her talk.
Not alone of the thousands Of men and
| women who come to our shores from
foreign lands, but of the native born
Americarls--million Of them, who
need the Americanizing influences
our island possessions, with their ma.
| tives-but still Americans. our In
dams, greater in number than ever
before, our 100000 black men in
creasing at the rate Of 400 every "a
hours.
She held the audience spellbound
while she related the story of Ella
Nelson. born in Alabama, coming to
a mission school at the age Of Is, abb
solutely untaught but eager to learn.
Here she saw for the first time in
her life the. flag of her country,
learned to salute 1t, learned for what
It stood. In two years time she had
completed the course DIT the school
and gone back to her people to teach.
In her rude little school she faced
other children, who, like herself. had
never seen the flag of their country.
What should she do? She must have
flag, this little mountain girl owned
one apron. n blue one. From it she
cut five crude stars. tore stripes from
a pink petticoat and using q thin
white bag as a foundation fashioned
rude fiag-but still flag. 1t was
q tense dramatic moment when Mrs.
woodbury. held up to view this flag
made by Ella Nelson, from which she
taught such lessons of patriotism
that 16 boys from her school volun-
teered for the flag in 1898 and over
DO followed 1t across the sea in the
last war. America, What?"
She recounted some of the deeds of
bravery accomplished by black men
for the flag. and stated these are the
only American citizens who were
really invited to come to America,
and that the first boat which unload
Its deadly cargo arrived here a year
before the Mayflower. In bringfnr /!
these men by force to our shores she ,
said, our forefathers broke seven Of /,
the ten commandments and cracked |
two more. |
Thomas Dixon advocates sending ]
them back. to Africa. start one /
cargo of 1900 at immense expense"
she said, land when it has been three !
days on the way. a new cargo has |
been born In America"
This is very incomplete account |
OF this wonderful address. sparkling
"a L.. A
close to tears. At Its conclusion the !
reporter stated, to Mrs. Woodbury. |
that she wished she might have |
known shorthand that she might have !
taken it verbatim. and received this |
astonishing reply. you couldn't do Il |
IL you did write shorthand. I use |
$50 words a minute in speaking, by
actual test"
The other speaker of the evening
was Hon. Frank G.. Harrington OF |
Augusta. who in his usual clear,
lucid manner. spoke OF the need OF 1
the work OF the men in the church |
empty pew on Sunday, the passing |
Of the family altar, and urged that |
men attend church. help in its work. |
and so in the salvation of the are. |
His talk was a fine one, and was |
given close attention.
Among the delegates registered at !
the convention Tuesday were Rev. I
and Mrs. A. T. McWborter, Mrs. ella |
Browne. Mrs. Cora Hall, Mrs. p. n.
Sterling, Augusta; Rev. W. p. Brad
ford, Clara L. Stinson, Mrs. Ben Ten
ney, Mrs. Chadbourne, Mrs. David /
Sleeves. Halloweli; Rev. r. K. BEEN.
Mrs. John Reed. Benton
Fails: Rev. G. A. Watkins, Mrs. j. r. =
Smith. Asa p Smith Mfea fryarc.,sa