The broad ax., 1923-11-10

ped Tor a moment TO see whether
was dead or still living, but has gone
right on, and | guess this is what
should have been done, for l cannot
afford to stop the world just because
I am sick, and viii not do so today.
am not well, but have improved just
a little. yet I continue to stop and 60
to bed, and 50 many seem to be
anxious about me-.
But let me stop talking about my
self, to remind you that another one
Of our great men has gone from US.
and this time it is Charles Banks, Of
Mound Bayou, Miss, first vice presi-
dent Of the National Negro Business
League, and the man who really
brought Mound Bayou to the atten
ton OF the world. He devoted his
heart to the cause, and was a man
Of the race as well of affairs.
have known him for long time.
It was my pleasure to meet him in
1896, when with Bishop Derrick l
was in conference at Clarksdale. !
went to town early one morning. and
he was the one who met the people
coming to the conference. We had a
little tilt, but from that time became
good friends. He was engaged in
business there, and was doing we'll
Later he went down to Mound Bayou,
believing that it was .yossible to put
that place on the map, and he soon
became an important factor in the
town. He established the Bank Of
Mound Bayou, and was instrumental
in bringing many things into the city.
He built an oil mill there at a cost
Of one hundred thousand dollars, and
it will ever stand as a monument to
the man whose life was spent for his
people.
There came into his life some do
mestic affairs, and he has spent much
Of his time Of late years in Memphis.
I was indeed sorry when l saw in the
Houston Informer that he had crossed
over, and ! said just one more gone
ahead. One by one we are dropping
out in all walks of life.
l saw Mr.. Banks at the last session
of the National Negro Business
League and then he was feeble, but l
did not realize that it would be the
last time / would have the pleasure
Of shaking his hands. We can never
tell, for / think Of how near the brink
have been. / am now waiting for
the summons to come to me and when
it comes, l will fold my arms and
cross over, for it is ali right with me.
Here / am in Houston this week,
but honey, l have been in bed all the
week The people are certainly trying
to help me get we'll, and some of
them want me to continue to live
down here for little longer, and
they are doing all in their power to
help me take the much needed rest.
They are. doing it in a way that
counts, or in a tangible way, for just
this week comes a letter from Bishop
John Hurst of the African Methodist
Episcopal church, sending me $40, and
he was in Florida; another from Dr.
l.. K. Williams, Of Olivet Baptist
church, and president Of the National
Baptist convention, sending $40 to
Brother Charley; one from J. NJ.
Avery, Of Durham, NJ G., sending me
just $50, and J. H. Branham, assist
ant pastor Of Olivet, Chicago, sending
along S.. / did not realize that people
thought 50 much Of me, and were So
anxious about my health.
! have letter from Mr.. and Mrs.
M. H. Falconer, Hot Springs. inviting
me to come right on there and let
them take care Of me, and Miss B. c.
Ford. who is a clerk in the Office Of
the Woodmen Of Union, says thar
she viii be the nurse. But why talk
about myself in this letter when you
want to know something else.
JAS | told you in another letter be-
fore this | went to San Antonio. a