The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-03-20
Mrs. Bethune
@..
Honored By
First | a d y
Mrs. Roosevelt And
Pearl Buck Guests At
Lecture : Concert

WASHINGTON - amp -
stained by the indom.;aole spir.
Hhich has carried her through
AMY trying years. Mrs. Mary Nc
cod Be,hune stood before a packed
apuse Monday night in the Asoury
Methods; church and thanked her
s,encgs for their supper; through
ne 80 years she had struggled for
others OF her race
The occasion was "lecture-eon-
cert" benefit for Bethune-Cookmsn
college az which the principal
speakers were Eleanor Roosevelt:
and Pearl Buck.
Every sea; in the big auditorium
was taken and standing room al a
premium when Miss Buck, pre-
.en;ed BY Garnet c. Wilkerson, be-
ssn her address.
Mss Buck. as usual. delivered
splcndii address. She used as a
hene True Democracy" and DIS
used tie i.fc ideals and works OF
Thomas Jefferson The father OF the
Declaration OF independence" and
creator o!s many OF the phrases
whlsh ring through American life
.odsy. Miss Buck lec;urcd her lis
..cners on the merits Of these phrases
md interpreted Their meaning n a
'aShion unmstaksble 10 the mos.
Jfrfrrtcfitscitt-
u-.e
on as she was introduced Her al
dress fara;tc most pa-t was simple
narration Of the experiences She
1ai sbrosd with the Negro troops
>hc encountered She told that these
.-oops through their efforts were
dong grea; share in winning Ire
war.
SIC spoke particularly 81 The SOL
Scrs in North Africa. who trained
as s;cvedoreS on-;kc decks Of Liver
500. where they had been encanpcd
for many months They were trained
oy competing with tho paid labor
ers ana S,cVcdoreS whom they cas-
~ ou,Strip ped
6aS- " AAAANES ca
coun, If VIVA, Negroes arc actually
DO ne IN tho var. There was no
censorship 10 stop the plain uuvar-
r,>hcd truth she told OF TIE Negro
service companies sorosd and that
most or the work they were doins
vas and is Of that, nature. although
hey arc officially called engineers.
I.a.cr in her talk Mrs Roosevcl;
S~i we lust have unity. complete
unity for a real democracy 10 make
our contr button 10 the world We
must have respect for all peoples,
>Hc sad The duty OF the United
Nations Is 20 sec tina, people all
over nc world have opportunity
,or advancement We should be
think ne row o. things VIC should
40 IN Preparing ourselves for the
DAYS TO come when the war IS
crdcd."
Mrs Bc,hune was presented a
handsome plaque. a token from The
c zens Of Washington. common
orating aer 80 years ot service and
mlykng her retirement as prcSi-
dent Of Bc,hurc-Cookman The
Rev. Robcr. " Williams. pastor Of
tn church. made TIC presentation,
which Landed Mrs. Bcthunc's efforts
for her race.
When she accepted tho plaque.
Mrs Bcihunc repeated INC motto
which for years has been her guide
in all OF her actions. Not. for my
self. Lord. but for others Briefly,
yo, effectively. SIC repeated her
gratitude 10 those who had stood
with her through The years, then
dramatically presented ne now
president ~ Bc;hunc Cookman.
James \. ColSon. who made = Shor,
appeal for continued support Tho
program was interpreted with
musical selections
AZ tho close 81 the formal speech.
es. Mrs Roosevelt and Mss Buck
stepped from TIE pulpit Of the
church and held an informal &c.
,ccpiion on the floor, shaking hands
with the majority OF the crowd
which filled the church This was
a nc / unusual procedure and prsc.
tically every person IN the 'sgdi.
encc took ADVANTAGE 81 an oppor.
tunity 10 meet the grac us First
Lady.