<\/p>\n
Click Link to read or follow article below:<\/p>\n
J. M’HENRY JONES.
\nWheeling’s Colored Orator and
\nEducator ia England.
\nADDRESS TO THE ODD FELLOWS
\nOf that Country u Fraternet Delegate
\nFrom Am arte a?Am Eloqmnt Deliver*
\nMM (liNrtd to 111* Echo-II* Talki
\na boot what Um Colored llaci llae Acoempllehed
\ntor lUelf lu the Hatted Slate*
\nIbue Freed from Slavery.
\nFollowing Ia an abstract of tha address
\ndelivered by rrofessor J. McHenry
\nJones, of Wheeling, at Bolton, England.
\nJune S. Professor Jones Is fra
\ncental delegate of the Grand united
\nOrder of Odd Fellows In America to
\nthe English A. M. C., in session at
\nBoKon. He was received with great
\ndemonstration of friendliness and wai
\nfrequently Interrupted by applause.
\nProfessor Jones aald, in part:
\nWoAby Grand Master. Officers and
\nDelegates:?Your brothers from beyond
\nthe deep and rolling ocean, plighting
\n(heir vows at the same altar, drinking
\nfrom the same perennial stream at the
\nfouhtaln of Friendship, warmed by the
\nInfluences emanating from ihe glowing
\ncoals on the altar of Love and worshiping
\nat the shrine of Truth, with
\nincreasing affection, send fraternal
\ngreetings and good will to the mother
\nA. M. C.. in England.<\/p>\n
Having for years attempted to make
\nknown, through correspondence, the
\nlove and gratitude the Order in America
\ncherishes toward you. I have been
\nsent to emphasize and in a measure
\ngive voice to the enduring nature of
\nthose sentiment*. It has been now
\nmore than half a century ?lnc?’ a
\nfew noble men of our race, despised.
\nout-Iawed and virtually expatriated,
\nturned their discouraged faces toward
\nthis God-blessed land. It wan with feelings
\nof mingled ?k?p^ and fear that
\nthese determined, righteous men made
\nnrwkni ?o thi? flraad United Order
\nof Odu Fel’ow*.
\nRising above the littleness of caste,
\ntoo great to bo mean, the Grand United
\nOrder of Odd Fellows welcomed our
\nfathers ^nto the family of mankind.
\nHolding aloft the torch of Truth. th*>
\norder In England declared: “Fraternity
\nIs an ocean which washes the shores of
\nevery country, and Its influence can b?
\nbounded only by the Jutting crugs of
\neternity.” Fifty years ago. Peter 0?den
\ncame pleading the v.rtues of the
\ndespised; In the name of the widows
\nand orphans of our brotherhood. I
\ncome to thank you that his story was
\nbelieved. He came bearing the petition
\nof the oppressed. I come to offer the
\nhomage of the frep. Over him hung the
\nraven-wing of doubt; above me exSinds
\nthe rainbow of eternal promisf.
\ne came from the night in search of
\ndawn; I come clothed with the morning.
\nexpecting the uoonday. Like a
\ndove, bearing the olive branch. Peter
\nOgden returned to the loag-neglected
\nark. beneath whose roof our fathers impatiently
\nwaited: I bring back the
\nmuch cherished emblem of peace and
\nwith a full heart and open hands present
\nthe greetings of 160.000 black Odd
\nFellows, whose lives have been inspired
\nand manhood strengthened by its
\nsignificant teacmngs. n wouiu not ?e
\namiss on this auspicious occasion, to
\nturn on their golden hinpes the glided
\nleaves of the past and take an Inventory
\nof the historic foot-prints left by
\nprogress on the years that have llown.
\n” ‘Tis greatly wise tp talk with
\nyour past hours.
\nAnd ask them what report they
\nhave borne to heaven.
\nAnd how th?y might have borne
\nmore welcome news.”
\nWhat a change has come over the
\nworld since our fathers gathered first
\naround the sacred altar and pledged
\ntheir fidelity to the principles of our
\norder! What a breadth of years measured
\nby the events which have crowded
\ninto history since that act which
\nmust ever endear their memories to
\ntheir race. The world has lived a
\nthousand years since then, so rapidly
\nhas progress trodden upon the heels of
\ntime.
\n‘ In 1843, Bismarck was unknown.
\nGladstone, the grand old English gentleman.
\nwinning his spurs 8J a statesman,
\nLincoln, a name sufficiently Illustrious
\nto illuminate any age, was a
\ncountry lawyer. Grant was* at West
\nPoint at the foot of his class. It was
\nthe darkest hour for my people in
\nAmerican history. Every device that
\nhate could concoct, brain contrive or
\noppression execute, fell unchecked, uphaolrti
\nof the ?oor for
\ntaken negro. The return of Peter Offden,
\ntherefore, triumphantly bearing
\nthe charier of English recognition, was
\nlike a ray of light from a midnight sky.
\nIn 1843, without property, without the
\nmoral support of the community, without
\nanything save our faith in God and
\nhope for a bettor day. we organized the
\nfirst lodge. A decode after the Institution
\nof the order In America, our number
\nhad grown to 1,48?. We now number
\nnearly 160.000. We have expended
\nfor sick dues during the past year. 3198.423
\n82; paid to widows and orphans.
\n$40,360 72; paid for funerals. 196.400: and
\nafter the expenditure of this large sum
\n?aggregating $333,183 54, we still have
\nInvested in funds and securities Jl.867.159.
\nWe have subordinate lodges In
\nthirty-nine states, four territories, the
\nDistrict of Columbia. West Indies,Canada.
\nHaytl, South America and Africa.
\nOur grand masters’ councils number
\n182. Our women also, have Joined with
\ntis in pushing forward the victories of
\nour most humane Institution.
\nExperience has fully demonstrated
\nthat the union of man’s strength and
\nvigor, with woman’s faith and sympathy.
\nin a friendly society, is an act
\nof the highest wisdom. Nowhere has
\nthis fact been more satisfactorily exemplified
\nthan In the organization of
\nthe Household of Ruth. Side by aide
\n? i.u i.MihrMt zmr .10.000
\nstrong. are dedicating their services to
\nthe sacred caus” of practical charity.
\nNor are they satisfied to move along In
\n<he beaten path, but with n more enlightened
\nconception of their needs,
\nthey are proposing and organizing new
\ndepartments In keeping with the progressive
\nlines of their development.
\nThe la?t B. M. C. stamped with its approval
\nthe organization of “Juvenile
\nLodges,” to be controlled by the Household
\nof Ruth. Through this new organization,
\nour God-fearing mothers,
\nwives and slaters will strive to Inculcate
\nlessons of virtue, economy and sobriety
\nin the hearts of th” children. To >
\nmuch credit cannot be given the women
\nof our race. The world has but
\none new woman?the Afro-American
\nwoman. In the face of the most cruel
\ncondition* that ever blighted and outraged
\nwomankind, nur mothers. God
\nbless them, conquering fate, have outlived
\nthe past and arc rearing and educating
\nmanly sons and virtuous
\ndaughters to All places of trust and profit
\nIn the great republic
\nOur military division?the patriarchy
\n?like the Household of Ruth, is an Innovation
\nunknown In England, but filling
\nan actual need in our work The
\nhighest branch In the order it seek* to
\nweave Into an endless chain tiie teachings
\nand experiences of the subordinate
\nlodge and past grand master council
\nand h^art to h<art and hand to hand,
\nrender Ineffaceable the moral lesions
\nof Odd Fellowship. We have labored to
\ncons’Tv<f in their pristine purify,
\nprinciples and mysteries entrusted to
\nour fathers in the days of other years.
\nWe tench th?- Fatherhood of God and
\nthus postul?r< th?? brotherhood of men
\nThe Grand United Order of Odd Fellows
\nis at one with Christianity In
\npiomulg.iting the universal truth,
\n“From on?* blood hath God created all |
\nthe nations of the earth.” Wo believe j
\n!r. the ab*c??i!<? equality of men. Deforo
\nliberty, equality and fraternity became
\nence. Wherever sorrow lifts Its mournful
\nhead ?r wont unbidden lurka there
\nthe Influence of uur noble order will
\nmoke Its appearance, and wheq our
\nweak efforts arc forgotten and thorn*
\nthat followed ui shall have suffered our
\nfate, when the tinof England and
\nAmerica, twin slater*. In the forefront of
\ndestiny ?hall have fallen for want of defenders,
\nthe principles which we teach,
\nwill live on: breathed upon new tonKUea,
\narticulated under new skies until
\nthe great Father of the universe shall
\nthe rallying cry of oppressed humanity,
\nthese truths were taught and widely
\npracticed uinong Odd Fellows. Justice
\nand Charity. Friendship and Truth
\nbear the same Interpretation, and kindle
\nthe same enthusiasm In America ns
\nIn England. Liberty, founded upon Justice.
\nCharity, tempered with fraternity,
\nequality based upon merit share a large
\nplace In the teachings of our order
\nOur order in America, represents the
\nhigh-water murk among the masses of
\nour people. Young men of the better
\nsocial standing cultivation and worth as
\nwell as their white haired sires, the solid
\nmen among us. have linked Chelr fortunes
\nwith our brotherhood. The pro
\ngress or the American negro, during ine
\nlast generation tlnds no parallel in the
\nhistory ?>f tht world. Whatewr ftcir i mica
\nmay say, facta art* more convincing
\nthan theories and truth is stranger than
\nfiction. At the close of the war of the
\nrebellion, the frecdmen were the I>00rest
\npeople on the face of the earth. We had
\nno home, no roof to shelter us from the
\nInhospitable storm?hothing save the
\nblit* .?k” and friendly sunshine by dey,
\nthe unsym pat hiring stars by night. We
\nwere houseless, homeless wanderers
\nupon the face of the earth. The negro
\nhad no family to strengthen and encourage
\nhim; family ties were largely denied
\nhim by the circumstances of his most
\nunhappy past. lie was void of houjfo*
\nhold goods or aacred memories to holfl
\nhim in a steady course. We had nothing
\nbut willing hands, honeat hearts and unshaken
\ntrust In O kL Under audi circumstances,
\nto have established a home
\nand gathered under a common family
\ntree, in a generation his wife and children
\nWould have been one of the tu? 1
\nremarkable acoompllahtnents of history.
\nTo our credit we have done this and
\nmore. In a generation we have accum itn?4wi
\nand n;?v taxes on Si00.000.000
\nworth of real estate. We own and operate
\na street car railway In Arkansas’. We
\nown $663,000 worth of shipping. $102,000
\nworth of wharfage, live banks with a
\ncapital <?f $3,000,000. 200 dally and weekly
\nnewspapers. In one state alone, nre own
\n800,000 acre* of land.
\nSmall indeed nr.- these figures when
\ncompared with the aggregated wealth of
\nour great country, but worthy of consideration,
\nwhen it is* remembered that
\nunder circumstances not the most favorable,
\nwe have accomplished so much In
\nso short a time. Our material prosperity
\nIs by no means our proudest monument.
\nOur mental advancement has surpassed
\nour material advancement. In n quarter
\nof a centur> over 3,500,000 of our race
\nhave learned to read and write. We have
\nacquired and control IS college*. 24 acmlemles,
\n01 high schools and seminaries.
\nWe have more than 30,000 teachers In
\nthe public school.*. 33 painter* of merited
\nreputation, 16 sculptors, 2.000 physicians,
\n295 dentists. 3.000 lawyers. 2.800 B. D.
\nministers, MO telegraph operators. 30.0C0
\nskilled workmen of all sorts and conditions,
\n1,466 engineers, 1.600 captains and
\npilots of vessels, 3,970 b??ok-keepers and
\nstenographers. 8,000 printers.
\nThis work of educating and up-llftlng
\nthe masses ha? been largely done by our
\nown people. Circumstance have compelled
\nus to uplift ourselves. Where In
\nthe annals of mankind can be found another
\nexample of a race rising to the
\nsut>llm?? statue of Intellectual manhood
\nand womanhood by Its own power. We
\nhave been largely our own teacher*. We
\nwould not detract from the help given us
\nby the church, nor the noble self-sacrlflcing
\nmen and women who have suffered
\no-.rtraclsm and contempt in order that
\nthey might devote their energies to the
\ncause of the despised, but the fact remains.
\nthe great force used in elevating
\nour people, ha:? come from within. “We
\nhave made bricks, gathering our own
\nstraw. We do not complain; the exertion
\nhas been helpful rather than enervating.
\nCircumstances have taught us
\nself reHaitce . We only beg for our
\nschools and churches, bread for the
\nmind, food for the soul. The marks of
\npast sorrows are not altogether obllter
\nated, still our star of manhood continues
\nto ascend. Reformation gotn not backward.
\nIf a rac<? has left the llrst apathy
\nof Ignorance when it longs to shako off
\nthe darkness of the past, then sire we In
\nthe whirl of advancing time and keeping
\nstep with the music ??f progression.
\nTrainer! in a ochool of mixfortune. we
\nhopefully, fearlcaely face the future.
\nOur past sorrows were providential.
\nThrough the fiery clouds <>f suffering
\ncan be dimly outlined the puissant hand
\nof (Jod. These facts may be prosaic, but
\nthey lead to a broad generalization. Tf
\nthe order has been able, to grow under
\ncircumstance so forbidding, what mu*t
\nbe the future under brighter skies and
\nmore Inviting prospects? It Is a pleasure
\nto report that the night Is passing
\nand faint mreaks of the Incoming light,
\nsoften the threatening sky. with prophecies
\nof a b-t:?-r day. Here and there as
\nthe grey dawn steals noltleuty upon ub,
\na flickering bonfire, or an Illegal lynching
\nfin the* out. proof that Error die3
\nhard.
\nBy the heart throbs that beat In unl
\nRon. by the tnutua) Borrows of the past,
\nby the frequent louche* of nature that
\nmake the whole world kin. we are nearIng
\na better understanding. It la coming
\nby the way of the schoolhouse scattering
\nenlightenment; by the way of
\nchurch disseminating a purer conception
\nof the Holy Christ. Just as the hatred
\nengendered betiveen the two sections
\nof our country, by ivar. Is disappearing
\nas distance from It recedes, so
\nwe believe that the asperities between
\nraces must yield to th?? better Influence*
\nwhich time alon^ will produce. We
\nhave faith to look Into the frowning
\nface of blackest night for the rosy hues
\nof coming morning;faith to believe that
\nthrough the threatening clouds that
\nhavo so long overshadowed us,, will
\nbreak th?? golden light of n new mancipation.
\nNext to uur own happiness, we
\npray for the prosperity of Copland. Our
\npeople, to a man, hope that tie- friendly
\nfeeling, so long existing between Knqland
\nand the United Statos may continue
\nto strengthen as the years roll by.
\nWe ch’-rlsh the hope that never again
\nthe two nations t*?uml by a rommon
\ntongue, heirs to a common literature,
\nseeking th^ snm” high destiny* the net*
\ntors and promulgators of civil and religious
\nliberty?wo hope, hay, we demand
\nthat nations so united by a community
\nof Interests, shall always find
\nnorne means to H??tt|o tneir auiercnceii
\nwithout an appeal to arms.
\nWe ?re only on th?’ border of the
\nwave of fraternity which must tilt?mately
\nsweep our land. We Increased
\nour membership 13,000 during the last
\nyear, nnd still there are more to follow.
\nThe principles which we teach nnd practice
\nor-‘ destined to llv<? forever. No
\n( Hiii.- w>r country ‘an Urn 11 tle-lr InllnMOTHER!
\nSW
\nEnglish language and the 0110 about
\nwhich the rnont tender and holy recollections
\ncluster is that of Mother?she
\nwho watched our tender year*,yclthp
\nlife of every Expectant Mother is beset
\nsit. Mother’s Friend
\nso assists Nature in the change taking
\nplace that the Mother is enabled to
\nlook lorward without dread or gloomy
\nforebodings to the hour when she experience*
\nthe the joy of Motherhood.
\nIts use insures safety to the lives of
\nboth Mother and Child, and she is left
\nstronger after than before confinement.
\nSent by Mall, “n receipt “f prlco, PI.00 wr bottle.
\nIlook to” Kxprtatit Mottmr i ” will mulled
\nfreo on rpquon, to any lady, containing valuable
\nInformation and voluntary tentimoulals.
\nTk* BridOill Bejalitor Co., Allaata, Ga*
\nOLD ?V ALL OnUQQItTS.
\nclose the chaptcr of time. “‘Mid th<*
\n.?.? h f matter And the crash of
\nI world*”
\nI In tbo name of the ittyrcunimUtetf of
\nmanagement, in th?* name of th?? H. M
\n! C., add In the nam*- of the black host of
\nOdd Fellow# in America. I extend to
\ni you fraternal greeting**<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
J. M. HENRY JONES, Colored Orator and Educator in England, address the GUOOF in Wheeling, WV Click Link to read or follow article below: The Wheeling Daily intelligencer., June 22, 1897 J. M’HENRY JONES. Wheeling’s Colored Orator and Educator ia England. ADDRESS TO THE ODD FELLOWS Of that Country u Fraternet Delegate From Am arte a?Am Eloqmnt Deliver* MM (liNrtd to 111* Echo-II* Talki a boot what Um Colored llaci llae Acoempllehed tor lUelf lu the Hatted Slate* Ibue Freed from Slavery. Following Ia an abstract of tha address delivered by rrofessor J. McHenry Jones, of Wheeling, at Bolton, England. June S. Professor Jones Is fra cental delegate of the Grand united Order of Odd Fellows In America to the English A. M. C., in session at BoKon. He was received with great demonstration of friendliness and wai frequently Interrupted by applause. Professor Jones aald, in part: WoAby Grand Master. Officers and Delegates:?Your brothers from beyond the deep and rolling ocean, plighting (heir vows at the same altar, drinking from the same perennial stream at the fouhtaln of Friendship, warmed by the Influences emanating from ihe glowing coals on the altar of Love and worshiping at the shrine of Truth, with increasing affection, send fraternal greetings and good will to the mother A. M. C.. in England. Having for years attempted to make known, through correspondence, the love and gratitude the Order in America cherishes toward you. I have been sent to emphasize and in a measure give voice to the enduring nature of those sentiment*. It has been now more than half a century ?lnc?’ a few noble men of our race, despised. out-Iawed and virtually expatriated, turned their discouraged faces toward this God-blessed land. It wan with feelings of mingled ?k?p^ and fear that these determined, righteous men made nrwkni ?o thi? flraad United Order of Odu Fel’ow*. Rising above the littleness of caste, too great to bo mean, the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows welcomed our fathers ^nto the family of mankind. Holding aloft the torch of Truth. th*> order In England declared: “Fraternity Is an ocean which washes the shores of every country, and Its influence can b? bounded only by the Jutting crugs of eternity.” Fifty years ago. Peter 0?den came pleading the v.rtues of the despised; In the name of the widows and orphans of our brotherhood. I come to thank you that his story was believed. He came bearing the petition of the oppressed. I come to offer the homage of the frep. Over him hung the raven-wing of doubt; above me exSinds the rainbow of eternal promisf. e came from the night in search of dawn; I come clothed with the morning. expecting the uoonday. Like a dove, bearing the olive branch. Peter Ogden returned to the loag-neglected ark. beneath whose roof our fathers impatiently waited: I bring back the much cherished emblem of peace and with a full heart and open hands present the greetings of 160.000 black Odd Fellows, whose lives have been inspired and manhood strengthened by its significant teacmngs. n wouiu not ?e amiss on this auspicious occasion, to turn on their golden hinpes the glided leaves of the past and take an Inventory of the historic foot-prints left by progress on the years that have llown. ” ‘Tis greatly wise tp talk with your past hours. And ask them what report they have borne to heaven. And how th?y might have borne more welcome news.” What a change has come over the world since our fathers gathered first around the sacred altar and pledged their fidelity to the principles of our order! What a breadth of years measured by the events which have crowded into history since that act which must ever endear their memories to their race. The world has lived a thousand years since then, so rapidly has progress trodden upon the heels of time. ‘ In 1843, Bismarck was unknown. Gladstone, the grand old English gentleman. winning his spurs 8J a statesman, Lincoln, a name sufficiently Illustrious to illuminate any age, was a country lawyer. Grant was* at West Point at the foot of his class. It was the darkest hour for my people in American history. Every device that hate could concoct, brain contrive or oppression execute, fell unchecked, uphaolrti of the ?oor for taken negro. The return of Peter Offden, therefore, triumphantly bearing the charier of English recognition, was like a ray of light from a midnight sky. In 1843, without property, without the moral support of the community, without anything save our faith in God and hope for a bettor day. we organized the first lodge. A decode after the Institution of the order In America, our number had grown to 1,48?. We now number nearly 160.000. We have expended for sick dues during the past year. 3198.423 82; paid to widows and orphans. $40,360 72; paid for funerals. 196.400: and after the expenditure of this large sum ?aggregating $333,183 54, we still have Invested in funds and securities Jl.867.159. We have subordinate lodges In thirty-nine states, four territories, the District of Columbia. West Indies,Canada. Haytl, South America and Africa. Our grand masters’ councils number 182. Our women also, have Joined with tis in pushing forward the victories of our most humane Institution. Experience has fully demonstrated that the union of man’s strength and vigor, with woman’s faith and sympathy. in a friendly society, is an act of the highest wisdom. Nowhere has this fact been more satisfactorily exemplified than In the organization of the Household of Ruth. Side by aide ? i.u i.MihrMt zmr .10.000 strong. are dedicating their services to the sacred caus” of practical charity. Nor are they satisfied to move along In <he beaten path, but with n more enlightened conception of their needs, they are proposing and organizing new departments In keeping with the progressive lines of their development. The la?t B. M. C. stamped with its approval the organization of “Juvenile Lodges,” to be controlled by the Household of Ruth. Through this new organization, our God-fearing mothers, wives and slaters will strive to Inculcate lessons of virtue, economy and sobriety in the hearts of th” children. To > much credit cannot be given the women of our race. The world has but one new woman?the Afro-American woman. In the face of the most cruel condition* that ever blighted and outraged womankind, nur mothers. God bless them, conquering fate, have outlived the past and arc rearing and educating manly sons and virtuous daughters to All places of trust and profit In the great republic Our military division?the patriarchy ?like the Household of Ruth, is an Innovation unknown In England, but filling an actual need in our work The highest branch In the order it seek* to weave Into an endless chain tiie teachings and experiences of the subordinate lodge and past grand master council and h^art to h<art and hand to hand, render Ineffaceable the moral lesions of Odd Fellowship. We have labored to cons’Tv<f in their pristine purify, principles and mysteries entrusted to our fathers in the days of other years. We tench th?- Fatherhood of God and thus postul?r< th?? brotherhood of men The Grand United Order of Odd Fellows is at one with Christianity In piomulg.iting the universal truth, “From on?* blood hath God created all | the nations of the earth.” Wo believe j !r. the ab*c??i!<? equality of men. Deforo liberty, equality and fraternity became ence. Wherever sorrow lifts Its mournful head ?r wont unbidden lurka there the Influence of uur noble order will moke Its appearance, and wheq our weak efforts arc forgotten and thorn* that followed ui shall have suffered our fate, when the tinof England and America, twin slater*. In the forefront of destiny ?hall have fallen for want of defenders, the principles which we teach, will live on: breathed upon new tonKUea, articulated under new skies until the great Father of the universe shall the rallying cry of oppressed humanity, these truths were taught and widely practiced uinong Odd Fellows. Justice and Charity. Friendship and Truth bear the same Interpretation, and kindle the same enthusiasm In America ns In England. Liberty, founded upon Justice. Charity, tempered with fraternity, equality based upon merit share a large place In the teachings of our order Our order in America, represents the high-water murk among the masses of our people. Young men of the better social standing cultivation and worth as well as their white haired sires, the solid men among us. have linked Chelr fortunes with our brotherhood. The pro gress or the American negro, during ine last generation tlnds no parallel in the history ?>f tht world. Whatewr ftcir i mica may say, facta art* more convincing than theories and truth is stranger than fiction. At the close of the war of the rebellion, the frecdmen were the I>00rest people on the face of the earth. We had no home, no roof to shelter us from the Inhospitable storm?hothing save the blit* .?k” and friendly sunshine by dey, the unsym pat hiring stars by night. We were houseless, homeless wanderers upon the face of the earth. The negro had no family to strengthen and encourage him; family ties were largely denied him by the circumstances of his most unhappy past. lie was void of houjfo* hold goods or aacred memories to holfl him in a steady course. We had nothing but willing hands, honeat hearts and unshaken trust In O kL Under audi circumstances, to have established a home and gathered under a common family tree, in a generation his wife and children Would have been one of the tu? 1 remarkable acoompllahtnents of history. To our credit we have done this and more. In a generation we have accum itn?4wi and n;?v taxes on Si00.000.000 worth of real estate. We own and operate a street car railway In Arkansas’. We own $663,000 worth of shipping. $102,000 worth of wharfage, live banks with a capital <?f $3,000,000. 200 dally and weekly newspapers. In one state alone, nre own 800,000 acre* of land. Small indeed nr.- these figures when compared with the aggregated wealth of our great country, but worthy of consideration, when it is* remembered that under circumstances not the most favorable, we have accomplished so much In so short a time. Our material prosperity Is by no means our proudest monument. Our mental advancement has surpassed our material advancement. In n quarter of a centur> over 3,500,000 of our race have learned to read and write. We have acquired and control IS college*. 24 acmlemles, 01 high schools and seminaries. We have more than 30,000 teachers In the public school.*. 33 painter* of merited reputation, 16 sculptors, 2.000 physicians, 295 dentists. 3.000 lawyers. 2.800 B. D. ministers, MO telegraph operators. 30.0C0 skilled workmen of all sorts and conditions, 1,466 engineers, 1.600 captains and pilots of vessels, 3,970 b??ok-keepers and stenographers. 8,000 printers. This work of educating and up-llftlng the masses ha? been largely done by our own people. Circumstance have compelled us to uplift ourselves. Where In the annals of mankind can be found another example of a race rising to the sut>llm?? statue of Intellectual manhood and womanhood by Its own power. We have been largely our own teacher*. We would not detract from the help given us by the church, nor the noble self-sacrlflcing men and women who have suffered o-.rtraclsm and contempt in order that they might devote their energies to the cause of the despised, but the fact remains. the great force used in elevating our people, ha:? come from within. “We have made bricks, gathering our own straw. We do not complain; the exertion has been helpful rather than enervating. Circumstances have taught us self reHaitce . We only beg for our schools and churches, bread for the mind, food for the soul. The marks of past sorrows are not altogether obllter ated, still our star of manhood continues to ascend….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[20,23,24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1015","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-guoof","category-history","category-regions"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8rHzu-gn","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6121,"url":"https:\/\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/2025\/06\/22\/kentuckys-previous-guoof-lodges-and-hh-ruth\/","url_meta":{"origin":1015,"position":0},"title":"Kentucky’s Previous GUOOF Lodges and HH Ruth","author":"Sis. Anne Huffman","date":"June 22, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"One of the oldest African American organizations in Kentucky celebrates 145 years by Nancy Stearns Theiss Special to the Courier-Journal One of the oldest African American organizations in Kentucky is the Odd Fellows Washington Lodge, No. 1513, in New Castle, Kentucky. Since its Dispensation on Oct. 29, 1872 by the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Events"","block_context":{"text":"Events","link":"https:\/\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/category\/events\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Screenshot-2025-06-22-161922.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Screenshot-2025-06-22-161922.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Screenshot-2025-06-22-161922.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Screenshot-2025-06-22-161922.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6116,"url":"https:\/\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/2025\/06\/22\/charles-h-brooks-wrote-the-official-history-of-the-guoof\/","url_meta":{"origin":1015,"position":1},"title":"Charles H. Brooks wrote the Official History of the GUOOF","author":"Sis. Anne Huffman","date":"June 22, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Brooks, Charles H.(born: 1859 \u00a0- \u00a0died: 1940)Charles H. Brooks was born in Paducah, KY. A lawyer, businessman, and writer, Brooks wrote the official history of the Odd Fellows Fraternity and was a delegate to the International Conference of Odd Fellows in Europe in 1900.Born in Paducah in 1859, Charles H.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Events"","block_context":{"text":"Events","link":"https:\/\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/category\/events\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/bROOKS.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/bROOKS.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/bROOKS.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2608,"url":"https:\/\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/2019\/08\/05\/district-grand-lodge-13-guoof-to-meet\/","url_meta":{"origin":1015,"position":2},"title":"District Grand Lodge #13, GUOOF to meet","author":"Sis. Anne Huffman","date":"August 5, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"DDISTRICT GRAND LODGE NO. 13 OF\u00a0 SOUTH CAROLINA GRAND UNITED ORDER OF ODD FELLOW\u00a0 Brother Shawn O. Cannon, DGM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0I greet you with a humble and grateful heart as we the members of\u00a0District Grand Lodge No. 13 of South Carolina Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America\u00a0invite you\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Events"","block_context":{"text":"Events","link":"https:\/\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/category\/events\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1099,"url":"https:\/\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/2018\/05\/01\/washington-lodge-1513-kentucky-continues-to-write-its-history-future\/","url_meta":{"origin":1015,"position":3},"title":"Washington Lodge #1513, Kentucky, continues to write its history, future","author":"Sis. Anne Huffman","date":"May 1, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Washington Lodge plays role in all our heritage. The Grand United Order of Odd Fellows is an African-American fraternal organization founded in 1843. Although the GUOOF still exists, its overall membership has declined sharply, just as the number of fraternal organizations everywhere has fallen. The community rallying around the Odd\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Events"","block_context":{"text":"Events","link":"https:\/\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/category\/events\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Washington-Lodge-No-1513-3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5007,"url":"https:\/\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/2022\/08\/27\/major-general-paul-vanheynegen-funeral-service-on-zoom\/","url_meta":{"origin":1015,"position":4},"title":"Major General Paul vanHeynegen Funeral Service on Zoom","author":"Sis. Anne Huffman","date":"August 27, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Tomorrow will be the funeral service for Bro. Paul Vanheynegen at 1 pm. We hope that you can join us in person for his Celebration of Life at the address listed below. The service will be presided over by Rev. Demetrius Jifunza with readings from Brothers & Sisters from the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Events"","block_context":{"text":"Events","link":"https:\/\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/category\/events\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/301197640_10228584905678310_5674511348517500675_n.jpg?fit=809%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/301197640_10228584905678310_5674511348517500675_n.jpg?fit=809%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/301197640_10228584905678310_5674511348517500675_n.jpg?fit=809%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/301197640_10228584905678310_5674511348517500675_n.jpg?fit=809%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2573,"url":"https:\/\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/2019\/07\/16\/important-message-from-grand-secretary-paige-guoof\/","url_meta":{"origin":1015,"position":5},"title":"Important message from Grand Secretary Paige, GUOOF","author":"Sis. Anne Huffman","date":"July 16, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Hello Brothers and Sisters, The July Full Board session convened in Philadelphia on July 12, 2019. \u00a0Brother Green attended and is well on the road to recovery but Brother Joe Mathurin, HDGM. presided during the business session. \u00a0Please note these two important agenda items that affect our entire membership: Opinion:\u00a0Item\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Events"","block_context":{"text":"Events","link":"https:\/\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/category\/events\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1015","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1015"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1015\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1026,"href":"https:\/\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1015\/revisions\/1026"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1015"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1015"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guoofamerica.com\/guoof\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1015"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}