i T^rs., i The Monitor i
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A National Weekly Newspaper Devoted to the Interests of Colored Americans %
THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor
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$1.50 a Year. 5c a CopyOMAHA, NEBRASKA, AUGUST 11, 1917 _Vol. 111. No. 6 (Whole * 110)
Oddfellows Buy
Liberty Bonds
District Grand Lodge and Household
Hold Epoch-Marking Sessions.
Reports Show Progress.
PATRIOTISM IS PROMINENT
One Hundred and Fifty Delegates At
tend Meeting. .Grand Master
Watkins Presides.
Patriotism and progress were prom
inent features of the Thirty-sixth an
nual session of the District Grand
Lodge No. 8, of Missouri, of the
Grand United Order of Oddfellows
and the Nineteenth annual session of
the District Grand Household of Ruth,
No. 15, which were held here this
week. Patriotism was evidenced by
the note struck in the Grand Master’s
address and by the purchase of Lib
erty Bonds. Progress was shown by
the encouraging reports in all depart
ments of the order indicating sub
stantial growth and by the wise plans
proposed for the future.
The Grand Lodge sessions was open
ed with the usual ritualistic order by
District Grand Master T. B. Watkins,
of Kansas City, Mo., in Grove M. E.
Church at 10:30 Tuesday morning.
The Grand Household of Ruth con
vened at the same hour in Mt. Mor
iah Baptist Church, Mrs. Grace E.
Mulligan, D. G. M. N. G., of St. Louis,
Mo., presiding. Routine business was
rapidly dispatched by each grand
body.
Tuesday night an open session was
held in Grove M. E. Church at which
Edward S. Lewis, District Grand Sec
retary, presided and in a most felici
tous vein introduced the speakers.
“America” was sung by the audience
and the invocation was offered by the
Rev. M. H. Wilkinson. Mayor Dahl
man gave a most cordial address of
welcome as chief executive of the city,
which won wannest commendation.
District Grand Master Watkins re
sponded in an eloquent and thought
ful address. The choir and audience
sang “The Battle Hymn of the Re
public.” R. L. Woodard gave the ad
dress of welcome on behalf of the
local lodges, which was responded to
in his happiest vein by the eloquent
W. C. Houston, of Kansas City, Mo.,
the Grand Lodge attorney. Mrs. Anna
Johnson Pervine, of Queen City
Household No. 2903, gave the wel
(ome address on behalf of the local
Households of Ruth, which evoked a
gracious response by Grand Most No
ble Governor, Mrs. Grace E. Mulligan,
of St. Louis . The benediction was
pronounced by the Rev. Mr. Walden.
It was a well-arranged and well-ex
ecuted program.
Business sessions were held Wed
nesday morning and afternoon and in
the evening a competitive drill and
band concert were the attractions at
Holmes Park.
Memorial sessions were held Thurs
day morning. The election of offi
cers took place Thursday afternoon
and at night a banquet was given at
Keep’s Dancing Academy, which with
other features delighted a large audi
ence.
Friday was given over to the street
parade and a picnic, band concert and
base ball game at Holmes Park.
More than a hundred delegates from
various points in Missouri were pres
ent. They expressed themselves as
delighted with Omaha hospitality and
were loud in their praise of the local
committee. The following officers
were chosen:
L. F. Ford, of St. Louis, Mo., Grand
Master for the District; Press Clay,
of Hannibal, Mo., Deputy Grand Mas
ter; Edward S. Lewis, of Kansas City,
Grand Secretary; W. C. Hueston, of
Kansas City, Grand Treasurer; J. O.
White, of Mexico, Mo., Grand Direc
tor; Dr. L. M. Tillman, of Kansas
City, State Health Commissioner; L.
A. Knox, of Kansas City, Grand At
torney; and C. N. Wilson, of Poplar
Bluff, Mo., Secretary of Foreign Cor
respondence.
The Grand Household officers: Mrs.
Grace E. Mulligan, of St. Louis, Past
Most Noble Governor; Mrs. Frankie
Johnson, of Kansas City, Mo., Most
Noble Governor; Mrs. Frankie Mitch
ell, of St. Louis, Right Noble Gov
ernor; Mrs. Nellie Reynolds, of Se
dalia, Mo., Worthy Recorder; Mrs.
Mary Renfrow, of St. Louis, Worthy
Treasurer; Mrs. Della Freeman, of
Poplar Bluff, Mo., Worthy Counsel.
The next place of meeting is Boon
ville, Mo.
CAMBRIDGE PAPER
MAKES CORRECTION
Expresses Appreciation For the Cour
teous Manner in Which Colored
Citizens Took Up Matter.
Cambridge, Mass.—A reporter with
a vivid imagination developed a minor
incident into a “race riot.” The Stan
dard published it. A committee of
citizens, with the Rev. Walter B. Mc
Clane, rector of St. Bartholomew’s
Episcopal Church, as spokesman, held
a conference in the mayor’s office, in
which a correction of the misrepre
sentations made was requested. The
editor of the Standard investigated
the matter and in its issue of July 25
published the following correction:
"On Monday, July 16, there appear
ed in the Standard an article relating
to an affair in Central square on the
preceding night in which a Colored
man and an employe of the Boston
Elevated came to blows. The subse
quent proceedings, such as taking the
parties to the station house, etc., were
so stated as to give the affair the ap
pearance of a race riot, and it was so
characterized in the headline.
“It has since been brought to our
notice by representative Colored citi
zens of Cambridge that our account
was highly exaggerated, and at a
hearing in the mayor’s office and by
subsequent interviews w'ith eye-w'+
nesses and with the police, we have
become convinced that their view of
the article in the Standard is corerct.
“Accordingly we wish to state that
we can find no evidence to substan
tiate the statement that any threats
of ‘lynching’ were made, that any ex
ceptional number of Colored people
remained near the station house more
than an hour, that any Colored people
were ‘armed,’ or that they were ‘de
termined to have the prisoners.’
“At the same time we wish to ex
press our appreciation of the cour
teous manner in which the represen
tatives of the Colored citizens have
taken the matter up with the Stand
ard, and to hope that they are con
vinced that the story was ‘featured’
as an exclusive news story rather
than an attempt to create race preju
dice in Cambridge. As the latter view
was voiced by one speaker at the
mayor’s office, it seems only fair to
state that the speaker quoted abso
lutely denied making the statement,
and the one quoting admitted private
ly that he might have been mistaken.
“There are no people in Cambridge
more deserving of public confidence
than our Colored citizens, and we re
gret that any article in our columns
should do anything to destroy that
confidence.—The Cambridge Stand
ard.”
NEW YORKERS AT
THE WHITE HOUSE
Did Not Have Chance to Present Pro
test Petition to President,
However.
Washington, Aug. 2.—Headed by
Rev. Frederick A. Cullen, a delegation
sought to place in the hands of Presi- |
dent Wilson a monster petition pro-!
testing against mob violence and
other raciul discriminations and ask
ing that lynching be made a federal
offense.
The delegation was met by Secre- ;
tary Tumulty, who said that President j
Wilson could not see them, as he was
extremely busy. The President de-!
dined to see committees from this
city and Baltimore, who were at the
White House several weeks ago to pro
test against the riots at East St.
Louis and ask a federal probe.
“No nation which seeks to fight the
battles of civilization,” the petition
reads, “can march in blood-stained
clothes.”
ALUMNI REQUEST
IMPROVED CURRICULUM
Hampton, Va.—At a recent triennial
reunion of the Alumni Association of
Hampton Institute, a resolution was
passed asking that the curriculum of
the school be raised. It was also
urged that a department of music be
established with Nathaniel Dett, pres
ent instructor in music there, in
charge.
PHILADELPHIA PASTORS
PRESENTED TOURING CARS
Philadelphia, Pa.—The Rev. E. W.
Johnson, pastor of St. Paul’s Baptist
Church; the Rev. W. A. Harrod of
Cherry Memorial, and tre Rev. G. W.
Robinson of Shiloh all have new tour
ing cars presented to them by their
congregations.
Negroes May Enter Navy—
As Cooks and Scullions
New York Age Is Latest Race Newspaper to be
Advised That Policy of Discrimination is
Approved by Present Administration.
Some months ago, when the Govern
ment called for volunteers for the
Navy, two young Colored men of Oma
ha ottered their services but their of- [
fer was rejected.
The Monitor investigated and was
courteously' informed by the recruit
ing officer, who in the conversation
proved himself to be a broad-minded
gentleman of the first rank, that the
facts were substantially as alleged.
The applicants had been rejected sole
ly on the ground of color, because the
orders were not to enlist Colored men.
It was frankly stated that the only
places open to them—and these were
limited in numbers—were those of j
cooks, waiters and barbers. Ite-enlist
ments were being allowed, but not en
couraged, but no Negroes were to be
accepted as raw naval recruits.
The Monitor published this informa
tion at that time to save some of our
patriotic youth who heard the call of
the sea and were willing to serve their
country in the navy from embarrass
ment and patriotism-blighting humil
iation.
That this unfortunately short-sight
ed policy is still in vogue is conclu
sively shown by the following article
just published in the New York Age:
Discrimination in the navy against
the Negro under the present admin
istration at Washington are to con
tinue. This piece of information has
been imparted to The Age by high
officials in the Navy Department and |
expresses the sentiments of Secro
tary Josephus Daniels.
The following communication has I
Ireen received by The Age from the
Navy Department, in which admission
is made that the drawing of the color
line in the Navy is to be resorted to
with the same zeal in the future as
has been practiced in the past:
NAVY DEPARTMENT
Bureau of Navigation
Washington, D. C.
July 17, 1917.
To the Editor of The Age:
The Chief of Bureau directs me
to acknowledge receipt of your let
ter of the 13th instant, addressed
to the Secretary of the Navy, and
referred by him to this bureau, in
which you mention the offers of
services to the Navy from Colored
men.
This matter has been given due
consideration, but it is not deemed
advisable to change the policy which
has existed in the Navy to the satis
faction of all parties concerned for
I many years.
Respectfully,
(Signed) T. B. PATTERFIELD,
Lieutenant Commander, U. S. N.
The communication from the Navy
Department was in response to the
following sent by Fred R. Moore,
editor of The Age:
July 13, 1917.
Hon. Josepheus Daniels,
Secretary of Navy,
Washington, D. C.
; My Dear Sir:
I wrote you some time ago in ref
erence to Colored men seeking to en
ter the Navy, but have not yet had
a reply. I am told that members of
my race are not wanted in the Navy
except in menial positions. There are
many who would gladly enter the
Navy could they be assured of having
ar. equal chance according to ability
with others. We have had Colored
men in the Navy who made splendid
records, one in particular was on the
Flagship Olympia with the late Ad
miral Dewey, and I believe had charge
of rifle-range at League Island Sta
tion, Philadelphia.
At this time when every man is
desirous of doing his part, it is rather
discouraging that the Negro who is
an American citizen is not given the
I same kind of encouragement as the
American white- boy. In fact, it is
] said that foreigners have a better
chance in the Navy than the American
black boy. Those now there who have
been in for years are discouraged
when they see white boys with no
more ability than they, promoted and
given every opportunity to advance.
I hope that you will see the wisdom
of recognizing the merits and the loy
alty of the American Negro and be
willing to accord him the same consid
eration that is accorded every other
citizen, regardless of race or creed.
The Negro has offered his services
freely and even now offers his serv
! ices.
Yours very truly,
(Signed) FRED R. MOORE.
The declaration of the Navy Depart
ment to The Age means that the Ne
groes who enlist in the Navy will be
put to work as scullions and doing
menial work. An opportunity to be
fighters will be denied them, their
j color being a bar to just recognition.
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WHAT I SAW AT DES MOINES
AND HOW IT APPEALED TO ME
Complying with a very urgent mes
sage from a very dear friend, Colonel
Young, that I should come and see
him, we left Omaha Saturday, the
21st, at 3:55 over the Rock Island.
After a five hours ride, we reached
Des Moines. From the first person
with whom we exchanged greetings
we learned the disappopinpting news
that the Colonel had left for Ohio, j
This was Sergeant Robinson, whom we j
have every reason to believe is a sol- ,
dier of experience and a gentleman
too.
You will notice that I said “we,”
because to combat lonesomeness I took
with me my foster daughter, Miss
Camille Simpson. Being provided with
a letter of introduction from my busi
ness partner, Mr. J. Snell, with little
trouble we found our way to 1011
Crocker street, the home of Mr. and
Mrs. Courtney, where we enjoyed a '
very refreshing sleep. Morning
brought us to the breakfast table,
where the host, hostess and their two
(laughters entertained us with all that
was, or is being said good about the
detachment of our men undergoing
military training at the Fort. Our
timely coming enabled us to see a well
planned entertainment given under the
auspices of the White Sparrow Club
at the Drake Stadium. At the break
fast table we were introduced to Mr.
Mills, a man I should judge to be in
his seventieth years, yet quite active
for his age. Withdrawing from the
table, Mr. Mills and I took seats on
the spacious cool porch, overhung by
two beautiful oak trees, dense with
heavy foliage which defies the sun
searching rays, there in mute language
welcoming all who come under their
protection. Here I was royally enter
tained by this old veteran with an
interesting review of our past history,
which time will not permit me to re
peat here. .
After this pleasant and interesting
chat we left for the fort, accompanied
by Sergeant Robinson, of the 10th
Cavalry.
The first of our Omaha acquaint
ances to greet us was Lawyer I’inkett.
Dr. W. W. Peebles came ne next
with a good many of the detachment, j
The young men from Wilberforce ,
University were indeed delighted to j
meet again their schoolmate, Miss Ca- I
mille Simpson; so we chatted freely j
and friendly with all, never losing
sight though of their prime erectness
which is a true mark of a well trained
soldier. I said well trained, but the
remarkable part is that all this has
been accomplished in so short a per
iod; for the writer has seen recruits
who were awkward after a full year’s
training. The bugle call having sound
ed for dinner, we returned to the city.
After a very appetizing dinner, Mr.
Mills and I boarded a Center street j
car, Miss Simpson going with Mrs.
Courtney and their three daughters in
their car. We were soon at the Drake
Stadium. Only by our early arrival
there were we able to secure good
seats. Through two inlets the people
poured in steady streams, until 10,000
human beings of all colors, shades and
ages filled this large basin to over
flowing. Two local bands furnished
music during the pouring in of this
human tide; then when all was ready
and after the first half of the pro
gram was rendered, the First In
fantry Band leading, the command
appeared at the north gate. This was
sufficient. An electric current of en
thusiasm shot through the entire
crowd with lightning rapidity. The
people all arose to their feet as one,
climbed to the top of their seats in
order to show their respect, and get
full and sure view of the command.
During the whole time the clapping
of hands never ceased until the last
company halted. The other half of
the carefully prepared program was
rendered. One of the numbers was
the reading of the 46th Psalm. Now,
think of the reading of this passage
of Scripture in alternate verses by
10,000 voices, and yet it was accom
plished with marked success. This
had the appearance to me as another
mystery of “The Double Cross.”
Here standing in the center of this
basin were 1200 men fully armed and
equipped, whose business is to kill.
Surrounding them on four sides were
10,000 people, whose only purpose and
aims are to save life, and yet the part
each has fitted in with true exactness.
Oh! is it then useless, one without
the other?
I said at the beginning that this en
tertainment was given by a club called
the White Sparrows. Now, the White
Sparrows’ Club is a n organization
whose purpose is to give entertain
ments during the summer months that
“David” the Cantata,
Pleases Audience
Sung by Well Trained Chorus of Sixty
Voices From Local Churches;
Ben Stanley, Director.
MARKS MUSICAL PROGRESS
Despite ar. almost torrential down
pour of rain Brandeis theater was
well filled by an appreciative audience
Monday night, when the cantata,
“David the Shepherd Boy,” was most
acceptably presented by a chorus of
sixty well trained voices, under the
direction of Ben Stanley, organist and
choirmaster of Trinity Cathedral, and
the management of Mrs. W. T. Os
borne, for the benefit of St. John’s
A. M. E. Church. The chorus was
composed of representatives from the
five local churches, although quite
naturally, the largest number came
from St. John’s.
The leading soloists were: Miss
Darlene Duvall, soprano, as “Abi
gail”; John Andrew Singleton, tenor,
as “David”; Mrs. Maud Ray, alto, as
“Michal”; William G. Haynes, tenor,
as “Jesse”; Leroy Kelly, bass, as
“Saul”; Leon Robinette, baritone, as
“Samuel,” and William Graves as
“Abner.” Other solo parts were sung
by Miss Pearl Ray, Mrs. Moore, Mrs.
Thompson and Mrs. Brown. Miss
Myrtle Hayden, alto, was heard to
good effect in the duet with Miss
Duvall, “0 Carmel Fair." While there
was diversity of talent and training
among the soloists, each one showed
an intelligent interpretation of the
role assigned. Mr. Singleton’s -best
number was “In Awful Caverns,”
and Miss Duvall’s, “Oh, Long Hast
Thou Wandered.”
The chorus work was excellent,
“When Heroes Return,” “The Rosy
Heights of Carmel” and “Manasseh
Sends Her Thousands” being especial
ly effective.
Mrs. Clarence H. Singleton’s work
as accompanist was most acceptable
and deserves commendation. Just be
fore the end of the program Mrs. Os
borne, in a most gracious manner and
with well chosen words, thanked the
audience and all who had contributed
towards the success of the cantata.
The successful rendition of “David
the Shepherd Boy” by this chorus
shows musical progress among the
race in Omaha and points the way for
the organization and maintenance of
a choral society.
Great praise is due Mrs. Osborne for
her initiative and ability in the man
agement of these choruses.
they may be provided with money to
help the poor and needy during the
winter. How beautifully these acts of
mercy stand out against the back
ground of our duty towards our neigh
bor. Now, this is the part our boys
took in the program:
They sang; I need not say more,
you know the rest.
At the close of the program the or
der for attention was given by Col.
Ballou, in every particular a com
manding officer. He put his men
through the manual of arms which
they executed with creditable preci
sion and grace. So pleased was Col.
Ballou in the movements of “order
arms,” hearing 12,000 rifles striking
the ground as one, that he repeatede
this movement from every position.
Having had a few years of military
record I watched and listened with a
critic’s eye and ears and was made
to feel quite proud of the record our
Loys are making. Then again in the
review which calls out the best tramps
of the ten and twenty years’ service
men, in keeping a true and straight
alignment, when marching fifty men
abreast, which is no easy thing to do,
and here again, the command crowned
themselves with laurels and gave cred
it to themselves and their instructors.
A lady seated behind me, whose fan
occasionally touched my hat during
the entertainment, leaned over and
begged pardon for what true courtesy
may have dictated to her as an act
of unkindness. After the apology she
remarked that “I never saw men
more straight and erect, and I only
hope that when they reach the trench
es that they will shoot with the same
straightness."
Now, comrades, you are standing
out against a beautiful background
of past records made by your
older brothers and comrades, the
which you must face. Do not go
around it, that is not manly; do not
stoop under, that is disgraceful; you
can not climb over it, that would be
unmanly; you must go to it and make
good .for you can.
THOMAS REESE.