Activities Among Negroes
The first national convention ever held by the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters has just closed in Chicago. A. Philip Randolph, national organizer of the B. S. C. P. during the past three years, has conducted regional conference in many of the large railroad centers of the United State as an educational part of the work. The confidence he has won from the public can best be judged from the nationally known speaker who took an active part in the convention.
Most of the sessions we held in the porter's own building headquarters on Michigan avenue, Chicago. The convention opened last Sunday afternoon in the Metropolitan Community Church and was presided over by M. P. Webster, director of the confidence. It was addressed by Mathews Woll, fourth vice-president or the American Federation of Labor, and Philip Randolph. On Monday afternoon, Charles Wesley Burton, chairman of the citizen's committee, presided.
Following were the Addresses "Adult Crime Among Negroes," by Caswell W. Crews, adult probation officer for Chicago; "The Negro Family," by Attorney Georgie Jones Ellis, court of domestic relations, and Attorney Edith Sampson, probation department juvenile court, "The Health of the Negro Worker," by Dr. A Wilberforce Williams.
On Tuesday afternoon the outstanding speakers were Robert Abbott, editor and publisher of the Chicago Defender, and L. Straub, editor of Federated News. Wednesday afternoon session was given over to women, Miss Mary McDowell of the University of Chicago Settlement presiding. Addresses were made by Miss Mary Anderson, director of women Bureau of the United States Department of Labor; Miss Frankie Adams, Industrial Secretary of the South Parkway branch Y. W. C. A.; Mrs. Mary Halas, vice-president Women's Trade Union League of Chicago, and Mrs. Jessie L. Bonds, president Colored Women economic council on the ladies auxiliaries to the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porter.
LOCAL NEWS ITEMS
A crowded house greeted the Women's Day program recently observed in North Oakland Baptist Church. The meeting was opened with prayer by the pastor, Rev. O. C. Coleman, followed by congregational singing. Mrs. Allen O. Newman, chairman of the Committee of Management for Linden Branch Y. W. C. A. presided. In her opening remarks she said "Women heading the committees of unemployment and religious work were members of this church. Mrs. Emma Bolmer, for religious work, was sponsoring the program for Women's Day. The first speaker was Iva Gray, who read an interesting paper on church worship in the home. She was followed by an address by Miss Lulu Chapman, executive secretary Linden Branch Y.W.C.A. A solo was sung by Mrs. Kaaukai, followed by an address by Mrs. Fanny J. Wall, founder of Children's Home and Day Nursery. She told of the success of the colored women's clubs in establishing and helping to maintain this home and many other worthwhile achievements. A saxophone solo was then rendered by Joseph Butler. Others taking part on the program was Mrs. E. B. Crawley, who read extracts from the scripture on the "Value of Giving." Mrs. Van recited a poem from Joaquin Miller. Short remarks were then made by Miss Delilah L. Beasley, on the "Value of Race Pride and Cooperation." Several Negro spirituals were sung by the North Oakland Baptist Church choir, after which the collection was taken for the morning session, which amounted to over $50. Mrs. Winkle, from the Home for Aged and Infirm Colored People, pronounced the blessing upon the offering. Mrs. Ceola Brown then spoke of the work for the Mother's Charity Club in the community, and the mother of Rev. G. C. Coleman, who is here from Harper's Ferry, to spend the winter, and Rev. Daniel Payne Jones, A. M. D. D. executive secretary railroad commission of the National Baptist Convention, were introduced.
HOME FOR AGED BOARD
The board of directors of the Home (or Aged and Infirm Colored People) held their thirty-ninth annual meeting January 22 in the lecture room of Taylor Memorial M. E. Church, with Mrs. Elizabeth Brown, president, presiding. It was recommended to raise the entrance fee from $500 to $600 and not to admit any more inmates on their life insurance policies. It was also recommended that the president of the auxiliaries become member of the advisory board, and also recommended that an effort be made to have the Oakland Negro Business Men's League take out membership in the organization. During the year they have lost through death two inmates, Mrs. Theresa Thompson and Mrs. Bell Burnes.
The treasurer reported from the Community, $2480.80. Receipts for the year were $4286.26, disbursements $4244.07, and balance in treasury, January 1, 1930, $124. Receipts were as follows: Swastika Women's Civic Club of Berkeley; $25 Advisory Board, $30 for street assessments; Avondale Club, $352.17. The board payed its street assessments, which amounted to $31.20, and taxes of $91, which last year were only $71. The memorial services were then held for deceased member. The new officers will be installed Thursday at 2 p. m. in the home of Mrs. Elizabeth Brown.
LINDEN BRANCH Y. W. C. A.
Sunday afternoon the branch was taxed for space to accommodate the eager audience that wished to hear Miss Alice Moore, Community Relation secretary from the Central Y. W. C. A. tell about her recent trip to the Holy Lands. On Monday evening the building was again crowded on account of the annual membership meeting. The program prepared by the Committee of Management designated the chairmen of the various department as "Disciples," and read as follows:
"Mrs. Allen O. Newman, presiding with twelve disciples spreading the gospel of noble womanhood, represented by Mrs. M. N. Crawford, leading the devotions. Mrs. Fred Bolmer, Religious committee; Miss Athen Clark, publicity; Mrs. Mabel Craig, Membership; Mrs. Mamie Lane, Garden; Mrs. EW. L. Jones, Health and Education; Mrs. Edward Hogan, Housing; Mrs. Grace Matthews, Girl's reserve; Mrs. Elizabeth Ricks, Business and Professional; Mrs. S. C. Villa, Employment; Mrs. A. O. Newman, Industrial and Summary, by Miss Lulu Chapman, executive secretary." Each disciple revealed the deeds of her department. Many paid tribute to the senior disciple, who has served from the branch's infancy, Mrs. Hettie B. Tllghman. The social hour, "Feeding the Five" was by Mr. M. N. Crawford.
Reports made by these chairmen were intensely interesting. Among the more outstanding achievements for the year just ending were: The membership drive, raising $816; the purchasing of two new stoves, one a kitchen range, and a heating stove; and financing delegates of Girl Reserve to the Asilmor {Asilomar} conference. For a beginning they have about $2000 for a new building, and they hope some way may be found whereby they may have a plant in which all the Y. M. C. A. activities can be carried on successfully.
The new Girl Reserve secretary, Miss Candace Black, reports that during this past weekend the Girl Reserve for Northern California held their midwinter conference with about 300 delegates, and that the Linden Branch Y. W. C. A. Girl Reserve served on several important committees.
Miss Lilian Hlyton, president of Cordelia Winn senior club from Linden branch, was one of the speakers on the Saturday night's program when she addressed Girl Reserve, representing all races in the meeting held in Central Y. W. C. A. auditorium.
JUNIOR N. A. A. C. P. MEET
The Junior branch N. A. A. C. P. was addressed last Sunday afternoon at the regular meeting by Richard Clark, resident of Oakland, who graduated from Howard University in Washington, D. C. In his remarks he told something about the faculty and scholars of note. This branch will hold a Lincoln-Douglass birthday celebration Wednesday, February 11, at 8 p. m., in the lecture room of Saint Augustine Episcopal Church. The principal speaker will be Mrs. Ethel R. Clark, executive secretary for Booker T. Washington Community Center of San Francisco. Others on the program will be the Misses Bertha Vera Brown, Irene Sears and Dorothy Gray, The Boyes quartet, a social hour, will follow the program.
MISSIONARY SOCIETY MEET
The Women's Mite Missionary Society of Fifteenth street A. M. E. Church, Oakland, was addressed last Sunday afternoon by Rev. Fred Hughes of Bethel A. M. E. Church of San Francisco, and Mrs. Lillian Jetter Davis, who gave a musical monologue, which was pronounced especially fine by Rev. Hughes. She was accompanied by 40 members, 28 of whom were from the choir of the church. The Swastika Women's Civic Club of Berkeley will hold appropriate Douglass birthday memorial exercises this afternoon at the Home for Aged Colored People in Beula, Cal.
The birthday of Richard founder of African Methodist Episcopal Church of the World, will be observed by members of Park's Chapel the second Sunday In February. On February 5, the Senior Board of Stewardesses of Park's chapel will hold a "Guessing Contest" for the benefit of the church. Last Monday evening the Trustees Aid Society held a musical in the home or Mr. and Mrs. M. C. Wilson of Oakland.
The American Legion auxiliary of Col. Charles Young post No. 2 will hold a reception Monday evening at the residence of Mrs. Raymey, 855 Thirty-fourth street, at which time outstanding speakers will address them. Rev. Owen Troy wishes to announce that lecture or illustrated travel talk will be given tonight in Seven Day Adventist church on Market by Missionary F. M. Owen, who spent many years in the Republic of Guatemala. Music will be furnished by the Junior choir, Lee Glover, tenor, and J. Frances Curran, violinist. The public will be welcome.
