Activities Among Negroes
What has been pronounced the prettiest wedding among colored social set this spring in Oakland, was solemnized with full Episcopal ceremony on Monday evening, June 9, at 8:30 in Saint Augustine Episcopal church when Rev. Father David R. Wallace read the ceremony which united Miss Julia Elinor Lawrence of Oakland and Harvey Richard of Berkeley the son of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Richard. The bride is the daughter of Albert D. Lawrence, who for many years has served as custodian of the Oakland city hall. Her mother Mrs. Maud Sanderson Lawrence, is a daughter of the late William Sanderson. The bride is also the great-granddaughter of the late J. B. Sanderson, pioneer educator and minister of Oakland and San Francisco. Her marriage is the first large church wedding in the Sanderson family since 1871 when Miss Mary Jane Sanderson was led to the altar by the late James Grasses {Grases} and married by the late T. M. D. Ward of the A. E. church in San Francisco.
BRIDAL PARTY
The mother of the bride was gowned in Receda green crepe and wore a pearl necklace. The mother of the bridegroom was gowned in black and white crepe and wore a diamond brooch. The beauty of the bride was enhanced by the simple eggshell satin gown she wore which was made princess style with fish tale train, long sleeves, trimmed in a bit of real lace, a gift from her god parents, W. S. Morey, J. Delaney, and Mrs. Katherine Emille. The only jewelry she wore was a necklace of crystal beads and pearls, the gift of a friend. She carried a shower bouquet of lilies of the valley and orchids. She wore a coronet head dress of real lace embroidered in seed pearls and rhinestones from which was draped in Victorian style a tule veil edged with lace, the gift of her cousin, Mrs. Kate Grasses {Grases}.
The bridesmaids all wore varying shades of pink chiffon with small lace caps which were made by Mrs. Ernestine C. Temple. The matron of honor, Mrs. Olive Lawrence, was gowned in blue chiffon with hat and shoes to match. The matron of honor was Mrs. Vivian Sanderson, a cousin of the bride. The bridesmaids were the Misses Maryle Maxwell, Marguett Roundtree, Edna Harris, Zola Morgan, Lueth McCalla, and Alyce Gibbons. The best man was George Craigg, and the head usher DeVer Robinson. Other ushers were Kenneth Levy, Byron O'Reilly, Elwin Golphin, James January and Thomas Jackson jr.
The church ceremony was followed by a reception in the home of the bride where the living room had been profusely decorated and where the bridal party received the best wishes of their friends. After the reception and bridal supper the couple left on a motor trip.
Wedding was supervised by Mrs. Ernestine C. Temple while the decorations for both the church and home were personally done by the following friends of the family; Mrs. Ernest Mamie Clark, Mrs. Hallie Wundus, and Mrs. Amelia Ramev.
BROTHERHOOD MEET
C. Lawrence Dellums, vice-president of Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, presided over the mass meeting held last Sunday afternoon in Beth Eden Baptist church. The object was to acquaint the public of the recent lynching of a porter who was taken off a train and lynched. The national organization is trying to investigate the affair and prosecute the responsible parties. The local branches throughout the nation are joining hands by helping to raise the necessary funds. The meeting was well attended.
N. A. A. C. P. MEET
The regular monthly meeting of the local branch N. A. A. C. P. held last evening in the Herbert Hoover Junior high school was well attended. The speaker of the evening was Elder D. C. Theunnissen from Salt River South Africa. He was most interesting and told of the geographical outlay of his native town in Africa and something of the customs and disadvantages of the people of his race, adding that his daughter, who is now studying in a nursery home in London, England, was the first native Negro from Africa to go to a foreign country to take up this study.
ADVENTIST BANQUET
The banquet sponsored by Rev. O. Troy and his congregation of Seventh Day Adventist church honoring the visiting delegates of the general conference of this denomination was held on Monday evening in Lorin hall of Berkeley. It was well attended. Among the delegates delivering short speeches were Elder Samuel Ash from San Fernando Trinidad B. W. I. He said:
"Trinidad is that noted little cosmopolitan island in the West Indies where the asphalt and oil comes from. Those products make the streets of your city beautiful and splendid, for car riding."
He complimented the people who were privileged to live in California with its sunshine and flowers. He was followed by Elder Ogbasghi G. Michele from the Seventh Day Adventist mission located at Adis Abada, Ethiopia. He cannot speak English well so he simply stated: "The Bible is true, and God is love." He was followed by Elder E. C. Atkinson from Kingston, Jamaica. B. W. I. He is now stationed as pastor in Washington, D. C. having been in the ministry for 16 years and is a member of the executive committee of the Patonic conference, and was educated in his native land. Mrs. H. E. Ford, whose husband is an X-ray technician at the Hindsdale Sanitarium and hospital in Hindsdale, Illinois, near Chicago, also spoke. There were many others who delivered interesting one-minute addresses. Dr. Hamilton of Oakland, who served as master of ceremonies, did not escape one. Adding to the program was a duet by Elder and Mrs. Johnson of San Diego, and a reading by Dr. Buchanan, and several musical numbers rendered by delegates with Mrs. Ruby Bontempt Troy at the piano.
Y. W. C. A. NOTES
The Linden Branch Young Women's Christian association, are planning a program of dedication to pioneer members and workers of the branch, combined with a service of reconsecration of present day workers and members for the observance of the tenth birthday of the branch by the membership committee, of which Mrs. Mabel Craigg is chairman. This service is to be held Sunday, June 22, at First A. M. E. church at 11 a.m. service.
Mrs. Melba Stafford, a pioneer committee to be chief speaker. Others to be featured as honor guests include Hettie B Tilghman, Mabel Calhoun, William Henry, Iva Gray, Augustine Craig, A. M. Smith, Abigal Wells, Lucy T. Johnson and E. Jackson. Mrs. Roy O. Busch is chairman of the music, which is to be directed by Mrs. Lincolnia Morgan. In the afternoon there will be a reception and open house at the branch at which the delegates who recently attended the biennial convention in Detroit will render their reports.
DEATHS
Several sudden deaths during the bast have saddened the community or colored citizens. One was the passing of Sam Parker, after an illness of less than 48 hours. He had lived in California 45 years. Of this time he was a resident of Oakland 20 years. He was a trusted employee of one of the local banks for 19 years. He leaves to mourn his passing a loving wife, Mrs. Lucy Parker, and a daughter, Maggie Mae.
MRS. WATKINS DIES
The passing of Mrs. Meta Watkins, wife of Will Watkins, secretary of colored branch Y. M. C. A was a great shock to everyone. She had been ill less than a week. She died in Berkeley general hospital Wednesday evening. Mrs. Watkins was a native of Harpers Ferry, and taught school in Virginia for several years, during which time she studied social service, and secretarial work. She resigned her position to volunteer and go to France as Y. W. C. A. secretary during the world war. Upon the close of the war she returned to America, and was for several years executive secretary of the Germantown, Colored Branch Young Women Christian association. She later married Will Watkins, whom she met as executive secretary of Y. M. C. A. work in France during the war. She leaves a husband, two small children, a sister living here, Mrs. W. L. Jones, the wife of Dr. Jones, one sister in Virginia, and three brothers, all in the east. She was a great social worker, and an active member of the Filbert street branch Y. M. C. A. auxiliary committee of women.
MRS. GRIFFIN PASSES
Mr. William Griffin of Thirty-fifth street has just returned from Philadelphia where he was called on account of the death of his wife, Mrs. S. Viola Griffin, who had gone to that city to visit her married daughter, son, and other relatives. She had been up but a few days when she died. She was well known. Surviving her are her husband, a son, William Griffin, and a daughter, Mrs. Marie Griffin-Wilkins of Philadelphia, and many friends in the east and California.
