Part 12

In 1784 a Boston Negro, Prince Hall, was granted a warrant from England to establish the African Lodge, No. 459 of the Masons; and in 1843 Peter Ogden, a Colored organizer in New York, secured a charter from England to set up the Philomathean Lodge No. 646 of the Odd Fellows. Since then the Knights of Pythias, the True Reformers, The Elks, the Grand United Order of Galilean Fishermen, the National Order of Mosaic Templars, the Independent Order of St. Luke and the Grand United Order of Tents (which last named order is one of the best managed and most progressive societies organized and run entirely by women) have been established and become nationally known. The following is quoted from Work’s Negro Year Book, 1918-1919 edition, page 457:

“There are over sixty secret and fraternal organizations among Negroes in the United States of a more or less national scope. It is estimated that they have a total membership of about 2,000,000. Large sums of money have come into the treasuries of the various secret organizations. The Knights of Pythias have collected over $1,000,000 for endowment. There is over $50,000 in the Grand Lodge treasury. A considerable part of the money collected by the orders has been permanently invested. It is estimated that the Masons have about $1,000,000 worth of property; the Odd Fellows $2,000,000; and the Pythians $2,500,000. It is probable that altogether the Negro secret societies in the United States own $20,000,000 worth of property. The Odd Fellows have in New Orleans, a building that cost $36,000, and in Atlanta and Philadelphia, buildings that have cost $100,000 each. In Indianapolis, New Orleans and Chicago, Knights of Pythias own buildings each worth from $30,000 to $100,000. The Negro secret societies are paying attention to the improving of the health of their members. The Supreme Lodge of the Knights of Pythias has erected a sanitarium at Hot Springs, Arkansas; the Mosaic Templars and other societies have established health bureaus.”

Some of the leaders in the most prominent and best known of these organs are as follows:

MASONS

Imperial Potentate, C. R. Blake, Charlotte, N. C. Imperial Chief Rabban, R. E. Monroe, Chicago, Ill. Imperial High Priest and Prophet, R. F. Husley, Wheeling, W. Va. Imperial Treasurer, C. A. Freeman, Washington, D.C. Imperial Recorder, Levi Williams, Jersey City, N. J. National Grand Commander, Bishop J. W. Alstork, Montgomery, Ala. National Deputy Grand Commander, Dr. A. R. Robinson, Phila., Pa. National Grand Secretary, R. J. Simmons, Atlanta, Ga.

ODD FELLOWS

Grand Master, E. H. Morris, Chicago, Ill. Grand Master, J. S. Noel, Charleston, W. V. Deputy Grand Master, I. L. Roberts, Boston, Mass. Deputy Grand Master, W. T. Francis, St. Paul, Minn. Grand Secretary, Jas. F. Needham, Phila., Pa. Grand Secretary, R. J. Nelson, Harrisburg, Pa. Grand Treasurer, C. Colbourne, Wilmington, Del.

PYTHIANS

Supreme Chancellor, S. W. Green, New Orleans, La. Supreme Chancellor, W. Ashbie Hawkins, Baltimore, Md. Supreme Vice Chancellor, E. C. Tidrington, Indianapolis, Ind. Supreme Vice Chancellor, W. H. Willis, New York City, N. Y. Supreme Master of Exchequer, J. H. Young, Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Supreme Master of Exchequer, J. C. Anderson, Crewe, Va. Supreme Keeper of Records and Seals, Dr. E. E. Underwood, Frankfort, Ky. Supreme Keeper of Records and Seals, G. E. Gordan, Chelsea, Mass.

MOSAIC TEMPLARS

National Grand Master, S. J. Elliot, Little Rock, Arkansas. National Grand Secretary, C. E. Bush, Little Rock, Arkansas. National Grand Treasurer, J. A. Davis, Little Rock, Arkansas.

ORDER OF ELKS

Grand Exalted Ruler, G. W. F. McMechen, Baltimore, Md. Grand Esteemed Leading Knight, W. C. Trueheart, Atlantic City, N. J. Grand Secretary, G. E. Bates, Jersey City, N. J. Grand Treasurer, J. T. Carter, Richmond, Va.

ORDER OF ST. LUKE

Right Worthy Grand Chief, Mrs. Minnie L. Banks, Macon, Ga. Right Worthy Vice Chief, Dr. H. L. Harris, Richmond, Va. R. W. G. Secretary and Treasurer, Mrs. Maggie L. Walker, Richmond, Va.

TRUE REFORMERS

Grand Worthy Master, S. S. Morris, Richmond, Va. Grand Worthy Secretary, Maurice Rouselle, Richmond, Va. Grand Worthy Treasurer, Dr. W. H. Smith, Richmond, Va.

GALILEAN FISHERMAN

National Grand Ruler, Joseph P. Evans, Baltimore, Md. Vice Grand Ruler, G. W. V. Grey, Norfolk, Va. Grand Treasurer, J. F. Henry, Cambridge, Md.

ORDER OF TENTS

Supreme Matron, Mrs. C. A. Gilpin, Richmond, Va. Deputy Matron, Mrs. A. J. Valentine, Chester, Pa. Grand Secretary, Miss Adeline M. Ward, Norfolk, Va.

(Extracts from Work’s Negro Year Book, 1918-1919 edition, pgs. 457-8-9-60).

AMONG THE LAWYERS

A LAWYER IN TIME SAVES MANY A DIME.

A timely “Eagle” ’tis better to pay To “Blackstone’s” grads, who know the say About strange deals you plan to pave, And also your cash you want to save. --_Harrison._

A. B. Macon was the first Negro in the United States to be admitted before the bar to practice law, which occured in Massachusetts in 1845. Since he thus blazed such a path through the law fields of America, Colored men and women have continued to follow that pathway until today there are about one thousand Colored lawyers practicing in different parts of the United States. And they are making splendid records before judge benches and jury boxes by legally understanding, plainly interpreting, and loyally defending the laws of this land.

When Miss Charlotte Ray, as the first Colored woman lawyer in America, graduated from Howard University in 1872, she was fully justified in lightly and nimbly stepping off the campus of her Alma Mata with her heart excitedly beating in her eagerness to at once secure a case and descend upon some court room where she could try out her logical, convincing and persuasive pleadings.

Since Miss Ray’s graduation as a lawyer, it is found that while many, say twenty-five or thirty Colored women in the United States have up to the present time secured their degree of LL. B., few of them are today engaged in active law practice. Among this number the writer has only been able to locate the following who are today practicing law in this country: Attorneys Violette N. Anderson, Chicago, Ill., Carolyn Hall Mason and Marie Nadras, Washington, D.C. and Mrs. Jessica Morris, wife of Edward H. Morris, the foremost practicing Colored attorney in Chicago, is a graduate of the 1920 law class of Northwestern University and during the month of July 1921 successfully passed her State Bar Examination. At this writing she had not taken up active practice. Attorney Violette N. Anderson, 145 No. Clark Street, Chicago, Ill., is very anxious and has for quite a while been trying to locate and get into communication with every Colored woman lawyer in the United States, in order to form a National Association.

One of the many up-lifting acts performed for Colored people by Charles Sumner, that fearless Abolitionist and loyal friend to the Negro race, was to make it possible in 1865 for John Rock to be admitted as the first Negro to practice law before the United States Supreme Court.

The first Negro to hold a city judgeship in the United States was M. Wistar Gibbs, who in 1873 was elected to that responsible and dignified position in Little Rock, Ark. This learned lawyer also at different times filled such national positions as Register of the U. S. Land Office in Arkansas and United States Consul to the Island of Madagascar.

(Ref. Work’s Negro Year Book, 1918-1919 edition pgs. 171-283.)

Without doubt the best known and most popular Colored lawyer in the United States today is Judge Robt. H. Terrell, who as Municipal Judge for many years repeatedly appointed in Washington, D.C., by both Republican and Democratic Presidents, has won and held the good-will and respect of his white associates because of his all-round judical wisdom and logical decisions in the court room. By his pleasant and friendly manners as well as loyalty and pride in his Race, Judge Terrell has also endeared himself in the hearts of the great masses of Colored people in all parts of the country where he has traveled and spoken.

Many Negro lawyers in different parts of the country have won national recognitions and reputations by their legal fights before city or state legislative bodies for equal citizenship rights and protection of Colored citizens in the United States. The following are among those whose names come to the writer’s mind at this moment:

Hon. Harry C. Smith, while a member of the Ohio Legislature, drew up an Anti-lynching Bill and introduced it into that body in 1894 and re-introduced it in 1896 when it was enacted into a law, which has been upheld on several occasions by the Supreme Court of Ohio. This law is one of the best pieces of legislature of such nature enacted by any state in the Union, and other States that have formed such laws have modeled them after the Ohio measure. Attorney Smith was also the sponsor of the present Ohio Civil Rights Law.

Hon. Robt. R. Jackson is the father of the Illinois Civil Rights Bill that went through the Illinois General Assembly while he was a member of it. It has been through his wisdom and untiring efforts that several other city and state bills have been drawn up and passed as laws for the benefit of the Colored people in Illinois.

Hon. H. J. Copehart with the assistance of Hon. T. G. Nutter, both members of the W. Va. Legislature, has succeeded in putting through the House and Senate of that state one of the severest anti-lynching bills so far passed by any state legislative body. Representative Nutter, among the numerous measures he has had passed, is producer of the bills that were passed and enacted into laws to establish an industrial school for Colored boys and an industrial home for Colored girls in W. Va.

Hon. F. M. Roberts is the first and only Negro serving as a State Assemblyman in the California Legislature. Since he was first elected in 1918 and re-elected in 1920, he has been the means of having put through several bills that have been enacted into laws for the welfare of Negroes in California.

Hon. J. C. Asbury, a Pennsylvania Representative, is father of the Equal Civil Rights Bill that was recently killed in the Pennsylvania State Senate after having passed through the House. Legislator Asbury made such a well prepared legal fight for the passage of his bill that even those who fought against it were compelled to admire the flawlessness of the measure and the intelligent and manly contest by its sponsor.

Many other notable Negro lawyers too numerous to mention here have taken courageous and successful stands in using their legal abilities along the above lines as well as defending riot victims of their race in different parts of the country. The following names are of other prominent Colored attorneys about whom the writer learned during his research work in the following named cities:

Atlanta, Ga. P. Allen, A. T. Walden.

Atlantic City, N. J. J. A. Lightfoot, I. N. Nutter.

Augusta, Ga. J. Lyons, A. Shadd.

Baltimore, Md. J. T. Davis, R. F. Bond, G. F. McMeeken, J. H. Payne, G. L. Pendleton, A. W. Hawkins.

Birmingham, Ala. E. A. Brown.

Boley, Okla. M. H. Martin, W. S. Peters.

Boston, Mass. E. P. Benjamin, L. S. Hicks, W. H. Lewis, W. B. Matthews, C. Morgan, B. R. Wilson.

Brooklyn, N. Y. F. Giles, R. A. Lattimore, S. Pease, G. E. Wibercan.

Camden, N. J. John Martin.

Charleston, S. C. W. A. Dart, E. F. Smith.

Charleston, W. Va. C. E. Kimbrough, T. G. Nutter.

Charlotte, N. C. J. T. Saunders.

Chattanooga, Tenn. J. G. Burger, W. H. Hixon.

Chester, Pa. W. H. Ridley.

Chicago, Ill. Violette Anderson, Jessica Morris, G. W. Ellis, E. H. Morris, Judge W. H. Harrison, H. M. Porter, J. A. Scott, S. A. Watkins, S. L. Williams, E. H. Wright.

Cincinnati, Ohio. A. L. Beaty, W. B. Bush.

Cleveland, Ohio. T. W. Flemming, A. H. Martin, H. E. Murrell, A. Hamilton, H. C. Smith.

Columbia, S. C. N. J. Frederick.

Columbus, Ohio. C. R. Doll, J. S. Farrison, W. King.

Danville, Va. J. C. Carter.

Dayton, Ohio. W. J. Buyden, T. Norris.

Denver, Col. E. P. Blackmore, G. G. Ross.

Des Moines, Iowa. S. J. Brown, J. B. Morris, J. L. Thompson.

Detroit, Mich. Attorneys Mahoney, Johnson and Roxborough.

Durham. N. C. R. M. Andrews, E. W. Cannady.

Evansville, Ind. J. Holt, E. J. Tildrinton.

Fort Worth, Texas. W. H. Griggs, H. W. Hatton.

Gary, Ind. P. F. Bouldt, L. A. Caldwell.

Hampton, Va. A. W. E. Bassette, Sr. and Jr., G. W. Fields.

Harrisburg, Pa. W. J. Carter, J. W. Parks.

Helena, Ark. W. L. Scott.

Hopkinsville, Ky. C. W. Merriweather.

Houston, Texas. L. V. Allen, M. H. Broyles.

Indianapolis, Ind. R. L. Brokenburr, W. K. Brown.

Jackson, Miss. P. W. Howard, S. D. Redmond.

Jacksonville, Fla. S. D. McGill, I. L. Purcell.

Jersey City, N. J. R. Hartgson, R. S. Rice.

Kansas City, Kan. I. F. Bradely, D. Green, L. W. Johnson.

Kansas City, Mo. C. H. Calloway, W. C. Houston, A. L. Knox.

Leavenworth, Kan. T. W. Bell, D. Jones.

Little Rock, Ark. S. A. Jones, T. J. Price.

Los Angeles, Cal. E. B. Ceruti, W. O. Tyler, A. G. Wickliffe, Charles Darden.

Louisville, Ky. W. C. Brown, W. H. Wright.

Memphis, Tenn. B. T. Booth, W. H. Foote.

Bemidji, Minn. C. W. Scrutchins.

Duluth, Minn. Elisha Scott.

Mound Bayou, Miss. B. A. Green.

Muskogee, Okla. T. R. Price.

Nashville, Tenn. J. W. Grant, W. H. Hodgkins, J. C. Napier.

Newark, N. J. Attorneys Douglass & Standard.

New Orleans, La. F. B. Smith, R. C. Metoyer, J. Thornton.

Newport News, Va. J. T. Newsome, W. E. Parker, R. H. Pree, J. L. Raney, P. S. Scott.

New York, N. Y. J. D. Carr, C. G. French, E. A. Johnson, W. H. Smith, J. C. Thomas, J. D. Wetmore, J. F. Wheaton.

Norfolk, Va. J. D. Diggs, J. M. Harrison.

Oakland, Cal. E. A. Carter, J. D. Drake, A. O. Neal, Y. L. Richardson, L. Sledge.

Omaha, Neb. H. J. Pinkett, A. P. Scruggs.

Phila. Pa. J. C. Asbury, G. L. Dickinson, M. L. Lewis, J. A. Sparks, W. H. Thompson.

Pine Bluff, Ark. J. F. Jones, W. W. Shelton.

Pittsburgh, Pa. W. M. Randolph, W. H. Stanton, F. R. Stewart, R. L. Vann.

Portland, Oregon. Eugene Minor.

Portsmouth, Va. W. M. Reid.

Providence, R. I. J. B. Edwards, J. LeCount.

Raleigh, N. C. W. P. Ancrum, D. P. Love.

Richmond, Va. J. T. Carter, J. T. Hewin.

Roanoke, Va. A. J. Oliver, J. L. Reid.

San Antonio, Texas. R. A. Campbell, L. W. Grenely, J. G. Wimberly.

San Francisco, Cal. O. Audson, J. D. Drake.

Savannah, Ga. J. H. Kinckle, J. G. Lemon.

Seattle, Wash. C. R. Anderson.

Shreveport, La. C. M. Roberson.

St. Louis, Mo. C. E. Clark, H. G. Phillips, G. L. Vaughan.

St. Paul, Minn. J. L. Ervin, W. T. Frances, H. Turner.

Tampa, Fla. Z. D. Greene.

Terre Haute, Ind. J. W. Henry.

Washington, D.C., H. E. Davis, J. A. Cobb, R. A. Hughes, Judge R. H. Terrell. W. C. Martin, Carolyn H. Mason, Marie Nadras.

Wichita, Kan. F. L. Martin.

IN NEWSPAPER WORK

NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES.

From corners of, the world’s four climes Fresh news they bring of latest times. Of all the readings, left at our doors News journals bring most varied lores. --_Harrison._

Starting out in 1827, when the first Colored newspaper in the United States, The Freedmen’s Journal was published in New York City by John B. Russwurm, the number of Negro journals have so increased until today there are between two and three hundred secular weekly and two daily newspapers published in the United States by Colored people. (Ref.; Negro Year Book, 1918-1919 edition, pgs. 170-461).

The honor of being acclaimed dean of today in Negro newspaper editorial work falls upon the venerable shoulders of the “Grand Old Scribe,” T. Thomas Fortune, once editor of the famous New York Age and still a widely read contributor to some of the leading newspapers and magazines in the country. This pioneer journalist (who was at one time “right hand man” to the great white journalist, Chas. A. Dana, who bought and revived the moribund New York Sun into one of the greatest papers in America) was doing newspaper work as far back as 1879 on the New York Globe, a leading white paper. Around that time Fortune was also the trusted friend and valuable current informer and adviser of such capable and fearless leaders as H. P. Brooks, J. W. Cromwell, C. N. Otey and Frederick Douglass, who was termed by Mr. Fortune as “The lion of them all.”

The younger Colored newspaper men of today are all well acquainted with the history of Fred Douglass’ fighting abolition paper, “The North Star” that he first published at Rochester, N. Y., in 1847 and later renamed it “Fred Douglass’ Paper”, which in 1860 he absorbed into “Douglass Monthly” a magazine he first began to publish in 1858.

There are yet living today many older men and women who can vividly recall from personal observation how that great orator, reformer, statesman and journalist could in a column on his editorial page wield a pungent pen against the enemy of his race so forcefully by turning out polished and gentlemanly invective articles that neither feared nor spared but manfully denounced and exposed those who held or upheld slavery. And in another column on that same editorial page he could just as ably use an unsurpassed tactful ability in penning mutual and grateful paragraphs to the loyal friends of his race, who were at once more strongly allied to his side; or, he could in a third column just as diplomatically word a concilatory open-letter to the half-decided whites who, after thoroughly reading and thoughtfully thinking over his heart-rending and convincing sentences were usually completely persuaded to friendly join his cause for the freedom of his people. And the increasing denouncements and criticisms that are read in the Northern white press against the present barbarous peonage systems carried on in the South today are but very very faint echoes of the clarion and stenotorian thunderings that electrically flashed, roared and rumbled seventy years ago throughout the world from the columns of “The North Star” or from the actual lips of Fred Douglass while lecturing in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales against the real slavery that the South was then savagely carrying on with his race.

Another pioneer in this line of work is Phil H. Brown of Kentucky, who has been following newspaper writing for over thirty years. Aside from being an editor on daily and weekly journals, he has been connected with the Chicago Daily News, The New York Journal and the New York Sun all white papers. He has also written articles for Frank Leslie’s New York publications and the humorous magazines “Judge”. For three national campaigns Mr. Brown has ably directed the newspaper publicity among American Colored people for the Republican National Committee. He has just been appointed under President Harding’s administration as Commissioner of Conciliation in the Department of Labor.

Another seasoned scribe of the “old school” who is yet, after fifty years of active newspaper work, able to give the “new school” young reporters many valuable pointers, as to the best kind of punch (sparkling but not wet) to put into their night write-ups, is the spry and jolly Civil War veteran, Sergeant Ralph Hawkins.

Charles Stewart, as a scribe of the first order, has put more than two score years in this field in gathering news for some of the leading white and Colored papers of the country. His abilities as a good mixer, keen observer, good reasoner and an expert shorthand writer enabled him years ago by using his clever disguises to get the inside secret and puzzling facts to make numerous big newspaper write-ups on important and vital events that had not been unearthed, after repeated trials, by, some of the country’s most expert white newspaper reporters.

The late Richard W. Thompson was a man of wide newspaper experience and knowledge. He was at different times on the editorial staffs of the Washington Colored American and the Indianapolis World. He was the founder of a newspaper bureau in Washington, D.C. from where he sent out his famous letters to Colored papers throughout the country. He was without doubt one of the hardest workers Colored journalism has ever had. On more than one occasion the writer has seen Mr. Thompson take down notes all day and sit up that entire night getting out press releases for the next day.

In the deanship of newspaper work with T. T. Fortune is A. J. Murphy, editor of his nationally known Afro-American published in Baltimore, Md. Newspaper men who come in contact with Mr. Murphy are greatly encouraged and benefited as the results of his unusual journalistic abilities and experience extending over scores of years.

Ralph W. Tyler, World War newspaper writer and now on the editorial staff of the Cleveland Advocate, and L. T. Thompson World War Historian, are among the foremost newspaper men in the Race today. To them, on account of their bravery to face all kinds of perils and unselfish expending of tireless efforts to get true facts first-hand, goes much of the honor or the gathering and compiling of the data pertaining to the accurate history of the American Colored soldiers and sailors in the World War.

Cleveland G. Allen, one of the best known of the younger newspaper men of the race, is making journalism his profession. Aside from being the only Negro reporter in 1911 at the Ecumenical Conference at Toronto, Canada, and acting as traveling newspaperman with the late Bishop Alexander Walters, he was for many years one of Dr. Booker T. Washington’s Northern publicity men. It was mainly through his efforts that the name of a Negro, Frederick Douglass, was first brought before the Hall of Fame, and through his newspaper work an investigation was conducted against the discriminations of Colored sailors in the U. S. Navy. He has written a great deal for daily newspapers of New York and the entire country on the Negro question and at one time conducted a National News Bureau for the Negro Press. Having studied in Union High School, Greenville, S. C.; in the New York Evening High School three years where he won oratorical honors; two years of journalism in New York University; studying at the Angelus Academy of Music where he won a scholarship; and at present taking up special work at Columbia University: Mr. Allen, on account of the above preparations and experiences, is well fitted to hold his present positions as a member on the editorial staff of “Home News” a large white newspaper in New York, and as an appointed lecturer on Negro Music for the Board of Education in New York City. He has a brother, Henry Allen, who is also a prominent newspaperman at Stamford, Conn.