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VOLUME^XLvTnO. 10 RICHMOND. VIRG1NIA.SATURDAY JAN. 14. 1928 _PR1CE' F1VE CENTS'
AFRICAN MISSION CONDITIONS
Makes Vitrolic Attack Upon the
Secretary, Dr. A. A. Graham
Alleges Mistreatment and Concealment of Facts.
Denied Free Speech and a Fair Hearing.
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Editlor Richmond Planet, ,
Sir:—Please allow me space in j
your valuable paper rt. say a few i
words. As It is expedient for all of
us Ho look forward at the beginning
of the New Year to better things
and 'Jo lay aSd0 as far as possible
those things that have hindered and
returned our progress, I am thero
fore wrWng this open letter to the
public.
.So many things have been said
against me and about' me and my
wife since I arrived In Richmond
last year, rhai it would take an is
sue of your paper to answer Ihem.
Again, 1 have never; sought publici-T
through the newspapers. I have
been an arden* exponent, of Foreign
Missions ag conducted under the Ltf.t
Carey Society and condemn as an
ingra*e and one entirely recreant to
his trusp any- one who Would turn
and try to kill Ihe organization that
he has upheld with enthusiasm for
TWENTY-SIX YEARS.
AN AMUSING,'STORY.
Demand for this article reminds
me of a story that my mother once
related to me. She said a woman
had a crazy boy and as she was
going away, she cautioned the bey
that he was to sit in the corner of
the room and if any one came simply
say “ur”. Said she. “If you say more
'he people will find out that you are
crazy”. The mother went and some
friends called. They asked the crazy
boy where was his mother, and *Sie
boy said “ur”. They asked h'yn how
old he was and he said “ur". The
friends said that he was crazy. The
analogy is: I have fried no:’ to write
against ‘he Lott Carey Society and
have go'ten worse results 'han if I
had written 'he facts as '.hey were
when I firs', came home last year
However, although it is late, I must
correct some glaring errors “’hat
have been made concerning us.
\
DR. GRAHAM’S ELECTION.
When Dr. Alexander departed
♦his lif© and Dr. A. A. Granam was
elected in .his stead as Corresponding
Secrehtiry. he received all the Lott
Darev mail. I had borrowed $100
(one hundred dollars) from bank
in Por.h Rico against the Lot' Carey
Society. The note was sent to Dr.
W. T. Johnson. He was away and
no one in his office. The note went
back to protest and my friend in
Porto Rico had it pay. In .the
meantime I was struck in New York
by au automobile. In some myster
ious way, Dr. Graham got the letter
and paid the bill, bui when h0 pub
lished in 'he Lott Carey Herald con
cerning i‘.t he said that he paid $200#
(two hundred dollars). This was
untrue. N
ALL STEAMERS CROWDED.
The second time I sailed under
his direction in 1920 he was hurry
ing us on to Liverpool to secure pas
sage for ourselves and for Misses
Banks and Gooding. It was jua*
afl'er 'foe war and all the steamers <
going to West. Africa were crowded. <
In ;ihe meeting cal'ed in Richmond <
prior to th;s do thwart my going to <
Africa had been defea'ted in its pur
pose. Dr. Graham called the meet- i
ing and urged me to be present ad <
that meelng. He never ‘old me the ]
purpose of it. As I wa3 going out i
as a phvsician. I fell impelled to
i tke some requests for tnv work. <
ms al«o to be married that very
hi '*o the favorite daughter of i
icon and Mrs. Tharps and made 1
le requests for her school that i
she was expected to conduct at
Monrovia.
PLAIN STATEMENTS.
In this meeting I had 1he firs,
speech and aflerwards Dr. Thomas
was asked to' speak. Rev. Thomas
said. "I do no3 know what to say.
It was my understanding that I was
to speak of Dr. Boone’s work and
ne was to speak of my work, aud
Dr. Boone has spoken of both
sides”. Dr. Howard, of sainted
memory asked, ‘‘Is what Dr. Boone
said (true"? Rev. Thomas replied
thad was. Then Dr. Howard said
to ,Dr, Glraham. "You have not made
of this meeting what you
pkipried". The Board granted my
request for $1,000 (one thousand
dollars) for my medical work and
$5Q0 (five hundred dollars) for Mrs
Boone’s school work. Drs. Graham
and Johnson were appointed to see
thai this money be paid. But so far
as we know not one cent has ever
been paid upon the $1,000 (one
thousand dollars) for medical work
or ihe $500 (five hundred dollars)
for Mrs. Boone’s school'Work. Dr,
Graham had told me 'that all
money I collected on dhe home field
could be applied to equipment. Thla
money had been spent for equipment
before 1he meeting in Richmond In
which *he $1000 was granted.
STRIKE IN NEW YORK.
I
On arriving in New York for my
departure with my bride, I met an
expressman’s sttrike and found it
qu3‘e impossible to get my cargo to
’.he ship before it sailed. But being
urged by Dr. Graham tb proceed to
Liverpool and engage passage for the
party and knowing -.fiat I had re
ceipts for all my goods, I ventured
,, go at he command of the Cor
responding Secretary. When I
reached Liverpool and went nexj
morning to Elder Demps’er’s office
and found thai Dr. Graham had
taken up the mal’ter by cable and
had arranged all of the passages
while we were in midocean, caused
me to prophecy jus.( the same re
sults we have to-day. I sent at once
ail my veceipts for my cargo, giving
in detail where the things were and
the money that had been paid upon
them. A few of these things were
shipped. Mr. Merrill, Liberian Con
sul in New York wrote to me that)
Dr. Graham refused to pay any
more freight' upon (things for me.
Can you imagine my righteous in
dignation when here in 1923 and I
called at Mr. Merrill’s and he hand
ed me all my papers and receipts.
[ asked him why he did not collect
the things, and send them to me.
He replied tJha.: ‘‘No one was paying
him to gb around town and collect
my Things”. Then. I asked him why
he had said that I left~my business
y “loose ends". (
THE AFRICAN COMMISSION j
Drs. Brown and Graham came to
Liberia and we were all very glad
n see them. For my part', I was
*eady to take up my bed and walk,
tor I had heard /‘ha I they were coni
ng with an express purpose of dis.
•hargng me. The day after my dis- j
•harge. I had prepared to step righ : •
>ver into another field and keep
lriving. Their stay was an inspira >
licm to us all. We did not ge;‘ tho
;ash that we anticipated, because
>ur salaries were far behind. I do
lot th:nk .(hai‘ they left $300 upon
he entire field. They organized a
3oard of Con‘rol and made me
•hairman. Very soon af 'er reaching
Ymerioa the Corresponding Secre
ary failed to recognize the Board
le had pu‘ into existence. We were
;oing to the expense of meeting and
“ending in recommendations and
not only were our recommendations
refused, but tlhe Secretary got so he
would noM even make reply.
PLEDGES.
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I
The Commissioners made many
pledges to our work. They were
going to furnish a DeJoo lighting
sy9t«m for Brewerville School; fake
(Tver Rev.; Hayes’ wheelrigh”? shop;
put a memlo>rial window in Provi
dence Baptist Church, of which I
was then paslor. They fulfilled none
of these. The only engagement the
Secretary kept was to pay a woman
a bill he owed. Drs. Brown and
Gfraham both said vehemently that
they were going 9o send no other
missionaries to the field until they
erecffed buildings for those already
there.
jl .7 i
FAULKNER AND THE SAW MILL.
I
Dr. Brown and Dr. Graham had
been to the field and according to
tlhe home views, were supposed to<
know niore about it than the Mis
sionaries. They knew conditions
were uiort suited for a big saw mill
such hs they sent. Yel. they sen?
Faulkner and afterwards dumped flte
saw mill upon the cotfst of Africa to
Work Stfejelf. $10,000 thrown away.
SALARIES AND FURLOUGH.
Soon at ler the saw mill came to
us. there came in its wake death
and despair. The Secretary kept
falling farther and farther behind
in our salaries—while he told the
people over here that* tihe Mission
aries were all "paid up’’. One year
he sent? for me and my Wife only
$200. My wife wrote to him and
asked for the support according to
:'he contract, and he made fun of
her and did not send one penny.
When times became unbearable, my
wife wrote to her friends in Rich
mond and ".fiey gave us relief. Dr.
Graham never sent us one ounce of
food. He put ii* in his annual report
but W is a false statement.
TRIED TO HOLD US IN SLAVERY
He gave us a contract for 3 years
and when the fourth year was out
we applied for a furlough. He had
no money with which to pay our
expenses. He also informed us tha'
our contraq4 automatically renewed
irtself—mark you, without consent
of the pan'ies contracting. We could
no‘J reach the Board. He broke open
and confiscated my mail sent in his
care. He had planned to starve us
So dea4h, but God delivered us.
COMMITTEE OF ARBITRATION
Here in America he was like a
lion. In Brooklyn, I could not
meet! the Board or have a word to
say in the Convention, until ithose
few words at the closiing of the
meeting. Dr. Graham owed us when
we reached America $2,394 (two
thousand, three hundred and ninety
four dollars). I could ge;! no' hear
ing. He acted far from a Christian
or even a gentleman. I appealed ‘.Jo
the brethren for a commitee of ar
bitration. The Committee me* in
Washington, D. C . accepted my re
port and *4ook out of my salary every
cent ihatf I had made upon '‘he field
withou4 allowing me one cent for
‘'.xT'enses. The Convention by rights,
sfll owes me $1,294 (one thousand
two* hundred and n’nety-four dol
lars). Dr. Brown said in the No
vember issue of 4he Lott Carey Her
ald that they paid me above con
tyaa4 price $2,000 (two thousand
dollars) and that is untrue.
/
MEDTCAL EDUCATION.
Dr. Stokes in his effort to up
hold Dr. Graham stated that’ the
Lott Carey Convention gave me my
medical education. A more false
statement oould not have been made.
When I came home from Congo, dhe
Convention voted tio give me a year’s
vacation on salary. Ad the next
session when i|t was found that none
of <<hat money had been paid and
tlhatithey owed me $600* (six hundred
dollars), they rescinded nation
of the previous 'Convention ffu<t gave
me $300 (three hundred dollars) in
stead of the six hundred which they
owed. Tha3 is the way they paid my
schooling.
Much was said while I was upon
the field about “pensions” eto. I
have never looked for any, but I
have been receiving JuaM what I an"
tidipated from colored people. And
I am even doming out bet|ter than
Colley and PreBley. I shall never
look for even a vo/te of thanks from
tihe Lott Carey Convention. ‘T have
done iny woric, >1 (have aungj my
song”. It will stand and the .Great
Arbiter of human fortunes will some
day call up ithe credit list. Selah*
C. C. BOONE, M. Dj
POE—ALSTON
>
Mrs. Charfcty Elizabeth Alston, of
Philadelphia, Pa., ormerly of 708
Denny Street, Richmond, Va. an
nounces the marriage of her daugh
ter, Luclle Virginia to Mr. Therman
Arehie Poe.
The marf'age took pBace Thursday,
December 8, 1927 at 'She parsonage
of Rev. J. H. Dwelle.'
Mr. and Mrs. Poe will make tJheir
future home a’J 1842 North Twenty
fourth Street, Philadelphia.
WtiSW: _
ADVANCE QUARTERLY MEETING
AT ST. PAUL BAPTIST CHURCH.
j
You are cordially invited to at
tend the service of the Home Mis
sion Society to be held at St. Paul
Baptis-' Church, Denoon and Henri
co Street's. Richmond, Va. Sunday
January 29, 1928 at 3:30 P. M.
Program of Fifcty Years Ago, under
the auspices of 'the Grand United
Order of Knights of Damon. Please
br* ng a friend with you. Sermon by
Rev. M. W. Rainey, Pastor of Firsit
Baptist Church, Basil Richmond, ac
companied by his choff'. '-.
Invitation Committee: C. J. Pur
year, James Williams, Charles Hen
derson, William Venable, J. R.
Crawley, Milton Ross, V. R. Ivey
J. L. Stovall, Frank Matthews,
James Smith. John Ellis, Sophia
Lyons, John Ford, MatJtie Puryear,
Charles H. MOrtton Sr., Bertha Ran
some, Ellie Babbs, Marion Parker,
Tohn Syms Ida Ellis, G. R. Quarles
Laura Sco'‘t, John Williams, Annie
B.. Brown, Laura W. Davis, Mae
Summersett Mary Carring ton, Sarah
Drew, Martha Farmer, Hester Cooke
Lenora Jones, Izet*a Warren, Annie
Norwood, Irene Clarke, Henrietta
Clay. L. J. Randolph, Jesse Lewis,
Sir J. C. Randolph, President; R
E Moifon, Secretary.
j
CARD OF THANKS
My Chr'stmas wou’d have been
very lonely and desolate on account
of the Reaper Death having taken
my dear cousin suddenly from labor
to reward, had not many loving
friends of my Colonel remembered
me bountifully, buS requested their
names not to be published.
The Southern Aid Society, Planet
Office, Second Baptist Church, Invin
cible Lodge Odd Fellows, Missionary
Circle Fifth Street Baptist Church,
Though sad we mark the closing eye
Of those we loved in days gone by,
Ya,: sweet in death their latest song
We'll meet again, ’tw-ill not be long.
My heartfelt thanks to all and may
our Dear Lord keep you many
Prosperous New Years.
MRS. THOMAS M. CRUMP
Mrs. Roberta Miller, of 12 E.
20th St. is ouJ again after an illness
of about’ six weeks.
Mr. RoberJ Morris continues very
sick at the home of his daughter,
Mrs. Nannie Thompson, of 1509
Stockton St., Southaide„
Mrs. Regis Denny Marshall, of
Evington, 111. and baby, Parthenia
are in the city visiting their parents
and grend -parents, Attorney and
Mrs. W. F. Denny, 610 N. Third
Street. Mrs. Irma Denny Royal, of
New York spent the holidays here
with parents and left for her pres
ent residence. All have been royally
entertained by friends here.
Hilliard Jackson. 2242 Moore St.
was in She Police Court last Monday
upon the charge of shooting Hallie
Harringbon, with the inSent to kill.
In the pen, he started that Harrington
had trouble with his brother and
when he endeavored t|o gait his
brother to go home Harrington drew
a knife on him and he shot him in
the leg. The case was continued.
Explaining his possession of the re
volver he said a party had pawned
it whfb him.
BESSIE H. CHERRY DIES
SUDDENLY. i
Mrs. Bessie H. Cherry, of 901 N
Fifth Street, who was sis’er in-law
of Dr. E. R. Jefferson, died sudden
ly January 6, at about 3:30 A. M.
from acute indigestion, also desig
nated as angina ped'oris. She was
practi dally dead when medical at
tention could be given her. Her
funeral book place at the First Bap
Ms' Church Monday afternoon at 2
o’clock. Rev. Dr. W. T. Johnson
officiated- <
FULTON NOTES
A powerful sermon waa delivered
by Rev. G. W. Goodgame, ot Bir
mingham, Ala. a? Calvary Baptist
Church Sunday morning. He is a
sludent a1*. Union. Rev. C.A. Cobb3.
Vergie Meads, Walter Johnson and
C. B- Jefferson were on*the rostrum .
Mr. Lemuel Egglesi|on and friends
were present’. The Pastor preached
a credit ab’e sermon at night.
Shiloh Baptist Church extends an
invifthjMon to all to hear a great mes
sage by Rev. Daniel Hargrove, cf
North Carolina, Sunday 8:30 P. M.
Tomorrow at 8 B. M. there will
be a great mass meeting att Rising
Mt. Zion Baptist Church under the .
auspices of the Fulton Lily Benefi
cial Society. No. 1, Inc. The prin
cipal address will be delivered by
the pastor, Rev. O. B. Simms, B.
Th . Members will wear regalia.
The good people otf the New Vine
Baptist Church, Charles Ci’y County
presented heir pas*or, Rev. W. L.
Tuck and h!s Madam with several
valuable gifts at their Chris-mas ex- j
ercises.
Rev. K L. Bush enjoyed a fine
Cliris’mas. Several presents were
given him by the church, including
a heavy overcoat.
[PROF. MILES MARK FISHER RESIGNS FACULTY
'OF VIRGINIA UNION FOR ACTIVE PASTORATE.
i
RUMORED FISHER WILL
FILL LOCAL^ULPIT.
Rev. Miles Mark Fisher, popular
member of the faculty of the Vir
ginia Union University has resigned
his professorship dn tie Theological
Department and will devote his, em
tire- itime to the active minis.Ty.
Profc. Fisher has (been a member of
Union’s faculty for five years and
has accomplished preat good for the
school and the community.
Rev. Fisher has aipo resigned the
pad orates, of Second Liberty..Baptist
Church. New. Kent County and Elam
Baptia’ Church, .Charlee City Coun.y.
They are in .healthy^ spiritual and
financial condition .;c /Pew rallies on
special days amounted to over $3000
a‘ both . churche8--largest known
amounts raised at one time by any
rural churches in Virginia.
I'.' is rumored that Rev. Fisher
will accept a church In Richmond.
Va. He preached last Sunday at the
31st SKree:v Bapfist Church to an
enthusiastic audience of members
and friends on Church Hill.
The following is the contert of
Prof. Fisher’s letter of resignation:
The President and Trustees,
Virginia Union University,
Richmond, Virginia.
Dear Mr. President and Gentlemen:
For the past' five years I have been
happy ’‘o be associated with the
splendid work of Virginia Union
University. Probably our academic
processionals, and the genesis of the
Un’versitp h'sforv—“Virginia Union
University and Some of Her Achieve
ments”,- and 'the recently estab
lished Phi Alpha Sigma honorary
fraternity are the more tangible ex
pressions of my presence.
has been my pleasurue to assist
in instructing youth who are highly
typical of the rising generation, and
it has been my delight to have had
'the company and friendship of es
teemed colleagues. Union is a great
school, administered by men of ster
ling character and integrity. Its.
future is assured among the better
institutions for the training of young
men and women.
So many pleasan4 experiences at
the UniversVy in Richmond and in
the rural districts of Virginia in
crease tihe difficulty of my leaving
my professorship in the Richmond
Theological Seminary. Yet I. must
give myself wholly to my preaching
ministry. As a result please accept
this letter as my formal resignation
do become effective not later than
the last of March. 1928. I trust 4hat
my desire '.fo assist mv successor in
any possible way will counterbalance
any break in the Theological Depart
ment which may be caused by my
leaving during a semester,
i "When mp residence here will be
terminated, I hope that.’ you will
give me the pleasure of becoming
one of your supporf’ng con^ti uents.
Wri4ten word about1 my work hero
boh from you and from my col
'eaeues would cheer me during the
days when my thoughts will be
turned "o this place made famous
by many earnest souls.
Yours for a Greater Union.
MTLES MARK FISHER.
SHEPHERDS NOTES.
An overflow Union Degree Meeting
was held on the first Friday night
af ,the Samaritan Hall. More than 25
•can^idai'es weye initiated into the
mysteres of the Improved Order
Shepherds and Daughters of Bethle
hem by Secretory 'A. C. Clark.
Grand Presiding Shepherd Ora
Brown Stokes delivered a very
timely and instrucfi’ve address to tite
members of the Order gathered af
this mtee'ing. The ovation received
-by her at the conclusion of her ad
dress showed plainly <that what ehe
said was approved by every one pres
errtl. At the conclusion of this meet
ing refreshments were served and
every one went away happy
‘ (’lark's Invincible Fold held a
very well attended meeting on the
9th inat'. This Fold is pulling hard
•for the 'two hundred mark.
'The membership campaign meet
ing held on the 10th was filled wt.h
enf husiasm • The Reds walked away
with more than three more members
than che Biues reported at’ this
meeting- Both sides are girding
themselves for the final fray which
promises to be (‘he biggest thing ever
pulled off in Richmond.
Now ,'s the opporAinity for every
one who wishes to join a live, wide
awake, progressive fraternal organ
ization wi h a big humanitarian pro
gram. Before 'his month is out your
apoTcailoh will be solicited.
The following death claims were
paid during the pas-‘ month:
H L Armsr'ead, Pamplin. Va
Samuel Smith. Richmond Va.
George W. "Hayes. Richmond, Va
Re-lte Broaddus. Red Star, W. Va.
Hazel D. Marshall, Spring Mills,
Va)
Rachel Price. Chcff'er, Va.
Emanuel M. Dent, Covington Va
Charles Carter, Nohead Va.
The Director of our play "Frag
ments of Luxury” request* all tided
sellers to meet at the True Reform
ers Auditorium Monday night TrM*
o’clock to clear up the ticket* in
circulaion. Report to your Preaf#"
ing Shepherd or Ticket Chairman.
‘FRAGMENTS OF LUXURY” WILL
RE PRESENTED MONDAY.
We' will present what you have
wqftine for so very, very long'
Monday night, January 16, 1928 a*
the True Reformers Auditorium, tbc
p’ay which was written and so grace
fully directed by Preston Wiltiams.
The play has a strong cast, consis>
ing of Misses Mamie Wood, leading
lady and Edith Pollard, Pearl Lucas
Messrs. Aubrey Pollard. Leon Cooke
Zack Landis. Jr. Mus'c galore will
be furnished by the no'te-1 and able
Union University Collegians directed
by Mr. Commodore Bennett, assist
ed by Mr. Preston Johnson. You
must be present :V> wi4ness your own
comedian, Mr. Castor Oil. Come
early to get a good seat*. “Come for
curiosity”.
If you have had a bluey. blue day,
follow the crowds to witness title
p’ay—Monday. Our program con
s'sts of some of the best music ob
tainable and each number will be of
the rarest.