The Denver star. [volume], April 03, 1915, Image 1

About The Denver star. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1913-1963

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v Because Jones Is friendless and helpless* shall we let hhu Vng without an effort to save him? It is up to you
The papers formerly known as The Statesman and The Independent, have been merged into The Denver Star
TWENTY-SIXTH YEAR Number so ,
FROM LOWEST TO HIGHEST.
Odd Fellow* Pay Highest Respect and Honor To Its
Founder, Robert M. Johnson.
Robt. M. Johnson, one of Denver’s substanial and re*
spectable citizens of long years standing was buried Thurs
day afternoon of last week from pdd Fellows’ hall on Wei*
ton street, with the highest honor ever paid an .Odd Fellow
in the West.
Haviug been a |/ioneer,|
loved'and respected not only
by the members of the order,
but by all citizens, his funeral
was the largest ever witness
ed upon Wei ton street. The
whole 2600 block was crowded
with anxious friends and ac
quaintances. His employers
co-workers at Joslins,
where he had been employed
for years were there. The
two Households, Nos. 413° &
376, the Patriarchy No. 67,
Graud Master’s Council. Den
ier Lodge. Arapahoe Lodge,
and his own Lodge. Rocky
Mountain Lodge, together
with the Juveniles were all
present and participated in
the funeral exercises.
Beautiful floral offerings
covered the casket and many
designs were placed beneath
the bier so that the lovely
flowers made an embankment
links, “Our Founders Chain,
“Up the Hill” and beautiful
floral pillars, “At Rest” to
gether with an emblem of
flowers from each branch
marked the high esteem into
which he was held by all. The
Cammel Undertakiug Co.
needs to be highly commend
ed upon the manner in which
the whole funeral was con
ducted.' The prompt ness,
ease and grace only showed
the expert ability of Mr. Cur
tis M. Harris and his able as
sistant, Mr. Robt. Oliver. Rev
Jas. Washington officiated and
♦ glowingly pictured Brother
Johnson's good qualities. Ful»
ly 2000 people witnessed the
funeral parade and impressive
services.
The Star deeply sympa
thizes with Sister Carrie John
son and fully realizes the com
munity's loss in suck a glori
ous, modest character as Robt.
Mayo lohnson.
Robt. Mayo Johnson, was
born Dec. qth. 1858 a * Ver
sailes, Kentucky, having spent
a part of his younger life in
his native state and hearing
of the splendid possibilities
awaiting willing hands in the
new West, he too answered
to the call of the West and
located in Denver in the year
1880. Having been reared in
a Christian family amid whole
some surroundings, the early
religious impressions of his
youth ever lingered in his
mind and in 1885 he became
a Christian and united with
■ the Zion Baptist church of this
city. Havingeafcablished him
self in useful and gainful em
ployment and as a worker in
the vineyard of the Master, on
Februrary 12th, 1890, he took
as his wife and helpmate thru
life, Mrt. Carrie Scott, who
survives him Bttt prior to
mq«oi these even* JUother
The Denver Star
Johnson while yet in his na
tive state became a member
of Woodford Star No 173 b. G.
U. O. of Odd Fellows and it
is in this department of life’s
activities that he made his im
print on the sands of time
that must and will go on and
on gathering to his memory
brighter luster and granduer
as the years roll on into cen
turies; for because of his tire
less activities Odd Fellowship
in the Intermountain States
has been made as enduring
and permanent as our mighty
hills.
After a short sojourn in the
State of California Brother
Johnson returned to this city
and in company with certain
other brethen, all of whom
save one have fallen asleep, ob
tained authority and on Mar.
13th, if 2, founded Rocky
Mountain Ledge 3320 Grand
the parent I eof Odd Fel
lows in the Inter-mountain
region. The year 1891 saw
the formation of the District
Grand Lodge with Robt' M.
Johnson as one of its charter
members, and in 1884 he was
called to the position of Grand
Master to pilot the struggling
and almost penniless Grand
Lodge through its most peril
ous period, but at the end of
his term he handed to his suc
cessor a District Grand Lodge
full of life, vigor and hope
fully confident that it was on
the highway to success. In
Odd Fellowship he passed
through all the grades of
honor to the highest. When
Grand Masters Council No.
118 was to-be formed Brother
Johnson was one of the char
ter members. A loyal and
active member of the House
hold of Ruth through many
years. When the brethern
thought the time ripe to or
ganize a branch of the Patri
archy, R. M. Johnson gave it
his sanction and active sup
port, continuing in active
membership in all four de
partments of the order.
He was for many years a
trustee of No. 2320, and as
such had much to do with its
financial transaction, and
much money of the Lodge
passed through his hands,
but there was never a sugges
tion of suspicion that one pen
ny would be misplaced.
Who can recall a session of
pur Lodge when Brother
Johnson was well and in the
city and not at his post in the
Lodge? Whoever sou gh t
counsel and instruction in the
usuages an,d tenents of our
order but found him aver
ready and eager to impart.
What Odd Fellow ever
went to him for help of any'
(Continued on Page 6.)
DENVER, COLORADO. Y, APRIL 3, (915
CHOOSE YE.
Race Unity and Peace or QMft Confusion and Denial
Stand Up or Lay Down. OMuThum Must Bn Taught
Grafters Don’t Rule Negroes. • His MeetingDroaks
Itself Up. Died Wore Birth.
Fellow Citizens of Colorado, let it never be said that
within less than 60 years of the Gr< at Emancipation of the
Slaves and since the admission of jt olorado as a Centennial
State that the Metropolis of this St ,te, so tar forgetting the
very foundations and Organic principles of our own State
gave the lie to the hopes and terthe aspirations of people
struggling under the anarchy of hate, race discrimination
and prejudice and who, yearnings f#r opportunities for im~
provement for themselves and those that come after them,
'found closed upon them the doort of opportunity to make
friends and to co-operate equally in every way in the up
building of this great State which iin'the Providence of God
had been reserved as a haven for the struggling, aspiring
manhood whenever found on earth. 'The Earth is the
Lord s and the fullness thereof.” All men are His creatures.
Shall we dare to say that a certain man, the image of our
Creator shall not have a share eqmtfiy with all the rest in the
fruits of the fairest land, beautiful Avith jagging peaks and
snow kissed mountains, which the Sun shines upon?
In order to get closer together and weed out the unde
sirables from constantly misrepresenting the intelligent and
respectable Negro, and to prevent these political moochers
and hungry beggars from going tp all political aspirants and
begging “alms” from them an organization was needed.
The leading Negro residgijis of Denver including
preachers, attorneys and heavy Mwerty owners, have per
fected an organization to be knomK as “The Colored Pro
tective league." the object of whtgHis to protect and advance
thoclvil had polithal riglfci sfalgflmUftqas of Denver. -The
preliminary meeting of the new organisation was attended
by a large aud enthusiastic crowd at 2807 Welton street,
when the following officers were elected:
Attorney W. B. Townsend, i president; The Rev. A. E.
Reynolds, vice president; Nolle R. Smith, secretary. Execu
tive Board —Alice D. Webb. Colored Republican dub; Dr.
Paul &. Spratlin, Colored Progressive club; C. W. Buford,
Jeffersonian League; John W. Hardy. Young Men’s Political
club; Rev. Jas. Washington. Ministers Union; J. A. Whit
taker. People’s Sunday Alliance; Ed C. Johnson, Building
and Labor Association; Ed Fountain, Colored Business men.
Advisory Board J. W. Jackson, R. B. Bolden, Dr. J. H.
Westbrook, John Hanger. Attorney T. O. Mason, E. V. Cam
met, Mrs Josephine Cassel, Mrs. Mary Holmes, Mrs. Belle
Contee, Mrs.-LouisGeorge, Mrs. T. E. McClain.
Membership Committee —Wesley G. Frierson. John W.
Carrie Jr., Mrs. Mildred Abernathy, Mrs. Nancy ISloan, Mrs.
Lizzie Mason.
Committee on Constitution and By-laws—George W-
Gross, R. A. Butler, Robert Oliver. Dr. J. W. Crump.
Committee on Headquarters—Ed Allison, Ed Fountain,
Fred Armstrong.
This organization was perfected Thursday night of last
week.
So You May Know and Act.
Live or die. sink op swim,
survive or perish, The Star
pledges its influence, gives its
support and hearty co-opera
tion to that noble and worthy
organization known as the
“Colored Protective Lea
gue." We commend the pro
moters for the formation of
this club, so timely and neces
sary. The crisis of Negro
manhood and womanhood in
Colorado has been reached.
We must either stand up or
laydown. We must forever
put down and out of our race
the begging wolves and
mooching hounds of disgrace
who lurlt around the street
preying upon eanß
victims. We must let tbs
Caucasian know that such po
litical ipnegredes who beg, lie
and steal are not our best
representative men. We must
get our just due in political
recognition or die trying. We
must no longer stand to be
robbed and deceived out of
what is ours and what our
hard earned dollars bring to
us. This may be the turning
point in your conduct. It will
take iron nerve to do it. It
may cause you to fall out with
your dearest friend whose
judgment in the past you have
highly, respected, but, upon
this issue, you must be a man
or a mouse. Mr. Voter, are
you with the Star in its effort
to advance the Negro’s cause
by eliaaination ? If so. join the
club and fight for our exist
ence. You know, as well as
the Star that the Negro has
beeo yaillkiy insulted, dis
criminated against and wil
fully mistreated by our city
commissioners especially by
Otto Thnm.the former fifteea
dollass-a.week clerk. The
Star knows that a half of mil*
tion dollars of taxpayers
money.have been spent in the
West Colfax viaduct; that no
Negro has received a dollar
and that the contracts exclud
ing Negro labor were assent
ed to indirectly by the com
missioners. The Star knows
hat Otto Thum’ has humili
ated us by attempting to have
Negro men bring their fiances
to the city hall so, “he could
look them over” before is
suing a marriage license. The
Star knows how Otto Thum is
wedded to his idol, Union La
bor, which hates Negroes and
attempts to destroy them by
exclusion and org a n i z i n g
[Strikes against them.
The Star cannot forget how
Otto Thum tried to prevent
Negroes bathing in Washing
ton Park. Does not it seem
reasonable that this mac and
other city ball.men would, pur
posely organize Negroes to
fight Negroes? Think of him
forming a Negro organiza
tion of ‘'representative” Neg
roes to break up or influence
any previous concentrated ef
fort of the Negroes themsel
ves!! It is adding insult to
injury. Will we let a Negro
man who receives $5 00 a
week from the city hall be
in breaking up and
destroying a good orgahiza-*
tion? Would you sincerely
regard men to whom work is
a stranger and honesty an
absent quality, go down to
the city hall and represent
themselves as your spokes
men? Would you sit idly by
when we need your voice to
help condemn and decry such
political pirates of decency
and honesty and let them go
arouud hat in hand and by
their preverted misdirected
effort secure “a little expense
money” as their beggings be
cause of their connection with a new
1' alleged and attempted to be born
, ,4 J'M
It a man who belongs to that organ
ization sold out Shorter A. M. E.
hurch for $30, what would he do if he
got a chance to sell out a club?
KNOCKERS BREAK UP OWN MEET
ING.
Negro citizens of Denver have called
a mass meeting to be held at the
Campbell's A. M. E. church. Twenty
third and Lawrence streets, at 8
o'clock tonight. The call for the meet
ing, to which many names are sub
scribed, states the purpose is to form
a league to which every negro voter in
Denver Is eligible, and whlcii will de
vote itself to working for the advance
ment of civil and political rights of
the members of the Denver league.
The call also states that the move
ment is tor the purpose of uniting
forces and the promoters declare the
organization will have no affiliation
with any previous movements of this
character.
The following signed the cali for the
mass meeting: J. C. Mayden, S. F.
Short, Wesley Lyons, Mrs. E. H. Mor
ris, R. K. De Preist, Joseph D. D.
Rivers, Harrison Smith, H. Galloway,
Spencer Smith, H. Henderson, L. R.
Arnold, the Rev. T. E. Henderson,
Mrs. Mabel C. Falling, Mrs. Julia Hub
bard, Mrs. M. E. Holmes, Mrs. T.
Lyons, Richie Rivers, Mrs. Josephine
Caasels, Mrs. Isabel Stewart. Mrs.
Thetta E. Miller, Mrs. Ida De Priest.
J. E. Taylor, Charles Washington,
Mooes Thompson, Jojm wlms, J. H.
Janes, George W. Gordon. D. McKet
trlck. J. N. Walker, R. J. ven Dicker,
sohn, John Anderson, P. J. Jackson,
W. H. Crawford, I. H. Harper, G. B.
Richardson. Annie E. Kamletcn. Irene
' Barbee, J. M. Mason, Thomas A. Jonas,
' E. D. WarSaU, W. o. Smith, William
• r ■
Kit* Cents a Cor*.
Arapahoe Odd
Fellows Honor
Trusted Member
George D. Hall, P. S. of
Arapahoe Lodge No. 2936,
whose picture accompanies
this sketch, was born Oct. 12,
1867, in Gasconade Co, Mo.,
and came to Denver May 9th;
1879 and has resided here
ever since. He attended the
public schools of this city and
learned the broom trade. Dur
ing his life here he has been
actively connected with sev
eral organization. He became
a member of Arapahoe Lodge
No. 2936 November 11, 1887,
GEORGE D. HALL.
and faithfully served all sta
tions in the lodge, joining the
Past Grand Council No. n 8
January 13, 1892 and Denver
Patriarchy No. 67, Nov. 9 ,
1892 and being highly honors
ed by the order in being their
D. G. Deputy and D. G. Mas
ter, having been elected to
represent them in the B. M.
C. A. at Indianapolis in 1896,
St. Louis in 1898 and Louis
ville, Ky.. in 1900. He was
elected P. S. of the Lodge
April Ist, 1895, twenty years
ago and holds the office as
well as being trustee of the
lodge since 1899. Besides his
membership in the Odd Fel
lows he is a member of Cen
tral Baptist churches and a U
®-, F - “ d s ; M - T. and has
hlled all stations in the aboved
named orders.
Geo. D. Hall has the ut
most confidence in his frater
nal societies and the public
hold him in high esteem.
Horton, Robert Gray, s. H. Baxter, J.
M. Miller, Prank K. Hall.—Xews.
A mass meeting for the purpose of
organizing a civil and political protec
tive league has been called by repre
sentative negro citizen, of Denver to
be held at the A. M. E. church at
Twenty-third and Lawrence streets at
S o’clock this evening. Other meeting,
purporting to have as their object* the
formation of a similar organization are
declared by the colored people who
will meet tonight to have been called
without the general consent or knowl
edge of the negroes of the city, and
the league is to be formed tonight.
be the gonuine ropro
eentativo body.— Post
The much-heralded meeting at
Campbell chapel Tuesday met and
broke up la a mass of confusion. D* „
rer’a advertised representative citizen,
R- J. von Dtckersohn, called the de
flected movement to order. Motions
wore made for a temporary chairman.
T. T. Bruce and C. W. Buford were
nominated. Vote was takon, but for
•o»e reason better known to the pro
***** °* ow the reaalt ot the veto
(Coatiamd on pag« 4)