and helpless, shall we let him hang without an effort to save him? It is up to you
The papers formerly known as The Statesman and The*lndependent, have been merged into The Denver Star
TWENTY-SIXTH YEAR Number 81
FINISHED HIS WORK.
| Thomas Jefferson Riley
«A» Given All Honors of
Pioneer by Brothers.
Masons and Odd Fellows Turn Out En Masse.
When any man can so live
as to proudly have his life and
character so relate to the
many problems in the church,
state and city life, that man is
an honor to any community.
When a man's life is so inter
woven with the birth of an
organization, be it fraternal,
4 religious or secular, that one
cannot properly be separated
from the other then that man
has lived a life of’service and
usefulness.
Such were the activities in
the life of Thomas Jefferson
Riley as influenced by the or.
ganization and development
of Zion Baptist church of this
city. In his eulogy it was
said he carried lumber, nails
and dug up the earth, even
though then a young man, to
help erect a church of his
faith. Neither time nor space
would permit us to relate his
tyucdships, woes, uprisings,
downsettings intermi n g I e d
with the joys, blessings and
happiness which his life of
usefulness in the church af~
forded him. White men beg
ged for a chance to say some
thing extolling the life of this
eminent partriarch.
For S3 years he . lived in
Denver and became acquaint
ed with the best in both races
and every person was eager
to pay deserving homage in
time of his decease. His per
sonality will be missed in
Denver. Denver through the
lodges, Masons, and Odd Fel
lows turned out as never be.
fore; fully 100 men were in
line to do Father Riley honor.
Campbell A. M. E. church
was packed on the inside and
the crowd extended down 23rd
and all long Lawrence Sts.,
for fully a block eich way.
The crowd was immense.
The church and ritualistic
service were very simple.
Rev . Washington officiating,
assisted by Revs. Randolph,
Murphy and A. C. Jackson.
The Masons were personally
in charge of the Grand Mas
ter Titus S. Rector, whom
Denver knows and loves.
Arapahoe Lodge augmented
by Denver and Rocky Moun
tain Lodges, were in charge of
Henry Marks. Douglass Un
dertaking Co., certainly show
ep its ability to handle the
crowd. Mr. Reed was the
director.
Thomas Jefferson Riley was
born in Cherokee county,
State of Georgia, Jan. 29th,
>836, A. D. Early in i860 at
the age of 24 years, he went
with his father to Memphis,
Tenn„ and later to Colorado.
Though they suffered many
hardships on thtif journey, ft
is said thejr never complained
or murmured. Soon after
The Denver Star
their arrival here in Denver,
Thomas J. branched out for
himself and took up the min
ing industry in Central City,
Colorado. He was married
to Miss Lucy A. Boon in
Sept 1861, and seven children
were born to.their happy
union, four of whom are liv
ing, one son and three daugh
ters. He met with marked
success in his undertakings,
and did not fail to tell his as
sociates that it was all due to
the goodness of God. He
soon set about getting up an
organization of which he be
came a charter member, out
of which sprung our present
Zion Baptist church; this was
in 1865
Brother Riley being an ever
busy man 1866 found him agi
tating the subject of Free-
Masonry, and by November
of the following year he had
SUQCSadsdtn instituting Rocky
Mounain Lodge No. 7, F. &
A. M.
Nine years thereafter, he
with the assistance of other
zealous workers, succeeded in
organizing a Grand Lodge in
the Territory of Colorado
with four subordinate lodges.
At that time Rocky Mountain
Lodge, formerly number 7
was changed to number 1.
Brother Riley was found still
at the helm, and during his
term of membership he hon
orably filled all the important
offices of both the Blue Lodge
and the Grand Lodge, having
served as Worshipful Master
of No. 1 eleven years, and la
ter as Grand Master of the
Jurisdiction tor the same
lehgth of time, and for his no
ble service was made an hon
orary member several years
ago. He was also a charter
member of Far West Chapter
No. 6 and Red Cross Com
mandery No. 18 Knights Tem
plar, which were organized in
1881. When the Scottish Rite$
were added, Brother Riley
made his way up the ladder
to the highest rung, thereby
obtfining for himself the 33rd
degree in Masonry.
For 27 years he was a
staunch member of Arapahoe
Lodge N-o. 2936 G. U. O. of
Odd Fellows. He held many
positions of trust in this city,
and was always found to be
faithful and trust-worthy.
Notwithstanding he lost
much of this world’s goods
through a turn of adversity,
he always cherished his hon
esty, respectability, and his
friendship from all as equiva
lent to this world’s riches. He
became seriously ill on Mar.
35, and lingered until Tues-!
day Mar 30, at 5:45 p. m
Brother Riley was conscious
to the last and gave instruc -
dona as to his funeral and
DENVER, COLORADO. SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 1915
i burial, the last hour being
spent in talking of the great.
“Redeemer” whom he was
ready and willing to meet.
His going out- was but the
passing of a grand and noble
character—May his soul rest
in peace. We will nevef more
see him here as >the world
would want to see us, but we
will remember him by his
footprints made iii the sand,
and over the rough and stopy
path through life; performing
those duties for the better
ment of his fellowmen.
Wit. Sprague,
Secretary of Rocky Mt. Lodge
No. F. ££A. M. .
AT LAST, BUT NOT
TOO LATE.
Railroad Man Organize.
In keeping step with pro
gress of all large commercial
organizations, the Pullman
Co., has organized the porters
in its employ into benevolent
associations throughout the
entire United States, for mu
tual aid. There are seven as
sociation of approximately a
thousand men to an associa
tion. The company emplpXS
seven thousand porters as the
minimun and ten thousand as
the maximun, being the larg
est employer of colored labor
in the United States. The
company appreciates the ef
forts of the men in the various
districts to aid themselves by
forming societies and aid as
sociations among themselves,
but for lack of financial sup
port and other obstacles too
great for them to surmount,
have decided to assist the
men by its stamp of approval
and financial aid. In keeping
with that purpose, there was
called a conference in New
York at the office of Division
Supt. A. 1. Grant, a number
of District Superintendents of
the company and a porter to
represent each district, at
which time an association was
formed, known as the Pullman
Porters' Benevolent Associa
of the North East, which com
prises the following districts:
New York (except Pennsyl
vania Terminal), Montreal,
Boston (North and South),
Toronto, Albany, Jersey City
(North), Weehawken and Ho
boken.
The organization will be
controlled by porters. There : s
a general committee of seven,
who have jurisdiction over all
matters pertaining to the or
ganization of the North East
Association, also agents whose
duties are to «assist the local
committeemen and to enroll
members.
(By Thos. R. W«bb)
On Mar. 24th, there was or
ganised in San Francisco a
movement for the advance
ment of a part of our race in
west. This organization is
known as the Pullman Porters’
Benefit Association of Pacific
Zone, and includes all dis
tricts of Denver, Salt Lake,
(Portland, Seattle, Spokane,
San Francisco, Los Angeles
add Tuscon, Arizona.
The Pullman Company was
represented by F. L. Wood,
Division Supt, of West, and
and Supt. Twining of Salt
Like and Allen and Kelley of
'Frisco. The porters were
represented by Todd E. Gra
ham of Seattle and Spokane
Districts, John W. Stanley of
P&tland District, J. N. Nance
of salt Lake District, R. L.
Vi lliams and W. P. Taylor of
'I isco District, J. T. Am
br se of Los Angeles District,
an 1 Thos. R. Webb of Den
ve District.
>'he following officers were
ehcted: R. L. Williams of
Fl sco, Chairman; Thos. R.
Vjf ibb of Denver, Secretary
aa i Todd E. Graham of Sca
nt s. Treasurer. Agents for
th<: several districts were ap
ntedas follows: Portland,
N. Stanley; Seattle and
Saakane, Todd E. Graham;
Fbsco, W. P. Taylor; Los
Aagles, J. T. Ambrose; Salt
fgace, J. W. Nance; Denver,
jS. J. Houston.
] rides and regulations
(Mhnulgatcd by Pullman Co.,
th temporary organiza
tkk), Mm adopted subject to
and changes to
S:aflHH|i|d.by representa
t** differ
ent zones at their annual
meeting in Chicago in Octo
ber.
Resolutions were adopted
thanking the officers of the
Pullmnn Company for their
kind interest and co-opera
tion in the formation of the
organization and also for the
5 per cent donation from the
company to each death fund.
The meeting was held in the
office of Divis on Supt. F. L.
Wood and much enthusiasm
was manifested both by offi
cers and men. The Pacific
Zone will be affiliated with
the other six zones into which
the United States has been
divided.
Colored Man Elected
to City Council in
Chicago.
Oscar who has
been in the city's employ for
many years in Chicago, was
swept into office in the Second
Ward at Tuesday’s election.
He is the first colored man
ever elected to the city coun
cil.
$300,000 Bequeathed
To Hotel Employees.
Atlantic Cily, N. J. —Sev-
eral colored employees of the
Hotel Brighton were named
as legatees in the will of Fred
erick Helmslay, the late pro
prietor of that hotel, who died
at his home, 2018 Delancey
street, Philadelphia, Mar. 18.
Bequests amounting to S3OO,
006 were made to the older
employees.
GOOD MEN
TAKING HOLD.
Good Men Rally to Support Colored Pro
tective League.
Negroes Future in Denver Brightens Up.
That the. Colored Protective League organized for the
purpose of the protection of the civil, political and industrial
rights, has a mission to fill in this city, is beyond dispute.
That this same league must have your personal, undivided
and exclusiye support in order for it to properly carry out
its aims and object is, also beyond dispute. Lastly that only
one organization of this kind is necessary in Denver is
agreed upon by all. This organization whose officers you
know and in whom you have confidence can weli stake its
personell and influence against an organization whose basic
principles are declared by the promoters to be, “to have no
affiliation with any previous movements of this character.”
Think of a club or society at the start advertising their op
position to peace, unity mutual helpfulness and all things
and all organizations (including women's clubs, churches,
lodges etc) which stand for what the Negro needs most, race
unity wisely directed to move in a single direction for peace,
progress and prosperity.
What have you to think of a club of supposed “intelli*
gent representative" men advocating disruption, confusion
and constant trouble among Negroes for the purpose of
breaking up or attempting to influence a legitimate club?
The Colored Protective League sent two committees on mis
sions of peace in order to strike a common ground so that
the Negro-could present his forces undivided and as one
solid phalanx, and twice offers of peace were rejected by the
disruptionists. They don’t want harmony nor peace, but
trouble and division. Again looking over the names of
some of the best people in Denver, The Star is still forced
to believe that they were deceived into that movement and
we refuse to believe otherwise unless they persist in staying
with that troublesome crowd. To these honorable women
whose very life work in the past has been to cement the
race together and to knit our woes, joys, sorrows and happi
ness so closely that we could feel interdependence one upon
the other giving confidence, support and jfower to our race.
We are appealing to you to leave the sinking ship.
There are many kinds of leadership, but the kind need
ed today, is that true leadership, governed and characteriz
ed by honesty and integrity. No race of people in the his
tory of civilization ever eudured such a leadership of more
consumate cowardice, than is> being practiced by a number
of Negroes totally void of self respect and appreciation of
many manly resentments. He submits to every indignity,
with apology, that the white man inflicts upon him.
When we speak of a coward, we don’t mean a physical
coward, but a moral coward. The man, who has not the
courage to resent a wrong, is not worthy of the name man,
and for all it stands for. If the Negro orators and pulpit
leaders would teach to their people to decline to patronize
those white business enterprises, that insult them and their
womanhood, it would not be long before these many insults
and indignities, that are being heaped upon the race on ac
count of color, would soon become a dead issue. The all
important thing, with the Negro people, is the necessity of
seeing the mighty strength of organization among them
selves.
Let us think, the Jew will not read a paper that is 'hos
tile to Jews; the Irishman will resent, with all of his hot
blood, insults heaped upon his race by newspapers and all
nationalities, the Japanese told in a few words the world just
where they stood a few years ago in California, with refer
ence to the school question and the Alien’s Rights Law,
which-had for its purpose the confiscation of property, as ap
pled to their race. The German will also fight every period
ical organization and issue, that has for its aim, a lessening
of their standing in church or state.
There is not a coward but the Negro: there is no race
so divided against itself in such a humiliating and boot-lick
ing wky, as that of the black man. Yes, two many of us are
coward sycophants, and dead to the conscience of true
leadership. Let us -ducate our hearts, our heads, our hands
and our feet. Then let us stand up and march by the tap of
the drum, while the cornet plays, the leading part of "Man
hood Rights, Stick-to-itiveness, Ambition and High Ideals.
And we will then here and there throughout the entirety of
this country from a solid phalanx, with the breast plate,
buckle and shield, that will cause the world to sit up and take
notice. O, if thou would fill the place of a being, that God
created, with a fearless and all-seeing eye, that can and
will espye things in a distance whether they are good or
evil.
That is what we need and what we will get in the Color
ed Protective League. Let your voice, pen and moral
support be against everything to the contrary.
Five Centi a Cop*.