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The Athens Republique Devoted to the Religious, the Economic, and the Industrial Development of the Colored Race Vol. 111. ATHENS POPULACE CELEBRATES EMAN- CIPATION Athens, Georgia, January 5,1922 Pursuant tv» the proclamation of the Athens Hostorical Society the people of Athens joyously and enthusiastically celebrated the fifty ninth anniversary of their freedom January 2, 1922. The day was ideal for the occasion, with a blue “Mexican Sky’’ above us and a temperature of a l >ove 60 Fahreinheigbt at noon when the parade began. Mr. Charles Shepherd, marshal of the day, headed the procession at Morton Theatre, the s arting point. The E. H. Harris Concert Band came next m Older, and their conduct and efficiency were par-excellent. Tne U. R., K. of P. followed them; and with German precision, these organizations, under Captains Middlebrooks and Hunt, marched off down Hull street to Broad street, thence along Broad street to Rock Spring street; northward along Rock Spring street to Han cock avenue. Thence along Han cock avenue aid Hull street to the starting point. Halting in front of the Harris’ Drug Store, the band and battalion pulled off their very best and held the great crowd spell-bound for nearly an hour. Decorations Entering the theatre spectators beheld a beautifully decorated auditorium, the artistic designs of Mrs. Lizzie Smith, Mrs. A. B. ATHENS, GEORGIA, SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 1922 Derricotte, Mrs. Nora M. Powell, Mrs. Hattie Grimes, Miss Katie Lee and Miss Anna Belle Allen, all of these representing the Social Artistique Club. These ladies showed the ability of French art ists. Program The following program wa s rendered: Rev. W. C. Livingston, master of ceremonies. America, Audience. Invocation, Rev. G. B. Wilson. Reading, Miss L. J. Falls. Mdody, Miss Ruth Murden. Reading of Emancipa tion Proclamation, Miss Agnes Heard. Reading, Mrs. Dorothy O. J -lies. Presentation of Speak er, Rev. N. H. Gamble. The Orator of the Day was Dr. Ernest Hall, of Atlanta, Georgia. In the course of his speech Dr. Hall said that Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation wus the greatest document that had been heard since Moses enunciated the ten commandments on Sinai’s Heights. Likewise was his ad dress the greatest and most cele brated exegesis of Negro emanci pation and its attributes that had been heard in Athens since the promulgation of the great emanci pate r’s proclamation fifty-nine years ago. There is no phase in the comp fcated lives of the American Negroes that Dr. Hall did not touch in a practical and constructive way, and in spite of the somewhat unpleasant room, the large audience sat patiently to the end. The statement that he could have been listened to an hour longer was heard by many as they came down the stairs. Finance The finance committee was headed by Capt. Thomas Garfield assisted by Deacon Joe Telfair, Prof. S. F. Harris, Dr. C. S. Hay nes, W. P. Hopson, Treas., and Lieut. Brown; and a great success was experienced. The most of the general committe members, chiefly the pastors, principals of the schools and teachers paid their annual assesment of a dollar. In bvhalf of all the people we wish to thank all who contributed in any way toward the success of this celebration. “BOOKER T. WASHINGTON FIVE YEARS AFTER" Booker T. Washingtsn has been dead five years. Even now too short an interval has elapsed to disentangle his real work and worth from partism zeal and ani mosities, and to weigh calmly his genuine contribution to the wel fare of his race and nation. For almost a generation the name of Booker T. Washington occupied a large share of the at tention of his fellow-man. The nation delighted to mark the wis dom of his sayings and to write ks speeches in their books. He occupied as large a place for as long a time in public esteem and favor as any man of his genera tion. He bore the stamp of na tural greatness. His wisdom was intuitive. He possessed the genius of common sense and the philoso phy of simple things. His was a universal mind. While he dealt with the most complex and dis tressing social particulars, his spirit always rose above the tem porary intricacies of besetting conditions and lived in an atmos phere that was calm and serene No. 7