The late Hon. Roger Wolcott, then
Governor of Massachusetts, was the presiding officer, and on the
platform with him were many other officials and hundreds of
distinguished men. A report of the meeting which appeared in the
Boston _Transcript_ will describe it better than any words of mine
could do: --
The core and kernel of yesterday's great noon meeting, in
honour of the Brotherhood of Man, in Music Hall, was the superb
address of the Negro President of Tuskegee. "Booker T. Washington
received his Harvard A.M. last June, the first of his race," said
Governor Wolcott, "to receive an honorary degree from the oldest
university in the land, and this for the wise leadership of his
people." When Mr. Washington rose in the flag-filled, enthusiasm-
warmed, patriotic, and glowing atmosphere of Music Hall, people
felt keenly that here was the civic justification of the old
abolition spirit of Massachusetts; in his person the proof of her
ancient and indomitable faith; in his strong through and rich
oratory, the crown and glory of the old war days of suffering and
strife. The scene was full of historic beauty and deep
significance. "Cold" Boston was alive with the fire that is
always hot in her heart for righteousness and truth.
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