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14     THE CRISIS

had been carried on by the great William Pitt. Wilberforce threw himself into the work with renewed energy. Year after year he introduced his motion to abolish the slave trade. Year after year he was defeated. It was not until 1807 that the motion finally passed and the abolition of slavery in English colonies did not come until a month after the death of Wilberforce, which took place in 1833 in the 74th year of his age.

Our illustration represents him in the prime of young manhood, just as his life work was beginning. 

A COUNSELLOR

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EDWARD GREENE

EDWARD GREENE was born in Naugatuck, Conn., in 1882. His parents early moved to Ohio where he was educated in the public schools and at the Case School of Applied Science. Afterward he entered the Law School of Western Reserve University and was admitted to the Bar in 1907. During his high school and college course he was noted as a football player.

In 1909 he was appointed enrolling clerk of the Ohio Senate and in 1915 was made Special Counsel in the office of the Attorney General of Ohio. 

A PERFECT BABY

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LIZABETH NEILL

Of 379 babies entered in the Washington, D.C., "Better Babies" contest nine were awarded prizes or certificates. Of these Elizabeth Neill, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James L. Neill, 906 T Street, N.W., made an average of 99% and was awarded a first prize certificate. Of the babies in her division (one year old or under) only one made a higher average and one other equalled the average of Elizabeth. 

The daily press of the city in reporting the outcome of the contest took pains to say that Elizabeth Neill was the "best colored baby." The fact is there was only one contest, one standard by which all the babies were judged, and

MEN OF THE MONTH   15

one set of judges. The average of 99% and the certificate which went with it were won not in a contest with colored babies only, but with 379 babies, most of whom were white, some colored and at least one Chinese. 

A PHILANTHROPIST

MRS. ELLEN BRANSFORD, an ex-slave, died recently at Little Rock, Arkansas, aged 74 years; she left her entire savings of $6,000 to the Lutheran Church for religious and educational work among Negroes. Mrs. Bransford was a charter member of the first Colored Lutheran Church in the United States, organized July 3, 1878 at Little Rock. The church has been without a pastor of its own for 21 years. Pastor A. H Poppe of the white English-German Lutheran Church officiated at her funeral and did the choir of his church rendered suitable songs. The February issue of the Lutheran Pioneer and of the Missionstaube contained extended obituaries of this consistent christian. Mrs. Bransford never had a picture of herself taken. 

A MISSIONARY

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WILLIAM H. SHEPPARD

WHEN Rev. Dr. William H. Sheppard, Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, returned to America a few years ago, after spending twenty years as a missionary for the Southern Presbyterian Church in the Belgian Congo, many of his friends felt sure that African labors and hardships had incapacitated him from further service.

The story of Dr. Sheppard's brave and successful attacks on the chartered Belgian rubber companies that had committed unspeakable atrocities among the helpless Africans is a matter of historical record. That Dr. Sheppard has "come back" physically is a genuine gain for the South. Today Dr. Sheppard is doing in Louisville, Kentucky, some notably constructive social uplift work for his people. He is working in sympathetic co-operation with Rev. John Little and other southern white men and women. 

William H. Sheppard was born in Waynesboro, Virginia, in 1865. He found his way to Hampton in the early eighties and there received the inspiration to devote his life to the service of his fellowmen. Then followed hard years in carrying the gospel and ideas of education to the natives of Central Africa. Whether facing hostile cannibal chiefs or unscrupulous officials dominated by the will of King Leopold, Dr. Sheppard has displayed courage, patience and faith.