whence tramcars can be boarded which convey passengers to and from the Club to the city in about five minutes, whilst St. James' Church is situated across the roadway. This important Anglican Church is the fortunate possessor of an African curate, the Rev. E. A. Ejesa Osara, and thus the members of the Club are able to enjoy spiritual ministrations by one of their own number; indeed, much of the social work of the Club is personally directed by Mr. Osara, who hails from the Colony of Sierra Leone. The building itself is one of some eight or ten rooms; the bedrooms on the top floors are fitted up with twenty-one beds, for which 5d. per night is paid, a price which includes the use of a locker. Adjoining the bedrooms is an excellent bathroom with hot and cold water supplies, the use of which is free to all visitors or residents of the hostel. One room is set apart as a small hospital where simple remedies are stored for the use of any African not plenty sick," or emergency cases. Membership of the Club is limited to men, gambling is strictly forbidden and lights are put out at 10 o'clock. Meals are not yet supplied, but any member or visitor can bring his own food and have it cooked on the premises, gas stove and cooking utensils being supplied freely. The hostel also supplies a "cook boy," who seemed thoroughly familiar with all the mysterious arts appertaining to "palm oil chop," " steamed rice," meally yams, roasted plantains and ground nuts, whilst in the cupboards there lurked sundry packets of chili peppers and other aggressive flavourings which find a place in the unwritten cookery book of West Africa. The reading-room, the billiard and bagatelle-rooms are all of them very light airy rooms and are well supplied with the daily and evening newspapers, illustrated weekly magazines and a certain number of useful books. At the time of our visit, the Club was being used by a considerable number of "boys" from the Kroo Coast, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. Many of them were intent upon their games of billiards, whilst others were busy reading the latest war news, not a little to the distraction of one or two who were laboriously writing at side tables to friends in West Africa. Every Sunday night at 8 o'clock Mr. Osara holds a religious service for members and visitors, and a concert is arranged for most Thursday evenings. From the start made six months ago the hostel has been an unqualified success; the men have shown much appreciation for the consideration shown for their welfare by Messrs. Elder Dempster: this appreciation has been demonstrated by the fact that the average financial return from the natives is now about £2 10s. a week. The Club is a real piece of West Africa in Liverpool and promises to prove a moral advantage to every one concerned in the enterprise. Death of Mr. Sapara Williams, C.M.G. WE regret to see the announcement of the death on March 14 last of Mr. C. A. Sapara Williams, a prominent member of the native community at Lagos and one who took a deep interest in the Society's Auxiliary in Nigeria, of which he was a Vice-President. Mr. Williams was in England last year and was present at a private meeting called by the Joint Committee of the African and Anti-Slavery Societies at the House of Commons in the summer to consider what steps could be taken towards forming a club for Africans in London. Mr. Williams was leader of the Lagos Bar, Senior unofficial member of the Legislative Council since 1901, and a member of the Nigerian Council. He was also a member of the Municipal Board and of the Board of Education, and had filled many other important posts and served on several Government Committees. He had, in the words of the Governor-General's official announcement of his death, "for many years devoted himself to the service of the community with conspicuous ability, energy and loyalty." Mr. Williams received the honour of the C.M.G. for his many services a year or two ago. Many tributes to the sterling worth of his character and public work were paid in different quarters by the bodies with which Mr. Williams was connected; we quote some passages from the remarks of the Chief Justice, Sir Edwin Speed, in the Supreme Court : Mr. Williams has occupied a very distinguished position in this colony for a very long time. He has been leader of the bar for very many years. He was leader long enough before I came here and I have known and respected him as leader for the last fifteen years. He has had a career which reflects infinite credit on himself and will, I venture to hope, be an example to the junior members of his profession and indeed to all who follow him. Whether he had any special advantages of birth or patronage at the commencement of that career I do not know, but I do know that even if he had, it was not these which led him to his success but rather his own qualities of industry, devotion to duty, honesty of purpose, and professional skill. Mr. Williams was always a keen fighter in the interests of his clients, as every member of the bar should be, but he was never an unscrupulous fighter and always commanded the confidence of the Court. Mr. Williams also played a great part in the political life of the Colony and was a great leader of native opinion. This is no place for politics, but perhaps I may be permitted to say that Mr. Williams' voice was always raised on the side of moderation and that, while he would fight strenuously for anything which he believed would enure to the benefit of his fellow citizens, on many occasions he refused to sacrifice their vital interests in order to win a little cheap and transitory popularity. Well, he has gone from us. He will leave a void which will be hard to fill. We shall miss his genial personality, his cheery laugh, his keen sense of humour; but in tendering our respectful sympathy to the relatives whom he leaves to mourn his loss, we can at least assure them that we shall ever cherish his memory as a good citizen, a wise counsellor and a faithful friend. THE Committee desires to draw attention to the following Literature dealing with the Society's work, and to impress upon Members the importance of securing as wide a distribution as possible. PAMPHLETS. PORTUGUESE SLAVERY. 1. "What is Slavery?" By the Rt. Hon. THE EARL OF CROMER. 3. Memorandum from the Society to Sir E, GREY, June, 1914. BRITISH COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION. Memorandum from the Society to Mr. HARCOURT, 9th July, 1913. BRITAIN'S DILEMMA IN THE NEW HEBRIDES. Memorandum from the Society to Sir E. GREY, 10th February, 1914. BRITISH EAST AFRICA. "Back to Slavery?" An Appeal to Mr. HARCOURT, 11th June, 1914. NIGERIA. "The Judicial System of Nigeria." By W. H. STOKER, K.C. BOOKS. DAWN IN DARKEST AFRICA. By JOHN H. HARRIS, F.R.G.S. 6/- net. (Smith, Elder.) PORTUGUESE SLAVERY: BRITAIN'S DILEMMA. By JOHN H. HARRIS, F.R.G.S. 1/- net. (Methuen & Co.) Every copy sold through the Anti-Slavery and Aborigines Protection Society is an advantage to its funds. FREE DISTRIBUTION. Native Races and the Great War. By Sir HARRY JOHNSTON, G.C.M.G. (April, 1915.) A Brief Account of the Society's History and Aims. (Booklet suitable for enclosing in envelopes.) TO BE OBTAINED AT THE OFFICES OF THE SOCIETY. The Anti-Slavery & Aborigines Protection Society President: SIR THOMAS FOWELL BUXTON, BART., G.C.M.G. Vice-Presidents : HIS GRACE THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. RT. REV. LORD BISHOP OF HEREFORD. RT. HON. LORD WEARDALE. RT. HON. JOSEPH A. PEASE, M.P. T. F. V. BUXTON, Esq. GEORGE CADBURY, Esq. SIR H. H. JOHNSTON, G.C.M.G. JOHN HOLT, Esq. THE DOWAGER LADY MONKSWELL. SIR JOHN MACDONELL, K.C.B. SIR ALFRED E. PEASE, BART. J. ST. LOE STRACHEY, Esq. MRS. J. P. THOMASSON. H. W. W. WILBERFORCE, Esq., J.P. Chairman: HON. JOHN C. LYTTELTON, M.P. Vice-Chairman : FRANCIS WILLIAM FOX, Esq. SIR COLIN SCOTT MONCRIEFF, K.C.M.G., AND E. WRIGHT BROOKS, Esq., J.P. MRS. S. J. BLUMLEIN. NOEL BUXTON, Esq., M.P. SIR W, P. BYLES, M.P. JOEL CADBURY, Esq. MRS. JOEL CADBURY. Committee : HENRY GURNEY, Esq. R. C. HAWKIN, Esq. ADMIRAL SIR GEORGE KING-HALL, K.C.B., C.V.O. REV. C. E. C. LEFROY, M.A. DONALD MACKENZIE, Esq. REV. CANON J. H. B. MASTERMAN, M.A. LORD HENRY CAVENDISH-BENTINCK, P. A. MOLTENO, Esq., M.P. M.P. REV. W. H. DRUMMOND. R. W. FELKIN, Esq., M.D. W. CAREY MORGAN, Esq. H. J. OGDEN, Esq. ALFRED W. OKE, Esq. RT. HON. JOHN M. ROBERTSON, M.P. A. MACCALLUM SCOTT, Esq., M.P. MRS. COBDEN UNWIN. Parliamentary Committee: NOEL BUXTON, Esq., M.P. G. T. ABRINES, Esq., Tangier. Conveners: HON. J. C. LYTTELTON, M.P. Corresponding Members: B. R. BALFOUR, Esq., Drogheda. G. P. HUNOT, Esq., British Vice-Consul, Saffee. Secretary: A. C. MORASSO, Esq., Gibraltar. M. LE PROF. EDOUARD NAVILLE, Geneva. C. A. SWAN, Esq., Lisbon. M. LE BARON JOSEPH DU TEIL, Paris. TRAVERS BUXTON, M.A. Organising Secretaries: REV. J. H. AND MRS. HARRIS. Butler & Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London. 1 |