DR. E. W. BLYDEN.

Northern Advocate, 7 October 1913, Page 3

DR. E. W. BLYDEN.

MEMORIAL TO A NEGRO

SCHOLAR

A quite unique event has just taken place in the unveiling at Sierra Leone, West Africa, of a memorial to a negro, which was subscribed to by both black and white. The subject of the tribute was the late Dr Edward Wilmot Blyden, LL.D., the eminent scholar and writer.

The dedication of the memorial, which took the form of a solid drinking-fountain weighing twentytwo tons in Portland stone, was performed by the Governor of the Colony, Sir E. M. Merewether, K.C.V.O. and the occasion was observed as a public holiday there.

The London committee consisted ] of Sir Owen Phillips, K.C.M.G., chairman; Sir W. H. Lever, Bart.; Sir Harry Johnston. G.C.M.G.; Mr Leo Weinthal, F.R.G.S., treasurer and joint lion, secretary, with whom was associated in the latter duties Mr John Raphael. The list of supporters included the leaders in West African circles, whilst on his side the names appeared of Lord' Milner, chairmai of the Bank of British West Africa, and.Sir Mathew Nathan, G.C.M.G., formerly Gover-' nor of Sierra Leone and of the Gold Coast, Lord Cromer, Sir John Brunner, M.P., Mr Percy Molteno, M.P., the Niger Company, and the African Society, and the "African World."

In the course of his address at the unveiling Sir Edward Mere-wether said that the thing which, perhaps, most impressed those who knew Dr Blyden, was his extraordinary scholarship. He was a master of the English language, as was shown by his writings. He was simply saturated with the classics and at the same time he seemed to have been intimately acquainted with most of the European languages, not to mention Arabic and the African tongues. Some of his opinions had been questioned, but that was a matter which might be safely left. No one could possibly deny' his great learning, his deep religious feeling, and his passionate affection for his country and his own race. By his untiring efforts to promote the welfare of his fellow-countrymen he had, without thinking of it, raised a monument, acre perennius, as Horace has it, to his own name, which would endure in the hearts of his countrymen far longer than even the material monument.

The monument was designed by Mr Richard Roe, F.R.1.8.A., stands 14 feet high. It is topped by a fin« bronze portrait-bust of Dr Blyden sculptured by Madame Longworth. The memorial faces Freetown harbour, and will be a notable landmark to passing voyagers, demonstrating that the white race has been glad to pay honour to a negro who, as a litterateur, philosopher, and teacher, is fitted to be in the front rank of any nation. The scheme should do much towards effecting, reciprocal good feeling between the British and the people whom they rule in West Africa.