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The Star of Zion, published at Salisbury, N. C., is one of the ablest church organs the Afro-American can claim. Its editor, John C. Dancy, was born in slavery at Tarboro, N. C., May 8, 1857. He early exhibited a thirst for knowledge, and accordingly was put into school after the Surrender, and kept there until 1873. He then entered the printing-office of The Tarboro Southerner, where he first learned the printer's trade, and afterward became very proficient as a typo. Upon leaving the office of The Southerner, he entered Howard University, and while there was afflicted by the death of his mother.

He has held many positions of public trust. He was clerk in the Treasury Department in Washington; also Register of Deeds for Edgecombe County. Being prominent in politics, he has held the most conspicuous places in his party's organization. He was delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1884 and 1888. At the Convention in 1884, he attracted wide attention by a speech he made, in seconding the nomination of Hon. John A. Logan. Dr. William J. Simmons' "Men of Mark," says: "His eloquent and capital effort was greeted with a volley of hand-claps, and round after round of applause" He was secretary of the convention of Afro-Americans at Raleigh, N. C., in 1887; and president of the one at Goldsboro in 1881. He went abroad as a delegate of the Right Worthy Grand Lodge of Good Templars, in 1879. Concerning his efforts upon this occasion and his actions abroad, The Indianapolis Freeman says:

"He spoke at the great Hengle's Cirque in Liverpool, with Joseph Malins, the well-known temperance advocate, and Rev. George Gladstone, of Scotland, nephew of the great English statesman, to about 5,000 people, and at Crystal