Page:The Afro-American Press.djvu/220

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THE AFRO-AMERICAN PRESS.

lucid style, which fact always insured him many admiring readers. Those of The Expositor always wanted to see what Lipscombe had to say; this being especially true of the younger class of men, who admired him for the fearless, fiery dash, the convincing logic and the captivating rhetoric of his writings. His contributions to The Expositor were certainly of that nature that furthered its prospects for a successful existence. At one time he had special charge of the temperance department, and being a hearty worker for prohibition, he threw many hot shots into the camp of the anti-prohibitionists.

In 1882, he was elected by the North Carolina Baptist State Convention as one of the editors of The Baptist Standard. In company with other gentlemen he established The Light House, in 1884, being its editor-in-chief. In 1885, the paper was moved to Asheville, when it became The Mountain Gleaner, he still remaining editor-in-chief, in which position he greatly distinguished himself. The paper ranked among the ablest edited of the country, though by no means the largest.

The Gleaner worked zealously for the betterment of the Afro-American's condition, and likewise took a part in everything looking to the development of North Carolina, particularly the city in which it was published. Editor Lipscombe was always invited to the public meetings, regardless of the color of those who called them, and freely expressed his sentiments upon the matters at issue. These invitations were the result of the ability and influence of his paper. Though editor of a publication whose voice was never smothered in political battle, or silent when matters of public interest were discussed, he was elected to his present position, that of principal of the graded school No. 1, in Asheville.

In his work as publisher and journalist, he owes a debt of gratitude to his white brethren of the journalistic turn,