Like many branches of the National Association of Colored People (NAACP) throughout the United States, the Effingham County Branch of the NAACP    annually hosts Emancipation Proclamation commemorations. Local Effingham County churches on a rotating basis host these events on New Years' Day.

As such, on Tuesday at nooon, St. Matthews Missionary Baptist Church and its pastor, the Reverend Samuel Robinson, will host the                Emancipation Proclamation commemoration. The address for St. Matthew's is 218 Wallace Drive, Springfield.

Annually these commemorations take place on New Years' Day as a result of President Abraham Lincoln 's having issued an executive order, the                Emancipation Proclamation, which stated that, as of Jan. 1, 1863,  “all slaves in the rebellious states shall be henceforth, and forever free.”

   This order basically served as an increased motivational force, proclaiming that the abolition of slavery was, in fact, a goal of the Union in the Civil War. It was not until the Thirteenth Amendment of the US Constitution  was  ratified by three-quarters of the states Dec. 18, 1865, that the abolition of slavery took place.

 In part, the Thirteenth Amendment stated,  “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude... shall exist within the United States.”

The members of the Effingham County Branch of the NAACP  encourage all residents and friends of the extended Effingham County area to attend.

 At the conclusion of the service pertaining to the commemoration, the members of the Effingham County Branch of the NAACP will announce  and install its new officers for the term beginning Tuesday.

 The branch members acknowledge the great work completed by Leroy Lloyd, the outgoing President of the Effingham County Branch, who did much  to energize the members and the branch.