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THE UNITED NEGRO
HIS

PROBLEMS AND

HIS

PROGRESS

CONTAINING THE
ADDRESSES AND PROCEEDINGS THE NEGRO YOUNG

AND EDUCATIONAL
CONGRESS, HELD AUGUST 6-11, 1902

PEOPLE'S

CHRISTIAN

Introduction by
BISHOP W.

GAINES, D.D., President

With Introductory

the

Congress,

Atlanta,

Ga.

Letters by

HON. CLARK HOWELL, Editor "Atlanta Constitution," Atlanta, Ga.
PROFESSOR. BOOKER T. WASHINGTON, LL.D., President Tuskeegee Institute, Tuskegee,
RT. REV. BISHOP C. K. NELSON, D.D., Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Georgia, Atlanta,
REV. E. C. MORRIS, D.D., President National Baptist Convention, Helena, Ark.
REV. BISHOP W. A. CANDLER, D.D., Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Atlanta, Ga.
REV. E. P. COWAN, D.D., Cor. Sec'y. Board of Missions for Freedmen, Pittsburg, Pa.

Ala.

Ga.

Published by the Authority of the Board of Directors
of the Congress

Edited by

PROF

GARLAND PENN,

A.M.

Assistant General Secretary Epworth League M. E. Church
Author
Corresponding Secret ary of the Congress, Atlanta, Ga.
Press
;

Afro- American

;

PROF. J. W.
Gammon

BOWEN,

D.D., Ph.D.,

Theological Seminary; Author National Sermons;
"'Appeal to the King"
"Africa and the American Negro"
etc.
Assistant Corresponding Secretary of the Congress, Atlanta, Ga.

Prof.

Historical

Theology

;

Atlanta, Ga.
D. E. Luther Publishing Co.
1902

;

(Pros", of the

Foote

Davies Co., Atlanta.)

PUBLISHERS' PREFACE
The Publishers

"The United Negro: His Problems and His
make no excuse for the

Progress/' have great faith in the book and

same.

In the

first

place, they join with the editors in their great

desire to serve the public with helpful

They

recognize, in these days

and inspiring reading matter.

when books

are multiplied to such

modern conformation to the ancient Biblical
declaration, that "of making books there is no end," that to win the
public favor a book "must be well written as to matter, timely in its
great extent as to give

discussions, gratifying a public need, and attractive in

graphical make-up.

question.

this

book can not be called

to the timeliness of its discussions,

that no question

it is

safe to say

more burning before the American people to-day

than the JsFegro Question.

Moreover, the best minds of the nation

are constantly agitating the question in order to arrive at

Further, well

solution.

typo-

are ready to declare that the variety, rich-

and fulness of the contents of

ness,

its

known

acts

and

its

right

facts establish the convic-

and true way. In the next
and worthy of note that many of the wisest

tion that both races are seeking the right
place,

significant

thinkers of the
it

can not

fail

Negro race are speaking the truth

in this

book, and

to arrest the attention of the statesman of the nation

humble cottager in his daily toil.
announce that we have .not spared toil, art,
thought and money to make this book worthy of the writers' lofty
purposes and sincere efforts to clothe the truth in as beautiful a
form as the best typographical art is capable of. Standing in the
position we do in the South, with many of the foremost white men
of this section in our publishing house, we count it an honor to come
to the help of our "Brothers in Black" and place at their disposal,
not only the financial backing of the house, but our general interest
in their welfare and our heartiest co-operation in every endeavor
that seeks the uplift and the betterment of society in general.
We send forth this volume with faith in its writers, in its purpose
and in its widespread sale for the good of the nation.
The Publishers
Atlanta, Ga., November, 1902
as well as delight and inspire the

are gratified to

(iii)

EDITORS' PREFACE
The

projectors of the

Negro Young People's Christian and Edu-

cational Congress, from the issuance of the very

first call,

promised

woulu follow the Congress, as the night
the day, and that they would be far-reaching and helpful in their
effect upon the race and upon others for all time.
It was promised

that several distinct results

that such a Congress of Christian and Educational workers of the

race would be gathered together as never before witnessed, and that
it

would be great

numbers, great

and quality of
program was prom-

in the characte

the numbers as well as in their utterances.

ised that, for helpful discussion of vital topics affecting the basic
life and living and for the wide field it
would cover in religion, education and social life of our people, the
like had never before been given by the Negro, for the Negro, or
by the white man in behalf of the Negro in the world's history.
It was also promised that a declaration would be issued that
would meet the sober, candid and just consideration and endorsement of all American people, while not in any sense compromising
one single iota of rights, privileges and immunities belonging to

principles of the Negro's

them.
It

was promised

that the progressive side of the

Negro race

music, letters, conduct and personnel would be so greatly in evi-

dence that, although the Congress be held on Southern soil and in
Georgia, our people would command, by their very being and bearing, respect from all. It was promised that the Congress would be
an object lesson of the bright side of the race to the brother in
white, that he would be compelled to admit that there are two distinct classes of Negroes, and that this, the christian educated class,
should be treated as others of their kind, without respect to race.
It was promised that the Congress was to deal with religion, education and society, the essentials to good citizenship and the purifier of things political, rather than with politics as such.
It was promised that in the Congress would be gathered able,
christian leaders, men and women of the race, who had wisdom

()

editors' preface

enough

know

that diplomacy and conservatism upon the part of

a race situated as the
in

America

Negro

and related as he

to the other races

the position to assume, rather than one of incendiar-

ism and radicalism.

to show that the educated and
method of adjusting our difficulties
and troubles are in the majority. It was promised that the young
men and women of the race who gathered would be inspired and
encouraged as never before, and that to the thousands who came
open, ready, thirsty and hungry for hope, encouragement' and inspiration, they would not return without it.
It was promised that the gulf of denominational differences keeping the Negro apart would be in a national sense bridged by the
Negro, and that he would thus conspicuously emphasize his intelligence in forgetting non-essentials for essentials, and in this coming
It

was proposed

christian class believing in this

together of

all

denominations achieve a result

history never

It was promNegro would grapple with his problems as he had
never before done that he would go to the root of his troubles, and
that while he might rise to congratulate himself upon "what God
hath wrought" in him, he would never forget, during his presence
in Atlanta, that he was here to study problems, and, while studying
them, likewise emphasize that the "Negro meets to pray" over

before equaled by any race, even his brother in white.
ised that the

;

them, to get new strength for the fray and to start out afresh to
bring the -masses as high up in the scale of christian life and living
It was promised that, while studying problems
as he himself is.
the race, the Congress would be optimistic and
within
and troubles
never pessimistic.
It was promised that the Congress would be spiritual, educational

and

sociological.

promised that the results above enumerated, sure to
be realized by a careful and discreet "hewing to the line," would be
embodied in book form and given to the world so that the race from
cabin to mansion, the boy and the girl in the city and country, the
humble, the lowly as well as the proud and rich, yea, that the united
race everywhere might read, digest and absorb every scintilla of
the purpose, spirit and results of this truly forward movement of
It

was

lastly

editors' PREFACE
the race to

way, for the

Hence
ress. "

itself

lift

first

this

its

own mighty hand

vii

one concerted,

time in the world's history.

book,

"The United Negro His Problems and His Prog:

can be truthfully said, and will be generally accepted, that

every promise

made with

reference to this

movement has been

to as great an extent as the time thus far justifies.

greatest meeting of the race ever held

—

realized

was

the

numbers, in quality, in
personnel, in program, in field of discussion covered by the program,
in declaration of principles and in effect upon the country in the
creation of a sentiment friendly to the Negro, and it is but a whit
this side of a miracle, that in forty years after the emancipation of
the Negro from slavery he meets together in an Interdenominational Congress of Christian and Educational Workers, with an attendance of six thousand, which at least one thousand of the best
journals, religious and secular, North, South, East and West, white
and black, declare marks a new epoch and a new page in the history
of the race. This book goes to the race as a message from the race.
It goes to the American people without respect to race as a message from one-eighth of its population as to its present and future.
Surely as the book chronicles the greatest meeting of the race, it
forthwith becomes the greatest book of the race. Its four great
divisions on Religion, Social and Moral Reform, Material Prosperity and Education give it the breadth and scope of no other
book on the race question. The contributors, in the person of
those who delivered addresses on the various topics assigned at the
Congress, are the representative religious and educational thinkers.
Their views upon our race condition and its future, the remedies
they suggest, come not as the idle dream of theorists, but as workers in the thickest of the battle.

Every chapter focuses

to a given

point, and that point concerns some vital part of the race's existence, either of achievement, which is given to inspire and encourage, or work yet to be done, and duty still upon us, and how it may
be done, as a warning and admonition that many bridges are yet

to be crossed-

The book

most valuable historical and biographical work,
worthy men and women. As a work of his-

and a picture gallery of

editors' preface

Vlll

and figures about the missionary and educational
white in behalf
of the race, nothing like it has ever been issued. These facts and
figures of each church and society have for the first time been put
in such a position as to make this book a valuable historical treatise
for ready reference.
These facts are given by the distinguished
tory, giving- facts

efforts of the race for the race, or of the brother in

gentlemen

officially in

charge of

No book

authoritative.

all

these interests, and are therefore

of the race ever had such an array of dis-

tinguished leaders to contribute to

it.

must be remembered that men of all denominations and
agencies working among the Negro people are contributors.
As this volume of light, cheer, hope, comfort, purpose, history,
warning, remedy and undying- confidence and unfaltering faith in
God's purpose to help the Negro win every just, right, privilege and
immunity belonging to him, goes' forth, it should be sent with the
debt of gratitude to those who, on the one hand, helped to make
the history such a success, which the volume chronicles, and on the
It

other to those
those of the

day
earn

for a
in

who

first is

mere

In the front rank of

help to publish the same.
the faithful office force

who worked

night and

compared with the amount they should
These young peofaithfulness and efficiency.

pittance,

view of their

come from educational institutions of the race. They are
young people, and it was only necessary for the writer to
remind them in their tired, weary hours of night that they were
working for their race and that was more than money. They are
unknown in a national sense, but, like the firemen in the engine
room of the battleship, they were, in no small degree, the men behind the guns. As this volume goes to the race so goes the names
of these seventeen young men and women who thus labored night
ple have

christian

Miss Marie J. Penn, Lynchburg, Va. Miss Mattie A.
and day:
Carr, Lexington, Ky. Mrs. M- Belle Scott, Lynchburg, Va. Mr.
Pass Christian, Miss.; Mr. F. B. Smith, New OrJ. B. Randolph,
Rev. S. E. C- Lord,
leans, La.; Mr. E. L. Gordon, Atlanta, Ga.
Atlanta, Ga., were the stenographers. The other clerical force in
the marking and copying departments were as follows: Mr. C. Y.
Trigg, Lynchburg, Va. Mr. W. M. Gordon, Atlanta, Ga. Mr. Wm.
;

;

editors' preface

H. Deane, Atlanta, Ga.

;

Mr. H.

Rice, South Carolina; Mr.

Brown, Chicago

Edward Crogman,

Mr. William
Mr. J.
Alabama; Mr. J.

111.;

Atlanta, Ga.

;

South Carolina; Mr. E- D. Caffey, of
W. Hagler, of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Miss Dora E. Johnson.
These are here named as examples of faithfulness for our young
people who read this volume. A large debt of gratitude is due to
the conspicuous service which Hon. Clark Howell, editor of the
Atlanta Constitution, rendered the Congress. Without the slightest attempt to dictate the policy of the Congress for one moment,
it is to his praise that he gave orders to report the Congress in full
as it was, and not otherwise. Credit and thanks are also due Hon.
John Temple Graves of the Atlanta News and Hon. F. H. Richardson of the Atlanta Journal and the Associated Press bureau.
The contributors and speakers to the volume will get the full
gratitude due them in the largest and most appreciative reading
ever given a race book, but by no means are the editors, who work
at the behest of the Board of Directors, insensible or ungrateful to
these distinguished men and women for the choice thoughts as well
as for the facts, figures and helpful suggestions which they give.
Their literary style makes this volume of such excellence as will
provoke but little literary criticism- The citizens of Atlanta, Chief
of Police Ball, the pastors of our churches, the Interstate Fair Association, as represented by Hon. H. H. Cabaniss, Captain Ellis
of the Keely Co., Secretary Weldon, are due thanks for courtesies.
It should not be forgotten that on the part of the local committee
of arrangements, the Chairman, Prof. W. B. Matthews, A. M., and
the Secretary, Prof. John Pope, A. B., rendered the most valuable,
painstaking and exacting service to facilitate the wish of all from
The chairmen of local committees, especially
a local view point.
of Press and Promotion, of Registration and of Entertainment did
honorable and arduous service. It took all to make the Congress
the success it was. What shall be said of the Commissioners and
Field Secretaries? Suffice to say a special chapter is given themTheir voice from rostrum, their pen in the newspapers of the land
C. Gibbs, of

aroused the people to the greatness of the movement. The Negro
press is to be congratulated as well as thanked that they so gener-

editors' preface

movement fraught with such good

ously gave prominence to a

for

the race.

Our

President, Bishop

Wesley

of his time, as well as his ripe

means and

Gaines, gave of his

and

rich experience

and

his

unques-

tioned influence in the city of Atlanta and the nation to the realization of the

him

Congress and

success.

its

His opening address stamped

as one of the wisest as well as safest leaders.

Called to the
President without warning, he comprehended
the scope of the movement with the vision of a prophet and set the

honorable
pace for

may

office of

all

that followed in a truly statesman-like utterance.

justly feel proud of the leadership

called of the

most triumphant movement

Last, but actually

first,

of the race.

a debt of deep gratitude

Wesley Edward Bowen, D.

D., Ph. D.,

whereunto he has been

who was

due John

called to the office

Corresponding Secretary to take charge of the
Early in the history of the movement the writer realized
that so vast an undertaking had been begun that its realization in
the allotted time would be impossible with one secretary. The successful working out of our plans comprehended more labor than any
one man could perform. On January 15th, 1902, at a meeting of
the Board of Directors the appointment of Dr. Bowen as First AsThis was done.
sistant Corresponding Secretary was requested.

of First Assistant

program.

Almost simultaneously with

this action of the

Board the Board

Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church appointed Dr. Bowen
to represent the Methodist Episcopal Church on the Board of

This was done by official action. It was a distinguished
honor. At a meeting of the Program Committee in March, 1902,
the work of the program was given to the corresponding secretaries,
but the writer had all that he could do to plan for the field in working up the Congress, to plan for the finances to run the Congress,
and to take care of the correspondence, which averaged one hundred letters coming to the office per day, and from one to five hunDirectors.

Thus the program, with the editing
office daily.
Book of two hundred pages, was entirely upon Dr.
He did his work so well that the Congress is indebted to

dred leaving the
of the Souvenir

Bowen.
him for

its

great program, for the breadth of the discussion and for

editors' preface

the

many complimentary

expressions which have

character of the subjects and topics discussed,

grown out

of the

which are so
vital to the race's uplift.
He made possible this volume while he
was making the program. The editing of this volume has devolved
entirely upon him, which is a guarantee of the literary finish and
His service in the Negro Young People's
excellence of the same.
Christian and Educational Congress, to the race and the country,
stands solitary and alone among his people, while this volume, "The
United Negro His Problems and His Progress," of which he is
all

;

Editor-in chief, will stand as a

monument

to the ripe scholarship he

displayed in building the greatest program of the greatest meeting
of the race's history

It is a

pleasure to pay tribute to such a dis-

who

has been faithful over a few things
most surely one day be called to preside over many.
To the Board of Directors, with especial reference to some who
gave their loyal and faithful support, the writer is gratefully inWithout the freedom given us and the confidence reposed
debted.
in us, we could not have attained unto the measure of success which
tinguished son of the race,

and

will

now

history.

This volume, with its wealth and treasure, so much needed everywhere, would be in manuscript but for the Luther Publishing Company, a great business firm of christian gentlemen, living in the
South,

who were

impressed, as

many

others were of their race, of

the good which this "truly wonderful convention" (as Dr-

Buckley calls it) had accomplished. We desire to emphasize that
the Luther Publishing Co. is a firm of christian men, and their hope,
as ours, is that this book will find its way to cabin door as well as to
city homes, and that everywhere it may illumine the homes of our
people and give them knowledge to know that God is with His
people and that daybreak is here.
Mr. D. E. Luther, the President and General Manager of the
company, has been a leader in christian work in Atlanta for years,
and as General Secretary of the Y. M. C. A. has brought the Asso-

marked prosperity.
Another leading member of the firm Mr. E. H. Thornton is an
Atlanta banker and substantially interested in all that helps and
ciation to

—

;

editors' preface

xii

Their interest is more than money, their investment represents an impression made, and may it not only be
remunerative in a financial way, but in the uplift of the people who

builds up humanity.

volume which they make possibleThere are other Congresses to be held every three years. May
this volume educate the people upon the movement.
Let us devoutly pray that in the education of the people upon the sincere
purpose and spirit of the promoters of the Congress, who are among
the best men of the race, the unmanly and unwarranted criticisms
read this

few

of the

may

the future, as

rear while God's people

the past, relegated to the

move forwaid hundreds

thousands

strong.

all

M,ay this message go forth to create cordial relations between
races under the banner of Jesus Christ. We are to live together,

and may

this

volume

in the

hands of white man and black man

serve as an inspiration and an eye-opener to the real aim of the enlightened, ed.

May it dispel darkness and
and churches the youth of the

christian Negro.

scatter light, lead into the schools
land, until there shall not be

room

to contain

them

;

cause mission-

weak, the poor, the helpless and benighted
kindle a flame of zeal and enthusiasm for righteousness, education
and holy living wherever its pages shall be read, and the cause
May homes, firesides,
which makes it possible remembered.
churches, Sunday Schools, young people's societies, Y. M. C. A.'s
be blessed by its reading, and may it help the gospel of Christ Jesus
to "cover the earth as the waters the mighty deep."
aries to be sent to the

"Aid the dawning tongue and pen,
Aid it hopes of honest men,
Air

Aid

it,

paper, aid
for the

type,

hour

ripe

And our earnest must not slacken into play;
Young men of thought, young men of action,
Clear the way."
I.

GARLAND PENN,

Corresponding Secretary, N. Y. P. C.

E. C.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE

PUBLISHERS' PREFACE

Ill

EDITORS' PREFACE

V-XII

FIRST DIVISION
Historical and

Preliminary
PAGE

CHAPTER I—Introductory

Letters

Hon. Clark Howell, Editor "Atlanta Constitution," Atlanta, Ga
Prof. Booker T. Washington, LL. D., President

and Industrial

Institute,

Tuskegee, Ala

Rt. Rev. C. K. Nelson, D. D., Protestant Episcopal
gia,

Atlanta,

Tuskegee Normal
Bishop of Geor-

2-3

Rev. E. C. Morris, D. D., President National Baptist Convention,

Helena, Ark

4-5

Rev. Bishop W. A. Candler, D.

Methodist Episcopal Church

Atlanta

South,

Rev. E. P. Cowan, D. D., Corresponding Secretary Board of Missions for

CHAPTER

Freedmen, Presbyterian Church U.

S.,

Pittsburg, Pa.

6-7

II— Introduction

Rev. Bishop

CHAPTER

Gaines, D. D., President of the Congress

8-11

III— Origin, Scope and Purpose of the Negro Young Peo-

ple's Christian
Prof. J.

and Educational Congress

Bowen, D.

CHAPTER IV—Favorable

D., Ph.

Action by the Religious Denominations

and by Moral and Social Reform Organizations
(xiii)

16-20

21-27

INDEX

xiv

PAGE

CHAPTER V— Commendations
Letters:

President Theodore Roosevelt

Governor

28-30

W. Beckham, Kentucky

Governor W. E. Stanley, Kansas
30-31
Telegrams: J. Willis Baer, General Secretary United Society of
Christian Endeavor, Boston, Mass
Shlloh Baptist Association, Higginsville,
Prof.

W. H.

Council, Ph. D., President A.

Mo
& M.

31
College, Normal,

Ala

Rev. Claudius B. Spencer, D. D., Editor Central Christian Advocate,

Kansas

City,

SECOND DIVISION
Addresses and Discussions on the Problems and Progress
of the

Race

PART

Welcome Addresses
PAGE

CHAPTER VI—Object
Rev. Bishop

of the Congress
Gaines,

33-40

CHAPTER VII— On

Behalf of the State
The Governor, Hon. A.D. Candler
On Behalf of the City
The Mayor, Hon. Livingston Mims

41-42

42-43

all

professions.

Indefiniteness of aim, then, on the part of the minister

is an apmethod.
His indefiniteness of aim usually manifests itself in the use of
artificial methods of producing spasmodic excitement.
Religious
excitement must necessarily attend in some degree all religious
movements. But this excitement is rather an incident than an end.
Peter and John at Jerusalem instigated profound excitement, but
the excitement was an incident to a renewal of life rather than the
end of their revival effort. Finney and Moody were the means of
intense excitement, but this excitement was incidental merely to
the presentation of salvation through Jsus Christ. The spiritual
result is the ultimate object, whether obtained in silence or in vocif-

parent fault

in revival

erous demonstration.

induce the hearer to realize his

sin, to

have him see that sin must be immediately abandoned, and to have
him know that complete salvation is in Christ Jesus, should be the
direct aim in revival method.
Indefiniteness of aim can be seen also from erroneous ideas of
the object of the "anxious seat" or "mourners' bench," as it is

TRUE AND FALSE IN REVIVALS

115

sometimes styled. In revival methods frequently herculean efforts
are put forth to induce hearer? to advance to the "anxious seat,"
with the idea that, then, the work of the minister is complete. That
the anxious seat is an important incident in revival work can not
he gainsaid. Finney made use of the "anxious seat" with admirable results.
Moody placed great stress on the inquiry meeting,
which practically was nothing more than the "anxious seat" or
"mourners' bench." Methodism owes its rapid spread in no small
degree to the use of the "mourners' bench."
Absence of clear and impressive method, or rather lack of method
in sermonizing in revival effort, is a striking fault in revival work.
"It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that
believe" is evidently made use of in by far too literal a sense. After
fifteen years in the ministry and with abundant facility for observing revival method, I am more than ever impressed with a covetous desire for young men for the ministry who are equal to the task
of preaching in such a way as shall be wisely adapted to be the
power of God unto salvation and thus render it as effective as
practicable in turning the greatest number of precious souls from
sin unto holiness, young men of intellectual training, with ability
•

;

to appeal to reason, in order that the skepticism of the intelligent
as well as the blindness of the illiterate

men
own
are

who

character,

spiritually

can
benighted
appeal
to
:

able

are

with
a
arouse the

who

integrity,

hopes

emotions,

armed

and

fears

young
with
of

all

may

conscience

men

irresistible

who

;

young

their

be overcome

consciousness

are

all

strong
force
in

who

feeling,

the

bonds

of iniquity.

Another

fault in revival

ifests itself in

method on the part

of the ministry

man-

a lack of intrepidity on the part of the ministry.

But such schools as Gammon, Morris Brown and Union TheologiSeminary are rapidly recruiting the ranks of intrepid men who

cal

are daring to lead the

way

to higher heights in revival methods.

TRUE AND FALSE IN REVIVALS

116

THE FAULTS IN THE LAITY
With a ministry trained in the correct methods of revival work,
one would at once suppose that the faults would be'entirly absent.
And yet even the trained minister of the race is confronted with
obstacles well-nigh insurmountable in the laity. These obstacles
are due to the necessary heterogeneous mass whom the colored
minister must serve some longing for the flesh pots of Egypt,
others impatiently sighing for the Land of Promise, and still others

—

Each class demands special
methods to meet its approval, and hence it is not strange that false
methods may be observed in revival work conducted by the laity.
Undue eagerness to hear at revivals different ministers, on the

content to die in the wilderness.

part of the laity, of so widely different intellectual qualifications

mass of worshippers as the race possesses,
apparent in revival method.

as constitute su:h a
a fault

aversion to harmonious efforts and methods put forth by the

older and younger elements of church
revival method.

The

work

constitutes a fault in

writer of this paper had this idea indelibly

impressed at a revival that had among its workers enthusiastic
persons of each class. But each class was especially anxious to
have its methods prevail. This purpose was made known to a
casual observer by the systematic alterations by each class in the

hymns
1

sung.

would not be understood, as was indicated

at the beginning of
above are peculiar to the
Instances can be cited in which almost

this paper, that all the faults as indicated

revival

method

of our race.

all the objectionable features find their parallel in the opposite race
variety. Nor would I be understood as endeavoring to convey the

idea that

all

the faults pointed out are

common

all

the revivals

and pew
and revival m/ethod.
It is not the exception in this year of grace, even in rural districts,
to find revivals conducted by means of methods of the true kind
that would do credit to a race variety having the accumulation of
centuries of opportunity, instead of forty years. No class of men,

of the race.

The wiping out

of his illiteracy in the pulpit

has marvelously changed Negro church

life

TRUE AND FALSE IN REVIVALS
since the

dawn

117

of freedom, has been so universally regarded as the

men has come in
No class of men
has as broad a field of constant usefulness as they-. Crowd your
colleges to their utmost capacity, until culture shall be commonleaders of the race as

its

ministers.

class of

contact with the masses as have the ministers.

Multiply the number of lawyers, until every legal phase of
life of the Negro is guarded.
Swell the ranks of physicians, until all ailments of the physical life of the race shall be
alleviated. But, if you would really and truly "reach the unreached
of the race," let more and more of the cultured and trained of our
young men answer the divine call and consecrate themselves to the
highest of all vocations, that of building up the higher spiritual life
place.

the legel

of the race.

The young man who thus hears and answers the call
men alone but he injects himself into a

receives the plaudits not of

distant future and unseen fingers wreathe an imperishable chaplet
for his

brow.

CHAPTER XX

THE NECESSITY OF A TRAINED MINISTRY
Prof. A.

Pegues, D. D.,

Shaw

Special training and equipment

profession and line of business.

more general

University, Raleigh, N. C.
the order of the day in every

This

due to the higher and
and the

diffusion of intelligence in the present time

consequent advance in the arts, sciences, literature, etc. Not many
years ago the young man who purposed to enter the medical profession did not think it necessary to take any prescribed course of
study.
The personal patronage, help and advice of a good old
doctor, together with some home study on the part of the youngster,
were regarded as amply sufficient. A course of study was finally
required, consisting first of two years, then of three. Now, in many
institutions, a course of four years is required and a post graduate
course of one or two years added to this is considered very beneficial, if not in some way necessary.
In our country are scores of
with
millions
endowments
schools
of
established for the express
purpose of fitting men to do special work along special lines. If
the carpenter feels that his success depends upon the thoroughness
with which he has applied himself to study; if the farmer has
learned that he can not harvest a paying crop unless he is able to
lake advantage of the varying conditions of the soil and climate; if
the soldier marches to the field of battle with the consciousness
•hat the victory depends largely upon the years of technical training
to which he has subjected himself, how can the man of God, the
minister of the gospel, the interpreter of the word, the man who is
to separate truth from untruth, the man who is to superintend and
direct the transformation tell them where to go and what to do
after they get in the light, the man who is to superintend and
direct the transformation of the lives and thoughts of men from
;

(118)

A Trained ministry
things carnal, corrupt and transitory to those enduring, ennobling

and God-like.
a shepherd in the common acceptation
word. He not only leads to where the food is; but he has
largely to do with its preparation.
One ignorant of the whereabouts of the pasture can not lead to it, to say nothing of his ina-

The

minister

more than

of that

bility to

administer the proper

make

diet.

noise, although they

Preachers, then, are not sent

may make some

in the going;
nor are they sent to preach their experience, yet they may relate
some occasionally by way of diversion. Ministers are sent forth
for one specific purpose
other things will
to preach the word

forth to

;

But they 2 an not preach the word unless
they know it. It is beyond the power of any being in heaven or
on earth to teach what he does not know. A call to preach is no
follow as a necessity.

guarantee of one's fitness to preach at the time. A call to preach
simply guarantees the possibilities. A longing and burning desire
without knowledge is of very little advantage it may be a positive
disadvantage both to the man and to those who are made to listen.
The minister teaches men to think along right lines. No one is
better than his thoughts. Our thoughts constitute a sort of moral
thermometer. The Bible is the source of the highest and most
It teaches the truth and the truth frees from
noble thoughts.
the power of sin and iniquity and transforms the old man into the
new. But no one can teach the truth unless he knows it. The
minister does not know any more about the Bible than any other
Christian man unless he studies it more. His call in itself does not
As a tea:her of truth, of right-living
fill his head with Biblical lore.
and right-thinking, the minister himself needs the broadest and
;

most careful training.

The

minister needs the best possible training, because he

real leader

among

his people.

other

men

are so

much

the

leaders.

measure of influence, so have other classes
But no other men have such privileges and immunities
in the family circles, no others are so frequently and intimately
consulted on all subjects as ministers, no others are so looked up to
and have such influence as they. If he is guided by right views,
Politicians have their

of men.

A TRAINED MINISTRY

120

the preacher can be a tremendous force and wield an incalculable
influence for good in the community.
People usually seek his

advice in matters of education. He thus has opportunity to do a
great deal to stimulate the young people of both sexes to educational

efforts.

can interest parents and impress them with

the importance of giving their children every educational advantage.

The

attendance

public schools
if

all

would be able

to boast of

much

better

ministers possessed and expressed right views.

where the pastor takes no interest
education of the people and you will find the public schools
poorly attended; and the teachers employed are usually imported
into the rural school district

in the

from other parts of the State. There are such communities in
which not a single person of either sex is sufficiently qualified to
teach in the public schools. Wherever you find such a community
you will also find, upon inquiry, the pastor seldom, if ever, speaks
either in public or private upon the subject of education.
When
the church or
the people are

community is blessed with the well-trained pastor,
more intelligent, they live in better houses, buy more

homes, wear better clothes and in every way they present the appearance of thrift and energy. Such a pastor does not think the
people are providentially spared only that he may get a living out
of them. He does not speak against men of progress and industrial enterprises.

From

is largely the backbone or lack of
community. As a moral force, his efforts have a
delicate but broad field, one which most vitally concerns the whole
people. The moral fitness is the one to which the most interest and

a moral standpoint, he

backbone

in the

importance are attached. It constitutes the foundation as well as
the top-stone of our success as a people. Here the minister has the
greatest possible opportunity for doing good or evil.
The minister should be a model and example in the community in
dress and conduct, both in and out of the pulpit. While extravagance in dress is to be avoided, carelessness is to be equally avoided.
No emphasis has been put upon the spiritual training because it is
too well understood that spirituality is a necessary accompaniment
of ministerial success.

A TRAINED MINISTRY

121

There ought to be broadness of heart and mind

narrowness and
Proper training will make him recognize the kinship of all mankind; he will
look upon all men as his brothers and God as the Father of all

bigotry should find no place in the minister's

;

outfit.

;

sectarianism will not destroy his sympathy for his brother minis-

more the servant of Christ than the servant
any peculiar "ism" or "dogma."

ters; in fact, he will be

CHAPTER XXI

THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF THE METHODIST
EPISCOPAL CHURCH— ITS CONTRIBUTION TO
THE RELIGIOUS DEVELOPMENT OF
THE NEGRO RACE
Rev.
If

and

H. Nelson, D. D.

there were ever evident need of an institution of any kind,
if

perity,

that need were ever demonstrated by
it

the Missionary

its

utility

and pros-

Society of the Methodist Episcopal

Church.
Its fruits are abundant throughout this and all other
lands, and its service is so helpful and essential that one who
studies this society cannot help looking upon it as a providential
scheme to bring about the kingdom of Jesus Christ. It began in
1819 to answer the command of God, "Go ye, therefore, and teach all
the nations to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded
This society has ever believed that its mission is not
you."
fulfilled till it does go to all nations, and to all the people of all the
It caught the fire of John Wesley's breast
races of the nations.
expressed in those immortal words, "The world is my parish," and
it goes to the world and reaches out to the ends of the earth.
It
goes out to find every man of every race and to gather them into
one common faith, brotherhood and Christian love. Inasmuch as
Jesus Christ tasted death for every one, this society believes that
in efforts to carry out the Christian mission and death, it should
arry to all the same kind and quantity of the bread of life. Hence
to-day its labors are among the wise and unwise; the omre
fortunate and the oppressed. It is no respecter of persons, but
goes to the Macedonian cries of humanity in whatever garb, condition, or whatever be the race or accidental color of the skin, or
1

eyes, or hair.
(122)

MISSIONARY SOCIETY

The Missionary Society

METHODIST EPISCOrAL CHURCH

123

the mother and the greatest auxiliary

and while this is true, is it
origin through the labors
It was in this wise:
of a lowly Negro?
John Stewart, a Negro
member of the M. E. Church, applied at Columbus, Ohio, to the
Ohio Conference for license to preach, but, upon being denied, as
unprepared, went to Sandusky, Ohio, and, with Jonathan Pointer,
another Negro member, used as interpreter, began to teach the
Wyandotte Indians. His preaching led to the conversion of two
Chiefs, Menoncue and Between. This spiritual victory reached the
ears of Doctors Nathan Bangs and Joshua Soule, who at once
called the preachers together at New York in 1819, and organized
the present Missionary Society. It is true, the Negro did not call
together the founders, nor wrote the original Constitution, but his
labors and christian successes led to it by suggesting its necessity.
And who can question this as being God's way to give birth to His
mightiest agency in the M. E. Church?
It is really gratifying to me to be able to say that the Missionary
Society has always been true and friendly to the Negro as the one
leading to its birth, and as early as 1833 it made its first foreign
trip to the Negroes of Africa, and it has ever since remained, sustaining its beginning, sacrificing and utilizing both its colored and
I say sacrificing, because some of the best white
white bishops.
blood of the M. E. Church has been and is being, on the part of
both men and women, poured out for the redemption of Africa,
through the direction of this society.
To-day Africa has
Methodist Episcopal Church, upheld by
as bishop
of the
the Missionary Society, one of the greatest and best men
of the connection, namely, Joseph C. Hartzell.
And Bishop
doing
more to-day on both sides of the
Hartzell
is
for
redemption
of
Africa
Atlantic
the
than
any other
man in the world. He has taken a special and friendly attitude
between the great governments of England and the United States
Thus he is not
to help the poor struggling republic of Liberia.
only proving an ambassador for Jesus, but for the temporal rulers
in high places. Bishop Hartzell knows the black man, since he was
of the Methodist Episcopal Church,

not strikingly singular that

had

its

124

MISSIONARY SOCIETY

wedded

him

iii

editor, a preacher

him, hence

religiously

and

ferences,

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

young manhood, and served him
and educator.

has given his

natural that he will do

all

as a citizen,
life's

labors to

possible for Africa, both

now has three conmany primary and grammar schools

Africa, through him.

civilly.

printing presses,

knd the College of Liberia, which stands to that country what
Yale does to this. But the Missionary Society has not only looked
after the Negroes of Africa, but after those of the United States,
and in the South, as well as in other sections. It felt that it had a

Negroes who were slaves.. To them it began
come with preachers, teachers, churches, schools, in the persons
of men and women, as soon as the Negro was declared free. And
the same society has remained among the Negroes, prosecuting
its first-begun work. It has made it possible for every congregation
special call to the
to

have a preacher and to hear the gospel. I know of no place in
where the Missionary Society does not keep some one

the church

to minister holy things, this too, in spite of the sparseness of the

settlement, or the poverty or ignorance of the people.

What

such

a harvest of the ingathering of souls, and the training in religion

and morality has been,
ary Society
Africa,

takes

other lands.

began operations

God
In

alone to

tell.

But the Mission-

1836, three years later than

South Anneri:a, and has there now

two annual conferences. In 1847, fourteen years later than in
Africa, it began work in China, where there were two regular
and several missionary conferences. In 1849, sixteen years later
than in Africa, it began work in Germany, where there are several
In 1856, twenty-six years after it
regular annual conferences.
began in Africa, it started in Scandinavia, and has conferences in
Norway and Sweden, and a mission conference n Denmark.
A1m> in 1856, it owgan in India, where there are now seven coni

ferencs.
it began work in Bulwhere has been gathered a large membership. In 1872,
thirty-nine years after Africa, it began work in Rome, Italy, where
there is a flourishing conference. In the same year its work began
In 1883, fift)
in Japan, where there are two annual conferences.

In 1S56, twenty-seven years after Africa,

garia,

MISSIONARYO SOCIETY

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

12')

work in Mexico,
growing membership of 5,000; and in the same
year mission work began in Korea, where there is a good prospect.
The society recently began work in Hawaii, Porto Rico and the
Philippine Islands. But one can see the utility of this society also
by noticing its material, nature and work. As was said, this society
was organized in 1819, but it took the general conference of 1820
In 1820, the next year after its birth, it
to give it permanence.
In 182^ two years from its birth, it reported
raised $830.04.
$2,328.76. But these collections have continued to grow so that last
year the society raised over $1,200,000, and is in this year calling for
But to se what has been collected and disbursed by
$1,521,435.
years after beginning in Africa, the society began

where there

when one is
sound almost incredible. This
great society has raised and disbursed in its work, $3,727,482,486.
This is a liberal, and yet not a very generous offering to God b}
such a communion as the Methodist Episcopal Church. But it will
be interesting to note what the over 200,000 Negroes have given
in this amount, and what benefits they have received frome this
one society. It must be borne in mind that the Negroes give to
and receive from otherboards of the M. E. Church, such as the
Board of Education, the Freedom Aid Board, the Church Extension Board and the Woman's Home and the Woman's Foreign
Missionary Societies, besides the dividends of the book concern.
The Negroes of the United States have raised for missions alone
since 1873 (and we cannot get accurate figures beyond that) the
sum of $393,627.19. And they have received in return from the
society $465,160; or adding what has gone to Africa, $230,141, they
have received $695,301. These figures show that the Negroes of
the M. E. Church of the United States, and that mostly in the
South, have received $301,629 more than they have given, or more
than $200 for $100. The Missionary Society gives to all its missions
according to their needs and conditions and receives what they give
accordingly; but never giving according to the grade of receipts,
but making the strong bear the infirmities of the weak.
this society since its

told the

amount

beginning

also interesting; but

raised, the figures

126

MISSIONARY SOCIETY

The Negro membership

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
helped as

members who give according

and not as beggars or as Lazarnses, as one good
brother of a sister church called them. The Negro is not in the
ML E. Church for what he can get, but from choice, and because he
has helped to put what is therein.
The Missionary Society, for the universal work it is doing,
strikingly commends itself to every man's conscience in the sight
of God.
It has over three thousand missionaries at home and
abroad; it has 6,082 native preachers, teachers and helpers, and
to their ability,

members

in foreign fields.
It has 11 schools of theology,
It
63 high schools and 1,314 day schools, with 62,966 students.
has 18 equipped presses in India, China, South America, Africa,

183,000

Japan, Korea, Philippine Islands, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and
Mexico. With such commendation let its needs be seen, and let
there be a universal rally for

it.

It calls for

$1,500,000 in regular

needs special gifts of thousands to keep up its
hospitals and church property abroad.
The mission schools and seminaries need endowment.
The
church needs one hundred fresh missionaries annually to become
recruits and carry on the work and get the necessary training for
collections.

permanence.
should

fill

carry on the

church

The missionary

every breast

work

in all the

till

of missions,

world.

spirit is the spirit of Jesus,

there should be no lack of

which are the hope

and

means

of our Christian

Biddle University

Rev. D.

(Presbyterian), Charlotte, N. C.

Sanders, D.D., President.

Lane College (C. M. E.). Jackson, Tenn.
Rev. Dr. Saunders, President.

CHAPTER XXII

THE WORK OF THE AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY
Rev. S. N. Vass, D. D., District Secretary A. B. P.
N. C.

The work

Raleigh,

S.,

of this society for the people of our ra:e

began

opportunity after the Civil War, but
indirectly its excellent literature and missionary efforts greatly
helped some of our people long before that time, while the society
doubtlessly contributed its quota of right literature that did much
to help create the sentiment which culminated in our emancipaearnest at the very

first

tion.

Of course, this society is technically a denominational agency,
but so large has been its constituency and the scope of its operations, by reason of the large number of Baptists all over this
country, and especially

among our

people, that

its

work has

affected

and country.
A superficial glance at its name would hardly impress one with
the importance of its mission among us, and the great work it has
to a great extent the entire race

accomplished, for it is liable to be classed simply with other publishing agencies that have catered to the literary needs of our
But a second glance at its rather lengthy name, and a
people.
technical analysis of each part of

it,

makes

quite

significant.

much in a name, for it really indicates
the object and scope of the work of this society and the nature of
results that have been aimed at and accomplished among us. It is
not our purpose to bring out all that this name represents, nor to
Here

a case

where there

give a resume of

all

the good that has been accomplished by this

society during the seventy-eight years since

its organization, for
the entire country and the world, but shall restrict our attention

(127)

AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY

128

aims to do and has done for us. The first idea in the
it is American.
This term is not restrictive but inclusive, the idea being that it
is not confined even to America, but that it includes nothing less.
It
is not Northern, nor Southern, nor Anglo-Saxon, nor AfroAmerican, but it includes all these, and is truly American. The
word Christian ought to be sufficient and better, but so powerful
is prejudice in this country that the former word often does not
convey its proper significance. The basic principle underlying its
organization was in conformity to the desire of our Lord who
prayed
"That they may be one, as we are,"
and it seeks to rally around this larger standard all races and
sections, not only for the good of the work, but for the good of its
constituents, and along with its other work it seeks to undermine
the strong walls of American prejudice, from which we are made to
suffer so much in every section of our country.
Slavery divided nearly all our national religious organizations
into Northern and Southern branches, and this Society has suffered
Raceism also impedes
not only somewhat from sectionalism.
its
work and at this time as never before. Nevertheless, the
society has not changed its standard in the least, nor been discouraged by these difficulties, but regards these efforts at disintegration only as evidence conclusive that its broader idea is indispensto

what

name

that

which we live.
At the present time it has for its constituency that portion of
Christian people among all the races of this country whose souls
revolt at the narrow limits of sectionalism and raceism in religious
But it should rejoice us all
work, others having withdrawn.
greatly to know that it numbers its friends and sunoorters by the
able to the times in

millions, for every single constituent with us to-day represents the

element of America, and each one is a living embodibrought out in the term American. Such
liberal-minded Americans as rally around our banner are the hope

most
ment

liberal

of the sentiment

of our race, as they

have been our best benefactors

in the past, for

AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY

we must

look to them long years to

come

as the elect 01

129

God

American prejudice.
works being daily accom-

utterly destroy the formidable octopus of

Thus we say

that one of the chief

plished for us by this society

among

the creation of a better sentiment

other races, and this work

is more to be apprecia ed
because of the resources and power of this extensive organization, whose literature and influence ramify this entire land and even
extend to remote regions beyond.
But it has been doing this broadening work within our race also

for

and working to destroy, or rather restrain, the supremacy of the
race idea over the Christian among us. There are a thousand and
one things occurring around us daily that tend to increase in us
intense race prejudice, but all of us must admit that such prejudice on our part only makes our condition more serious, and but
for our self-restraint along this line in the past we would have
rjeen in a far worse condition than we are to-day.
Our missionaries reach and tea:h the people that
''Christ is all, and in all."
I am dwelling upon this part of our work because you would
like to know what part this society has played in the general uplift
of our people, and what has been the tendency of its teachings.
You would like to know whether, aside from its especial mission
as a denominational agency, it has rendered such help upon a
broad scale as would aid generally in the solution of this race
problem. We think the information is due this Congress to know
what has been the teachings of this society, for its work and
influence without doubt have been more far-reaching than any
other agency that has been at work among us. It has been working among the immense following of the Missionary Baptists of
our raze ever since our freedom, and this one denomination has
more members and followers than all the other denominations
among us. It has not only been working among this people, but
it has been doing a very thorough work, and to such extent that
there is not one single section that has not felt its influence most
powerfully. We wish to report to you to-day that this influence
has been one of conservatism and hopefulness, and the aim has

130

AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY

been to develop among us men and women, after the pattern of
Christian America, broad men whose iives are based upon the
eternal principles of God.
In reporting to you the methods by which the so:iety has pursued its work among us, we are brought to consider another part
of its significant name, i. e.
1

Publication.

This word is derived from another that (Jenotes "the people,"
the masses of the people.
Its method of helping us is to work
among the masses. This gathering here represents not only the
leaders, but also the masses, and we have made especial efforts
to get the masses represented in order that we might ascertain
their real condition and secure their co-operation in the work of
our general imrovement. Thus this Congress sees the importance
of extensive work among the masses, and we see it as never before.
We all know what is being done for our leaders, but the times
are calling for special effort as never before among the masses that
decide the status of us all, and we know that after sufficient leaders
shall have been furnished us who are competent to lead, our people
will be greatly uplifted, still we feel that the needs right now are
so urgent that we had better be at work among the masses at the
same time we are preparing the leaders.
It is a fact that nearly all of the agencies that have been at work
for our elevation among us have largely restricted themselves to
the preparation of leaders for us in the future, hoping thus to help
the masses in the end. Let not any one presume that we hesitate
to believe that such is the best way to permanently help our
Whatever else we decide to do, we nuist never neglect
people.
But this is not the only way to
the preparation of the leaders.
There is another kind of help that is necessary to be
help us.
carried on for the people and among the people at the same time,
in order that when these leaders are thoroughly prepared, they
may find the people willing to be led according to their advaneed
We have already hundreds of thoroughly prepared leaders,
ideas.
but these men find the people so unprepared for their teachings
Our race stands sorely in need of
that they do not really lead.

AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION. SOCIETY

some system

of general

131

information that shall extend not only

to the young, but also the old of our people, for the

men who

eompetent to lead properly as others
who can not secure a following in some cases. This is due to the
impassable gulf between the trained leaders and the ignorant
masses. While we are training younger men for leadership in the
schools something ought to be done to reach and better prepare
the untrained leaders that have great power with the masses at
present.
We take it for granted that such is one of the aims of
this Congress.
Such work is feasible and is fraught with great
really lead us to-day are not as

good.

This society has already proven what can be done for the

men who are the real
was among such men

trained

leaders of the people.

—

Its first

less

work

ministers in charge of churches who
had next to no school advantages.
There is connected with this society a regular missionary department, supported by individuals, churches and schools, that expends
every year some hundred and fifty thousand dollars directly among
the leaders of the people, white and colored. Before starting its
work for the masses, the society first sought out and found the men
of our race htat really led the people and prevailed upon them to
accept a grant of such books as would better prepare them to lead
the people, and they did this upon a scale so extensive that almost
all the Baptist preachers among us at emancipation, and for a long
time afterward, received a grant of books from this society. The
same work is kept up to-day, and if there is one of our preachers
who has not received such help it is because he has not sought it.
These grants did great good, and in many cases represented the
only literary advantages these men secured. Some of the wisest
and most conservative leaders of our people were among those
men, and many are still living who have wonderful influence and
are doing great good. The help they received was turned to account at once, for they already were the real leaders of the people.
They sometimes organized scores of churches and Sunday Schools
each, and laid the foundations of the great work that is being carried on to-day. Thus the Society helped the leaders, but such leadfor us

AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY
crs as were already leading or about to enter upon active work,
and it is still at work among them
But the preparation that was adequate then is not sufficient now,
and while this same work is doing now, the Society is rather bending its energies in these days as never before,although it has always
worked for the masses, toward effective work among the masses,
and is more and more leaving the preparation of the leaders to the
agencies that make such their distinctive work. We incline to the
opinion that leaders of this day are not as disposed to prepare

themselves at

were those

has arisen

home

for leadership,

of other times.

The

when unable

trouble

to attend school,

that a class of leaders

who

are not prepared and are not anxious for better
These men stand greatly in the way of the progress
of our people, and one of the objects of this Congress ought to be
to devise some way of helping the masses in spite of such leadership.
This problem has confronted this Society, and our remedy,

preparation.

the general intelligence of the masses.

among
sway

Baptists especially, that such

men

It is

will

and they

a noticeable fact,

continue to hold

keep the peoback as long as permitted to do so. In order to get such leaders
to move up and keep step with the march of progress our churches
find it necessary to impress them that they must either move up or
move out. The question of the progress of the masses is a question
largely with the masses themselves. Of course there are hundreds
of noble exceptions who find equal difficulty in moving the people
up, and often these move out to more helpful fields, but our greatest impediment to-day is incompetent leaders who nevertheless
lead the people, and they lead because there is so much in common
between them and the people. Our problem is to get the leaders
and the people nearer together, and yet let this nearness not represent our going down to them but their coming up to us. And what
as long as the people allow them,

will

ple

the best

way

Of course

remedy

this condition?

the hope lies in the general intelligence of the masses,

and correct leadership has always been among all peoples brought
about by the intelligence of the masses, and we make bold to assert
that the best way to reach these masses is through such an agency

AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY
as this Publication Society, one that has attached to

a regular

missionary department, so that while it produces literature and
sends it forth it may be able to follow up the printed page with
the living personal worker to clinch the book and the paper, and
create a public

demand

In order that you

for literature.

may

get an adequate idea of the great work-

that has been done through our missionary as well as publishing

department, let us note some of the methods employed
1. The Dissemination of Literature.
Last year alone it issued
one million copies of new books, and sent out nearly forty-four
million copies of periodical literature, besides tracts and

Colored people received as

much

of this

Bibles.

matter as they would

receive.
2. Colportage.
Besides publishing all this matter, the society
sends out colporters to visit the homes of such as do not attend
church and Sunday School, and they seek to extend the influence
of the church to the lowliest, and to awaken in them a desire for

good

opposed to the pernicious literature that easily
readily into the homes of the poor. These humble colporters are the conservators of our country and are doing a
work second to none in importance. With all that has been justly
charged against the proverbial book agent, we incline to the opinion that, after all, God sometimes overrules his love of sales to the
general good of* the people, for oftentimes we buy books simply
because they are forced upon us by talk, which books perhaps have
greatly influenced our own or others' lives. But the book agent is
not especially due this credit. A book agent impelled to his work
by the love of lost souls, inspired by his desire to overcome the
evil effects of pernicious literature, so filled with the Spirit of the
Lord as to uplift others by his talk and behavior, and enabled by
Christians to leave good literature where it is seen to be greatly
needed, even if the people are not able to buy it such a book agent
w^ould be a great power among any people, and yet just such »
literature as

finds its

way more

;

man

good
us

the

humble

shall

colporter.

gradually creating a love for
read bv

among us, and with good literature widely
soon make great strides upward.

literature

AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY

134

Sunday School Missionaries.

These are workers who are

especially sent to labor for our children.

They

labor

among

adults

proper care for our children and to impress our responsibilities as parents.
They reach the children through the Sunday
School, organizing one if there is none. If already organized, they
help them to better work by means of institutes. This is a most
fruitful field because these schools are being generally recognized
tor their usefulness.
This Congress must avail itself largely of
the Sunday School if it would impress the people, and especially
the young. These, after all, are the great common schools for the
m/asses, dealing out the essence of deepest philosophy and science
in such shape as to reach the children, and laying the greatest
to create

stress

upon the science

the world.

of correct living, the greatest science in

Truly, this Society has well wrought in this

field, for

America, among all races,
sections and denominations, have been organized by workers of
this Society, while it has prosecuted Sunday-school work among
our people of this denomination single-handed and alone for all
The Sunthe years of our freedom, with but slight exception.
day School is the chief hope of our people, and is doing the best
work of all our religious institutions.
These are first evangelistic and doctrinal, but also
4. Tracts.
practical and written especially to answer the needs of our people.
One of the best ways to correct very prevalent beliefs and errors
and practices is by means of tracts. These have always greatly
inlluenced the masses and our people are no exception. The very
large membership of Baptist churches is due to tract distribution
and other suitable literature properly placed by this Society, and
Let this Congress cover this country with
leinforced by others.
suitable tracts, call them bulletins or what not, and see the results.
The Society prints its own Bibles and makes
5. Bible Work.
original translations, and either sells or gives them where they are
needed. It has supplied a large portion of our race with the Bi^le
free of expense, and then sent forth men to teach the people to use

one-third of

all

the

Sunday Schools

these Bibles.
6.

Chapel Cars.

These reach sections and towns remote from

AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY

135

and go where others can not, because of expense and disSix of these :ars have been at work among white and colored, and great good has been accomplished in cities and settlements of the West, Southwest and Northwest, where bar-rooms
were numbered by the scores while no church nor school was main-

others,
tance.

tained.

Colportage Wagons.

These reach sections in the mountains,
and rough country places, where even the
book agent seldom or never "goes, and literature is distributed
where it has never before been sent. Thus destitute sections are
brought in touch with the rest of the world and progressive Chris7.

plains and other remote

tianity.

being prosecuted among our people precisely as
it can not fail to make a great impression among
the masses. Care is taken in the publishing department not only
to cater to the highest literary taste but also to the needs of the
less critical and the lowly.
Surely here is the way to reach and
impress the masses.
What better evidence is needed of the power of such an agency
as this at work among the people than the very large membership

Such work

among

of the colored

What

others, and

Baptists?

There

always a cause for an

the cause of the fact that nearly every

fifth

effect.

Negro one

meets is either a Baptist or is largely under the influence of this
church? This Publication Society is perhaps more the cause than
any other human agency, and the same methods the Society employs can be employed to advantage by this Congress in reaching
the masses. There was a time when the masses were not so largely
Baptists,' just after our freedom.
It was a time for seed-sowing
and
organization, and with Bible and pamphlet in hand, the
portions

to-day.

Society's missionaries,

greatly to the

Of course other organizations contributed
with the support of the leaders, came

same end.

These missionaries were also the educators of their day, and
when they organized a Sunday School convention they would lead
it to undertake the establishment of some kind of school, and to
this day the chief work of all our Sunday School conventions is

AMhklCAN BAPtlSf I'LHLICATION SOClhTV
educational.

to such sources very largely that the general in-

It is

terest in education

travels extensively

on the part of the masses

due.

One who

among our

people can not fail to note the hundreds of institutions of learning that are being started in almost
every county in this Southland, and although we would not like
many things connected with them, we must admit the fact that

they are indicative of progress. They really constitute a most
hopeful indication because they stand for popular interest in education, the interest of the masses. They represent the evolution of
the masses along educational lines.
the public school in England, so here

Just as the

among

Sunday School
it

led

has led to secular

education also.

deem

only just to say that the Society has already contribinterest in education among the masses
organizing work, its literature, and the very able men
it

uted to this

general

through its
it has secured for its service all these years.
Some of the very
ablest men of this denomination have devoted a large part of their
lives towards prosecution of work under the direction of this Society.
It seems to us that such workers could hardly spend years
working among the people, lecturing them upon the proper care of
their children and the importance of their education, and clinching
their instructions with such organizations as are capable of perpetuating their teachings, and yet not greatly affect the masses of the
people. It is a fact, borne out by the records, that they did much
to bring about the present still increasing interest in education.
W hat has been done is still being done for us by this Society.
It is true that we are better prepared to help ourselves now than
when the work first started for us, but the time has not come, and
will not soon come, when we car afford to let them relinquish the
As before stated, we regard the Sunfield with our own consent.
day School work of Baptist churches as one of the greatest factors
in the race problem, because of the teaching there imparted and
that

because so
ally

known

these

among

many

attend these schools.

that colored

schools.

It is

doubtless not gener-

Baptists are pretty well provided wit^

There are comparatively few Baptist church^
for. and this interest m such work k

us not thus provided

American baptist publication society

i3?

not due to the great interest our churches generally have taken in
the training of their children, but is rather an indication of the

good work of
est in thiis

Even

this Society.

work on the part

these

It is still difficult to enlist

proper inter-

of the churches with us as with others.

schools are so absorbed

educational

institutions

Sunday School mission work
of the kind that will insure the perpetuity and growth of the Sunday School cause. This work must suffer unless such agencies as

that they do not feel able to care for

this society continue its efforts

work

among

us, to

say nothing of other

does for us.

We are glad, to report to you today that this society is still intending to help us as before, and let us all earnestly desire that
their work for us will never cease. It is impossible to help a Baptist to get more intelligence without accomplishing much for
others of our people. The sentimental interest formerly manifest
in the North for us is fast disappearing, and this, in some cases, is
due to our own mistakes. We sincerely trust that this Congress
will send word to the people at home to remember with gratitude
the friends of our mothers and fathers, both in the North and in
the South. Nothing will help us more in the future than a proper
appreciation of what has been done and of the men who have done
it.
We are nearing the point when we shall be able to do more
for ourselves than ever before, but we are -right now in need of
much that friends stand ready to do for us if only we do not drive

them off by some evidence of indifference or ingratitude.
The Society sends its greetings to this Congress and assures
you that it stands ready to continue the work of uplifting our rare
in any way possible along its line.

CHAPTER

XXIII

THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY, AND ITS WORK
AMONG THE COLORED PEOPLE OF THE SOUTH
Rev.

W. Ingraham Haven,
Society,

D.,

Cor.

New York

Sec, American

Bible

City

The American Bible Society has had a remarkable history. It
was organized in the city of New York in the spring of 1816. There
ware a number of influential Bible societies in the country at that
tin .!, and many of these co-operated in the organization of the
American Bible Society and became auxiliaries to it. Immediate y thereafter, and through the following years, there sprang up
a jfreat

many

auxiliaries in different parts of the country, each
its immediate locality, and
and more extensive work of the National

undertaking to minister to the people of
*tiso

to assist in the larger

Society.

Many of these local auxiliary societies were organized in the
Southern States, and a considerable number exist to-day in these
States, with an enviable history of good work for the people of
It would be a most inviting task to
their respective communities.
look over the records of these worthy societies and trace out the
siory of the distribution of the Word of Life among the Southern
people through these notable agencies. There is, however, no sufficient data at the Bible House from which to form any satisfactory
estimate as to the work accomplished through these societies. Unquestionably rrnany thousand colored people of the South received
the Scriptures through the hands of these auxiliaries.
The parent society has, at different intervals in its history, undertaken colportage on a large scale in this country at a very great
expense, in co-operation with the auxiliaries. It has sent its repre038)

AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY

139

sentatives throughout the length and breadth of the land, under-

taking what

has styled the "re-supply" of the country.

These

enterprises have been at intervals separated by periods of ten to
fifteen years.

how much the society has thus accomplished in
way of reaching the colored people of the South

Just

past years in the

can never, probably, be accurately determined.
In the

fall

of 1900 a conference of the auxiliary societies

was held

House, and at this conference it was suggested that
the American Bible Society might wisely undertake work among
the colored people of the South. In due time the Rev. J. P. Wragg,
B. D., of Newnan, Ga., a well-trained and highly respected graduate of the Gammon Theological Seminary, of Atlanta, Ga., an
earnest and faithful minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church,
was selected to undertake the development of this agency.
He began his labors the first of July, 1901. A sufficient appropriation was made to this work .that it might, if possible, have a
successful beginning. Mr. Wragg has established a system of colportage reaching out into a number of the Southern States, and at
the present has, under his direction, eight colporteurs who go
from place to place, bringing to the people the Scriptures at the
cost price at which they are published by the American Bible
at the Bible

Society.

How many people are there who realize that a copy of the Bible
can be purchased for fifteen (15) cents in a very fairly readable
type, and in a good and excellent type for twenty cents, and that
the

New

Testament can be purchased

for five

(5) cents and the

pocket volumes at two (2) cents,
and that there are many editions published in finer bindings, all
thoroughly made in one of the best equipped establishments in
America, where very great care is taken in the accuracy of the
version and in all the details of manufacture? And how many understand that all these editions are sold to the people without the
purpose of making any profit for the society? There is no reason
why every home, no matter however humble, should not have in it
Single Gospels

in delightful little

a copy of the Divine Message of

Jesus Christ.

Love and Salvation

as revealed in

AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY

140
#

Mr. Wragg, the agent of the American Bible Society, has also
undertaken to have small depots for the sale of these inexpensive
Scriptures in connection with the leading Negro educational institutions. Already his reports are encouraging to the society, and
they and all friends of its work have reason to look forward to the
reaching of the homes of these people in the Southland with the

Word

of Life.

Who

can estimate the possible results of such a distribution of
among the people?

the Scriptures

—

CHAPTER XXIV

WHAT CHURCH EXTENSION HAS DONE FOR THE
NEGRO
Rev. H. A. Monroe, D. D., Philadelphia, Pa.

Some time

in the next fifty years the historian of American
be confronted with the world-miracle of that day. A
black man from whom has been .eliminated everything save color,
that once set him apart from his Anglo-Saxon neighbor as an infe-

affairs will

type of humanity.
Not that race types or characteristic
worthy of preservation will not be retained not that this black
man of to-morrow will be a mere imitator of other races a terra
cotta replica of the Anglo-Saxon, but a man in all that the word
rior

—

implies: a magnificent race type, unique, symmetrical, fitting well

the niche

which God has placed

the so-called superior races.

all

his destiny side

human

side with

reasoning, his growth

upward and his attainments were impossibilities. In his success
is an anomoly
in his record of achievement, a marvel.
By all

—
precedent, he should have remained at the botladder — the under stratum of American civilization

human reason and
tom

of the

on American soil his existence a curse and
on American progress, and his children the lazzaroni of tke

the pariah of the races
a clog

;

American Republic.

when the Negro shall have disappointed
enemies and astonished his friends by winning recognition
now withheld, the question of the hour will be: what were the
agencies that wrought this marvelous achievement, that transformed this ungainly Caliban of American prejudice into the acIn these days to come,

his

knowledged peer of others more highly favored by fortune? What
steps upward were placed beneath his feet, what friendly hands
were helpers on his upward wav?
(HI)

CHURCH EXTENSION

142

The only time

limit with

which

CHURCH AND NEGRO

in earnest

sympathy

plies to these discussions, so that there can be but scanty

ap-

mention

of other helping agencies than the one assigned me.

The

silence enjoined

upon

political

mention

commendable

thing on the part of the committee, for time only can determine
the things that helped and the things that hindered the Negro in
that direction, and a recital of the disappointments anoV delusions
would only make the saddest chapter in the Jeremiad of this Lat-

Day

ter

Israel.

But there was help never withheld, hands never withdrawn,
steps that never failed the Negro in his upward journey; and this
unfailing aid came from religious and educational agencies employed
I

in his

transformation.

perfectly willing that both the Missionary and the Freed-

men's Aid societies should claim the lion's share of merit, and yet
work for the Negro might never have been accomplished, or at least seriously hindered, had it not been for the
splendid material aid given and the encouraging and inspiring
sentiment kindled in the hearts of our people by the work of

their great

Church Extension.
It

does

has not been so splendidly advertised before the church, nor
its work possess the fascinating aroma of sentiment and

romance which attaches itself naturally to the work of its sister
and when a short while ago, in a modest article in

societies,

"Christianity in Earnest,"

published the aggregate of

tributions to the colored people of our church,

had hitherto thought

little

startled

its

con-

many who

Church Extension as an important

factor in developing a hopeful future for the Negro.

Let me repeat the figures here, brought down to November, 1901.
from the origination in 1864:

"First

Baptist Church, Little Rock, Ark.

Rev.

J. P.

Robinson. D.D., Pastor.

Sharp Street M. E. Church, Baltimore, Md.

Rev L

L. Thomas, D.D., Pastor.

Israel C.

M. E. Church, Washington, D.

Rev. H. C. Cleaves, D.D., Pastor.

First Congregational Church,

Rev. A.

Demond,

New

Orleans, La.

Pastor.

—
1

CHURCH EXTENSION

Work

— M.

CHURCH AND NEGRO

Colored Conferences to November

143
1901.

Churches
Conferences.

Atlanta

Collections.

Donations.

.$ 1,069

Central

Alabama.

•

Central

Missouri..

•

Delaware

1,599

5,i68

23,347

I7,490

•

1,591

9,629

5,375

135
7i

9,370

40.418

21,980

180

4,437
2,566

21,911

9,450
5,5oo

155
120

0,0^2

32,245

t t r\ "> c

210

5,129

29,163

12,775

271

South Carolina.

•

Upper

Mississippi

Total

68
176

North Carolina.

Washington.
West Texas.

8,100

i3,Hi

•

Texas

8,470

25,232

14,937

2,343

12,404

10,100

•

Mississippi.

24
1 1

1,203

Lexington.
Little Rock.

100
10,081

1,619,

•

Florida

Aided.

33,905
4,5oo

East Tennessee.

1,800

14,909

Loans.

21,034

2,898

27,471

20,555

154

5,688

41,422

H,575

239

1,132

5,850

1,600

12,225

23,854

20,309

232

4,241

19,869

9,000

119

.$81,514

$371,661

$219,371

2471

Total for donations and loans, $591,132. Since then this total
has been raised to over 2,500 churches aided and over $600,000
given in donations and loans.

impress on your mind the very material way in which help
has been afforded our poor people, I will say that this sum represents $4.55 given outright for every single dollar raised by the
colored people for the society, and from both donations and loans
$7.25 was given for every $1.00 raised for Church Extension in our
colored conferences.

Without the vast annual income of the Missionary Society
without having the cause of the Negro made its special charge, as

CHURCH

144

fOCTENSION

CHURCH AND NEGRO

the organization of the Freedmen's Aid Society,

its gifts

that

terests of the black

Yet

second to neither

in its

it has proven
devotion to the in-

man.

has been equally kind and helpful in its treatment of our
white members in the Southland. Over 1,700 churches aided and
more than $550,000 given in donations and loans to their work.
When one remembers the birth of this great benevolence in the
it

War, its baby brow fanned by the
and its cradle rocking to the sullen
cadence of the guns of Grant and Lee, the bleak and barren Southern fields scorched by the breath of war and the despairing outlook facing the new (but yet uncreated) South, both white and
black might join in saying to this society, "Surely thou earnest
stormiest period of the Civil
blast of the cannon's breath

into the

Kingdom

for such a time as this."

But Church Extension has given other aid than dollars and
cents, bricks and mortar.
Its spirit toward the Negro has been
characterized by unvarying friendliness.
Many of us have lived
to see the turning of the tide from sentiment, both North and
South, until it is decidedly against the Negro, and the influence of
this change has been marked in the offerings for his special benefit.
But this society in the last three years increased the ratio of its
free gifts to colored churches from $4.09 to $4.55 for each dollar
raised; while, on the other hand, a gratifying fact of independence
and self-support on the part of the colored churches appears in
the statement that the ratio of loans called for has decreased from
$7.50 to $7.25. Thus the increasing friendly aid of the society is
inspiring our colored work to larger contributions and creating at

the same time a

self-reliant spirit.

small help has been afforded to our people by the insistence
upon the use of the carefully prepared plans furnished by the
society.

When

one remembers the frightful abortions evolved from the

genius of the village carpenter the triumphs of ugliness and inconvenience (not always in rural districts) once characteristic of
Methodist Episcopal Churches, it is a cause of congratulation to
the cause of

Church Extension that

its

innumerable

edifices,

even

CHURCH EXTENSION

CHURCH AND NEGRO

145

of the humblest type, are easily recognizable by their artistic taste
and adaptability.
While this means much for the denomination, it means still
more for our colored membership, belonging to a race thirsty for
some means of expression of the art longings now crushed and
dormant within them.
A warm-blooded, tropical child of nature, the Negro will yet
give to America some of its very choicest treasures of art and song.
The dreamy, sensuous, tropical blood, now a reproach, is destined
to attain to heights of poetic feeling, depths of artistic expression

who have

surrendered themselves almost wholly to the claims of commercialism. This buried
artistis longing finds grotesque
expression, among us, almost
impossible to a colder-natured people,

It would rival the rainbow
to a lover of humanity.
hue and adornment in costume, and the regalia of our secret
societies, when they appear in parade, presents a symphony in

pathetic
in

colors that

mon

would

rival a

crazy quilt in

its

bizarre effect.

Solo-

may

not be arrayed like one of these, but the
starved, dormant, enthralled soul of the Negro is not the only one
in all his glory

makes a poor copy after
The humblest homes of our

that

a divine pattern.

people, so pitiful in their barrenness,

helping hand and inspiring example in the neatness and

find a

beauty of the church built after Church Extension plans.
an object lesson to the untaught, a spur to the untried, dormant, artistic sense, which arouses the soul and leads it through
the portals of beauty nearer to its God; for a beautiful church inspires a beautiful home, and the beautiful home will make the
artistic
It is

souls beautiful that dwell therein.

and the other helps that have come to the Negro in this
what he has been to what he will be, we
must recognize the value and the practical aid of the Church Extension Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
For

this,

transition stage from

•

CHAPTER XXV

WHAT IMPROVEMENTS SHOULD BE MADE

THE

RELIGIOUS WORSHIP OF THE CHURCHES?
By

M an,

Rev.

A. Peeler, A. M., B. D.

his worship, reveals the character of his

God.

is,

manner and spirit of his worshippingbe such as be:ometh the God in whom, he believes.
The cruel
ritual of the Molech worshipper, demanding human beings for
sacrifice, relates in the history of the past that Molech was a cruel
god. The cold, formal and lifeless worship of the Pharisees and
Scribes declares to us that their idea of the Supreme One was that
He could be pleased with mere lip service, even though their
hearts were far from Him. The non-worship of the agnostic shows
that he knows not God.
The Christian, by his worshipping in
therefore, important that the

and truth, declares

spirit

whom
we

Jesus our Savior

his belief in

made

are His obedient children.

manifest.

and sense of the Father

our loving Parent;

As such we should

strive to

the will of our Father and earnestly endeavor to worship

we ought.

should

know

that -He

omniscient, omnipotent and good.

know

Him

an eternal personal Being,

He knows when we

are sincere.

can judge the quality of our worship, and since there is in His
nature eternal good He can accept only fhat which is true and holy.

Let us, then, worship Him in holiness. Every needed improvement
made ii the churches will do this.
Idolatry is sin, and the people who worship men and churches
Angels are not worthy that they should
will not be unpunished.
will be

be worshipped.

In fact, they will not accept

it.

Man

a little

l^wcr, and, of course, can not, without injury, permit his fellow-

man

ature,

bow down

this fact
(146)

to him or serve him.
worthy to receive our homage.
and so teach it to all.

The

Creator, not the creshould so understand

—
IMPROVEMENTS IN RELIGIOUS WORSHIP
Next
shall
spirit

to the question of

and

in truth

We know
is

whom

As above

be done?

—

that obedience

worship

the inquiry,

better than sacrifice.

idolatry.

This

how

God

can only worship

All pretended worship

in holiness.

self-explanatory:

stated,

147

command

"If therefore thou art offering thy gift at the

and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against
and go thy way first be
reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift." If the
Jew with his cold, monotheistic and rational conception of the
Deity could not acceptably offer his bullock or lamb while there
altar

thee, leave there thy gift before the altar

;

in his heart, while he was willing to speak a word of
contempt against his neighbor, while he could endure for any person to have just cause for complaint against him, how shall God
accept the worship of the Christian whose heart is hard and without the required forgiving spirit? There is no evidence that He
does. In fact, He can not. God is love and those acts of worship

was hatred

that are well pleasing to

cepts the worship

Him

are essentially acts of love.

when He can

duct which would indicate that

Worship

ac-

That conotherwise misrepresents Him.

accept the worshipper.
it

an attitude of life and the acts of worship can not be
disassociated from the life itself. Man can not live an unholy life
and in truth worship the good God. "The hour comfcth and now
is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit
and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him." All
other worshipping is vain. If the Master, when he assembles in
some of our congregations with us. as he did with those who met
him at Gennesaret, should speak audibly, He would most surely
say to us, as he said to them "Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah
prophesy of you saykig
is

"This people honoreth

with their lips;

But their heart is far from me;
But in vain do they worship me,
Teaching as their doctrines the precepts

More
life

and

real

and

less

men/

pretended service is needed among us. Larger
be a great improvement. Unless our life

less noise will

IMPROVEMENTS IN RELIGIOUS WORSHIP

148

speaks as loud as we shout the shouting will not be heard. We
can preach no higher than we practice. Little profession and much'
practice are more pleasing to God than loud boasting over nothing
done. God loves short prayers and warm hearts more than he does
long prayers and cold hearts. He knows that it is ''the empty

wagon that makes the most
me Lord, Lord, shall enter

Not every one that saith unto
kingdom of heaven; but he
that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Sincerity in
the service God has always insisted upon hypocrisy he condemns.
noise/'

into the

;

Profession

desirable, but

but work alone will not

alone will not do.

Working

good,

Profession and working are not

suffice.

enough.

sincere

pretended worshipping would
any man serve me, him will my
From our worshipping there should come to us

and

service

bring to us glorious results.

Father honor."

less

"If

Too often,
The worshipper does not become strong
strength and great comfort.

dent to the Christian course.

apparently, neither does.
to bear the

beginning of his career than he is at a later period
first converted than ever again along the way.

Our Savior taught

when we pray

burden

inci-

frequently stronger at the

to say

;

happier

when

"Oiu Father."

Christian worshippers in these days of rapid progress ever stop to

think what
of

God and

means?

Llaving thus acknowledged the fatherhood
we are, if sincere, compelled

the brotherhood of man,

pray every blessing upon every member of the human family
we ask for ourselves. There can remain no more place for
Races could
selfishness in any individual who prays this prayer.
not longer afford to repeat these words signifying a truth so broad
and continue to enact laws that prevent their neighbor from having
equal opportunity in the enjoyment of liberty in the race of life and
to

that

Denominations would cease to ask
church and -then do all they can to keep
every other denomination, except their own, from realizing the
answer. In prayer, as in other things, it might be well "to think
in

the pursuit of happiness.

"Our Father"

to bless

before speaking."

lis

IMPROVEMENTS IN RELIGIOUS WORSHIP

149

Sincerity in every kind of worship is the thing most needed. I
might suggest the improvement of several forms of our worship,
but this could only improve the form. The best criticism that
can be given is doubtless to show that our worship is already too
formal.
Forms lead many to palliate those customs of worship
that abuse God and very often bring His highest blessings into
disfavor.

God evidently intended, by having us worship Him, to make us
more fruitful thereby. Fruit is the test of every service. The
kingdom must come through the worshipper. The parable of the
pounds and the parable of the talents and every lesson taught by
the Master say this. Until we are as fruitful as we know He intended we should be, let us continue the work of improvement in
both the form and the spirit of our worship.
"Till

shall praise thee as

we would

Accept our heart's desire."

What Improvements Should
By W.
In the

first

Made

Trent, A. B.

Our Churches?
*

place, the question of lifting collections, as

now

car-

on in most of our churches, needs our closest attention. How
often have many of us witnessed a soul-stirring service, which has
taken our minds entirely away from the trials and disappointments
of this life, has lifted from our shoulders and made lighter the
burdens that must be borne! And while we sat there, the words
of the pastor did burn within us. The melody of the sacred hymn
was ringing in our ears, lifting us up as only sweet music can do.
Would that we could go back to our respective homes in this state
of mind, and, in the midst of the deepest reflections, put into practice these sublime truths that would hasten the coming of the
But, alas! this is not to be. The
Spiritual Kingdom on earth.
financial claims of the church must be presented, and we have no
ried

;

improvements in

150

criticism to offer about this

and

spiritual

growth

;

for

kELtGioij's

it is

worship

indispensable to the progress

of the church.

But

this

marching

the

tables should be discouraged, so that gradually our people

would
be educated up to the point to give more from a sense of duty and
not for display, ever remembering that if man sees them not, a
greater One than man sees them, whose all-piercing eye detects
the smallest deed and metes out the true reward.

With

all

this

commotion and restlessness that this form of giving to the church
creates, that happy feeling which brings us so near the Divine is
and our thoughts are carried back to the worldly
life.
It is the duty of the church, in these devotional exercises, to take our thoughts away from, the material
side of things. It is also its duty to rescue souls from perdition and
ruin to bring back the wayward sinner on his downward career
entirely destroyed,
affairs of

every-day

;

whose counsel will aid us to realize
our life sweetness and light. Other methods should be introduced through which the financial needs will be cared for. A true
worshipper needs no one to coax and beg him to give to the cause
of religion. For if he would for a moment think that what is given
belongs to God, the earth, the air. Our food and raiment were
made by Him, even we ourselves are the instruments in His hands.
It is not ours, all is His.
This reform can best be brought about by
teaching the communicant in word and deed the meaning of life,
and its great responsibilities. When the mjnd is clear and the
heart is full of eternal truth the material side of life can not suffer.
The next point for our consideration is the subject of music.
Those of the race who have been watching the trend of the music
used in our religious worship must confess that there is much to be
to furnish religious guides

regretted.

have imitated too much.

While the hymnal

is still

an authorized book in the church, yet it is being laid aside for
something new. These new songs are appropriate for Sunday

conventions and associations, but not for the church
Those old hymns we heard sung with so much feeling in
our younger days possess a great history that we can least afford
Schools,

proper.

do without

our religious growth.

improvements iN

The hymns

RELiGiotis wokstttp

of Dr. Watts, the

Wesleys,

Toplady and

151
others

equally as distinguished for their spiritual insight should ever be

"God
in worship, ours in thought, and ours in living.
trying
mysterious
way"
was
written
after
a
a
by Cowper

ours.

Ours

moves

from his soul. Keep these
hymns in our religious worship. Bring back the congregational
singing of them, that each member will feel that he is an active
worshipper, and not a passive listener. We long for those times
when these sacred hymns, the outpouring of the soul to its Maker,
went up from many voices, making the welkin ring with their
sweetness. This was before the tuneless organ, and, in many instances, the unconverted member of the choir forced their way
experience.

Those words came

direct

into the church.

When

the lowly Nazarene

was making

his

advent into Jerusalem

upon him, casting their clothes at his
feet, strewing palms along his pathway, and as he was nearing the
descent of the Mount of Olives the whole multitude of the disciples
began to rejoice and cry aloud: "Blessed is he that cometh in the
name of the Lord." And some of the Pharisees from among the
multitude said unto Him: "Master rebuke thy disciples." But He
replied: "I tell you that if these should hold their peace the stones
would immediately cry out." So it has been all down the ages,
when the religious life of a people was at its high-water miark. And
Those men and women possessing great spiritual
so it will be.
power, rilled with a fiery enthusiasm for the salvation of the world,
will be the strongest workers in His vineyard and their influence
over the thoughts and actions of the people will be far-reaching in
Emotionalism? This is a peculiar characteristic of the
its effects.
the multitude pressed heavily

;

race.

Cultivate

it; it is

a precious inheritance,

Improvements in religious worship

153

What Improvement Should

Made

in the Religious

Worship

the Churches?

Rev.
I

have

bodies

among

Will Jackson, D. D.

my mind that established, recognized ecclesiastical
us are intended by the term churches. This, happily,

excludes from our consideration the

many

irresponsible, heteroge-

neous assemblages sometimes called churches, that, seemingly,
debar order and intelligence from their ranks as being detriments
to the liberty of the spirit.

What may

be said of these churches as regards the character of
worship? The most, if not all of them, follow an
order that is uniform throughout their respective denominations.
In them we find the essentials of elevating Christian worship,
namely, system, order and reverence. I would not advise anything
like *The
more simple it is, the better for all concerned. It seems to me
that religious worship loses its appropriate Christian feature when
it requires a
stiff conformity to ostentatious ritualistic
forms.
Spiritual communion, the sum and substance of worship, is lost in
their religious

attention to the detractive artificial accompaniments.

needs the warmth of the Divine presence
inspiration to true Christian

life

and

in religious

activity.

The

soul

worship as an

Simplicity of relig-

ious worship conduces to this end.

—

have spoken of the essentials of religious worship system,
These find their appropriate observance in many
of our churches but the opposite of these prevail, more or less, I
believe, in the majority of them. A church which sets an example
knowingly or
of disregard for the proprieties of Divine worship
community.
power
for
in
that
good
ceases
to
be
ignorantly
a
harmful.
They
worship
is
who
God
presence
there
very
Indeed, its
this
end
in
truth.
Conducive
to
Him
in
spirit
and
should worship
our
churches:
First,
in
in
most
of
improvements might be made
Collections
the manner of raising money during the services.
should be taken before the sermon. The basket method, or, if posThe basket method is
sible, something better should be adopted.
I

order, reverence.

;

—

IMPROVEMENTS IN RELIGIOUS WORSHIP

153

noiseless and does not detract

from the reverence due the occasion.
During the passing of the basket an organ voluntary could be rendered or select passages of the Scriptures could be read by the
pastor or some one appointed for that purpose.
Second, in the attention given to announcements. These should
be read before the sermon.

The church should not be made

advertising depot for everything that goes on in the comjmunity, as

very nearly true in too many of our churches. The affairs of the
church and matters of a moral and religious character only should
be given publicity in the house of God.
Third, in the selections of hymns to be sung. Singing is a part of
Divine worship. Discard the many meaningless songs so often
is

heard.

There is one feature of
owing to its prominence,

religious worship in our churches which,
attracts our attention to

as an element

sometimes
and give to it its
true place as a religious and social force of the race.
It has be.n
condemned by many. It is a choice theme of the humorist in his
pen pictures of Negro revivals and camp-meetings and its utter
suppression would be welcomed by some as a step in the right
direction, but an uncontrollable effusion of religious ecstacy, due
to incapacity of satisfactory intellectual expression, since its most
conspicuous activity was confined to bodily movements, trances
and incoherent utterances. It was necessary as a vehicle lor powerful sentiments of the soul that had no other avenue of escape.
Then, I thought all that was needed to overcome it was education.
But, as the years have come and gone, I have been brought to consider it in a different light.
For thirty-five years I have watched
its obstinate persistence through the stages of social and intellectual progress which the Negro has undoubtedly made in that period
of time. I discover that it survives the encroachments of education
and culture. It can not, therefore, be a mere resultant of temporary
conditions as I had thought. It seems to me to be an indestructible

to be considered.

shown.

Permit

refer to the intense emotional fervor

to discuss

some

of its qualities

;

element of Negro character.

True

racial character is ineradicable.

There may be injectioni

IMPROVEMENTS IN RELIGIOUS WORSHIP

154

or accretions of ideas, notions, and impressions
racial association

;

but these

will, for the

most

— results

of inter-

part, be modified

and

reshaped by the ever-controlling force of native character. The
Jew, for centuries dwelling in strange lands among strange and
unfriendly surroundings, is, in everything essential, still a Jew.
Is there no such thing as distinctive Negro character?
Is the
Xegro race so unlike all other races of mankind that it has nothing
about it distinctively racial except in color and physical features?
Is he like a mere automaton, with no life or strength in him save
what may be infused into him by something else? Or is he, after
all this fuss made about him, simply an animate bundle of borrowed
notions and old clothes? True it is, he is not the representative of
any great idea which has, as yet, concentrated the thought and
energy of his race as were the Greek and Romans, or as ure the

Anglo-Saxons of to-day.
forbid

it.

country.

The
It

The reason

obvious.

Environments

race has no independent national existence in this

forms but a part, and, numerically considered, a very

small part of our composite national autonomy.

Negro possesses

traits of character

whose

Nevertheless, the

brilliancy, like the steady

light of a distant star that penetrates the encircling mist,

known of all men. Dark was this long night
but when the dawn of liberty crept from the bosom
seen and

receding centuries and uplifted the frightful

may

of bondage,
of

its

low-

and for the 'first
time shone upon his ebony brow, he was still standing erect with
Against demoralizing
his face turned toward the rising sun.
pall,

pressure of powerful adverse influences he has kept alive the prin-

and aspirations of true manhood. What more than this
emotional enthusiasm has contributed to these results?
Had it not been for this irrepressible and ever-assertive element
of his character, the Negro would have degenerated into the
depths of a hopeless and irretrievable infidelity. It has kept him
in touch with his God, and that means also in touch with the
possibilities of his moral, religious and intellectual resurrection.
Education and Christian culture will rob it of its old-time
but that noble spirit interwoven into the very
characteristics
life-breath of the black man by the hand of his Creator, that has
ciples

intense

;

IMPROVEMENTS IN RELIGIOUS WORSHIP
given

the world

musicians,

singers,

preachers, statesmen and gallant soldiers

poets,
;

155
orators,

fervid

given them, too, before

freedom loosed their shackles or opened to him the temple of
him as a guardian angel of strenth
and hope. Do not try to educate the Negro out of himself. There
learning, will continue with

him plenty of rich, natural material
make him ashamed of himself or

try to

for cultivation.

his race.

not

education

is the wrong kind of an eduaction.
make him like the white man; if you do, you will
do what God would not attempt, because He could

that disparages self-respect

not try to

attempt to

not do it, or would not do it, because He could not attempt it.
Take the Negro as God has given him to the world arouse, drawout, and properly direct the great native forces and powers of his
being; open the door of opportunity to him; then loose him and let
him go. He may then be like the white man, but he will undoubtedly measure up to God's idea of the true man, and that will be
;

sufficient.

CHAPTER XXV

WHAT IMPROVEMENTS SHOULD BE MADE

THE

RELIGIOUS WORSHIP IN THE CHURCHES
Rev. George R. Waller, D. D., Baltimore, Md.
ever we are
when we stand

If
is

to deport ourselves with
in

the presence of th

appointed place of worship.
is

Worship,

reverent decorum,

King
in the

His own

of kings in

most general sense,

the instinctive recognition and assertion of our divine heirship.

Tt is

the uplifting and outgoing of the soul toward the

Author and
an evolution of praise, of an involution of
Not impression, but expression is its chief object, its

end of his
grace.

life.

characteristic

It is

idea.

faith, lov, joy, gratitude,

The

to God of
God through Christ,

the expression

emotions, involving reverence for

soul's

penitence,

hope, aspiration and holy desire.

aspirations of the

Godward

sense cannot in such a soul be

limited to the prescribed functions of certain
places.

the

Love, casting out

Christ, glorifying all life

all

fear,

beholds

and co-ordinating

days and of certain

God
in

the face of

the unity of the

and in the bonds of peace all times, places, duties, and
humble things incident to daily life gleam with the unconsuming
Worship becomes a permanent
tire of new and higher meanings.
But the term more frequently serves to
state of consciousness.
\ndicate the concrete expression of religious emotion by the inLove may be "a
dividual.
In this, worship and love are alike.
life," involving the entirety of a man's being, and sweeping like
a flood, "too full for sound or foam" beneath all his thoughts, but
love has its season of demonstration, its resistless movements of
the heart's out-pourings, its sacramental hours and deeds wherein
the inward passion fulfils itself in outward and visible forms.
The heart of Christ was a temple of perpetual worship. Conspirit

(156)

IMPROVEMENTS IN RELIGIOUS WORSHIP

157

permanent attitude towards His Father, He said,
Him." Yet, He who lived
the constant light of God's face would rise at dawn of day to

cerning this

"I do always those things that please
in

seek that

face

upon the mountain
T

lis

brethren

therefore, to

concrete expression
side, in the

among

the

waking birds

preparation for social worship with

in the Temple and Synagogue.
The first requisite,
improve worship in the churches is an improved life

of holiness out of the churches.

With such an improvement,

all

the seven-fold elements of wor-

ship in the service of the churches will blend in

symphonic praise

God. through Christ, by the inspiration of the Spirit.
The song will be an outburst of redeemed joy. The Saints
will feel that they must sing or the stones will.
As well bid the
waves of the sea to break silently upon their shores as to attempt
to hush the song, like the sound of many waters, from those who
know that their Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the
latter day upon the earth. The meaningless rhymes of the ignorant
and the incomprehensible operatics of the wise will find no place
when the worshippers "Sing with the Spirit and the Understandto

ing.."

The

Inspired

Word. An

indefeasible part of Christian worship,

with careful preparation by the minister, and received
by all as the very word of God.
The Confession. The word of man, the echo of the word of
God, will ascend in answer to His revelation, as the smoke of the
"I believed, and theresacrifice after the descent of the holy fire.
fore I have spoken" will be the key-note of every heart.
The Prayer. The true altar of incense in the Christian ecclasia
will present fragrant gifts of adoration, with the blend of homage,
The prayer serfaith, penitence, thanksgiving and intercession.
vice, the heart-throb of church life, will receive new impulse;
formalism, with its vain repetition, the sound of brass and clank
of cymbal, will be heard and feared no more.

will 5e read

The

Offering.

The human

self-oblation, will

self-oblation,

response to divine

no longer be known as "collection," or "a tax

gathering," but as an act of true worship, as love expressing itself

IMPROVEMENTS IN RELIGIOUS WORSHIP

158

through giving. "The Son of God who loved us and gave Himself up for us
who for our sake became poor, that we, through
His poverty, might become rich." Freely ye have received, freely
give."
These sublime words will furnish the motive for the
offering, church debts will be paid, begging will cease, paid entertainments, and "the cooking stove apostacy" will be sent to their
own place; the church will be unbound by the cords of Mammon,
sinners will be saved at each service and God will be glorified.
The Sermon. The source of that perpetual increment of knowledge, which is fuel for the altar-fire of the intelligent worship,
will be intellectual, spiritual and loving, enlisting reason and conscience in reverential approach to God.
The Ordinances. That sacramental element in worship, appealing to the imagination, to the memory, and to the affection, will
contribute to Christian worship, an imaginative aspect and an
emotional potency which not only perpetuate, but nourishes and
stimulates the sense of that which is invisible.
All these seven-fold fundamental elements of Christian worship
are found either expressed or in germ in the Apostolic Writings,
with a rich and impressive unity.
Blending, as the seven bands of the rainbow, in one radiant
symbol of hope, spanning the dispensation of religious worship
from the Ascension to the "Parousia ;" revealing a substantial
agreement of Christian worshippers of every creed. A unity in
The same spirit moving upon human instruments as
diversity.
zephyr upon an Aeolian harp, tOw'hing each string according to
its nature and pitch, combining numerous variations in major and
minor chords, obscure at first, growing stronger and clearer, until
finally the whole sacred orchestra shall take it up in one magnificent choral, overcoming all obstacles and breaking through all
hidings, in symphonic praise of the immaculate character of our
;

Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

IMPROVEMENTS IN RELIGIOUS WORSHIP

159

WHAT IMPROVEMENTS SHOULD BE MADE

THE

RELIGIOUS WORSHIP IN THE CHURCHES
Rev.

G. Parks, D. D.,

The army of Jesus Christ has so

Chattanooga, Term

much

to do with the moral and
our people that any form of
religious worship in our churches that is out of harmony with the
scriptural idea of devotion will have a tendency to rob the church
social, as well as spiritual uplift of

which it was established, and take from
that sacred influence which God intended that it should wield

of the real usefulness for
it

whom it has been sent with the divine
message of salvation. In quite a number of our churches the real
heart service and spiritual worship are retarded by two classes
of extremists; one is so anxious to be known as being in possession of the "Old Time Religion" and a "Graveyard Conversion,"
that he stoops to the ridiculousness of excitement, sensation and
over lost sinners unto

hypocrisy.

The other

class

anxious to be

known

as the

and not classed with the oldfogy crowd, that he makes a sacrifice of all spiritual power, and
climbs away up on the ladder of intellectuality and self-righteousness, and thanks God that he is not like other men, and therefore
loses the real joy of a true and faithful worshipper of our Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ. Our highest aim as servants of God
should be to focus these divided classes at the feet of Jesus, and
contend for a regenerated church membership, and a life that is
commensurate with the profession that we publicly announce.
God has not sent forth the minnstry as a literary specimen of
style and modesty, nor as a forerunner of noise and excitement,
but as a Gospel Trumpeter, a firebrand of truth and power to so
and not the emotions of the people that they
electrify the heart
able to distinguish betwixt the religious worall
times
will be at
Literary Society and an old-fashioned
Century
ship, the Twentieth
should have some special object
pastor
Georgia ministrel. The
Every member of his church should be sent
in each- discourse.
home from* each service with some special religious thought, or
high-toned, up-to-date

Christian,

—

truth, riveted

upon

his heart.

—

160

IMPROVEMENTS IN RELIGIOUS WORSHIP

The pastor should

not attempt to preach from Genesis to Revela-

tions in every sermon,

and never conclude without dressing up
and golden slippers, with a eulogistic
peroration of the once bright-eyed little children who have been
dead for five or ten years, but he should preach to them a practical
his flock in long, white robes

gospel, dealing with their lives
force

them

as individuals,

and,

possible,

to see that before their feet will ever be able to

wear

the golden slippers and walk the gold-paved streets of the Heavenly Jerusalem, they must walk the rough roads of obedience,
trials

and

tribulations,

wearing

the

brogans of humility

and

duty.

The congregations should fill the pews as seekers after the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, with a longing for deep and
earnest overflow meetings welling up from their hearts that are
filled

with love of God.

They should worship God with holy

reverence, giving themselves into His hands, being prompted by
the spirit of regeneration, and not simply

by the policy

of reforma-

tion.

The prayer-meetings should always be attended by

all

members

and young, and should be so conducted as
bring the membership into closer touch with God and with

of the church, both old
to

each other.
It should not be a place for the exhibition of eloquence and the "holy tone/' but a place where the blessings of
God, thanksgiving, petitions and confessions are offered, and the
The Bible should especially be used
spiritual strength renewed.
in these meetings, and certain subjects discussed, and the old as
well as the young should be convinced that it is impossible for
them to grow in grace and in the knowdedge of the truth without
having a high regard for His word, thus making themselves very
familiar with the Book in which all of our duties, both to our
God and to our fellow-men, are set forth. The singing, praying,
or whatever part is taken in the service should be left to the
choice of the individual, but all expressions in prayer made in the
nature of lecturing or instructing God should be forever discarded.

IMPROVEMENTS IN RELIGIOUS WORSHIP

What Improvements Should Be Made

in Religious

161

Worship

the Churches?

Rev. B. M. Hubbard, D. D.
It

a matter of utter impossibility to suggest or outline

all

improvements that should be made in religious worship in
the time allotted us to answer this very important question.
However, let us prayerfully consider three improvements which
the

consider
1.

The

first in

the catalogue.

lack of spirituality in our churches.

do not mean a lack of animalism or emotionalism, but an
"God is a Spirit; and they that
worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." That is,
God is a being of immaterial, unbounded, and invisible nature,
without corporeity, and uncircumscribed by space, as every thing
material must be. And now, since God is a Spirit in the strictest
and the most comprehensive sense of the term, the way, and the
only way to worship Him is in spirit and in truth. Our religious
worship, therefore, should be intensely spiritual.
God does not
only invite us, but He demands of us a spiritual worship. There
are those who attempt to adore Him through outward, visible
representations, as images, etc. This is not spiritual worship, nor
indeed can it be. We can not approach the invisible through
images.
We are exhorted by the Apostle Paul to present our
bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is
our reasonable service. In this our spirit, and not so much the
physical, is to commune with God.
It is the spirit that presents
the body as a living sacrifice, and therefore we worship God in
I

absolute lack of spirituality.

the spirit.
2.

The

lack of intelligent Christian worship.

In attempting to develop this proposition,

I desire to say that
very conspicuous in our approaching the
invisible, as it is said, no man can come to God, unless he first
believes that God exists, yet faith is not blind the very ground for
its existence is reason.
God, the All-wise, demands of us intelli-

whereas

faith

;

IMPROVEMENTS IN RELIGIOUS WORSHIP

162

g*nt Christian worship.
farther

demands

The very age and

the spirit of the age

it.

The pessimist will point to the religious worship of our fathers
and mothers forty years ago, and say to us that God blessed our
ancestors in their manner of worship, and that the time spent in
the theological seminary and other institutions of learning in
our day is lost. No reflection on our sainted ancestors, for they
have wrought well.
God accepted their worship, having considered their environments.

Our mothers and
world, Give

fathers used to sing,

Jesus," etc.

You and

"You may have
are to change the

all

the

words

song and sing it in the spirit of the teaching of the
Lord Jesus. lie tells us in His word that if we will deny ourselves and become His disciples, we shall not only have eternal
life, but we shall have houses and land here in this life.
God
expects more of us than He did of our ancestors. This is so. and
justly so, because of the marked change in the condition of affairs
Our hymns, prayers and sermons
both civil and ecclesiastical.
must be thoughtful. Let us sing what is true, pray for what, we
really need, and preach the gospel of the Son of God to the salvaof this old

tion of a sin-cursed world.

Not only ought the clergy to be intelligent, but the laity as well.
Let us study God in His two great books the Rible and Nature.
Some one from a pessimistic standpoint will say: What is the use
The answer comes
to study God; you can not find Him out?
quickly. The more we study God, the more He reveals Himself
to us. In many of our churches are to be found altars with inscriptions thereon, "To the Unknown God," as it was in the time of
the Apostle Paul, when he stood on Mars hill and delivered that
masterly speech to the Athenians. He declared as He beheld the
altars of the Athenians that they ignorantly worshipped the living
God that built the universe and garnished the heavens, and that
He was not to be worshipped with men's liands.
In speaking of the improvement that should be made by the
Negro in intelligent Christian worship, I do not mean that the
Negro should lose his emotional nature, nor that degree of his

—

IMPROVEMENTS IN RELIGIOUS WORSHIP
religious fervency.

God

forbid.

hope the day

will never

163

come

the Negro will cease to be emotional.
Let us notice hurriedly in the next place:
3. A lack of proper reverence.
The element of impossibility enters at once into the true worship
of God without a proper reverence.
Reverence for the Omnipotent One may be filial or servile. God
wants the filial and not the slavish reverence. So many of our
people reverence God from a slavish standpoint rather than a holy
fear.
The only way to divest ourselves of this kind of reverence is
Thus we
to love God with all our heart and mjind and strength.
will worship him with reverential awe, being actuated by love and

when

not by servile fear.

who

whose throne is
most excellent, and whose
glory is above the earth and heaven, would engage us to approach
him in song, in prayer, in sermon, with profound reverence and
holy fear. Read Hebrews 12:28, 29: Let us have grace, whereby
we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear; for
our God is a consuming fire.
In view of this sad lack of proper reverence for God in our worship, I would suggest this as another important improvement that
should be made in religious worship in our churches.
Taking the optimistic view of this subject, I see in the near
future a marked improvement in religious worship in our churches
God,

in the

the supreme ruler of the universe,

heavens, whose

—

name

alone

along all lines in the prayer service, in the speaking meeting,
room, preaching service, and even in the financial status of our
churches.
We shall continue to make improvement in religious
worship as God reveals Himself to us from time to time through
His word and nature, till the church militant shall stand without
fault before the great white throne.
class

164

IMPROVEMENTS IN RELIGIOUS WORSHIP

What Improvements Should
in the

Rev.

Made

in the Religious

Worship

Churches?

H. Manly, D.

D., Union, S. C.

—

Seriousness and system', were practiced by the apostles by
Luther, John Wesley and beyond doubt is enjoyed by a goodly
number of the churches to-day. But if it were more universally
coveted, doubtless thousands who never attend our religious worship would be blessed, and the influence of Christianity would

—

many dark corners which have never felt
and congregations would be refreshed like the shrubbery
by the side of the rippling stream, and their voices in congregational singing would be like a Niagara of human voices, the secrets
of human hearts would be made manifest, and men, women and
children would fall down on their knees and, with their faces suffused in tears, worship God, declaring Him among us indeed.

burst, like the sun, into
its force,

This improvement

our worship

the churches, as to serious-

ness and system, also includes our contributions for the cause of

So many men try to cloak themselves with the plea of inmuch. If this is true, then God is unjust, for He
certainly did require the Jews to give more than one-tenth, and
they prospered then as no other nation under the sun, when they
obeyed, and perished, when they withheld instead of festivals,
picnics, excursions or marching up and down the aisles of the
church for show, more than the interest involved in the services.
God.

ability to give so

—

should subscribe every year a certain amount to be paid
monthly, according to our ability, for the promotion of God's cause.
It should be considered an honor to be associated with the King
of Heaven in the distribution of his goods. The lack of system in
contributing in our religious worship in the churches is a crime
which has paralyzed gospel efforts and deferred the final triumph
of the gospel age. But, thank God, this glorious Congress will be
the result of brighter days, and, though our cables are not laid,
our ships not built, our canals not dug, nor our engines patented,
still, thank God, our pictures are painted, our books are written

IMPROVEMENTS IN RELIGIOUS WORSHIP

165

and our music is set to pipes and strings; not out of a superabundance of wealth, learning and leisure and opportunity have we been
able to build our churches, but by the help of God and sympathetic
hearts of our friends; and backed by religious economy of our own.
Though founded by the Lord Jesus in a cross, we, His servants,
have continued the work in want and in weakness. We have had
no millic .s to aid us, therefore our history is one long, terrible
struggle with difficulties almost insurmountable.
Our churches
have been supported principally by laborers, servants and shopkeepers, who have had at the same time upon their shoulders the
whole great burden of getting bread for themselves and their families.
God only knows the utter meanness which finds expression
in our churches, but with more seriousness and system, the day is
not far distant when the work of higher qualities of faith and devo-

A sacred altar and a clean offering will call
from heaven. With hearts made pure and garments
white, with faces beaming with heaven's own radiance and voices
singing with the vibration of God's own tunes, attended by victorious flocks who have adopted for their motto, "Seriousness and
System," will asc<*»d the Beulah Heights of perfect love and,
amid its overflowing joys, feast on milk and honey, and drink the
wine of God's eternal love.
tion will join hands.

down Holy

fire

CHAPTER XXVI
IS

THE EDUCATED NEGRO ACTIVE IN CHRISTIAN
WORK? IF NOT, WHY? WHAT IS THE REMEDY?

Mr.

H. Thompson, Newark,

Jas.

In dealing with this subject,
positive

answer

—"No" —to

Del., General Secretary, A.

P. Church.

argument

line of

the question.

not to give a

say that the edu-

cated people of our race are not interested in Christian work, and

have not already achieved some grand results, such a statement
would not be strictly accurate, and would do them; an injustice.
But are they as thoroughly active as they should be is their interest in Christian work sufficiently widespread to insure the most
abundant results is a matter of great concern.
We hear much talk about the race problem, and many ways are
suggested for its solution. If there is such a thing existing as a
race problem (and I do not believe there is such a problem in the
fullest sense of the word, but admitting there is, according to the
arguments advanced supporting this theory), nothing will solve
it so quickly as the attainment of the highest national standards
along moral, religious, social and intellectual lines. And also, may
I add, that industrial training and the accumulation of finances will
be indispensable factors in solving the so-called race problem.
Never at any time has there been a greater need of more activity
The increasing forces of modern evils
in Christian work than now.
demonstrate this fact. And it is not a fact that claims the attention

—

of a certain people only, but

the nations of the world.

it is

a fact that claims the attention of
still existing great social evils

There are

that have never been entirely destroyed.
affairs is

on the increase.

(166)

And

there are

Corruption

now

in political

certain evils creeping

EDUCATED NEGRO AND CHRISTIAN WORK
into the

life

of Christian people

—members of the church —and they

are asking the church to tolerate those evils because, they say, the

times

demand

it.

the very threshold of the twentieth century

condition of affairs in the

life

of our people.

It is

we meet

this

well for us to

pause here, look back over the-past and consider well its lessons.
look forward to the future and at once determine to do something that will counteract the influence of modern evils that will in
the future, more than in the past, seriously affect our national char-

Then

acter.

Are the educated young people of our race well acquainted with
these facts? Are they thoroughly aroused with interest coming to
the front in Christian work? Vigorously protesting against anything and everything that does not tend to the moral improvement
of the race? While they are not doing this as much as desired,
yet, after considering what I believe to be some of the causes, I am
inclined to make some allowance for this failure. It is quite true
and evident to all concerned that if the educated Negro was more
active in Christian work there would be more young people's
church societies of the various kinds. More Young Men's Christian Associations, Young Women's Associations, Sunday School
Associations and other organizations, all engaged as auxiliaries to
the church in Christian work. And the membership of these societies, numbering now probably a few thousand, would soon reach a
million or more faithful workers.
If not, why?
Is the educated Negro active in Christian work?
This question implies a lack of activity and naturally leads to a
consideration of the cause. Surely some cause can be shown for
lack of interest and activity in a work so needful for the uplifting
of mankind. To my mind the cause is this: that those in the church
who are engaged in Christian work, and who know, as they should,
the need of educated workers have not made a strong and earnest
appeal to the young men and women who, by education, are so eminently fitted to become co-workers with them. They allow them,
with this need apparent, to go out of the various institutions of
learning and industrial training without endeavoring in some way

EDUCATED NEGRO AND CHRISTIAN WORK

168

to direct their attention to Christian activities.

Naturally their

and aspirations lead them into fields of labor beneficial to themselves and race progress. This is right and at it should
be, but their service is needed, and should be earnestly sought and
enlisteded (if possible) in Christian work.
Now, what is the remedy, that interest and activity may be inqualifications

creased so as to obtain the best results possible?

suggest, as a

remedy, that those in the church and other organizations now
engaged in Christian work make a strong, earnest appeal to the
educated Negro to co-operate with them in this work. Especially
should the church endeavor to secure them within its fold; and, if
they are not Christians, win them for Christ. Assure them that
the Master has need of their service. The call is made to them,
in His vineyard there is beautiful work for all.
Let the organization of young people's church societies, associations, leagues,
unions, guilds, King's Daughters and brotherhoods continue. Make
the work and service *of these so attractive and of such a literary
character that the educated young people will be drawn into them
and find something to do worthy of the employment of their best
abilities.
In the various schools and colleges there always are
some instructors who are Christian men and women interested in,
and also engaged in, Christian enterprises; let these instructors
help win their pupils for Christ and the church.
first

Is the

Educated Negro Engaged

What

in Christian

the

Work?

Not,

Why?

Remedy?

Rev. Jas. E. Mason, D. D., Rochester, N. Y.

During the latter half of the nineteenth century there was a great
desire from the pews of the Negro churches of America for an educated ministry. The demand emanated from the earnest and laudable desire of the laity to elevate the intellectual standard of the
pulpit, and was supported by the encouragement given it by the
self-sacrificing

advocates of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

EDUCATED NEGRO AND CHRISTIAN WORK

many

Yes,
in the

and

Negroes are engaged

Christian

to be found, not in the pulpit only, but also

Sunday School, the

ple's societies

They

of the educated

Their work

work.

169

class

room

of the church, the. young peo-

in all of the various auxiliaries of* the church.

rooms of
from the kindergarten and

are also conspicuous for their presence in the class

institutions of learning of all grades,

primary to the collegiate and seminarial. As Christian workers,
and permeases every stratum

their influence is indeed far-reaching,

of society.

many educated Negroes who are
may be distinctly classed as "Chris-

the other hand, there are

not engaged in work which
tian/' further

than that their labors receive the sanction of

civiliza-

means of securing a livelihood. They are expending no
appreciable amount of energy or time in a manner calculated to
tion, as a

improve the religious staus of themselves or those with whom they
As a consequence, a stupendous amount of potential
force is diverted from the channel of true Christianity, where it
would be of incalculable value as a factor making for race elevaassociate.

tion.
It is a

lamentable

fact,

the importance of which has been alto-

gether too lightly estimated, that large numbers of our educated

young people are gravitating away from the church, away from
the ennobling influence of pious fathers and mothers,

the protection of Christian

homes

into the

away from

maelstrom of

social dis-

orders and contaminating vices which are the deplorable concomi-

modern civilization.
The cause of this unfortunate phase

tants of

of our racial

life is

undoubt-

edly due in a great measure to the popular desire of our youths to
forsake the rural for the urban districts.
of

many

of the larger cities

The congested

condition

woefully productive of pernicious

upas tree, blasts, blights and poisons
who take refuge within the range of its seductive influence.
Again, monetary considerations: This is an age when people are
impelled forward in quest of the "almighty dollar."
More and
more money is becoming an effective potentiality. Everybody and
everything seem to be somewhat influenced by it. In consequence,
influences, and, like the deadly
all

EDUCATED NEGRO AND CHRISTIAN WORK

170

many are sacrificing everything else to obtain it, and the vocations
many are preventives to Christian activities.
Another reason why our young people are so easily divorced

from the church

much

the lack of early doctrinal training.

are too

comprehend religious
juvenile minds to become impregnated

inclined to think that children can not

and we permit their
with irreligious ideas to such an extent that when they reach the
age of accountability they have no taste nor desire for religion.
Our churches and Sunday Schools should revolutionize their practices along this line, and indoctrinate the children so that they may
truth,

remember their Creator in the days of their youth, ere the
days approach and they shall say, as unfortunately myriads
are saying to-day, that there is no pleasure for them in the church
of God.
The remedy for this deplorable state of affairs is to be discovered,
as I have already indicated, within the borders of the church. The
prayed and lived by those who profess to be "Soldiers of the Cross
and followers of the Lamb." The men in the pulpit, the teachers
in the Sunday Schools, and all other influential persons must concentrate their efforts upon the evangelization of those around them.
Good precepts are excellent, but they are confessedly inferior to
good examples. Let us strive to be living epistles that may be seen
and read by all men.
learn to
evil

Is the

Educated Negro Active

What
Rev.

JoseIh

the

Church Work?

Not,

Why?

Remedy?

Bolding, D. D., Editor, "Varick Endeavorer,"
\\ ashington, D. C.

is not active in church work can not
They are active in society and often lead movements
interest.
They become exceedingly active when any impor-

That the educated Negro
be gainsaid.
in its

tant event

to occur,

display themselves.

and they have an opportunity

The educated Negro

to shine

gives a very

little

and

of his

EDUCATED NEGRO AND CHRISTIAN WORK

171

There seems a burning desire in our
withdraw from the church circles. Some claim
Ho.w can we
that church life is not up to the proper standard.
bring it up to the proper place? We can not do this by withdrawPut your intelligence into the
ing and standing off criticising.
church, and, if she is down, assist her to rise. It is all nonsense
for young people to run from church to church; make your church
the ideal church. Every educated Negro has a grave and important responsibility thrust on him that is. he is expected to become
a factor in moulding public sentiment and shaping the destiny of
his race. This evil of inactivity
in church work
for it is an evil
by our educated young people is growing, and is not confined to
young people of any particular section of the country; they seem
time to active church work.

young people

;

—

because the bulk in the church is of the ignorant class
isolate themselves from active work. One has said
that "a little leaven leavens the whole lump." Education is but a
means to an end, and it does not mean isolation, but activity. By
activity in church work we mean readiness and willingness, according to their various powers, to respond in a helpful way to the
solicitations of their pastors in maintaining the highest degree of
efficiency in doing the Lord's work in the particular part of the
vineyard wherein their lot is cast.
It is the concensus of opinion that our educated young people do
not allow their talents to be used for the Blessed Master's cause.
to think that

that they

must

And a great many preachers become afraid of some intelligent
layman and pick and pick on him until he gives up and leaves the
church, vowing never to be an active worker.
Increase of worldliness in the church
effort.

tation

a barrier to successful

Every man is striving for the mastery and to acquire repuand wealth. The material advancement seems to take prece-

The majority

dence over every other thing

in the

young people know nothing
Now, we have attempted to

of the spiritual force in the church.

tive.
I.

You

tell

instinctively ask us

why

what

Negro
remedy?

the educated
is

the

of these

inac-

Good, Christian mothers who instill the
and Christianity into the child. A great many

Parental training.

principles of virtue

world.

EDUCATED NEGRO AND CHRISTIAN WORK

172

of the evils that society

The education

ing.
it

heir to

come from
and

home traincommenced before

defective
is,

born.

Clear-cut, Christian, moral leadership in the

Men who
tial

of a child should be,

that the ministry be

filled

Negro

are character-builders and destiny-moulders.

good men,

pulpits.

It is

essen-

consecrated and

intelligent,

with the importance of his mission and the magnitude of his

influence.

Lastly, to make educated men and women active in church work
you must have a true service. The church is a spiritual institution
and therefore we should endeavor to deepen this spiritual life. The
only remedy to create activity in church work, not only for educated Negroes but for all people, is to have more of the Christ spirit.
No one will have a love for active church work until they have been
touched by the spirit of God. The reason men will not do work in
the church is that they have not the real spirit of Christ in them.
Not until the true idea of God and the real meaning of religion is
understood will the educated Negro become an active factor in
church work.

Therefore

claim that the educated Negro

work and the tendency

them

the church, thereby taking

strength which

make

inactive in church

a little

away from our

race

world outside of
the

intellectual

so essential to the perpetuity of the church and

the widening of the influence of Christianity anTong Negroes in

Let the educated Negro put his strength into the
is the greatest force for good among
our race and is the only institution that really reaches the masses
Teachers, preachers and race leaders, let us do all
of our people.
in our power to lead these minds to the true idea of the church, and
how the -educated Negro can contribute to the moral, intellectual
this country.

church, for the Negro church

and

financial

advancement

of our race.

EDUCATED NEGRO AND CHRISTIAN WORK

Are the Educated Young People Active
Not,
J.

Why? What

the

in Christian

173

Work?

Remedy?

R. E. Lee, A. B., Frofessor Mathematics, Tuskegee, Ala.

have attempted to communicate with twenty different

insti-

tutions of learning for our people in ten different Southern States.

This question was sent out to these institutions: "What per cent,
your graduates are active in Christian work?" To this question
we have had various answers, but in no case has the percentage
been below 75 per cent. Six of the institutions we have not heard
from. Four replied that 75 per cent, of their graduates were active
in Christian work.
One replied 85 per cent. Seven gave 90 per

the average among these fourteen institutions
This report, while not absolutely accurate, is approximately correct, and most assuredly encouraging. To feel that 86
per cent, of 'the learned young men and women are bending their
lives for Christian service, that God and humanity have the marshaling of 86 per cent, while the devil handles only 14 per cent,
gives us courage and hope. These 14 per cent, seem too many,
and in truth they are, and yet they are just enough perhaps to
keep the 86 per cent, from settling down to self-satisfaction and
cent.

Thus making

86 per cen^.

inactivity.

Why

are not

per cent.?
difficult as

some

of such people active? Why not a greater
not 100 per cent. ? This question is perhaps as

Why

the other, and yet

of the causes.

First of

it is

probable that

all, it is

we can come upon

to be feared that the loss of

can be partially laid at the door of parents. A
emphasize Christianity in the home life may and is likely
to cost any family a wicked son or daughter. The neglect of the
daily Bible reading and the old-fashioned, "back date" family
prayer have cost many a family and the race and heaven many a
soul. The Christian school can not often recover the loss of family
neglect. The christian school, the christian teacher, can do much,
but they can not fill the place of christian mothers, christian fathers
and family consecration.
A second cause of the loss of this 14 per cent., we fear, falls at
this 14 per cent,

failure to

EDUCATED NEGRO AND CHRISTIAN WORK

174

the door of the teacher.

nothing

who

In public -school

life

the child should have

than a consecrated Christian teacher. Not a teacher
proud of the baneful school law which excludes the Bible
less

from our schools, but a teacher who will have Christ in the school
whether He is admitted or excluded by law. God is a spirit, and a
spirit can not be excluded from the school room where there is a
christian teacher. The letter may be kept out, but the true teacher
will exhibit Christ in all things.
in

How many

cost us a part of this 14 per cent.
the public school career he is often
lege's

We
many

power of redemption.
must go farther in the blame

teachers are happy

Such teachers
For after the pupil has passed
beyond the academy and col-

the thought that no religious teaching

allowed?

for this 14 per cent. loss.

Too

of our higher institutions of learning are contented to

have

tin-Christian or indifferent Christians as teachers.

s;hools be sectarian

woman who

non-sectarian,

not a Christian of

feel

Whether these
no

that

man

some persuasion should have the

honor of constituting a part of the teaching force. Young men and
follow the example of their teachers. Indifference begets

women

indifference,

ungodliness

begets

ungodliness.

Again

repeat,

teachers of the higher institutions, the un-Christian teachers, must
lay a portion of this loss at their doors.

third cause of this loss is most assuredly the result of the lack
emphasis upon Christianity even where the teachers may be all
Christians. The school faculty gets its heart set upon the accomplishment of secular objects. All forces are turned to the material,
and the lack of emphasis upon the spiritual is the result, and a second result is graduates who are inactive in Christianity.
One other cause comes to us here in this connection. This is,
the wrong conception of prosperity. The thought is cherished that
money without godliness and character is prosperity. That ability
to live in one's self amid luxury is prosperity and thus, many go
out to accumulate which in itself is to be commended but to accumulate at the sacrifice of a life which will influence men for betThe age in which we live is a material age,
ter moral standards.
and the rush in sympathy with this material tendency causes some
of

—

EDUCATED NEGRO AND CHRISTIAN WORK

175

There are those who have taken ocNegro has been singing all of
these years "You May Have All the World, Give Me Jestfs." Those
who have employed this method of ridicule have been either ignorant of the song or deceivers. First of all, the song is sung to all
the living and not to the white people. Again it reads, "When I
ccme to die, you (the living) may have all the world, but give me
Jesus/' While I should contend that one should have Jesus before
he comes to die yet what more can a millionaire sing at death than
"You (the living) may have all the world, give me Jesus."
of the loss of this 14

per cent.

casion to say in ridicule that the

;

Since 86 per
let

cent.,

of the graduates are active in Christian work,

And since the
home life,

us be hopeful and rejoice.

due, in a degree, to the neglect in

woman who

loss of 14 per cent,
let

the

starts out in family life be sure that he

never too

busy to read the Holy Scriptures and bow around the family
for morning devotion.

Is the

Educated Negro Active

Not?

What

in Christian
is

the

young man or

Work?

Not,

altar

Why

Remedy?

Prof. R. M. Cavers, A. B., Helena, Ark.
In order to discuss the subject intelligently,

we must

decide

what we mean by

active in "Christian work, (2) what we mean
(1)
by Christian work, (3) of whom we are speaking when we say edu-

cated Negro.

(1)

mean

consistent devotion and faithfulness

to religious obligation, a regular co-operation in church services,

missionary liberality, activity in leading young people's societies,
prayer meetings, serving on church committees, etc. (2) Christian
work means work for Christ, and, I would add, through organized
Christian agencies.
(3) By educated Negroes we mean those
acquired
a higher secondary education, who
Negroes who have

have improved their educational opportunities.
education makes one really good."

Crabb says: "Good

EDUCATED NEGRO AND CHRISTIAN WORK

17G

Most Negro graduates come from Christian schools, and those
receive no more than a higher public school training are for
the most part regular attendants upon some Christian services,

who

and those who belong to the church are proportionately active to
general environment and the numbers and other condition of all
: lasses.
According to official statistics, more than one-third of the
Negroes in the country are active members of churches, and 40 per
cent, of them can read and write.
Less than one-third of the
whites are active in churches. There are one hundred and sixtyodd high schools and colleges devoted to the education of the
Negro, and the majority of these have sonie Christian training for
the students. If the so-called educated Negroes are not in a considerable degree active in Christian work, then they are not really
educated. Education goes hand in hand with Christianity and civilization hand in hand with Christianity.
The lawyer, doctor or
teacher among us who holds himself far apart from Christian work
and Christian interests is fast becoming unpopular everywhere, for
most of the Negroes have learned that Christian education is the
lever by which the Negro race will be raised to the highest standard in all the walks of life.
As truly as there are some educated Negroes who are active in
None are as
Christian work, there are some who are inactive.
active as they should be, and there are several means by which the
inactive ones may be enlisted in the work of the Master and the
be stimulated to greater activity. Many of the leaders
among the colored people have held their posichurches
in local
reconstruction period, ever since the churches
the
since
ever
tions
consequently some of the younger people who
and
organized,
were
failed to find work which they could do in
have
been
educated
have
may be due to the young people's false
failure
This
churches.
the
conception of the circumstances or the neglect of duty on the part

others

may

of the older ones.

—
EDUCATED NEGRO AND CHRISTIAN WORK
Is the

Educated Negro Active

What
Rev. M.

The wisdom

in Christian

the

Work?

177
If

Not,

Why?

Remedy?

Naylor, B. D., Lynchburg, Va.

of carefully considering such a proposition as the

theme presents becomes apparent upon a mere cursory study of the
philosophy of human progress. Among the first principles of which
is the fact that, apart from exterior forces, the strongest and wisest
among men determine the trend of human evolution. This question, therefore, is vital

strengthen, and

because

it is

to be desired to

becomes important, as

basic

;

for, if

make one

education tends to

wise, then the question

whether the strongest and wisest among

us are using their opportunity to give such direction to our racial

development as to make us a fixture

in the constellation of the races

of the earth.

Christianity is the embodiment of those fundamental principles
and teachings, a faithful adherence to which gives stability to any
institution.
But the fact must not be overlooked that a work may
be essentially Christian and still lack wise direction. Perhaps at
no point has the race suffered more than at this. For many of those
who wrought in the past have had "a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge." Their work must be done over again by others
whose zeal and consecration are no less, but whose skill is infinitely
superior.

This work has its peculiar difficulties, for it has become proveramong mechanics that to repair an old structure is more troublesome than to build a new one. Are the educated Negroes engaged in these repairs? is the question before us. My answer is
paradoxical no and yes. If by the term< "educated" is meant those
who have completed the curriculum of the schools, no. If it is to
be understood in the larger sense mental, moral and spiritual
yes. Otherwise, the definition itself of education in the larger sense
would be self-contradictory.
bial

—

What

Mr. Webster of Fryeburg
"The attainment of knowledge does

education in this sense?

Academy speaks

not comprise

that

all

thus
is

contained in the larger term, education.

EDUCATED NEGRO AND CHRISTIAN WORK

178

The

feelings are to be disciplined, the passions are to be restrained,

true

and worthy motives are to be inspired, a profound religious
is to be instilled, and a pure morality inculcated under all

feeling

No man can fill the requirements of this definibe thoroughly moral, inspired by true and worthy

circumstances."
tion

;

that

is,

motives and profoundly religious, and

still

be indifferent to Chris-

tian work.

Again,

the concensus of popular opinion as well as practice

respecting the

employment

Negroes themselves as an indispensdevelopment be correct, then
the fact of the unprecedented progress of the Negro mentally,
morally and religiously during the past generation m|ust be largely
due to the part he has played in his own advancement. Besides, if
the educated Negro is not active in Christian work, but is rather
leaving this work to the ignorant zealot, then we have before us
the dark, sad picture of a race pregnant with splendid possibilities
settling down into a condition of error and superstition that
presages a brief career and shameful extermination.
Education includes the mastery of the science of self-restraint,
as well as a familiar knowledge of the proper motives; and all this
is to be found only in the decalogue given by Moses and the gospels
given by Jesus Christ. The foregoing anticipates the remedy. If
the defective education is due to the incapacity of the pupil, the
past is irreparable; but the future might be inVproved if, in no
other way, by legal enactment, making it a crime for two fools to
marry. If it lay at the door of incompetent teachers, a more rigid
and comprehensive examination should be adopted as a condition
of employment. If the curriculum is at fault, which most of them
are, and will remain till we have more Bible instruction in the
able

means

for their best educational

;

schools of the country, then recast the curriculum, seeing especially
to

that so

of love to

much moral

God and

training as pertains to the

love to

man occupy

the

first

two great laws

place in our educa-

tional scheme.

higher institutions of learning or in the common
should be insisted upon that the moral law take
place along with the drill upon the Multiplication Tables, and

Whether

in the

school grades,
its

EDUCATED NEGRO AND CHRISTIAN WORK
the measurements of the school room.

which the

first

The

step

from

integer, with

principles of mathematics deal entirely, to integrity,

which means wholeness and completeness of charand if the suggestion here that mathematics
and morals, the backbone of a liberal education, are to go hand in
hand be carried to its logical conclusion, the schools that educate
our youth' to-day can not fail to yield a product whose fidelity to
its

derivitive,

acter, is indeed short;

the Christian elevation of the race will

Not,

Why? What

make

Negro Active
the Remedy?"

question: "Is the Educated

forever obsolete the

in Christian

Work?"

CHAPTER XXVIL
PERSONAL EVANGELISM OR DAILY SOUL-WINNING
By
One age and

Rev. C. H. Morgan, Ph. D., Chicago.

period of the church differs from another as respects

men to Christ. Certain periods have
been marked by large public assemblages in which many have been
brought to decision and converted. The present time is one in
which this method is apparently not so successful, and in which
the emphasis is laid perhaps as never before upon the individual

the conditions of winning

working

win other individual souls to accept Christ.
method is that it can be carried on by
every Christian every day and everywhere. "Personal Evangelism"
has become a chief watchword of the young people's forward move-

believer

One

great advantage of this

ment. I pray that I may be able to show the members of this vast
Congress, and the mighty hosts of which you are in some sense the
leaders, that this form of work has splendid points in its favor, and
to suggest the conditions by which it may have marvelous range
and power.
I. Personal evangelism is in accordance with the inmost genius
of Christianity.
is one of personal relation.
Take out of it this
and it would lose three-fourths of its attractive influence in
drawing and holding men. Its great truths and principles would
remain, but the abstract truth, however Divine and eternal, can
not hold the masses. They need to come into warm and feeling
touch with a living person. Therefore, Christ presented Himself
to men. Tome unto me," "He that hath the Son hath life," "I
have called you friends," "As the Father hath loved me, so have I
loved you." In these and like words we have revealed the secret
of Christ's power. Every individual soul is evangelized by coming
to know and love the living Christ.

Christ's religion

factor

(180)

PERSONAL EVANGELISM
2.

Personal

evangelism

line

181

with the foremost

manly

methods of the miodern world.
I

use the word "m(anly" with a purpose.

Some may imagine

by one, in the daily contacts of
life is far less grand and inspiring than to sway great audiences by
the tongue of eloquence, that it is a method that humble women
that this plan of reaching men, one

workers might practice, but not the strongest men.
3. Personal evangelism has engaged the devoted service of many
of the most eminent masters of spiritual thought and effort.
Among the remarkable pastors of the closing years of the nineteenth century was Dr. J. O. Peck. During twenty-five years it is
thought that the accessions to his churches year by year were not
less than two hundred.
D. L. Moody's great career as a soul-winner began in those early
years in Chicago, when he cherished a fixed purpose and habit to
converse with at least one soul every day in the interests of that
soul's salvation. And this passion to meet and win the individual
4. Personal evangelism requires living possession of the Word
of God and the baptism or anointing of the Holy Spirit.
5. Personal evangelism calls for the highest exhibition of wisdom, tact and persistence.
6. Personal evangelism has a place for all oossessions. talents,
thousand,

five dollars ten

thousand.

CHAPTER XXVIII

THE BIBLE

THE SOLUTION OF THE RACE
PROBLEM

Rev. C. H. Claiborne, Wadley, Ga.
If you would elevate a race in art, literature, science, morality
and true religion, the Bible is the preferred literature to be chosen

for a text book, because its wielding influence in

great has been evident to the civilized world.

making a race
contains more

any other book printed. Sir Isaac
account the Scriptures of God to be the most
sublime philosophy." John Milton said: "There are no songs
compared to the songs of Zion, no orations equal to those of the
Prophets, and no politics equal to those which the Scriptures

strains than can be found in

Newton

said:

"We

teach."
If
it

you wish
necessary

without which
ings, though it
stand

make

first
it

simplicity

itself,

God was

its

life,

teach-

so plain that children under-

sufficiently to lay hold of its true

are told that

spiritual

not possible to rightly understand

a correct interpretation of the Scriptures,

become acquainted with the

meaning and claim God.

1,600 years preparing this wonderful

book, engaging the time and service of thirty-six writers of ability
to serve as authors, After spending so much valuable time in the
efforts of all civilized people to search, read and study it, for it
is

"profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruc-

tion in righteousness

that the mian of

God may be

perfect, thor-

oughly furnished unto all good works."
I wish to repeat some particulars regarding the great work
being accomplished by the American Bible Society of New
Dr.
Gillman
Rev.
says
"They chose the
YorL City.
word American to indicate not a restriction of their labors,
:

(182)

3IBLE SOLUTION OF RACE PROBLEM

183

This Society, organized 86
hut the source of its emanation."
years ago, has had but one great object in view, namely, to
encourage a wider distribution of the Holy Scriptures, holding
firmly to the position that while there may be doubtful interpretations set forth

way

the

and

different schools,

questioned that

all

different theories as to

momyent be
Protestant denominations at least will agree

the Scriptures' are to be used,

will not for a

circulating that English text of phrase and diction

embedded

which

much

which had so
do in molding the character of Anglo-Saxon people from
of Tyndale and Coverdale, and which has held its place
ciously since 1611. So the aim of the society has not been
so

English literature and

life,

the days

so tenato inter-

pret but to circulate, not to explain but to distribute, to provide

the Scriptures and the

Scriptures alone in

and at the lowest prices.
During the first year of
amounted to $37,779, and

largest

variety

existence the receipts of the society

its

issue

was

6,410 volumes.

In the

existence the receipts were $248,904, and
In 84 years this society
issues exceeded 1,250,000 volumjes.

eighty-fourth year of
its

its

the

its

has circulated over 67,000,000 volumes of Scriptures in one hundred languages, including European, Asiatic, African, Oceanic
It supplies cities,
home and foreign
and American tongues.
missions of all denominations, also Sunday-schools, emigrants,
miners, the poor and neglected in cities and isolated regions, who
otherwise would be deprived of God's word. It supplies the brave
men of our army and navy, and through its auxiliaries the inmates
of hospitals, prisons, penitentiaries

The

and m^any other

cardinal principle of the society, then,

institutions.

to get the Scriptures

into the hands of the people at as low a price as possible.

While

securing the best possible workmanship and materials, they have
sold the books at uniform/ prices throughout the land without

regard to

profit.

Special consideration has been given to various classes of men.

Provision has been
to be read

made

by books in embossed type,
For American Indians, as a temhave been printed in Dakota,

for the blind

finger tips alone.

poral provision, the Scriptures

184

BIBLE SOLUTION OF RACE PROBLEM.

Cherokee, Muskogee and other tongues, that the sons of the forest
might not fail of the life to come through ignorance of the language which must sooner or later take the place of aboriginal
dialects.
For families of emigrants, special editions have been
printed, containing in parallel columns, French, German, Italian
and other languages with the English, that they m\ight more easily
acquire a knowledge of the speech of their foster land become the
sooner identified with the people of this great republic.

Part
Moral and

Social

Reform Questions

Among

the

Race

CHAPTER XXIX
SOCIAL STATUS AND NEEDS OF THE COLORED

WOMAN
Miss

Mary

A. Lynch. Livingston College, Salisbury, N. C.

The many-sided woman question has invaded

all

realms, even

Never before in history were so
For more than sixty
uftany of the world's chief rulers women.
years Victoria of England was queen of the greatest nations on
the earth. In all the line of English history only two epochs have
had a gracious queen's reign, the Elizabethan and the Victorian
ages. Then there was the reign of the good Queen Anne. Surely
these facts have high significance in heping to work out a solution
of one of the mightiest problems of our time woman in governthose where crowns are worn.

—

ment.

The Colored woman has awakened
realizes that she

her responsibility and

a factor in the world's civilization and in the

Her ability to discuss logically and philosophimost complex questions of the day, and to fully grasp
their bearing upon church and state is no longer in doubt. In the
religious and philanthropic world she plays a prominent part.
Statistics show that women in general compose more than twothirds of the church members of the world, and we think the prorace's progress.

cally the

portion of
(185)

women

church-goers

even greater.

;

SOCIAL STATUS OF

186

How

organizations at

THE COLORED WOMAN

your churches, Sabbath-schools and

home?

Who

all

compose the membership

religious
of these

bodies, and furnish the greater part of the spiritual, financial

and

other material necessary to success? I am deeply interested in
whatever concerns woman, and want to see statistics carefully

and periodically compiled on the social status of the sex in general
and particularly as relates to the Negro woman. The reform

movements among woman to-day

are

doing a powerful work to make the

state, the

showing themi capable of
church and the home

more happy and more holy.
Hundreds of our women are engaged

in the work of the King's
Daughters, a society 200,000 strong, and thf majority of the
workers in the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor are
women. The same is true of the Epworth League, seventy-five
thousand of whom} are Negroes. In the educational world it is
a fact that ninety per cent, of the school teachers are women
over two hundred colleges and now over four hundred thousand
women students. This includes both races, but a handsome percentage of these are Negro young women. Long service in this
important calling has naturally brought efficiency.
I have been thinking for a long time about the parallel of prejudice between the races and the sexes.
I have been strikingly
impressed that just as the Negro race has for so many years
suffered oppression at the hands of the Anglo-Saxon, because of
years of advancement on the part of the latter, so has woman ever
since God said: "It is not good for man to be alone; I will make
a helprrijeet for him," been oppressed and circumscribed, and it

must be upon the principle which seems to obtain in the world,
that the strong shall oppress the weak.* But I am happy that
herself, the only one who can break down this sex prejudoing
so by showing herself capable of doing many things
dice,
brother does. The time is fast coming when the
noble
which her
be judged by the weakest woman in it, but by
to
sex is no longer
ability
when given a fair showing with man.
woman's general

woman
is

The
in

strongest point in favor of

which she has

filled

woman's capacity is the manner
God has divinely

her special sphere to which

SOCIAL STATUS OF
called her the

home.

The

THE COLORED WOMAN

efficiency

187

with which she has molded

sacred walls the character of the statesmen who have
legislated for the world, the clergymen who have evangelized the
world, the educators who have taught the world, the professional

within

its

men and women who have filled
women who have mothered the

and the
have been the

thir respective callings

world.

Women

mankind, for says Emerson,"Civilization is the power
good women." It was also he who said also that "woman is
the best index of the coming hour."
There is the awakened woman to-day who yearns to vote against
the sa'oon, the gambling house, the den of vice and all the corruptions of politics. She is clear in her mind that no one has one

civilizers of

regret to set these degrading along the street in nearness to her

home, to offer temptation to her children.
But we rej* )ice that sentiment is fast making in favor of the freedom, the tirrwi is fast hastening for woman, and more homelike for
humanity.

WHAT IMPROVEMENTS ARE NECESSARY
HOME LIFE OF THE NEGRO

THE

Rev. G. L. B. Blackwell, A. M., D. D., General Secretary of the
A. M. E. Zion Church.
It is ancient, as

government

well as proverbial, that thue foundation of

home

all

This does not
mean simply the home of the educated and ruling classes, but
from the humblest citizen in his rural cabin to the chief ruler of the
land in. his palacial residence, the embryonic seed of government
generates, germinates and produces in a state of government commensurate with the predominant type of the homes represented.
This is especially true in a republic. Just so far as the high ideals
of honor, virtue, economy, justice and truth are emphasized and
inculcated in the minds of the youth around the hearth-stone.
rests

the

of the

citizens.

IMPROVEMENTS IN HOME LIFE

188
lived out

the

government

homes

of the

of the state rise,

home makers,

and no higher.

thus far will the
the majority of the

and vicious, then will the government be
corrupt; then will the iron heel of an educated and bigoted
minority made so through the knowledge of superior environment and attainment be set upon the necks of this ignorant

citizens are ignorant

—

mass, and then will ensue constant and bitter strife between these
opposing elements profligacy versus morality, ignorance versus
enlightment, prodigality versus economy and there is no question
of the outcome.
The enlightened mind that can solve the vexed
problems, that can consecrate the forces which build empires and

—

way to overrule and keep
under subjection the ignorant masses.
In thus drawing the picture of the basic principles of the ideal
home, we hope to be better able to show the improvements that
are necessary in the home life of the Negro.
Before there can be
any improvement in the present situation, there must first be
created a dissatisfaction with present conditions and a desire for
improvement. There must be set up a standard, and an ambition

plant governments, will always find a

instilled to

reach that standard.

The long years of oppression and servitude that blotted out
every vestige of home life and simply herded the human chattel
as so many dumb brutes, that their passions might have full sway
and thus increase their number and value, has left its stamp upon
the race that will take long years to totally eradicate.

much

of the love of

now

home and

all

that goes to m
That so

home

remarkable in the history of the
nations.
We cannot very well measure the heights we have
attained, save by the depths from which we have risen, and
when this is done, the pessimist's carping will be forever silenced.
But as we look at present conditions and view the situation
from every conceivable attitude, we can readily see that only a
few have grasped the idea of a home in all that contributes to make
it the ideal spot on earth, while the great majority still content
themselves with a migratory life in rented houses in the most
congested parts of the city, where poor drainage and worse venperfect as

is,

obtains,

IMPROVEMENTS IN HOME LIFE

189

tilation all

contribute to the unhealthy conditions that surround

them

in the

;

and

what

quantity

country, renting farmB, trying to

lacking in

quality,

make up

scraping over twenty

The first thing to do is to
Get the best that can be had. Don't

thirty acres instead of cultivating ten.

get a

home; buy

it;

own

it.

be satisfied with renting.
There is a better opportunity in the South to-day for the colored
man to own his home and becomfe independent than has ever
before been presented in the history of his freedomu

With

the

establishment of the cotton factories in the South, the poor whites
from the country abandoned their farms and those they rented,

and flocked to the cities to w-ork in the factories, leaving the farms
in hundreds of instances without a tenant. This is the opportunity
of his life for the Negro. Let him possess himself of those deserted
farms, make them pay for themselves, and in a few years thousands of our people will be independent where they are now little
more than beggars. There is not a happier and more independent
life

than that of a farmer.

The Negro should have one home, one
It is true that

wives, but

now

all

men everywhere should

cleave to the wife of his bosom.

There

the disintegration of a nation than

when

in the

home.

fireside,

one family

altar.

the old regime endorsed and encouraged plurality of

Look back

the statement

verified.

home with

all other" and
no surer indication of

"forsake

there

a laxity of fidelity

annals of history and you will find
man should respect the sanctity of

in the

same feelings of respect as he would
own, for the protection of his own wife or daughter; and whether he realizes it or not, with the same measure he
metes, he will be measured to him again. The responsibility of
mutual harmony rests with equal weight on both husband and
wife. If the wife should always wear a cheerful countenance, and
meet the husband with a smile, he should also appreciate her
endeavors to please him, and give her those little manly and
kind attentions that were so pleasant and conducive to happiness
before marriage. But if he spends all of his time in the society
of others and expects to meet a smile on his return, he is greatly
another's

demand

for his

the

IMPROVEMENTS IN HOME LIFE

190

Let the husband miake his wife feel that she is the first
world, and let the wife make her husband feel that
he is the only man in the world, and when this mutual admiration
society gets into full blast there is nothing that can add much more
to the happiness of home.

mistaken.

woman

in the

CHAPTER XXX

THE EFFECT OF SECRET AND BENEVOLENT
TIES UPON THE LIFE OF THE RACE
Rev.

A. Bray, A.

B.,

SOCIE-

Athens, Ga.

These societies are great brotherhoods, mighty in their cohesive
power, large as to numerical strength, strong in influence, and rich
in results. They are but the result of man's social instinct, which
not only leads individuals to associate with each other, but leads
them to associate for the purpose of mutual protection and helpfulness.
These secret and benevolent societies are great ducts or
avenues crossing each other, honeycombing the mass of the race,
and ramifying the race structure so that any directed influence
may reach every atom of the race composition in however remote
a corner. They reach city, town, village, and country, corruprehending in their membership men of all ranks of society, of all
religious persuasions, of all conditions of wealth anl poverty, of
all degrees of ignorance and knowledge, of all political views, thus
furnishing a common ground upon which all may stand and realize
the great principle of the "brotherhood of man." A close observation of the extensiveness, operation and helpfulness tells a tale to
be listened to, and unfolds necessary results upon the race that must
be respected sneeds and even scorns to the contrary. The purely
benevolent societies are more or less local and indpendnt, and their

—

statistics are difficult to obtain.

The

tatistics

upon which the ven-

tures of this paper are based are from the leading secret and benevolent societies of the State of Georgia, and

human

nature being

everywhere the same, I estimate upon this for the United States.
There are principally four of these orders in Georgia, "The Grand
United Order of Odd Fellows," "The Ancient, Free and Accepted
•Masons." There is another, more or less successful one known as

an)

SECRET AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES

102

"The Independent Benevolent Order," and some few others
little
I

note that there are a groat

ties

importance.
established

When

munities.

for
it

specific

known

many

individual benevolent socie-

purposes

respective com-

their

that the adult

membership

principal secret and benevolent societies in Georgia

of these

25,000.

and a

reasonable estimate will put the whole number of adult male membership at 28,000, or twelve and a half per cent, of the whole population,

one might look for some startling

holds true,

male members

means

results.

this proportion

that there are in the United States 252,000

of secret

and benevolent orders.

The first effect to be noticed is financial effect.
Under the regular financial system which obtains

all

these

orders requiring an initiation fee varying from one to fifteen dollars
per member, and annual dues of from one dollar and a half to
nine dollars per njember, after deducting

all

money

for current

expenses and benevolences, the value of the property of these
associations in Georgia is $260,000, and a cash balance in their
treasuries of $50,000, m,aking a total of $310,000, the proportion
holding true for the United States, the amount will be $2,790,000.
Some have halls and business and benevolent enterprises. One
of these societies not named above, and outside of Georgia, owns
and operates a creditable bank, whose dividends indi:ate a profitThis wealth owned in common in these several
able business.
communities cannot but have a wholesome effect upon tnc membership population at large, in addition to which the business and
financial managers are being trained for larger services. Through
such combined efforts the days of "Jim Crow Carism" may t>e

numbered.

The second to be attended is The Benevolent Effect.
The vast amount of suffering in the ra:e, arising from the
dition of ignorance

and poverty, reveals the need

con-

of stirring to

Those feelings that
action the benevolent feelings of the race.
spring from the fountain of life and sympathy, and expend them-

weak and lending su:cor to
demand among a race individually weak.

selves in helping the

the needy are

SECRET AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES

These

193

Samaritan act, while Priests and
by on the other side. Their
five channels
widows, orphans, care

societies are doing the

Levites, with Pharisaical pride, pass

benevolences are directed

—

and special donations. During the past
year these donations and benevolences reached the sum of $33,000
cash out of the treasuries, besides the labor and toil in caring for
of sick, burial of dead

the sick.

Among

the poor there are smjall insurance companies doing busiaccording to the ability of the stock and policy-holders,
guaranteeing medical service, attendance while sick, a decent
burial, and small aid to family. The care of sick during the past
year was at a cost of $14,500, while the cost of the burial of the
dead was at a cost of $13,000 in Georgia.
The third is the Moral Effect.
The moral effect of these societies deserves a more than passing

ness

on which all permanent individual
and racial character must rest. The moral requirements of these
societies are such that no one addicted to immpral practices is
admitted as a member, such being known.
1. The
curse of drunkenness and other evil habits of intemperance, such as obtain among the less reputable of the race are
as successfully reached, if not more so, by these orders than by
any other institutions in our midst.
2. They execute crimes and criminals upon the same scaffold,
and with an equal determination they blot out both from their
membership.
We support no organizations that oppose more
vehemently the commission of crime and shut out criminals more
thoroughly. Obedience to the laws of the land and respect for
order is a cardinal doctrine preached and a practical course pur-

notice, morality being the basis

sued.
3.

Petty lawsuits

-that

are

sapping the race of much of

its

and among the membership prohibited, differences being submitted to an arbitration committee, and effort made to settle them amicably.
financial blood are generally discouraged,

The fourth is the Religious Effect.
From a religious point of view, these

societies are religion con-

194

SECRET AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES

and incarnate, loving a brother following the Savior, they
must I do
to be saved?" pointing to the words of Jesus, "I was hungry and
you gave me meat, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger
and ye took me in, naked and ye clothed me, I was sick and ye
crete

are religion at work, answering the question, ''What

visited me," they are the laity

zealously

applying

the

pastor's

precept in the Sabbath sermon, holding to salvation by faith," but

remembering the words of St. James, "Faith without works is
dead," which is a very fruitful doctrine among a people whose
religious zeal is more often spent in tears, shouts and regrets, and
stands with outstretched hand to receive, forgetting the "freely
ye have received, freely give."

CHAPTER XXXI
TO WHAT EXTENT

CRIME INCREASING AMONG

THE NEGROES, AND WHAT
Rev. Robert E. Jones,
Is there

While

IS.

THE REMEDY?

A.,

D. D.

an increase in crime?

statistics

at best are

none too trustworthy, we cannot

enter into this discussion legitimately without looking at a few

You

figures.

can prove anything, however, by
let us study the following:

statistics.

Nevertheless,

In Philadelphia, in 1888, the total male arrests were 41,305; of
these 2,340 were colored. There were 6,650 women, and of these
570 were colored. In 1894 the Negro criminal arrests among the

males had increased from 2,340 to 3,856. The general increase for
that timte was 36.78, while increase of Negro male arrests was
In Chicago between 1880-90 the general increase of crime
64.78.
was 164.29, while the Negro increase was 378.28. But the Negro
population in that time had also increased 111 per cent.
Four propositions are laid down with reference to Negro crimi
nality by those who take an adverse view
First. "The Negro element is the most criminal of our population."
What else can we expect? His training for 250 years
had prepared him to be of all men vicious, with little or no regard
for the person and property of others.
Set free open-handed, he
has maintained his existence, and yet there are no orphan asylums,
houses of refuge, Young Men's Christian Association buildings,
reformatories, none of the methods for the prevention of crime,
save the public schools and institutions and churches established
by philanthropy. And yet, the Negro is not a professional
criminal.
(195)

196

CRIME INCREASING

Second.

It is charged that "the Negro is more criminal as a
than he was as a slave." But he had no responsibilities
as a slave; little or no standard of ethics. Certainly not the while
man's standard, and certainly not a very good example on the part
of the white man, of chastity and virtue.
Now we are measured,
not by the depths from which we have come nor by the oppor-

free

man

which have been ours, but we are being judged by a
been a thousand years in making, and is the
best the world has known. Yet, we would have no other standard
save that of Jesus Christ, which is the type of all men.
Third. "It is claimed that the Negro criminality in:reased with
fearful rapidity between
1880-90," but be it understood that,
according to statistics of 1890, the white race had increased in
tunities

civilization that has

criminality considerably.

Fourth. "Negroes are more criminal in theNorth and Northwest
than in the South." To this let it be replied, first, that the large
proportion of Negroes that live in the North are between the ages
of 15

and

45,

and the rate

than that of any other age
of our people in the North
in cities is

of criminality for these ages is greater
;

second, as a rule the largest proportion
and the rate of criminality

live in cities,

higher than in rural districts.

The

increase of

Negro

population in Philadelphia during 1890-1900 was 55 per cent., in
Chicago in per cent., and in New York 60 per cent. In Philadelphia, Chicago, Boston and Cincinnati the larger portion of the

found living in the worst sections of the
which vice and crime are the only formative
influences. The Negro in the North and West, therefore, presents
a far more serious problem than the Negro in the South. As Kelly
Miller says, "The aimless drifting into the lawless and crime dens
of large cities constitutes the most lamentable feature of the Negro
colored population

—the sections

cities

problem."

SOME REASONS FOR THE INCREASE OF CRIME AS SHOWN ARE
laws are unequally administered in the South. Negroes
are arrested for offenses for which white nten are not disturbed.
Negroes will be arrested for crap-shooting, while white men are
First, the

—

CRIME INCREASING

197

allowed to maintain gambling places under police protection/ Miss
Frances Kellar, graduate student of Chicago University, claims
that "a constable will give a

The constable

Negro

striker

money

to go' out

and

informed when and where the striker
will gather his crowd, and then he swoops down upon them, they
are arrested and convicted and fined, and the money is divided by
the justice of the peace, the constable and the striker, each getting
his portion;" for, be it understood that in many places in the South
the justice of the peace gets as a salary only the money which
comes in from convictions.
The Negro's living in the large cities has been productive of
great evil. The population of Memphis between 1890-00 increased
There are forty-one ckies with more than 8,000
74 per cent.
Negro population. Fifteen of these have more than 20,000, while
Washington has 86,701, Baltimore 79,259, New York 60,666, Philadelphia 62,613 and New Orleans 77,714. The Negro population in
cities has increased from 4.82 to 10.93 n 1890 while the white city
population has increased from 11,67 m J 86o to 14.89 in 1890.
play craps.

SOME OF THE REMEDIES.
First, intelligence,

are twin brothers.

wealth and Christianity.

The common

school

Ignorance and vice

a great battering

ram

Give us an education that fits man for his place
industrial perhaps, but classical often wealth, that gives comfort
and is a guarantee against the day of reverses; a Christianity that
saves man in his environments, that converts a devil into a saint,
that conquers every baser passion and diverts from wrong tenagainst vice.

;

dencies.

Second, a fair administration of the law a dethronement of petty
judges and the bringing about of a more kindly feeling on the part
of the administrators of the law. Put the reins of government into
the hands of intelligent and high-minded, justice-loving men.
;

Third, take junior criminals from prisons and establish reform-

Give us orphan asylums and houses of refuge. The cities
South for the most part have been making criminals instead

atories.
in the

of lessening crime.

198

CRIME INCREASING

Fourth, break up the low dives in New Orleans, Atlanta, Birmingham and Memphis.
Fifth, let the newspapers stop giving publication and notoriety
to crimes that feed the baser passions.

hand on the part of the white man. There is a
humanity together, whether we will or not.
The last remedy that I would name is an earnest effort on the
part of the better class of Negroes to reach the lower class. An
outgoing of the heart, a lifting by the strong arm of a brother who
Sixth, a helping

link that binds all

beneath us

;

caring for the dying, the rescuing of the perishing,

the lifting of the fallen,

work

for those to

whom God

has given

There must
be slum mission work kindergartens for children places where
mothers can leave their children as they go to work; the putting
of boys in school who are running into meanness. The unreached
Negro must be reached, and the nearest person of strength to him
is the Negro cultured and refined.
As Dr. Bingham of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, has said, "The Negro problem is the

opportunities for higher development and higher
;

Negroes' problem."

life.
;

CHAPTER XXXII

HOW TO REACH AND HELP THE POOR OF THE RACE
William James Howard, D.

Rev.

have

many

D.,

Washington, D.

Scriptural injunctions concerning the poor.

The

"the poor ye have with you always." Job
a father to the poor. This last Scriptural injunc-

blessed Savior said
29-16, said he

was

seems to me to be the right one for us to take

tion

the poor of our race

;

order to reach

fatherly affection to the neglected, the af-

flicted, the destitute and to the unfortunate is the best way to reach
them.
Poverty is not always of one kind. Some people are poor for the
lack of knowledge, -others for the lack of sympathy, others again for
the lack of opportunity. The man that is locked up, sick or without nreans in sickness and distress often lacks opportunity and
ought to be helped. Indiscretion in man should not destroy humanity in us. We should help all men, love all men, sympathize

with

men

all

for God's sake as Christians.

HOW
Through

ARE

TO REACH

the parents, the pulpit

THEM?

and through the

are the leading agencies for reaching our people.
first

all,

home and

must be reached and taught

press.

The

These
parents,

their sacred duties in the

their sacred relations to each other as

man and

wife, as

parent and child. They must enthrone righteousness in the home,
they must be taught that Godliness is gain, not that gain is Godliness they must be taught that the elevation of the race depends
upon the purity and chastity of the home life that the children can
rise no higher than their parents, morally, and it is the moral battle
which we have to wage and fight. In order to better our condition
spiritually, intellectually, financially and socially, we must at the
;

;

(199)

HOW

200

bottom of
ing.

TO REACH THE POOR

place a moral foundation for the support of the build-

all

must

learn to

make our own

literature as well as to teach

and preach. We must be thinkers and producers, not only imitators and consumers.
In other words, we must arise in our might
and save ourselves with a complete salvation. Xot only political
salvation is needed by us, but moral, intellectual, social and financial salvation is needed.
He who would be free* must first strike
the blow he who would rise must first divest himself of weights
and invest himself with wings. The wings we need are the wings
;

of faith.

All of our people have not

had the same

start in life

all

;

have not

the same determined spirit to rise as others, hence the injunction

"The strong must bear the

infirmities of the

weak."

The masses,

not the classes, are to be helped. To help these masses we are to
get our arms of love under them and advance them so far on the
road of civilization and progress until they can stand by them-

selves.

are to inspire

them

to help others.

"Help us to help

ea:h other, Lord,'' should be the watchword for us.
IX

WHAT

Help them

RESPECT OUGHT

TO HELP OUR RACE?

to see themselves, not physically only, but morally,

and spiritually. Help them to see while God has
in ebony that they are beautiful only if the character
is good
if they have been cultured, raised in the school of Heaven,
brought from sin to salvation, from death to life and can cry like
the prophet Balaam of old, "I am the man whose eyes are opened."
The poor must be reached through the home; though it be a

intellectually

them

chiseled

;

hovel,

home

talized in

the real citadel of

song what

Spiritual geneses

all civilized

must be

there.

life.

Howard Payne

people have said

The

has immor-

in prose,

cry must go up,

"There

"The sword

God's law must be taught there. Patriotism must be born there,
no place like home." Hence the home, God's altar must be there,
Every virtue nlust be exalted there
of the Lord and of Gideon."
holiness,
Truth,
uprightness, judgment and
there.
practiced
and
temperance must be all taught and practiced there. Love must be
the ruling power. Order must be in the home. Light must be in

110W TO REACH THE POOR

201

and darkness out of the home. Hence the candle of love must
burn always upon the altar. However poor a man may be, he can
be virtuous
ourselves.

want

all

helped.

And

that

what we

do not want only one great

are here for, to help

man

our race, but

of our race good.

Give love. What else can you give without it? Give hope. Give
Give light. Give Christ. A whole Christ for a whole people.
Let no one judge you in these things of your high calling of God.
See that help comes from above and give it as freely as you have
received it. "Freely you have re:eived, freely give."

truth.

CHAPTER XXXIII

THE NEGRO'S CONTRIBUTION TO
DEVELOPMENT

HIS

OWN

H. T. Kealing, Editor, "A. M. E. Church Review," Philadelphia

—

There are two factors in all growth the internal or dynamic,
and the external or auxiliary.
All development is self-development. Externals are provocatives
or incentives, prodding or appealing to the entities about them but
if there be no one within, no knocking from without can evoke a
response to the call of circumstance. The dynamic power is in and
of the man. It is the life as expressed by experience and environment. There must first be in the mlan what we would bring out of
him. A tree can not live without nourishment, but a dead tree can
not be made to live even with it. There must be in man or tree the
mysterious something we call life which reaches out, takes in,
assimilates and differentiates for its own individuality all things
;

that

come

it.

THINGS DONE FOR THE NEGRO

—

have heard much of what has been done for the Negro of
thrown around to lift him to the
full station and stature of a man.
We are to consider to-day what
he has done for himself, both in the use he has made of these helps
and in the way of original contribution. His outside helps have
been many:
He has been brought into contact with a high civilization.
He has been taught the name and nature of liberty.
He has witnessed the battles by which this liberty was won, and
the civil struggles by which a freedman's ideals are attained.
the external forces that have been

(202)

negro's contribution to his development

He
in

203

has seen the multitude in the wrong overthrown by a handful

the right.

His own grievances have shown him that God alone
and good alone is permanent.

pre-emi-

nent,

has seen himself successively made freeman, free-holder,
and moral leader.
has been made the beneficiary of free public education.
has had great schools of higher learning built for him, and

citizen, voter, legislator,

He
He

manned by

refined and cultured Caucasian faculties.
has been called to high places of ecclesiastical and educational
responsibility by denominations in no way dependent upon him.
He has had compulsory training in labor and some observation

of business methods.

has been given the Christian religion, and panoplied in the
moral armor of the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer and
the Golden Rule.

things done by the negro

These are a few external forces that have gathered about the
Negro by reason of his American habitat, and that they may lay
claim to awakening much that is best in his life there is none to
deny; but what would it all amount to if there had not been within
him that which could rise in response to the invitation of these
opportunities and incorporate them into his life? Given contact
with American civilization, the encouragement of friends, the
money of philanthropists, the appeals of the church and access to
the schools all would have been impotent for development without some power of appropriation innate in the Negro himself.
What, then, has been the Negro's response? This:
He has answered the civilization around him by copying it,
virtue and vice.
He has answered the lesson of liberty by enthroning in his heart
the Jeffersonian doctrine that all men are created free and equal.
He has answered the challenge of battle and earned the title of
hero and patriot by participating in every one to the commendation

—

negro's contribution to his development

204

of his superiors, from

Washington and Jackson

McKinley and

Roosevelt.

has answered slavery by
by increased faith in God.
He has answered the right

dis:ipline in patience,

and

its

down-

fall

to hold property by acquiring hundreds of millions of it.
He has answered the right of citizenship by an Americanism

that rejects

all

sectionalism and spurns the red fled of anarchy-

has answered the right to vote by giving his suffrage for law,

order and equal rights.
He has answered the toga of legislator by putting on the statute

books some of their wisest and best laws, notably those promoting
free schools in the South.

has answered the opportunity to labor by giving his swarthy
to amassing wealth for the nation.

brawn and beaded brow

has answered the gift of colleges by proving himself capable

of the highest learning.

He
all

has answered the nation's faith in him by setting at naught
precedent and all prophecy of disaster to himself or the com-

monwealth in which he lives.
He has answered the places opened to him by a:cepting them
modestly and filling them creditably.
He has answered the teachings of the church by forgiving more
than any other people were ever called upon to forgive.
.This is how he has met his opportunities and privileges, and
without this response all aids would have been as water on a dry
root or a symphony poured into a dead man's ear. Are these things
small? Then, where is the answer of the Russian serf tj his manumission? the Mexican peon's to his citizenship in a republic? the
Chinese coolie's to his American transplanting? or the Indian's to
his paternal coddling? These all have had the opportunities of the
Negro without his handicaps, but what is there to show for it?
But the Negro has done more than make good use of the helps
given him: he has

ment.

when

made

original contributions to his

has contributed courage.

fear assailed him, but he

own

develop-

There may have been times

had the courage to stand even then.

NWJKO'S CONTRIBUTION TO HIS DEVELOPMENT

When

205

heeding the statisticians, began to fear, from
figures of the census of 1890, that he was dying out, lie had the courage to live, and handed up nearly 2,000,000 increase in 1900 to reassure them. When trembling counsellors have becought him to escape the wrongs heaped upon him at home by fleeing to a strange
land he has again had the courage to stand. Yes, he has contribhis friends,

uted courage.

faith.
His courage has come from his faith.
which his brethren cast him he looked up, and
the darkness brought out the before invisible stars in his sky.
Like Stephen stoned, he lifted his eyes and saw heaven open. Like
Joan of Arc, he heard voices and he obeyed them, never doubting.
Faitb
I believe he has faith in God and that God has faith in him.
coming down from God and faith going up to God, with good
works between, make a sandwich upon which even angels might
feed and fatten. This kind comjeth only by prayer. We are called
Negroes because we grow upon our knees.
He has contributed hope. There is sunshine in his soul. He
sees light ahead. His favorite song has always been

Out

has contributed

of the pit into

"We'll stand the storm,
It won't be long,
We'll anchor by and bye."

His hope has been

his help

—

his life to-day.

has never learned to hate. The sun
has never gone down upon his wrath, for a lowering blow can not
stand above a smiling lip.
He loves his neighbor; he loves his
has contributed love.

country; he loves his God.
He has contributed patience.

God

requires of us

much

of that

Job was not a Negro, many a Negro has been a Job.
He realizes that God's work-day is not from six to six, but from
everlasting to everlasting; and that men must wait on the Lord.
This the Negro has done and this he will do. All things come to
him who waits, and the Negro makes a good waiter.
He has contributed labor. No part of this land is free from the
touch of his hand or the might of his muscle. He has gone into the
quality.

negro's contribution to his development

206

and with the ax

for a scepter compelled the trees to
he has tickled the chocolate soil of Louisiana, and the sweet-tempered cane has responded to his blandishments he has massaged the Texas prairie with his hoe, and the
red-bearded corn has shown its teeth in delight he has touched the
forest, a king,

bow

obeisance to him

;

hum of merry
machinery was heard in Massachusetts. He has made every valley
a palm of God's hand heaped high with the corn, the oil and the
wine that make glad the heart of man.
He has contributed money. His mite to education, to the church,
to charity, to the home, to taxation, to business, to invention, to
co-operation
it is all on the books and is bearing abundant interest.
It is true, he has missed many a dividend, but be. stands
ready for the next assessment just the same.
He has contributed blood. Every page of American history
contains the entry. There are many entries not recorded. How
he died to defend helpless white women and children, how he
nursed in fever and in pestilence, how he saved St. Miciiael s, how
he wrought in the trenches on one side and fought in the ranks on
tell this as you tell
the other, being true to his manhood in both
of the Codes at the Bridge, of Leonidas at the Pass, of the Hero of
Haarlem at the dykes, of Florence Nightingale in the Crimea, of
Howard in the prisons, of Father Damien among the lepers tell
it that the world may say: Yes, he has contributed of his blood, of
his life, that he might live more abundantly in the coming days
cotton boll as his electric button, and at once the

—

when men remember

forgotten benefits.

THREE POWERS MAKING FOR PROGRESS.

Men

us that the Caucasian civilization is death to the baibarous and darker races, and history says Amen! But the Negro
alone of all his fellows derides the law and, living, lives. He is not
tell

despairing, he

not degenerating, he

There are three powers which
can meet environment and make
First

this

not dying.

must be possessed before a man
it

a vehicle rather than a clog:

—He must have the power to adapt himself.
is

the ability to

live.

One man

The

ability to

enters the water, but

b&*%

NEGRO* S CONTRIBUTION TO HIS DEVELOPMENT

207

unable to adjust himself to his new relation, he drowns; another
can adjust himself, swims and lives. One man exposed to the
cold of winter and unable to meet its rigors, is found a frozen
corpse; another faces the same cold and gets vigor, tingling blood,
abounding life from it. One man takes strychnine and it kills him;

who

another takes
is

the

power

and

to live.

becomes a

There

tonic.

The

insect bred in fresh water

little

power

harmonize

if salt be cast into the water; he simply changes
form and becomes more active than ever. So men must answer
to the salt or die. The Negro has proven his ability to answer. He

that does not die
his

can adapt himself.

Secondly

— He must be able to assimilate.

the opposite of the

first.

One

This power

the ability to bend

;

almost

the other, the

One, to be agreeable; the othe", to make
One, to swallow; the other, to digest. On a barren
stretch of shore, where all was salt and sand and sun, shipwrecked
mariners often perished for want of food, till one day a cocoanut
drifted there and took root. It ate of the sand, drank of the brine
and breathed the withering air, till out of them it built a tree laden
wih the life-giving meat and milk of cocoanuts, so that in after
years sailors cast ashore in that place no longer perished, but ate
and drank and rested and blessed God. Just so the Negro, cast
upon the barren shore of American slavery, has been able to feed
upon the toil, the tears and contempt before which other men die,
till he stands to-day a fruitful tree transmuting his very trials into
food for Christian character and manly stamina.
Thirdly He must be able to retain unchanged those basic qualities and traits which constitute his individuality and explain his
work in the Divine economy. This is the most important of the
three powers. The other two are necessary to life this is necessary to usefulness in life. Without it, God's raison d'etre for us in
Amerhan life ceases. Amid all changes in language, customs and

make bend.

ability to

agreeable.

—

;

religion, the Negro must retain his own aptitudes, susceptibilities
and idiosyncracies. Thus, though in French possessions, a Frenchman in Spanish, a Spaniard; in English, an Englishman; and in
;

negro's contribution to his development

208

America, an American, he will preserve those psychological characteristics

which give

individuality.

show increased social efficiency and
Already indications are numerous he has essayed inde
poverty and prematurity. He has organized and maintained great
church and fraternal organizations, and embarked in solid and sucIn the fulness of time he will

initiative.

cessful,

small, business enterprises.

moving slowly

to acquire experience without the sacrifice

Larger combinations may confidently be
looked for as a logical outcome of success in the smaller ventures,
for they are succeeding.
The American Negro millionaire arrived
of

his

little

savings.

few weeks ago

Dun and

in Philadelphia; his

Bradstreet's have our

sons will report

names on

later.

their books.

Already

The Negro

beginning to show the power of initiative in many directions, and
For a Hampton given
is better than imitation or assimilation.
us, we show a Tuskegee founded by us for an Atlanta, a Morris
Brown for a Walden, a Livingstone for a Roger Williams, a
Gaudaloupe. If the objection be raised that we have brought into
existence no great railroad and manufacturing corporations, we
answer that this is no reflection on our ability to combine. It is
not so much a question of social efficiency as one of financial sufthat is all.
ficiency. We lack capital and experience
is

that

;

—

THE NEGRO DEVELOPING MORALLY

Some have questioned the moral development of the Negro,
while admitting his mental and material advancement. How can a
man advance mentally without moral improvement? It is impossican not divide morality from mind it is as truly a mental
ble.
act to solve a problem in right and wrong as one in Algebra. The

;

not a divisible thing. When you improve it, you improve
and manifestations, just as increase in the size of the
its attributes of light, heat and actinic power.
increase
would
sun
how is it that some educated men are so
objector,
the
But, says

mind

all its

states

remiss and some uneducated ones so upright? Well, if you find an
educated man depraved, would the absence of an education make
him better? Or, if an uneducated man be upright, would a clearer

;
:

THE NEGRO'S CONTRIBUTION TO HIS DEVELOPMENT

209

Absurd!
vision of what is right and wrong m'ake him worse?
Education dulls nothing, not even a m'an's moral perceptions; it
paralyzes nothing, not even a man's will. It therefore hurts nothing, not even a man's morals.
Let us take courage, then, from this day and push on. Let us
hold to the cheerfulness that has saved us from extermination.
God, the future life, heaven and hell are among the external verities
let us cling to them.
Let us rejoice in the wealth of our emotional nature it means
spiritual pre-eminence.
Therein lies poetry, casting the film of
exaltation over the rough places of life therein lies art, bodying
forth the stupendous revelations of every soul exiled to the Patmos
of self-communion therein is love, which shall conquer the world
and bring, bound hand and foot, before the throne of God the
whole progeny of sin, and ushering in the time when "all people
will walk every one in the name of his God."
Then shall the prophet once miore mount the wall and proclaim
"In rhat day, saith the Lord, will I assemble her that halteth, and
I
gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted
?Ad I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast
off a strong nation and the Lord shall reign over them in Mt. Zion
from henceforth, even forever."
,

—

;

CHAPTER XXXIV

THE NEGRO'S CONTRIBUTION TO
DEVELOPMENT

HIS

OWN

Rev. N. C. Cleaves, D. D., Washington, D. C.

Thirty years

when

two and

a half centuries

any people, espethe thraldom of
entrance upon an independent

a brief period in the history of

cially so

marks

their breaking

and their

away from

much has been placed to his
achievement which inspires new hope,
awakens new energies in the Negro himself and gives reassurances
to the friends and benefactors of a struggling people.
Following
the example of a few daring, noble spirits, thousands of determined
men and women have launched their crafts upon the seas of fortune
and, despite the heavy waves of adversity, they sail prosperously
onward.
The census of 1890 gave the total number of farms in the United
States at 4,767,179, of whi:h Negroes owned and controlled 549,642.
The census of 1900 gave the total number of farms in the United
States at 5,739,567, of which Negroes owned 746,717. The per cent,
of gain on all farms was approximately 18 per cent., while the gain
on Negro farms alone exceeded 36 per cent, in ten years, just double
the rate of gain on all farmi lands in the country. The value of all
farm lands owned by negroes of the States equals $324,244,397, the
value of buildings thereon equals $71,903,315; implements and
machinery, $18,857,757; ^ ve stock, $84,936,265, making a grand
national career.

In this short time

credit in the ledger of race

total

$499,943,734 in

real

estate

placed to the credit of the

Negroes in the country. These farms are some of the most fertile
and best cultivated to be found in the states of which they form a
part. On them are erected large and comfortable family residences,
barns and stock yards, while on many of them fruit-growing is conducted with
(210)

profit.

THE NEGRO'S CONTRIBUTION TO

IliS

DEVELOPMENT

211

In cities and towns where employment yields more ready cash,
Negro has not been slow to seize the opportunity for securing
property. In 1890 he owned 122,000 residences and lots, 'besides
the

business houses, churches, school buildings and halls. Allowing
the same rate of increase to obtain in cities as in the country, his
residence property will

number

165,000 pieces, besides churches,

etc.

In 1890 Prof. DuBois estimated the total amount of capital invested in Negro business enterprises at $9,000,000, which, compared with the stupendous financial corporations of to-day, is small

when compared with his chances is nevertheless good.
Washington thinks that 79 per cent, of this amount is in-

indeed, but
Prof.

vested in business enterprises capitalized at less than $2,500 each,
which indicates the number and variety of businesses done.

Three banking firms

attest the Negro's ability to

manage

suc-

The True Reformers
Richmond, capitalized at $125,000; the Savings Bank of
Washington, D. C, with a capital of $50,000, and the Penny Savings Bank of Birmingham, with a capital of $25,000. Industry and
economy have enabled the more far-seeing of the race to lay up
good sums of money in banks and safety deposit vaults, scores of
them being able to issue checks for $5,000 to $20,000 and upward.
The negro has learned the value of a dollar and knows it to be a
cessfully large business corporations, viz:

Bank

''friends that sticketh closer

than a brother."

wages generaly paid unskilled labor, in view
economics and business principles, in view of

In view of the small
of his inexperience in

the unscrupulous

money sharks who sought

to take advantage of
and in view further of his
own disposition to pleasure-seeking and spendthriftness which
often borders on pecuniary ruin, the financial growth of the race
has been almost marvelous.
A Christian weekly published in a Southern city, speaking of the
Negro's progress, said: "Perhaps no other race that God has
created has made such rapid progress in the same length of time,
from an educational or pecuniary standpoint, as the Negro since
their less fortunate brother's ignorance,

his emancipation."

THE

212

The
enal.

said

NEGRO'S CONTRIBUTION TO HIS DEVELOPMENT

educational progress of the race has been almost phenomThe late Bishop Haygood, in his "Our Brother in Black,"
"The most unique and altogether wonderful chapter in the

history of education

that

which

tells

the story of the Negroes

since 1865."

The
by

seminaries, colleges and universities of the land, operated

State, church

and individual denominations, make possible

this

distinguished assembly of representative m/en and women gathered
here to-day from the "four winds of the heavens."

The
is

highest and best evidence of the development of the Negro
not to be seen in his wealth, nor yet alone in his schools of brick

and mortar whose towering steeples throw themselves boldly into
the heavens but rather in the home-life of this people. Home is
Heaven's highest and best gift to humanity, and woman is its
beautiful queen and man its reigning king. It is the sanctum where
the precious ointments and perfumes of love and harmony, peace,
contentment and happiness must. abide continually. It is the unit
of government, the hub and center upon which all individual worth
is predicated, the axis about which all true individual and national
greatness revolves and shines.
Inheriting the mental, moral and spiritual excellence bequeathed
civilization by the good and great of the ages gone by, the American Negro has developed a manhood and womanhood which stands
for and answers to everything in the manhood and womanhood of
any other people. Pure in character, lofty in purpose, unselfish but
determined in aim, he has imbibed from the splendid examples of
the past a patriotism, a devotion to, a love of county which delights
in the equity of our laws, rejoices in a fair and impartial administration of the same, exults in the stability of our governmental institutions, watches with a jealousy born of affection the extension
of power and commerce to all parts of the world, and reveres the
which floats over the mightiest nation ever
stars and stripes
flag
planted on the face of the earth. In times of peace he is libertyloving and law-abiding, in times of peril he answers the call of his
country to arms, which is to him as the voice of God. He marches
under "Old Glory" to the camp of the enemy, and, singing "My
;

—

THE NEGRO'S CONTRIBUTION TO HIS DEVELOPMENT
country,

'tis

of thee," dedicates his

life

213

to his country, his blood

and crying unto God as a testimonial of the purest
patriotism'. If this statement be doubted, let history have a hearing
and from her brightest and most beautiful pages she calls in exultant strains the names of Attucks, Wilson, Ma~eo and Charles
Youn and a thousand others of her sable sons equally worthy.
Through years of hardships, mistakes, oppression and repression,
the Negro having learned well the apostolic injunction, "Let patience have her perfect work," has passed almost without a murmuring word.
Stand still and see the salvation of God." The Negro must be
patient and labor on, for
bathing the

soil

"Water falling day by day
Washes the hardest rock away."

CHAPTER XXXV

THE BENEFITS OF SOCIAL SETTLEMENTS AND
DUSTRIAL CHURCH WORK IN THE CITIES
Rev.

Timothy

and Warden,
Social Settlement, Cambridge, Mass.
Tice,

D., Pastor

Mr. President and Delegates

The one keynote

St.

IN-

Paul's

of this great

Negro Young People's Christian and Educational movement

how

can

is,

rea:h and elevate the masses of our race, thereby con-

tributing our pro rata in the betterment of

mankind?

Many

wise

and very helpful suggestions have been ably presented here. This
is an age of centralizing great forces and means in the propaganda
of our progressive civilization.
"To the cities" is the slogan and
trend of the majority of our American peoples, and this will be for
decades to come. The great battle-ground for human sustenance
and existence is the city. Here the complex problems of life in
every phase meet the individual, both old and young, in every
station of life. Here the social and economic question affezts the
community in such a manner that upon its practical solution depends the moral civil and religious life of the State and nation. In
savage life individualism predominates. But as men become more
civilized they learn to stand shoulder to shoulder.

Thus we come

to-day from every section of our great country to unify our endeavors with a worthy object in view that is to secure by the combination of our Christian and educational forces that through which

—

our various churches in the cities, by practical, systematic plans,
may become small cogs in our vast machine.
He gathered about him a
Christ produced a social organism.
He came
coterie of kindred spirits that formed a kind of family.
transmuted
and
abstract
theory
open
into
a social
the
into
out
thus
society
produced
by
Christ
has
The
survived
the
organism.
(214)

;

SOCIAL SETTLEMENT

WORK

215

changes and shocks of over nineteen centuries. He meant that His
disciples down through the ages should be gathered into social
groups, and gave the world something (the church ( to lay hold of
that would better its condition. This definite social organism, the
local church, I believe, contains the potency for the cure of all the
ills that flesh is heir to.
Here lies the solution of every social
problem.
No other society upon earth can displace it, though
others may prove very helpful auxiliaries. To the churches then,
expressing as they do, in social form, the thought of Christ and
containing within themselves the medicament for every kind of
In our great
social ill, human society owes its healthy cohesion.
towns and cities, however, our churches are confronted with new
*

artificial

of class

conditions which tend to social alienation, the separation

from

class, a

tendency of which,

unchecked, will inevit-

ably bring destruction to the race.

Let

say to you,

who

are the intelligent representatives of the

race from every section of the land,

you must either subdue

this

end be assimilated by
them. The old, tried methods do not seem to work with them.
The present modus operandi of our churches fails to reach them
eloquent sermons from our Sunday pulpits, class, covenant, vespery song and praise service on the part of our christian ministry
and laity will not rescue them. The organization of benefit secret
societies among us will fail of the mark. The influences and forces
which hold them are subtle and powerful the world with all of its
artificial enchantments are more formidable than our limpid gospel
crusades with unadapted measures and means. What, then, must
class of our people with the gospel, or in the

;

be the remedy? The practical application of the gospel medicaments, as contained in the thought of Christ and the social organism of His Church. This is where the social settlement and institutional or industrial churches

comes

in as a reconciling torce.

an organized body of christian believers who find themselves in a hard and uncongenial social environments Supplement the ordinary methods of the gospel such
as preaching, prayer meetings, Sunday School and pastoral visitation
by a syste of organized kindness, a congress of industries
institutional c^hurch, then,

—

SOCIAL SETTLEMENT

216

WORK

which, by touching people on physical, social and intellectual sides,
will conciiate them and draw them within reach of the gospel.
Church institutionalism is nothing more than systematic organized kindness, which conciliates the hostile and indifferent, alluring
them within the reach and softening their hearts for the reception
of the words of life. But'as time admonishes brevity on this occasion, I wish, briefly, to suggest a few auxiliaries which can easily

be put into practical operation, that will go to form a social

ment or

institutional church.

woman's sewing

circle or

settle-

sewing

s:hool for girls, a kindergarten, day nursery, reading room, literary
physical culture, voice culture, woman's club, mothers'*
meeting, domestic training class, cooking class, economic savings,
men's club or forum, employment bureau, dispensary, boys' brig-

society,

home for friendless girls, etc. These,
connection with regular religious services systematically operated in any town, city or community, will draw out and influence

ade, relief benefit association,
in

young to the house of God,
and industrial sentiment which

the unchurched element of both od and

and

will

mould

a wonderful moral

have lasting,
and nation.
will

beneficial results for the church, race,

community

state that the problem of city life as it
becoming more grave and complex. Art,
science, skill, domestic economy and industrial thrift is the battle
cry of the age organization and co-operation is the plan of the
nation's progressive activities. The Negro can not withstand these
invincible forces, he must catch the spirit of the times, fit himself
and put himself in harmony with the march of this mighty Amer-

In conclusion,

affects

the

let

Negro

;

ican civilization.

In the city,

life's

battle

is fierce, it is

the survival of the

fittest.

This great mass of restless, emigrating Negro population must be
reached and subdued by the gospel, trained and fitted for usefulness in life. To do so, adapted methods must be applied. In the
Northern and Western cities, as a race, we are confronted with
the great servant and domestic problem. Even here the competition is great the large influx of foreign immigation of menial serfs
have forced a contest between these and the race, with odds in
;

CHURCH UNITY

Ten thousand

favor of this foreign element.

may

land in

New York

217
foreign immigrants

or Boston to-morrow, and within less than

twenty-four hours various elemosynary societies, industrial and
methods have provided homes and employment vocation for every one of them,
while twenty-five Negroes may go to any city in this country and
be forced upon their struggling kin, or left shelterless and homeless
until each, by his own individual efforts, may secure menial employment.
I relate these facts to show the great necessity of
training domestic schools with well organized

order to reach, strengthen and save
are moving hither, urged by the

social

organism on our part

these

members

who

of the race

irresistible' spirit of the times.

The Unity
Rev. George

of the

Church

Lee, D. D., Washington, D. C.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:
I consider this the
proudest moment of my life to be privileged to stand before this
august assembly and contribute my part in my day and generation
to the solution of the great problem,

"How

Reach the Unreached

Negro ?"
I

have chosen for

subject,

"The Unity

of the Church."

believe this to be the greatest and grandest assemblage of Negroes
I have ever been permitted to behold.
They are here from
every section of this broad country of ours, representing all pro-

that

fessions.
I

compose

this

Con-

believe that unity of purpose in this object, as before

men-

told that forty different denominations

gress.
I

tioned, to be the auspicious

Negro

dawn

of a brighter day, not only for

North, but throughout the world.
was never a greater indication of the unification of the Negroes than is shown by the presence
of forty denominations, all having the same object in view, viz.:

the

Permit

in the

South or

in the

to-day to say that there

"Reaching the Unreached."

;

CHURCH UNITY

218

Shall tve ever see a greater unity of effort and purpose than

what

being demonstrated in this meeting? I see a time coming,
when denominational tenets will be thrown aside
and everybody will join in one solid phalanx in the Christianizais

not far distant,

tion of all races inhabiting the globe.

In conclusion,

let

us press forward with a steady step

kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdom
of His Christ.
I am with you, whatever comes.

of our

lamp forget to shine,
from the azured sky decline;
First shall the Orient with the West shake hand,
The center of the world shall cease to stand
First wolves shall league with lambs, the dolphins
The lawyer and physician fees deny;
The Thames with Tagus shall exchange her bed,
My mistress' locks with mine shall first turn red;
First heaven shall lie below and hell above,
Ere I inconstant to you prove."

"First shall the heaven's bright

The

stars shall

fly,

till

the

God and

CHAPTER XXXVI

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO REVIVE

CHRISTIAN TRAINING IN THE FAMILY?

Rev. R. A. Morrisey, Mobile, Ala.

One of the indispensable elements in our moral and religious
growth is the faithful observance of the Divine injunction, both in
letter and spirit, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and
when he is old he will not depart from it." When the family has
arisen to the full measure of its responsibility and performance of
religious duty, according to this ideal standard, then, and not until
then, will it be possible for the church, school and college and other
christian and civilizing agencies at work among us, to prove of
the greatest efficiency and effectiveness in elevating the race. From
whatever view point we may consider it, in the moulding and
shaping of character, in instilling into the hearts and minds of the
youth those indelible impressions which either elevate or degrade
them in the scale of morality and religion, the family wields a
greater influence than any other institution or human society. It
is therefore that the family, to a larger degree than any other
agency, occupies the unique position of being a help or a hindrance

and influences, in the work of enlightening,
the race up into that lofty atmosphere of
christian manhood and ideal citizenship.
To-day the great majority of men and women of the race, and of
the races, who, by their superior intellectual and moral worth, and
by their christian character, have won positions of honor and distinction in the forefront of every great movemient to better the condition of the world, are those whose lives were influenced by
christian training at the family altar, often of some humble and
obscure home, kneeling beside a praying father or mother. The
to other great forces

inspiring and

(219)

lifting

CHRISTIAN TRAINING IN THE FAMILY

220

beneficial results of such training-

who have grown up

upon the

christian families

lives of

men and womeri

and who

greatest testimonials in favor of the necessity of
in

faithfully ob-

human development,

served the essential principles in

its

are

the

observance

every family.

The baneful consequences

of neglecting this system of training
everywhere apparent. We see it in the absence of the masses
of our young people from religious worship at our churches, and
from the christian and spiritual services of other religious socieis

ties established for their especial benefit.

They manifest

little

which mean their moral and
spiritual uplifting. As to the cause of this growing indifference on
the part of the masses of our young people, there can be no doubt
that it arises mainly from the failure to receive proper christan
training in the family. What preacher or pastor, Sabbath School
no interest whatever

in the things

teacher or christian worker,

who

has not been porfoundly im-

pressed with the thought that the great masses of our young people
are gradually slipping

away from

the grasp of the church and relig-

ious influences.

With these conditions confronting us, there can be no difference
wisdom and advisability of initiating some
method, at least along more progressive and effective lines, to
speedily change this unhealthy situation. The time is ripe for it.
christian training must be revived in the family, if we hope to

of opinion as to the

continue to advance as a race in the direction of a higher ethical

and religious status.
must,

mean

Something must be done.

Our family

life

rrorp to the cause of morals and religion, and religion

and morals must mean more to the family than heretofore.

greater interest in the cause of religion, a deeper spirituality and
greater service for Christ must be

young people.
The Negro ministry
on
and

of to-day,

awakened and developed

by taking

question, through

our

clearly defined

from the
do not mean that the preacher can do all that is
necessary to be done, single-handed and alone, to revive Christian
training in the family, but I do mean to emphasize that he can,
attitude

pulpit

—

this

ceaseless agitation

CHRISTIAN TRAINING IN THE FAMILY

through this method, do more than any one
position and

commanding

concert of action

because of his
and crystalize uniLet the Christian ministry in one
else,

influence, to create

versal sentiment favorable to

united

221

it.

address

itself

especialy

tion touching the family life of the race, and, to

gratifying results will soon be visible to

ques-

this

mind, the

all.

But we must not stop with agitation from the pulpit and

lecture

platform throughout the country on this question. This should be
followed up by some aggressive and uniform movement in which
the co-operation of all our Christian forces can be enlisted, in order

may produce

the best results. It is only by agitation
aroused to great dangers with reference to
any question, and it is by organization that agitation will prove
most effective. The keynote, hen, to the situation, as I see it, is agiorganization with direct reference to
tation and organization
reaching parents hitherto unreached and favorably impressing them
with the necessity and importance of beginning the work of chrisLet agitation and organization go
tian training in the family.
together.
Either one will fall short of its aim without the other.
We have had, as a race, no definite and distinct organized movement to enlist the interest and sympathy of parents in this direction.
Why not take the step now? The plan of organization has
been adopted and put into operation for the benefit of society along
other moral and religious lines, and all around us we see the helpful
and beneficial results. Why is it that organization upon a broad and
christian basis, backed up by the interest and enthusiasm which
agitation, conference and discussion would inspire, would not be
that agitation

that the general public

—

of material aid in reviving Christian training in the family?

Let
meetings be held especially for parents, where there may be direct
personal contact with parents and better opportunity afforded to
arouse them to individual action.

—
CHRISTIAN TRAINING IN THE FAMILY

222
i

;

What Can

be Done to Secure Religious Training in the

James E. Shepard, Ph.

To my mind
the parents

G.,

Durham, N.

sum and substance can be

the

must be

Home?

told in one sentence

Hence

religious or religiously inclined.

largely a matter of individual opinion.

Home Around it clusters the fondest memories of childhood,
and whether in the valley, protected from the rough winds, or
on the mountain top bidding defiance to all around whether a
lowly thatched roof, or a stately mansion, it is dear alike to the
peasant or the lord. Walls bedecked* with silver and gold do not
make home. Home is a place protected by love, where kindness
is the pass-word, and a genuine interest in the success or failings
!

;

member the guiding star. A commnuity of
The home life of the Jews in ancient days was the
training school, and out of it sprang such characters as Abraham,
Moses, Joseph, Samuel, Joshua and others, men who stand out

of each

individual

interests.

renowned

down

and

in song,

for us to follow.

the fountain

the characters

Hence

of society

life

whose deeds have been
and whose examples have been handed

Christian character,

for their

told in prose

who

will

and the

the

home now

that should be

and the beginning of all
make impress upon the hearts of the
state,

children of men.

reverence for God and His
law and order, a desire to improve opportunities presented, a kindly feeling toward less fortunate individuals than ourselves.
This training can be secured in the family, as I stated before,
by parents being religious or religiously inclined, but better by
religious parents. Bacon states it well when he says-: "Lukewarm
persons think they may accomodate points of religion by middle
ways and witty reconcilements; as if they would make an arbitrament between God and man. If the head be impure, the stream
and not the rule. One of the worst sights in all the world is to
see ungodly parents raising children, teaching them no fear of God.
Religious

creations, a

No man

training

filial

consists

love, a respect for

woman

is fitted

to rear children or to rightfully enjoy

PROF. CHAS.
Formerly Director

HARRIS, MAYSVILLE, KY.

Music Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute.
Director of Chorus of Five Hundred Voices Grand Concert
N. Y, P. C. and Educational Congress.
of

SPEAKERS AT THE CONGRESS.
Rev. S. T. Redd.
2 Mrs. Julii Mavson Lay ton.
3 M iss Julia L.Cald\veil,A.M
4 Mra. M. A. Ford.
5 Mrs. Rosa D. Bowser.
6 Prof. E. L. Chew, A.M.
7 Rev. F. H. Butler.
1

8
»
10
11

12
18
14

Rev. Sutton E.Griggs.B.D.
Rev. Elam A. White.
Rev. C. 8. Wilkii s. D.D.

Rev. A. B. Murden.
Rev. Geo. \Y. Arnold, D.D.
Rev. William C. Banton.
Rev. J. L. Cook.

18
19

10
17

Rev.W. G. Alexander. D.D.
Rev. J. H. Manley, D.D.
Rev. .I.E.KweKvir-Apfrrey.
Rev. J. EC, Hibbler, D.D.
Prof. C. M. Wells.
William H. Phillips,
D. D.

20 Rev.

SPEAKERS AT THE CONGRESS.
Rev.
2 Rev.
3 Rev.
4 Rev.
5 Rev.
6 Rev.

Prof.

L. E. B. Rosser, D.D.
J.

A. Bray.

Jame. H. Thompson.
G. T. Dillard, D.D.
I. M. W. DeSliong.
L. H. Reynolds, D.D.

D E

Sugcs.

8
U

10
11
12
13

Rev. N. B. Sterrett. D D.
Rev. S. T. Clanton, D D.
Rev. J. William Luckett,
D.D.
Rev. G. R. Waller, D.D.
Rev. Scott Wood.
Rev. W. G. Johnson.
Rev. G. P. We:ch.

15 Rev. J. S. Caldwell. D.D.
16 Miss Mary A. Lvnch.
17 Mrs. Maggie L. Walker.
18 Rev
Newsome.
19 Prof. Lucius V Harrison.
20 Rev. William V. Tunnell,

H.N.

A.M..S.T.B.

t
WksA

JB9H

Lad"

ifi

•

ii
SPEAKERS AT THE CONGRESS.
1

3
4

5
«
7

Rev. W. D.< nappelle, D.D.
Rev. J. E. Ford, D.D.
Rev. C. H. Claiborne,
Rev. O. S. Sirams, D.D.
Rev. P. J. Bryant
Rev. Robt. E. Jones, D.D.
Rev. \Y. .7. White, D.D.

Prof ..In o.R.Hawkins, A.M.
Rev. William Butler.

Madison Young.
Prof. M. W. Reddick.
Rev. R. T. Brown, M. D.

14
15
16
17
18

D.D.
Rev. I. B. Scott. D.D.

19
20

8
•>>

10
11

Rev.

J. Will Jackson, D.D.
Rev. R. T. Hart, D.D.
Rev. W. P. Gibbons.
Rev. W. W. Lucas. D.D.
Rev W. M. Moss, D.D.
Hon. R. L. Smith, A M.

Rev.

Mrs. A. W.

Hun ton.

CHRISTIAN TRAINING IN THE FAMILY

who

the marriage relation

223

not religious or religiously inclined.

Another condition, though almost as bad,

see

so-called

doing every kind of act not consistent with
religion or the high ideal of what constitutes a true man or woman
It is a counterfeit religion, and does more to bring about siReligious training can be secured by having high ideals in the
home. Many of you have read Hawthorne's beautiful allegory,
"The Great Stone Face," how the man, Ernest, by continuous
gazing at the great stone face, because just like it the same
beautiful countenance so our children become like the ideals we
set before them.
There should be methods of reading, so that each individual
member of the family could take part. This can be done by
studying the lives of Bible characters, study what made them
great, the secret of their success, their failings.
And then in
connection, study the lives of men around you, men who have
accomplished something, men who have accomplished nothing.
Then profit by the lessons learned. Then another method is to
study events, compare them with events mentioned in history,
the effect these events had on the world.
Then another method
is to select a certain number of Biblical verses and ask questions
on these verses. By this means the memory is strengthened and
a clearer insight of the Scriptures gained.
Religious training can
be secured by a systematic course of reading of good books,
biographies of men and nations, literature and standard novels.
Good fiction is never harmful. The religious novel has its place,
as well as the religious history. Religious training can be secured
by teaching a proper regard for nature and the things that nature
produces.
In the quiet woods, amid the chirping of birds, the
babbling of brooks, and grassy meadows, one is fully conscious
that there is a power higher than they, and the impulse is awakened to come in contact with that power.
Teach your children restraint; restraint of passions and of vices,
religious

parents

;

intellectually

example

and physically. Too
often parents set the bad
immorality and license. Restraint de-

of intemperance,

;

CHRISTIAN TRAINING IN THE FAMILY

224

Too many men have

notes the perfect man.

Our

liberty.

liberty
free
in

labored

race

meant

long under the

A wrong

license.

conception of

because the Constitution says
self,

that

wrong

life.

idea of

idea

that

No man

but freedom is found only
is free from vices and from

so,

when a man
man knows what

the breasts of men,

clinging

the

mistaken

liberty in its truest sense,

and no limitations or restrictions could enslave him.

He who

studies that he

may make men

hate has formed his

allegiance with Satanic conspiracies, but he that studies that he

may make men

love has entered into a holy allegiance with the

white-winged hosts

who hover about

the good unseen, yet ever

near.

Religious training can be secured by giving our children a right
life.
Life is not beauty until we realize fully that life is

idea of

duty.

It is as

much

religion to live within our incomes, to live

mankind, as

to attend church flon

Sunday.
from talking so much about
things that concern us not our neighbors' faults encouraging
our children to talk about them, what they eat and what they do
not have, thus raising up a race of tattle-mongers and tale-bearers
no children can be religiously trained with such parents and under
such conditions. I do not believe that the man or woman who
So much idle talk has
cannot bridle his tongue has religion.
estranged friends and families, has caused blood-shed and loss of
life, has engendered bitter racial feeling, and to this one thing
more than others can be traced the cause of unrest and points
It starts in the pulpit and extends
of dispute between the races.
to the pew. I am glad to note hopeful signs along this line, and we
peacefully with
It

much

all

religion

are learning that silence

What Should

refrain

—

golden.

W. M.

Moss, D. D., Norfolk, Va.

subject here assigned, in

inquiry, acknowledges decline
and seeks through this medium

its

in christian training in the family,

a remedy.

be Done to Revive Christian Training in the Family?
Rev.

The

CHRISTIAN TRAINING IN THE FAMILY
the family there

Tf in

a decline in

225

Christian training, then

government, and in the entire scope of
human relationship, because the government in its embryonic
there

this decline in the

state

the family.

diseased condition of the

embryo

will pro-

duce an unhealthy posterity. Therefore the grave importance of
proper christian training and government in the family.
The beginning of government was the home. The first form of
government was that which has been styled the "Patriarchal."
This arose naturally from the authority of parents over their
children.
This authority is God-given or divine in its origin.
Parents are commanded of God as to their duty in home life, and
how they are to religiously teach and train their families by
:"
"words" and "conduct
Deut. ii-i: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, and keep his
charge and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments
"Ye shall lay up these, my words, in
alway." Deut. 11-29, 20
your hearts, and in your souls, and bind them for a sign upon your
hands, that they may be front-lets between your eyes." "Ye >hall
Speaking them, when thou sittest in
teach them your children.
thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou
And thou shalt write them
liest down, and when thou risest up.
upon the door posts of thine house and upon thy gates."
Like
at

we have failed to keep this law. As a result, sin is
The fast age in which we live; the immature material
training and experience with which the homes of our

Israel,

our door.

as to age,

people are

now

being formed

;

being too easily satisfied with meager

educational attainments, and suffering ourselves to be flattered by

who are untrue, in their statements, as to our true condition,
have caused us to be too far rernoved from the ancient landmark oi

those

family devotion.

In order to "revive Christian training in the family," therefore,
first,

we recommend

mother pray,

let

become Christians

a family altar in every

home.

the children hear prayers.
call

upon themj

to pray,

Let father and

When

the children

and see that they lead

prayers.

Make

the air of the

home

devotional.

Such an influence

will

CHRISTIAN TRAINING IN THE FAMILY

226

follow one through

life, molding his thoughts and thus his deeds and
This family altar is the secret of success. Ask God into
our families, pray that He abide in the home.
Prov. 22-26: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and

actions.

when he

old he will not depart

Second.

from

it."

recommend each home

to watch with extreme care
admits into its sacred portals.
Stories of the Bible, religious fiction, Sunday newspapers, leaflets
and minor helps are taking the place of the Bible itself in too many
homes.

the class

and kind

of literature

Humanity shows

it in its lack of spirituality.
As worms become
upon which they feed, so minds are influenced and colored
by the literature upon which they feed. Study the Bible, "search
the Scriptures, they are they which testify of me."
"Thy' word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my pathway/'
More Bible and less fiction will produce a "revival of Christian

like that

training in the family."

Third.

"revive Christian training in the family,"

will be

and those who are entrusted with the oversight of home to better divide their time so as to spend more time
in the home with the family than they spend each week in lodge
rooms and in other engagements from their families. Thousands
of homes see but very little of the parents of those homes. They
are gone through the day to earn bread, and at night to lodge rooms
and other engagements. So that the homes get but little or none
essential for parents

the

personal stamp, personal

parents'

impression, health

parental association and example for solid growth and strength.

The

parents' presence imparts a benefit to

home which can not be

defined nor described, and in itself leads to devotion.

The

United States is an example in history
extreme care and much love
shown for family and home, religion.
late President of the

of the nations in his special attention,

Fourth.

recommend

the

home

to regard itself as a place too

sacred to permit the slang and the rag-time music to enter
ness.

bad,

The
lasts

soul

moved by

song.

through generations.

The influence of
Watch the tone

its holi-

song, good or
of

the

songs

CHRISTIAN TRAINING IN THE FAMILY
indulged

home

in'

by those

your

227

fireside, see that the

tuned to the heart of heaven.

Such

music of your

in its influence will

racy and elevating.
Fifth. To "revive Christian influence and training in the family,"
the church and

all

the conduct of religious services, pulpit and

pew, must be elevating, in keeping with the best home training,
and far enough above it to mold and shapen its course so that persons going to places of religious worship shall be made to feel as
the Jews going to Jerusalem, from whatever way they went they
felt that they were going up.

How

Revive Christian Training

Miss Julia L. Caldwell, A.

The

family

the Family

B., Dallas,

Tex.

the oldest institution in the world, the only one

that has existed without cessation from' the creation of

man

till

The home is the first and most important school
of character. It is there that every human being receives his best
moral training, or his worst; for it is there that he imbibes those
principles of conduct which endure through manhood and cease
only with life. The training of any, even the wisest, can not fail
to be powerfully influenced by the moral surroundings of his early
years.
From the very first breath that he draws his education
begins. Christian training is the harmonious development of man's
entire being. There must be symmetry, harmony, co-ordination of
powers, manhood, womanhood, the highest type possible, character, noble, refined and pure ought to be the outcome of Christian
training in any family. Cannon Farrar says: "The Persian ideal
might be worthy of our study. At the age of fourteen, when we
turn our children upon the world and do nothing more for them,
the Persians gave their young nobles the four best masters whom
they could find to teach them wisdom, justice, temperance and
courage; wisdom, including worship; justice, including the duty
of unswerving faithfulness through life; temperance, including
this present time.

228

CHRISTIAN TRAINING IN THE FAMILY

mastery over sensual temptations; courage, including a free mind
opposed to all things coupled with guilt." Nothing can be grander
in this world than the power to rouse the desire for nobler and
better things, for a purer and happier life.

"How

to revive the influence of Christian training in the famil)'?"

AVe answer, first: By the daily reading of the sacred word.
There is no better text-book than the Bible, for no one can improve
on the Ten Commandments and Christ's Sermon on the Mount.
And there are no better teachers than parents who themselves practice the purest morality. Train up a child mentally and morally in
the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from
it.
And before he is old he will achieve that success in life which
he could not achieve without such training. Christ says
"My
word shall be a lamp unto thy feet, and a light unto thy pathway."
Second: Teach the children about the truths of religion. Some
parents say: "I will let my children grow up and decide for themselves about the truths of religion." But you do not do so in other
things. You teach them your political creed you teach them that
the sun stands still and that the earth moves around it.
Why?
Because you believe those things. You believe in God, in eternity,
in the fact of sin and the need of a Savior.
Teach them to your
children so early that they shall at first know no reason for their
truth except the fact that you say that they are true. It is the right
and duty of every parent to prepossess their minds in favor of these
truths.
If you do not do so, Satan will certainly prepossess their
minds against these things. Teach the word of God diligently unto
thy children. "Talk of it when thou sittest in thy house, and when
thou walkest by the way, and when thou fittest down and when
thou risest up."
Again, after parents have done all they could do to give their
children physical, mental and moral training, there still remains
this thing to be done: to plead for God's blessing on the children,
and for His blessing on their efforts for them.. The danger of their
:

;

making mistakes and going astray is so great, the temptations that
surround and assail them are so many, so strong and so insinuating; the effects of what they are in childhood and of the purposes

CHRISTIAN TRAINING IN THE FAMILY

229

that they form then reach out so far into eternity that they need
1

to be

all

the time girded with the prayers of a praying father anc

Many

of us, looking calmly back upon th<>
up both hands and honestly say that of all
those blessings we thank God the most for a praying father and a
praying mother. One divine suggests that parents pray (in their
closets) every day
pray for their children by name. Pray bit
them; at the family altar. Take them with you, says he, sometimes
to your place of secret prayer, and pray with them and for them.
Take them with you, too, to the house of God and to the Sunday
a praying mother.

blessings of

life,

can

lift

—

School.

Another excellent plan would be to* have members of the family
to memory the texts which they hear on the Sabbath. Tl e
texts which ministers preach are usually among the choicest in
God's word. Commit those that we hear preached from in c ne
year, and we will have in our head and heart a rich store of Brble
truths.
Scholars may quote Cicero and Plato in studies, but the
hearts of millions shall quote the Bible at their daily toil and draw
strength from its inspiration as the meadows draw it from the
brook.
Then, after committing the texts, ponder carefully the
thoughts conveyed for, says St. Paul
"Whatsoever things are
true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if
there be any praise, think on these things."
We often speak of our duty, of a knowledge of our duty. What
is the source of our knowledge of duty?
It is not from Ararat,
which lifted its head first above the flood and received the dove
with its olive branch; not from Sinai, which looks proudly upon
three nations and almost three countries and overlooks our kind
with its great moral code; not from Horeb, where Jehovah with
his fearful hand covered his face that man might not look upon his
brightness not from Lebanon, whose cedars were the beauty of
the earth; not from the Mount of Olives, which saw the agony of
the Savior; not from Calvary, at which tragedy nature shuddered
and the heavens were covered with gloom that our best teaching for

commit

;

CHRISTIAN TRAINING IN THE FAMILY

230

—

duty comes. It comes from the holy Christian training backed up
by the Scriptures; training full of inspiration for our guidance.

THE EFFECTS OF CHRISTIAN TRAINING

When Christian training shall have been revived in the family,
and the principles obtain in our hearts, then "Mercy and Truth will
meet together and Righteousness and Peace shall kiss each other."
Then will there arise a brilliant day-star in the homes. The horn
of abundance shall overflow at its gates; the Angel of Religion
shall be the guide over its steps of flashing adamant; while within
each home charity, love and obedience returned to the earth shall
rear their serene and majestic 'front. When Christian training shall
have been revived in the family each member will be a strong soldier
of the cross
being doubly armed, will be able to fight his own
Marathon, and Thermopylae, and will never know a Waterloo.
Then will all follow "The Great White Light" and become purged
of this world's dross each soul will be girded with the strong white
linen of purity, and all our feet will be protected with the sandals of
Then will we hail a new advent of that Prince of Peace
truth.
*vhose other advent was chanted by the Angelic Choir.
May, throughout this broad land, every family lay a new stone
in the grand temple of Christian training, whose dome shall be as
the firmament of heaven, as broad and comprehensive as the earth
;

;

itself.

What

Shall be

Done

Revive Christian Training in the Family?

A. St. George Richardson, President
Jacksonville,

Edward Waters

College,

Florida

By Christian training, I infer, is meant the regular daily observance of those principles of Christian doctrine that tend to draw us
nearer in spirit and mind to Christ our Savior. The observance of
the Christian duties in this particular

was more general among

our foreparents and older relatives than it is to-day among us. And
why? Because of the fact that directly after the Civil War our

CHRISTIAN TRAINING IN THE FAMILY
people

felt it their

231

indispensable duty to praise the Almighty for

His providential care

for preservation of life

and deliverance from the bonds of slavery,
amid so many dangers of destruction and

death.

Then the hearthstone was a more sacred altar than the meeting
house the devout parent when kneeling around his fireplace had
seemingly more power and influence with his Maker when he approached the throne of grace than oftentimes had the parson in
;

the church.

Again, it was thought blasphemy to begin the daily routine of
work without at first reading the Scripture and "having a word of
prayer."
This practice was almost universally observed by all
Christian people of whatever sect or denomination, and was kept
tip

continuously by the older families even to the present day.

But, what should be done to revive Christian training in the

This question may be. answered thus: With the march of
has been also a march of religious ideas and a progressive Christian spirit of activity. Two decades ago how many
Y. M. C. A/s were there among us? How many Epworth Leagues
could you find? How many B. Y. P. U.'s were there? How many
family?

intellect there

Christian Endeavor Societies were there established

How many

C. T. U.'s

were formed

among us?

for our elevation

and the

betterment of mankind in general? When we think of these several agencies at work, when we realize that changes and reforms
are in order even in religious circles and assemblies, as well as in
educational and

assumes

The

commercial pursuits, the subject of the paper

a different aspect.

would suggest

done to revive the practice
and gifts is the
getting and having happy homes where father and mother are in
accord both in spirit and body. There should be more regard paid
to the spiritual injunction, "Be ye not unequally yoked together."
Christ can not dwell in an unhappy home. One can not well invite
His presence before breakfast and then exclude Him from the home
first

thing

to be

of having family training in the Christian graces

after breakfast.

Marriage

Without consistency there

the foundation of the family.

hypocrisy.

To have

happy

CHRISTIAN TRAINING IN THE FAMILY

232

home

there

must be

thing to be done

good foundation

this:

in marriage. Hence a second
Let our preachers exercise more care and

caution in the service of joining together in the holy estate of
wedlock or matrimony persons incompatible. Where there is an

unhappy union the preacher or minister performing such
tion

to a certain degree culpable.

a func-

How

can a minister of the
gospel give wholesome spiritual and temporal advice to a couple
whom he knowingly has unequally yoked together?
Another thing to be done to revive Christian training in the
family is this: Let the minister of the gospel be consistent in his
is

For just as he conducts divine worship
church so are his members likely to follow him in their devotions at home.
To illustrate: One Sunday the pastor w ill have
his congregation in such a religious fervor that due regard for time
is unheeded, and the congregation breaks up feeling "happy" over
the good meeting they have had. On next Sunday there is to be a
rally!
Thre is but little time for religious fervor. The exercises
or service is abbreviated, and it may be that some parts are entirely
omitted in order to get to the important task of money-gathering.
So, in the home, in order to hasten to that part of the day's work
that pertains to money-getting, we abbreviate our prayers and omit
family devotions. Let the pastors therefore set a better example
for his members and congregation.
practices of Christianity.
in the

Again, to revive Christian training in the family, there should
be begotten within the hearts of the members of the family a love
for such training rather than a dislike. That is to say, when we go
to the house of the Lord for divine worship, the services there,
while having due regard for piety, should be attractive to the
as well as interesting to the old members of the church, so

young

that the former

may have

instilled into their hearts a desire for

Christian worship whether it be at home or in the church. Only
last Sunday a young lady told me that she went to church and
Sunday School "simply because her parents made her go," but that

she disliked the very way that services were conducted, and the
length of time consumed before dismissal. She was glad when it
rained, so that she could stay at home and read. Thus you see the

CHRISTIAN TRAINING IN THE FAMILY

233

tendency of the young people is to avoid that service which affords
no pleasure to either mind, body or spirit, but which becomes
a bore.

Where

the services are rendered attractive by beautiful edifices,

not costly; by good music, not operatic; by lively, timely, crisp
sermons, not harrangues by good order and proper decorum, not
noisy; by promptly beginning, not tardy; by early dismissal, not
;

prolonged beyond reason, there will not be wanting attendants nor
interest, but the whole people will be glad and rejoice in the Lord,
and will learn to love and serve the Lord their God at all times and
in all places,

whether

Thus having induced

home

or in the church.

a love for Christian service in the church,

it is an easy matter to have a short, interesting service at home,
taking care -always to have such a service as is appropriate for the
time, place and season. With such daily service in the home, the

foundation

laid for further incidental training as occasion

may

require.

What

Shall be

Rev.

Done

to Secure Christian Training in the

Quann, Union Church, Wilmington,

would advise the importance

Family?

Del.

of all ministers to impress
duty of family prayer in all families of their
parishioners. Prayer will form the young and tender character to
love God, to honor and reverence Him as no other mode of worship
will they will assimilate those high and noble qualities from God
that will raise them to the highest point of moral and social attainments. Then they will be able to impart them to others by contact
and association. And raise fallen humanity to a higher plane, at
least socially and morally.
2nd. I would advise that all ministers would earnestly impress
the great need of catechism training in the families of their parishioners, that the children may not only learn to love God but learn
something of His nature and will their relations to God and His to
them. By doing so, children will become converted to God and will
1st. I

this all-important

;

CHRISTIAN TRAINING IN THE FAMILY

234

thm to not only
Him. Then our homes, Sabbath Schools and

receive that regenerating influence that will enable

love God, but to obey

young

people's societies will be a great power, not only in society,

not only

morals, but in saving the world for Christ.

would

speak on character formed by association and
works upon him.
There is a great mistake in saying that as a man believes so is he,
if you mean that his character depends upon his belief in any
technical theological truth.
What a man is depends in a great
measure upon his father and mother, and brothers and sisters, and
friends.
That is, it depends partly on the things that he believes
3rd. I

habit.

like to

man's

belief is not the only thing that

and partly upon the influences that are working upon him in the
family, in the society, and in the comrryunity to which he belongs.
There are a thousand and one circumstances that have much to do
with what a man is, and his character is not formed alone by his
technical belief.
Character is a power.
Benjamin Franklin attributed his success as a public man, not to his talents, nor to his
power of speaking, but to his integrity of character. That character is power, is true in a much higher sense than that knowledge is
power.
Miind without heart, intellect without conduct, cleverness without goodness, are powers only for mischief. Truthfulness, integrity and goodness are qualities that form the essence of

manly

character.

When

Stephen of Colonna fell in the hands of his assailants, and
they asked him where his fortress was, he placed his hand on his
heart and said: "Here, my character/'

What

Shall be

Done

to Secure Christian Training in the

William H. Phillips, D.

Family?

D., Philadelphia, Pa.

propose to treat this under three heads: (1) The Necessity for
this, Quite Apparent.
(2) The Hindrance in the Way.
(3) The
Accomplishment.
Agencies to be Relied Upon for Its
The Necessity. The human mind, and especially that of childI

—

CHRISTIAN TRAINING IN THE FAMILY

235

always susceptible to impressions either good
and
for the bad than for the good
there seems to be a race and rush between the good and the evil
influences as to which will get there first.
But it lies within our
power to help the one and defeat the other in some measure. We
have the means, the opportunity and the powr to throw on the
light, and then occupy the vantage ground and maintain our place
in the young mind by fortifying it with the truth of God's word.
The Hindrances in Its Way. As a people, we are yet largely in
our crude state. Both our former and our present environments
cling to us, and fight them as we may, they will not retreat an inch
In
farther than we force them back by a hand-to-hand struggle.
a large majority of cases we lack intelligent and moral surroundings to serve us as object lessons; for, after all, example is better
than precept. The one-room cabin, the lack of books and teachers,
all the family sleeping in*one or two rooms, is a positive prohibition

hood and youth,

or bad, and

more eager

;

—

of right training.

Our poverty prevents us from providing the necessary appliances for a successful effort along this line.
must depend
almost entirely upon other corporations and other capital for our

supplies of almost every sort and kind.

The

railroad, the steamboat,

and everything of the
must go into the courts controlled and managed, in
most instances, by those who seek to oppress us. We must depend
very largely upon the lawyer and the doctor who is not always in
sympathy with us. We must read books, if we read at all, written
by men and women who seek to stamp us as an inferior race. All
of this, and more, we must suffer on account of our ignorance and
the stage coach, the telegraph, the telephone
kind.

poverty.

Ancestors.

Their influence.

moving and developing
fluences.

One

a useful life

the

greatest

springs in

ancestral memories and in-

be a descendant of a Washington, a Lincoln, a Grant,

a Webster, a Douglass, a Gladstone, a Bismarck, and the like,

pump aspiration
momentum to our efforts.

powerful machine to
irresistible

the children can

and

will do.

into our lives,

which gives

For what the fathers

did,

CHRISTIAN TRAINING IN THE FAMILY

236

The Agencies to be Relied Upon for the Accomplishment of
This Task. The home is the seat of moral and religious power.
The family altar should be erected in every home, not to be torn
down by anything else.
The public school is where much of the life of our children is
shaped and molded. We should try, as far as possible, to have our
children under pious, Christian teachers, and, as far as the law
allows, see to it that the Bible is read in the school. Our country
is suffering much on account of the exclusion of this Holy Book
from the public schools through the influence of the Roman church.
Last, but no least, the Church. Let each pastor and superintendent, from the pulpit and stand, also in private, insist on the reading
of the Bible in the home.
Let parents and children take turns in
this service.
If the children who can read are encouraged in this,
they will become interested in it and it will grow to be a pleasure to
them. In this service the pastor can be a m'ighty factor by his
instruction and appeals to the whole church.
A Bible Reading Missionary. As few of our churches are able
to support a church missionary in whole, they can do it in part,
many of them. Select a pious, Christian lady, who can give, say,
three afternoons in a week for the sum of $5.00 to $15.00 per month,
whose business it would be to go from; house to house, read the
Bible, gather children for the Sabbath School, look after delinquent
members and so, in this way, untold good could be done. She
could distribute cards, tracts, and in many ways render Christian
service.
Such helps, I think, would go far to help a Christian-

—

;

training in the family.

What Should

be Done to Secure Christian Training in the Family?

Prof. George L. Tyus, Washington, Ark.

When we
of society

consider the environments of the home, the atmosphere

and the

social circle

and the careless indifference, and

much unpleasant discord and division which so often exists between
those who constitute the founders of the family, one finds himself

CHRISTIAN TRAINING IN THE FAMILY

237

greatly at sea to give an adequate answer to this question, or to

suggest what should be done to secure Christian training in the
family.

The

first

great

principle

which underlies the

Christian training in the family
well-established

home we mean

of
a

that sacred spot which constitutes

the center of our affection, around which

The

possibilities

a well-established home.

place which (as has been said)

two hearts beat

as one.

the father's kingdom, the

mother's world and the children's paradise; the place where all
shut out and a sea of love shut in.
But love will not exist except it has a firm foundation upon

strife is

which to
is

rest;

and the only foundation upon which love

will stand

Christian character of truth and purity.

Those who anticipate wedlock and
the

home should

desire Christian training in

enter the sacred school of the Great Teacher of

the Universe, and at an early age

first learn to love His precepts
His examples. For he who would teach must first
himself be taught,, and he who would train must first himself be
trained. Prepare early and well for the voyage across the perilous
nuptial sea.
Self-sacrifice, self-denial, prayer, pains and patience,
toil and cares, are the wind in the sails and the pilot at the wheel
of the vessel which insures a safe and happy landing.
If confusion, strife or discord in any form is found to exist, it

and

to follow

must be

totally eradicated, for Christian training in the family can

be secured only where the link in the chain of affection is unbroken
and where the faults and failures of the home are covered under
the peaceful mantle of charity.

This

the only true condition under which

Christian training in the family.

we can hope

This being true,

lo secure

would therefore

suggest the following:
1.

Seek to have a well-established home.

Let father and mother

be a unit in that home, inspired with the same zeal of interest in the
future welfare of the children.
2. Let them read the Bible and other good books together in the
home, and thereby create a thirst in the children for knowledge and

sacred truths.

CHRISTIAN TRAINING IN THE FAMILY

238

Collect the children together and organize the Fireside School

and

up Christian family government.
Read the Bible in the home with the children

set

daily.
Get them
aroused to have Bible reading together.
5. Let them join Bible Bands, Sunshine Bands and other worthy
societies for the youths.
6. Hold family prayers with the children, and while in their tender years point them the way that leads to God.
Get acquainted with your
7. Keep them close to your side.
children. Watch the company they keep, to whom and what they
4.

write.

See to

that good and

wholesome

home and read by the children to keep
man thinks in his heart so is he.

What Should

Done

literature

kept

first

to Secure Christian Training in the

Family*

possible that the influence of the one
influence of the other.
of the other

in the

way

S. C.

requisite to Christian training in the family

that the parents themselves be Christians; otherwise,

life

the

for as a

Rev. E. B. Burroughs, LL. B., D. D., Charleston,

Evidently the

minds pure,

their

not,

If
it

the

life

may

highly

be contracted by the

of the one

Christian and the

will be quite difficult to train the children

which they should

go.

the advancement of this thought you will at once see that

do not belong to that class of theorists who affect to believe that
the Christian training of the family devolves certainly upon the
True, it is the mother's privilege to bless the world for
influence; true it is that she may make straight paths
her
good by
of
her children, and through such making cause them
for the feet
delectable and glorious heights above; still, \v$
the
to attain unto

mother.

order to attain the rounded, full-orbed Christian training in the family so sadly needed to-day, both parents, father and
mother, should and must be Christians. They must be equal in

aver that

SPEAKERS AT THE CONGRESS.
1

2
8

4
5

Bishop H. M. Turner,
L.L D.
Rev. R. C. Ran=on, D.D.
Bishop Evans Tyree, D.D.
Rev. D. G. Hill.
Prof. J. D. Jordon, A.M.

6
7

8
9

Rev. Bishop J.W. Alstork,
D.D,
Bishop C. T. Shaffer, D.D.
Bishop C. S Smith, D D.
Mr. H. T. Kealingr. A.M.
Miss Liatah C. Marshall,
A.B.

Thomas

Mrs. Carrie

12
13
14

Rev. J. W. Tate.
Kishop A. Grant, D.D.
Rev. R. Spiller, D.D.
William A Jones. M.D.
Mr. James Thompson.

Jor-

dan,

SPEAKERS AT THE CONGRESS.

Mr. W H. Stewart.
Rev. W. G. Parks.
Rev. J. M Riddlp. D.D.
Mr. Wm. H. Holloway.
Rev. Charles
Dinkins.
Rev. E. T. Martin.

Mrs.

3
i

Silone-Yates.
Miss Mattie Bowen.
.J

9
10
11

Hon. John C. Daney.
Rev. E. W. Lanipton, D.D.
Rev. R. A. Carter, A.M.,

Archdeacon

Rev.

I'ollard.

Rev.
Rev.

L. Thomas, D.D.
James W. Walker,

D.D.
17 Rev.
18 Rev.
19 Prof.

12 Prof. G. E.-Reed.
13 Rev. G. C. Rawlston.
14

15
10

D. Webster Davis.

Joseph D Bibb.
Nelson Williams.
Rev. W. B. Johnson.

SPEAKERS AT THE CONGRESS.
1

8
4
5
6

7
8

Mrs. Armand D.Wimberly.
Mrs. Marie L. Williams.
Mrs. J. W. E. Bowen.
Rev. C. T. Walker. D.D.
Mrs. I. Garland Penn.
Rev. H H. Mitchell, D.D.
Mrs. Amanda Smith.
Rev. E. M. Jones, B.D.

Rev. C. C. Jacobs, D.D.
S. Rus-

Archdeacon James
sell.

11
12

Rev. John Hurst, D.D.

Deaconess Anna Hall.
Dr. R. F. Boyd.

Mrs. Florence A. L. Gordon.

15
1(5

18
19

Rev.
Rev.
Rev.
Rev.
Miss

Preston Taylor.
G. Hunt, D.D.
J. E. Mason, D. D.
F. Jesse Peck. D.D.
O. Olivia Brooks,

A.M.
Tecumseh Vernon,
A.M.

20 Pres.

SPEAKERS
Rev. J.W.Smith.
2 Rev. N. H. Plus, D.D.

9
10

3
4

Norman, D.D.

Rev. Griffin G. Logan, D.D.

ev.

M.W.

5 Rev. Karnest Lyons, D.
6 Prof. J. I'. Morris, D.D.
7 Rev. D. A. Perrin. D.D.

Miss Fannie C. Cobb.

I).

13
14

ATI. THE

CONGRESS*.

Rev. S. T. Quann.
Rev. W. D. Johnson, D.D.
Rev. P. F. Morris. D.D.
Rev. James E.; Sarjeant,
D.D.
Rev. B. F. Witherspoon,
D.D.
Rev. J. C. Jackson, D.D.

15 Trof.

George W. Hender-

son, D.D.
16 Mrs. P. C. J. Bryant.
17 Prof. M. H. Spencer.

Rev. G. T. Dillard, D.D.
President St. George Richardson.
20 Rev. W. T. Johnson, B.D.
18

m>.

MS
wmmam
1

SPEAKERS AT THE CONGRESS.
H. B. Parks, D.D.
Rev. B. M. Hubbard, D.D.

1 Rev.
2

3 Rev.A.L. Dpmond.
4 Rev. W. H. Heard, D.D.

Rev. W. B Brown, D.D.
Mrs. Ida L. Wallace
7 Rev. J. R. Smith, M.D.
5
fi

8
9
10
11
12
13
14

Rev. C. T. Stamps, D.D.
Miss Sarah J. Jenifer.
Rev. J. B. L. Williams.
Rev. J. M. Codwell.
Rev. E. C Morris. D.D.
Rev. C. C. Summerville.
M V. Lynk, M. D.
.

Bishop L.

Coppin.

10 Prof. N. W. Collier, D.D.
17 Rev. B. F. Watson. D.D.

13 Prof. R. J. Crockett.
10 Rev. W. J. Howard.

Bishop

A. Walters,

D.D.

Prof. J.

L. Diggs,

A.M.

Rev. W. S Ellington.
3 Mr. R. T. Hill.
2

ilson PettUB.
Prof. J.
J. A. Whitted, D. D.
Prof. R. J Crockett.
7 Prof. G. L Tyus, A.B.
4

Rev.

SPEAKERS AT THE CONGRESS.
15
9 Mrs. Grace Shimm Cum-

Rev.

J. P.

Morris, D.D.

10
11

mings.
Miss Anna B. Warner.
Mrs. Lucy

Thurman.

12 Rev. R. S. Stout.
13

Rev. (Jeorce E. Morris.
Rev. J. J. Durham, D.D.

17
18
19
20

Rev. H. B. M. Brown.
President.!. S. Hathaway,
A M., M D.
Prof. R. M. Caver, A.B.
Rev. C A. Leftwich, D.D.
Rev. L. B. Elleraon.
Rev. O. J. W. Scott, D.D.

CHRISTIAN TRAINING IN THE FAMILY

239

They should remember that child-trainwork ever committed to mortals, and that the
such training rests as much upon the one as the

their influence for good.

ing

the grandest

responsibility of
•^other.

In this matter they are co-workers. Neither can leave his work
done by the other. Like Joseph and Mary, they must together

to be

go into the temple and present

their children unto the Lord.

should remember that their children belong unto the Lord.

They
They

that
life the home is to be their school
they are to train their children for God, and for His service, and
should therefore carefully and prayerfully watch the opening minds
of their children, imparting such lessons as shall lead to their development into Christian men and women, and this they can not do
unless they are themselves Christians, for it is impossible for the

for the first years of their

;

blind to lead the blind, or for

those

who

him that knoweth not to instruct
Next in order to both parents

are in a similar condition.

being Christian in order to secure Christian training in the family,
I would mention harmony or agreement of ideas.
The family is a
firm, in

which the father and mother are equal partners.

They

are

together responsible for the Christian training of their children,

'^nd there should be no variance between them. They should be
rr atually bearing and forbearing and be in agreement upon those

should a family attempt to sail life's troubled sea without a family
This altar should be erected as a memorial between them
and God, and each evening father and mother and children should

altar.

gather

and pour out unto "Him from whom all blessings flow"
hymns of praise and thanksgivings.
-

their prayers and
It is better to

obey than to

sacrifice, is the

teaching of Holy Writ.

CHRISTIAN TRAINING IN THE FAMILY

240
If

God. then, finds

sary

imperative that

them

before requiring

to do

anything

man and angels should obey,
else, how much more neces-

home? Teach and
when they have learnd to obey

that obedience be required in the

require the children to obey, and

hard for them to obey God. Obedience
and in the subsequent years
they will be able to say "I delight to do thy will, O God!"
But it is just here that most parents fail. Laxity of discipline
is the bane of thousands of homes, but not only of home but also
of society in general. Thus it behooves parents to train their children to perfect obedience to the laws of God and the laws of State
if they would have them reach the difficult height of self-control,
self-restraint, patience and truthfulness. Be not lax along this line,
but, like the engineer, with strong and steady hand upon the throttle of his mighty engine, guiding its every impulse and directing its
every motion as with tremendous throb it bounds away., o'er its
beaten track, hold your children down to the right and just performance of every duty. The next duty we would mention as being
necessary to secure Christian training in the family is that of reading and studying the word of God.
their parents
will then

will not be

become

a part of their nature,

The Psalmist says:
not sin against thee,"

"Thy word have I hid in me that I might
and a greater One than the Psalmist has

said: Search the Scriptures, for in them ye have eternal life, and
they are they which testify of me." Paul, in writing to Timothy,
says: "From a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which

are able to

make

Christ Jesus."

the wise unto salvation through faith

And God,

which

is in

giving direction to Moses with refer-

ence to the propagation and perpetuity of His word among the
"Therefore shall ye lay up there my words
in your heart, and in your soul, and bring them for sign upon your

children of Israel, said:

may be as frontlets between your eyes, and ye
them your children, speaking of thine house, and when
thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou
Thus we see that God was and is still requiring that
riscst up. "
parents shall instruct their children in His holy word, and I venture
hand, that they
shall teach

;

CHRISTIAN TRAINING IN THE FAMILY

remark that had

the

not

now

you

will

241

obeyed the divine command she would

Israel

be a people without a home.
Think not that children are to be left to follow their own inclinations in this regard. You are morally bound to see that they have
spiritual as well as mental and physical food.
Failing to do this,

have no one to blame but yourself should your children
wickedness and attribute their leanings

after years be led into

in
in

that direction to a lack of Christian training in their early years.

Remember

that youth

will spring

up and bring forth

mind

the seed time of

life.

Seed sown then

fruit in after years.

Plastic

the

childhood.

Avail yourself, then, of every opportunity to
Spencer sang:

make

all

right

for, as

is the mynd that makes good will,
That maketh wretch or happie, rich or poore."

"It

The last minor essential is that of example. The commonplace
remark that "example is better than precept" is none the less true
because commonplace, for it is incontrovertably true that we can and
impress others more by what we do than by what we say. Before
parents can give their children proper Christian training they must
themselves be Christians in word and deed. Their lives must be
blameless in the home. Children are imitative and watch us more
closely than

think.

What

they see us do, they will almost inva-

pride, selfishness and their
concomitants should be strictly guarded against. Never say or
do before your children what you would norriave them do or say.
Be as nearly perfect as impossible for you to be, and let them see
in you the personification of a well-rounded Christian character.

riably

do.

What Should

be Done to Secure Christian Training in the Family?

Archdeacon James

The family was ordained
it

temper,

Exhibitions of

expected that they

who

Russell, Lawrenceville, Va.

God

for

good and wise purposes, and

stand at the head of families should

242

CHRISTIAN TRAINING IN THE FAMILY

see to it that they and every member belonging thereto comply
with crtain rules which are approved by Him who is the Author
and great head of the family. There is no realm which equals the
family circle, and they who reign over it are in many respects
superior to the sovereign head of some great empire. They who
are placed at the head of such a kingdom are responsible to God if
they neglect the enforcement of the rules laid down for the government of the same. True happiness comes only to those who live
in accordance with the laws which govern well-regulated homes.
As the experienced mariner steers clear of dangerous shoals so
should the head of every family see to it that every precaution is
used to further the best interests of those who come under his
fltelage.
The breach of natural laws causes sbkness and death,
bo also might we expect unhappiness and perpetual discord in the
family where God's laws are not printed upon the hearts of those
/

who

reside therein.

true there rests a great responsibility

upon the head of those of the household, still their rules for the
government of the home should so conform to the laws of God
as in no way to conflict, and then it will move smoothly on without
the slightest friction.
I

consider family prayers to be one of the

well-regulated family.
set

The

father or

mother

first

requisites of a

of every family should

and officiate regularly thereat, that the young
the household may imbibe and put into practice the sacred

up the family

altar

all, it is very essential that those
have
themselves learned by sweet
who
lessons
they
undertake to impress upon
experience the wholesome
For, without a knowledge of these, it will be hard to
others.
impress them satisfactorily upon others. The neglect of family
worship has done much to cause the young of the race to wander
and lose the respect which they should cherish for the home.
Prayer is the key to open the day and the bar to shut in the night.
But while these might be termed the early and latter dew, we
should also choose out special seasons for more abundant effort
that our prayers may overflow like Jordan in times of harvest. "A
good man's prayer," we are told, "will from the deepest dungeon

lessons learned thereat.

First of

officiate at the family altar

CHRISTIAN TRAINING IN THE FAMILY

243

climb heaven's height and bring a blessing down." Prayer is none
other than the wing which ascends to heaven, and meditation the
eye which sees God in His glory and takes cognizance of what He

would have us believe and do. Prayer is but a shield to the sword,
a sacrifice to God, and a scourage to Satan and it should be made
For they who go often to this fountain have
frequent use of.
their thirsts quenched and their souls revived.
Our prayer and
God's mercy are like to buckets in the well, one ascending and the
;

other descending.

It is

not necessary that

we should be

eloquent;

Frequent reading of the Bible, the
use of sacred music and other like helps will do much to secure
Christian training in the family. There are many volumes extant
on family worship which might go very far toward overcoming the
timidity of father or mother in his or her efforts to conduct family
worship. But where parents are illiterate and these can not be
used, let them utter the Lord's prayer in concert with the family.
For our Lord tells us when we pray say "Our Father which art
This prayer covers the whole realm of human
in heaven," etc.
needs. For in it we desire our Lord God, who is the giver of all
goodness, to send his grace unto us and unto all people that we
may worship Him, serve Him, and obey Him' as we ought to do.
And we pray that He will send us all things that are needful both
for our souls and bodies and that He w ill be merciful to us, and
forgive us our sins ;and that it will please Him to save and defend
us in all dangers both of soul and body; and that He will keep us
from all sin and wickedness, and from our spiritual enemy, and
from everlasting death.
but,

above

all

things, earnest.

;

Nowhere else do we find so much wholesome food for our souls
and the souls of those who have been given into our hands to be
rightly instructed in God's holy word and ways.
Le the father
and mother begin from the earliest stages of the child's existence
to impress upon it holy thoughts of right living, and thus train it
in the

from

way

it.

The

should go, so that

to the desire to get too

age of rush

when

old he will not depart

lack of Christian training in the family

men

much

may

of the goods of this world.

are thinking too

much upon

be traced
In this

the things which are

244

CHRISTIAN TRAINING IN THE FAMILY

temporal and less upon those which are eternal. More attention
should be given to the religious training of our children in church
and school. A noticeable feature in the religious training of our
children is seen in our lack of interest in seeing that they are sent
to the Sunday School and church service.
In many instances our
children are sent to the

when church

Sunday School and

told to return

homg

should see to it that they hear
sermons, and chiefly provide that they learn the Lord's prayer, the
Ten Commandments, and all other things which a Christian ought
to know and believe to his soul's health, that they may be virtuously brought up to lead a Godly and Christian life.
The success of this rests to a very great extent with the ministers of the gospel, whose duty it is to properly instruct the members of their own flocks and the communities in which they reside
to live pure and holy lives and to train their children to do likewise. It becomes us as ministers of the gospel to be examples to
our flocks and thus by word and deed set them examples of right
and holy living. We should in the truest sense become shepherds
to our flocks, living epistles, known and read of all men. Not the
"do as I say" policy, but the "do as I do" policy
are to preach Christ, my brethren, and Him crucified, and
know no other name under heaven whereby man may be saved, and
thus lead men to the blessed fold of God.
This is our mission, for no man lives to himself, but each Christian is a citizen in the King's domains.
When we as ministers and leaders of our people shall have discharged our every duty, then will we have an answer to the ques»n, "What should be done to secure Christian training in the

;

family ?"

service begins.

;

CHAPTER XXXVII

WHAT EXTENT

DRINK?
Rev.

"To what
member the

THE RACE ADDICTED TO
EVILS AND ITS CURE

ITS

T. Johnson, B. D., Richmond, Va.

extent

the race addicted to drink?"

appalling circumstances in which

the dreadful institution of slavery, and

its

When we

we were

re-

placed by

wicked examples,

Negro now cultivates a taste and
even a love for strong drink. The Negro had been taught that
strong drink would impart strength to him by which he would be
able to give to his employer satisfa:tory service.
This idea was
false in its conception and practice, yet we find by observations
not to be wondered at that the

that

This

it still

obtains

among our

met

people to-day to a very great extent.

crowded

cities, in every town, hamlet,
broad land of ours. The advocates of this idea are not confined to the male class of our citizens,
but to an alarming extent we find that the idea has many ardent
supporters among the female constituency of our population.
This in itself shows to what extent the drink habit exists among
our people, and rather complicates the situation, for we are wedded

false idea is

village

and country

in the

district in this

hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that
rules the world," and when that hand begins to tremble under the
influence of strong drink the world is in danger and the peace and
well being of the nation, race and land are in a perilous shape.
to the old idea "that the

Our experience teaches us that the drink habit extends its influence to the home, to the young people in the home and to the
are here reminded
society formed by these young people.
that everything that is good or destined to be good has its enemy

our fields of grain and our gardens of fruit have their enemies.
Liberty has, its enemy. The home life of our mothers and fathers
(245)

THE

246

had

its

enemy

EVILS

AND CURE OF DRINK HABIT

the wicked

men and wom'en who

claimed,

right of ownership, that they had a right to control and boss our

mothers and fathers and dictate as

what policy

home

their

life

should be.

Our homes to-day have

worse enemy than any we have menall civilized society.
This plague is
no new thing. It had a long and fearful history attached to it. It
seems to be in the blood of the generations of men, inherited from
a heavy drinking past.
If we would take a retrospective view
down the line of human history we would find the habit of drink as
far back as we could trace.
a

tioned, in the drink plague of

ITS EVILS

The evils of the drink habit among our people are more numerous
we have time and space to mention but we should not forget
the odiousness of this evil habit. I think it was Cardinal Gibbons
who once said
"Intemperance, like treason, ought to be made
than

;

odious

in the land,

and there

The treasonable man endeavors

a close similarity

between the two.

to dethrone the rightful sovereign,
'

and intemperance dethrones reason, the ruler of the soul!"
In view of this statement and my observation among my fellowmen, I can say that, above and beyond all the evils which pervade
our fair land to-day, this hydra-headed monster, intemperance,
dominates them all and subverts all things upon which it takes
It lurks in the lowly
hold to become the servants of its will.
hovels.

revels in the palaces of the great.

ment from

its

high purpose and makes

government or

prevents govern-

weak and unable

to either

promulgate its laws. It desecrates the family altar, despoils the sweet influences of the family
It
circle, rends virtue into shreds, and puts a premium upon vice.
impels the infuriated mob to deeds of horror and crime more
heinous and barbarous than those wrought by Nero. It dulls the
direct the affairs of

conscience,

intensifies the passions,

destroys self-control,

our alms houses are
and prisons overflow with its victims.

torts the vision.

The

evils

filled,

dis-

also our courts

which the drink habit works are without

limit

and

THE

EVILS

AND CURE OF DRINK HABIT

without number. It was Mr. Spurgeon
juice had killed more than grape shot."

who once

247

said that "grape

more from the drink habit each year
and famine. It is high time that
than we
out
of sleep on this subject and
the whole people should awake
work for the good of the cause and the saving of our young people.
Our young people should know that the drink habit will put
their souls to sleep as well as their bodies, keep them away from
the great invisible realities of life, and shut their eyes to the evils
and dangers of itself. The man who has any faith in the possibilities of the Negro race who does not dare stand and advocate the
temperance cause to-day in its boldest and most radical form is a
coward, and, in a certain sense, a dead weight upon society and the
church. Those men and women who steal the livery of science and
clothe themselves in the cunning drapery of sophistry and become
the pleaders for strong drink, passion and vice, deserve the everlasting condemnation of humanity.
It

true that

suffer

do from war, pestilence

ITS

CURE

The great question of the hour is, "How shall we cure this evil?"
Some would say that the cure lies in organization. I admit that

my experience in dealing
wise to look far beyond organization for the secret of success in curing this great evil
It is true
the temperance societies, the Good Templars, the Sons of Temperance, the W. C. T. U/s, the B. Y. P. U.'s, the Epworth Leagues
and the Y. P. S. C. E/s have done great work in bringing about
the cure, but let us remember that these were the machinery that
was driven on by an unseen principle.
First, a genuine spirit of reformation with reference to the drink
habit, deeply rooted into the hearts of the leaders of our people in
all the walks of life.
The time has not come, and neither will it
ever come, when the true leader can not influence his followrs. If
it be possible to unite all true leaders on this most important question and start them out with a burning zeal to make a united effort
to crush out this great enemy of our race, the results would certhere

great power in organization, but

with humanity teaches

that

it is

THE

248

EVILS

AND CURE OF DRINK HABIT

For the reason that men and women want
examples by which they may go in order that their blindness may
be removed, their disease healed and their resolutions and purposes to abstain from strong drink strengthened, the proper spirit
in the leaders would soon be imparted to the followers and a campaign will be begun.
In the second place, I would suggest "A thorough education of
our people as another element of the cure that we so much desire."
When the people learn that alcohol is a poison in all quantities and
under all circumstances, and when they learn that it is not neces-

tainly be encouraging.

sary in health or disease, then

we may

look for

some gratifying

temperance reform of the age.
The people must reach that point where the argument of reason
will become stronger than that of feeling.
This is indeed a hard
results in the

point to reach,

when we remember

our feelings are generally

final

that

are so constituted that

in their authority.

The education

above referred to must of necessity be specific, and will likely have
more effect upon the rising generation than upon those who are
already hardened in their ways of thinking and acting. We must
begin this education at the mother's knee, let it go through the
kindergarten and public school life, and continue it in the normal
and high school, academic and college life, and then we may hope
to see marvelous changes for good.

next suggestion as to a cure for this great evil is a regenerated church membership, who will not in any way condone this
But, on the other hand,
evil in any who seek membership into it.
condemn
it
the authority given to
and
by
man
as
one
will rise up

them by God's holy word, which teaches that we must touch

not,

taste not, handle not, the unclean thing.

To What Extent

the Race Addicted to Drink?
Its

Rev.

Our

racial

William Flagg,

Its Evils

and

Cure
B. D.,

Memphis, Tenn.

progress since emancipation has indeed been the wonThe history of nations or races has nothing com-

der of the world.

;

THE

AND CURE OF DRINK HABIT

EVILS

249

it.
It was hard work, for over one thousand years, to
bring the proud Anglo-Saxon from his dirt caves in the wilds,

parable to

feeding upon tree-tops and herbs, to his present day Fifth avenue

mansion, surrounded with every comfort of modern civilization.
It seems but yesterday when the shackles of slavery fell from
the hands and feet of the American Negro. A little over a quarter
of a century is just passed, and yet from nothing he has acquired
four hundred millions of property in lordly homes, fertile farms,
eminent schools and beautiful churches. Only twenty years ago
he had progressed about two per cent, in reducing his illiteracy,
but ttf-day nearly one-half of the race can read and write. In spite
of this splendid record, my friends, I am here to-day to say to you,
with shame and confusion of fa:e, that we are ourselves about to
mar our magnificent record of the past and turn back into a more
awful slavery than that from which we have just emerged, because
of our love for strong drink. There can be no longer a hiding of
the fact that the Negro is addicted to strong drink it will not help
the case to say that the Anglo-Saxon is also addicted to strong
drink, and more so than the Negro. To know that the other fellow
is more badly burned than we does not relieve the fact and hurt
of our burn.
;

Should

would point
tion.

be asked to
to

name

two sources,

the origin of this ruinous habit,

has not always been that

In fact, history does not

viz.: First, imitation; second, associa-

show

we have been

that

any race

addicted to drink.
in

their primitive

Alaskan Indian excepted. The Negro
catching the imitative spirit from the Anglo-Saxon, took to drink,
through imitating the low habits of his master in slavery, for he
came here sober, without any knowledge of the white man's "fire
water." The Negro is quick to catch on how quickly he caught
on, too,
and is rapidly assimilating the American civilization.
Like Israel of old, the desire to be like others has seized upon the
vitals of the race to the extent that it has become a second nature
for us to copy the white man's weakness.
Acquiring the AngloSaxon's bent for ease and luxuries has fastened upon us a curse
which we must soon realize is breaking the speed of our progress
state

was given

—

to drink, the

—

THE

AND CURB OF DRINK HABIT

EVILS

is doing its deadly work, especially the kind
From which we must suffer, The low and vricious white man is in
too close
mil. u
with (he rare. The white press is always flaunt
in^ in the face of the world the dirty ra^ of social equality. There
can nevei be, they say social equality between the Negro and the
white man, and yet these sarne Folks go home at night to their com-

then, too, Association

mon

la\>

Nojjro wives and Kiss jjood bye

illegitimate

ami mongrel mulatto

in tin-

morning

their

own

child,

VVc have social equality in almost every town and city of this
whole Union, It Is Forced Upon US, because it is now in a way to
gratify the hellish lust of the low and vicious white man.
ihis contact Is the haleful curse of the hlack man of America,
it
ho drink
[s this contact that has brought and Fastened upon us
It
10 Ne^ro every daw
CUrse
18 tins contact that
is hrutali/im;
"( )ld inastei drank in slavery time, m\ boss drinks now. and therefore Ise j»"winc tor dnnk," is the philosophy of the drink evil in
I'm
the race,
must renvemher that our subject admits the fact
t

that

the race

to, lust, its

In
first

the

addicted to drink, and, therefore, only inquires as

extent

;

second,

its

evils; third, its euro.

have this
regard to the extent of this addiction to drink,
believe, will be a fair representation of
illustration, which,
I

case,

the city of

there are about

to a greater or less extent.

about as

larvjc

Memphis. IVnn., of over ioj.^jo souls,
Negroes who are habitual drinkers

p,.ooo of these

nights as thcii

larjjvi

procer\

The majority of these drinkers have
to settle for on Saturday

liquor account

account;

fact,

to say

that

Four fifths of

the race are addicted to drink, one half are on the border land of

dflinknrds, and one fourth are incurable drunkards,

admit this

Hoth
have observed the women
The children
nearly on a pai with the men.
drunkards come \ ei
drink, growing into the halm h\ being sent to the corner grocery
to bring drink,
fhere is hardh a grocer) store in my city which
Our people w dl not patronize it if
,Ks s not sell strong diink.
i'<

a fearful ratio

Ueei and

jj'in

are the most popular drinks.

sexes drink and, according to what
\

liquoi

not sold.

THE

AND CURE OF DRINK HABIT

EVILS

ITS

251

EVILS

now arises: Are there evils following all this
can not otherwise be but that evils dire, ominous and
Here are
awful should and do follow this wholesale drinking.
some of the many evils: Poverty, weakness, disease, moral disorders, profligacy, idleness, shiftlcssncss, divorces, paupers, voteThe

drink?

question
It

neighborhood brawls, church splits, magistrate court cases
premature
death.
and
A number of life insurance companies will not take risks upon
the Negro. Some of them have dropped him, others discriminate
against him by having a higher rate of premium. Just how much
is being said about the high death rate of the Negro, some claim
that the Negroes' death rate is nearly double that of his white
brother. Then take the case of that dread disease, consumption,
the alarming extent it has reached in the race. Twenty-five years
ago it was almost a curiosity to see a Negro consumptive, but now
we are dying by the thousands every year with it. Young people
now are filling up our cemeteries who ought to be living well for
years, are yielding to this awful scourge. Drink, my friends, figures
more largely here than anything else.
sellers,

ITS

CURE

pause to ask, ought we not to try to relieve the race of at least
of the evils of drink? Do we not owe them this duty?
For this reason, I may be excused for suggesting some remedies
as a cure, viz.: first, the graveyard; second, the home; third, the
schoolroom; fourth, the church.
1. The graveyard must figure in this problem, and will, for at
least one-half of the drunkards of the race can only be cured in
I

some

death.
2. The home must be made sober.
Drinking parents will produce drinking children. Rid the home of liquor and the man,
through the child, is saved.
*

Emphasize more

cants to the

human

in the school training the

system.

poison of intoxi-

believe in the old adage:

"What-

THE

252

EVILS

AND CURE OF DRINK HABIT

life of man put it in the school of the child."
sober church, with a sober pulpit and sober membership.
With the graveyard thinning out the drunkards, the home bringing children up in soberness, the school room educating children in

ever you want in the
4.

soberness, and the church resolved into a temperance society for
the salvation of the young,

and

evil of drink to

To What Extent

which

we have

the only cure for this great sin

this race is so

alarmingly addicted.

the Race Addicted to Drink?

Its Evil.

Its

Cure

G. Johnson, D. D., Macon, Ga.

To find out ±0 what extent the Negro is addicted to drink, you
need only to ascertain the nation's drink bill, and then find the
Negro's ratio of the bill, by determining what per cent, of the population he

is.

$1,500,000,000.

The drink bill of the nation in 1900 was about
The Negro composes about one-ninth of the DOpu-

If he consumes his pro rata share and pays
he will have spent no less than $16,666,666. That the Negro's

lation of this country.
for

it,

more insatiable than that of
by consulting the records
of the prohibition elections in Georgia.
In making this assertion,
T am not unmindful of the fact that the Negro vote has been held
thirst for alcoholic stimulants is not

the white neighbor can readily be seen

responsible for every defeat that prohibition has sustained in the

many locol option contests.
The Senate of Georgia at

a recent session gave prohibition a

black eye without a single Negro vote to help

it.
It must, howadmitted that the Negro consumes his full quota of the
juice, and yields to no race in his devotion to King Ahohol, nor
does he permit any one to worship more devoutly at his shrine.
The difference in the two races is a difference in the degree of
culture, refinement and self-control, and not in appetite.
Where there are no restraining influences, in both races, passion
predominates over reason, and lust over conscience. The animal

ever, be

THE
is

gratified at the

now

EVILS

AND CURE OF DRINK HABIT

253

expense of the intellectual nature of man.

consider what effect drink has upon men:

—

I. Its Physical
Effect.
Strong drink, as a beverage, is more
deadly than pestilence, and more destructive than the sword. It is
said that four-fifths of those who were swept away by the dreadful
visitation of cholera in 1832 were addicted to the use of strong
drink.
In St. Petersburg and Moscow the whole population
ceased to drink ardent spirits so sure were they that they drank
death. In 1848, when 53,000 died in England and Wales, and when
20,000 fell in 1854 and again in 1883, when 55,000 succumbed,

drunkards and tipplers were searched out with such unerring certainty that it was seen that the arrows of death are aimed and not
indiscriminately thrown*
M. Huber say 2,150 perish in twenty-five days in one Russian
town.
He said that persons given to drink perished like flies.
Alcoholic stimulants have more than one disease that its votaries
must succumb to. It is often the direct cause of all forms of liver
and heart troubles, and the kidneys and nervous system are often
wrecked by its ravages. Not only does it aggravate and often
cause the death of its friend, but has a baneful effect upon the entire
system. Rheumatism, gout, and in fact all kinds and classes of
disease can be traced to the terrible effect of drinking liquors.
Life insurance companies testify that the total abstainers enjoy
increased longevity. The stand taken by all the leading companies
against assuming risks is a fair barometer as to the opinion the
medical profession holds the tippler.
It is said

that

when Russian

embarking for the front
and smells the breath of every

soldiers are

a corporal passes along the line

he detects the faintest odor of liquor that man is instantly
The Russians recognize the fact that a man
addicted to drink can not stand fatigue. It is admitted and maintained by all scientists and trainers employed by the leading colleges that a man addicted to drink will not make a successful
His endurance is limited, and his muscles can not be
athlete.

man

sent to the barracks.

hardened.

The moral

effect of drink is

very evident.

The rum

sucker, the

THE

254

EVILS

tippler, the prostitute,

to be gainsaid.

its

and the

harlot, bear a family likeness not

In fact, liquor seems to be the devil's incubator, by

which he hatches

Under

AND CURE OF DRINK HABIT

profligates,

prostitutes, harlots

and criminals.

influence the gravest crimes have been committed, the

most beautiful lives blighted and the most lovely characters
John L. Stoddard tels us that Interleaken, a city in Norway, is so perpetually cloudy and rainy that if a horse sees a person
without an umbrella hoisted he will run away. As Interleaken is

stained.

without sunlight, so are the

sways the

sceptre.

Time

who made shipwrecks

fails

lives

those over

whom

alcohol

us to mention a few of the myriads

of their lives

drink.

breeds poverty, vagrancy and pauperism. It is a. fact worthy
of mention that in every State, county or town, where there has
been a restriction of places, wdiere the sale of ardent spirits can be
It

had, there has been a corresponding increase in the sale of land

and the necessities

lif.

The mrchants

Lebanon, Tenn.,

testify

when

saloons were abolished trade increased from 25 to 47 1-2
per cent., and that the demand for homes caused the price of realty
to advance 20 per cent. This surplus money had been poured into
that

the coffers of the

whisky

dealers.

THE REMEDY

suggest, as the

first

remedy, total abstinence for ourselves.

Timothy when he said:
"Take heed to thyself." We have often heard of officers of the
law who gambled and yet had men arrested, tried and convicted for
the same offense. We have also heard of the judge who lectured
a prisonei for carrying concealed weapons, when at the same
moment his own concealed weapon dropped from its hiding place.

The

apostle offered a timely suggestion to

temperance advocates who themselves are
the thief on the cross said to Christ ("If
then be the Christ, save thyself and us") is applicable to all but
Let us try to save ourselves from that demon that stalks
Christ.
abroad throughout the length and breadth of our great country,
devastating all that is pure and noble in our civilization, and all
Let us save ourselves from
that is just and holy in our religion.
This

hypocrisy

addicted to drink.

What

THE

EVILS

AND CURE OF DRINK HABIT

the social glass, the society cup,
to the

wayward and

and then

the wandering.

When

let

255

us sound the tocsin

the

common

people of

the French republic were taxed to the point of desperation to sup-

poit

its

nobility and

of Godliness nor the

its

had neither the form
produced more infidels

clergy, a clergy that

power

thereof, France

than believers, more wickedness than righteousness. Such will be
our fate if we do not save ourselves from the grim iron teeth of
this hydra-headed monster before we pose as the savior of others.

We should try to create a good, healthy sentiemnt against it.
This work should be started by properly disciplining the young.
Thoughtful men, far-seeing men, broad-minded men, have always
sought to rope in the young whenever they had a principle to maintain or a cause to champion, whether they were moved by the spur
of self-aggrandizement or whipped on by the lash of patriotism
they have stopped and said to the young what Barak said to
Deborah
"If thou wilt go with us, then I will go but if thou wilt
not go with me, then I will not go." When Cataline, the Roman
conspirator, sought to overthrow his country's liberty he started by
7
corrupting the young.
hen Lycurgus, the Spartan law-giver,
wanted to make wise and strategistic warriors his attention was
turned to the training of the youth. He instituted laws compelling
;

;

the people to eat at public tables

from which

all

children were

excluded, and they were only allowed such food as they could

snatch from the tables without the knowledge of the manager.
detected and caught they were sorely punished, perhaps.

have read of the boy who stole a fox and then suffered it to tear
I need not tell you that
his vitals, out rathr than to be exposed.
their devotion to such rash methods made them adepts in their line.
The home influence of the young has a great bearing on the
conduct of the youth when he arrives at a mature age. The home
is the heaven-appointed training school in which the young should
get their first inclination to and instructions in the principles of all
Solomon, perhaps, had this in mind
that is pure and elevating.
''Train up your children in the
injunction
the
uttered
he
when
:

way they should go." I am a firm believer in hereditary taint.
Parents may not bequeath to their posterity external wealth, but

;

THE

256
never

AND CURE OF DRINK HABIT

which

to leave that

fail

and that

EVILS

trend of character.

more important and

Many

far-reaching,

a father has left to his son as

only legacy an insatiable thirst for liquor. Many children have
stomachs set to lust for strong drink before their birth by
their mothers' habitual drinking or by the whiskey administered
directly to the child in tea or other liquid.
Let there be a temperance brigade in every family, presenting a solid phalanx in the
his

their

King Ahohol let their battle flag bear this inscrip"For Christ; for Home and for Country." Finally, let the
church of God, which is ally and forerunner of all civilization,
The church has led all of the great reforms. Lord
best it itself.
Edward Woodhouslee informs us that Greece was phlegmatic and
not susceptible of civilization until the Titans settled among them
and .nco! porated their religion with that of the aborigines. When
the Pelasgi and other tribes of Greece accepted religion then and
not until then were laws made among them. What is true of the
Grecians is equally true of the Phoenicians, Egyptians and Romans.
Romans.
The Church of God is a great army, with Jesus Christ as the
commander-in-diief. Solomon saw her marching "terrible as an
battle against
tion

;

army with banners."

Let her unfurl her banners to the breeze.
Let her march to the tap of the gospel drum. Let her be more aggressive and push the battle to the gates, singing as they march:
makes brutes out of both white and colored who drink it.

"Onward

Christian soldiers,

Marching as

With

war

the cross of Jesus

Going on before."

To What Extent

the

Negro Race Addicted

Its Evils

to Strong

Drink it

and Cures

Rev. E. M. Jones, B. D., Montgomery, Ala.

Whiskey has no
because a

rruan

respect of persons, races or nations. Therefore,

happens

belong to one race or the other has

little

—
THE

EVILS

AND CURE OF DRINK HABIT

257

Liquor intoxicatss and
to do with his appetite for strong drink.
makes brutes out of both white and colored who drink it.
On the whole, there are more drinkers among the white people
than the colored, because there are more white inhabitants, besides, they make it and are more able to buy it, they sell it and
practically

But

own

the saloons of the country.

a great calamity, and humiliating to say that accord-

ing to our numerical strength, about the

same per

cent, of our

addicted to the habit of drinking and drunkenness. It is
a terrible fact that thousands of our ptople are intemperate and
If we had but one
arc under the awful power of strong drink.
race

drunkard of the race that would be just one too amny. The extent
of intemperance among our people is alarming, its results are farIt Is keeping our
reaching, exceedingly dangerous and hurtful.
people from buying thousands of good homes and farms; it causes
them to lose many good jobs; paralyzes business enterprises; it is
cutting short the education of our youth by the thousands, and
degrades our home life, corrupts our moral life and injures our
religious

life.

found among the lower classes,
by the church and society. It
is that class which is thriftless, thoughtless, purposeless, and care
for nothing more than "a good time," who constitute a majority
of our drunkards.
But I state a fact when I say that drinking is
also found among our so-called upper class, who have had better
opportunities and privileges of knowing its woeful results.
We go further and say that to some extent drinking is being
done by church members. And here and there professional men
ministers not excepted indulge in strong drink.
If all the churches would exclude all the members who are

The bulk

who

of our drinkers

are uneducated and unreached

—

of drinking, you would be surprised to see how many
vacant seats there would be in all these churches. And if all o*r
conferences, associations, conventions and synods could find out
and fire all members who indulge, it would create a great ripple

guilty

the ministerial world.

Following the truth,

would lead us

to say that

from the pulpit

THE

258

EVILS

AND CURE OF DRINK HABIT

back door, and from the best to the worst, you will find
are addicted to strong drink.
This is no reflection on
the thousands of our people who do not drink under any circumstances, but who live lives of sobriety and purity, and preach sermons against this curse of curses. Neither is this an insinuation
on the hundreds of thousands of our church members who are
total abstainers and worthy followers of the Man of Gallilce.
But
it does show that one of the greatest hindrances to the progress
and uplift of the race is strong drink; it does show that intemperance has en:roachcd upon all the sacred and vital interests of our
people it does show that we must rise up and put it down or be
kept down by it it does show that no one but the Almighty
knows the: full -extent of this evil upon our race, our country and
our nation.
to the

some who

;

ITS EVILS

After a careful and deliberate consideration of the evils of the

we do not hesitate to say that we regard
intemperance as the greatest curse in the catalogue of crimes.
Do not think that I am hasty in reaching a conclusion or extravagant in my opinion, but regard these sweeping assertions as the
outgrowth of duly considered facts, which make the saloon the
hot-bed, directly or indirectly, of three-fourths of the crimes comrace and the country,

mitted in this country.

our race millions of dollars and costs the nations billons.. The record of strong drink is so black, its deeds so alarming and destruction so great and far-reaching that it will justify
the severest utterances of a righteous indignation. For "it obliterates the fear of the Lord and a sense of accountability; it dethrones reason, paralyzes the power of conscience, hardens the
heart and makes men, who were made a little lower than the
It costs

angels, ferocious animals."

W ho is responsible for the existence and continuance of this
monster evil? The manufacturer for making it, the drinker who
drinks it, the rum-seller for selling it, the government for licensing
it and every man and woman who is not exerting his uttermost

THE
influence

EVILS

and doing

all

AND CURE OF DRINK HABIT
in

power

his

259

for the final

overthrow of

the saloon.
ITS

What
for this
its

What

are the cures?

malady which

CURE

the remedies?

tell

the

remedy

hoary with age, and prescribe a cure for

racial as well as national disease is a great task.

But

suggest

it is the work of church and pulpit.
has been wisely said that a "chain of linked logic as strong as
that which binds the universe together binds our subject upon the
conscience of the church and pulpit." And until the church and
pulpit, which are the great centres of moral and reformatory

that
It

power, rise up with all their strength and might and strike this
king of evils a final blow, we must hold them to some extent
responsible for the continuation of this evil.
This enemy must
be conquered by the agencies of the Christian church it is the
task of Christianity. The preaching of the gospel with the power
of the Holy Ghost will do for our generation what it has done in
past ages
right the wrongs of men and women and establish
truth and righteousness.
It is vain to expect the devil to strike
down his strongest agency. It is useless to hope that the world
will undertake the overthrow of a moral evil that the church and
pulpit hesitate to attack.
It reflects honor and glory upon the
church to say that the world expects and awaits its leadership,
in this, as in other moral reforms.
We need a united pulpit and
a united church to put down forever a united enemy.
The 100.000 ministers must march in one solid phalanx, followed by the 200.000,000 Christians, supported by our institutions
of learning and the newspapers of this country in order to win the
greatest victory that has ever been won by mortal man.
By
cultivating public sentiment, by encouraging the women in their
efforts, who have wrought so nobly in the past and whose achievements are so enduring. These are the remedies which have overthrown the other evils of the country and will overthrow this.
;

THE

260

To What Extent

EVILS

AND CURE OF DRINK HABIT

the Race Addicted to Drink; Its Evils; Its

Cures
Rev.

"Wine

Maysville, Ky.

mocker; strong drink

deceived thereby

Intemperance
temperated.

Elam White,

is
is

raging; and whosoever

not wise."
a subject that concerns us

The unbridled

appetite

active western civilization there

must be

all.

Life

bridled!

must be
In this

tendency to a too general use
of poisonous narcotics to relieve sorrow and physical pain.
The
science of medicine teaches that the effects upon the physical,
mental, and moral life is weakening not only to the recipient, but
is

to posterity.

have not had an opportunity to consult court records and da
of any statistics that would give the exact percentage ot
the race that is addicted to drink. But having lived in the central
States, and as a minister, having labored in Cincinnati, Louisville.
Chicago, Cleveland and other cities of less note, we are of the

not

know

opinion that the great portion of the race

addicted to this

evil.

Not only the rougher element of our race drink but even some among
our most gifted and professional men and sometimes women have
been known to indulge

strong drink.

may be said upon this
we may say, nevertheless

shall say all that

cism

in all that

do not know that we

subject, nor escape critiit

must be acknowledged

one of the greatest obstacles to the
Negro.
of
the
The evil effects are damaging
success and progress
moral,
material
menial,
and spiritual life. This
to our physical,
krecked
millions
lives,
overthrown and deof
gigantic evil lias
prison
of
homes,
to
sent
and to the gallows
stroyed thousands
hundreds of good men. It has transformed the palace into a hut,

that the evil of

strong drink

and :aused the millionaire to become a professional beggar. The
oid and young, the rich and poor, have kept company with this
demon. And tlvrough its influence* too many precious lives have
come to an early and untimely grave. This hydra-headed monster
is often
conspicuous upon Sunday excursions, and these excursiuns arc frequently fostered by religious gatherings. Our, secret

THE

EVILS

AND CURE OF DRINK HABIT

261

orders have often put the leadership of their lodges in the hands

men and women who are known to indulge in strong drink.
And ministers and laymen of the church are also guilty of indulging in this evil. Too many of our young men, through the influof

ence of liquor, are debarred from positions and
and are congregated upon the street corners and

social

standing,

in front of bar-

rooms. It is this street-corner Negro that is a curse to the race
It is he that gossips about every woman who passes along the
highway.
It is the ignorant, lazy, dishonest and dangerous
Negro that impedes our progress. From this class, the unfairminded white man too often forms his opinion of the race. But
he who descends to this low plane of criticism is not a true judge
of men. There is but one place to judge and determine the proper

development and elevation of a people, viz its acquisition of
knowledge, accumulation of wealth and its production of leaders.
Our redemption is to be found in the following institutions
the home, the school, the church.
The home that has erected a
every
family altar and insists upon
member of the family gathering there morning and evening and here invoking the blessings of
Almighty God upon each devotee. Into such a home the angels of
God will love to come and sit and sing. Out from this home will
go young men and women who will not associate with drunkards.
And when the young women of this race absolutely refuse to keep
company with any and all young men whom they know to drink,
then, and not until then, will begin the dawn of a better day.
:

To What Extent

the Race Addicted to Drink?
Its

Its Evils

and

Cure

Rev. Richard Spiller, D. D., Hjampton, Va.

There are three aspects

of our condition as a race

which make

this questior one of particular interest.

and

this fact can not be disguised; there are a
over
the different States of the Union who
few of us scattered
i.

are poor,

THE

202

EVILS

AND CURE OF DRINK HABIT

have accumulated some wealth and have made some progress, but
the masses are still poor and have not as yet been able to get out

one-room cabins.
were ever right to indulge in intemperance, are we financially prepared to do it? One of the main questions that confronts
us to-day is the one touching our bread and butter.
Page concluded that our places are being filled daily by members of the
opposite race upon the ground that they can be depended upon.
If the Negro would keep apace with the age in which he is living
he must own and- till the soil, he must not only be a consumer but
a producer.
He must build up his home and educate his children
he can not do this and cling to the intoxicating cup. Many of our
people become offended when it is intimated by one of their leaders
that they are more addicted to strong drink than the opposite race.

of the

Tf it

—

2.
3.

We
We

this true

are in the state of degradation.
are dying

among

more rapidly than the whites.

Especially

certain diseases.

—

South,
If the Negro of the South
I spe,ak especially of the
because it is here where the bulk can be found if he would only
let the white man, who is the maker of the whiskey, consume it or
drink it, at least one-half of the saloons, in my opinion, would have

—

to close.

W henever

movement

started in

any county or State having

for its object the destruction of the saloon,

the interest of the

Negro

in these

of the laity of the church, but

how hard

it is

movements. Not only

to solicit
is it

true

also true of the preacher; not

because they arc intemperate, but because in childhood many of
them were taught that strong drink was an excellent medicine.
Where did the idea originate? It is one of the old relics of slavery,

handed down by our foreparents. During the harvest seasons
whiskey was used just the same as water among the slaves; so
much so that many of our old people felt that they were not prepared to worship God without its aid. Hence there are churches
to-day that will allow its members to deal in strong drink and hold
membership in the church. These facts, to my mind, throw a little

THE
light

EVILS

AND CURE OF DRTNK HABIT

upon the question as

what extent

263

the race addicted to

strong drink.

"To what

In attempting to answer the question,
race addicted to strong drink?"

gerae

were

to say that 60 per cent, of

extent

the

would exagthe money made by our

do not think that

Take, for example, the county
one of the smallest counties in the State of Virginia, with an area of about fifty square miles, with a population
of 19,460. Of that number 6,125 are colored and 13,335 are white.
In that county alone there are seventy-three saloons.
Many of
these saloons are owned or controlled by our people.
So far as its evils are concerned, they can be seen everywhere
a*id by everybody.
Many men who are slaves to strong drink
would be glad if it could be carried entirely out of their reach. Go
to the State penitentiaries and to the city and county jails of this
country, and examine its prisoners and find the thing that led them
to commit the crime for which they have been convicted and incarcerated, and at least three-fourths of them can be attributed to
strong drink. Take the divorce cases and the murders committed
and you will find out the same thing. These facts are too well
known to be discussed.
The depopulating pestilence that walketh at noonday, the
carnage of cruel and devastating war, can scarcely exhibit their
victims in a more terrible array than exterminating drunkenness,
I
have seen a promising family spring from a family trunk and
stretch abroad its populous limbs like a flowering tree covered
with green and healthy foliage. I have seen the unnatural decay
beginning upon the yet tender leaf, and gnawing like a worm in
an unopened bud while they dropped off, one by one, and the
scathed and ruined shaft stood desolate and alone, until the winds
and rains of many a sorrow laid that, too, in the dust.
Ts it not the duty of the church, the Sunday School, the pulpit,
people
in

which

spent for strong drink.

live,

ind every good citizen to strike at this monster and put forth
every legitimate effort to overcome him ?
But,

what

how may

this be

the remedy?

done?

The

Where

starting point

the starting point and

in the

home.

"Homes

THE

264

EVILS

AND CURE OF DklNK HABIT

are the springs among the hills, whose many streamlets, uniting,
form, like great rivers, the society, the community, the nation, the
church."
If the springs run low, the rivers waste; if they pour

out bounteous currents, the rivers are
the rivers are clear, like crystals;
defiled.

where.

full
if the springs are pure,
they are foul, the rivers are
;

A curse upon a home sends a poisoning blight everyA blessing sends healing and new life into every :hannel.

The evil of strong drink must be shown to the child while it is
young. No one is better prepared to do this than the father and
mother. "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he
is old he "will not depart from it."
In the days of slavery strong drink could be seen upon every
family table and sideboard. The Negro was never taught by precept, or by example, that it was wrong morally to drink.

The home and

must unite

school

in creating sentiment
our Southern school teachers
indulge very freely in the use of wine and other alcoholic stimulants in the presence of their pupils, which has a very bad effect
upon them. So far as the old people are concerned, we shall never
be able to stop them. The zhurch must do its duty towards crushing out intemperance by showing that no drunkard can enter the
kingdom of heaven.

against

Temperance
and looked
it

Many

evil.

should be formed in the Sunday School
Let the Sunday School teacher preach
Let tracts on temperance be constantly distrib-

societies

after regularly.

to his classes.

uted

the

the use of this

among

the

young

people.

And

let

the superintendent and

teacher follow up these tra:ts and other means by addresses, short
essays, lectures and songs, and make the use of strong drink so

unpopular among the children until no place will be found among
christian teachers for one who will not cry out against this evil.
I do not mean for him to
Let the pastor preach temperance.
temperance
sermons,
but let it be in all of his
for
have set times
sermons.

Every Christian person
temperance people in their
box.

this

country should unite with the

effort to crush out this evil at the ballot

the nation justify a

wrong by

legal sanction,

what

right

THE

EVILS

AND CURE OF DRINK HABIT

have they to expect protection from the consequences of the wrong?
If it is a logical conclusion that the. accessory to crime is as bad as
the criminal, the voter who, by his ballot, favors a license of the
liquor traffic is morally and legally responsible for all the crime and
poverty that the traffic produces. Who can deny this? Have you
not personal liberty to use our votes to protect our boys from the
numerous and attractive allurements of the saloon? What is the
difference in the degree between the crime of Judas Iscariot and of
Benedict Arnold in the sanctioning by a vote of the acceptance of a
bribe of $100 or $1,000 to legalize a monstrous evil? The contrast
between vice and virtue, beauty and deformity, health and disease,
order and anarchy, life and death, are all vividly illustrated by the
benefits of prohibition and the accumulated crime, misery and lawlessness that are caused by the liquor traffic. Why will not men
see the inconsistency of establishing churches in which to learn
how to worship God to save their own souls, while by their votes
they establish saloons to curse the souls of other men? Besides,
this very license is the means of raising a revenue by a method
which costs ten times the amount converted to pay the damages
that are accrued.
What can it profit our people if they gain a
large revenue and lose all that- is in life worth living for? What
shall we give in exchange for our virtue or honor?
In the light of
this argument, we see the incongruity of building colleges, schools
and churches to save our boys from vice and irreligion and by our
votes uniting with the wicked in legalizing dens of temptation in
the most desirable localities to send both their souls and bodies to
perdition.
While we, by our votes, are asking God to save us
from temptation, we are authorizing an avalanche of temptation.

Under

a pretense of restriction

offer to sell the privilege of pois-

oning the people, and then we imprison the people for being poisoned. We license schools of vice and crime and then imprison the
people for learning the lesson. What right have we to claim to be
law-abiding citizens, much less Christians, when we encourage
such a horrible perversion of law as evinced by the wholesale and
sanction of the sale of a low, delusive poison to

men

of the

community

for a

money

some

consideration?

of the best

THE

2C6

To What Extent

EVILS

the

Rev. D.

AND CURE OF DRINK HABIT
Race Addicted
Its Cure

W. Cannon,

B.,

Drink?

Its

Cure;

Albany, Ga.

Drink has injured us politically. Whatever may be the cause of
our disfranchisement, the denial of our political rights, etc., those
who seek such try to attribute it all to our undue fondness for
liquor and its stultifying effect upon us while under its influence.
They contend that the drunken and vicious Negro has no right to
so sacred a weapon of moral and social defense as the ballot. They
say it is the free man's only defense against misrule and political
usurpation, and since the Xegro, through the agency of whiskey
handlers,

the one most likely to vote indiscriminately, therefore

the ballot or right to vote ought to be taken from him.

wrong

in their

one of those

evils

contention

;

but,

They may

whether right or wrong,

accruing from our

known fondness

for liquor.

One

will say that the Negro is no more dangerous under the influence of whiskey than anybody else. That's true and many men
;

who have agitated the disfranchisement of the Negro on those
grounds know the fallacy of their contention, but they are seeking
By our persistence in drinking we are
a means to a certain end.
giving them the means to that fatal end.

Drink has injured us

socially.

there

any one thing

we may attribute our present social status, it is
W hen we consider the number of criminals our

which

to the drink habit.

race has produced
few years and note the causes of their crimes and
convictions, we can not but see that whiskey was at the bottom.
In 50 per cent, of the instances where young Negroes are convicted, especially in our city courts, whiskey is the direct or
ndirect cause. This injures us, in that it impresses the outside

during the

last

w orld that

are but a race of criminals, unfit for help or service

and unworthy of confidence or citizenship. But you may say that
the outside world can not get that conception of us. Certainly it
could not if it should look at the situation from your point of view.
But does it take the situation as you take it? Certainly not. You
look at the case from the point of a sympathizer, but the cold world

THE
does not.

EVILS

AND CURE OF DRINK HABIT

267

stands upon facts and figures and says that no race,
is criminal, can be accepted in the

so great a per cent, of which

canon of races that stand high in the social scale.
If the money which the poor Negro spends for whiskey were
nut into factories and mercantile establishments, it would give
employment to hundreds of Negro boys and girls and at the same
time give the entire race commercial and financial standing, which
it has never had.
But, as it now stands, the money all goes the
other way, leaving us poorer and more dependent.* Certainly poverty is the greatest hindrance in the way of our racial advan:ement, and we ought to check any current that seems to carry us
any farther into the dark abyss, for the race or individual that can
expect to say but little in shaping this world's affairs. I have tried
to show that the drink habit has injured us politically, socially and
financially.
There are other ways by which we are stung by this
adder, but I leave them off for the present.
Let us turn briefly
from the evils of this enemy of humanity to its cure
This is the perplexing question of the age. How to cure the
drink habit? Reformers have experimented, politicians have legislated, strong men have prayed, and devout women have wept,
hoping thereby to materialize some plan whereby this enemy of
righteousness and destroyer of souls might be checked in his career
of death and devastation.
To cure intemperance, we must remove the defective moral and
spiritual character that begets it. This we can do only by turning
on the great searchlight of the gospel truth, which is invincible in
the realm of spiritual and moral darkness.

To What Extent

the

Race Addicted
Its

the

many

Drink?

Its

Cure;

Cure

Gross, A. M., Victoria, Tex.

impurities of our society,

growth of the drink habit

of the

note with a'irm the

American people.

THE

208

Not long ago
Lucy Thurman,
people
a time

EVILS

AND CURE OF DRINK HABIT

had the opportunity to read the report of Mrs.

the principal exponent of temperance

was
when comparisons between the white

in this

country, and in

it I

among our

pleased to note that there

was

and the colwere no match for the
soldiers

ored soldiers were odious because the latter
former in a bout of tippling; but I fear this pleasing state of affairs
will

become

a lingering

dream unless

active

campaign

made

against this dreadful drink habit, which, in a general way, is
constantly on the increase.
I want it understood that I am in

hearty accord with the work of the

C. T. U.,

and believe that

the organization has done great good in reclaiming thousands of

and prohibiting the use of strong drink in many localities, but
its efforts, because of the great opposition
with which it must contend, and therefore can not hope to keep
down the growth of such a robust' habit as dram-drinking has
proved itself to be.
sots

the Society'is limited in

In 1879 tne people of the United States consumed 423,261,090
proof gallons of distilled spirits, wines and malt liquors, which

was

8.66 gallons per capita.

gallons of the

same kinds

In 1901 they consumed 1,390,127,379

of liquors, or 17.90 gallons per capita.

From 1879 to 1894, a period of fifteen years, there was a steady
increase of consumption, and from the latter date onward the consumption per capita fluctuated because the production was variable.
This decrease in production can not be attributed to any vigorous efforts to abate the evils of the drink habit by forcing down
the manufacture of liquors, but it is rather to be referred to the
decrease in the production of corn, rye and barley, the chief raw
materials of distilled spirits. This decrease in the production of
the* chief raw materials would affect the consumption per capita in
two ways: First, the increase in the prices controlled by the
economic law of supply and demand. Second, by decreasing the
purchasing ability of the farmer who raises a decreased amount of
farm products generally. There is one noticeable fact about the
increase of consumption per capita which should intensify our
alarm, and that is, the use of distilled liquors and wines has not
increased much since 1879, but the consumption per capita of malt

THE

EVILS

AND CURE OF DRINK HABIT

2 fin

hundred per cent. I say alarming because the
drink habit has gone into the homes, among the women and children, and defiled the fountain head of our social life. As long awe could keep the fountain from the taints of the evil we were
hopeful of cleansing the streams by judicious sanitation; but since
the poison has been thrown into the springs of our institutional
life we see nothing but disaster or days of unremitting toil.

waxed

liquors has

It is a difficult

task to undertake to give figures setting forth the

drink habit of the Negro, yet

can present some data which will

give an appreciable idea of the extent of the habit.

observation by those
cal matters,

portion to the

who have

From

careful

given some attention to sociologi-

learned that people indulge their appetites in pro-

amount

accumulated wealth during any given

estimate the wealth of the whole country at $75,000,000,000 and the wealth of the Negro at $375,000,000, which would
period.

mean that i.2oa,of the total wealth of the country is controlled by
Negro that is, the other people would have $200.00 while the
Negro had $1.00. If this deduction is true, other things being
equal, the other races drink two hundred gallons of liquor while the'
Negro drinks one gallon. In coming to this conclusion, due allowance should be made for the Negro's place of residence and his

the

—

Country people and busy people drink less than inThese two facts tend
to make the drink habit of the Negro less per capita, because more
of them proportionately live in the rural districts. While Negroes
drink less liquor, the prevalence of the habit is just as widespread
among them as it is among other races. The quantity drunk depends upon its accessibility and the Negro's ability to buy, and not
upon the lack of propensity for it.
occupation.

habitants of the city and the leisure classes.

THE CURE
Moral suasion has become with some people a threadbare theme,
because the discussions have not been enlivened with an array of

Men who make it their business to inculcate the prinpublic
morality should study the people to whom they
ciples of
themselves
from time to time, and endeavor to find
must address
proper data.

THE

270

EVILS

AND CURE OF DRINK HABIT

out the trend of their fancy and direct

into those fields of useful-

ness where their labors will profit the whole world and prepare
for the "millenial

detectors.
If

dawn."

The people need more

directors and

!SS

Their energies need more direction and less detection.

way
more good would com*

the directors of public morals could point out in an effective

the pains and penalties of the drink habit,

from the many campaigns against vice and general moral delin
quency.
Let us reason together and arrange a program which
nay attract the public and be helpful to those who are disposed to
tray from "old paths."
Crime. Thirty years ago 90 pei cent, of the crimes committed
ivere attributable to strong drink.
Although crime per capita of
i

the

population

has

steadily

decreased

since the early seventies,

that due to alcoholic drinks has not decreasd noticeably.

Sociolo-

and philanthropists have ransacked their brains and depleted
their coffers to reduce the amount of crimes committed, and they
have been very successful, yet in spite of all this the number of
crimes per capita due to the drink habit has not decreased. Dr.
largravcs has this to say about the effects of strong drink: ''Husbands and fathers are not only caused to neglect wives and families,
but to inflict upon them the most revolting cruelties. The affections in families are blunted and obliterated children are neglected
and left without clothing, food or education, and often forced into
crime by their parents to procure money for them to spend in
drink, or they are abandoned and left to shift for themselves, and
under the guidance of wicked associates are urged to commit crime
to eke out a shiftless existence." To this we might add a long list

gists

;

of crimes less revolting but nevertheless vicious, such as frauds of

robbery, embezzlement,
and murders.

every kind, theft,

women
If we

and

girls

prostitution

our

could abate the drink habit we could afford to have better
houses, because there would be plenty of active capital with which
would have larger farms and better prices
to make purchases.
there would be more consumers capable
because
for our products,
for
what they needed, and thus encourage
prices
of paying good
in
farm property. l f the people could be
capital
of
the investment

THE
made to appreciate
money and the

EVILS

AND CURE OF DRINK HABIT

271

the good to be derived from proper investment

emanating from the improper use of the
same, perhaps they could be induced to abstain totally from the use
of intoxicating liquors as a beverage.
Total abstenance is the only safe cure for drunkenness and the
evils growing out of this unnatural state of being.
During years
of bondage, when the Negro had to abstain from the use of beverages, because of his inability to get them, he was healthier both
in body and mind, but since he has been free to drin,k eal and do
as he pleases he is now a victim of all the ils to which depraved
of

evils

mortals are heir.

Encourage Christian temperance by organizing total abstinence
bands among the youth, lend a hand to the various prohibition
movements in those States and- Territories which have undertaken
to abate the evils of intemperance, discourage, decry and condemn
in unmeasured terms the manufacturer and the trafficker in strong
drink, ostracise the drunkard and the one who made him so, exclude from church membership the habitual tippler and place a
high estimate on sobriety.

To What Extent

the Race Addicted to Drink?
Its

Prof.

Its Evils

and

Cure

Wilson Pettus, A.

If all the alcoholic liquor consumed in the United States in 1890
could be brought together into one place, it would, according to
conservative, authentic estimates, fill a channel twenty feet deep,

twenty miles wide, and fifty-four and one-half miles long. In that
year the average quantity consumed was fifteen and one-half gallons for every man, woman and child in this country. The average
annual increase in consumption for the four years immediatelv
preceding 1890 was one gallon per individual. If this rate has been
kept up, the year 1902 finds us consuming on an average twentyseven and one-half gallons each. The estimated cost of intoxicants

THE

272

AND CURE OF DRINK HABIT

EVILS

1890 was eleven dollars for each individual in 1902 it is nineHence, we, representing ten millions of the nation's
population, find ourselves consuming two hundred and seventy-

;

teen dollars.

five million gallons of alcoholic liquors, having a money value of
one hundred and ninety million dollars.
But all of us do not drink. From statistics gathered through the
co-operation of agents in ten different cities widely located and
having populations ranging from five thousand to two hundred
thousand, we glean these facts: Out of one thousand persons of
:olor, selected without reference to class, condition or vocation, in
city No. I, 900 use intoxicants as a beverage; in city No. 2, 2890;
in No. 3, 877 in No. 4, 845
in No. 5, 805 in No. 6, 795 in No. 7,
755; in No. 8, 683; in No. 9, 668; in No. 10, 655.
Hence out of a total of ten thousand people seven thousand eight
hundred and fifty-four use alcoholic liquors twelve per cent, of
whom are drunkards, twenty per cent, drink to the extent of becoming boisterous, and the remainder are occasional tipplers. In this
number are represented people in every walk of life, in every class
and condition of society the wealthy and poor, the old and the
young, the male and the female, the godly and the ungodly, the
preacher and the layman.
The evils of drink are legion. Alcohol undermines the very foundation of all that is noble in man the mind. It blunts the sensiIt tends to
bilities, impairs the reason and destroys the will.
transform the refined into the coarse and uncouth, the wealthy
into paupers, the determined into the vacillating, the law-abiding
into criminals, happiness and contentment into grief and wretched;

;

—

human into the brute. Who,
who said: "Wine is a mocker,

ness, the sane into the insane, the

then,

wonders

strong drink

at the philosopher

raging; and whosover

deceived thereby

not

wise."

the solemn warning? Will we reform, or will we,
disastrous consequences, suffer the drink habit
these
in the face of
the life from the race and consigning it to an
sapping
to continue

Will

we heed

ignoble death?
against this plague.

must call a halt. We must begin a crusade
must educate the race out of this ignorant

THE

EVILS

AND CURE OF DRINK HABIT

273

and wasteful habit and Christianize it out of this sin. The hour
must be the kindergarten. Just as there is no place like home, likewise there is no instruction so lasting, so essential and powerful in
character-building as is that of the home. Let the lesson of temperance, of abstinence, be instilled into the youth at mother's knee,
let it be taught by example around the family hearth.
Let the
teacher in the schoolroom enlarge upon the work begun at home.
Let him explain the destructive power of alcohol on the system
let him teach soberness and frugality, emphasizing the fact that,
other#hings being equal, money makes us masters, while whiskey
5

;

makes us slaves. The physician in his daily ministering to the sick
should preach the gospel of total abstinence. The morals of the
race are determined in a great measure by our women.
If they
wink at vice, if they countenance immoral conduct in our men, no
power on earth can controvert it. Then let them be living examples of purity and total abstinence, and persuade and insist that our
men come up t o their standard. Let the ministers of the gospel
Persuade
seek zealously to save the people from the drink sin.
them to turn from it not simply because it is injurious to themselves, but because it is damning to the race, damning to the commonwealth and damning to generations yet unborn.

Part

The Race and

Ch'ld Culture

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

THE PLACE OF AMUSEMENTS

•

A CHILD'S LIFE

Mrs. E. E. White, Atlanta, Ga.
Perhaps there

no better way to

fix

the position of

amusements

than to consider the great part played by amusethe lives of the ancient Grecians.

in a child's life

ments

The

art of

amusement reached

its

perfection in Greece, a per-

which has never been excelled, a perfection which was perhaps more appreciated then than it has ever been since. With the
decay of Greece began the decline of amusements. She was the
fection

source of aesthetics, the beautiful in nature,

symmetry and

art,

poetry, physical

strength, and strength belonged to her, and love

and appreciation for the beautiful

every sense characterized the

lives of her people.

Amusements
the

life

form of diversion should play a great part in
more so than in grown-up life.
can be content with the routine of life-work and ocas a

of every child, perhaps even

Matured

life

casional diversion, but childhood

a season of activity; every

busy-body and no dullness nor monotony will
suffice to amuse it. The child-mind is pliable and must have diversion, and the little body must have exercise, or, like an unused tool,
the limbs will become useless from lack of development and the
faculties will become dull from the lack of exercise; the tender
emotions and impulses will remain dormant and proper physical
child,

(274)

healthy,

AMUSEMENT

IN CHILD'S LIFE

275

will be retarded hence the production of dwarf minds and
poorly developed bodies. Owing to the fact that a human being
comes into a world in which there are other human beings, for the
good of the whole he must be taught not only how to amuse him-

growth

;

but how to be agreeable to his companions.
Properly directed amusements serve as an intellectual, physical
and moral aid to the child. These three terms are to certain extent
kindred terms, and the effects of one may follow the other in consecutive order.
By proper amusement, physical strength is attained, and without physical strength the intellect can not be developed.
Moral development comes from a strong intellect. A
child showing development along these lines wil not be so likely
self,

to grieve the parent

the perpetrators.

by the petty annoyances of which children are

CHAPTER XXXIX
CHRIST FROM BIRTH TO ASCENSION
Rev. C. H. Morgan, Ph. D., Chicago

The

great

young

people's organizations are

now

at the threshold

of comprehensive plans for the development of Bible study.

systematic course has been devised, and much time and thought
have been expended. The course covers the Bible in three years,
and opens with the gospel era. The thirty-five lessons for the first

year are entitled "Studies

the Life of Christ."

They were

pre-

pared by S. Earl Taylor, A. M., of New York Rev. Thomas E.
Taylor, B. D., of Iowa, and Rev. C. H. Morgan, Ph. D., of
Chicago. It is intended that classes or individuals shall take the
course with a esson per week from October till June.
For Monday of each week there is a brief narrative which consecutively brings before the student a compact, graphic survey of
the life of Christ. In large part this is presented in the very words
of the gospels themselves.
For the next five days of each week
there is a constructive arrangement of the gospel material, the sections for reading each day forming orderly steps from the beginning to the end of each study, with the most fertile suggestions
and enlightening directions that can be connected with them. These
gospel sections vary in length, but average twelve verses per day,
or, including eleven days of rapid review reading of Mark, sixteen
;

verses per day.
In the plan for the third day, after the reading of the gospel section, there

of a

assigned

map work and

harmony embracing

the construction of the section

the gospel material for the given lesson.

In the fourth day, besides the gospel reading, reference

by volume and page

made*

by
Edersheim, Gaikie, Stalker, Andrews, Farrar, Rhees and Sanday,
which bear on the lesson.
(276)

to those portions of the "Lives of Christ"

CHRIST FROM BIRTH TO ASCENSION
In addition to the gospel reading for the

fifth

217

day, there are sev-

"Topics for personal investigation," touching features of geography, biography, manners, customs, etc. The first one for each
lesson unites to form a series of thirty-five aspects of the life and
work of Christ, each bringing together about fifteen of the most
important gospel passages relating to the topic, chronologically
arranged.
This series opens with the topic, "The far-reaching
effects of the incarnation," includes such topics as "Christ's attitude
toward the common people," "Christ's authority as founder and
law-giver of the kingdom of God," "The tenderness of Jesus,"
"Christ's power over nature, spirits, disease, and death," "The perfect character of Jesus," and concludes with "Christ's unfailing
and immeasurable love for all mankind."
In the sixth day, following the gospel reading, are given from
five to eight "Questions for written answers," which answers are
eral

note-book or harmony.
which is understood to be Sunday,
from one to three verses are assigned to be memorized. There is
often a note of review or summary of some large element of the
gospel record, and the week closes with one of the most pointed
verses or phrases, applied as a personal thought for the spiritual
to be entered in the

Finally, in the seventh day,

life

of the reader or student.

These constructive studies also consider the date, authorship,
and distinctive characteristics of each of the four gospels.
Then, in the daily selections for two of the "studies" toward the
close of the course, there is arranged a rapid review reading of the
gospel of Mark, in sections corresponding to the periods of the
Several objects are accomplished by this feature: I. It prolife.
vides the daily gospel reading at the only points where the harmony offers tittle or no material. 2. It leads the student to divide
the material of a gospel according to the periods of Christ's

life.

embodies the new and very helpful method of continuous
3.
reading of somewhat extended portions of Scripture. 4. It illustrates the method of summarizing Christ's life by making a list of
the persons with whom He came in contact. 5. It reviews the life
It

in the brief gospel of deeds.

CHRIST FROM BIRTH TO ASCENSION

278

Lastly, in connection with the gospel of John, there

embodied

progress of the "studies" the method or principle of chapternames, and the following list of such names is submitted at the
close of the course:
i. First five disciples.
2. Wedding, Temple*.

in the

New

birth.

Water.

liveth.

12.

Comfort.
prayer.
risen.

Woman,

Bethesda.

Bread.

10.

Good Shepherd.

Christ lifted up.

13.

Christ teaching humility.

15.

18.

nobleman.

Sight.

Light.

Fruit.

Christ

21. Christ as

16.

Holy

arrested.

Lord.

Spirit
19.

power.

Christ

17.

crucified.

II.

Lazarus
14.

Intercessory
20. Christ

;

CHAPTER XL
NECESSITY FOR THE EARLY CONVERSION OF

CHILDREN
Mrs.

The boy

Holmes

S. B.

man

to-morrow; the child of this
generation is the parent of the next, and the seeds of either, good
or evil, sown in the bodies, the minds and the hearts of the youth
of the present will bring forth abundant fruit after their several
kinds in the mature race of the future. This is the inexorable law
of cause and effect, existing everywhere, existing at all times, applying to the physical, the intellectual and the moral nature of mankind. The Spartan mother, observing this law in the physical culture of her child, produced a nation which has stood as a model of
healthful vigor and physical perfection. The Athenians, having a
natural inclination toward the beautiful in life, began the cultivation of the aesthetic nature of the child at a very early age, thus
producing a people .which have given to the world its greatest
masters in poetry, art, oratory and philosophy.
We take these examples from history merely to show that whatever

of to-day

the

expected to be the destiny of a people,

tliat

destiny

deter-

mined by the training of the children of that people in those things
which tend to produce the end desired, and the earlier that training
is begun the more certainly are the desired results obtained.
The American people, too, have in view an ideal state, a goal
toward which we are striving, and unless I mistake the signs of the
times, as indicated in the commercial, the industrial, the intellectual and religious activities of to-day, the goal is a place in the front

—

rank of the nations of the earth a veritable paragon of national
Such, I honestly believe, is our hope
such is our desire. The question, then, which presses itself most
persistently upon those who have the future welfare of the human
race at heart is, how can such a result be obtained?
By what
process can such a nation be produced? As we look about us day

greatness and goodness.

(279)

EARLY CONVERSION OF CHILDREN

280

by day and see the abundance of vice and degradation on every
hand, and as we realize the manifold evils which seem to be dragging the nation downward and thwarting the efforts of those who
strive to set in

there

is little

motion influences for the uplifting of the people,
that some weary workers, despairing of suc-

wonder

pronounce the task as a hopeless one.
believe that as soon as a child is able to distinguish between
good and evil, so soon should that child be pointed to the true
Light which alone can illumine his pathway through the wilderness of life. He should be encouraged to embrace the invitation
of Him who said: "Suffer little children to come unto me."
On
account of the peculiar receptiveness of the child mind, the pure,
simple truths taught by Christ can be readily taken in and their
virtue assimilated during the period of early childhood.
But as
the years go by this becomes a matter of more and more difficulty,
because of the many opposing forces which crowd themselves upon
the attention of the child, until finally it is found next to impossicess,
I

ble to find place for the piain, simple truths of Christianity, either
on account of the vicious influences of immoral society or because
In this case, indeed,
of the hypercritical tendency of the age.
delay is dangerous and neglect is death.
In conclusion, it may be well to say a word in answer to those
who argue that a young child is incapable of comprehending fully
the deeper meankigs of certain church doctrines, and that to him,
therefore, the conversion is a mere outward act without that inward conviction so necessary as the vital force for the accomplishment of its true purpose. Let it be remembered that while Christianity admits of the most complex arguments and furnishes abundant grounds for the most extravagant discussions and speculations, yet the true essence of the thing is simplicity itself, capable

understood by the unlettered peasant, as well as by the
Such expressions as "Whoever will may come,"
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved," "Come
unto me all ye that labor and are heaven laden and I will give you
rest," are capable of being understood even by the most ignorant
of being

skilled theologian.

mep.

CHAPTER' XLI

THE PLACE OF CHILDREN

THE CHURCH

Rev. G. T. Dillard, D. D., Synodical Missionary, Presbyterian

Church

The
Civil

belief

War

was very prevalent among

the Negroes before the

that children could not be saved until they

years of age.

And

many

were twelve

war this belief
come across it.

places since the

held,

have had occasion in my rounds to
I have
no way or data from which to discover the origin of this heresy.
Suffice it to say that whatever apology may be given or justification
claimed for this evil notion, it has wrought havoc among thousands
of the youth of the race at a time when they should have been
given to our Lord and Master. It may be alleged with apparent
good reason that Negro parents before and during the war were
too ignorant and that American slavery rendered them unfit to
properly direct the training of their children, hence they should be
exempted from all responsibility or charge for the bad lives which
many of their children lived as a result of their twelve-yea?
heresy. I grant that. But that fact in no way removes the ruin
which overtook the lives and destiny of millions of Negro Boys
and girls who long since went up to the bar of God to receive their
sentence to "depart, I never knew you." The man who shot his
neighbor to death may declare that he did not know that the gun
was loaded nevertheless his neighbor is dead. This heresy conSome of the most noted and
tradicts profane and sacred history.
thoroughly useful women and men who have been prominent in
church and State and whose deeds remain to enrich the family of
men were converted and brought to Christ at the age of six or
nine years.
Many of the very distinguished preachers of the
American and English pulpits were brought to Jesus at nine ^ears
as

;

(281)

CHILDREN AND THE CHURCH

282

Add to
who

of age.

that the fact that there have been and are to-day

never knew the time when they were not Chrisvery early did the Holy Spirit bring them to the Cross.
This pernicious belief contravenes the teaching of the Bible and
Christ.
I declare it to be a truism that all the Bible and Christ
teach with respect to the training of children is authoritative and
therefore binding upon our hearts and consciences.
Jesus took
individuals

tians, so

little

as a

children into His arms and blessed them'.
little

child ye can not enter the

Kingdom

Except ye become
Heaven. Suffer

come unto me and

forbid them not, for of such is
Jesus received with delight and joy the
hosannas of the young children on his public entry into Jerusalem.

the children to

the

Kingdom

When

Heaven.

grown people were discussing who should be the
kingdom the Master set a little child in the midst of
answer to them and their inquiries. These things are
the Bible. They are the declarations and tender admoni-

the

greatest in the

them

stated in
tions of

Him who

Himself walked and talked here among men, as

a child.

What,

then, is the child's place in the church? I have stated it
language of the Bible and the Christ above. Nobody in
the Kingdom of Christ can occupy such a tender, essential place
in that kingdom as the very young children do.
Nobody with an
©pen mind and intelligent knowledge of the subject but what
knows that God has always included and embraced the children
with their parents in the plan of salvation. "The promise to you
and your children" is a divine declaration and carries with it the
command to provide at the very cradle all that may be needed and
wise to bring the lambs into the fold. It is not a question of age
of the child, but rather, has the child got any sense? Does it know
right from wrong? And should it appear that the child does not
comprehend the terms right and wrong, yet the lessons of Holy
Writ and the precepts of the humble Nazarene should be given the
child "line upon line," for God in His own time and province will
see that His word shall not turn to Him void, but shall accomplish
the thing whereunto it is sent. The gospel alone opens its warm
bosom to the young. Christianity is the nurse of childhood.
in the

CHILDREN AND THE CHURCH

How
They

beautiful

their life

when dominated by

283
the spirit of

God!

are the olive plants about Our tables, the fresh flowers of our

What

hearthstones.

delight do they evoke by their

spells.

little

All ranks of society and the church are enriched and beautified

them.

What

a dreary and dark world this

would be

only

women

and men lived

in it not a child anywhere to be seen, by the magic
whose sport and glad laugh life would be worth living. Another
has said: "Every infant comes into the world like a delegated
prophet, the harbinger and herald of good tidings, whose office it
is to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and to draw the
disobedient to the wisdom of the just. A child softens and purifies
the heart, warming and melting it by its gentle presence it enriches the soul by new feelings and awakens within whatever is

;

favorable to virtue.

It is a

beam

of light, a fountain of love, a

teacher whose lessons few can resist.

The
Hon.

The church

Child's Place in the

Easley,

Jr.,

Church

Atlanta, Ga.

not the property of the adult person alone, but the

bequest, the rich inheritance of the

human

race, of

which the

child

an inseparable heir and an equal sharer.
Hence every right accorded to the adult person in the church
should be accorded to the child. The adult in the church is but
the sacred guardian who holds as a sacred trust the child's right to
a place of equality, a rank co-equal and extensive, a life as dear, a
soul as precious, and interest as great as that possible to be
claimed for the adult. The church is the wide way which leads
to the house of God, where every foot of human treads freely,
is

all of us are the common children, who find their common
fatherhood of God, the Father over all. The Sunday Schoo of today is the church of to-morrow. I not only demur at this point,
but I flatly deny the truthfulness o^f such an assertion, although

where

the assertion

may me gray with

age.

The Sunday

School,

or-

CHILDREN AND THE CHURCH

284

ganized and fostered, is the church of to-day, because it is peopled
with the people of to-day the people of God, the common father
of all.
And the inability of the child-ife to grapple with the
sterner life the larger experience presumed in the parent and in
their preserves, kept sacred and holy with the parent or guardian
of the child. Hence in entering the church the same door is open
to the parent and the child, and it is open alike to both.
The

—

obligations are the same.

one

case

the adult

The

person

ministration

takes

them upon

the same.
himself.

In the

the

other case the child takes them through the parents. This act alone
places the child in the position of equality and heir of

all

the rights

and places possible to be accorded to a child of God.
When this idea is made clear to the church life of our times narrowness and bigotry will disappear, and this dissection which has
divided the church into little bits of scraps, like a man is divided
in mental science, will disappear.
Then the meaning of "Allow
the little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of
such is the Kingdom of God," will be understood in its newer and
truer meaning throughout Christendom. Then the child's place in
the church will be that of equality, and we all then, parents and
child, in the mind and eye of the church, in the life and character
of the church, will be one in the great familyhood of God.

CHAPTER

XLII

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL THE TRAINING DEPARTMENT
OF THE CHURCH
Rev. C. C. Jacobs, A. M., D. D., Field Agent, Sunday School Union

Church

—

Sunday School this unique instichurch has a distinctive and easily recognized
work to accomplish as a fitting or training department of the
church. The faculties of a child can not unfold symmetrically and
healthily unless they are under the proper influences. The nursery
of the church, with its genial air, its varied system of influences,
its divinely appointed course of instruction and the accompanying
presence of the Holy Spirit is peculiarly adapted to its God-given

The

tution

subject suggests that the
of

—

the

mission.

The Sunday School
service of the church.
disciples.
It is a

It is a

modern

It is a

title for

an ancient and apostolic

school on Sunday.

school with a Master.

It is a

school for

school with lessons.

All this the Sunday School is and
The Master furnishes us with the first
Sunday School. With His disciples gathered

school with a text-book.

this also is the

church.

model of the true
around Him in synagogue or temple, on mountain or n valley, in
shady grove, barren plain, by babbling brook or on boisterous billows, was Sunday School in the first centuries. He met His disciples face to face. He would ask questions to draw His disciples out
on lines concerning which He desired to help them, introducing
some vital theme pertaining to this life or the life that is to come.
He made plain to them the meaning of the Old Testament and the
mysteries of the New. He asked questions and aso allowed His
disciples to propound to Hta questions
even extended the privilege to His enemies, answering in the most tender and comprehen-

—

ds*)

SUNDAY-SCHOOL AND THE CHURCH

2S6
sive

way

every knotty problem propounded unto Him.

He was

drawing striking illustrations from the
commonplace things of life to make plain and effective the truths
he taught. Thus He laid the foundation for the future church and
left a pattern through His method for its perpetuity.

practical in His teaching,

The purpose

Sunday School is to lay the foundation of
by the inculcation of Bible truth and the culti-

of the

Christian character

;

vation of saving grace and faith in the hearts of those who receive
the truth, causing them to a:cept the Scriptures as the rule and

guide of

life.

In order that this training department of the church

may measure up

requirement exacted of it by its great
must be made plain to those who
are instructed in it. The teacher must make thorough preparation.
He needs to know the sacred truth, and to be filled with Holy
Spirit, having a heart throbbing with faith and living according to
the truth he teaches. He must love the church of God, possess a
holy ambition to bring the lambs into the fold. The true teacher
prepares each lesson with the hope of helping pupils to come into
the Kingdom of God.
to the

President, our Savior, the truth

One

of the

effective

ways

for the

to make the work of the Sunday School most
homes of the children to be made Bible-study-

Seek to get the parents and guardians
by consecrating their own heart to God and instituting the study of the
word of God there. No provision of teaching or example by a
Sunday School can heal the ghastly wound inflicted by a father's
No theory of heavenly grace can excuse the Christian
profanity.
mother from her holy offices serving in Christ's ministry.
ing and God-loving homes.

of the children interested in the welfare of the children

What was testified by one of our early and strong statesmen
might be confessed by nearly all the best men in Christendom:
"I believe/' said he, "that I should have been swept away by the
flood of French infidelity but for the one thing, the remembrance
of the time when my sainted mother used to make me kneel by her
bedside and, taking my little hand folded in hers, causing me to
repeat the Lord's prayer." There is no power equal to a mother's
influence over the formative period of a child's

life.

The

old ro-

THE BIBLE AND CHILDREN

287

mance had a heathen superstition that in holding the face of the
new born infant upward toward -the heavens, signifying by this
presenting his forehead to the stars that he was to look above the
world into glories celestial. The goddess that was supposed to
preside over this inspiring ceremony was named from a word
which means to raise aloft. It was a heathen superstition then,
but Christianity dispelled the fable and the doubt as the clear
realization of dim pagan yearning in a Christian baptism rind the
training of the fold.

How
President

Make

the Bible Interesting to Children

Thomas H. Amos, Harbison

So the question,

"How

Make

College, Abbeville, S. C.

the Bible Interesting to Chil-

dren?" does not involve us in the study of a way to reconstruct the
child's mind so it can receive the Scriptures, but the question is,
how to make our teaching of the Scriptures attract and hold the
attention of children?

are to discover the

ways

wisdom

and pleasantness that can be employed to make the child love the
Scriptures.
The first suggestion we have to make along the line
of our subject is: Read the Bible to children in an impressive
way. Read it to them with pathos and brilliancy. There is a way
to read any book that will make it dull and insipid; on the other
hand, there is a way to read the same book that will make it delightful.
There are teachers of the Bible who by the manner in
which they read the Bible to children interest them. It is not saying too much to rmark that teachers ought to practice how to read
the Bible that their very intonation may add a charm to the book.
We would say, in the second place, we believe it will help to
make a wise selection of the portions they wish to teach. Confine
Give the chiltheir teaching to the elementary parts of the word.
which
Peter
calls
the
the
word
sincere
of
part
milk of the
dren the
children
will
desire,
for
the
it
part
is
their
food. Perword. This
haps some one would like to ask: How shall the sincere milk of

288

THE BIBLE AND CHILDREN

word be administered to children so they will desire it? In
we would say: Do not .give the word to children as medicine. As we know, children have an aversion to medicine, and upon the same principle they will have an aversion to
the word if it is administered to them as bitters.
Above all things, the teacher who makes the Bible interesting to
children will be the one who will invoke the aid of the Holy Spirit.
Those who will rely on Him will accomplish,
It requires His aid.

the

reply to this inquiry

without the other rules I have given, the one burning desire of us
all, which is to convey the word to children so they will read it,
study it, understand it and appropriate it to their lives and needs
and not shirk any of its effects till it has accomplished in their
hearts everything whereunto God has sent it,

Part

The Negro and

the Misssonary Spirit of the

Age

CHAPTER XLIV

THE NEGRO'S PART
Bishop L.

The
is

THE REDEMPTION OF AFRICA

Coppin, Cape Town, South Africa.

land once lying in darkness, but

now

fast

coming

to the light,

claiming the best thought and the best energies of the civilized

world.

But what of her people? When as a Christian church we speak
redemption of Africa we do not refer to her material resources
chiefly, though these are a means to an end.
The one supreme

of the

thought with us is, how the millions of her inhabitants may be
reached by the light of the Gospel and saved. In their isolated
condition/the people have for long centuries
of

customs and habits not

become the victims
life, which is

keeping with the better

the result only of Christian civilization. The custom's and habits
formed and fixed by centuries cannot be thoroughly changed by a
few years of effort. The success already attained by missionary
enterprise in Africa is not to be measured by the years of effort it
Missionary
has cost, nor by the amount of money expended.
records from other fieilds will fully justify this statement. In all
such work we may expect to have the exemplification of nature's
course, "first the blade, then the ear; after that the full corn in the

One hundred and sixty-six years have passed since the
Moravians, as pioneer Protestant missionaries, began work on the
gold coast. From 1736 to 1832 much effort was expended by a
number of societies on the west coast, during which more or less
progress was made, accompanied with no little sacrifice and a large
death roll of missionaries. But at this time the missionary field is
no longer confined to any particular section of Africa. The misear."

(289)

THE NEGRO AND THE REDEMPTION OF AFRICA

200

sionary has followed in the
stations.

the foothold
is

wake of the explorer and planted his
work is most hopeful in the west
permanent; in Central Africa the work proceeds, and

In South Africa the
is

not likely to stop until every tribe shall read the story of the cross

in his

own

dialect.

—

Those missionaries wjio have studied the native tongues of
which there are many and translated the Bible into the vernacular
of various tribes, have done a work that is of inestimable value.

—

The

difficulty of

language

after all the greatest harship in evan-

work in Africa? If there were but one tongue to contend
with, the work of the missionary would be comparatively easy; but
there are many tongues.
In my own district in South Africa, we
have the Bible in three native dialects, viz: the Zulu, the Bechuana
and the so-called Kaffir. Besides these, we have the Dutch and
gelistic

English Bible.

The

is virtuous and honest. The uncivmastery among themselves, commit
many acts that would not be approved by the rules governing modern warfare: deeds of cruelty that make the need of the gospel
among them imperative. But in their individual lives, free from
the exciting influence of war, they have rules and customs governing their home life that are entirely in keeping with the highest

native African, as a rule,

ilized tribes, in striving for the

To them polygamy is not a sinful
beyond that which comes from their own
firesides, they do not see the necessity of breaking away from a
practice that is peculiar to mankind in the earliest stages of social
life.
But they hold tenaciously to the rule, that all men and all
women among them must respect the matrimonial customs by
which they are governed. These customs can not be violated with
impunity, and the penalty for such violations is often death. They
are disposed to be true to their professions, and faithful in what
state of christian civilization.

practice.

Without

light

When they are persuaded that there is a better life,
and indued to embrace it, they bring with them their characteristic
sincerity.
How great, then, is the need of missionaries who will
not by their own unfaithfulness and insincerity lower the standard
of native custom.
they believe.

THE NEGRO AND THE REDEMPTION OF AFRICA
But, secondly, there

Negro

much

to the climate of Africa.

291

to be said of the adaptation of the

For the establishment of

this fact

abundant, if such are needed.
After thirty-five years of effort by the Moravians on the Gold
Coast 1736-1771 the word had to be abandoned, but only after
the loss by death of eleven missionaries. The work there was next
taken up by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. Philip
Quaque, a native, was ordained and placed in charge of the work,
statistics are

—

and he labored among his people for nearly fifty years. 1804 marked
the date of the Church Missionary Society, at Susu, near Sierra
Leone.

Although the Propagation Society, the Wesleyan Methodists and
all occupied the field between 1752 and 1804,
the record is that when the Church Missionary Society entered
there was not a single European missionary left. The experiment
of European missionaries was again tried in earnest by the Church
Missionary Society, arfd during the first fifty years of their work,
out of 127 missionaries, 39 died after an average of two years' service, and fifty being kivalids, returned home.
In 1832 the American Presbyterians and the Methodists entered
the English Baptists

the work.

The Presbyterians decided

aries for whites.

to substitute colored mission-

Melville Cox, as the pioneer of the

Method ists,

soon laid down his life, and the work was afterwards taken up by
the immortal Bishop Taylor, who proved an exception to the rule
and lived a long and useful life.
The religious field, and especially the great continent of Africa,
seems to offer the greatest opportunity for the man of color to do
his best work. As we stand in the open door of a new century, God
is calling us to new duties and responsibilities.
The preparation
of tins work was through a school of hard experiences, but perhaps
the trials were no harder than those which have been borne by
others. We waited long for the call to take our place among other
agencies for the redemption of the world; and now that it has come
we have no time nor disposition to brood over past experiences.
Our business is now with the exacting present and the portentous
future, and we must adjust ourselves to the new situation.

;

THE NEGRO AMD THE REDEMPTION OF AFRICA

292

God is calling men of every race and clime to take a part in the
world's redemption, and face responsibilities that come with the
unfolding years. If we are found ready and willing to take our
place, then

but

come

may we

claim the promise of His presence and help
may not

are found to be unwilling and unworthy, the call

to us again.

CHAPTER XLV

OPPORTUNITY— RESPONSIBILITY
Rev. Joseph C. Hartzell, D. D., LL. D., Bishop of Africa, Methodist Episcopal Church, Vivi, West Coast Africa.

The wisdom of calling together the thousands of Negro young
people of various churches and other organizations engaged in
christian»work in America will be more and more manifest as the
Congress proceeds, and especially as its good results, sure to ensue,
in the months and years to follow.
Any movement which unites in closer unity and efficiency chris-

become evident

among the Negro millions of America
commended and helped forward by every friend of the

tian philanthropic leadership

should be
race.

The evolution

of the

Negro

in the

United States

in a single

generation since freedom in education, finance, morality, wise leadership and in organized, aggressive moral forces, will stand out in

But only a beginning
demands and responsibilities are in
the Negro race, not only in North America

history as one of the marvels of our time.

has been made.

Much

greater

the immediate future for

but in the continent of Africa, South Africa and other sections of
the earth where the sons and daughters of Ham are to form future
populations.

Who

can estimate the responsibility of American christian leadtoward their people at home, but also toward the mul-

ers not only

Those leaders are
tiplying millions of black people in other lands?
very largely represented in this great christian congress of christian
workers, standing for the most intelligent, moral and best equipped
9,000,000 of Negroes found anywhere on earth. Under the American
flag as under no other, that nine millions and more have opportunities for industrial training without which no race has or can permanently advance; free education under trained teachers; opportuni(293)

THE NEGRO'S OPPORTUNITY AND

294
is

that

them

God

will permit

RESPONSIBILITY.

open the way

for

hundreds more

in different parts of Africa.

On the East Coast, in Portuguese East Africa and Rhodesia, a
phenomenal beginning- and growth have occurred largely within
three years.
Here the work is among both European whites and
natives.

Last

eighteen picked
buildings,

November I organized a mission conference with
men and women leaders, and property, chiefly in

worth over $100,000.

are developing a large indus-

mission for natives on a farm of 1,300 acres.
have a selfsupporting academy for whites; also, a mission press, where we are
trial

printing religious literature and tracts and books in the

two native

languages, and also work in printing pamphlets in English.
of our native

tongue and

men

set

translated the

in type.

New Testament

One

into his native

are organizing native self-sup-

porting churches.

The echo

triumphant shout from the dying lips of that
woman, as she lay dying in the midst of
African heathenism, follows me day and night "Victory for
Africa." How glorious her faith was in that last moment on earth.
of that

cultivated and consecrated

—

THE NEGRO'S OPPORTUNITY AND RESPONSIBILITY.

295

masters the language of the people whose flag floats over him,
whether it be English, Dutch, German, French, Spanish, Italian or
Portuguese.

The mission

fields of the

Methodist Episcopal church

in Africa

are located in three great sections of the continent: one on the East

and two on the West Coast. In addition, we have a flourishing mission on the Madeira Islands, among the Portuguese Roman Catholic.

Our

Liberia Annual Conference,

new

has entered a

the College of

era of advance.

$5,000,

in its sixty-ninth year,

of education with

est Africa as its center, includes thirty schools

and over thirteen hundred
worth,

now

Our system

issues

pupils.

"The

Our mission

New

Africa,"

press and outfit,

page

thirty-two

Sunday School literature, native hymns in various
dialects, and does a large amount of general printing.
The work
is done entirely by native black boys.
There is industrial work at
all our stations, and we are developing a good industrial plant at
monthly

;

also,

the Liberia Industrial School on the St. Paul river.
ference at Grand Bassa

with pews and everything

March

in a

new

held the Con-

brick church, furnished

in excellent taste, that cost

over $4,000.

Women

and children carried brick and mortar to save expense. The
Sunday School raised a thousand dollars. The whole cost was paid
by the people except $300, which I furnished for the windows and
The same neighborhood subscribed $30(1
corrugated iron roof.
toward a high school building. We have six other churches like
the above in course of erection. The people are doing all but the

windows and

roof.

This Conference has about one hundred

mem-

The church membership is over
At Manrovia we have the leading
church in the Republic, entirely self-supporting, with a good brick
building, and now erecting a $2,000 parsonage. This same church
gave $2,000 as a thank offering toward a new building for the
College of West Africa.
Camphor, Sherrill, Foust, Davis, Simpson, Allen and Gravely and their noble wives, all from our Xegro

bers, lay teachers

and workers.

three thousand three hundred.

schools

the South, are doing splendid

work

well received and honored by the old workers in the

Liberia and are
field.

hope

;

THE NEGRO'S OPPORTUNITY AND

296

RESPONSIBILITY.

moral and religious development, and open doors for sucand professional life. If I could stand for but one
moment before the thousands of young people in the Congress
assembled in Atlanta and could utter but two words, they would be
"Opportunity, Responsibility."
ties for

cess in business

glad to learn that the missionary

work

in Africa

to be one

In no
missionary endeavor are the thoughts and plans of
the christian world centered with greater intensity. David's prophecy has indeed been fulfilled. Ethiopia's hands are stretched out to
God. Yesterday Africa was the continent of mystery and tragedy
to-day it is the continent of opportunity; to-morrow, if the christian governments and the church are true to God, it will be the continent of marvelous triumphs, especially in the development of the
Negro race. South Africa will have a large white European population, but the proportion of the blacks must continue to greatly
predominate. South of the Zambesi river the blacks are eight to
one, while in the English colony of Natal there are fifty blacks to
one white. The better the government under the white man in
Africa the more rapidly do the blacks prosper and multiply in numbers.
In North Africa Caucasian blood predominates, but the native is everywhere
along the backbone of the continent, on its
eastern edges and extending from Cape Town through the gold
fields of the Transvaal and Rhodesia to Zambesia, up the great lakes
and sources of the Nile, and along that ancient river to the Mediterranean Sea a distance of six thousand miles there will be centers
of white population but Africa, as a whole, with its intense tropical
of the principal topics of discussion during the Congress.

other

field of

;

—

;

climate, will be the Negro's

home and

continent.

The

— except

native Afri-

perhaps in a
what
little strip along the north and small portions of the south
the Negro is to a large section of the Southern States that is, absolutely essential to the development of the land, the permanency of
government and the prosperity not only of himself, but of the white
man. Outside of the limited territory indicated, European government or commerce would be impossible without the native African.
He loads and unloads every ship. He is the soldier everywhere.
can will always be to the African continent

—

;

CHAPTER XL VI

THE NEEDIEST CLASS
Rev.

Crawford Jackson,

This
tory.

no time for

come

Editor, Christian Union, Atlanta. Ga.

felicitous introductions,

nor attempts at ora-

members of this Congress face to face
What would God have you and me do on behalf

of the neediest class in the
first

THE SOUTH

to bring the

with the question,
But,

all,

South?

who compose

this class?

The .answer

is:

the

colored orphans, deserted and neglected children and illegitimates.

These unfortunates, from

all

obtainable data, constitute an army

of at least 5,000 in Georgia alone, to say nothing of the larger class

throughout the South.
What has been done for them? Comparatively little. There are
about one dozen or more well equipped orphanages and trainingschools in this State among white Protestants, Catholics and Jews,
whilst there are, says one of your own number, "several feeble efforts" to care for the colored orphans.

By God's grace it is time, and high time, that something was
being done on a scale somewhat in proportion to the needs of the
thousands of these little ones.
But what of their real condition?
Freedom has been the watchword, not only of your own race,
but of the whole American people.
Let me tell you in all plainness of speech these helpless children
are in a more deplorable condition than our colonial forefathers
ever were. These forefathers, who so emphatically declared their
independence on the 4th day of July, 1776, and still more bravely
fought for it, had to pay too much tax on their tea. These children
have neither money nor tea, nor yet weapons of warfare to fight
successfully their own battles. According to a fundamental prin(297)

NEEDIEST CLASS IN THE SOUTH
ciple of

A much

our political
preached but

life,

these children are unequally dealt with.

practiced maxim is, "Equal rights to all
and special privileges to none." Are not rights and privileges extended to others, even other colored children, which are denied to
*hem? Let the facts answer.
little

Socially they are at a disadvantage.

Intellectually they are enMorally they are lost.
I
tell you our christian forefathers never knew such evils as
threaten the well-being of these children for time and eternity.
Who will rise up and declare their independence?
I am free to say again that the former enslavement of the Negro,
especially when under the best masters
mark the language does
p1 aved.

—

not parallel the situation of these parentless and neglected children.

Why
The

say this?

christian master cared for the children

whom

he called his

property, whether orphans or not; aaid this care extended, in

some

measure, to the spirit, soul and body of the child.
How about such children now; Not long since a christian white
woman in this city told me of three children whose father was dead
or gone to parts

unknown.

The mother often went out to labor all
when hungry, would run over to a

day, and her children, sometimes

white neighbor's and get something to eat. For this they were
whipped by the merciless mother. Those children, rather than go

hungry, or get a severe beating, would, in their desperate ingenuity,
My step-father, a wise farmer and
boil cotton seed and eat them.
stock-raiser, often told me. when a boy, that if hogs ate cotton seed
during winter they would be most certain to die in the spring. And
That
it is no marvel that these children soon lay down and died.
look place within five miles of Atlanta, with her Spellman, her
Clarke, her Gammon, her Morris Brown, her Atlanta University,

and her fine churches.
We want this movement to be christian to the core. If God the
Father through Christ is not to be its very Alpha and Omega, then
I must be counted out.

CHAPTER XLVII

NEW ERA FOR THE AMERICAN NEGRO

THE

EVANGELIZATION OF AFRICA
Rev. H. B. Parks, D. D., Secretary, Missionary Department A. M. E.

Church,

The

first

New York

City

thought for consideration of this fact is: the significance
whole of South Africa, the largest and most

of British rule in the

prosperous portion of this semi-civilized continent.
You will at once agree that no monarchy or republic in the world
to-day has so well established the fact that it stands for religious
education and equal justice to all, as the British
seems useless to discuss this fact it is a truth that all

liberty, liberal

empire.

honest

men

—

admit.

England has been blessed with a line of liberal christian rulers
whose ambition has been not only to acquire territory but to establish righteousness and christian rule throughout her dependencies.
Victoria of precious memory, whose name and reign will be revered
by all classes as long as history has a place in civilization, could
boast that beneath her flag anl within the domain of all her depend-

was permitted to drag his chain. Her soldiers have
been missionaries of love and mercy in India, the West Indies, and
encies no slave

all

her foreign wars.

The

successful evangelization of any people depends upon

its

educational and industrial policy of government.
Civilization

a blessing in proportion as its recipients are pre-

uneducated mind is not prepared to meet
the great responsibilities of twentieth century civilization. It is too
great for him; the multitudinous responsibilities are too varied and
pared to receive

complex".
(299)

it.

THE NEGRO AND THE EVANGELIZATION OF AFRICA

300

Education prepares the mind

for

every walk of

enlarges, and expands the intellect, training

God and

life; it

enlightens,

law and
stupendous mandates
the proper position to behold the glory of its
it

in nature,

to appreciate its responsibility to the

order, and placing

of Christian citizenship.

American Negro.
with him this identification gives
him a true knowledge of those whom he would help. This is one of
the essentials to the success of all missionary effort.
The Negro, in the second place, is in sympathy with his race. It
is his own and not another's.
The American Negro is the bone and
sinew of the African Negro, and he can not separate himself from
nor refuse to feel an interest in and a love for the members of his
own family that no other race can feel.
It must be remembered that the American Methodist and Baptist
churches owe their present church membership in Africa to the
American Negro. In 1820 the first Methodist organization was perAfrica's natives can best be reached by the
First,

because he

identified

;

work begun by that intrepid miswho was converted to Christ in
Marietta, Ohio, in 1816. During the year 1833 Cox received the distinguished honor of being the first missionary sent by the Methodist
Episcopal church to the land of his ancestors. The name of Francis
Burns will shine upon the page of history with John Robinson, his
successor, as the first Negro bishops who, as early as 1858, lifted
the standard of Christian liberty to the inhabitants of West Africa,
and as living attestations of the undying love and possibilities of
fected in Liberia as the result of a

sionary,

John Stewart,

of Virginia,

Ne.qro capability.
in

1855 Chief Little

Name,

Nameland, and the christian natives
Barnabas Shaw and his wife,

of his tribe, with the assistance of
built at their

own expense

a church costing $5,000, with seating

capacity of 600.

Nor need we follow the

H. M. Turner to Liberia in 1877
1897 to show the interest and love that the
intrepid

and to South Africa in
American Negro has for Africa's evangelization.
Is the American Negro prepared to perform his duty

the evan-

THE NEGRO AND THE EVANGELIZATION OF AFRICA
gelization of Africa?
financially

?,0l

First, morally; second, intellectually; third,

useless for me to say in this presence to-day that anything
than a purified, consecrated, godly life will prove abortive and

It is

less

destructive in evangelical

work

in Africa.

Socrates taught the phil-

is not in him.
The
nobleness of soul, godliThese things he can not teach unless

osophy that one can not impart that which
evangelist

to teach righteousness of

ness of thought and conduct.

within himself there
life.

From

life,

a well of water springing

this holy fount

up into everlasting

he must draw the living

fluid of

regener-

ating influence with which to win the erring and despised sons of

and shame to the paths of righteousness and truth. No ungodly
can have a part in the performance of this sacred duty. Selfish
ambition will unfit any one for the performance of successful worksin

man

in this great field.

Are we financially prepared? This movement must have money;
it must have it at once
money to erect buildings for church and
school purposes. Money is the sinews of evangelical campaign as
;

well as of war.

delay the necessary

money

to retard success

This is the supreme
moment. Every hour counts. Do what you do quickly. Flying,
The African and American
flying are the moments of this era.
Negro has waited since the downfall of Egypt and the days of the
departed glory of the Nile for the ushering in of this moment,
flow of commercial peace established; the world acknowledging the
greatness of this grand and beautiful continent. Yea, beneath the
skies of tropical sun and amid the grandeur of her lofty mountains
we behold the great families of the Bantu, Bushmen, Hottentot,
Pygmy, Fingo, Dutch and Portuguese, and indeed all men of that
giant continent joined hands and singing in one accord: "Hosanna
to God and the Lamb forever 1"
not only for a year but possibly forever.

CHAPTER

XLVIII

THE STEV/ART MISSIONARY FOUNDATION WORK FOR
THE REDEMPTION OF AFRICA
Rev.

There

W. W. Lucas, B. D., Secretary of
mon Theological Seminary,
is

the Foundation,

Gam-

Atlanta, Ga.

not in the wide world a held that promises the sincere

community

There is not in
a richer harvest.
Americans owe so much to human
beings as to this same degraded Africa.
If Americans are indebted to Africa, the American Negro is
doubly so. lie is bound to Africa by ties of blood, and he will
prove recreant to the greatest trust which God has committed to
him if, after obtaining a larger life and preparation in the land of
his adoption, he does not extend a helping hand to his needy and

effort of a christian

the wide world a spot to which

benighted fatherland across the sea.
One only needs to recount the facts of the Negro's strange history
in this country to be convinced that the burden of Africa's redemption is to be laid upon his shoulders. The sacrifice and giving on
the part of others for his uplift must needs inspire him to lay himself

upon the

Among

the

altar for his less fortunate brethren.

many

providential

movements which

are directing

the American Negro's attention to Africa is the Stewart Missionary
Foundation for Africa, established in connection with Gammon
Theological Seminary.
This Foundation was established in 1894 by the late Rev. W. F.
In
Stewart, A. M., of the Rock River Conference, M. E. Church'.
enterprise,
the
founder
expressed
missionary
establishing this new
his aim in these words: "My hope is that it may become a center
for diffusion of missionary intelligence, the development of missionary enthusiasm, the increase of missionary offerings, and
(302)

THE STEWART MISSIONARY FOUNDATION

303

through sanctified and trained missionaries hasten obedience to the
great commission to preach the gospel to every creature."

Carrying out the thought of the founder, the Foundation has
been made a "center for the diffusion of missionary intelligence.'"
With its special library of 400 volumes collected in Europe and its
own publications, the Foundation has the most unique library on
Africa and Negro literature in this country.
In "diffusing missionary intelligence," besides a regular class organized in the Seminary for the study of Africa as a mission field,
the Foundation has a Secretary whose business it is to visit all of
the schools and churches of the denomination and distribute literature and organize bands of "Friends of Africa." These bands are
affiliated with the Foundation and under its direction make a special study of Africa as a mission field.
As a means of stimulating investigation and original reasearch
upon the subject of Africa, a prize system was suggested by the
founder, and has been carried on with great success.
The Foundation holds a yearly prize contest, in which books are
given for the best hymns, essays and orations written by the young
people in our churches and schools. The reading for information
to write for a prize leads the student beyond this to an impression
of Africa's needs and a conviction of his duty to go to the rescue.
As a result of this method, more than a dozen of Bishop Hartzell's helpers for Liberia in the past four years have been chosen
from those who studied under the Foundation and received prizes
Dr. A. P. Camphor, president of the College of
for productions.
W est Africa, at Monrovia, was one of the first to take a prize. To
sum up the results of the Foundation in the past few years, we quote
a paragraph from Dr. E. L. Parks' memorial address of Mr. Stewart.
"Already its secretaries have
Speaking of the Foundation, he said
giving
missionary
miles
addresses it has had one
traveled 30,000
Africa
on
ever
congresses
held in this country, and
of the greatest
fifty-five
active
it
has
missionary bands keeppublished the results;
ing alive the fires of foreign evangelism; over 1,200 essays, orations
and hymns on Africa's redemption have been given in public 470
of these have received in prizes over 2,000 Bibles, hymnals and other
:

;

304

THE STEWART MISSIONARY FOUNDATION

hooks; more than a dozen stirred by its inspiration to most heroi:
consecration are giving their lives for their brothers in Africa, and
nearly 200 more have definitely consecrated their lives to the redemption of Africa. But the relation of such facts stretched beyond
the reach of our imagination, for they mean an immeasurably great
ancf ever increasing
continent."

movement

for the evangelization of the dark

CHAPTER XLIX

THE

PURPOSE, SCOPE AND OUTCOME OF THE
NEGRO'S EFFORT IN CHURCH BUILDING

SPIRIT,

Rev. B. F. Watson, D. D., Secretary-Treasurer, Church Extension
Society A. M. E. Church

To attempt

to give this subject anything but an outline would be
The spirit of the Negro in this field of race development has
been more prominent than in any other line of life. His religious
inclinations have led him instinctively to seek a place to meet his
God. His history is very much like the Israelites in the wilderness
folly.

journey of their civilization, who brought their gold, silver, brass,
blue and purple and scarlet and fine linen, and goat's hair, ram skin
dyed in red, badger's skin and precious wood and stones, for the
tabernacle or God's tent in the wilderness.
Yet in the face of all the obstacles and hindrances, the Negro has
set up the tabernacle of God. The African Methodists had but few
posts in slave territory outside of Maryland and Delaware. William
Paul Quinn, the pioneer of the West, blazed a path from Pittsburg
to St. Louis, including Louisville, Ky. Good, substantial buildings
were erected on slave territory at St. Louis, Louisville and New
Orleans, L?.,

the early 50's.

banner of African Methodism was
firmly planted under the leadership of Chaplains Turner and
Hunter in the East and Southeast, followed by Carr and others in
South Carolina, Bradwell and Gaines in Georgia, Pierce and Long
in Florida, Handy and John Turner in Louisiana, Brook, Mjurray,
Early, Page and Tyler in Kentucky and Tennessee, Carter and
Jenifer in Arkansas, Rivelo and Stringer in Mississippi, Gardner
and Bryant in Alabama, Wilhite and Grant in Texas, Ward on
In the

wake

(305)

of the army, the

THE NEGRO AND CHURCH BUILDING

306

the Pacific coast, Wilkerson in Kansas and the

Dove and Embry

Rocky Mountains,

Missouri, Derrick and Jameson

Virginia,

Hunter and others in North Carolina. All this will give some idea
of the Spirit, and the territory covered will show the scope of their
endeavor.

What

the outcome?

After forty years they succeeded in planting churches, though
their means were scanty, out of their savings; they have given to
God and their children's children a religious home in nearly every
town and village where any number of our people have permanently
settled.
Our churches are to the race what the pillar of Cloud and
Fire was to Israel the sign of God's jresence. The altar fires of

—

sacrifice

are lighted

by the

faithful

and

true, as in

the days of

yore.

With feet firmly planted on this continent, we have reached out
our helping hand to our brethren in the isles of the sea, taking them
to our bosom as a nursing mother. Then reached out again until
our hands at last have touched our Fatherland on the west and
south coast of Africa, and Ethiopia

is stretching forth her hands to
secured through the efforts of our
resident bishop over $50,000 of church property in South Africa
alone, while word from one of our presiding elders in Liberia to

God.

In one year

we have

is, "We are pushing into the
by us."
The Department of Church Extension of the African M. E.
Church was organized in 1892 by the General Conference at Philadelphia- The revenue coming into this Society consists principally
of savings from funds that were hitherto collected and spent without definite purpose. In 1872 the General Conference adopted what
is know #nto us as the Dollar Money law. It was the intention that,
one dollar from or for each member of the church should cover all
the expenses of the General Connection for missionary and edu-

the Secretary of Church Extension
interior; stand

P>ishops, General Officers, Superanuated Preachers and help the conferences to help the widows of
deceased preachers, and assisting in making up the support of
pastors on poor fields.

cational work, the support of

THE NEGRO AND CHURCH BUILDING

307

The Constitution provided the revenues without extra taxation
on the general church as follows*
Ten per cent, of the Dollar Money; fifty per cent, of the ChildDay; admission fees and annual dues to the Women's Department of Church Extension; special collections, gifts and beren's

quests, etc.

herewith submit the result of our savings for ten years, or
this department.
Ten per cent, of Dollar money to April 23, 1902
$ 89,122.58
the

moneys handled by

Fifty per cent, of Children's

Loans returned

Interest returned

Grand

total

Day

to April 23, 1902

29,862.32

Department
the Department

the
to

14,833.92

3,817.90

$145,728.61

have disbursed in loans to churches
to needy churches

$ 97,751.71

Total

$109,871.50

Have donated

in notes and mortgages up to April
other securities
and
1902,
Property belonging to the Department

Our

assets

Total

.
t

Liabilities

12,119.79

23,

$ 97,630.34
30,500.00
$128,130.34
6,390.00

CHAPTER L

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE AMERICAN NEGRO FOR
THE EVANGELIZATION OF AFRICA
Rev. L. G. Jordan, D. D., Corresponding Secretary, Foreign Mission

Africa

known

Board National Baptist Convention

the largest of

all

the continents except Asia, but less

any other continent on the globe. To have an
idea of the size, imagine the western edge laid at SanFrancisco,
it would cover land and sea to the coast of Ireland.
Africa is
Its area, including the
4,895 miles long and 4,615 miles wide.
of her than

adjacent islands,

about 11,854,000 square miles.

The

continent

North, South, East, West and Central Africa.
North Africa extends from the Red Sea to the Atlantic, and from
the Mediterranean to the southern boundary of Abyssinia and the
Desert of Sahara. More is known of South Africa because of the
is

divided

efforts of

into

Robert

Moffat,

Livingstone

and

Stanley,

recently the attention of the world has been

upon

and

this

section,

because of the English-Boer war. Her rivers are among the largest
in the world and make their way over great cataracts and waterfalls, through great mountain ranges down to the sea.
The population has been variously estimated, but reliable authorities place the figures at 300,000,000 souls.
Of course, no one
knows correctly, as we can hardly keep correct figures in civilized
countries where the census is taken each decade. There are many
languages and races, but uearly al of the people are either Mohammedans, pagans or savages.
Under the guidance of God and the friends we have made, from
the Christian master in the days of slavery, and other Christian
homes in which we have gone, till to-day, standing in the doorway
of the twentieth century, we see from the handful of naked, man(308)

THE NEGRO'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR AFRICA

309

acled slaves of 1619, crouching at the gates of their captors, we have
grown until there is to be found nowhere in the wide world 10,000,-

American- Can we not still see the hand of providence in this matMay I say our resuonsibility for the evangelization of Africa
grows out of these important facts?
First. Because the divine plan has been, and always will be, "To
they people." Jesus Christ came to His own first. We praise God
for such men as Robert Moffat, who, with an open Bible, arrested
Africana, the great African warrior, after the English and Dutch
had failed with trained armies. Livingston, whose heart enriches
African soil, after so many long, dangerous, tiresome journeys
and earnest prayers for Africa, and the long ling of heroes and
heroines whose bones sleep in the bosom of that land of night.
But the work of her deliverance is fairly begun. The schools
founded and maintained by Christians are preparing the Negro,
whose love for Africa's salvation will increase and kindle with
intelligent information to be gathered from the pulpits and schools
as years go by, and it is encouraging to note that a forward movement against the forts of superstition and sin in bleeding Africa is
imminent.
Second. Because of what God has been to us and demands of us.
AVe are not only our brother's keeper, but his seeker. All we have
learned or may learn in this Bible land should be at the Master's
disposal for the salvation of the lost. United, we make up His
great pipe-line for dispensing blessings to mankind. God has no
reserves, but calls upon His followers to be bubbling, gushing,
moving streams, bearing the Gospel Message to every nation, tribe
and tongue.
Third. Because we can do the work as others cannot. "The Missionary Review of the World" reports in the account given of the
Student Volunteer Convention, held in Canada, February, 1902,
"It was the concensus of opinion of returned white missionsays
ter?

„

aries that colored missionaries to Africa

faithfulness and
It

were among the best

efficiency, as well as popularity

was the opinion

with the people.

of the friends of Africa that colored missionaries

should be sent to this

field."

310

THE NEGRO*S RESPONSIBILITY FOR AFRICA

Fourth. Because of the great commission. "I will give thee the
heathen as an inheritanee"is a promise of God to His Son. That
after years upon earth, he commissions believers to go into all
the world with the gospel, the only remedy for sin-sick humanity.
Does the American Negro believe that the command, "Into all the
world" is binding upon him?
Surely it is, and further, our responsibility to Africa grows out of the fact that Africa needs and must
have the Gospel, because it cannot be saved without it. There is
no other name unler heaven given among men whereby we must
be saved, "save the name of Jesus."
Fifth. Because of the Golden Rule.
Were we in Africa, being
preyed upon by the rum-sellers of the world, beaten and robbed,
and those who are there filling our places in America, would we
like to be left alone with our enemies, when teachers and preachers
sent to us could deliver us?
"Whatsoever ye would that men
should do to you, do ye even so to them."
Sixth. Because of the Lord's Prayer. The Christ who gave Himself for a Tost world, urges us
the Africans and all others to
pray "Our Father, Thy Kingdom Come." Every Negro who loves
Jesus and prays, can but feel, let others do as they will but African, "Flesh of my flesh, how can I deny thee?"
If the Negro of America will but feel his responsibility, face his
opportunity and under take the evangelization of Afri:a in God's
name, unborn millions of Africa's sons will witness a tronsformed
If the Negro will but carry the great message to the
continent.
neglected millions now groping their way in darkness, they will
begin to walk by the lamp that will light up whole heathen communities, displace rags with robes, vice with virtue, filth with
cleanliness, ignorance and superstition with intelligence and charity. From that great black continent can be carved states or empires, from her cradle will come sons and daughters to rule and
reign in the name of Christianity. Negroes of America, God calls
you to duty; He calls you to service and He calls you now.

—

;

Part VII
Civic and Material Status of the

CHAPTER

Race

THE MATERIAL PROGRESS OF THE RACE
Rev. E.

W. Lampton,

D. D., Financial Secretary of the A. M. E,
Church, Philadelphia, Pa.

In the year 1620 a Dutch ship landed at Jamestown, Va., with a

human beings black men stolen from their homes in
These people were not brought to this country for the purpose of teaching them Christian civilization, not for the purpose of
standing shoulder to shoulder with others who had been driven
from their homes by the cruelties and hardships of kingly rule.
They were brought here to be sold into a slavery more degrading,
more oppressive, more debasing than any the world has ever
known. Other ship loads were brought in, and the mercantile
cargo of

;

Africa.

traffic of

human

was born and

men were

souls continued until long after the infant republic

its

projectors had proclaimed to the world that "all

created free and equal and

with certain inalienable rights,

endowed by

among which

are

their Creator

life,

liberty

and

the pursuit of happiness/'

After two hundred fifty years of slavery and oppression, during
which period we saw the innocent babe snatchel from its mother's
arm and hurled into eternity, simply because the mother dared to
manifest a human love for her offspring; we saw the husband and
wife torn asunder by the merciless hand of the slave-trader, we saw
all semblance of home and family, of human love and sympathy
(311)

;

MATERIAL PROGRESS OF THE RACE

3]2

by the horrible conditions by which we were surrounded after two hundred and fifty years, during which there
were tears shed so bitter that each drop Seemed like so much lifeobliterated
:

blood drawn from the heart; after two hundred and fifty years of
misery, of pain and despair, mutual prayers to heaven, the angel of
deliverance came and proclaimed "Freedom !" What was our condition then?

But despite of seemingly helpless and hopeless circumstances,
did not sit on the banks and weep, but went bravely and man-

work, often making our "bricks without straw," with the

fully to

you see them to-day. What are these results? Hear
According to the census of 1900, the illiteracy among
our people has been reduced forty-five per cent, the past two
decades we had written and published nearly five hundred books
we had more than three hundred newspapers, three of which were
issued daily; there were practicing before the various courts of
the several States and the District of Columbia more than two
thousand lawyers, and there were in actual practice an equal number of physicians we had accumulated over twelve millions of
dollars worth of school property; there were one hundred and fifty
millions of dollars, and personal property valued at one hundred
and sixty-five millions of dollars, making a total of nine hundred
and sixty-seven thousand farms and homes, valued at about $750,This wealth, if distributed, would give to each colored
000,000.
man, woman and child in the United States seventy-five ($75.00)
twenty thousand churches, valued at about three hundred and fifty
ten millions for educational purposes alone and had thirty-two
thousand teachers in the schools throughout the country. We are
successfully operating several banking institutions, and we are also
engaged in other lines of business and trade, which include one
In all these various pursuits we
silk mill and one cotton factory.
are meeting with remarkable success, especially when viewed from
We have built more than
the standpoint of our environments.
twenty thousand churches, valued at about three hundred fifty
million dollars, and maintained and supported seven colleges,
results as

the answers.

;

eighteen academies,

fifty

high schools, nine industrial schools,

five

MATERIAL PROGRESS OF THE RACE
law schools, twenty-five theological seminaries. We have acquired
nearly seven hundred thousand acres of land in the South alone,
which does not include the vast area of land farmed on shares.
Another high tribute to the business capacity of the Negro is the
phenomenal increase in the output of cotton since i860. In that
year the entire production was 4,669,770 bales as against 11,235,000
bales in 1899, an increase on the output of 6,565,220 bales, as the
result of the industry and thrift of the Negro. This unprecedented

made in the face of such oppositions as would
have brought despair to the hearts of a people less brave, less
courageous and less thrifty. We have been lynched, burned at the
stake, driven from localities, our homes destroyed, our male citizens
disfranchised, our women slandered and degraded, nearly all the
avenues that lead to advancement and progress in the department
progress has been

of skilled labor closed against us,

and

and other

yet, despite these

disadvantages too numerous to mention, we are forging ahead.
Truly, the "ways of Providence are mysterious and past finding
out." W ho can tell God's purpose in permitting our people to be

The many mutual benefit
and the payment

for burial

associations providing for the sickness,
of

endowments

after death

source of the material prosperity of the race, which

is
is

another
not con-

These are instituand maintainance of whi:h
have engaged some of the best brain, financial skill and integrity
of the race.
Besides adding much to relieve the sick by paying
sick benefits and assuming burial expenses, these benefit associations pay to the legal representatives of a deceased member a sum
sidered in estimating the black man's welfare.

tions of necessity,

the organization

in many instances, constitutes a large percentage of their
worldly possessions.
But as one of the General Officers of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church, it may not be amiss for me to present some
figures showing the membership, numerical strength of church and
valuation of church property. Under the holy guidance of thirteen
consecrated Bishops, twelve faithful General Officers, 6,343 seifsacrificing ministers of God,, 16,226 studious Local Preachers,

which,

314

MATERIAL PROGRESS OF THE RACE

888,354 loyal communicant members, 58,000 earnest probationists,
430.928 officers and teachers and scholars, 1,659,765 adherents, we
have a total of 2,259,671.
,

also have 5,115 churches, 2,075 parsonages, 41 universities,
seminaries and high schools, valued at $10,360,000, which shows the

progress and development of this branch of Mjethodism.

The A. M.

Church is a perfect government in all its ramifications, which
the immortal Chas. Sumner once said, "It was demonstrated that
99
the colored people were capable of 'self-government/
E.

CHAPTER

LII

"THE NEGRO'S MATERIAL PROGRESS
Prof.

....

A. Booker, A. M., Arkansas Baptist College, Little

Rock, Arkansas

to the Negro's ownership, I

have been able to gather the

following figures:

Homes owned
Farm lands in
Farms

'...$

130,000

600,000

acres

130,000

Banks

Silk mills

Cotton mills
Entire value of urban and country property

1
I

$900,000,000

IARTOUS ENGAGEMENTS

Carpenters

23,318

Barbers
Sawmill operatives
Miners
Tobacco factory employes
Blacksmiths
Brickmakers

17,480
17,230

15,809

15,004

•.

10,762
10,521

Masons

9,647

Engineers and firemen

Dressmakers
Iron and steel workers
Shoemakers
Mill and factory operatives

7,662
".

7479
5v90
5,065

5,°5°

Painters

4,396

Plasterers

4,006

(315)

MATERIAL PROGRESS OF THE RACE

316

Quarry men
Coopers
Butchers

Woodworkers

2.648
2,510

Tailors

,375
1,280

Stone cutters
Leather curriers

1,099

2 79

CHAPTER

L11I

THE MATERIAL PROGRESS OF THE RACE
Rev.

Thomas, D.

Sharp Street Memorial M.

D., Pastor

Church, Baltimore, Md.

HOME ADORNMENT
Our people have made much progress in the care of the home.
few years ago our ideal home was the log cabin without comfort or adornment. To observe the progress we have made in this

direction

simply amazing.

the domain of

proportion

have more fully comprehended

home service, home care and home elevation advance
as we have educated and refined. There was a time

when we

could be located in a community by the appearance of
our homes. Now, in many instances, white persons have to ask
whether white or colored people live here. This is a mark of
progress. It will be much more rapid in the future than in the past.
•

CHURCH
Our property

possession

Our

fourfold

people, after the emancipation,

lege of worshipping
felt

— personal,

church, institu-

and that of organizations.

tional

that one of their

God under
first

ship of Almighty God.

duties

were so proud of the privivine and fig tree that they

own

thir

was

to build churches for the wor-

a result, thousands of churches, which

represent the sacrifice and activity of our people, are dotted
this country.

And

thus

we have

invested

all

over

millions of dollars in

chuch property.
We have made considerable progress in the accumulation of
school property for higher and industrial education.
While our
white friends are giving
<*17)

much

help to establish

schools to

MATERIAL PROGRESS OF THE RACE

318

educate us, we felt it our duty to put together our small means for
the purpose of erecting buildings in which our sons and daughters

might be educated.

Since

as the necessity required,

we have
it

much in this
we have made some

not been able to do

can be seen that

progress in helping ourselves.

INDUSTRIALISM

This God-sent instrument is proving to be one of the mightiest
factors we have in material progress.
Wherever it is utilized it
produces results which may be seen and appreciated by all mankind.
We have had mechanics among us for over two hundred
years, but it is only in recent years that we have been producing
skilled mechanics.
INVENTION

While our progress has been slow in this direction, it must be
admitted that there are evidences here and there that we have
manifested inventive genius. We would be able to make a better
showing in this particular had we been credited with all our inventions.
We are glad that every man has free access to this field.
We shall be better prepared in the future than in the past to gather
from its hidden treasuries. Doing something that has not been
done will count much to the credit of the race. We have been
enslaved by the ease of imitation. We have been admiring what
others have done when we should have been doing ourselves. We
have been sleeping while others have been inventing. This Congress should wake us up and start us in a ceaseless activity so that
we may study objects already made, and be able to improve upon
them.

AGRICULTURE

We have had much experience in the cultivation of the soil. It
was, however, when but little progress was made by the people in
general. Agriculture has a new meaning to us since our emancipation we have learned in farming that we must study the ground
;

scientifiically, as well as

abundantly.

Many

jther things, so as to

our people

who owned

make

yield

a little tract of land

CHAIRMEN OF^LCCAL COMMITTEES OF ARRAiNGI MElSil
1

Prof.

Garland Penn, A.M.

Rev. J. A. Rush, D.D.
3 Rev. H. R. Harrison, D.D.'

4 Rev. W.IL. Jones, D.D.
5 Mr. C. C. Wimbush.

6]Rev. H. H Proctor.
7_Dr. J. R. Porter.

OFFICERS UK THE LOCAL COMMITTEE.
1

atthew?, A.M., Chairman.
Hon. H. A. Rucker, Treasurer.

Prof.

3
4

Rev.
l'rof.

J. S.

Flipper, D.D., Ass't Chairman.
Secretary.

John Hope, A.M

PRESIDENTS OF ATLANTA
1

Pres.

Horace Bumstead, D.D., Atlana

University.
2 Pres.
l

James

Brown

ris

Miss Harriet E. Giles, Spelman Seminary.
Charles M. Melden, D.D.. < laTk

5 Pres.

Henderson, D.D., MorCollege.

Pres George Sale, D.D., Atlanta Baptist

LLEGE3 FOR COLORED YOUTH.

College.

University.
6 Pres. L.

G Atkinson,

logieal

Seminary.

D.D.,

Gammon

i.eo-

STENOGRAPHIC FORCES.
Mrs. M. Belle Scott.
Prof.

Randolph.

4
5

Miss Marie J. Penn.
Mr. Edward L. Gordon.
Mr. S. E. C. Lord.

6
7

Prof F. B. Smith
Miss Mattie A. Carr.

PIANISTS.
1

Mrs.
Mrs.

'
W. E. Bowen. 1
Anna Gardner Goodwin.

3
4

Mrs. W. L. McKinney.
Miss Isidore Severe.

Miss B Maie Boyd, Soloist, Jacksonville, 111.
Miss Cornelia Bowen, Founder and Principal of Mt. Meigs Institute, Mt. Meigs,

Ala.
Rev." J..P.*Wragg, B.

Field

Agent American Bible Society, Atlanta, Ga.

MATERIAL PROGRESS OF THE RACE

319

make the ground yield
them a living. The difficulty was, they had not
studied the latest methods of agriculture.
We are learning how
left

the country because they could not

enough
to

to give

make poor soil rich, so that it may reward us for our
have made more material progress possibly in

labor.

mercantile

any other direction. We have found it easier
to buy and sell than to do many other things.
Not a few of our
people went into business, and because they did not understand
business principles, they failed. But, like others, we have profited
by failure. We have been taught by experience that there are many
ups and downs to success. Our mercantile enterprise has been
upon a small scale, with a few exceptions noted here and there.
While we have done well, all things considered, we have not accom-

enterprise than in

ORGANIZATION

Soon

after the civil

war our people began

band themselves

together into secret societies for the purpose of helping each other
in

the time of sickness,

and to give each member

The poverty
cement them together. As

of the order a

days seemed
sprang up

respectable burial-

of our people in those

a result, organizations

wherever there were large numbers of our race.
e must take
into account secret and beneficial societies when we consider our
7
hile these organizations have been injured
material progress.
incompetent leaders and dishonest perself-ambition,
at times by
helpful
to the race. These societies have
sons, yet they have been
been a practical lesson to us in the importance of saving some of
our earnings. These organizations have been emergency banks
to our people. They draw from them in the time of sickness and
The growth of these great institutions has been
in case of death.

marvellous.

The

future will bring forth

still

greater results.

PUBLISHING INTERESTS.

are proud of the Baptist Publishing

House

Nashville,

Tenn., the Sunday School Department of the A. M. E. Church in
the same city, and their Book Concern in Philadelphia, the publishing house of the A.

E. Zion Church at Charlotte, N.

C, and

their

MATERIAL PROGRESS OF THE RACE

320

Book Concern in New York, the publishing house of the C. Mu E.
Church at Jackson, Tenn., and other publishing interests in various
sections of the country.
of

Printing establishments for the circulation

newspapers and doing job work are numerous among

us.

CONCLUSION.

are learning

now

as never before to value opportunities;

how

and how to add to
the dollar saved.
We see the difference between living on land
owned by some one else and living on our land. We are learning
the difference between living in a house owned by some one else
and living in our own homes. We are learning that two-thirds of
to

make

a dollar like other men,

how

to save

our earnings spent for the necessaries of life among other races
never return to us in this way, thus making other races richer and
ourselves poorer. So we see the w isdom of establishing more business enterprises and supporting them. We have hindered our own
progress by not standing together, by being jealous of each other's
prosperity, by our lack of confidence in each other and by our failure
to make use of favorable opportunities when we have had them.
r

CHAPTER LIV

THE MATERIAL PROGRESS OF THE RACE
Rev.

H. Welch, D. D., Charleston,

In measuring what a people have done in the way of material
growth, it seems to me that their condition, means and opportunities should be taken into account; then their achievements will
stand out more conspicuously and be more highly appreciated. The
colored people, as freedmen in America, are only thirty-seven years
old they started with nothing, ignorant, poor, superstitious and
burdened with all the blight and curse of two and a half centuries
of slavery, with no homes, no land, no money, no churches, no
school houses and no intelligent leaders among them, and very few
avenues open to them for the accumulation of more than barely
enough to subsist on. We are firm in the opinion that the material
acquisitions of our people have been commensurate with their conlition, means, advantages and opportunities, and have grown despite
adverse circumstances and exhibited sufficient business tact and
skill to have, won for them more sympathy and secured more encouragement than they have received from the white people of the
United States, who owe them a debt, to pay which would empty the
United States treasury.
They have had as a competitor in business circles the white man
with abundant means to enable him to buy and undersell them on
the one hand, and their own people who lack race pride and prefer
to patronize others than their own people engaged in business. The
want of race pride and the failure of our people to patronize race
interests have been potent factors in retarding our material growth
and progress. While hundreds, yea, thousands of our people have
made commendable strides in acquiring wealth in the purchase of
valuable lands and the erection of beautiful and comfortable homes
;

(321)

322
in

MATERIAL PROGRESS OF THE RACE
towns and country, and in large bank accounts which
them Splendid business Standing in their communities, there

the cities,

give

are too many wh
do not rightly appreciate the value of a dollar,
and consequently save nothing of their earnings. They make no
panics, and the thought of buying land and building homes to
make themselves ind those dependent upon them comfortable and
happy seems nevei to enter their minds, and it happens, not in a few
cases, that the onl
investment they can he induced to make is in
some secret or beneficial society with which to buy a coffin when
)

they are dead.

The best, most cultured and progressive types ot the race are
putting forth herculean efforts to obtain some of this world's goods.
By economical methods thousands out of their meager income
from daily toil and small profit in business enterprises have been
able to put aside a few dollars, and these they have invested to advantage in stocks, bonds, real estate and personal property. Thousands in this country own lands from one to five thousand acres,
and most of this formerly owned by the ex-slave's master, and in
the cities and country they are constructing comfortable and, in
many instances, commodious residences, and in these we find the
highest taste displayed.

In addition to these valuable acquisitions

and advantageous investments, many are the thousands who have
large sums of the standard medium of exchange deposited in bank
aggregate amount in the banks of the
accounts, and
the
country to the credit of the race approximates $100,000,000. In the
light of these facts, which are reliable, it seems to me that it is evident to the honest observer that a host of the colored people have

been hustling and have not been content to wait for something to
turn up, as was thought they would, but have industriously gone
ahead and turned up something. Just think of it, my friends, only
thirty seven years after freedom, starting with nothing, laboring
under the most Unfavorable circumstances, against great obstacles,
In the face of adverse legislation, and our people own five strong
banks, five magazines, control and own four hundred newspapers,
own libraries valued at $450,000, carry on drug business throughout
the country valued at $540,000, possess school property valued at

MATERIAL PROGRESS OF THE RACE

323

$19,000,000, church property valued at $40,000,000, 175,000 farms

worth $420,000,000, 160,000 homes estimated at $340,000,000 and
personal property worth $230,000,000. All of this has been accumulated hy industry and economy. No reasonable person can deny
that this is remarkable progress in material growth, the composite
result of grit, thrift, integrity, stability and intelligence, and only
indicates what they could have done with different environments
and with a man's chances. From advance sheets by Prof. Kelly
Miller, secured from the Bureau of Kducation, Washington, D. C,
we quote the following: Owners of farms and homes In the former
slave States and the District of Columbia, owners of farms free of
debt 104,393, as follows: Alabama 8,045, Arkansas 7,319, Delaware
199, District of Columbia 15, Georgia 7,705, Florida 4,746, Kentucky
3,870, Maryand 1,691, Mississippi 10,032, Missouri 1,812, North Carolina 9,670, South Carolina 7,589, Tennessee 7,675, Texas 8,018, Vir-

West Virginia 746, Louisiana 7,625.
Mr. Henry Garnctt, of the United States Geological Survey, as
quoted by Prof. Kelly Miller, says in his interesting phamphlet:
"Of Negroes numbering 7,407,040 there were 3.073,123, or 41 per
cent., engaged in gainful occupations.
In the sixteen original slave
States and the District of Columbia the number of persons engaged
Alabama
in gainful occupations are 2,805,656, arranged as follows:
District
of
Columbia
Delaware
Arkansas
12,350,
293,406,
116,976,
40,007, Florida 65,371, Georgia 369,265, Kentucky 107,666, Louisiana 243,157, Maryland 95,811, Mississippi 303,837, Missouri 60,655,
North Carolina 216,590, South Carolina 289,550, Tennessee 165,734,

ginia 15,524,

Texas

170,085, Virginia 241,095,

West

Virginia 14,101."

Nearly one-tenth of the colored population of the
United States have trades. These facts combine to tell a very eloquent story as to the material progress of the race, notwithstanding
the very stubborn opposition it had to encounter in its struggle to
rise.
The tax value of their property in the United States is about
$500,000,000, distributed as follows:

Alabama

$17,847,950,

Arkan

Alaska $265,420, Arizona $1,105,000, Colorado
$6,319,610, California $7,319,743, Delaware $2,140,635, Connecticut
$2,964,325, District of Columbia $7,862,315, South Dakota $205,345,
sas $15,950,670,

MATERIAL PROGRESS OF

3-4

Til E

RACE.

North Dakota $189,100, Florida $10,320,673, Georgia $25,469,385,
Idaho $1,300,965, Illinois $15,979,893, Indiana $7,889,420, Iowa $5,856,608, Indian Territory 1,747,403, Kansas $7,215,344, Kentucky
$16,786,900, Louisiana $33,469,703, Maine $390,360, Maryland $11,155,687, Massachusetts $13,201,649, Michigan $7,347,900, Mississippi
$21,535,461, Missouri $13,873,111, Minnesota $2,943,418, Montana
$1,679,390, Nebraska $5,373,706, Nevada $2,760,530, New Hampshire
$965,000, New York $23,897,460, New Jersey $5,115,310, North Carolina $19,905,450, New Mexico $2,101489, Ohio $12,463,500, Oregon
$ 2 °5> I 23, Oklahoma $4,706,369, Pennsylvania $20,396,761, Rhode
Island $5,110,340, South Carolina $17,203,767, Tennessee $15,340,732, Texas $26,981,347, Vermont $197,894, Virginia $13,189,749,
Washing-ton $2,214,105, West Virginia $10,103,710, Wyoming $2,116,000, Wisconsin $2,057,565, and Utah $1,748,962.

CHAPTER LV

THE COLORED WOMAN AND HER RELATION TO THE
DOMESTIC PROBLEM
Mis Nannie H. Burroughs, Corresponding

Secretary,

Woman's

Convention Auxiliary to National Baptist Convention,
Louisville,

You

ask what

Ky.

meant by the domestic problem. It is that pecuwomen are living and laboring without
the knowledge of the secrets of thrift, or of true s:ientific methods
in which the mind has been awakened, and hands made capable
thereby to give the most efficient services. It is a condition of indifference on the part of our working women as to their needs
to how we may so dignify labor that our services may become indispensable on the one hand and Negro sentiment will cease to array
itself against the "working girls" on the other hand.
It is a quesliar

condition under which

THE COLORED WOMAN AMD THE RACE

325

how we may receive for our services compensation com-'
mensurate with the work done. The solution of this problem will
be the prime factor in the salvation of Negro womanhood, whose
salvation must be attained before the so-called race problem can be

tion as to

solved.

The

training of

for their

own

the hour in which

mands

Negro women

absolutely necessary, not only

salvation and the salvation of the race, but because

of the hour

we
we

live

demands

it.

lose sight of the de-

blight our hope of progress.

The

subject of

domestic science has crowded itself upon us, and unless we receive
it, master it and be wise, the next ten years will so revolutionize
things that we will find our women without the wherewith to support themselves.
Untrained hands, however willing, will find themselves unwelcomed in the humblest homes. We may be careless about this matter of equipping our women for work in the homes, but if we are to
judge from the wonderful progress that recent years has brought in
the world of domestic labor we must admit that steps must be
taken, and that at once, to train the hands of Negro women for
better services and their hearts for purer living. All through the
North white imported help is taking the place of Negro help. Where
we once held forth without a thought of change we find our places
filled by those of other races and climes.
The people who had to
have servants declared that they wanted intelligent, refined, trained
help, and in the majority of cases we were not ready to give them
what they needed. Our intelligent Negroes, even though they may
not have bread to eat, in many cases shun service work, when the
fact is evident that ignorant help is not wanted by the best class of
people in this country. The more thorough and intelligent the help
the better.

What

crowding from service mean to Negro women?
Our women will sink beneath the
undermining influences of insidious sloth. Industry is one of the
noblest virtues of any race. The people who scorn and frown upon
her must die. While little heed may have been paid to the demand
for better help and the supplanting of Negro servants by Irish,
It will

will this

mean

their degradation.

THE COLORED WOMAN AND THE RACK

326

Dagoes and English may have been unnoticed by all of us, yet it is
time for the leaders to sound the alarm, ere we are rooted from the
places we have held for over two centuries.
The time will come
when we will stand as helpless as babes, as dependent as beggars,
without the wherewith to sustain life, unless we meet the demands
squarely.

Our women have worked as best they could without making any
improvements and thus developing the service into a profession,
and in that way make the calling more desirable from a standpoint
of' being lifted from a mere drudgery, as well as from the standpoint
of compensation received.
The race whose women have not learned that industry and selfrespect are the only guarantees of a true character will find

itself

bound by ignorance and violence or fettered with chains of poverty.
There is a growing tendency among us to almost abhor women
who work at service for a living. If we hold in contempt women
who are too honest, industrious and independent, women whose
sense of pride is too exalted to be debased by idleness, we will find
our women becoming more and more slothful in this matter of supporting themselves. "Our "high-toned" notions as to the kind of
positions educated people ought to

who can

fill

have caused many

not get anything to do after they

come out

women

of school to

than work for an honest living, declaring to themselves
it before others, that they were not educated to live
among pots and pans. None of us may have been educated for
that purpose, but educated women without work and the wherewith
to support themselves and who have declared in their souls that they

loaf rather

and acting

worth an ounce more to the race than
the same declarations. Educated
When the
loafers will bear as much watching as ignorant ones.
nobility of labor is magnified, and those who do labor respected
more because of their real worth to the race, we will find a less

will not

ignorant

stoop to

toil

are not

women who have made

number trying
honorable

to escape the brand, "servant girl."

are servants.

of one's occupation

virtue will

go down

are not less

Fidelity to duty rather than the grade

the true measure of character.

Every gentle
come to

before a people and their endeavors

TfiE COLORED

WOMAi*

AttD TILE RACE

327

naught when

tliey forget that the foundation stone of prosperity is
matters it if we do rise from pots and pans? They tell
us we came from apes and baboons, and we have made it this far.
Further, if God could take a crop of apes or baboons and make
beings like us He is God indeed, and we can trUst Him to raise us
from servants to queens. If we did come from these ungainly
toil.

What

animals of the four-footed family, we got here nearly as soon as the
who didn't have so far to come.
What matters it if our women, by honest toil, make their way

people

from the kitchen to places of respect and trust in the walks of life?
Are they less honorable because they have been servants? Are not
the women who by thrift and economy, with everything operating
against them in their own race, and low wages, that mighty power
before whom the poor of earth must bow, struggling for mastery,
work their way to the front, more deserving of praise, more worthy
ornaments" who,
by methods, have maintained some social standing, and hold in contempt the "unfortunate servant girl ?" There are women at service
who would eat their meals off the heads of barrels or dress after
the fashion of John the Baptist in the wilderness before they would
sacrifice their high-toned moral character, simply to shine in the
social world by virtue of their idleness and ability to dress well. It
is not the depth from which we come, but the heights to which we
soar. The incomparable water lily grows out of the slime of black
lagoons, and heaven itself consists not in location but in nobility of
the character of its population. It matters not where nor how lowly
the station, pursue the unswerving way of industry and victory or
Of recognition and respect than scores of "parlor

defeat will decide our fitness for the places

Again,

scorn

seek.

women who

have character and are honest
and accept into our company women

enough to work to preserve it
who have no character and will not work to secure it, are we making the race any more moral? This pulling aside of our silken skirts
at the approach of the servant women has materially affected the
morals of Negro women. How many of them have abandoned honest labor in which they could have given character and tone to the
service rendered by our women, and to satisfy their ambitions for

THE COLORED WOMAN AND THE RACE

323

social recognition

smiles of a class

have resorted

among

who

to idleness
will receive

order to gain the

any

woman who

can

dress well without working at service to pay for it.
Scorn the servant women? No, never. Rather scorn that class

women who have resolved not to work and hang out of doors
and windows, hold up corners, or keep the neighborhood astir with
demoralizing gossip. Scorn young Negro women who flirt and
loiter about the streets at the sacrifice of their good name and the
name of Negro womanhood. But honor and praise to the, women
who have learned that all labor is just as honorable, just as honest,
as the person who is doing it. Have not all of us been servants?
God made us all servants the very day He dismissed Adam from
Eden. "By the sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat bread." What
mean these women who are eating bread and are not sweating,
either, by scorning the women who are obeying the divine injuncof

tion

Young women from

rural districts flock to great cities like

New

York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore and Washington
in search of employment.
Not only are they unprepared to serve
but are woefully ignorant of the new social conditions into which
they must be thrown. The white women in these large cities conduct guilds and other organizations that employ attendants to meet
the trains and be on the alert for the white servant class that may
be coming in seeking work or homes. Christian homes and churches
are pointed out to the new-comers. The strong arms of Christian
women are thrown about them, and while they are far from home
and loved ones, they have the assurance that they have friends who
will be ever mindful of them and their interests.
What are the results of this wholesale abandonment ** working
women? Nine cases out of ten the girls who come from the country

hands of ill-disposed Negro men or keepers of some
"back way boarding house" of the famous "furnished rooms" charfall

into the

Thousands of our women are to-day in the clutches of men
of our own race who are not worth the cost of their existence. They
dress well and live on the earnings of servant girls. Negro men can
aid us in the solution of the problem by becoming self-supporting

acter.

THE COLORED WOMAN AND THE RACE

329

rather than live on the earnings of women who often get less than
ten dollars per month. Not onlydoes this increase idleness among
life of women.
Negro women can help
own problem by applying to these lazy men Horace

us but weakens the moral
solve their

Greeley's doctrine, "Root

The

hog or

die."

solution of the servant girl problem, then, can only be accom-

—

by making

overcome their
by establishing training
classes and other moral agencies in these large cities and maintaining one or more first-class schools of domestic science. Second, by
employers demanding the trained help from these classes or schools
and paying wages in keeping with the ability of the servant to do
the work. Third, by giving to women who work time for recreation and self-improvement.
This constant all-day "go" has made
service a drudgery.
If servants had hours for rest and improvement, like other laborers, they would come to their work with a
freshness and intelligence that is now absent.
Emphasize the importance of preparation for service work. Let
Negro women who are idle find work, stick to it and use it as a stepping stone to something better. Let us cease reaching over women
who are servants and have character enough for queens to queens
who haven't brains and character enough for servants. By becoming exponents of the blessed principles of honesty, cleanliness and
industry, Negro women can bring dignity to service life, respect
and trust to themselves and honor to the race. Then in deed and
in truth we can mount up as with the wings of eagles, soar above
the mountains of virtue and hide our heads among the stars. If
anybody is to be scorned, scorn those women who will not honestly
toil to raise themselves and are pulling us from the throne of honor
and virtueplished

first,

ignorance, dishonesty and

possible for these girls to

carelessness

CHAPTER LVI

THE

FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENTS IN THE
GROWTH OF THE NEGRO AND OTHER RACES

Rt. Rev.

When,

Cleland Kinlock Nelson, D.

D.,

Bishop of Georgia

at the request of this Congress,

was appointed, with

by the Church Commission of the Protestant Episcopal
Church to represent that Commission, I am certain, that you might
know in some authoritative manner of our hearty and sympathetic
co-operation with you for the promotion of the welfare of the colored
people of this country, upon whom we have bestowed must thought,
time and money. Then especially was our interest aroused when
we learned from reliable sources that the chief purpose of this Congress is, how to elevate the moral tone of the eight million people
of a particular race the race here so ably represented by educators,
preachers and the flower of your vigor and success.
Why this race more than another bids for our conscientious effort is answered first in the fact that, whatever be your origin, you
are now and have been for many years, Americans. We are not
others,

—

dealing with the needs of a foreign-born population, but of a people

who

one hundred and fifty years have been gradually woven
into the texture of our national existence. It is impossible to regard
with unconcern the present condition and future prospects of so
large a factor of our citizenship as one-tenth of the whole. Under
any and all circumstances the strength or weakness of this element
will be felt and known in this republic. As one who has personally
and at close range known the defects and excellencies of this people,
it affords me preat pleasure to respond to the request of the management and to contribute a small allowance to the great effort to
place before this remarkable audience the grounds of hope in a clear
for

(330)

FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GROWTH

331

and impressive light, and to utter some dissuasives from the baneful
doctrines from which men have ever reaped only misery.
I have been asked to sp^ak to you upon "The Fundamental Requirements in the Growth of the Negro and Other Races." As I
have not lived long enough to witness the growth of any race to
maturity, I must go to records of the rise and fall of nations to
collect information which may be reliable in making up an opinion
on s© grave a topic.
The boundary of my inquiry is set for me. I am to consider fundamental, not superficial, requirements in the growth, that is the
proper and nominal development, not of one particular race but of
all

races.

have no business, then, properly speaking, with questions of
You and I must feel the pulse of
humanity in the past and try the heart-beats we must analyze the
food of greatness and note the respiration. We must not be fooled
by a spasm to the belief that life is very active, or by a temporary
improvement or occasional and local healing of scars and stoppage
of pains to the idea that health is assured.
For the time being we
must be physicians who have learned the science of medicine before
applying it to practice.
All your lecturers and speakers will try to give you an insight
into the principles of life and conduct, hoping that you will be wise
enough to apply all counsels to the regeneration of your people
everywhere.
Unless I have missed the purpose of this meeting, it differs essentially from many heretofore held. This is no debating society, nor
platform for spread-eagle speeches, nor a hustings for political
I hope the demagogues, the book-makers for their
harangues.
schemes and the social evolutionists all missed their trains. We are
too busy^ too earnest to trifle away time upon their theories.
The best members are engaged in the sincere and unanimous effort to reach a basis, a common and universally tested basis, of
I am bound to say that a large
racial progress and development.
part of the writing and talking and working for the race has been
narrow in scope, external to the real issues and barren in result.
I

origin or of racial eccentricities.

;

FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

332

FOR

GROWTH

The treatment

for the evils and difficulties has been local and partial
syrup for consumption and ointment for cancer. It has not
reached the spot. And I am forcibly reminded of the remark of an
like

Irish friend of

mine when

called

upon

to speak without previous

notice.

"Mr. President," said he, addressing the chairman, "before I say
anything I want to talk a little." Is it not true that some who have
spoken on the difficulties and disabilities of the colored people have
talked so much that they have left no time to say anything about
their successes and prospects, and the means of reaching them?
We must begin with principles. Any other process is like that
bad ploughing where the ploughman scratches the surface just deep

enough to cultivate the weeds, or for the first heavy shower to wash
the ground away.
The growth referred to in my text (you perceive I am in the habit
of announcing a text) is the uplift of a race. This is no mechanical
process or volcanic action. It is method by the laws of being. The
principles are the atmosphere, the light, moisture, silence, plant-

and reproduction form a beautiful and
which any man may study to advantage. The
principles of man's development are fundamental; they apply to all

food, cultivation.

Plant-life

effective illustration

races.

The conditions may differ. The point of departure, the surroundThe principles are not altered by the habitat, by the

ings vary.

shape of the eyes or by any other racial features. These have
their interest to the ethnological student; they do not belong to our
present inquiry. Let me now and at once describe and emphasize
the growth toward a complete civilization of a race of human
beings.

has been pointed out by a very shrewd observer and careful
London) that the proper idea in the development of mankind is first to humanize, then moralize, and lastly
It

thinker (the late Bishop of
spiritualize.

This

the process of true civilization.

not follow these lines

worse than a

attempted by some other course

failure

Education which does
;

a farce.

it is

a crime.

Culture

Religion which at-

FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GROWTH
tempts to work independently of this logical order fails to reform
character or build up goodness. There are many religions, but one
humanity many forms, mut one morality for all and in all time. It
was a complaint of sincere souls in the sixteenth century that
church life and morals were divorced. To-day the fact that marf
;

has spiritual aspirations is made to do duty for an education which
should have gone before. If, thirty years ago, we had started out to
have more teachers and fewer preachers, religion would be at a
higher grade to-day. A good teacher with right ideals and a pure
is worth more than many preachers.
Sentiments and feelings, ready listenings, are not the fundamentals of character-building. They are not even the scaffolds.
They are but rungs of a ladder. Everybody knows that you may
knock out one or two rungs without injuring the leader. What is
called a religious nature is often nothing more than a dread which
would be overcome by making men more human and more moral,
by expedients and example which a teacher can use as well as, if
not better than a, preacher. We will encourage faith not by fostering credulity, but by opening people's eyes through history and experience. The worst man in the world is the preacher who makes
men and women get religion, without instructing them by word and
example, by his own life, remember. That religion is rotten to the
core which does not make men more humane and less beastly, more
moral and less passionate, more sturdy and less fickle.
The fetich of a religion of gush produces moral degenerates it
exercises no influence or control over the being of the possessor.
We must humanize men, guide them, plead with them against their
coarse and brutal instincts, and urge them to use reason, showing
them the superiority of man in his right mind over the savage.
You teachers have many noble examples to set before your pupils.
We must instill sound morals, teaching that right is right not because of a command or punishment for disobedience, but simply because it is eternally right; that honesty, truth, purity, justice, are
not only the best policy, but that they are the marks of a perfect
character, to possess which is better than all the gain from policy
or advantage that can -be made out of it in business connections.

character

;

FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GROWTH

334

The

title of an organization is supposed to tell to some extent (as
your Congress) the objects aimed at. It belongs to the constitution of the society. One of the most significant changes ever made
in a name is that which occurred in the case of the National League
for Divorce Reform a society which has done most valuable service
in its special line.
About three years ago this society deliberately
dropped the word "Divorce" and substituted "Family/' Family

;

reform, then,

Why

was

is its

this

avowed

Because the Society came

to the

a family malady, very grievous, but one

many sorrows growing

out of wrong relations. These gentlemen,

realization that divorce
of

object.

change made?

faced by stern facts against which they ran every day,

perception that the

home

awoke

to the

the kindergarten of character forma-

and that the only method of putting the divorce mills permais to change the family ideals and ennoble
home relations. They proposed to begin in the work of needed
reform, not at diseased extremities or along one limb, but at the

ation,

nently out of the business

root of this evil.

Mv
which

purpose
I

in citing this incident is to

confirm the

first

principle

enunciate as a necessary requirement in the growth of the

race. The race that repudiates or neglects it is doomed to perpetual
degradation and ultimate extinction by the slow process of a moral

plague.

The rapid increase of tuberculous diseases among the colored
people accounts for the slight, the much diminished percentage of
growth in population. I shall let the physicians dwell upon the
pathological side of this terrible subject.
ing

upward may

slope unless

as well close

its

eyes to

But the race that is lookits fate and go down the

accepts as an axiom that the sanctity of the home and
life be at the foundation of human progress and

the purity of family

that here

the nursery of

all

personal and civic virtues.

The

rav-

ages of sin on the vigor of posterity begin with the relations of the
parents. At the mother's knee, in sweet and clean lives about the
father's table, in persistent watchfulness of the habits, the words,
the reading, the associations of youth, the graft is set which
than all else will control the fruitage of the years to follow.

SOLOISTS.
i

Miss E. Mariam Taylor.
Miss Stella A. E Brazely.

Mrs Fannie Payne Walker.
Mrs. E. Winter- Avant.

REV. GEO. W. LBE,

WASHINGTON,

D.D.,

D. C.

REV. W.

CHAPPELLE,

D.D.,

Cor. Sec'y Sunday-Schcol Department, A. M. E. Church, Nashville. Tenn.

Rev. H. H. Proctor, B.D.

Member

Rev. W. O. P. Sherinan,°one] of the
Commissioners, Savannah, Ga.

the Board of Directors; Record
n o* Secretary.
i

Rev.
Florid
Commissioners, Jacksonville, Fla.

Rev. S. A. Huger, one of the

E. Sargent, D.D., President A. U. M. P.

Church, Wilmington, D£l., Member
the Board of Directors.

FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GROWTH
The preacher who

335

neglects or misdirects this part of his high

no friend of Christ and of the family. He is, despite all
his profession and his most eloquent discourses, the agent of the
devil.
He is doing Satan's work under a mask.
There are numbers of such men with wide influence and powerful
connections. The colored people of this country must exterminate
this brood of adders before they can make effectual progress or rise
in the scale of civilization.
I have spoken strongly, and for any
observant and sincere people I need not paint the horrible picture
in vivid colors.
I have talked with godly men of your race and I
know how they feel about it. But they are powerless as individuals
until your combined public sentiment sends into limbo the preacher
who so grossly betrays his trust. The Spartan home was not in all
privilege

respects a model, but the peculiar characteristics of those far-famed

Greeks

— courage,

endurance, obedience

—were

the

home life unlike anything among their cotemporary
The advancement of the Anglo-Saxon civilization

product

republics.
is

the natural

outgrowth of the Anglo-Snxon home. England, Germany and
America differ from many other countries in nothing so much as in
the permanent elements of civilization, except in the ideals of home
life in which that civilization is nurtured.
The purity of woman, the nobility of men, are honored and cultivated most among those peoples to whom the word home means
more than the eating place (restaurant) or sleeping place (hotel).
Among whom the word is associated with the idea of liberty under
rule, mutual consideration and the safe guarding of the person, the
rights and the privileges of each. Among these people respect for
women, reverence for childhood and love of home antedate by many
years the distinguished examples of home life set by Queen Victoria
and the Empress Louisa in their families.
"Upon the intellectual state of man," wrote M. Guizot (Hist. Civ.
p. 73), "the visible form of society depends."
Man emerges from barbarism as in the midst of confusion and
disorder; he feels a longing for peace and a taste for order, and has
distant visions of what might be.
Then when, instead of following brutish instincts or yielding to

;

FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GROWTH

336

animal impulse, lie pauses to think and resolve, there begins through
the unanimity of kindred minds the process known as civilization,
always identified in its best phases, with the reformation of home
the improvement in the arrangement and equipment of the house
which affords shelter and cheer, the attention to the obligations and
mutual concessions of that state rather than that place which con;

stitutes the

home

of a civilized being.

could, did time permit, extend our remarks to

sential

a correct idea of

home

show how

regeneration of a race, and wanting which deterioration

even though the exterior trappings and public customs bear

marks

es-

to the moral elevation and social

fated

all

the

advancement in letters and polite usage.
mimickry may easily present the appearance

of one
nothing short of a high ideal faithfully pursued can present the
picture of a family home which devout painters have represented in
art and pious writers have used as a glimpse of heaven.
In the next place, I regard self-reliance as fundamentally neces-

clever

sary to progress.

The man who can

step out into the wide and busy world with no

help but a good purpose and a clear head,
credit but a

good name, willing

ing but loss of his independence,

nothing that he need

— that
bility

lose,

who

and a mind

who

has nothing to his
fears noth-

and endure, who

to labor

has everything to gain am*
embrace every opportunity

man is in the path of progress.
can keep him back.

Nothing but positive

disa-

Take this characteristic into a race, add to it combination in all
good efforts and you have progress which no one can despise or
turn back. There is abroad a counterfeit very common to people
who have lost their heads, like men at play, over small successes
and temporary gains. The disguise soon falls off, and we discover
the worthlessness of the pretense.

The proper name

for this

attempted deceit

"bumptiousness,"

as despicable a trait as self-dependence is admirable. It is a sham
like "can't," which Prof. Huxley describes as "a young man putting

on the manners, accent and expression of an old woman."
It is

nothing short of gross impertinence for one to pose as a

FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GROWTH

337

who has never learned the rudiments; as a gentleman because he has clothes of fair workmanship and a stylish cut or to
mimic the tone, manner and gait of a man of affairs though he may

scholar

;

be "out of a job." Self-reliance and self-assertion are totally different qualities. The one is the ladder of progress, the other a sure
preparation for abhorence.
Business
I would next lay stress upon the principles of honor.
integrity, honest dealing, cleanness of life, all of which are close
akin to that self-respect which makes a man despise himself for a
mean act, and dreads the reproof of his own conscience more than
the censure of any number of people. The principle of honor causes
its

possessor to be true and just in

all

dealings, to live above suspi-

cion and to ask nothing but his deserts, not always expecting to get
that.

Lastly, frugality

a prime requisite of race development.

Desire

weakens the moral fiber; and
the pity of an age of great wealth and widespread prosperity is
that a taste is being acquired for selfish enjoyment of extensive
pleasures which deprives parents and friends of proper care, robs
employers and produces habits which are frequently indulged at
the expense of truth and honesty.
In citizenship frugality is a most valuable quality. It is a source
of wealth both to the individual and the nation.
And now, my friends, if the colored people of our country are
aspiring to a civilization which will cause them to be esteemed as
citizens and honored in their respective communities, those principles of domestic purity, self-reliance, honor and frugality, must be
faithfully borne in mind and steadfastly pursued.
To your -natural aptitude for copying a pattern add the courage
to reject all evil examples and to shun imitations.
Let your acknowledged ambition be directed to lay hold of permanent values.

of luxury not less than luxury itself

"Covet earnestly the best gifts." To your patience in difficulties
add self-control to meet emergencies. Cultivate tolerance in all
things but leniency to vice and discord. Let your charity extend
not only to your equals, but to your inferiors, to those whose dangers, temptations and trials are greater than your own,

338

FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

FOR

GROWTH

While the cultivation of probity, truth and the homely virtues
and consideration will go far to fill up the measure of that
righteousness which exalteth a nation, and elevate your race in the
eyes of all just and honorable men to a civilization like that of the
foremost people on the globe.

of peace

CHAIPTKR LVII

THE BOOK WONDERFUL AND HOW TO MASTER

Rev. C. H. Morgan, Ph. D., Chicago

The movement toward

Bible study.

are in the early stages of a widespreading

movement toward

Bible study.

Whence

this

movement?

That question we may not be able to satisfactorily answer, but it
is doubtless in large part due to a constructive craving and instinct
after a period of transition and unrest. It holds within it the promise
of boundless benefits to christian life and progress. Note these inspiring facts:

both cause and result of true religious extension. Every new
and quickening in the growth of the kingdom of
God has been accompanied by a fresh outflowing of the word of
truth into the life of the people.
Man lives "by
It must be so.
every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." The giving
of the law at Sinai
the restoration under Ezra the periods of
prophecy; the truth of the New Testament books; the great versions, ancient and modern; Sunday School development
all these
bear witness to this law. The present Bible student movement is a
It is

era of enlargement

;

—

accompaniment of the organization and marvelous growth
young people's societies.
fit

The

new
latest

of the

Bible course for tha masses.

embodiment

of a Bible study course for the people

the opening volme out of three, and consists of thirty-five "Studies
in

the

Life of Christ."

Church and the third
Bible in three years.

The second

given to the Apostolic

Old Testament, thus covering the entire
The aim of the authors throughout is to fur-

to the

nish a course that shall represent the best conservative scholarship
T339)

THE BOOK WONDERFUL

340
and many,

if not all, of the most recent approved principles, and, at
same time, be extremely simple and clear. It is intended to
3. The organizing and conducting of classes.
Classes may begin at any time. Each series of lessons is planned

the

cover thirty-five weeks, but the course can easily be suspended

and resumed,

Secure a copy of the text-book, and
members of the class by personal interview, or arrange for
a sermon, address, or lecture on the need and importance of thorough Bible study. The members of the class can elect a president
or leader, of both, a secretary and treasurer, and determine the
if

interrupted.

enlist the

time and place of meeting.

CHAPTER

LVIII

THE TRUE SPIRITUAL LIFE OF THE NEGRO YOUTH.
THE BASIS OF HIS USEFULNESS AS A MAN AND
A CITIZEN
Rev.

L. Cook,

H. N. and

College, Henderson, N. C.

Never before in the history of the race was there a greater defor young men and women possessed of a true suiritual life
than at the present moment. The problems which now confront

mand

material as they are spiritual.
We wrestle
and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against
spiritual wickedness in high placesHence, says the Apostle,
take unto yourselves an armament commensurate to the enemy.
The Apostle Paul was one who was in the world and overcame it.
He visited the most illustrious capital on earth, the capital which

us are not so

much

not against flesh

The
called the eye of Greece, the University of the world.
Apostle had taste, genius, education, talent. He had to use a
modern phrase, aesthetical culture, just as well as those who claimed
to have a monopoly of it.
But when he went to Athens, he saw
none of its splendor, he was captivated by none of its beauty, he
turned his back upon its temples, its scholars, its lofty halls and
glorious monuments, and he saw in that clear light which came
down from heaven but one dark and terrible spectacle a city
was

—

wholly given to idolatry.
Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself with the allurements and enticements of an oriental court. Paul purposed in his
heart to know nothing among men save Jesus and Him crucified.
Not environment; not opportunity; but the true spiritual life was
the basic principle in each case that led to right decision.
(341)

THE SPIRITUAL

342

These two

LIFE OF

THE NEGRO YOUTH

simply an epitome of what must be
man of whatsoever race or
nationality,
useful as a man and as a citizen. The
race is in greater need of consecrated manhood and womanhood
to-day than at any other time of its history.
The church does not need, nor can it use, the Nadabs and
Abihues of spiritual deadness and inactivity, but the Aarons and
Hurs of spiritual life to stand on either side of the Moses of faith,
bearing up his hands till the army of God triumphs over the enemy.
To become a Christian means something more than the acceptance
of salvation at the hands of Mercy. That is a cheap sort of salvation that costs nothing, and is worth just about what it costs.
To become a real Christian, there must be the loyal and loving
surrenrer of one's whole being for time and eternity, into the hands
of a gracious God, not only for salvation, but for service.
We are.
saved to serve. To emphasize and impress this idea should be the
dominant purpose of every Christian institution that has under its
care the youth of the land. I would not say a word of disparagement concerning any institution, but that school that emphasizes
men's industrial or intellectual training at the expense of the spiritfilled life has missed the object for which. God would have it exist.
I have always been optimistic as to the progress of the Christian
Church, but not so much so that I have been blinded to the apparent
apathy in the religious life of the Negro youth, due largely to a lack
of deep spiritual piety. The religious life of the youth of to-day is
more theoretical and sentimental than spiritual and practical. The
result is a paralysis of every effort to do good effective service for
illustrattions are

young Negro
who would be

true of every

Christ.
tical

;

yea, of every

Practical results are convincing.

After

all

the prac-

men
The Lord Jesus

Christianity which counts for something and convinces

of the reality in the Christ

whom we

profess.

Christ places His stamp of disapproval upon any qualification as
a basis of usefulness to affect the world for
of the true Christian

life.

good other than that

•

CHAPTER LIX

THE INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY-SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
AND ITS WORK AMONG NEGROES
Prof.

Among

the

many

Garland Penn, A. M.

efforts

being put forth by the various religious
young people

agencies of our country to better the condition of the

is of more importance nor calculated to do better
work among them toward "reaching the unreached," than the

of our race, none

International Sunday-school Association.

may

equal emphasis that none promise to do a larger

also be said with

work

the future

than this Association. Because of these facts, as well as the further
fact that our people know so little about the real history, purpose

and intent of the Association, space is here accorded it in this
volume as a part of the Congress movement, that our people may
get new light and information about it and the Association become
fully organized and maintained among us.
The. International Sunday-school Association is now thirty years
old, having been called "National" for forty years, or from 1832 to
1872, and meets in convention every three years, the last convention
having been held in Deuver, Colorado, in July, 1902, while the next
convention will be held in Toronto, Canada, July, 1905. It is an
interdemoninational movement to give impetus to the Sundayschool work of the entire Christian nation, and the whole world as
It stands to prowell, without reference to denomination or race.
mote more successful Bible study in our Sunday-schools, better
Sunday-school equipment for that study and the ingathering of
the youth in the Sunday-schools of the land, without reference to
what denomination these Sunday-schools are.
These results are secured by the organization
(343)

Interde-

344

THE INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY-SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

nominational Sunday School Conventions
states

counties, cities and

which sustain the same relation to Sunday-school work

in the

county, city or state, as the International Association does to the

Sunday-school work of the world. The greatest, most conspicuous
and living monument to the good accomplished by the Association,
is the Uniform Lesson System of Bible Study for Sunday-schools
which was begun in 1872.
The attention of the Association was directed to the needy
field among our race in December, 1895, when the Rev. L. B.
Maxwell, D. D., then a Congregational minister in charge of a
church at Savannah, Ga., was appointed field worker among us.
The Rev. Dr. Maxwell entered upon his labors January 12, 1896,
making his maiden effort at Louisville, Ky.. This was six months
prior to the International Convention which met at Boston, Mass.,
June 23, 1896, to which Mr. Maxwell reported that he had presented the Association work to our people in 52 cities, held 146
meetings, addressed 63 colleges, high and graded schools, attended
21 minister's meetings, visited 18 Sunday-schools, preached 31
Sunday-school sermons, established 12 local unions, organized /
interdenominational state associations, distributed thousands of
circulars and addressed between forty and fifty thousand people
Dr. Maxwell was
in the interest of organized Sunday-school work.
re-appointed at the meeting of the Convention in Boston for three
years, and his next report was made at the International Convention, which met in Atlanta, Ga-, April 27, i8qq. At this Convention
he reported having done work in 16 states, 124 counties and roo
It was also at this Convention that Dr. Maxwell
cities and towns.
made one of the greatest platform deliverances in his career as a
He had no superior among the younger men of
public speaker.
the race, and few equals among any of his people* of any age, as a
platform man. He was a college graduate of Atlanta University, a
graduate also of Hartford, Conn., Theological Seminary, and was
He was naturally entherefore a finished and polished speaker.
dowed as an orator, which, with his acquirements in education and
experience, made him a conspicuous platform man among our
people, and constantly in demand for public service. Under Mr.

:
;

THE INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY-SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

345

Maxwell's supervision, the work grew so large and promising that
the Rev. Silas X. Floyd, D. D., of Augusta, Ga., another bright
light of the race, was appointed assistant field worker in November,
1889, and continued at work until he resigned to become the pastor
of the Tabernacle Baptist Church at Augusta, Ga.
At the Denver Convention, the Committee on Work among
the Colored People was continued with membership as follows
Mr. John R. Pepper, Memphis, Tennessee; Mr. N. B. Broughton,
Mr. Geo. W. Watts, Durham, N. C.
Raleigh, N. C.
Mr. J. T. Buck, Jackson, Miss; Mr. W. S. Witham, Atlanta,
Ga. Mr. W. N. Hartshorn, Boston, Mass.; Mr. Marion* Lawrence,
Toledo, Ohio; Mr. W. A. Eudaly, Cincinnati, Ohio; Mr. E. K. Warren, Three Oaks, Mich. This committee, which will have charge of
the work among the colored people for the triennium, was charged
by the Executive Committee with the duty of selecting two field
workers to prosecute the Sunday-school work along International
Association lines. It is well to notice an important fact in connection with the personnel of the committee.
While it is to be
hoped that in the work of the Lord Jesus among men, the time
will come when we shall in fact know no North or South, no East
or West, yet it will, in view of unwarranted statements to the
;

;

contrary, contribute to this greatly desired end, for the attention
of the reader to be directed to the fact that there are five

Southern

men upon this committee and four Northern men. They
among the best Christian business men in the country, another

white
are

evidence that there are scores of good blood in the churches of
the South as in the North, interested in
real

permanent uplifting

these

men can but

of our people.

all

that appertains to the

glance at the lives of

contribute to the gratitude

bear for

all,

whether North or South, for the help given in the great work upon
us of building a race. Mr. John R. Pepper, chairman of the committee, is a wholesale grocery merchant of Memphis, Tenn., is
President of the Hernando Insurance Company, and Vice-President
of the Union & Planters' Bank..
Hie has been in Sunday-school
work for over thirty years, has been a member of Executive Committee of the International Sunday-school Association, and is now

346

member

THE INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY-SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

Lesson Committee. He is a member
Church South, and Superintendent of
the First Methodist Sunday-school of MJemphis for twenty-two
years consecutively, and has always been ready to answer the
calls for help in his home city.
He has been Chairman of the
Special Committee on Colored Work from the beginning.
Mr.
W. N. Hartshorn, of Boston, Mass., is the Chairman of the Executive Committee, the most arduous and responsible position of the
a

of the International

of the Methodist Episcopal

International Sunday-school Association.
He succeeded the late
Mr. B. F. Jacobs, and is the administrative power of the Association work fh the world. He is a publisher and a wealthy man, who
delights to help the needy. He is one of the committee sustaining
a close relationship in the help of the Negro churches of Boston.
He is a Baptist by denomination, and has been in the Sundayschool from a child. Mr. N. B. Broughton of Raleigh, N. C, is a
publisher and member of the firm of Edwards & Broughton. He
has been a Sunday-school superintendent for twenty years, secretary for more than twenty years of the North Carolina Baptist
State Convention, and is Vice-President of the World's Sundayschool Convention.
He has aided in the establishment of day
schools, Sunday-szhools and churches for our people, and is constanty in demand for addresses at institutes, conventions, Y. M.
Mr. Geo. W.
C. A. meetings and colleges for the colored people.
Watts of Durham, N. C, is a member of the W. D. Duke Sons &
Co., branch of the American Tobacco Co., is largely interested in
cotton manufacturing and other enterprises, and is a director of the
Seaboard Air Line Railway. He is a Presbyterian, has been superintendent of a Sunday-school for seventeen years, and is a regular
contributor to such colleges for Negro youth as Kittrell, Clinton
and others. He is a staunch supporter of the Negro Hospital at
Durham, and a member of the school board having charge of the
two Negro public schools in Durham. Mr. John T. Buck of Jackson, Miss., is the Secretary of the Building and Loan Association
of Jackson, is a Baptist by denomination and has been in the'
He had for several
Sunday-school work for twenty-five years.
years a teachers' training class in a colored Baptist church of

THE INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY-SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

347

Jackson for Colored Young People, and though a Confederate
veteran, he has been and is now a lpcaKtrustee of Jackson College,
an institution for the training of colored young people under the
Mr. W.
auspices of the American Baptist Mome Mission Society.
S. Witham of Atlanta, Ga., is a banker, being the president of
thirty banks in Georgia. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South and President of the Georgia .State Sundayschool Association.

the teacher of the famous

Bible Class of St.

Marks M.

feller, Jr., is to the

North.

Busy People's

Church Sunday-school of Atlanta,
Ga., which is the largest in the South, and is to the South what
the famous Bible Class of New York, taught by John R. RockeE.

Mr. Marion Lawrence of Toledo, Ohio, is the General Secretary
of the International Sunday-school Association.
He is a Congregationalist by denomination, and directs with the help of the
Chairman, Mr. Pepper, the movements of the two field workers
among our people. Mr. W. A. Eudaly of Cincinnati is a Presbyterian, has been connected with Sunday-school work for twenty
years, is President of the Ohio State Sunday-school Association.
He has been identified with the International Sunday-school Association work from the beginning, having been a member of the
Special Committee on Colored Work when the first field worker
was appointed in 1895. He is a lawyer by profession. Mr. E. K.
Warren is the ninth member of the Special Committee on Colored
Work, and is a manufacturer of featherbone, Three Oaks, Mich.
He is a Congregationalist and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the World's Sunday-school Convention, to be help in
Jerusalem, April, 1904.
Thus it will be seen that at the back of this

movement

to arouse,

and push the Sunday-school work
among us, there is
substantial and sound support, and the race is to be congratulated
upon the interest which these Christian business men have in the
advancement of our young people, that we all may be more useful
and better fitted for the burdens and duties of life. The Committee
has selected two of our race to push the International Sundayschool work among us. This was done in Atlanta, Ga., in Sepinspire

348

TH1£

INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY-SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

tember, 1902. The men selected are Prof. Granville G. Marcus of
Memphis, Tenn., a member of the Colored Methodist Church in
America, and Dr. James E. Shepard of Durham, N. C, a member
of the Baptist Church.

Miss.,

age.

September

man

30,

Professor Marcus was born

i860,

and

of liberal education,

Memphis, Tenn., public schools
Virginia Avenue Public School

Columbus,

accordingly forty-two years of

and has been a teacher

in the

since 1879, being principal of the

He has
for a number of years.
been one term President of the Colored Teachers Association of
Tennessee. For twelve years he has been Superintendent of the
Sunday-school of Collins Chapel C. M. E- Church of Memphis,
which is one of the largest schools and churches of the connection.
He is therefore fitted for the duties of field worker to which he
has been elected, both by education annd experience in the very
work he is sent to do. Dr. James E. Shepard of Durham, N. C,
the associate field worker, is a graduate of Shaw University. Five
years ago he was appointed Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue,
which position he resigned to take this position. He is one of the
Vice-Presidents of the North Carolina Baptist State Sunday-school
Convention.
Rev. E. R. Carter, D. D., the well-known pastor of Friendship
Baptist Church, Atlanta, Ga., was made a Vice-President, and the
writer put upon the Executive

Committee

for the triennium

from

1902 to 1905.
The present triennium ought to witness the organization of every
county, city and State in the South, while the delegation to the

next International Convention at Toronto, Canada, in the summer
ought to be nothing less than one thousand representative

of 1005,

Sunday-school workers from the ranks of the Negro race. More
and more the Negro must get into touch with every world-wide
movement which has to do with the development of character in
the youth of the nation and the promotion of righteousness, that

may

The

general office of the
Secretary, Mr.
General
Association is at Toledo, Ohio, where the
literature*
reached,
Marion Lawrence, and other workers may be
secured and this world-wide, aggressive Sunday-school movement

the

young

of his race

be benefitted.

THE INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY-SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

349

thoroughly understood. It is the hope of the writer that every
reader of "The United Negro: His Problems and His Progress,"
may read of this truly forward movement and regard it as one of
the chief agencies to bring a united people to that place in civilization that will make them workers of righteousness and men and
women whose one business is to make the world better for being
in it

Part VIII

The

Educational Life of the Race

CHAPTER LX

THE EDUCATIONAL OUTFIT AND RESULTS OF THE
AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION
FOR THE RACE
W.

Rev. Geo.

rejoice in

through

all

Moore, Field Secretary, Nashville, Tenn.

what God hath wrought

for the

Negro people

the christian agencies and religious denominations rep-

resented by this Congress. "It hath been the Lord's doings, and it
has been marvelous in our eyes." Fifty-six years ago the American
Missionary Association was organized in Albany, N. Y. It was

organized effort in the work of uplifting among the colored
people in the South. It came into being in the midst of agitation
and storm. It was organized to carry on intelligent gospel evanthe

first

gelization through

its

schools, churches, missions, industrial train-

ing and the preaching of the gospel to those
their physical,
1

intellectual

and

who needed

spiritual elevation.

most

came

for

into

being that such neglected people might receive a free gospel and
the benefits of intelligent Christianity.

The missions

in the slave States

gave

rise to

stirring events in the history of the association,

tinction of beginning the
to organize churches
(350)

first

some of the most
which has the dis-

decided efforts while slavery existed
in the South on avowedly anti-

and schools

AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION WORK

351

slavery basis.
It was during this stirring period of agitation and
storm that Berca College was founded .in Kentucky in 1854 by John
G. Fee, who was a Kentuckian by birth and son of a slave-holder.
The crisis, so long impending, came at length, and the Union armies
entering the South in 1861, opened the way for the instruction and
elevation of the colored people.

prepared to engage

The

association

was providentially

work, and the first systematic effort for
their relief was by it. The first school opened for the colored people
in America during the Civil War was organized in Hampton, Va..
in 1861 by the American Missionary Association, with Mrs. Mary
Peake, a colored lady, as teacher.
Gen. Butler encouraged this
work among the homeless and destitute "contrabands," and this
first school, which bore his name, was known as the Butler school.
It was the forerunner .of the great Hampton Institute, which was
also organized by this association with Gen. Samuel C. Armstrong
as its first principle. Hundreds of institutions have since followed
in this magnificent work of the uplifting of the race and of preparing teachers and leaders for the people. The A. M; A. rapidly extended, its work in the South and West during the Civil War, so
that during this period schools were opened in twelve States in the
South and West, including Kansas, Missouri and the District of
Columbia.
The year 1865, which marked the z lose of the Civil War, was
in this

marked by enlarged work by this association in behalf of the
colored people. The National Council of Congregational Churches,
which held its first meeting at Boston in that year, recommended to
the churches to raise $250,000 for the work among the frcedmen
and designated the American Missionary Association as the organThe association
ization providentially fitted to carry it forward.
accepted the responsibility and began the work of raising the funds
and carrying forward the work. It succeeded in raising more than
the $250,000 recommended by the council. It was during this period
that the be^'nning was made for most of our permanent educational
also

institutions .or the training of teachers, ministers

and leaders of the

decided to establish one school of higher learning in each
of the larger States of the South and normal and graded schools in
people.

AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION WORK

352

citties. and common and parochial schools in smaller
and country places. Under this broad plan arose Hampton,
in Virginia; the Atlanta University, in Georgia; the Berea College,
in Kentucky; Fisk University, at Nashville, Tenn., with the wonderful career of the Jubilee Singers, who delighted the most refined
people in America and Europe with their heart-stirring music, returning to Nashville with $150,000 to erect and furnish Jubilee Hall
and equip other departments. Talladega College, in Alabama, with
its varied collegiate, normal, industrial and theological training, and
Tougaloo University, in Mississippi, with its college, farms and
work shops. With these were established in Savannah, Charleston,
Macon, Mobile, Thomasville, Memphis and other leacMng cities
schools, normal and graded, and through all the introduction of
trades and farm work for the boys and home industrial training for
the girls a system of education so complete as to have required no

principal
villages

—

serious modifications afterward.

In this

are included

list

under their

own Boards

Hampton, Atlanta and Berea, though
were founded by the

of Trustees, as they

association and indicate the original plan of location of
institutions.

schools

mon

among

its

large

time the association maintains sixty-nine
the colored people of the South and thirty-one comthis

schools.

Howard Uniand Straight University
and Bible schools for the training of christian workers at Tougaloo
and other institutions. Such ministers as the late Rev. L. B. Maxwell, the Rev. H. H. Proctor, Rev. Joseph E. Smith, Rev. James
Bond, Rev. J. Q. Johnson, Rev. Spencer Snell and a host of others
were trained in the schools of the American Missionary Association.
More than one hundred colored instructors are teaching in the
schools of the American Missionary Association, and hundreds of
its graduates are professors, teachers and leaders of thought in the
leading institutions among the colored people in the South and
West, and some are in service in the North and in Africa. Missionaries have served in Western and Central Africa and on the
Congo. Miss Althea Brown, a graduate of the College Department
Theological departments have been established in

versity, Fisk University, Talladega College

AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION WORK

35:

of Fisk University, will sail in a few days to join Mr. and

Mrs.

William Sheppard in their work in Africa on the Congo, under the
direction of the Southern Presbyterian church.
The Joseph K.
Brick school, at Enfield, N. C, with Prof. Thos. S. Ihborden as
principal, has a fine plant of 1,129 acres of land, ten buildings and
courses of study in normal, industrial, agricultural and mechanical
training. The Albany Normal School, Prof. James L. Murray, principal, located at Albany, Ga., is a prosperous institution with 300
students. The Helena Normal, at Helena, Ark. the Knox Institute,
at Athens, Ga. the Fessenden School, at Martin, Fla. the Peabody
Academy, at Troy, N. C. the Cotton Valley School, near Fort
Davis, Ala. the Lampson School, at Marshallville, Ga. Kowaliga
School, at Kowaliga, Ala., and other institutions under the direction
of colored men and women are doing a splendid service in the work
of uplifting among the people. Industrial training has held an im;

;

portant position in the educational

;

work

of the association for

many

Talladega College was the first institution in the South to
introduce this important branch of study.
Hampton and others
followed, and now almost every school in the South and Southwest
under the direction of this society has more or less extended departments of industrial training. Large farms are cultivated in connection with our schools at Talladega, Tougaloo and Enfield. Over
3,000 teachers and missionaries have been commissioned by the
association in this work of uplifting in the South. It is estimated*
that more than 300,000 students have studied in its schools, who in
turn have taught over 500,000 others. Twelve thousand colored students were in the schools of the association the past year.
Simultaneously with the founding of these permanent institutionsthe association began the planting of churches among the freedmen.
They were formed mainly in connection with the educational institutions, and were intended to be models of true church life. The
work of church-planting has been pressed forward with a steady
hand in nearly all of the Southern States with most gratifying
results. The importance of the church work established under this
association can not be overestimated. A quiet but powerful work is
being accomplished among the people. Intelligent preaching, in-

years.

AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION WORK

354

tegrity of character and higher ethical standards are introduced
and maintained through the churches. Sunday Schools, temperance efforts and revivals of religion have been marked features in
the work.
Christian Endeavor So:ieties were promptly organized
and have been rapidly multiplied.
Conferences or associations
have been formed, and of these there are now nine known, as the
associations of North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, South Carolina and Tennessee.
The receipts of the American Missionary Association for the
first year were $11,328.27.
The largest receipts for any one year for
current work were in 1892, amounting to $429,949.37. The total
receipts from all sources and for all forms of work aggregate over
$14,000,000.

Mr. Daniel

In addition to this, there

Hand

came the munificent

gift of

of $1,000,000 for the education of colored people,

the argest gift of a living donor to a missionary society.

In addi-

tion to this, he left a legacy of nearly a half million dollars

more on

the

same conditions

as the original gift.

Congregationalists have

expended over $20,000,000 in the South since emancipation for the
education and elevation of the Negro. Among the early founders
of the association were such men as Rev. Charles G. Finney, Arthur
Tappan, Louis Tappan, Rev. George P. Whipple, its first corresponding secretary, and Rev. M„ E. Strieby, D. D., avIio served as
corresponding secretary thirty-four years. Among the friends and
promoters of this work were Gen. O. O. Howard and Gen. Clinton
B. Fisk. It has also had many friends, both North and South, in
Among the noble band of
its service and among its contributors.
educators of sainted memory in the service of the A. M. A. were
Rev. John G. Fee, of Berea College; Gen. Samuel C. Armstrong, of
Hampton Institute; President Edward Ware, of Atlanta University President Henry DeForest, of Talladega College, and President E. M. Cravath and Prof. A. K. Spence, of Fisk University.
As a result of their sacrificial service, we have such men as Booker
T. Washington, Richard R. Wright, Spencer Snell, Thos. S. Inborden, Prof. Crogman and Prof. DuBois, and a host of others who
have caught the spirit of their lives and fruitful service.
.

;

CHAPTER LXI

THE EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF THE A. M.
CHURCH AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO HUMANITY
Prof.

John

Hawkins, A. M., Commissioner and General
Kittrell,

Secretary,

N. C.

committed to the cause of education, and
its church work has brought
world.
The first effort toward
it prominently before the enlightened
the establishment of schools dates from September 21, 1844, when
the Ohio Conference of the A. M. E. Church appointed a committee
to select a seat for a seminary of learning on the manual labor
plan.
Out of this came what was then called Union Seminary,
which was later merged into Wilberforce University, Wilberforce,
Ohio, our oldest and leading institution. In 1884 education was
made a special department of the church work and placed under,

The A. M.

Church

the special interest paid to this part of

the supervision of Rev.

D. Johnson, D. D.,

who

held the position

Commissioner and General Secretary till May, 1896, when the
present incumbent was elected as his successor. This department
has grown to be one of the most important branches of the church,
with an organization extending all over the United States, Africa
and the islands of Hayti, San Domingo and Bermuda.
The latest report shows a record of 25 schools, 160 teachers, 4,695
pupils, 1,482 acres of land, 51 buildings, with a total valuation of
school property of $535,000. These schools have three main sources
of income, and thousands of dollars have already gone into the
treasury for our educational fund. These sources are first, from
pupils who pay a nominal sum for board, room rent, etc. from private donations and bequests, applied according to the will of the
donor, and from a regular church fund raised on endowment day,

—

;

(355)

KDIKATIONAL WORK

Sunday

third

tin*

I'llUKCH

Septembei of each year

propriations from

supplemented by ap-

he general church fund.

he returns from collections throughout the connection on last

endowment day, September

15,

amounted

K)Oi,

EDUCATION FOR ALL

ilt:

about $1^,897.50;

Ol'LL

Our watchword

is:
Kdueate, educate, educate tin- people.
speaking of the supremacy of Athens, Pericles said: "It

not

whole society which gave to
Athens its uniipie distinction." Following this idea, we will surely
reach the unreached and prepare every man for the best and highest
Tins naturally commits us to the creed of an education general
life,
in its I'haractci am! universal in its nature,
An education free from
bias, hee from limitation, free from proscription.
Not an education
that will mark us as Negro artisans, as Negro mechanics, as Negro
fanners, as Negri) lawyers as Negro doctors, as Negro preachers,
nor as Negro scholars; but such as will characterize us as skilled

the elevation ol

select class, but the

artisans, as artists, as mechanics, as farmers, as "captains of indus-

h\." as masters in trade, as lawyers, as doctors, as scholars, as
men; yea, men, with master minds and noble souls.
am unable
to support the logi.* ot that man or set of men who lay down the
principle of a certain kind of education to suit the condition of any
I

particulai

tare

ited Illness I01
I

who

cry equality of

mankind ami

yet prescribe lim-

the privileges and duties of mankind.

ns diversify our callings.

nature and make the earth
foi the back ami food foi

ie4d

tin

Send some

to the fields to court

her increase ami bring forth raiment
table.

Some

with pick to the mine,

quarry, with axe to the forest, ami then with ham
met and chisel and brush to the scaffold, change the wildernesses
Yes, we are sending some to tunnel the
into towns and ;ities.

with

drill to the

mountains and span the
find the

must

:;o

rivers.

Some harness

electricity.

Some

the dust and pearls In the ocean's tide, Some
to the desk, some to the pulpit, some to the hospital ward,

diamonds

some to the bar, some to the halls of legislation: that in every place
Where man is. where humanity touches, there we may help to plead
its

cause.

KIMJCATIONAL WOK K

(

IHJI<<

SFXK HELP

We
it

We early learned thai
schools and colleges existed and

arc pioneers in the lesson of self help.

was not enough

know

lliat

we could attend them as |>uj)ils to feed on an intellectual life
provided and supported wholly by others. No race or class thai
content to lean upon others and be carried as subjects of charity
will ever become strong and able to stand on its own feet.

that

MANHOOD

KIJIJCATION

One of our tenets is to cultivate Inn- manhood and help to improve the conditions existing in the affairs of the nation. To rise
above the political demagogy and honor the highest statesmanship.
To support that party or creed which is based on the bed rock of
truth and justice. To be slaves to no party or creed, and scorn to
be used as the designing tool of any political trickster. To wear
the badge of true manhood and help to bring this country up to the
standard of righteousness. A country where its citizens will not be
Negroized but Americanized. A country full of hope, with one flag,
one Constitution and one (jod.
MOCK

NO'I

Ol/K*

ANCKSTOKS

Let us make no compromise with the ignorant sentiment that
upon our ancestry or mock them in song and speech.

will reflect

need to use our best language and sing the pun J SOngS, We
arc speaking to the world and we want all nations to hear our plea.
Speak to them not in the broken language under the name of Negro
dialect.
Not in careless brogue and slang, catchy phrases. Let us
sing with the muses, but not in so called ;oon songs and plantation
melodies that are relics of ignorance and untutored, uncultured associations, but through our best, our purest and choicest literature.
Indeed this is the message even from the past. The voice of mighty
empires still charms and inspires us.

OUK WOM'KN KKi'KKSKNT A I'OTKNT KACTOK
Let it be remembered that we recognize woman's influence in
every great movement for the good of humanity. It is the most

EDUCATIONAL WORK

358

CHURCH

sacred and cherished sentiment in the endeared ties of home.
felt

It is

mould public sentiment and
recognized as the safe and most reliable

as the undercurrent in helping to

shape legislation. It is
pillar in our churches and institutions.

OUR LEGACY TO POSTERITY
In conclusion, I beg to submit that in all this work we are simply
transmitting our legacy to posterity.
are centering our hope/r
in those who are to follow.
wish to inspire them to noble deeds
and sing to them the lines of Parnassus:

"Nobility and greatness are confined
To purity of heart and strength of mind;

We
race.
era.

those whose acts improve and elevate mankind."

are the potters before the wheel,

moulding the clay of a new

We are the sculptors chiseling out
We are the artists painting pictures

weary in the work or give up the task.
It must necessarily cost time, money,

Some

the characters for a
for eternity.

care, skill

of our greatest artists tell us that they

have put

new

Let us not

and patience.
all

their time,

The were
and forever enshrined in the hearts of the people. They
tell us success is gained only through long years of hard study and
patient toil. The study of things, the study of men, the study of
life.
Flaxman, one of the greatest artists, was not content to settle
clown to his work till he had seen and studied life in different climes.
He studied in France, in Italy and Germany and went back home
to immortalize his name. Homer thrills and nerves us by his sweet
strains, but his ideas are made still more impressive by the accompanying illustrations of Flaxman. When we read Milton's representation of the triumph of Michael over Satan we feel like exclaiming, lofty thought, wonderful mind; but that thought is still more
impressive when for one moment the eye falls upon the work of
Flaxman, who casts his mind into the marble statue of Michael
plunging the fatal dagger through Satan at his feet.
their talent, their fortunes in

paid for

making one great

picture.

Educational work
Yes,

church

359

are the sculptors, our schools are the work-shops, our

pupils the objects on which

are working, and out of which

Let us
follow the lines marked out by the great sculptor above, else one

are chiseling living characters to stand before the world.

awkward

stroke spoil the whole figure.

the pictures that

must adorn our homes.

carefully

and

spoil the

canvas and destroy the beauty.

skillfully, lest

are the artist painting

Let us handle the brush
one bad touch, one misplaced stroke

CHAPTER

LXII

THE WORK OF THE AMERICAN BAPTIST HOME MISSION SOCIETY FOR THE AMERICAN NEGRO
H. L. Morehouse, D. D., Field Secretary of the Society
ITS

MISSIONARY WORK

From 1832, when the American Baptist Home Mission Society
was organized, until 1845, when the Southern Baptists withdrew
both from this Society and from the Triennial Convention for Foreign Missions, to organize the Southern Baptist Convention,
attention

was given by the Society

some

missionary work for the

After the separation, from 1845 to

slaves of the Southern States.

between the North and the South
on the subject of slavery, further work was impossible. In the
Northern States the colored population was small and for a long
time Baptists among them worshipped with the white people, ex1896, with the strained relations

cept in

some

large cities,

where

their

numbers

justified the existence

Since the war, with the migration of colored

of separate churches.

people from the South to some of the newer States and Territories,
the Society has devoted considerable attention to their needs. Since
the war, also, it has continuously employed missionaries among

them

in the

Southern States. The last report of the Society shows
were in the service of the Society for the

that forty-five missionaries

colored people, nearly

all

them

colored.

Some

of these

were

supported in part also by co-operating bodies. Fourteen were in
the Southern States and thirty-one chiefly in the Western States.
II.

The
of

Society's

first

ITS

EDUCATIONAL WORK

step for the refugees

the Union army was taken
(360)

who came

January, 1862,

into the lines

its first

teachers and

;

AMERICAN BAPTIST HOME MISSIONS

361

missionaries being appointed in June of the same year. Wherever
they could they gathered the colored preachers for instruction in
the rudiments of learning, and in the organization of churches, as-

Gradually, to meet the general demand
young people, schools were established
and a special secretary was appointed to secure offerings for this
purpose. By 1874 eight schools, some of them with valuable propsociations and conventions.

for the education of the

erties,

From

were

in operation at central points in the

Southern States.

1880 there was great expansion of this work, not only in the

number of schools, but in their variety and
The Society supports wholly or in part, at

in their

courses of study.

the present time, tw'elve

higher and thirteen secondary schools, a total of twenty-five. The
reported teaching forces therein last year was 274, most of whom

were appointees
colored.

The

Of these, 132 were white and 142
was 6,198, of whom 2,703 were males

of the Society.

total enrollment

and 3,495 females.

The annual expense

for salaries of teachers

about $100,000,

while other expenses carry the annual amount required of the Society for their maintenance to about $120,000. The school proper-

secured through the instrumentality of the Society are valued
at more than a million dollars.
The property of Virginia Union

ties

University, at Richmond, Va.,

worth $300,000; that

Spelman

Seminary, Atlanta, $325,000; that of Shaw University, Raleigh, N.
C, $175,000; that of Benedict College, Columbia, $85,000; of Bishop
College, Marshall, Tex., $100,000; of Roger Williams University,
Nashville, Tenn., $130,000. The Society has expended in its work
It
for the colored people in the last forty years about $4,000,000.
holds endowment funds for these schools to the amount of $278,000.
For ministerial education there is a high grade school at Rich-

mond, whie

each of the higher schools, generally, provision is
adapted to those who can not pursue the longer and higher course of study. At Shaw University,
Raleigh, N. C, is the Leonard Medical School, with a superior fac-

made

for theological instruction

and course of four years; also, a Law School. At Spelman
Seminary, Atlanta, is a thorough Normal School for training of
teachers, the reputation of which is very high, and a well equipped
ulty

AMERICAN BAPTIST HOME MISSIONS

362

nurse training school.

Normal courses

are in the curriculum of

these schools, and college courses in some.

Industrial education

has been given in most of the schools for the last fifteen years; in

me for a longer period. Special mechanical equipment for this
purpose has been provided at Virginia Union University, Richmond at Shaw University, Raleigh at Benedict College, Columbia at Spelman Seminary, Atlanta, and at Bishop College, Marshall, Tex.
Inability to obtain requisite resources for this expensive kind of educational work prevents its enlargement.
Spelman
Seminary and Hartshorn Memorial College the latter at Richmond,
s

;

are exclusively for

young women.

All the other schools are co,

educational, except Atlanta Baptist College, which

men.

for

young

estimated that about 90,000 students have been enrolled
in these institutions.
Many of these have become the recognized
leadrs of the colored Baptists of the South, while the great mass,
It is

imbued with the

spirit of service for the elevation

have contributed largely to this

The

ruling idea in this educational

work has been

of strong, intelligent christian character

positive christian spirit.

the noblest

;

of the

North

the formation

education dominated by a

Into this service, at the

men and women

of their race,

result.

first,

went some

in a spirit of self-sacrifice

like that of those who go to foreign fields.
Others of like spirit
have succeeded them. Not merely money in large sums, but life
itself has been lavishly laid upon the altar of service for the uplifting of an unfortunate race, and by this outpouring of vital power
the colored people of the land have been enriched beyond all cal-

culation.
It is

as the

the purpose of the Society to strengthen these institutions
advancing intelligence of those for whom they were estab-

lished shall require; believing in the capabilities of the

acquire an education like that which has

made

power, and believing that the supreme need of this people
consecrated, cultivated, sound-minded leadership.

Negro

the white
is

man

to
a

godly,

CHAPTER

LX11I

THE EDUCATIONAL WORK UF THE BOARD OF MISSIONS FOR FREEDMEN OF THE PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
Rev.

W. H.\Veaver, D.
New York

D., Field Secretary

City

The Board

of Missions for Freedmen of the Presbyterian Church
United States of America, which I have the honor to represent in this Congress, and of whose work I am now to speak, is the
authorized and accredited agency of our church for deepening and
broadening the foundations of the kingdom of God among the Negro
in the

people of this Southland. The Board has for its object the giving
to these people the benefits of a pure gospel, and of a practical

and through these means the culture, refinement and civilization that must result in the development of their
highest and noblest manhood.
For more than thirty-seven years
our church has prosecuted this work. First, by the General Assembly's Committee on Freedmen and afterwards by the Freedmen's
Board. Until now there are under the care of the Board 353 organized churches and missions, 88 schools, 421 workers (ministers and
teachers), 22,000 communicants, 11,000 pupils, and invested in
property and permanent funds something more than one million
dollars.
The cost of maintaining this work as now organized and
christian education;

conducted
In

its

is about $175,000 annually.
character this work is twofold

The Board operates under a
empowering it to do anything that any
tional.

terian church can do

be done
(363)

among

—with

— evangelistic

and educa-

charter, exceedingly liberal,
of the

Boards of the Presbyits work must

the one limitation, that

the freedmen, or rather

among

the

Negro people

—
'

304
in

PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF FREEDMEN

the States which held slaves at the time of the Civil

that,

among

those in whose interest

was organized and

War.

chartered,

the Board builds the church, school house, academy, college or
university;

commissions

educates,

and

supports

the

teacher or professor and provides aid for the student.

preacher,

This Board

recognizes and acts upon the principle and the fact that the greatest
it can do for the race is to help bring the individuals under

work

life and character, under the sway of His
both the son of man and the son of God
both human and divine bring them in the closest personal relation
For it was only as men are
to Jesus Christ as Savior and friend.

the impress of the Christ
personality,

who was

—

brought into *this relation that their lives are bettered, sweetened
and purified.
In every way, therefore, this Board of which I speak seeks to do
its best and greatest work in promoting efforts to bring the gospel
to
of Jesus Christ to the ears, hearts and homes of the people
bring about their uplift by directing and leading them to Him who
has been lifted up and who, being lifted up, will draw all men unto
Him. It believes that "the gospel of Jesus Christ is the power," yes,
"the power of God unto salvation," and insists on haveing preached
"Christ crucified Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God,
and with a triumphant faith in "the exceeding greatness of God's
power to usward, which he wrought in Christ, when He raised
Him from the dead," it seeks, and would find in this gospel, the
solution and the remedy for all the problems that puzzle and vex,
and for all the ills that beset and annoy mankind.

—

uplift the

— the

manhood

of the race

would

use, first of

—

all,

the

God-given power to do that thing the gospel of His
dear Son. By the preaching of a pure gospel for the sake of winning men to Jesus, bettering their lives and saving their souls, the
Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, through this
agency I here represent, would do her part in the work of the
Negro's betterment and uplift.
But 1 have said that this work is educational as well as evangelI rejoice that I am able to say that neither as a church nor a^
istic.
a board have we Presbyterians any theories for the solution of the

mighty

PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OK FREEDMEN

Negro problem in America, nor about Negro educatii
The gospel of Jesus Christ, the one solvent anl remedy for the
problems and ills of mankind a Christian education, that men may
know and understand the duties which grow out of the relations
so-called

—

which they sustain

to their fellows

whether they be superiors,

infe-

may

be qualified for the discharge of life's
duties and the performance of its work
an enlightened Christian
riors or equals, that they

conscience

— that

—

they

may

see in every

man

whom

a brother for

Holding as she has ever held that the Negro is a
mind to be trained, and a body to be
developed, she seeks the salvation of the soul in the man whether
he be white or black, red or yellow, by the one and only God-proChrist died.

man with

a soul to be saved, a

vided means of salvation, faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ

and the cultivation of brains

in the

man

whatever race or

color,

according to the well established and approved methods of brain
culture, and his bodily development by the best laws anl rules of
physical training. The education which our church, through this
agency, gives to the youth of our race
christian.
all

Our

of them,

eminently practical and

schools do more than give intellectual training.

and as

far as possible,

such industrial training

given

if necessary, by manual
But the work of our schools goes beyond the mere industrial
training and intellectual training. Our schools are distinctly religious.
The Bible is a text-book in them all, and moral or religious

as will enable the pupil to earn a livelihood,
labor.

training an important part of their work.

The

training of the heart

with them a matter of first and greatest importance. Our board
recognizes the truth and force of what another has well said "You
can not train men by theft- intellect alone. You must take hold of
manhood by the heart if you would train it into strength and dignity
is

And so this heart training is what is insisted
and usefulness."
upon and being done in our schools. And how well they are su:ceeding in this work may be seen in the manners and morals of
their pupils and in the earnest christian work and sustained chrisIt is true that "buildings do not give
tian lives of their graduates.
direction to the mind, do not shape and mould it, do not strengthen
nor cripple it, but teachers do." In the educational work of the

PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF FREEDMEN

3G6
board

strict

and careful attention

given not only to the character

of the instruction, but also to the character

The aim

and qualifications

of the

menpower which assures certainty in discernment, clearness in explanation, ability to mould and quicken and who are in character
and demeanor such as will influence in the right way and inspire to
right doing and living. This board has no fear that the Negro race
will get top-heavy by reason of being over-educated or too highly
educated. Recent studies by those highly competent for the work
show that the race is far behind in the relative ratio of its youth
instru:tors.

for the best teachers, possessing that

tal

;

—

who are pursuing higher education nor is there entertained by this
board any dread of the danger, declared to be imminent by some,
that a higher education or a thorough, liberal training of the Negro
will have the tendency to puff him up with pride of self and alienate
him in sympathy and affection from his more unfortunate brother.
It may be true of some black people as it is of some white folks
"who, professing to be wise, shut themselves up into little knots
or groups, disdain all outside their sacred circle, flatter themselves
with the idea that to their keeping is committed all wisdom, and
fancy they feel divinity within them breeding wings wherewith to
scorn the earth." This is not the result ©f higher training but rather
the lack of it, and the fault of shallow brains and selfish hearts. It
is the want of a thorough training that often fills one with a sense of
his own importance, gives him "the airs of a coxcomb and the manners of a fool."
that

That some

fools

come out

of college

not the fault of the college in most cases,

old father,

who

never went to school a day

true, but

My dear
used to say

in any.

in his life,

"You may send a fool to the best college ifl the world, and let him in
some way or other get through there, but the best you have in such
an educated fool." I think there is both philosophy and
dear old man's statement. As a rule a thorough educaIf
tion will no more harm the Negro than it will the white man.
necessary for the one, then why not for the other? If it will make

product

fact in the

the one
i

lien

why

intelligent, useful

and better workman and

citizen,

not the other?,

Mr. President, we have no sympathy with the theory of Negro

PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF FREEDMEN
education which

among some
Negro only along

said to be prevalent

sections, namely, to educate the

that he

367

may become,

folks in

some

certain lines,

were, an expert in inferior positions, subTo confine the training

ordinate places and in menial occupations.
of

any people

to such an end

The Negro,

humanity.

God and

a sin against

any other man,

a crime against

to be trained along

all

which, in the providence of God, he
may be called to follow and to fill. And he is entitled to the fullest
and the fairest opportunity to secure the training he thinks best for
himself, according to his natural bent and inclination. The Negro
needs everything that other people need, and he needs it now. We
need ministers, physicians, lawyers, philosophers, scientists, artists,
scholars, bankers, and merchants of the highest culture; men fitted
to conduct every department of science, art and industry on a broad
and solid basis, as well as skilled mechanics and trained laborers.
And if there is any reason, good or bad, why we shoud not receive
the preparation and training necessary to give us such men in the
institutions where the whites are thus trained, then let us have institutions of our own, manned by the best instructors to do the
needed work. While we are to look, sir, for the general enlightenment of the race in the thorough and sound training of its youth in
the simplest elements of common school education, we must not
fail to see to it that the better minds among us are instructed in
lines for the pursuits of life to

"ologies*'

and the "osophies," and so become the learned men and

the accomplished

We,

women

of the race.

need of the ripest scholarship that we may
gather the fruits of highest culture and profoundest attainments.
In this educational work the board I have the hcior to represent
too, sir, are in

g^ives special attention to the training of

the

women

or girls of the

they may be well fitted to exercise tr>e proper influence
and give the needed help in the three most important fields of moral
training, namely, in the making of homes, the care and training of
children, and in fixing the standard of social morality. Our girls of
to-day are to be our wives and mothers of the near future. Wc
race, that

want them
\

to be chrisian wives

and mothers, that

family, in the social circle, the sphere of

in the

woman's

home and

activities

and

FRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF FREEDMEN

368

grand superiorities, they may exert an
good women, that will promote social virtue,
general happiness, and make real and permanent our civilization.
influence, the place of her

influence, as

all

We can never be raised higher than our women. If their morals
remain low and their intelligence small, they will render nugatory
every beneficial influence brought to bear upon us, while, on the
other hand,

they are virtuous and intelligent, under God they will
making us what He has proposed we should be.

help greatly in

Ralph Waldo Emerson has said that "civilization is the power, of
good women," and some one else has said that the civilization of
the white people of this country is largely due to the intelligence
and virtue of their women. And the highest civilization of our
people here in American and elsewhere, I believe, is to come through
and by the same great agencies and influences. The demand to-day,
my brethren, is for trained and trustworthy power among our people, and this is to come through the thorough christian education
The brightest minds should be
of our youth, regardless of sex.
afforded exceptional opportunities for their preparation and training for life's work. Trained leadership is the general need and
demand for the race. Skilled generalship is necessary to guide and
The Negro preacher, professional man,
direct the rank and file.
laborer
must be, at least, equal to the average
mechanic, ordinary
of his class in the surrounding community. Inferior workmanship
The Negro leader has the same and even
is nowhere acceptable.
more difficulties than the white, and needs the same, if not better,
equipment. God is no respecter of persons in religious or moral
duty. Neither is He in intellectual acquirements, but demands of
each one the best intellectual service of which he is capable. The
Board of Missions for Freedmen, as the agency of our church, seeks
to give the Negro a man's preparation and training for a man's
work, and having so trained him, it gives him in its schools and
cojleges, in all branches of its work, a man's chance, a trained
man's chance to do a trained man's work. Sir, the work of this
board of this church, together with that of other agencies of other
churches to this same end, must have the much desired effect the
christian uplift of the Negro race- With the benefits of a pure gospel

—

PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF FREEDMEN

3G9

and a practical christian education, more widely extended anl genamong us in this country, such will be our development and uplift that none will have cause to blush in extending to
us the brother's hand or in sharing with us the brother's part. Our
sable skins, no longer a badge of discontent, will be the cover of
our approved and burning zeal for all that is of good report, and
our love of freedom, no longer repressed and baffled, will manifest
itself in our rejoicing at the prosperity of those with whom we
share it and in our gratitude to God, who gives it as a common
blessing to all His children. Friends, we can not stop where we
are, we must attain the end towards which the providence of God
erally diffused

directing us.

The long-looked

for signs of the

morning dawn

have at last appeared. The dark shadows of the past are slowly
vanishing before the brightening of the day of grace. With hearts
full of hope and joyous expectation, let us push forward.
And may
we not confidently expect that all patriotic and all good men of
every section will come to our aid and encouragement and the
people of God everywhere will say Amen and Amen.

CHAPTER LXIV

THE WORK OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
L.

Price

Atlanta, Ga.

Among

the many blessed agencies that built lighthouses upon
dark and stormy sea of ignorance and depravity was the Methodist Episcopal Church. With a heart as large as the world and a
faith unbounded and a courage undaunted, a wisdom that surpasses
Solomon's love, that embraces Europe, shakes the hand of Asia and
carries the Bible into Africa, proclaiming in word and deed, "I am
thy sister and am come to help lighten thy burden, sweeten thy toil
and lift thee up." Methodism, whose love would span the oceans
and fill the earth, that knows no man by the color of his skin nor
this

the texture of his hair,

lamp of

was here and among

the

first

swing the

intelligence over this dark sea of ignorance and begin the

work.

THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
agency has lived to see and enjoy the fruits of her
She found a boy in New Orleans. She helped educate
him, and made him a teacher in a Tennesseq college, but
He resigned and
this simply intensified his thirst for knowledge.
took a post course at Boston University. He became a successful
pastor of several of the leading churches in the North, and later
This

labor.

was made professor in the greatest theological institution in the
South. He was the re:ipient of the highest compliment ever paid
any Negro by white constituency. He received in 1896 185 and in
1900 211 votes for the Episcopacy of the M. E. Church. That boy
(370)

BOARD OF EDUCATION M.
is

now known and honored

quent, scholarly

Louisiana

good

all

over

CHURCH

371

country

this

the elo-

E. Bowmen, D. D.

soil.

Another

lad

was found down there

but when the church
had placed her hands upon his head and the board of education had
helped to put him through her refining mill, she made him a general
officer, the senior sect of the greatest institution of its kind on the
face of the earth, and for the position that he now fills with credit
to his race and church he received over 500 votes from white constituency, who knew quite well that they were voting for a Negro,
for no one who has had a glimpse of the senior secretary of the
Freedmen's Aid and Southern Educational Society would ever mistake him for a white man.
That little urchin found in a hamlet of Louisiana is now the distinguished diplomat and orator, Dr. M. C. B. Mason.
Another lad, the community in which he was reared tkought he
would surely sleep himself to death, but the board of education
found him and woke him up and, intellectually speaking, he has
never slept since. His ear hears the distant, threatening thunders
of the wicked, his eye sees the black clouds of injustice when they
begin to rise. Llis heart feels the gross indignities forced upon the
Afro- American people fraud, prejudice, Judge Lynch and class
legislation
each is and all are bare before his sleepless gaze. This
only
man not
hears, sees and feels, but acts. He has the courage of
better condition than the one just mentioned

—

;

—

his convictions.

His weekly paper, the Southwestern Christian Advocate, is a
and blessing to every home in which it goes
safe guide for all of our people. This is a brief sketch of a man too

—

credit to the race

broad to be locked in the vaults of sectarians.
His paper shows that the burning desire of his soul
denominational or race lines in his efforts to save
bring all mankind together in peace. This man is a
the work done by the board of education
I refer to
mising, God-fearing Dr. I. B. Scott.

—

sweeps beyond
humanity and
masterpiece of
the uncompro-

3r2

BOARD OF EDUCATION M.

CHURCH

SCHOOLS

STUDENTS
AIDED

Bennett College, 1885-1902

Alabama Academy,

Claflin University,

Clark University,

Cookman

1883- 1902

25]

1,764.00

313!

12,344.00

1882-1902

Theological Seminary, 1883-1902..)

George R. Smith College, 1894- 1902

36]

1,117.00

Normal

College, 1881-1902.

New

Orleans University, 1884-1902
Philander Smith College, 1884-1902
Princess

Anne Academy,

Number

of schools aided, 30;

amount loaned, $108,455.58;

20 years.

129I

4,013.00
6,919.00
7,493.00
5,266.00

190.00

123I

5,174.55

number

263

155.00
15,784.75

168.50

222I

9,869.26

117]

3,493.80

Smaller institutions

total

-886-1 888.

Wiley University, 1881-1902

448.30
450.00

68|

Walden University, 1881-1902
West Texas Conference Seminary,

1889-1902

Rust University, 1883-1902
Samuel Houston College, 1901-1902

22j

College, 1882-1902

Morristown

2,670.65

24,641.00

Morgan

2,742.00

232]

Academy, 1893-1902
Meridian Academy, 1894-1902
Gilbert

49]*

Gammon

LOANED

1881-1902

Insitute,

AMOUNT

7o|$ 3,751.77

Central

of students aided, 1,957;
a yearly average of $5,422.78 for

CHAPTER LXV

THE NATIONAL BAPTIST EDUCATIONAL BOARD—

WHAT
Rev.

W. Bishop Johnson,

STANDS FOR

D.D., Educational Society, Washington,

The Educational Board

D. C.

of the National Baptist Convention

the educational agency of nearly

two

million Baptist constituents.

It is the channel through which flows the healthy and unlifting
streams of educational growth and inspiration. It is the exponent
of educational thrift and energy distinctively among Negro Baptists.
In its aims and results, it is the logical sequence of thirtyseven years of philanthropic effort by benevolent white men North
to place the Negro in such positional eminence, where he might
reflect the highest credit upon their efforts in his behalf and pursue
a course of self-uplifting and self-development.
It stands for the ownership, control and conduct of the institutions it supports. It promulgates the doctrine of manly self-help:
the exhaustion of every effort of his own in the support of the
schools under its control, and the turning to other sources only as

a last resort.

It is a firm believer in

the possibilities of the race,

and aims to impart its spirit and purposes to all with whom it
comes in contact. It antagonizes no one who does not accept its
declaration of principles, but steadily and earnestly, with unwavering faith in God, pursues its work, with the hope of helping to
lift the black pall of ignorance and lead an oppressed and needy
race out into the open field of individual effort, where it may
become conscious of its own strength, and therefore willing to do
and dare in the bettermentof its condition.
It believes in the education of heart, head and hand, and seeks
to

make

its

(373)

own

people the primal factors in crystalizing these

NATIONAL BAPTIST BOARD OF EDUCATION

374
triple results.

ciples

gathers the institutions that subscribe to its prinand organizes each state or district to

into a federation,

maintain the school within its borders. Thus systematizing and
defining the work of each and directing as well as stimulating its

benevolent operations by building up a healthy interest in the local
educational uplift. It has seen the beneficial results of this policy
in a glorious fruitage of increased contributions by its own people
in the several states, that previously raised a few hundreds of
dollars per annum, notably in Virginia, where last year twenty-

thousand dollars was raised, and over ten thousand dollars was
one collection, for the support of its local institution, in
the month of May, 1902. Also in Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi,
Texas, Pennsylvania, Maryland and District of Columbia it records
the significant fact that the where the people have been given the
control of their own affairs, the contributions have increased
beyond the expectations of the most enthusiastic promoter of the
educational policy of this Board. Its purpose is to steadily develop
the benevolence of the churches and such benevolent persons as it
shall find, to the end that their contributions may increase and the
strength and efficiency of its work may become more lasting and
permanent.
It has been greatly encouraged in its work. Its retrospect reveals
a beginning with no schools under its care and direction, and no
system for promoting its work. It must be remembered that Negro
Baptists have always contributed to their educational work, but
they had no means of knowing how much they gave, nor could they
whisper one word in the management of any institution they helped

five

lifted at

to support.

The ownership and control of
and distant, and no one sought to
where their feet might tread the
land, and their souls, unfettered,

educational institutions was dim
lead

them out

of their wilderness,

sacred highways of the promised

might expand and enlarge under

manly struggle to
burst the bonds of ignorance in their own enslavement. But the
It now finds itself
results of less than a decade are before us.

the genial sunshine of individual effort and

enjoying the confidence and suport of Negro Baptists everywhere,

NATIONAL BAPTIST BOARD OF EDUCATION

375

and enrolls seventy-two institutions for higher education, with a
property valuation of $500,000, and reported contributions last year
(exclusive of the board and tuition of the students) of over $129,000

moneys contributed out

of the

meagre income

Negroes alone.

incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia, with
headquarters at Washington, D. C, and its corporate powers are
It is

and conduct Educational
Institutions throughout the United States and in foreign nnmtries, under the auspices of the National Baptist Convention of
the United States; such institutions to be owned, controlled ami
managed by the Negro Baptist; to hold, purchase and conve) real
and personal property as the purposes of said board may author
ize to take, hold and receive any property, real, personal or mixed,
by virtue of any grant, donation, or device or bequest contained in
any last will and 'testament of any person whomsoever, and in the
prosecution of the aforesaid objects, to take and hold real estate,
accumulate and hold in trust endowment and such other funds as
may come into its hands from time to time, and the promotion,
maintenance and support of its general work.
defined as follows:

;

establish, maintain

CHAPTER LXVI

THE PURPOSE,

AND RESULTS OF THE EDUCATIONAL WORK OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL
CHURCH FOR THE NEGRO

Rev.

C. B.

SPIRIT

Mason, D.D., Senior Corresponding Secretary

of the

Freedmen's Aid and Southern Educational Society

The Methodist Episcopal Church, through

the Freedmen's Aid

and

Southern Educational Society has been, during all these
years, an important factor in this work of Christian education in
the South. Faithful to her history as one of the most conspicuous
leaders in every religious and moral reform, she was the first in the
field, and began the prosecution of this work with great earnestness and enthusiasm.
Having taken a prominent part in the
emancipation of the Negro, she came with others to lift him out
of a condition worse than physical slavery, and to emancipate him
from the twin evils of ignorance and superstition.
Beginning with a borrowed capital of $800, and with a single
teacher, who I am glad to see greets us with his presence here
to-day. (Here the great audience arose and gave the Rev. Mr.
Standing, to

whom

Dr-

Mason

referred, the

Chautauqua

salute),

time 47 institutions, 465 teachers, 11,000
students, with real estate valued at $2,155,000, an educational plant
gathered in the short space of »twenty-five years, wnich is the
number of its institutions and students, in the value of its lands and
buildings, as well as in the strength and breadth of its curriculum,

we have

at the present

far exceeds that of the whole church during the first seventy-five
years of her history. And this in some measure is but an indication
of the great interest which the Methodist Episcopal Church has
taken in the education of the Negro.
(376)

377

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND THE NEGRO

In this world of enlightenment and preparation for higher usefulness our success has exceeded our most sanguine expectations.

Over ten thousand young colored men and women have been sent
out as Christian teachers to assist in the work of unlifting and
saving their fellowmen, and hundreds and scores of ministers and
industrial workers have also gone forth to assist in the great work
before us.
It

a significant fact

that

nearly one-half of

all

physicians, pharmacists and dentists in the nation, and
three-fifths

all

the

entire

Negro
more than

the

South are graduates either of

Mjfeharry Medical School at Nashville, Tenn., or the Flint Medical

School at

New

Orleans, La., both of which are under the care and

supervision of the Freedmen's Aid and Southern Educational Sois one of our best
normal and industrial work, and has as
its head a distinguished and leading educator.
Gammon Theological Seminary, also situated here in Atlanta, from whose halls
more than two hundred ministers have gone forth, trained and prepared for their great work of uplifting Africa in America, as well
as Africa beyond the seas, is the most thoroughly equipped and

ciety.

Clark University, situated here in Atlanta,

institutions for collegiate,

best

endowed

institution for the education of

Negro ministers

the world.

There are certain fundamental

which from the beginand salvation of the people
In the first place our aim was to give to all
those who came under our care and supervision, the Gospel of Jesus
Christ as the only permanent foundation on which to build, and
without which no education is complete. The motto in all these
institutions has been that which Arnold so succinctly gave to
Rugby, "the devoted search for truth and the zealous attainment
of goodness." Consequently our schools and colleges are veritable
citadels of religious fervor as well as intellectual development, and
hundreds and scores of young men and women have been annually
converted. And is not this, Mr. Chairman, our greatest hope for
the permanent uplift of the people and the solution of the problem?
Is it not surprising that the theory makers haev not turned to the

ning

we adopted

principles,

as absolutely necessary for the uplift
.

METHOD 1ST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND THE NEGRO

378

one great solvent of

all

problems, namely

the Gospel of Jesus

problem? Let it be remembered
that as great as have been the achievements of the Ango-Saxon
Christ, for the solution of this

lines, he is what he is to-day, not so much because
book as because of the Bible. Two thousand years
ago an itinerant minister heard the call, "Come over in Macedonia
and help us," and when he preached his first sermon in Europe,
he found the ancestors of the great Anglo-Saxon race living in the
wilderness, eating the roots of trees for their food, wearing the
skins of beasts for their clothing, and drinking from the skulls of
their ancestors.
They accepted the Gospel, and now lead the

along intellectual

of the spelling

world's civilization, not, as

said before, so

much because

of the

book as because of the Bible.
A gentleman said to me the other day, "What, sir, is your theory
for the solution of the race problem in the South?"
I answered
him without hesitation,^"Sir, I have no theory." Startled by my
immediate and somewhat abrupt answer, his face suddenly turned
red, and so did mine.
Continuing, I said, "Is it not true that our
theories have done us more harm than good? Is it not a fact that
every time a man advances some common-sense idea on the race
problem, then immediately someone throws athwart his vision, a
theory? And the theory makers, what a work they have done;
what innumerable theories they have brought forth concerning the
spelling

Negro, his ability to learn; indeed his utter lack of mental ability;
the lack of a moral basis upon which to build; the missing link;
colonization,

gives

exportation,

etc.,

aditional hope for the

etc.,

Negro

Libitum.
is

One

thing that

that he has been able to

withstand these theories. Their weight would have utterly crushed
and annihilated any ordinary race, but the Negro has grown and
thrived

spite of them.

all

candor,

may

be said of the

theory makers that they have been always walling to change their
theories whenever they have found they had to."
No. said I; "I

have no theory, but I have a common-sense notion." What is it?"
he said. "The Gospel," said I. "Give to every man the Gospel in
the North and in the South, at home and abroad, in China, Japan,
India, Korea, Africa, in Georgia and Minnesota, to white anf

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND TH E NEGRO

379

men everywhere the Gospel, and you will solve all the
world's problems; you will adjust the strained relations between
labor and capital, wipe out the iniquitous saloon, solve the race
black, give

problem of
black

man

this country,

and the white man of the South and the

of the South, without the loss of

to either, will learn

how

manhood

or dignity

to be helpers rather than rivals, to be

friends rather than- enemies.

In thus

making the Gospel the

basis

been but following the comKingdom of God cind His
righteousness and all other things will be added unto you."
In the next place, our aim from the very beginning was to secure
an indigenous constituency, uplifted, saved and inspired to go out,
uplift and save their fellows.
This in the very nature of the case
must always be an important factor in the uplift of any people. I
have profound respect, nay, more I have deep and abiding affection for the men and women of the North in all the churches who
came South to teach, and as long as I have any official relation to
this great educational work, our policy in the future, as in the
past, shall be maintained, and these men and women invited to a
for all future growth, our church has

mand

of the Master: "Seek ye

first

the

;

place

among

us.

A
"jrj

few months ago I stood on the very spot in Augusta, Maine,
ere John A. Philbrooks was born, John Philbrooks who gave

me my

took the hat
from off my he^d, and I felt that I might take the shoes from off
my feet, for the ground upon which I stood was holy ground. And
the little station of
if somewhere between New Orleans and
first

lessons in a-b abs.

stood there,

Shriever on the Southern Pacific Railroad, I could find the spot
where John A. Philbrooks, constantly helping others, weary and
tired, fell asleep and was buried by strange hands if I could find the
spot, I would come every year with flowers of my heart's deepest
gratitude and plant them there as an affectionate memorial of what
But the glory of the work
this good man did for me and mine.
done by the Northern teacher was not in any attempt to reach and
His work was necessarily confined to a few,
uplift the masses.
who uplifted and saved, with higher ideals and purer life, go out to
save and uplift their fellowmen. Consequently, the obligation and
;

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND THE NEGRO

380

privilege of reaching

and saving the masses
must be so, and

the very nature of the case

upon himself, and in
work we have

for this

been especially preparing him.
Much would be gained if for the next half centuryq the muchabused talk of leadership would entirely c.nsc. This theory of
leadership has been misunderstood, misinterpreted, misapplied and
in our day has even become dangerous.
Better 'uimit now as 'ever
that no leader can successfully lead a mass of igi orance.
France
tried it and failed, an dher overthrow at Sedan is a monumtn to
her folly.
Moses tried it and failed. His 600,000 in a single
generation dwindled down to only two, and the saddest thing
about it all was that the people not only failed to re.
Canaan
themselves, but through ignorance and weakness and lack
to follow, kept their leader out of the heavenly land.

ability

And God

took

him up one day, where he could yiew the rich fields of Canaan,
took him up out of the miasma of fault-finding, censure and ignorance into a purer and sweeter atmosphere, laid him down to rest
upon His own arms, and buried him with His own hands. The
great leader laid deep and firm into the very life of Israel great
principles and truths, upon which the nation was builded permanently and magnificently, but the beginners of this new life were
those who had been trained in the university in the wilderness.
The great mass of the "mixed multitude" died in^he wilderness
because they lacked preparation and ability to follow. What we
want to do is not so much to emphasize leadership as individual
preparation, for out of the individually prepared, leaders will come
and the masses will be at least able to follow, and will be individually prepared for usefulness and good citizenship.
Two things the educated Negro must do, or this work fails at
its most critical point.
First, he must show by his ability and
willingness to give his unfortunate brethren the same blessings
that have come to him. This is his task and from it he must not
shrink.

In this line,

but with equal candor,
to be done.
verily

Many have

believe,

glad to say,

much has

must be admitted

already been done,

that

much remains

already seen the heavenly vision, and

Mr. Chairman, that when

this

remnant

fully

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND THE NEGRO

awakened
ly

to its duties

and

responsibilities, earnestly

consecrated to the work

381

and thorough-

of uplifting their fellows,

shall be

ready to greet these coming days with the grandest movement
for the salvation of the Negro our Southland has ever witnessed.
In the second place, the educated Negro must be larger than

him truth must be

his race, larger in the sense that to

first,

race

Crime must be crime without regard to the color of
who commits it, be he white or black. Again, he
must not shrink from the position in which as a Negro he is placed.
He must rather thank God that he is a Negro, with a Negro's
privileges and opportunities for the uplifting of his race, and show
men that patience, endurance and character can win. If it be the
task of the white man of the South to be forbearing, generous and
just, ours is to win him by a life of uprightness, integrity and usefulness, and thus show him that the education that educates no
more spoils a black man than it does a white man. Here in the
South where the interest of one race seems sometimes to conflict
with that of the other, the educated Negro must get the conviction
afterwards.

the man's face

deeper than ever that the interest of the black

man

really the

man, and that any man who attempts to lift
up the one at the expense of the other is an enemy to both. Let our
coming watch-word be co-operation and mutual helpfulness. Let
this be done and a new day will dawn upon us, a new day of prosperity and good will; a new day of peace and mutual helpfulness; a
new day of moral, vigorous activity a new day whose morn shall
ever be bright and whose sun shall never set, and then instead of
hate, arrogance, racial prejudice, we shall have love, forbearance,
mutual kindness.
interest of the white

;

"A wren shall build its nest in the cannon's mouth,
And the voice from its rusty throat
Will be a robin's song,

a bluebird's note."

CHAPTER LXVII
ADDRESS
Prof. Brooker T.

Washington, A.
Institute,

all

M., LL.D., Principal Tuskegee

Tuskegee, Ala.

questions bearing upon the education, morality and

reli-

should constantly be borne in mind by the
people in all parts of the United States that the Negro was brought
here by physical force, and did not voluntary seek to obtrude his
presence upon the people of this country. This fact alone, it seems
gion of the Negro,

to me, gives the Negro a claim upon the sympathy, the good will
and the helpful kindness of the people of the North and South that
can scarcely be true of any other race. Further than this, it should
be borne in mind that whether in slavery or in freedom, whether
in ignorance or intelligence, whether in war or in peace, we have
always, as a whole, striven to prove ourselves of service and not
to become a burden upon any community.
To such an extent is
this true that one seldom sees in any part of the country a black
hand extended upon a street corner asking for charity.
While we have been of service to this country, no one should seek
to evade the fact that as a race we have obtained much, both in
slavery and in freedom, that has made us better fitted for the
duties of useful citizenship. To such a degree is this true that in
material, mental and religious worth I do not believe that one can
find in the civilized or uncivilized world an equal number of persons of African descent who can compare with those inhabiting
this country.

After

all,

the real test of the value of a nation

lies

up in a state of freedom.
in
educational
and religious convention
far-reaching
and
great
This
its

ability to help itself, to

lift

itself

one of the attempts of the race to lift itself, to prove that it is
not only yvorthy of receiving help, but is able to help itself. For
is

C382)

ADDRESS
•

— BOOKER

WASHINGTON

this far-reaching, well-organized effort the race
to

Garland Penn and Dr.

Bowen

383
specially indebted

for the conception

and

magnificant execution of the plan.

This seems to

me an

appropriate time to acknowledge the debt

and the country owe to our schools,
and theological seminaries, and to other organizations
whose quiet but persistent work has made such an assembly as
this possible.
For what other race in history after barely thirtyfive years of freedom could bring from field, from kitchen, from
shop, from school, from college, from Sunday-school, from church,
such an assembly as is here gathered? I congratulate the promoters of this organization, I congratulate the raze and our country, North and South, that has afforded us this opportunity to
exhibit such tangible evidences of our progress.
But marked and
rapid as has been our progress, we must not tarry in our growth.
of gratitude that the race

colleges

Let us be a little more specific in finding out how the Negro
responds to outside influences that stimulate self-help, and judge
further as to his ability to make himself a creditable citizen. Some

asked one of our instructors at Tuskegee to take two
Alabama, one that had not been reached or helped by
outside influence to any extent, and a second where, through the
generosity of friends, we had been able to send a competent tea:her

weeks ago

townships

as a leader,

instructed

who had remained

him

house-to-house
tion of the

make

that

community

a first-hand, original

visit of the material,

two townships.

In the

ten years.

investigation by a

educational and moral condi-

first,

expected, he found

the masses of the people without land, living in rented one-room

mortgaged and deeply in debt. He found
and ignorance and immorality on every hand.
In these
In the second township he found 128 Negro homes.
the
greatest
curses
of
One
of
our
persons.
race is
were
homes
667
it
township
was
found
that
during
this
In
cabin.
the
the one-room
been
cabin
had
erected,
room
one
and
only
that
past ten years
during the same time sixty-five houses had been ere:ted containing
more than one room. During these years the one-room cabin had
been to such an extent discarded that only twenty-eight of the
cabins, with their crops

a poor school,

ADDRESS

384

— BOOKER

WASHINGTON

houses in the township were of the one-room kind, and one hundred containing- more than one room. Forty-nine of these houses
had been purchased or are being- purchased, leaving only sixtynine families who are renters.
In this township the Negro is
going forward to such an extent that sixteen of these houses are
being rented from Negro landholders, and eight are being purchased from Negro owners of land. Only two houses in the whole
township are mortgaged. It is further shown by this investigation
that there

The prop-

an increasing disposition to get property.

was
was 24.

erty purchased between 1870 and 1891

1896 was 21 between 1896 and 1901
Negro was of no value as a tax-payer
;

between 1891 and
A few years ago the
township at present

15;

in this

;

paying taxes on $44,000 worth of property.
Now, I have always contended that the material or industrial
betterment of the people would improve their moral and religious

What

community?
two married couples are separated, and
there are only three families in which illegitimate children are to
be found, and in ten years only two had been sent from this towncondition.

are the facts in this regard in this

In this township only

ship to the

jail

or penitentiary.

In order that our future development
possible the past, there are one or

want

may

two phases

equal and exceed
of our life

which

to call attention to briefly, kindly, frankly.

First, I sometimes have the fear that we are in danger of producing too many leaders, that far too large a proportion of our
young people have the idea that in some indefinite way it is their
mission in life to become leaders instead of plain, every-day hard
workers. We are not so much in need of leaders as of workers.
Too large a proportion of our young men, I fear, start out to lead
somebody, to give advice to somebody, before they themselves
have had the example that leadership implies. For example, I once

knew

young man

of education

who

spent a large part of his

life

as a ecturer on the subject of home-getting, and yet this man never
owned a foot of land nor a log cabin that he could call his own.

never owned a cow nor a mule; not even a pig. When he died,
a collection had to be taken up to provide for his burial, and he left

ADDRESS

— BOOKER

WASHINGTON

385

not one dollar invested for the support of his unfortunate

wife

and children.

When
I

tells

Such leadership is both absurd and ridiculouswant to find out when a man is fitted for leadership,

The

to the cashier of his local bank.

usually settles the question for me.

story that the cashier

Many

of us are ambitious

to give advice, but we ought to remember that our words will be
valuable just in proportion as back of them is tangible, visible
achievement.
Before we spend any considerable portion of our

time in traveling about, giving advice to others, let us remember
that we owe it as a duty to our race, our families and ourselves to
secure and pay for a neat, comfortable home or a farm, or to start
a business and secure a bank ac:ount.
The words of an educated

man who owns and

cultivates the best

farm

in his

community, who

has the best looking horses, cows, sheep and pigs, and who has
provided a neat, comfortable home for his family, have a potency
that nothing can resist.
Such a man leads through his material
possessions in a way that we little realize. I have very much fear
that too large a proportion of our

young people have the

their first duty after leaving school
for the benefit of the race,

stand that what they

idea that

to begin talking or writing

when they should be made

to under-

need to do is to begin working. Talk
after work is valuable talk without work is valueless. There are
few sadder sights than to see a man clothed in the garb of a leader
flying hither and thither throughout the country, proclaiming his
ability to reform or redeem the world, when his own family is
homeless and without the necessities and comforts of life. All this
I have said, I repeat for the purpose of emphasizing the fact that
which has been true of all races since the foundation of the world,
that we will most help our race by being sure that first of all we
have done that which we advise others to do.
In saying what I have, I do not for a moment overlook the fact
that this conference is called for the purpose of emphasizing the
moral and religious development of our race, but I would advise
you that, in a world constituted as ours is, back of all moral and
religious development there must be a large degree of material,
economic foundation. I cannot have much faith in the morality or
first
;

ADDRESS

S86

— BOOKER

WASHINGTON

man whose note for ten dollars is not good at his
One of the most powerful and most useful Xegro
that I know is one that owns the best farm in his neigh-

Christianity of a

home bank.
ministers

borhood, and works at cultivating it in a large measure during the
week with his own hands, preaching the Gospel on the Sabbath.
This man is helping to lay the foundation for the race in a way that
will enable his children to enjoy the best things.
The highest
moral and religious practice does not and cannot go hand in hand
with idleness, shiftlessness and poverty.

want

an influence go out from this great meeting that
young Xegro from off the street corners and from out the barroom North and South. Further. I want
to see an influence go out from here that shall result in lifting up
and purifying the characters such as any race can boast of. but
1
would not be performing my duty to you and to my race did I
not say franky that one of the most serious and embarrassing
duties that is yet to be performed, is to sift the ministry with the
finest seive. so that the good moy be honored and recognized, and
the warthless taken out of the pulpits, and have the ministerial profession lifted up and ennobled, then we can afford to go on and
not have the whole race disgraced by those whom God never called
I

shall,

to see

possible, take every

to the pulpit.

race,

arc

somewhat

inclined to be

emotional, to be

guided by our feelings, to live and soar in the clouds, without at
all times having a material and industrial basis on which to rest.
Our emotionalism should be constantly seasoned with salt, and
plenty of it. The true test of the ability of a race, whether in the
is its ability to decide upon a plan of
it
through winter and summer,
pursue
constantly,
and
then
action
and
encouragement.
It is the continuous,
through discouragement
by
intellect
rather than feeling, that we
progressive effort, guided

business or religious world,

want

to cultivate.

If a

to see

young man goes from college to start life as a farmer, I want
him cultivate that element of his nature which will make

him start in a furrow behind a plow, if necessary barefooted and
bareheaded, without coat, without money, almost without food, but

;

ADDRESS

—BOOKER

stand there until he has

won

WASHINGTON

387

competency out of mother earth
and religious growth
and succeeding generations. I have
a

that will lay the foundation for -the material
his Immediate family
emphasized the money side of

money has within

itself,

life,

not for the sake of the value

but because the possession of

money

most cases represents thrift, foresight, self-sacrifice and morality.

One

other question that relates to our environment as a race, and
vitally concerns our moral and religious growth.
One thing to be

when two

feared

same

distinct races inhabit the

teritory

that

these

may

itself

being weakened, narrowed and degraded; without having
it all these things that are tenderest, highest and

temptation to dou)>t and mistrust each
other, and this unconsciously bring about a blunting and hardening of the sensibilities. No race can hate another without that race
yield to

the

shut out from
sweetest in

life.

Let us cultivate friendship and love for

and individuals, and harbor hatred

for none.

all

races

others would be

us try to be great; if others would hate us, let us try to
them if others would be cruel toward us, let us be merciful
if others would break the law, let us respect it; if others would seek
to put us down, let us seek to raise them. In the long run, it is the
race that helps to push up that succeeds.
little, let

love

;

glad that this great convention

held right here in the

heart of our beloved Southland, in the midst of our people,

whom

the greater portion of us plan to live for

want

all

time

;

and

among
in this

one or two plain, frank words. There
are bad white men at the South; there are bad white men at the
North. There are good white men at the North there are good
white men at the South. If we are to continue to make progress as
a race at the South, the time has come when in a larger degree
we must seek out those of our white neighbors who are our friends,
and take counsel with them. In nearly every Southern community
there are white men who are just as much interested in our progress as any people in any part of the country, and we should let
these people know that we trust them and that we desire their
friendship and co-operation.
connection

to say just

;

388

—BOOKER

ADDRESS;

WASHINGTON

Finally, let us never grow discouraged.
have made immense
progress as a race. All races of whatever color have their difficulties and discouragements and we can be no exception.
Let us

keep our faith and patience, and continue to go forward. Let us
remember that our surest protection will be in our usefulness to
the community in which we live.
The great human law which
always rewards and encourages merit and virtue is everlasting, is
eternal.

Part VIII
Public School

Teachers' Conference

CHAPTER LXVIII

THE RELATION OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER TO
THE MORAL AND SOCIAL ELEVATION OF
THE RACE
Prof.

Scarborough, Ph. D. LL. D., Wilberforse University,
Ohio.

The two

great educational factors in the moral and social eleva-

tion of a race are the

home and

the school.

Upon

received in these rests the future of any people.
earliest impressions are

nizes the importance of

the great

work

made.

Every educator,

the training

In the

home

the

therefore, recog-

making that centre all that it should be in
which we conceive to-day

of character formation,

as the prime end of education.

It is too true that few parents
understand the part they have to perform in this work. Countless
homes throughout the land are not what they should be. Too

many

parents are either ignorant or indifferent as to their share in

the education of the children.
To assure the future of any people, there

must be a growth in
both thinking and doing. The Negro race must learn to think for
it must learn to do for itself
itself, not to let others think for it
along all lines, not to be dependent upon others for such work.
This task of leading on to such growth is the teachers'. On them
;

rests the responsibility of inculcating in their pupils those lessons
(389)

—
PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER AND THE RACE

390
in all

the

of people

little
;

all

—

things that go to

make an

those correct habits of

life

honest, industrious class
that

make

for morality

and decency lessons in neatness, punctuality, accuracy, truthfullessons that are to so great an extent
ness, thoroughness, system
neglected in the homes of undeveloped peoples. It devolves puon
ll e teacher most largely to accentuate correct views of life, views
that every child must be led to hold if there is to be progress.
Proper insight, right perspective of relations in life, that intellectual and moral training which will develop common sense, sharpen
intellect, purify soul and strengthen character are needed above all
by ba:kward races, and thus become our teachers' life work.
The youth of the race are to be taught to be industrious, to
learn that work hurts no one, that learning even is labor, and that
all labor is honorable, that a trained intellect and a trained hand go
together to

—

make

mind must be

the perfect man.

They

rightly occupied, that the

brain free to run

riot,

are to be taught that the

hand alone at work leaves
becomes licensed to
has not been inspired by

a freedom that usually

run upon debasing things when a life
thoughts above 'die sthat they may not grovel contentedly in the slough and mire. Such
contentment has not one uplifting phase in it, but is the sure basis
for further decline.

This being true, what must be this teacher
relationship to the future of the race?

What

who

sustains such a

required of the one
t

has such unlimited power, who can dwarf or spur the minds
in his care, who can make the youth "look up and not down," "look
out and not in," and who "lends a hand" to every plan that uplifts

who

or lets those in his care sink to low planes?

In the first pla:e, the moral sense of the race cannot be elevated,
nor can the social plane be lifted higher except its teachers have
a high moral sense and the proper comprehension of what differen-

Example has ever been far more forceful than
So the teachers of the race must be champions of honor
Let us make no compromise with the ignorant sentiment that

tiates social planes.
pifecept.

bling,

drinking, frequenting questionable places of

vices great

and small should have no place

amusement

in the lives of those

who

PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER AND THE RACE
are to lead the race as mentors.
The teacher, like the preazher,
stands too near the young to be other than thoroughly honorable.
Weak, unprincipled, selfish persons with no race pride, no race
love, no race hope, should not be found at the teacher's desk.
Those who teach must be men and women in whom frivolity finds
no lodgment, who are not only above reproach, but who possess

such force of characteivthat they can implant in our youth strength
of discrimination between right and wrong and resolution to follow
light and do the right. They must have, too, that personal magnet-

ism that clothes the born tea:her with power to carry followers
wherever he leads.
This responsible position of leader calls for preparation along
mental lines as well as for moral equipment. An ignorant leader
in any cause is a dangerous one.
The time is past for entrusting
the great work of education to the hands of those poorly prepared.
A money reward need not be expected in the teacher's chair. The*
most responsible position the forming of character for future upbuilding is the most poorly paid.
Nor should teaching be used
simply as a stepping-stone to a uosition more desirable. Unless one

—

has consecrated his life to his calling, unless he has heard with
unmistakable clearness the voice that summons to a vocation, one
has no right to meddle with the immortal work of teaching as
sacred as any on earth. But with the call resounding in the ear,
preparation for, as well as interest in it as a life work, is absolutelyBreadth of knowledge and varied culture should belongessential.
Ethics and philosophy must be studied, for only
to the teacher.
through a knowledge of these can one well cope with the task.
Breadth and depth in these means elevation as well. The teacher
must be familiar with science and higher learning generally. This

—

must not be

a smattering.

Such leads

to false ideas; but, to drink-

deep of the ''Pierian Spring" will bring one face to face with truth
and to its clear understanding. The blind cannot lead the blind.
But above all, the teacher must be religious, God-fearing, Christian

men and women.

The

religion a part of their lives.
a religious

Bible must be their standard

and

Not that frothy kind that has only

vocabulary without a religious experience," but the kind

PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER AND THE RACE

392

that can stand the fiercest light.

Free thought, ''liberal" religious
be one's own personal right, but
for immature minds to be encouraged or led to such exercise is
dangerous in the extreme.
The youths who sit to-day at the feet of their teachers are going
to do more than anything else to transform the future homes of
views, as they are termed,

may

the race. They are the hope of the Negro. With cultured homes
and school-rooms presided over by teachers thoroughly fitted for
their work, the trend must be upward.
With the growth in love
of high ideals, with contempt for idleness and pride in work, with
a deep-rooted horror of crime, a people always moves to higher
hwels. Its moral elevation is secured, and with it will come that
social elevation which must have' its genesis within its own ranks.

The Relation

of the Public School

Teacher to the Moral and Social

Elevation of the Race
J.

R. Crockett, President of Clinton Institute,

Since our emancipation
in the discussion of our'

much

Rock

Hill,

time and energy have been spent

capacity and rights, at the expense of our

duties and responsibilities.

In farming, the early gardeners and truckers of this country
reckoned with the seeds and climate, and vegetation remained the
same wild, unpalatable food that had baffled the savage's appetite
But later,
for generations, yielding him little or no nutrition.
truckers dropped the old theory of "seeds" and "climate," and' took
under consideration the plant and soil. They attained success.
Livingstone cultivated the tomato by transplanting volunteers from
the parent branch of a tasteless simlin, the size of a grape, found in
Florida, to the luscious fruit, the size of blacksmiths' fists found
throughout this country. Cotton, king of the South, found a fruitless, useless weed on the sea islands of South Carolina and Georgia,
was primarily developed from the plant and not the seed, for there

were no seeds

till

the plant

was properly

cultivated.

The

little

PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER AND THE RACE

393

sour grape found everywhere has been developed into the luscious
Concord grape by planting the stem of the original.

As in the agricultural so in the moral world: if the Negro would
be a real factor there is nothing to be gained in discussing his
"capacity" or "blood," what great "white man" was his great grandfather?"

The

etc., etc.

individual

must be developed, evolutionized

and worked up from his own fireside and blood, by his own teachers,
"under his own vine and fig tree/'
Nature has no "color." It is reputed condition. There is something in the Negro. Develop him, unalloyed, from his parent stock,
educate him, and I'll show you a business tension akin to "man
hood," a tolerance akin to "philanthropy," a charity akin to "neighbor," a providence akin to "parent," a vigilance akin to "citizenship"

and a bravery akin to "patriotism."

The

Relation of the Public School Teacher to the Moral and Soci

-j

Elevation of the Race

President

H. Lanier, A. M., A. and M. College.

In the discussion of "The Relation of the Public School Teacher

Moral and Social Elevation of the Race" we incline to the
theme, "The Unreached Negro;" and, by far, the greater portion
of the masses unreached by sectarian schools and agencies lie
within the reach of the public school system in one or another of its
to the

phases.

The home

the natural realm for the moral and social awaken-

ing of the individual, and, indeed, the chief mission

end of home

life is

to inspire moral

and

— the paramount

social culture that lead to

perfect christian character; and unless proper ideals on these lines

obtain in the

home beforehand

the child of that household can. at

best, but acquire abortive notions of social or moral responsibility.
In any movement to get possession of the Negro hitherto un-

reached, regard

parents

who

must be had

for the fact that

the offspring of

themselves, as a rule, are the product of neglect

— un-

PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER AND THE RACE

394

cultured socially, and more or less devoid of moral training. The
school, then, indeed must supplement the home, and an awful responsibiity accompanies the delightful opportunity for the teacher

by planting in the heart of the neglected child the
and social a:umen. It is hardly possible, percultivate one morally whose social development is entirely

to render service

see

of moral ideas

haps, to

neglected.

And

possible to properly enlighten one socially

without exercising him

Both
in circles with the opposite sex?
must grow up together in the same home amid enlightened environments or compensate for lack of opportunity thus to
grow up by associations at school with the teacher as an ideal.
The public school teacher must recognize that his practical worksexes, then,

to elevate the ideal of the people.

Men

can not be maintained on

a plane above the standard of their ideal, nor can they be easily

held by force or otherwise below that standard. The task to be
accomplished in the effort to elevate the masses is to present to
their affections a lofty ideal. To this end I would multiply boarding
schools. Yea, if possible, every public school for Negroes for the
present would be transformed' into an institution with facilities for
maintaining the students as boarders; and in every one of these the
home life feature would be made prominent and it would be emphasized. There are so many who have no proper conception of home.

They think of home as the "place where I stay at." These people
never "stay at" the same place very long. They move from plantation to plantation in the neighborhood every year, gathering naught
but corrupted ideas of life and making a reputation for the race that
A proper ideal of home alone will
is altogether bad and injurious.
make for moral and social culture.
must learn the art of teaching men to do their duty; that
what they ought to do they must do without inquiring as to
whether it is difficult or easy of attainment, pleasant or painful to
the senses. Sensuality is the disposition to embrace a thing or to

obviate these difficulties and

pursue a course of action for the sake, simply, of gratifying the
And this disposition and tendency highly cultivated is the ubiquitous bane of the unreached

feelings, of satisfying the senses.

Negro.

PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER AND THE RACE

The

soul

the measure of the man, and

The

be trained, developed, cultivated.
sensibility, will,

it is

soul's

the

395

man

that

powers of

must

intellect,

schools —
those of public character no
— receive the proper attention of cultivation. Nor

must

in all

less

than

is it

incumbent upon this order of institutions to ignore even religWhile prudence dictates, nay while wise discretion

others

ious instruction-

and necessity counsel that the public schools shall not encroach
upon the province of sectarian institutions whose duty it is to teach
dogmatic religion, yet they should, nevertheless, teach religion as
the basis and support of moral and social
of manhood culture.

—

The

public schools

must not commit the crime against the State

neglecting to develop conscience in the citizen.

CHAPTER

LXIX.

THE RELATION OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER
TO CIVIC RIGHTEOUSNESS
President

Nathan

Young, A. M., Florida State Normal and

Industrial School, Tallahassee, Fla.

The

public school teacher

a public servant.

His position im-

poses on him the imperative duty of promoting the cause of civic
righteousness

—the application of the Golden Rule

ters in his schoolroom.

in all public

mat-

The State or municipality pays his salary
to make (or help make) his students good

on the ground that he is
citizens.
This fact is evident to all who understand the genius of
our public school system indeed, of all public school systems. If
he fails to do this, he is not a good public servant, and he is not

—

giving the state "value received."

The duty
it?

his

Now, how

schoolmaster discharge
promoter of right-doing among
fellow^itizens; especially those of to-morrow.
How shall he
is plain.

shall the

All agree that he should be a

PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER AND THE RACE

396

accomplish this

difficult

task?

And under

present conditions

is a

difficult task.

First, by being himself the embodiment of civic righteousness
and thus lead the way he would have his fellow-citizens go. He
should be a law-abiding, tax-paying arid a patriotic citizen, and a

He should not be a man without a country.
Himself thoroughly patriotic and consistenty upright in meeting
all of his obligations as a citizen, he is now ready to inspire these

voter withal.

qualities into his students.

Believing

country's institutions, he can teach

in his

history

its

enthusiastically not only to his history classes but to his entire
school.

men who

can bring before them the lives of the great

were the makers

of that history.

can do

without

too,

this,

social prejudice or partisan bias.
I
would not turn the schools into pohtics (and yet a worse fate
might overtake them), nor the teachers into politicians; but I
would turn them into schools of good citizenship, and the teachers
into good citizens. I am tempted to repeat the idea
to stress it

—

that the public school teacher should be public-spirited.

should

pay his tax, he should vote (always on the side of righteousness
and the way he prays), and should keep himself informed on public
His profession
questions, as well as on pedagogical questions.
virility
all
the
of
staunch
a
manhood.
should be backed with
I close this statement with a word of emphasis and of repetition
for what I regard the central object of endeavor for the public

Relation of the Public School Teacher to Civic Righteousness

Proe.

Ernest

Chew,

M.,

Principal

Public

Schoo

Atlanta, Ga.

The

public school teacher

civic righteousness.

of conquest:

the prophet, priest and warrior of

Civic, like personal righteousness,

the

meed

In the State, as in the individual, are opposing forces

which tend to elevate or debase,
weaken: purify or corrupt.

refine or brutalize, strengthen or

PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER AND THE RACE

The

397

teacher willingly sacrifices" himself and his ambitions to this

Though no

few take more interest in the welfare
Anxiously he w atches the effect of legislation
upon the elevation of humanity. Through prayer and meditation
he has evolved an ideal of a State, where the environment will
conduce to symmetrical development of character in all, irrespective of adventitious circumstances where the possibilities of each
nature may be realized; where wayward youth will be recalled to
paths of rectitude and usefulness where wealthy offender and
petty criminal shall work in chains together; where honest toil
brings just recompense; where politics is an incidental experience
Such is the schoolmaster's
of all and the profession of nonephantom city, such the school teacher's New Jerusalem, which he
prophesies and woud help us bring down from above.
cause.

politician,

of his State than he.

;

priest, listen to his creed.

of a child

;

that he

curse; that the world

know

it;

that

work

father to the

believe in the infinite possibilities

man

;

that habit

waiting for fearless

a blessing or a

men who

are right and

a blessing; that a fault repented

half

pays to be true; that a man can not be well educated
and vile that true greatness must be measured by the yardstick of
right; that reward or punishment inevitably follows our choices,
whether by individual or State.
atoned; that

;

The Relation
President

Inman

of the

Teacher to Civic Righteousness

E. Page, A. M., Langston University, Langston
City, O. T.

Recent events in different parts of our country teach us that
greater attention must be given to the building of strong moral
character on the part of American citizens if the Republic, which
has been established here and which is now the wonder of the
is not to suffer a fate similar to that which was experienced
by the Republics of antiquity. Against the use of fraud and corThe builders of our government wisely made intelligence and

world,

PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER AND THE RACE

398
virtue

its

They recognized

foundation.

the fact that in a countr}'

controlled by the people each individual should have a trained heart

and hand that the safety of our political
depends upon the operation of moral as well as intel-

as well as a trained head
institutions

and industrial

lectual

;

forces.

mind, they made provision for the establishment
of schools to be under the control of the government, and thereby
emphasized the relation which they expected the teacher to sustain
to all matters of a civil and political character. Their idea was that
the teacher in an American school should take the child who is
placed in his charge and give him such training as will prepare him
useful not only in the sense of being able by
to be a useful citizen
his intelligence to contribute to the solution of difficult problems of
a political character, but useful also in the sense of doing the right
"as God gives him to see the right." Our political system makes it
imperative that civic righteousness shall be the theme of every
teacher from the kindergarten to the university- As much pains
should be taken to ascertain whether this lesson has been thoroughly learned by the pupil as is usually taken to see whether he
has learned to read correctly, or to speak and write correctly, for
when the teacher is giving this instruction he is teaching his pupils
that as citizens they must not only have virtue but must use it in

With

this fact in

—

all their duties as citizens; that they must deal
with their fellow-citizens, be they white or black,
rich or poor; that in their relations to one another in matters pertaining to the government they must know no race, no color, or
and that unless this course is pursued
class or creed, or section
there can be no national prosperity, no national happiness.

the discharge of
justly

and

fairly

;

CHAPTER LXX

the Necessity for a high moral character
a teacher
Rev.

S. S.

Jolly, A. B., Philadelphia, Perm.

There are three kinds

of teachers with which this subject ostenbe connected: the parent, the pedagogue and the preacher
an alliteration which represents a trinity of factors eminently

sibly

—

may

potent in weaving the

web

of society's fabric.

They

are so inter-

dependent and correlative that, except it be for the distinct purpose
of discussion, it is hard to tell just where the dividing line of their
separate action is drawn. So that you may more exactly underconceive to be a high moral character, and in what must, from the
time assigned, be a very brief discussion, limit the necessity to two
captions
First, the demands which issue from the inherent and
acquired traits of the untrained. Second, the kind and extent of
training which these demands require. Character may be tersely
defined as the sum or universe of customary action in the individual, each of these actions being the result of a definite motive and a
preferential fiat. We have not time here to include or exclude all
the possible phases of character; high moral character, however, is
that which has its customary action at every point justified by well
defined laws of right living, whether these laws be innate or revealed; and, further, the habit of action must be regular and uniform, a perfect type, not a malformed dwarf, nor indeed can it be
an abnormal giant. No one habit of action must predominate, no
every point. We shall have little or nothing to do in this paper
with the influence of the moral character of the parent or preacher,
whether that be much or little. We shall have to do only in the
main with what we have pleased to call the pedagogue, who, in
popular terminology, is known as the teacher- Without entering
:

(399)

THE TEACHER AND HIGH MORAL CHARACTER

400

much

was

hands of the
and hence became to a great extent moral and religious
rather than scientific. Public instruction, that which has to do with
more particularly the formative period of the majority of children,

of education

not

all

the instruction

in the

clergy,

non-sectarian, or that

de facto non-religious.

this plan obtains in the fact of the variety of sect

The

justice of

and creed and

consequent difference of opinion of its citizens. Protestants, Catholics, Jews and agnostics all demand by the rights of their citizenship

the

teacher

Such that a
by a very necessitous and im-

perpetuation of their individual beliefs.

who

finds himself impelled

perative obligation-r-that

is,

the infusing into the fibre of his pupils

power which is his that they be environed from the
native tendencies which control them finds a perplexing problem,
for such it is. To what extent should he discharge this obligation,
for he must either exert a baneful or helpful influence? What kind
of moral instruction must he give? And where does the example
the high moral

—

of his character lie?

According to the division of Plato, there are
life of an instructor.
These

four things which must enter into the

Plato considered the cardinal virtues: Wisdom, Courage, Temperance and Justice. While this is a very plain division, the terms and

what they include

are too incomprehensive and hence vague in apIn the unfolding of ordinary truth, if there be such, and a retrenchment of the essential virtue, all sects and creeds may meet.

Duties that have reference to

self,

cleanliness and chastity,

by pre-

cept and practice, must hold and control uncompromisingly and
unquestionably the life of a teacher. Desire to study, the ability to

make

a child eager to

which hover around

know

the great and marvelous mysteries

his footsteps.

to the exigencies of the hour; let

The

teacher must thus be alive
him hear the foot-tread of the

divine in the rumbling thunder, or see the gentle touch of heaven's

wisdom

in the petal of a violet-

butterfly, or sits

Truth abides

there and in
learn accuracy and the practice of veracity.

in the

wings

of a

enthroned on the strata of a rock; let children find
the rules of science and its truthfulness to law,

THE TEACHER AND HIGH MORAL CHARACTER

The Necessity
Rev.

of a
J.

High Moral Character

W. Smith,

in the

401

Teacher

Clarkesville, Term.

THE MORAL STANDARD OF THE TEACHER

The moral standard of the teacher should be high, from the fact
demands more of the teacher now than ever before.

that the world

Again, to him
trained,

given the sacred trust of infantile minds to be
in the future rule the world.
These

which minds must

minds are usually influenced by the teacher.

THE TEACHER

I3EHIND ALL PROFESSIONS

The teacher is behind all other callings indeed, he creates them.
The higher the civilization of the race the greater the demand for
the trained mind.
The teacher develops mind, he creates the
power to think. The power to think is that which makes the mate;

rial

world subservient to the

will

man, which harnesses the

waters of the earth and makes it do his work, which calls the lightning from the clouds and, by the electric chain, unites the opposite
parts of the earth; which builds and maintains our great institutions of church

power

and

state,

which rule the world, the great motive

of the universe.

THE TEACHER AND THE MORAL LAW
fundamental. The progenitor of all
written statute called law. All these governing state and church
are given to us by our great teachers, and since people recognize
the law of their own beings and the beings by whom they are surrounded, so do they become fit to frame laws for the institutions.
The teacher is at the basis of these which must be taught to the

The law

life,

of living,

people in character-building.

The capable teacher must

He must

assert himself through heart actions.

harbor no thought greater than that he, as a moral factor,
.must have towering ideals, lofty aspirations, a foundation well and
wisely laid, with a due regard for a code of morals and truly enlightened piety-

THE TEACHER AND HIGH MORAL CHARACTER

402

The Necessity
Rev: G.

The question

High Moral Character

W. Henderson,

D. D.,

in the

New

Teacher

Orleans, La.

depends partly upon the
moral ideas of the people. They are what the public demands.

Viewed

of the teacher's character

in this light

And

a question of fact.

yet this only in-

is.
What he ought
another question, to be determined by a proper considera-

dicates what, morally considered, he actually
to be

tion of his place in the

Our

first

economy of a christian society.
is what does the public demand

inquiry, then,

character of the teacher?

the

Prescribed courses of study, combined

with public examinations, determine the intellectual standard, public sentiment the moral.
We have two general classes of schools
public and private.
Hence we have two corresponding classes
of teachers
public and private. The private school teacher is the
original type.
But in our country the separation of state and
church and the sharp differences between the Catholic and Protestant churches as to the right of the people to read the Bible have
led to the exclusion of the latter from public schools in many communities, and to difference in the moral tests of the public and pri-

—

vate school teacher.
in

the private schools,

are therefore to seek the historical teacher

where the

christian faith of the country,

unfettered by legal restraints or ecclesiastical
to

make

itself felt

present the public school teacher

may

And

effectively.
is

yet

difficulties,

think

subject to no religious

represent a low grade of worldly morality

;

may

able

shall find
test.

confine his

wholly to the imparting of intellectual knowledge or, rising
above the mere letter of his engagement, he may view his responsiefforts

;

bility rather in the light of his opportunities;

his pupils with a spirit of reverence

minds the

loftiest

and to

moral and spiritual

may

seek to imbue

set before their plastic

ideals.

At present, unfor-

tion that fails to arouse the conscien:e to a sense of responsibility,

or to refine the sensibilities, leaves the individual the victim to
In a
every gust of passion and a constant menace to society.
normal system of culture, knowledge and character are inseparable.
The mind must be furnished with high moral ideals as well as with

the teaching of science.

godless education will never empty our

THE TEACHER AND HIGH MORAL CHARACTER

403

penal institutions nor remove the subtle temptations from the pathof life. So long as state and church are kept separate we can
not legally require religious faith in the teacher in the public

way

schools; but education

handmaid

now

almost universally recognized as the

and the time is not far distant, as it seems to
me, when the unwritten law of public sentiment will make itself
of religion,

respected in the selection of public school teachers as well as
private.

Again, the necessity of high moral character in the teacher is
when we consider his true place and office in the economy
of a christian society.
Not the individual, but the family is the
unit of society.
The individual left to himself perishes. The
Humanly
family is the divine method of preserving the race.
speaking, life begins in the home; so do those influences which
evident

make
is

mar

it.

The

ideal

home

older than an ordained ministry

religion,

religious.
;

The

father, as priest,

the home, as a sanctuary of

older than church or temple-

The home

also the orig-

both church and schoolhouse. These
are but departments of the home.
Instruction in knowledge and
inal place of instruction.

It is

instruction in religious truth are functions of the home, which in
of labor in the present highly developed society
have been delegated to a professional class especially trained therefor; hence the minister and the teacher stand in the place of the
parents to whom they owe a peculiar responsibility. Specifically,
the duty of the teacher is to instruct the mind; the duty of the minister is to develop the moral and spiritual nature.
But this is a
The capacity for
psychological rather than a natural division.
knowledge and the capacity to perceive the spiritual are only different functions of the one indivisible soul. To attempt to divorce
these is to do violence to the soul's constitution. What God hath
joined together let not man put asunder.
As there is a strong
demand for a ministry that can inform the mind, so there is a
strong demand for a corps of teachers who can educate the moral
and spiritual affections. Kepler, in rapture over his marvelous astronomical discoveries, exclaimed
"O God, I think thy thoughts

the division

after thee.''

THE TEACHER AND HIGH MORAL CHARACTER

404

The Necessity
Rei.

The

for

High Moral Character

Durham,

J. J-

in the

Teacher

A. M., M. D., D. D., Savannah, Ga.

necessity for high moral character in the teacher

may

be in-

from the exalted character of the mission and work of the
teacher. His mission is not that of the soldier, to lead great armies
lb battle, to victory, and up the shining heights of martial glory to
the painted halls of military fame, where assemble the congress of
great warriors and conquerors from all nations and of all ages,
though heroic and patriotic that mission be; nor is it to build great
cities and systems of railroads, the centers and highways of commerce and civilization; nor to construct great systems of intricate
machinery to convert the raw material of the world into myriad
manufactured articles for the myriad uses and appliances of civilized society, though great and important that mission be
but
greater still and yet more important is the teacher's mission.
Again, we assert that the high moral character required of the
teacher is indicated by the character of the work he is to do.
ferred

;

It is

said "he

in his pupil."
all

the best teacher

If this

who

able to reproduce himself

be true, then the teacher himself should be

high moral attainments,

all

that

desired in the moral character

of his pupil; for, according to the principle set forth in this proposition,

the teacher be of low moral grade, he will reproduce the

same character

in his pupil, and vice versa.
It is recorded by the
pen of inspiration, that no man liveth to himself; and of no one is
this more emphatically true than of the teacher.
He exercises a
pupil
moral power and influence over his
that often surpass that of
the parent in forming and determining the character of the pupil,
fn many cases the teacher even stands between the pupil and
parents; his word, example and precept are more potent with his
pupil than theirs. To that divine proverb, "Like people, like priest/'

may

be added, "Like teacher, like pupil." It is written in the Book
"Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap," and this is
no less true in pedagogy than in agriculture; it is no less true of
that

the teacher than of the farmer.

THE TEACHER AND HIGH MORAL CHARACTER

The Necessity

for

High Moral Character

in the

405

Teacher

Rev. William Decker Johnson, D.D., Athens,

GREAT TEACHERS AND THEIR WORK

The teacher is the natural leader of mankind. He makes the
environment, moulds the sentiment and shapes the deslinies of
millions, even of those who never come directly under his influence.
And we have right among us the real President Booker T. Washington, of Tuskegee, whose triumph upon the field of pedagogy has
been no less wonderful than those of Edison in the domains of
electricity.

THE STANDARD OF MORALITY
Three qualities seem to appear
Take, for instance, a chestnut. There is the burr,
next to the hull then the meat, but it takes them all to make one
chestnut. A stool with less than three legs will not stand alone.
Take a yardstick or a quart cup, still, the three quantities must
have been compared before a standard could be reached, because it
will always be true that things equal to the same thing are equal to
one another.
THE EVOLUTION OF CHARACTER
Morality

the science of duty.

in everything.

is what determines
by education. An orator,
students, said
"These people now

has been said that the ideal of a person

his character,

and that

ideal is fixed

speaking to a great audience of
It can be made into pie, biscuit or
are all like so much dough.
pound cake; it can be dumpling or hoe-cake; but, when once put
into the oven and baked, it must continue to be what it then becomes." A similar idea is given in the German maxim, which
"Whatever you would have appear in the state must first be
says
put into the schools," and, this sentiment developed, has been the
:

secret of

German ascendency.
THE

All science

God

BASIS OF MORALITY

based upon law, and law is a rule of action. When
He put into everything the law of its being.

created the world

THE TEACHER AND HIGH MORAL CHARACTER

406

The Necessity

High Moral Character

in the

Teacher

Miss C. E. Pullen, Principal, Roach Street School, Atlanta, Ga.

field

affords larger or

the schoolroom.

more complete returns

The schoolroom

foremost

that form the character of the nation.

quires much preparation in order to
many have taught for years before

among

Pedagogy,

to effort than

the influences

like all arts, re-

obtain the best results.

But

finding out that they have

missed their calling. Then, in order to keep from making life a
failure, they have to enter new pursuits.
It is of the successful
teacher that we like to hear. Teachers who count it joy to send
forth bright and shining souls upon the highways of life.
It has
been truly said, "As the teacher so the pupil." In this is seen the
need of the teacher being developed symmetrically, morally, intellectually and physically.
Unconsciously the pupil receives the impress of the personality
of the teacher. If that character has in it the right principle, it will
act as a stimulant to the dormant powers of the pupil's moral and
The habit of stating things accurately and
intellectual being.
truthfully must be taught the pupil. To do this, the teacher must
practice seeing things truthfully and correctly himself.

cious teacher need expect truthful pupils.

Too

frequently

mali-

hear

engaged to train the intellect, and that some
one else must do the moral training. Such teachers are not in demand, and their places are fast being filled by energetic and enthuTeachers who understand thoroughly the obligasiastic workers.
tions which rest upon them are conscious of the fact that the pupil
does not come to them to receive literary instructions only, but by
contact, a high moral character, the pupil comes to be made better, that he may learn virtuous habits, and be more inclined to
practice the good that is within him.

a teacher say that he

The Necessity

for

Prof.

High Moral Character

in the

Teacher

Gilbert, Augusta, Ga.

Since it is an innate principle of human nature to approximate as
nearly as possible in one's own personality the realization of his

THE TEACHER AND HIGH MORAL CHARACTER

407

ideal, the pupil appropriates into his own life and character the life
and character of his teacher, whether these be good or otherwise.
Lord Byron was a cripple, and therefore walked with a halting
gait.
Forthwith his admiring imitators copied even this physical
defect. The majority of the pupils of Socrates were copies of this

great teacher's idiosyncrasies rather

than

his

philosophical

tenets.

Too many

think that the accumulation of physical, scientific and

man and the world constitute education.
development of memory of the concrete but
there is a realm where God comes in contact with man, where
spirits, human and divine, communicate with each other and charhistorical facts concerning

Per se

this is only the

;

is formed.
The true teacher must himself be a citizen of this
realm before he can conduct his pupils thither. Here is where the
pupil finds things more precious than life itself. Here is where he
learns to prefer death to dishonesty. The most woeful curse of our
erstwhile teaching has been the almost utter neglect of the development of this higher life. Its baneful influence crops out in every
phase of the civic and social fabric of our present day existence. It
takes place in the gambling, stealing, lying, drunken, sharp-witted
men adn women who are to be found in constantly increasing
numbers in every walk of life.
To bring the matter closer
home, and at the same time to show the awful responsibility imposed upon upon the teacher by his environments, let us mention
just a few facts concerning Negro criminals, that class who are
doing us, as a race, incalculable harm. There are more than 2.000
NegTc criminals serving sentences at this moment in the prisons

acter

Georgia alone. What must the number be in the whole country?
Of these 2,000 and more, 98 out of every 100 can read and write.
More than 1,000 are under 21 years of age. The remainder, with

few exceptions, are under 30 years

of age. Practically all have been
yet
they
are
unreachedas
Is it, then, any wonder
to school, but
the charge is made that, for the most part, these youthful criminals
must have during school life formed their characters under the
tutelage of teachers who, to put it mildly, did not emphasize the
sins of lying, gambling, stealing, drinking, lustfulness and wrong-

THE TEACHER AND HIGH MORAL CHARACTER

408

In my own observation, I have known men and
themselves known moral wrecks to be licensed
by the states of Georgia and South Carolina to teach in the colored
public schools. Then, what else is to be expected other than the
present condition of the unreached?
That education bereft of
moral stamina is worse than ignorance, pure and simple.
No class of workers contribute more to the stability of the government and to domestic tranquility than the true teacher. The
preacher of the gospel, I dare say, does less in the development of
character than the teacher.
In most cases the iron stylus of the
teacher has inscribed its marks of character for eternal weal or woe
into the plastic minds of his pupils long before the minister of the
gospel gets the opportunity to recommend the means of grace.
The teacher it is who ought to give the earliest moral discipline
that prepare the community for higher and broader views of duty

doing of

all

sorts?

women who were

in all

the multifarious details of the intricate relations of

community

say the teacher does this because the parents of the Vast
majority of Negro children have not time to sit for hours daily to
instruct them.
The nobelest prefession on earth is that of the teacher He wors
with instruments for course ends; the teacher is to work by the most
refined influences on that delicate ethereal substance, the immortal
soul.
Soul in immediate contact with soul, the teacher and taught
life.

stand to each other.

The

mere words and compels

spirit,

the character, of the one overleaps

subtle union with

the other.

With

alchemic potency the teacher turns the character of the pupil into
pure gold or cankerous brass. "We teach more than we say or do,
and learn more than we see and hear-" No teacher, however adept
in hypocrisy, can keep his character hidden from his pupils for a
long time. His talk and actions in the presence of his pupils may
be circumspect, but by some mysterious power of (let us call it)
"aitrospection" the pupil sees that underneath the polished exterior

lies'

an individual character.

may

be bitter at

its

roots and

moribund in its fruits. This the pupil appropriates into his own
young life and henceforth becomes incorrigibly bent toward an
irrevocable destinv. It is more largely in the hands of the Negro

THE TEACHER AND HIGH MORAL CHARACTER

409

teachers than in those of the -parents or preachers to create a

heaven or a

hell for the pupil, the

The Necessity

for

community.

High Moral Character

in the

Teacher

Rev. D. G. Hill, Washington, D. C.

The period

of habit-forming is acknowledged to be in childhood
During the tender years of childhood and youth character that which most truly marks the make-up of the man or
woman is formed which very 'largely determines one's future
destiny.
Hence the tf*nd given the child or youth in virgin life

and youth.

—

pursued in after life.
Again, it must be admitted that as the child's body can not well
develop without proper nourishment and exercise, neither can its
moral nor spiritual powers unfold themselves without appropriate
moral and spiritual food. So that the means of development of
mind, soul and body are the practical appliances and uses of all
those supplies which nourish the physical, moral, intellectual and
will likely be the course

which lie dormant in early life. All things musl
have their time to grow in order to ripen into maturity; thev must

spiritual forces,

also be cultivated in order to unfold their fulness of strength.

teacher's sphere in

teacher

life

to help supply this very need.

The
Every

a character moulder, and the material best adapted to the

construction of a well-developed character are to be found not only
in the teacher's skill of imparting facts, but also in his- general
deportment. For it must not be overlooked that the teacher is a
pattern or. ensample, and his example will in no small degree determine the child's usefulness in after years.
Scarcely anything is more needed on the part of the teacher than

strength of character.

Integrity

too

little

cared

for-

The greed

commercialism which is so manifest in
this age, the lack of the true missionary spirit and moral courage,
if allowed to pervade our circle of instructors, will weaken their
powers for character-building. "Like will produce like." The
for gain

and the

spirit of

THE TEACHER AND HIGH MORAL CHARACTER

410

is largely determined by the material out of
made, and the style or manner of its construction. So
the life of the teacher, imbibed by the scholar unconsciously, imparts his habits, customs and manners to his students, thus making
it all the more apparent that high moral character in the teacher is
of paramount importance. The influence which consistency exerts
The teacher should be well poised, securely established in the
principles of truth, love, duty, and espouse every pure and noble
cause, thereby encouraging and advancing the ethical forces which
germinate and foster pious living. He should guard his own life
well, because during the first ten or twelve years of life the character of the child is principally formed by imitation and example.
He instinctively mimics his master's voice and copies his footsteps.
It is not until the period of juvenility passes that one begins to
think and act for himself. When we, therefore, consider the forces
which operate and produce example from which the young love to
copy, how they cut their lives after the shape of others, and instinctively the inner life of the guide is reflected by his or her
followers.
We are forced to admit that the necessity for exemplary living and consistent conduct is of supreme value.
Let those who lead enforce by rule and example the utility of
self-denial and self-control let them constrain by a living example
and practical injunctions the necessity of standing upon the bedrock of truth, which comprehends all the virtues of a noble manhood and womanhood let them prove that it is far better to be
even singular, if need be, while obeying the mandates of rectitude
and virtue, than to win and wear the palm of applause of thousands
by yielding to their flatteries and solicitations to wrong. Let, in
other words, our impressions of heart and life be pure and those
innured by them will grow and bless humanity.

value of the castle

which

it is

;

The Necessity

for

High Moral Character

in the

Teacher

ProfJ.R.L.DiGGS,A.M., Virginia Union University, Richmond, Va.

The

peculiar constitution of rational

present moral ideas as the basis of

all

life

makes

necessary to

successful teaching.

The

THE TEACHER AND HIGH MORAL CHARACTER

411

explanation for this must be found in the relation which reason is
forced to posit as existent between our being and the illimitable
universe of which man forms a part. We believe that any nonest
and unprejudiced study of the evidences furnished by nature and
life, will lead the average mind to conclude that
one ground of being God the great first cause, and that
this boundless world arrayed in the order of eternal beauty, this
cosmos, is founded in righteousness, ruled by infinite power and
infinite wisdom.
The moral ideas, in a more or less crude form, are the common
possession of the human family. The savage to whatever race he
may belong has a code of ethics, and it is upon this nucleus of
moral truth that we rest our hope for the ultimate redemption of
all peoples.
It was upon this principle, this belief in an innate
moral nature, that the father of ethical philosophy proceeded in
formulating his theory of the concept- He appealed to the moral
basis in the rational life of man, to those elements which are the
very attribute of rationality, and, as a matter of cosmic sequence,
he was successful as a teacher of men.
The truly successful teachers are those persons whose ideal is
the attainment of a character like that of the Supreme Being. We
may say that most of the great teachers of mankind have won
success just in proportion as they have reached the moral consciousness of men, and have in some way linked it with the

the intellectual

there

—

universal

belief

superior to man.

the essential

Long

—

righteousness

some

before the Christian era a wise

man

power
taught

supreme aim of life, is to become Godand three hundred years before, the Prophet Micah had asked,
"What doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love
mercy and to walk humbly with thy God?" These words of the
prophet have the right ring, for the aim of all teaching is the
development of character, such persons only as have Godly characters are qualified to lead the young in forming habits of effective

that the highest good, the
like,

virtue.

The

must also be imbued with a sacred regard for
noble manhood and womanhood. Without this, there can be but a
true teacher

THE TEACHER AND HIGH MORAL CHARACTER

412

wrong: estimate of character and a false measure of moral values
life.
must be firm in the conviction that racial affiliation and character are incommensurable quantities and that the
nature of the one argues nothing as to the work of the other.

in social

Failure to appreciate this truth has led

many deluded men

to pro-

pose, for colored people, special educational

matter of course upon a misconception of

programs based as a
the fundamental princi-

ples of philosophy of education.

The

teacher should love the race and should be willing to spend
for its highest interest.
The empty-headed fop, the

and be spent

worthless dude, the tool of fashion, the spendthrift, the toper, the
slave

social

wdio would

sell

dissipations,

politic al

their country,

tricksters

their State, their

and scoundrels,
community and

home for a mess of potage, are not the persons to teach the
The teacher's desk, like the Christian pulpit, is not the
place to reform men by placing upon them great responsibilities.
In many places to-day there are some teachers whose moral life
is rotten, yea, worse than leprosy in its blighting and damning
influence over the youth.
The race has suffered much from tintheir

young.

selves to drive the last one of these pestiferous moral lepers

moral teachers, and
our school rooms.

The Necessity

Rev. G.

High Moral Character

Edward Read,

in the Teacher.

A. M., President Spiller Academy,
ton,

Teaching

from

lovers of pure morals should bestir them-

all

Hamp-

Va.

a spiritual art, and classifies with music, poetry and

oratory, rather than with the mechanical arts, those which deal

alone with matter and
in

which mind comes

its

mind, heart with heart,

The
I

child

fixed

and uniform relations. It is an art
and quickening contact with

into mysterious
life

with

life.

the central figure in

powers are multiplex, his

all

possibilities

educational systems.
well

nigh

infinite.

His

The

THE TEACHER AND HIGH MORAL CHARACTER
former

may

413

be unfolded in their natural order by the skillful
may only direct by inspiring to lofty

teacher, while the latter he

endeavor.
in

not dealing with material things; he

Hand

the developmentof an immortal idea.

moral

intellectual training should proceed that

building with which the teacher has to do.

demands consummate
than aught
the

homes

else,

repository of

skill,

assisting

hand with the

life,

that character

Such

high trust

rare tact, cultivated intellect, and,

The mass

the highest integrity.

of children

common people form a grand and inexhaustible
human material capable of being molded into ex

Like the potter with the clay, the teacher is the molder,
As his conception of education
grows and expands, so will his workmanship become more perfect
and symmetrical.
If we wish to lift the children of the school and the community
lency.

builder and architect of his school.

into an

atmosphere of right

ples to start with.
to

eminence

living,

It is of little

any position

we must

in life,

their mentors, their heroes,

are not leading the path in that direction.

as he lives

it,

most potent

give them good exam-

use to ponit them to the safe road

factor.

The

teacher's daily

life,

he tries to instruct his

little flock to respect the laws of health, to restrain their appetites,
he must see to it that his own drinking is not making a deeper
impression than his words. If indulging in swearing himself, it
cannot help them to pure thoughts and reverence toward the Great
Teacher, the Giver and Preserver of all life.
His business is not only to be for four to six hours the autocrat
of the school room, to drill the child in the "three R's," reading,
writing and arithmetic; to instruct him in the mechanical sciences;
to
to lead him along the dry paths of grammar, rhetoric, logic
induct him into the mysteries of chemistry, astronomy, geology;
but with these, and partially through them, he is to train the ex;

panding powers of mind for the active duties of life in the manifold
The
directions in which his students will need to apply them.
child follows instinctively those to whom he looks up with respect
and admiration. The successful tutor, therefore, is the one who
starts on the basis that every thought, word and act of daily life

THE

414

TEAC1IF.R

AND HIGH MORAL CHARACTER

contributes towards the building of character, and is potential in
opportunity for higher thinking and higher living.
It cannot be too forcibly impressed upon the minds of all who
enter this noble vocation, that to find any measure of true success
the teacher must do much more than instruct in the knowledge of

book

lore, or in the

wisdom

of the ancients.

Many

of the so-called

and replaced by later "facts"
each year- Experienced professors and librarians say that most
treatises on natural science which have been published ten years
facts of science are being set aside

are out of date for practical use at the present time.

Teaching

mon
it,

the unfolding of truth in

experiences of

life.

and the precepts

law.

equipped

its

application to the com-

teach truth, one must

of truth lie along the line

know and

love

of obedience to

the highest law

who

is the moral law. no teacher is fully
has not submitted his mind to this law, and learned

and move within its realm. He must have it written in
and dominant in his life, otherwise he is not fit to associate with children in the formative years of their lives.
If, then, we rely on divine truth, if we make ourselves allies to
the Almighty, speaking His words and doing His deeds, we shall
take place and authority among men, we shall attain moral eminence, which is the only superiority worthy of the ambition of the
to think

his heart

truly educated

man

woman.

High Moral Character

of the

Teacher

Rev. L. E. B. Rosser, D- D.
It is not a safe practice to take an untrained man, one who has
bad no knowledge of steam, and place him in charge of a locomoYou must train him in the use of steam; train him to know
tive.
its power; teach him its danger and its usefulness; teach him how
to make and keep it; then you would acquaint him with the road
over which he must travel. When the man at the throttle knows
all these things, and he has the proper qualifications, the passen-

Prof. W. J. Nickerson,
Nickerson's Ladies' Orchestra and Concert Co.,
New Orleans, La.

Trinity M. E. Church, Houston,

Mrs. A.

One

Holmes.

Lady Commissioners,
Tampa, Fla.

of the Florida

Texas.— Rev. W. H. Logan, D.D., Pastor,

Centenary M. E. Church, Charleston,

Big Z ion A. M. E. Z. Church, Rev

Rev.

R. A. Palmer, D.D., Pastor.

A. Morrisey, D.D., Pasjor.

Bishop H.

Turner. D.D., LL.D., Atlanta, Ga.

THE TEACHER AND HIGH MORAL CHARACTER
gers within the cars will say,
is

The same

safe.

vessel,

415

"SAFE!" because the man in charge
life.
The man must study his

true of sea

examine her hull and bow,

sails,

rudder, and in fact every-

man at the wheel if not,
he would rush his ship upon a rock and dash it in pieces. Upon
the ascendency of the Negro, and at this time while the crisis is
upon us, we need men and women who have the great "one thing
needful."
People who sought first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness, and then begin the process of adding to it all "these
thing about must be understood by the

;

things."

acknowledge we must have all we can get from books, but
there is a great "one thing needful" to be added to the life of the
teacher, so that

we may

get that

"HIGH MORAL CHARACTER"

spoken of in the general discussion. Add to your qualifications,
virtue and to virtue knowledge, and so *one in this way may soon
have built up a strong character that will stand in the evil day.
I

opinion a eacher should be a strict moralist in

all

that the

term implies, for the reason that the pupil partakes of the life of
his teacher's life in his words, but his actions, walk and deportment
In childhood is the
its way into the life of the child.
time to throw about the children that mantel that will save them
when they are grown. Train them when young, says our old time
teacher, it will not depart from them when old.

generally find

The Necessity

for

High Moral Character

in the

Teacher

Rev. C. T. Stamps, B. D., Edwards, Miss.
I.

(a)

Teaching

HIS OFFICIAL POSITION

divine.

One of the highest aims of the teacher should be to implant
moral principles in the minds of his charge principles not merelv
as sentiment or points of speculation, but with a controlling efficacy in the heart and life. Since it was possible for man to sin
;

after his creation in holiness,

was

also possible for

him

grow

THE TEACHER AND

416
intellectually

and morally.

iliC-H

Taking

MORAL CHARACTER
this view,

what

commonly

Man"

should be joyously considered as the
"Rise of Man." "Behold, the man has become as one of us to
know good and evil." Man, after his period of discretion, or that
period of innocence, which is common in the life of every individual,
has just learned the two opposites of growth progress and regress. Through this knowledge of good and evil man stepped into
his divine estate. The end sought in teaching is the growth of the
called

the "Fall of

—

soul toward the divine ideal.

man with

(b) God, by creating the laws of growth, honors

partnership in soul development.
(c)

"The Rise

Man" God and

each other as vine and branch.

Then

he are kindred, related to
it

follows

that

all

our ex-

and unpleasant, are simply lessons in the
That as God appointed Moses to lead Israel, and

periences, both pleasant

divine school.

Jesus his apostles to make disciples, he was appointed the teacher.
Consequently, it was as necessary for Moses to leave the palace for
forty years training in the land of Midian, and for the apostles to
it is absolutely necessary for the teacher to have a
high moral character. It is his indispensable duty to aim at the

receive power,

truth in

all

the excursions of his understanding.
2.

The

Scriptures

HIS EXAMPLE

(a) The influence of his personal habits.
The precepts of the teacher have immense weight, but his example has a still greater. The tone of his voice, his language, manner
of treating his pupils, his disposition, orderly habits

and neatness,

And

these impres-

all

exert a peculiar influence

upon

his pupils.

sions, according to their nature, will help or hinder his

work

moral instruction and school government. Therefore, in order
(b) A pure atmosphere.
The moral tone of the school must be such that no pupil can
resist its power. Order, the first law of heaven, should be supreme.
The moral atmosphere must be conducive of habitual obedience.

obedience that results in the habitual practice of the higher

moral virtures.

THE TEACHER AND HIGH MORAL CHARACTER
J.

THE CHILD CAN ONLY BE EXPECTED TO

RISE

417

TO THE STANDARD

RAISED BEFORE HIM.
(a)

The teacher

The

pupil

the pupil's criterion.

much more by what his teacher is than he
taught by what he says. What his teacher sanctions is right,
and what he disapproves is wrong. In this we see more of the
parental responsibility, which has simply been transferred from
the fireside to the teacher's desk. The child sees the truth through
is

taught

the teacher's
as

life.

we would have
(b)

The

Every teacher should therefore be such

man

the boy be.

relation

of teacher

and pupil enables the former to

improve society.

The pupil is elevated by the high moral character of his teacher.
The moral truth obtained by personal conta:t, the moral principles
educed from his example by the pupil gives the home a high moral
tone

;

and through the family the whole

social

realm

improved,

movement- In
process of time man's enlarged knowledge and insight will be more
completely adjusted with his social and moral life.
Education is only a means to an end. It is not a trade. It is
a moral and social mission.
Every teacher should see this and
make moral as well as intellectual development his aim. Especially
the teacher being the chief animating spirit of the

should he labor to this end

The Necessity

for

in his

elementary work.

High Moral Character

in the

Teacher

Rev. H. N. Newsome, Mobile, Ala.

The home training school is every man and woman's Alma
Mater. It, therefore, should be well equipped with conscientious
and zealous instructors, elevated curriculum, and with every word
teaching a needed lesson, every action setting a laudable example
to the youthful inmates.
Every one who attends a special school, no matter how insignificant it may appear to be, loves the name and the memory of

•the teacher and high moral character

418

that school, notwithstanding* that he or she

reprimanded and punished
the

old

school

for

some breach

brings before one

may have

often been

of rules; the

inexpressibly

happy

name

cences, and the motto often appeals to us and revives us with
life

new

and fresh inspiration.

The ultimate
is

reminis-

"How

object to be discussed during this great meeting

to reach the

are simply tributaries.

unreached

Unreached,"

right training at home.

"There

all

other subjects introduced

The quickest and
It

best

way

to reach the

has been and ever will be

home." I hope from this
day forever hereafter we will teach, talk and sing that there is no
training like home training; le us teach all the people throughout
the land, the length and breadth of the land, to join hands in lifting
our people by right established training schools at home teach
them to observe all things God has commanded us, and He will be
with us to the end.
The best trained people are the best people, hen:e we see the
necessity of the much-needed improvements. Our environments
will be made one hundred per cent, better in a single decade if
we establish this day universal better training among our race.
Train the young that crime, whether petty or paramount, shall
not be indulged in by us no matter how close our relations are.
Teach them the necessity of good men marrying good women, and
of good women marrying only good men.
rightly said that

no place

;

Part

The

Relation

the

VIII

Public School Teacher to the

Religious

Forces.

CHAPTER LXXI

%
THE PART OF THE TEACHER IN THE REDEMPTION OF
THE RACE
Prof. R.

Lovinggood, A.M., Pres't

Samuel

Houston

College

Austin, Texas

What

part has the school teacher in the development of this

higher, better, nobler

man?

want good men and women made

out of the crowds of Negro boys and girls that swarm the streets.
What has the teacher to do in this work of transforming the

masses into noble manhood?
The average of intelligence must be raised, while some must be
made leaders in thought. There must be seers. "For, if we will
think of it, no time need have gone to ruin, could it have found a
man great enough, a man wise enough wisdom to discern truly
what the time wanted, valor to lead it on the right road thither;
Who will
these are the salvation of any time." Aye, of any race
Who
explain the present? Who will prophecy for the future?
will be our political seer? They must be given us by our teachers:
Of all people, the Negro race needs men of profoundest learning.
We have no source to which to look for these except our
teachers.
The forty thousand teachers of to-day must teach the
youth of to-day, that back of everything, back of trades, back of
professions, back of titles, must stand the man.
Markham has
well described the average Negro. The Negro is the "man with
;

(419)

THE TEACHER AND RELIGIOUS FORCES

4-20

Some Negroes must and should keep the hoe. But we
must have thinkers. These thinkers may not be able to make a

the hoe

buggy, but

they really have ideas, they will control the

man who

makes the buggy and the buggy also.
Again, the Negro teacher should give our youth a broad, ethical
instruction.
The new Golden Rule which I prorlaim, and which
that takes in the world.
The love of the truly educated man
sweeps out and takes in the world- He is no German, no Frenchman, no Italian, no Anglo-Saxon, no Negro.
He rises above
nationalities.

other races.

He
He

color-blind.

will

not

disfranchise

not, prejudiced

against

you because you are

Negro, or a Jew. His love is as broad as humanity.
Why should a man graduate from a college and yet hate his fellowman? Has such an one been properly educated? A school may
teach Greek, Latin, French, German, farming, carpentering, yea,
all professions and trades and yet if it fails to inspire its students
with love justi:e, mercy, purity, and righteousness, it has utterly

Chinaman, or

failed.

Prof. Martin Luther

was such

a great reformer that

we someAs

times forget that he was one of the greatest of tea: hers.
teachers,

why

should

not go out

among

the people, like Luther,

ur John Knox, or Horace Mann, crying out against sins and pleading for reform? The spirit of the martyr must be in us.
The
Like Livingston in the
spirit of self-sacrifice must sustain us.

heart of Africa, with face in Bible breathing a dying prayer for
the redemption of Africa,

we must go

into the "alleys,

into the

hovels of our people, into the churches, everywhere seeking the
ost, teaching a better way, teaching economy, encouraging the

•

lazy and indifferent.
Our teachers must not teach for money
alone.
Our teachers might, on set nights, with the aid of
give lectures on economy, on honesty in paying
the pastors,
debts,
on the necessity of buying homes, on morality, on
saving the boys, on saving the girls, temperance, education,
etcWith a little personal work done
community, great good could be done by each teacher, and
each doing his little here and there all together can do much to
help swing this old world into harmony with Christ.

slaving out of debts, health,
in his

THE TEACHER AND RELIGIOUS FORCES

The Relation

of the Public School

421

Teacher to the Religious Forces

Rev. H. Seb Doyle, A. M., Augusta, Ga.

The

relation that a teacher of our people sustains to the religious

from the relation sustained by the teacher of the
The forces that make for our
is plain.
uplift are fewer and the needs more numerous. The other race has
all the inspiration of a high and noble example.
The traditions of
forces

different

The reason

other race.

history, their ancestry, the fact that every position of

and

human

employment

may

be attained and that every honor in the range of
possibility may be reached by them
all these are the white

profit

—

youth's inspiration.

The white man's environment and

possibili-

an inspiration to goodness. All the rewards of the good
are his, and all the honors of the worthy he may secure. Not only
has he the inspiration of being good for goodness' sake, but the inspiration of the rewards and honors that come to him from the
hand of his country and government. No such inspiration has the
Negro youth. He must be good purely for goodness' sake. It is
true that this is the ultimate in ethics, but when this inspiration
alone and unassisted by any possibilities of present profit must
contend against the many forces and tendencies to evil, the odds
are a discouraging handicap. Handicapped thus, the work of the
Negro teacher becomes doubly hard. Hard because we are creating a race, while the other teachers are simply developing their
race on lines laid down by their predecessors of centuries ago. We
are lifting a race up from the mire of ignorance and endeavoring
to give it a place to stand and an opportunity to live.
The other
teacher simply bids the youth of the white race to survey the glorious fields of achievement behind and the broad vista of opportunity before- He tells him that he has but to be good and noble
and march forward and possess the land. The task of the latter is
easy indeed the task of the former is more than hard.
The teacher has sometimes indulged too freely in criticism unmixed with the "milk of human kindness," as Mrs. Partington
would say. The ignorance of the preacher was more often made
ties are

;

—
THE TEACHER AND RELIGIOUS FORCES

422

the subject of criticism rather than of sincere regret. His blunders
were regarded as the subject of ridi:ule, rather than as a call for
sympathy. His errors more often aroused the opposition of the
teacher than a desire on his part to proffer the hand of helpfulness.
Sometimes his instruction which was the best he could give
was openly ridiculed and made the subject of jest. This hostility,
too often, led to recrimination on the part of the preacher, with
disastrous results to the influence for good, of both the teacher and

—

the preacher.

Now, what

remedy for this strife? I would suggest to the
remember that all preachers are not graduates in
letters and theology, any more than all teachers are graduates in
classics and pedagogics.
If the preacher is ignorant, he was our
first instructor and largely paved the way by instilling within the
people a desire for advancement, thus making an opening for the
teacher.
The preacher should, on his part, remember that all
teachers are not first-class any more than all preachers are first
rank. That teachers are likely to presume upon their intelligence
as well as he is likely to presume upon the support of ignorance in
is

the

teacher that he

every controversy.
A second difficulty has arisen in the past from the fewness of
those persons teaching who actually intended making teaching a
profession and a life work. The majority of our teachers have been
those young persons who were attending school, and only taught
school in vacation as a means of keeping themselves in schood.

Not intending to continue in the work, they were not careful to
make themselves either proficient in the work or agreeable to the
people. You can readily see the difficulties arising from this conA third difficulty lies in the seeming lack of interest the teacher
takes in matters of race uplift aside from the actual work of the
schoolroom, refusing to do any work in the community except that
Even the Sunday School is neglected
for which he is actually paid.
by him. I know that often denominational fanaticism has refused
But this has often
to allow him a chance to do what he might.
indifference
excuse
when
and
laziness were the
an
as
forth
been set
us,
for
all
these
of
denominational
Happily
controreal causes.

THE TEACHER AND RELIGIOUS FORCES

423

To-day a greater calamity threatens the race- We are in danger
submerged by the flood of ignorance, and swept away by
the pestilence of irreligion.
The cavern of race calamity yawns,
and the race can be saved only by the sacrifice of the best blood of
of being

In this hour of the race's crisis let the forces of learning

the race.

—

and religion the teacher and the prea:her join hands and hearts
and sacrifice selfishness and self in this yawning breach of the race's
woe. By this heroism a people ten millions strong will be saved,
the oversow of ignorance be averted, the pestilence of sin be removed. Then, saved from the impending doom, the entire race

PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY
Rev. Richard V. Sims, Pastor of the Congregational Church,
Iberia,

What

life in

Christ,

generation to general ion.
disciples,

La.

practical Christianity?

embraces

New

who were

to learn

who

is its

founder and supporter from
that selected those twelve

was Christ
of him of

his mission, his character

and his kingdom. As they passed through the space of three and a
half years, they got some idea of the Christ, but it was a vague
idea the truer idea was not fully realized until after the death
and resurrection of Christ. The Holy Spirit came to their aid to
tract and to guide and to lead them in God's way.
Then Peter,
having thrown himself in the way of the current of power, waxed
bold and mighty in the face of a violent mob, preached Christ and
Him crucified with the power that brought to the christian church
thus thousands of sculs in a very short time.
;

Food becomes a part of us by assimilation blood, bone, muscle,
nerve turned into strength.
take this food every day it is
essential for us to do so.
We should every day have a full meal
of Christ, feeding upon that living bread and going in the strength
of that meat and water to all of our work. Then it becomes Christ
for us to live. Paul said: "For me to live is Christ to die in endless
;

gain.

THE TEACHER AND RELIGIOUS FORCES

424
Practical

Christianity

gives

power with God and with man.

Father in my name He will give
pray in His name we pray in our union with Him,
as member of His body, ruled by His spirit, we pray in His
power. While the spirit intercedes in us, Christ inteercedes for us,
and so through Him we have access by one spirit unto the Father.
Eph. 2:18.

"Whatsoever ye
yon."

shall ask the

When we

The Relation

of the Public

School Teacher to the Religious Forces

Rev. Solomon T- Clanton, D. D.,

Our
known

New

Orleans, La.

leading schools and our American society, which are well

to the intelligent in Amercia and' elsewhere, such as HarBrown, Yale, Dartmouth, Boston, Chica, Virginia University,
Williams and others, gave the world a priceless moral and religious
endowment in men of light, might and leading, such as Washington, Jefferson, Fred Douglass, B. K. Bruce, J. M. Langston and
McKinley in the State, and Beecher, T. J. Morgan, B. Griffith,
Wm. J. Simmons, D. A. Payne, Mathew Simpson and Gilbert Haven
Their lives, labor and public services are among
in the church.
the rich treasures of knowledge, that our teachers should hold up as
examples to be fiollowed by our American youths in the building

vard,

noble characterLet our teachers tell our young people, with authority and
modesty, that our country leads the world in the widest range of

the

power

of choice,

and

in the

multiplied avenues for usefulness,

every honorable station and profession
there
is no inexorable bar or caste, as in
young
the
Tell
in life.
or Japan, between the masses and
China,
India,
or
or
England,

promotion, distinction,

the classes, recognized in the
dice, the child of ignorance
in

law and equity that

American Constitution, except prejusin
and that the only distinction

and

;

regarded as valid and obligatory

among

THE TEACHER AND RELIGIOUS FORCES
lis

425

that based on ascertained merit, ability, chara:ter and use-

fulness.

The

teacher's relation to race identity

a public question of

race and the dawn
from
"Am I my
asked,
from
Cain
of human history, and
the day
discussion
and
agitation
brother's keeper?" to the present time. Its
courts of
and
councils
in local, State, national and international
that
question
justice and arbitration are positive proofs that it is a
imparamount
will not down, because of its intrinsic value and
religious interest

the birth of the

human

not only a public question, but it is a doctrine of
science, philosophy and theology.
Into its vagaries and speculations, however, we do not enter, for that would be idle and unportance-

It is

profitable.

to practice, are the solution of our problems.

It is, therefore,

the

imperative duty of our teachers to the religious forces in our
republic to teach by precept and example the youthful army in the
public schools, to glory in race identity, self-respect, unity, con-

and honorable race enterprises, for the development of
God-given talent, and for the demonstration of their
character, progress and capabilities, as expressed in the work of
the race. It is consequently a patriotic and philanthropic service,

fidence

their latent

The Public School Teacher and
Mrs.

Normal

the Religious Forces

Grace Shimm-Cummings, Alexandria, Va.

teachers' institutes and the floods of educawhich are so nobly beating down the bulwarks of
ignorance and prejudice, leave no room for the erstwhile delusion
schools,

tional literature

is just beginning with. his entrance in
Before he is born into the world, his mental and moral
bent has derived character and inclination from the impact of
previous generations. After his advent into the "vale of tear's,"

that a child's education
school.

the constant effort of his being

strenuous endeavor to adapt

himself to the physical and spiritual conditions which constitute

THE TEACHER AND RELIGIOUS FORCES
determined by the amount of
of the way whatever
tends to impede or obstruct. In the world of mechanics the constructionist aims to produce machinery whose parts are so perfectly adjusted as that they will accomplish results with the least
possible loss from the wear and tear of friction.
The wisdom of
such a course is immediately apparent in the extended usefulness
of the mechanism.
Want of harmony between the individual and
daily

life.

Progress

force necessary to

anything

overcome or move out

causes the stress of living-, which
enjoyment of the Creator's best gifts, and
compels them to be in bondage all their lifetime through fear of
divers disasters and beset ments. and by reason of failure to overcome obstacles that would have presented but little hindrance to
the

conditions

intelligent

existence

many

p rives so

of the

opposition directed along lines of least resistance.

may be the claims of evolution as to the transformathought or form into higher or lower manifestations of life
or power, men do not naturally "gather grapes of .thorns nor figs of
thistles." Grafting and hybridization are anomalies of man's invenhatever

tion of

tion.

The

divine order is."the herb yielding seed, and the fruit

tree yielding fruit after its kind,
earth.*'
it

was so then:

was. and yet

"good-''

whose

still

The

seer

true to-day; and

race

itself

upon the

God saw

that

mankind has learned

through experience, and from the discoveries of its Galileos, Newtons. Franklins and Morses, that the
physical world is governed
by laws, any infringement of which carries with it inevitable
results. Wisdom is justified in those of her children who have had
the eyes of their spiritual understanding- so enlightened that they
are enabled to recognize the existence of law
intellectual

world,

whose transgression

carries

the moral and

with

less

certainty of disastrous consequences.

The

is no light vocation.
Like the marriage
should be entered into reverently, discreetly and
advisedly.
Reverently, because "we are workers togther with
God." not in corruptible things, but fashioning souls: discreetly,
because we are ever before the bar of a criticism that pierces all
disguises and repudiates all shams: advisedly, because the educa-

teacher's calling

sacrament,

THE TEACHER AND RELIGIOUS FORCES
tion of its citizens

427

the perpetuity of the State and therefore a

guarantee of personal safety to every individual.
The most successful forms of government have been those
founded upon the tenets of the Mosaic law. No sane teacher need
be told the absolute necessity for discipline in his school room.

And what

is he there but the humble vicegerent of the Almighty,
endeavoring in a weak way to administer the affairs of his little
kingdom with the love and justice of heaven? The relation of any
teacher, whether public or private, to the religious forces is, therefore, essentially vital.
This does not imply that he must be the
confessed disciple, sincere or otherwise, of any denomination; nor
the ranting exponent of any particular creed. Religion is a determinate relation which gives conscious recognition to the supremacy of God and the brotherhood of men, regulating individual
conduct in accordance with these two great facts. The object of

all

true education

which

character building, the perfect pattern for

world has
infidel
or be
teacher,
he
God.
The
be
of
he christian,who does not study his Bible, robs himself of a univerever

will be

known

found

—the

in the greatest religious force the

Word

sity of liberal culture.

The Relation

of the Public School

Rev. G-

The

Teacher to the Religious Forces

Porter, D. D., Vicksburg, Miss.

relation that public school teachers sustain to the religious

is not well understood even by the teachers themUsually the teacher looks upon his calling or profession as
something entirely separate from religion, and if he finds himself
at all inclined to religious duties, he feels that he is simply con-

forces, I fear,
selves.

much to a cause not particularly his own.
not altogether strange that the Negro teachers of the
present day should labor under such delusions when we take into
tributing so
It

consider^t'.ion

the various motives that

follow this calling.

prompt most

them

THE TEACHER AND RELIGIOUS FORCES

428

has every function of the minister save holy orders, and his
the primary work of life, is all the more important as

work being

relates to true religion.

people,"
is

The

relation of the teacher, therefore, to

The old adage, "like priest, like
be applied "like teacher; like yupil." If the teachei
pious, and rilled with the spiritual fervor, he is apt to leave

the religious forces

much

most

vital.

may

of the impress of said characteristics on the

minds

of his

and vice versa.

pupils,

The teacher's relation to religion is such that he cannot without
dishonoring his calling do other than enter heartily into every
plausible scheme for the spiritual uplift of the people whose servant
he is, both young and old.
Let us hope that in this great national gathering of Negro
religious and educational forces we may arrive at the true
idea of the relation each sustains to the other, and that we may
go from this place with a clearer understanding of this relation,
and that in the future we shall hear less of crtitcism and more of
work, and that we may forget or forbear to sneer at the religion of
our fathers, violating thereby the first commandment, with promise
and that we may build upon this old spiritual rock, the foundation
of our fathers, a more polished and lasting structure than it was

ever theirs to erect.

CHAPTER LXXII
The

Christian Teacher the

Hope

Negro America

Miss Charlotte E. Hawkins, Boston, Mass.
It is

the teacher

who

pictures to the child the noble characters

stand out as examples of useful
aids the child in placing his goal. It

lives.
is

It is

the teacher

who

guides his
Let a young

trembling steps to fame through his own persistency.
lines, there is not one to which America may look with as great
a hope for future America as to the teacher. This is, too, true oi>
and applicable to that portion of the population known as Negro
America. As with the other races, "similar effects require similar
causes."

THE TEACHER AND RELIGIOUS FORCES
Are the environments

of the bulk of

those of other races in this .country?

429

Negro teachers similar to
Are the responsibilities

devolving upon the Negro teachers similar? To these questions
one of experience would answer emphatically, "No." The Negro
with scarcely half a century of freedom cannot present to the
teacher a furrowed field in which to sow the grain, as is presented
to other teachers.
The Negro teacher in most cases must create
circumstances, make out of a nag a horse, twist the hemp for plow
line and make a plow, before he can turn the soil.
Therefore, he
must have additional qualification^ to produce good result.
The Negro teacher who is working for the betterment of the race
must work from a principle, to install a principle, to build a characThese teachers, patient, loving,
ter whom the nation will adore.
whose lives are instruments in God's hands, are they, upon whom
depend the destiny of the Negro race. The race needs and must
have christian young men and women who are willing to throw
the energy of their young lives into the service for the race. The
race needs men and women who are not looking for monied rewards only, but who are working for the good that may be accomplished in elevating the race. They must put on the whole armour
of God.
It is not sufficient to wear the uniform to ward off the
imposition, but the breast-plate, the shield and the sword, each
has

its specific

4uty-

CHAPTER LXXIII

THE VALUE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION
Rev.

W. M.

Alexander, D.

D.,

Corresponding Secretary Lott

Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention, Baltimore, Md.

One

of the richest

blessings secured to humanity during the

ninteenth century, and which
is

the public school system.

a legacy to all future generations,

The whole

object of the projectors

was

to shape the mind of the youth as to thought,
habits, self-control, love of truth, aspiration for what is good and
great, and obedience to divine and civil laws. The most essential
principles taught by America's first public school teachers were
the christian religion, good manners, patriotism, and how to earn
bread by the sweat of the brow.
In the gone-by days when principals of public schools did not
depend on the political party in power for appointments, and when
their corps of teachers were selected because of their fitness, the
public school house was an object of inspiration to citizens who
had an idea of its value and pupils who received the benefits of the
schools as a rule exhibited the instruction they received in their
efforts to make an hones* living.
6f the system

When

management

was transferred from true
and municipal boards, the public
school system became a part of our modern political machinery,
and, as a result, the system has lost much of its original value.
As the sign of the times give no hope that the system of public
education can be divorced from politics, its governing power
should be vested in the most harmless political agency. From my
point of view, a national bureau of education is the efficient substitute for the systems now in existence, and which are as numerous
as the States, cities and townships in the United Statesthe

friends of education

(430)

State

schools

^irst Baptist Church,

Hampton, Va., Rev. Richard

Spiller,

D.D., Pastor.

M. E.

Temple, Chicago,

111.,

Rev. John F. Moreland, D.D., Pastor.

St.

Mark's
Rev.

E. Church,

New

H. Brooks, D.D.,

York, X. V.
Pastor.

Wheat

Street Baptist Church, Atlanta, Ga., Rev. P.

Bryant, Pastor.

Second Baptist Church, Washington, D. C.
Rev. W. Bishop Johnson, D.D Pastor.
,

First Baptist

Rev.

Church, Chattanooga, Tenn.
G. Parks, D.D., Pastor.

VALUE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

431

Under a national system, mental instruction in the public schools
would be the same in South. Carolina as it is in New England.
The scholastx term, the order of studies and the standard for
The
teachers would be the same in all parts of the Republic.
to
taxed
wealthy and cultured section of the nation would be
educate their fellow citizens in other sections, where ignorance
and sectional prejudice

afflict

the people one and

all,

and block the

national progress.

large percentage,

not a majority, of colored children are

born and grow to the age of man and womanhood in illiterate
darkness because their parents have no conceptions of the blessings of education. It was just such a class of society the original
friends of public education planned to reach and help. They concluded that society can best be protected by laying hands on the
illiterate element and fit them for life's service in the public
schools.
The illiterate population in the United States, and
especially in" the South, is legion, and the best way to give them
the benefit of the qublic schools is to have compulsory school laws
strictly enforced in all the States of the Union.
All praise and honor to Professor Booker T. Washington, who
has so magnified the industrial link in the chain of education that
his practical ideas of mind and hand culture are taught in the
public and private schools in all sections of the United States.
Prior to Professor Washington's agitation for a broader application of education, teachers strained their nerves to pack their
pupils' minds with primary and classic principles of education.
It is strenuously contended by some that it is too much to ask
the State to give the youth the highest idea of education.
The
logical reply to such contenders is that the State is obliged by
law and public sentiment to arm the youth for* life's duties, that
the security and general welfare of the State depends upon a public
school system in accord with the true idea of education, is secured
ajid enforced in every State and Territory in the United States.
As to mental qualification for teachers, they are all implied in
the terms educate and teachers. And it is gratifying to the true
friends of education to know thev have by persistent agitation

VALUE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

43^

hastened the day when only teachers can secure a certificate to
teach in the public schools by proving their fitness. The test may
seem severe and a disadvantage to not a few teachers, but it will
separate the good grain from the chaff, and add standing to the
teachers and an increase of salary, and best of
the nation
vice, will

who

depend on the teachers to

be blessed.

all,

the youth of

arm them

for life's ser-

Part IX

TL;

Colored

Woman

th;

Horn: and Social Refcrm

CHAPTER LXXIV
A PURE MOTHERHOOD THE BASIS OF RACIAL
INTEGRITY
Mrs. Addie

W. Hunton, Normal,

Ala.

This great and unique Congress has rightly discerned the signs
the times inasmuch as it has given due recognition to the
women of the race. For, in the discussion of these problems affectof

ing the highest and purest development of our people, the relation

development cannot be ignored. Woman has
come up through the ages representing the highest form of beauty
and honor. With increasing christian enlightenment, her worth
and position to society have gained respect and reverence, until,
in the light of advanced civilization, she stands a potential factor
in the world of progress.
The proscriptions of the past are fast
disappearing as man realizes that upon woman rests those respon-

of won..an to that

sibilities

the

so esscmtial

human

race.

And

the perpetuity and highest attainments of
is steadily and rapidly advancing to her

she

man's helper and co-worker.
have seen in abundance the fruits of her devotion to the
church. We have witnessed her as a leader in social and moral
reforms. Her integrity and faithfulness in position of honor and
trust in the business world have been attained, but it is in the
uplifting and purifying of the home that her greatest work has
been wrought, and there rests her greatest responsibility to God
and the human race. Indeed, the salvation of the human race

rightful place in society as

(433)

PURE MOTHERHOOD AND THE RACE
absolutely depends upon

its

womanhood.

To woman

sacred and divine trust of developing the germ of

life

—

given the
it

her

peculiar function to sustain, nourish, train and educate the future

man.

Upon
in its

the

Negro woman

demands.

It is

rests a

burden of responsibility peculiar

not similar to that borne by any other

woman

and clime. Questions of morals among inferior and
superior races have settled themselves largely by amalgamation.
The Briton, Saxon and Norman mixed their blood to give us the
proud Anglo-Saxon. This was accomplished through honorable
wedlock, but the Negro woman must tear herself away from the
of another time

sensual desires of the
her.

men

of another race

who

seek only to debase

In this effort she stands not only almost alone and unpro-

tected, but at the

same time she must

also

wage

a warfare against

own race. What shall we say of the
race who are, by example and by pre-

a pestilence of vice within her

hundreds of mothers of the
cept,

leading a host of children that shall one day
give to the race its strength and character?

women

men and

must not

woman is wholly
This noble band of christian mothers with their beautiful christian spirits is not to be forgotten or discounted in the
uplifteing of our people. Thousands of intelligent christian homes
dot this country and tell a story of womanly virtue and integrity
that cannot fail to win. the approval of God and the commendation
.mge that has
of all who can rightly appreciate the prodigious
been wrought in the light of freedom.
There is another evil of less importance than the one already
As a general rule, the highest and most blessed duty
mentioned.
Not only are the children of
of the family is totally disregarded.
unmarried mothers the creatures of chance, coming into the world
undesired and unloved, but the same is sometimes true of the
children of many of our married mothers. A child has a right to
the inheritance of the very best of body and soul its parents can
If these are not granted, the child is defrauded of its
bestow.
birth-right. There is no sin without its penalty, and for the violabe misled by the assumption that the colored

depraved.

tion of the

most sacred

offi:e of the marital

relation, the parents,

PURE MOTHERHOOD AND THE RACE

435

the child and society all must .inevitably suffer.
If the intelligent
mothers of the race, who are trying to attune harmoniously all the
powers of body and mind, thus giving a higher and purer life,
would concentrate their efforts at this peculiar point, we woulcf
soon diminish the number of poorly born, poorly bred and deformed
children that we need only look out on the streets to see.

CHAPTER LXXV
riOW CAN MOTHERS TEACH THEIR DAUGHTERS AND
SONS SOCIAL PURITY
Mrs.

The hope
day

— they

of the

Garland Penn

American Negro

are to be the

lies in

men and women

the boys and girls of toSoon the

of to-morrow.

must rest upon them. Their knowledge
requirements and their success in leading the

responsibilities of the race

and

of citizenship

its

race on to victory depend largely

home

In the

upon

their

home

the children imbibe the ideas of

life

life.

that are to gov-

Their conception of right and wrong as taught in
the home will be their standard through life. In the home circle
their characters are formed- It is the mother's duty to so live and
ern their future.

demean

herself that the influence

thrown around the children may

be the purest and best, so that she
State and to
of life

and

God

its

children with

may

present to society, to the

good morals and right conceptions

purpose.

"How Mothers Can Teach Their
Daughters and Sons Social Purity." How beautiful is that helpless
dependence of childhood, and what a blessing if all of us knew the
value of the opportunity for bringing the children to Christ and
teaching them to know and love Him in their infancy. We should
carefully study each child, its temperament and disposition. This
is one of the first steps in teaching social purity.
As soon as the
mother begins to point her child to God as the chief object of reverence and love she is pursuing the sure and proper course to
strengthen its moral growth and social life. Who knows better
the individuality of a child than its mother? Children, like grown
people, have different temperaments and dispositions.
It is the
mother's duty to study each one and know just how and when to
are here to-day to discuss

act, feeling that the
(436)

destiny of the child

practically in her

own

mothers' duty to the young

437

hands and that she holds a place that can not be filled by others,
is in possession of that key that others will hardly touch.
Above all things, mothers should be mindful of their own behavior in the presence of their children; for they must be taught
by example rather than by precept. Whether we care or do not
care, try or do not try, an impress is made upon the character and
destiny of the children.
Can they be successfully taught to be
truthful, honest and pure if the mother exhibits no such traits of
character in her life? She may for a time compel them to obey her
teachings, but the bad effect of the example overshadows or obscures the good instruction. Well might Francis Quarles say to us
"So behave thyself among children that they may love and honor
thy presence. Be not too fond, lest they fear thee not be not too
bitter, lest they fear thee too much. Too much familiarity will embolden them too little countenance will discourage. So carry thyself that they may rather fear thy displeasure than thy correction.
When thou reprovest them, do it in season when thou correctest
them, do it not in passion: as a wise child makes a happy (mother)
so a wise (mother) makes a happy child."
It is no unusual occurrence to see fathers so full of ambition, so
much in love with the things of the world, that they have no time

that she

;

nor heart for the religious instruction of their children but how
strange and unnatural, yes, how shameful it is to see a mother so
much absorbed by fashion and the things of the world that she has
no time to gather the little ones about her and warn them against
sin and its punishment, or to tell them of Christ and His glory
no
time even for family devotions -or anything which pertains to the
;

—

moral and spiritual uplift of the children. Many mothers no doubt
feel that they have no time in the morning to gather their children
about them before they begin the day's duties to warn them of the
dangers of sin and temptations which may come to them ere the
day is done.

Morning sunbeams warm and

tender.

Flush the east with glory rare,
Kiss the dewdrops and the daisies,

;

MOTHERS* DUTY TO THE YOUNG

43S

Fill with golden light and air;
Larks their sweetest songs are singing.
Bells ring out with joyous gless,

And

the sunrise benediction
Lightly rests on flower and tree.

Boys are drifting into bar-rooms and other places of sin and
degradation; girls are being met on the highways of sin and led
into sorrows yet untold.
I entreat you this afternoon to build a
strong wall of Godly defense around your homes, and have them
well guarded by the ever-watchful eye of our Heavenly Father,

knows
let

the trials and temptations that

come

to us.

us teach our boys to respect the virtue of

them, as they would have others respect their

all

who

Above all things,
women, respecting

own

sisters.

Let us make our homes as pleasant and attractive as our means
will allow, with as many good books at hand as we can afford to
buy, so that there will be no excuse for our boys going into the
dives and other disreputable dens seeking rest and pleasure.
Let
us keep our girls near us and teach them to confide in us instead of
in others
let us converse with them freely every day upon some
such topic as deportment, industry and character-building, so as to
;

which will enable them to easily
discern the difference between a gentleman and a dude, a scholar
and a fool.
give them the insight into

can not see

And sorrows
I

life

why

trials

come

follow thick and fast;

can not fathom His designs,

Nor why my pleasure can not last,
Nor why my hopes so soon are dust
But

can trust.

know my life with Him is safe.
And all things still must work for good
To those who love and serve our God
And lean on Him as children should.
Though hopes decay ntu\ turn to dust,
I

I still

will trust.

MOTHERS DUTY TO THE YOUNG

How

439

Can Mothers and Fathers Teach Their Sons and Daughters
Social Purity
Mfcs. P. J.

Bryant, Atlanta, Ga.

Purity, according to Webster,

and
all

and

life

free

from

all sin

vice

and

sin.

Social purity

enly in

its

origin.

evil.
is

a freedom from guilt.

Social purity

divine in

its

heart

society free from

conception and heav-

Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure

in heart: for

they shall see God."
Impurity lowers the condition of any people, degrades and urges
them on to indolence, vice and sin. Social purity demonstrates
itself in the church. Those who are pure in heart constitute the real
type of christian life, for as a man thinketh in his heart so is he.
Social purity is the essence and likeness of God.
It brings one
into a sacred nighness and endearing relation to Him.
Wherever
there is a good and pure heart there is a desirable dwelling place for
all that js beautiful and uplifting to the human soul.
Social purity
brings happiness into the home, gives to the world good and honest
men and women, exalts the marriage tie, and produces a strong and
healthy race.
The great flood-tide of impurity that rushes down upon our boys
and girls to-day, destroying and unfitting them for usefulness and
society, is the result of improper training and neglect of parental

duty at the fireside and in the home. These dear ones upon whom
the world is waiting need moral, intellectual and spiritual mothers
and fathers to rear them into manhood and womanhood.
The greatest intellectual giants of past ages, the most renowned
and famous names upon the pages of history, the battle-scarred defenders of their country, poets who have sung the sacred melodies
that attune the heart for heavenly things, the historians who have
recorded the sayings and doings of nations, have nearlv all been
the strongest advocates of social purity, and are held up as models
for the emulation of the coming generations.
Parent must be the models for their children by living pure and
upright lives before them. Children are imitators and will say and
do what their parents say and do. Parents must not be careless in

MOTHERS* DUTY TO THE YOUNG

440

manner of dress, nor must they allow their children to do so
they wish to maintain social purity in the home. Avoid dressing
your children in low-necked gowns they are only temptations.
Stop teaching your girls how to paint and powder, and preparing
their
if

—

them

dime

wine suppers and card parties, for these
draw your children down
to the sea of degradation and shame.
Have your homes pleasant and attractive; it is the spring of civilization, culture and refinement.
There is a fearful responsibility
resting upon the homes from which the future generations must
emanate. The influence of the home is everlasting. The sweet and
modest action of a tender, loving mother will be seen in her daughter long after she is laid to rest, and the kindness and manhood of
the father will be reflected in the nobility of his sons. Keep your
Idleness begets sin and crime. Keep pure
girls and boys busy.
Keep impure statues from your mantelliterature in the home.
pieces and shelves. Teach your children to labor with their hands
as well as with their brain,. Impress upon them the dignity of labor.
Too many mothers are committing suicide over the wash-tubs
and ironing-boards to support some lazy son or daughter, who, because they can get no school to teach, have decided to loaf. Teach
your sons to honor and respect their sisters, and they will always
have a high regard for womankind, and there will be no rapists,
for the

parties,

things are strong undercurrents that will

and there

One
a

will

be no excuse for the worst of

of the greatest evils of our race

dozen persons into one room.

How

all

crimes

— lynching.

the crowding of from six to
can

we produce

a race free

from social evil at this? Separate your boys and girls. Keep the
best men and women of the race before your children, and teach
them to admire the good and beautiful in them. Let them know
that the good or evil of society depends upon them.

—

CHAPTER LXXVI

HOW THE COLORED WOMAN CAN MAKE HOME MORE
ATTRACTIVE
Mason Layton, Washington, D. C.
gracious spot made divinely fair by the institution

'Mrs. Julia
All hail to that

Two

from the -world's ends have blended
in mutual holy affection.
Henceforth they share the world's vicisTwo
situdes and build a home where peace and virtue dwell.
at
together
boisterous streams from the mountains of youth flow
the altar. Their waters are mingled into one calm, deep river it
flows to the ocean in peace this is the heavenly way. From this
the father goes to his toil with hope in his heart and a song on his
In administration
lipsIn it rules a queen richer than Sheba.
wiser than Victoria. Out of it go manly boys and womanly girls
to bless succeedings generations to the end of time.
To us, as a race, there has been many a towering cliff none
of christian

marriage.

lives

;

—

higher or more formidable than the state of affairs that existed in
this country in the dark, dark days.
Marriage was not considered

by many, and thus there was no sanctity to home. I need
it has left its impress upon us, the result has
been seen and felt. Many, many pure and chaste lives have been
blasted
so many homes darkened
innumerable broken hearts
have filled untimely graves, all because of this terrible foe
The first thing in the home to be considered is cleanliness no
matter if the floors be of the roughest pine, full of knots and ugly
places, have them pure and bright by the use of sand (the kind the
old grandmothers used to get out of the sand bank). Another good
thing is to have them stained, and then they can be easily mopped
up. In winter a few bright, inexpensive rugs will lend to the appearance, save some labor and help keep out the cold.
Curtain
scrim or muslin makes nice curtains give an air of cleanliness and
refinment when tastefully hung, and, if desired, tied back with a bit
essential

not go into details;

;

—

;

of ribbon.
(441)

COLORED

442

WOMAN AND THE HOME

Next, the furniture. No matter how humble the home, how few
keep them whole and well polished and tastefully arranged.
But of all, the most important, see to it, if there be but one piece of
furniture, that it is paid for. Do not be a slave to some installment
articles,

house.

From

Have
the day

and everything in its pla:e.
good library first,
Then a history of the Negro race.

a place for everything

start the

home

—

strive to start a

have a Bible next, a dictionaryDo not purchase the sentimental, trashy novels of to-day. Don't
give them space at all. Let your purchases be of good, sound literature.
Month by month add one good book always endeavor to
;

;

secure the books that have been written by our
are good.

own

people,

that

Let there be a musical instrument of some kind in the home.
Truly "music hath its charms." See to it that your musical selections be of the best and not of the rag-time ditties of to-day.
If you can afford it, have a few good pictures on the walls.
Let
the framing be in keeping with the rest of the furniture not some
highly colored chromo with an elaborate gilded binding. See to it
that the subjects be such as to make us think when we look thereon.
Instead of a Napolean, a Grant, and a Sherman, and a Lincoln and
similar cuts, let there be a Touissant L'Overture, a Douglass, a
Bruce, a Washington, etc., men of mark of our race who have made
themselves seen and felt by all races.
Boys will have amusements. They will have company, somewhere and somehow. Let us see to it that they have a place in the
home for all such, and then they will not be so apt to find the way
to the pool room, gambling hall, saloon and similar places where
they meet bad company, learn to swear, gamble and drink and
spend every penny they can get hold of. Women of the race, we
must not help our boys sow their wild oats, but each of us take care
Cultivate a
that the oats are not wild and are thoroughly sowntaste for flowers when cold, chilly winter reigns supreme in the

—

;

outer world, when the wintry blasts have torn the last leaf from the
tree and the grass and even the evergreen is hidden in snow, how

pleasant and refreshing to see fragrant flowers blooming indoors.

CHAPTER LXXVIT
ORIGIN

AND BENEFITS OF THE FIRESIDE SCHOOL

Miss Joanna P. Moore, Nashville, Term., Editor
Seventeen years ago

Organ of

the

we began

edit

Hope

Hope, which we now

the Fireside School, putting into

call

a short, practical

Bible lesson for every day and motherly advice for each

member

the househeld.

WHERE

DID

GET TEACHERS

parents could not read the child read to the parent; also, we
urged neighbors to help each other, which they did to a greater exIf

expected.
We did not see then as we do now, that
taught received the greatest blessing, but such has been
their testimony.
Mothers meeting daily on this high and holy
plane of Bible truth led to neighborhood love and peace, and thus
tent than

those

who

gossip was turned out of hearts and homes. We formed Bible
Bands that met weekly to review the lessons in homes or churchesIn three years ninety such bands were in successful operation, with
one thousand six hundred and eighty pupils, in eight parishes in
Louisiana, which was then my field of labor. In December of 1889
we had reports from one hundred and fifteen bands. These reports
included the number who read daily at their homes and numbers
who rend to their neighbors also, the number of texts of scripture
memorized. In 1890 I was obliged to leave that State, which
greatly discouraged a people who needed much help, and yet

idle

;

through correspondence we have kept many of the schools alive.
Jn 90 1 we had reports from seventy-nine bands, with eight hundred and fourteen pupils, in that State.
In 1891 we outlined a regular course of study of other books
along with the Bible and Hope. At the end of each year a certifi1

cate

was given

—

to those

who

thus studied.

Hope. We began this paper seventeen years ago with only five
hundred copies. During the last three years we have printed about
(443)

FIRESIDE SCHOOLS

ten thousand each month.

The paper has never

failed,

nor has

ever been in debt.
FIRST INTERDENOMINATIONAL MOTHERS* CONFERENCE
In. Little

Congress
meetings
this

Rock, Ark., in 1893 was held the first Negro Christian
which all the sects united in loving fellowship. Nine

Though
in three days, held in eight different churches.
a mothers' convention, yet pastors and fathers attended.

was

some good
work for the

In 1893

fathers requested that they might have a part

This led to change our
elevation of home.
pledge from "Mothers" to "Parents;" also, a pledge for the sons
and daughters.
in this

GOOD RESULTS OF FIRESIDE SCHOOLS

give these results

about as

the good last
work has been so wide-

difficult as to tell

year's raindrops have done, because the

spread and quietly done, mostly out of sight. The books circulated
have been read and largely obeyed. Bible study is perhaps the
it leads to love and peace around the fireside
and a desire in many hearts to help their neighbors. Hundreds
have given up snuff, tobacco and intoxicating drinks, and also
learned to control their tempers and train their children with firmness and gentleness. Plain, comfortable dress instead of showy
extravagance. Many have learned that debt is sin therefore, they
practice economy in food and raiment and take time to feed the
brain and heart.

greatest good, because

PURPOSE FOR WHICH THE FIRESIDE SCHOOL

FORMED

secure the daily prayerful study of God's word in every

home, with
2.

all

the family together.

help put other appropriate books in our

homes and

see that

parent and child read them together as far as possible.

To
and

secure these two objects,

at least a

we must have

a uniform Bible lesson

few of the same books read in each home at the same
may help and cheer each other. Without

time, so that neighbors

FIRESIDE SCHOOLS
this neighborly, kind help, those

are careless, will give
3«

our plan

believe that debt
is:

secure this
all

may

earth.

who

read poorly, and those

445

who

their studies.
is

the cause of great suffering; therefore,

"Owe no man anything, but to love one another." To
we emphasize industry and economy. God grant that

unite to

make home

the dearest, purest, happiest spot on

CHAPTER LXXVIII

THE MOTHER'S DUTY TO HER ADOLESCENT SONS
AND DAUGHTERS
Mrs. Rosa D. Bowser, Richmond, Va.

The reverent, pathetic impulses which almost thrill our whole
being at the name of Mother, prove the relationship to be of divine
origin, and the name
mother the most endearing expression on
mortal tongue.
The world of mankind must prove, through her, a blessing or a
curse.
The moulding and fashioning, the trend and bent of the
lives of her offsprings' are entrusted to the mother's care; therefore,
an account of stewardship her office of mother must be rendered
"Train up a child in the way he should go,
to the Great Judgeand when he is old he will not depart from it." Some women lay
the blame of indifference and ignorance in this relation to their own
mothers' failure to instruct them. This may account for the apparent indifference on the part of even grown children to their parents,
smd on the part of parents to children.

—

mother's duty to her child begins with the first stages of its
She should think, plan and act as she wishes her
state.
child to think, plan and act for the child will in a high degree reflect the being of the mother.

embryonic

;

the meanderings of infancy the watchful care and promust not be relaxed. The tension of the cords of love and
sympathy between mother and child should be indicative of increased power day by day and year by year.

Through

tection

Parental traits of vices or virtues produce like fruits to the third
Insanity,
criminality,
tuberculosis,
o?
and fourth generations.
genius, integrity, physical strength, as the case may be, can be
owe to our God—
traced to a beclouded or to a clear ancestry.

(446)

MOTHERS AND SOCIAL PURITY

we owe

to our children, we owe to the world the duty of clean, pure
thoughts and right living. The good must be encouraged, cultivated
and developed, while that which is bad must be discountenanced,
condemned and repressed. Is the mother awake to this duty? Does
she realize that as her boy and girl enter the period of youth the

mother's companionship and vigilance are more in demand?
are the years during which the loving, discreet

These
mother must also be

the devoted friend, lover, teacher and counselor.

false idea of

propriety should keep her from the performance of the mother's

duty to her son and daughter.
Mother should guard well and be on the alert for the crucial
period, when her boy and girl approach the ages of development
into manhood and womanhood.
Between the ages of 13 and 21
years the young people are inclined to be independent and more
ready to follow the insidious ways of the crafty and unscrupulous
men and women who are only "blind leaders of the blind."
The mother's duty is to warn the adolescent Son and daughter of
the very narrow margin of the path of rectitude and virtue- The
same standard of morality must be infused into the lives of sons
and daughters. And they should equally share the censure for deviation from lives of virtue and morality.
It becomes the mother's duty to make plain and simple the organism and functions of the human body the house in which we
live.
The habit of falsifying and magnifying only causes the child
to become more curious and incredulous, and more determined to
find out some mystery not understood (as they may think) by
mother.
More time should be given by the mother to the home training of
her child. The child has certain undeniable rights. It has a right
to a living example of right principles governing every movement

—

Since the influences affecting the child begin before
then we claim that a child has a right to be well born.
Henry Ward Beecher, in speaking of the necessity of being "born
again," remarked that if he could be born right the first time he
would take his chances on the second.
of its parents.
its birth,

Nearly two centuries ago, Rousseau, an enthusiast

child train-

MOTHERS AND SOCIAL PURITY

448

ing, urged a more natural and humane education
advanced the theory which gave inspiration to
He aroused popular
Pestalozzi and Froebel.
deeper sense of maternal responsibility. Mother
her sons and daughters to seize the opportunities

tain for herself that practical education

— the

for children.

such teachers as

sympathy and
owes the duty

a
to

around her to ob-

highest education

her to intelligently govern her household.

—

which
She should demonstrate a proper regard for her divine mission
Ignorance of the mother's duties will not shield
of motherhood.
her from condemnation. The sin of omission of the mother's moral
and lawful duty to her young sons and daughters will incur the
righteous wrath of our heavenly Father.
will

fit

CHAPTER LXXIX

THE SOCIAL STATUS OF THE COLORED WOMEN AND
ITS BETTERMENT
Mbs. Virginia

W. Broughton,

A. B.

Contrast the present .status of our social life with conditions
forty years ago. No homes, and little or no idea of the sanctity of

marriage; for

women were bought and

to their physical strength

by adding other

and

sold,

being valued according
wealth

ability to enrich their masters'

any way,
however illegitimate.
This brutal
treatment of our women, similar to the treatment of fine stock that
are well kept for breeding purposes, during the two hundred years
of slavery, had so crushed the moral nature of the race that in
Africa, the native land of its ancestry, regarded virtue dearer than
life, that the masses embraced freedom with very crude conceptions
of what was required of woman in the home and society.
How
could it have been otherwise? The Emancipation Proclamation
only meant freedom of body to the male members of our race, for
they were still bound by chains of ignorance, superstition and
moral depravity, more lamentable than even their bodily enslavement had been.
suited

HOW
this

wills,

TO BETTER THE SOCIAL STATUS OF COLORED

Our women
and as

living slaves to their possessions, in

masters'

their

constitute

life

the

becomes

emotional, purity, integrity

larger

portion

our

WOMEN
religious

life,

more practical, less spasmodic and
and dignity will be added to our social

status to an appreciative extent.

The

agencies

now

effectuallv

operating to better social conditions among our women, aside from
our schools and churches, whose worth cannot be over-estimated,
are our women's clubs and missionary and educational organizaThe Joanna P. Moore Fireside School has proven most
tions(449)

SOCIAL STATUS OF COLORED

450

WOMAN

development of the home

life.
That school strives
should be, the happiest place on earth,
through a prepared daily Bible -lesson studied in connection with
Hope, the organ of the school. The work is prosecuted by correspondence and circulation of literature suited to the different

effective in the

make home what

phases of

home

life.

is fixed by the character of its women
and all earnest promoters of Negro enlightenment should constantly apply the corrections that have proven most effective in the
betterment of the social condition of our women. For by the virtue
and integrity of our women, rather than by the courage and
prowess of our men, will the race raise the standard of our social

The

social status of a race

condition.

The age and conditions confronting

demand women's

organi-

zations of every kind, industrial, literary, musical and religious, to
study, pray, plan and labor to
lead

pure

may

them

awaken our women everywhere and
upon them, to be

to see the grave responsibilities resting

and chaste themselves that by example and precept they
inspire their children to right living, and transmit to their

descendants the coveted legacy of real moral worth, with the manifest traits of genuine character as the natural hereditary result of
the pure blood, of a noble ancestry.

CHAPTER LXXX
CHILD MARRIAGE A SOCIAL CRIME— ITS REMEDY
Mrs.

Bowen, State President, W.
2,

C. T. U., Georgia, No.

Atlanta

Matrimony

is a holy state, and should not be entered upon unadMarriage is a bulwark of society and the foundation of the
home. It is the one human institution upon which is set the highest
value.
Concerning this institution the great Teacher laid down
direct and positive rules. He foresaw what great evils would arise
in the world from a looseness of the marriage tie.
Marriage, then,
is of vast importance to society.
determines
abuse
Its use or
society's weal or woe-

visedly.

One
riage.

Mar-

of the leading crimes against society to-day is Child

The transforming

of the child into man's or

the crushing out of the pure and beautiful in

life

stead premature knowledge and responsibility
culpable.

Childhood

economy

place in the

the beauty period of

of humanity.

It is

life.

woman's

estate,

and placing

in its

both criminal and
It has its distinct

the period for protection,

training and development.

This is the formation period, susceptipromise and free from care. There should not be
injected into the child's thought and life those things that belong

ble, alert, full of

to its elders.

Society should look to
not to

its

children.

its

men and women

for its support,

In the attempt to suppress crime

children and youth of our country

among

and
the

might be wise to study care-

phase of vice. In the making of a race, as in
home, or of a nation, it becomes necessary to purify
the life, strengthen the character and guard the weak places of
that race, so that it may possess all the qualities that go to make a
truly great people. Moral excellence is absolutely essential. Menfully this particular

the

making

451

of a

CHILD MARRIAGE A CRIME
excellence is indispensable, but physical excellence is eminently
ne;essary in order that the other two may have a sure foundation.
tal

may

why "Child Marriage is an
produces physically puny, weak and sickly offsprings. The child-mother is not perfectly developed. The organs
are not full grown and possessed of sufficient vitality to perform
their proper functions.
So, too, with the boy-father; not having
reached the strength of manhood, there is necessarily a woeful lack
of vital force and physical stamina.
This is one of the supreme
causes of the large number of emaciated, ill-formed and sickly
children with which the race is afflicted. This is also one explanation for the high death rate that menaces the race. The high percentage of premature motherhood is appalling to the observer of
race conditions, and demands the attention of all who are interested
Ti

be well to note some reasons

First,

Evil."

in the rights of children.

A second and all-important reason is that it mars and blunts the
morals of the race and of society. The child mind is not able to
grasp the lofty idea nor the divine thought and purpose that are
the foundation stones upon which marriage is based.
The child
has not learned self-control. There is therefore the danger of passions running riot to satisfy the appetites, with no regarxl whatever to results.
The emotions have the ascendancy, reason is dethroned, knowledge is not theirs, and thus they suffer and in like
manner the race. O that the mothers and teachers of the youth of
the race could be aroused to the enormity and ever-increasing
!

strength of this

What

evil.

some of the remedies that, if applied, could alleviate
present conditions and prevent the growth of this evil? It is easier
However, in the
to point out evils than suggest their remedies.
thought of the writer, three things are necessary, viz.: training,
work and education.
Child training is the work of the parent in the home. It is a possibility long before teaching, and with teaching must go on in the
wise upbringing of every child.

The

are

object of child-training

not to give a child entirely

tain

new

and subjection of cercharacteristics, and the expression and development of certain

characteristics, but leads to the repression

CHILD MARRIAGE A CRIME

453

when grown the child becomes a type
womanhood and is thoroughly prepared to

others to such an extent that
of perfect

manhood

assume the
life.

Hence

role

and responsibilities that belong

to that period of

the youth of a race needs training for the responsible

duty of founding families.
to the keeping of the powers of evil. Hence idleness is a crime with
The children of the
evil results to any people or class of people.
Negro race waste entirely too. much time. Time that should be
well employed in

some

fruitful labor.

False teaching concerning

grancy.

work

the cause of idleness and va-

Better to teach with Carlyle that "all true

work

sacred:

work, were it but true hand labour, there is something
of divineness." Let the young girls learn, like Priscilla, "never to
be idle a moment, but thrifty and thoughtful of others." Work,
toil, honest labor, are the ingredients of a strong character.
It is
not necessary to dwell at length upon the last factor. Enough has
been said, and is being said, to prove its value both to the individual
and to the race. What must be insisted upon is that the education
received should be applied by the individual to the proper use necessary to build him into a strong character. Evil is abroad in the
land and the youth of the day are to fight the battles of to-morrow
against the "powers of darkness."
The future stability and prosperity of this race is bound up in the
integrity and virtue of the children of our day.
Of the 5,662,259
children in the public schools of the sixteen former slave States and
the District of Columbia 33 per cent, are colored. Is this percentage
as large as it should be? Does the race comprehend the importance
in all true

or conceive the influence

which

this

mass

young people

now

exerting and will continue to exert upon the future of the race?

Child marriage must be checked

be kept

in school,

Millions

and when not

;

children of scholastic age should

school should be kept at work.

children are with us.
Millions more inevitably will
responsibility of defending their morals is imperative.

come.

The

It is in

behalf of the sanctity of the

tion of the family ties

;

home; the unsullied preserva-

the elevation and holy development of the

character of the young, that this paper

written.

CHAPTER LXXXI

WHAT CAN THE COLORED WOMAN DO TO IMPROVE
THE STREET RAILROAD DEPARTMENT
Deagonness Annie E. Ha.., Woman's

Mome

Mission Society

No one can stand for a moment on the corner of our streets,
noticing the passers-by, without being attracted by the young
Negro's conduct, and then feeling that something must be done to
I speak of the women
no race rises above the mothers.
Note, if you can, the many ways used by them to attract attention
not especially that of the opposite sex of their own race, but that ot
other races.
must own to our shame that no race or people is

—

help them.

;

too low for the

Negro woman

to stoop to.

With our women

in the

South the Chinaman is the latest fad. Well might the women of
this city blush because of the interest they are manifesting in our
Celestial

foreigners.

But how do our young women attract? Too often it is by their
dress, the far from lady-like walk, the disfigured form, the glance
serve well this purpose, for which they are intended. The young
woman who wishes the public to see and take note of her and who
at the same time is advertising herself, goes to the extreme in

may

thereby not escape the notice
of all the passers-by. She compliments herself with the flatterings
remarks she overhears and the glances she occasionally receives
from the opposite sex. Indeed, she heralds it abroad that the whole
block stood still while she passed through.
From those attracted by the loudness of dress we turn now to the
slovenliness. The honest working girl, emerging from
other extreme
the home in which she has labored, is often subjected to untold inthe loudness of her dress that she

—

sults

by her dirty, careless street

woman,

filthy in apparel, is

less of the baser sort,
(454)

dress.

Slatternly

numbered with the

and as such

assaulted.

idle,

dressed

this

lazy and care-

She attracts the

at-

COLORED

WOMAN AND

PUBLIC DEPARTMENT

tention of the low and vicious in "appearance and conduct and thus

she

destroyed.

Another

evil is the

have their bad

effect.

young people. Their
and the loudness of their conversations

boisterousness of our

jesting, slangy expressions

With

these qualities they are given to loiter-

ing on the streets, staring in shop

windows and congregating on

corners.

Let us leave the streets and travel a few days and notice the
railroad deportment of our

young

people.

Here the same

qualities,

and they were by no means good ones, which characterized the
street deportment, are still shown.
It is painful to notice to what
criticism and insults our young women subject themselves by their
thoughtlessness.
The porters and conductors take advantage of
their conduct and go beyond the bounds of common decency in
their attention and conversation with them. After the young woman
has attracted the passengers' attention she seems to feel that she
must get the attention of the newsboy. She begins by pricing his
goods, with no intention of purchasing them, unless it is chewing
gum, cheap candy, perfumery or trashy novel. These newsboys
will tell you that these articles have their special sale among the
Negroes.
What traveler has not noticed the wink of the eye, the glances
full of meaning, the contemptible smile received by our young
women on cars, won by their carelessness? It is a relief to the man
helpless as he is
of race pride
and woman, too, when the destination of either one or the other is reached, and no more of the car.
The conduct of the young Negro on the steam cars and the electric
cars, we feel, has largely had to do with and brought the restricWe are often pained and
tions to which we are now subjected.
made to hide our faces with shame over his actions.
Discipline is the crying need of the age. Law should be established and enforced in the home at the end of the rod if needs be.
The young Negro must be trained in the home, if you would exT
hen should the trainpect him to deport himself well elsewhere.
ing begin? In the hospitals, the nurses begin the first day a new
babe comes to take him to his mother at regular hours. The infant

—

4:56

COLORED

WOMAN AND

PUBLIC DEPARTMENT

but the nurse lets him cry; in a day or two she has him
and when he cries now she knows he is either hungry or
ill.
This shows you how early the training should begin. Parents
should see to it that their children are kept busy. Idleness is a sin
and should be so taught and considered in the home. Teach the
children that they are not in the world to exist, but to be something.
cries at first,

trained,

CHAPTER LXXXII
Why

Women

are

Interested in the Prohibition

of the

Liquor

Traftfc?

Mrs. Mattie A. Ford, Atlanta, Ga.

The

liquor traffic does not spare

any home, from the humble

cottage in the village to the mansion in the city, its terrible influence is felt. It blights the young life of father, son and daughter
alike.

destroys and leaves upon generations unborn the stamp

of its sin.

It is to

be feared more than the deadliest poison.

consider the liquor

traffic

one of the greatest evils which

interests the women of
"How to prohibit the sale of intoxicating liquors
in this land of ours."
No woman is more aroused than that woman
who perceives that her home is in danger of this evil- No spot on

confronts the American people.

Nothing

to-day more than

earth

She

dearer to mother than home, with

realizes in

the future

Woman

youth that the

men and women

fireside

its

sacred surroundings.

the place to begin to train

of to-day.

power behind the throne, and what woman would
not rise in all the power and strength God has given her to do her
part to protect her home and its sacred surroundings from sin, vice
and unhappiness? Woman on her throne in the home can influence and mold public sentiment as no other being on earth. When
we see this great evil sapping out, not only the life and love of our
homes, but even daring to enter the halls and capitol of our nation,
is

the

tremble to think of it. It is now time that the American woman
should show to the world that she is greaty interested in the prohibition of the liquor traffic. Prohibition is a legal means to stop

this evil
felt in

;

then

why

not continue to clamor for prohibition until

every county and State in the Union

the fireside

;

find the loving father, brother

until at night

and

sister,

saloon, as in the past year, not in the public places of

but

the

home?

Until then

prohibition of the liquor traffic*
(457)

woman

will be

it is

around

not in the

amusement,

interested in the

Part

The Duty

of the

Church

to the

Men

of the

Race

CHAPTER LXXXIII

THE GOSPEL OF THE BODY
R. F. Boyd, A. M.,

Medicine,

D., Professor of

Gyneacology and

Clinical

Meharry Medical College,

Nashville, Tennessee

The demand of the times
The colleges and universities

Roman

reviving the old

new methods with football and
would not for a moment disparage

sports and

baseball teams and boat crews.
athletics

for strong, healthy, stalwart men.
are trying to supply the demand by

and their value, but

of the opinion that the over-

training required to produce the athlete and the tremendous exer-

do not conduce to the perWhere one is benefitted,
another is positively and irremediably injured. The body must be
developed by the proper amount of exercise and physical labor.
tion

incident

the

manent good

actual

contests

those participating.

APPETITE

The tyranny

of the appetite gives

more suffering

to the race

than you can imagine. It has made the American people a race of
dyspeptics and gluttons. The preparation and taking of foods is a

The trouble is not so much the
subject for your careful consideration.
kind of food we eat as the quantity, the manner in which we eat
it

and the manner
U58)

which

it is

prepared.

GOSPEL OF THE BODY

450

ALCOHOLIC DRINKS
has always been a matter of the greatest wonder to me that
men endowed with immortal souls, by force of habit, for the gratification of a few inches of mucous membrane where the taste
It

stomachs alcoholic drinks,
which they know will not only steal away the brain and ruin the
body, but will ultimately damn the soul. "Taste not, touch not,
resides,

deliberately

take

into

their

handle not the unclean thing."

COMFORT AND HEALTH
depend very largely upon the clothes we wear, and yet at the behest
of senseless fads, dictated by still more senseless fashion-mongers,
I
they become instruments of physical deformity and torture.
might give you several illustrations of the hygienic deformities

which are constantly being perpetrated upon the body by the constantly ever-changing fashions. What we need and must have is
moderation and temperance in every thing pertaining to the body
or we must pay the penalty "Old Hygiene" imposes for any violation of her laws.
We can not escape. The principles here enunciated
must be taught in the home, in the school-room and from the pulpit.
A complete adjustment of the ideals pertaining to the body and the
highest type of manhood can not be reached in one generationThis generation is suffering from the disease, sins and physical
weakness of their ancestors, and many of the coming generations
must suffer from this one. God tells us in the second commandment, "I will visit the iniquities of the fathers upon the children of
the third and fourth generation." The physician appreciates as no
one else can do the awful fact that the greatest scourges of our
race ar ehereditary in their nature, and that a large proportion of
the physical deformities so common in every community and the
ever increasing burden of sorrow and suffering are the results of
ignorance and vice.
An enormous number of children are born into the world with
no chance in life because of the sins and weaknesses of their ancestors. The over-crowded conditions of our institutions for feebleminded children, houses of correction and similar retreats, to say

GOSPEL OF THE BODY

460

nothing of the hospitals and
this
I

one interpretation

jails

and

penitentiaries,

permit of but

—heredity.

would impress you with the

fact that hygiene, habit

and hered

phases of our duty to the body. Under recognition and
intelligent application of the law of heredity, we may produce a line
of thinkers destined to play a great part in the nation's future
We must be pure in our lives, faithful to our fellows
greatness.
and true to our God.
ity are all

CHAPTER LXXXIV

THE BIBLE THE
Rev.

Wragg,

BASIS OF ALL

TRUE PIETY

B. D., Field Agent, A. B. Society, Atlanta, Ga-

an unique book. Its age is to be measured only by
composition is not the work of one man neither
was it written in one locality or in one language. It is really
Its history is wrapped up with one little
sixty-six books, yet one book.
country.
The thoughts of its writers are pervaded with the scenes

The

Bible

our centuries.

of their

land.

Its

;

Its

hills,

valleys,

rivers,

streams,

towns, villages,

and through
them they often speak of spiritual entities. How fiercely and persistently has this book been assailed, yet it has withstood all the
assaults and still survives- Voltaire predicted that in one hundred
years the Bible would be a forgotten book. Against this statement is placed the word of a certain man who wrote as the spirit
moved htm, "The word of the Lord abideth forever.
ITS CONTENTS
This remarkable book, coming as it does from God, invites a
"Search the Scriptures" is the comcritical study of its contents.
mand laid upon us by the Master.
How often and how many are
the ones that have obeyed this great injunction? Many beautiful
and consecrated lives have given themselves to this work and found
its beauty and showed to others its sublimity.
As these lines are
being written, we look upon the faces of the translators of the
They were earnest men, delighted, at work transMandarin Bible.
lating the message. What moved them to this effort? It was that
the teachings of this book might be made plain to a people who sat
In this book we find so much of the beginnings, the
in darkness.
beginning of the world, the beginning of man, his holiness, his
rocks, trees, caves

and vegetation saturate

sins; beginning of
(461

their speech

judgment, beginning of wanderings, beginning

THE BIBLE AND PIETY

462
of nations,
ion

;

down-grade movements

also find that there

ishment for the wicked,

all

of society, perversion of relig^

a refard for the righteous and punof which "flows from the knowledge oi
is

— God.

great personal being

ITS

PURPOSE

This picture is directed to people bent and inclined downward.
given so that their mind and thought might be raised upward.

It is

Man, the object

whom

this

affected by the object towards
the beings to

whom we

revelation

whom

his

given,

peculiarly

thoughts are directed.

worship are impure, immoral, cruel
them.
History and religions bear
witness to this statement.
Gotl, who is revealed to us in the
Scriptures as pure, holy, kind, just, loving, sympathetic, when personally apprehended either by the printed or spoken word, effects
The light is not
a change upon a life which is easily discernable.
under the bushel, but in the open day.
direct our

and bloody, we become

We desire to present a few cases of later date as to the value and
need of the book. Witness the Congo for two centuries. It had its
priests/ churches and many baptisms, but it had no schools, no
translation of the Scriptures; no pains were taken to make the
The priests were withpeople acquainted with the Scriptures.
and
fragment
vestige
of
their religion died out.
drawn and every
example.
Xavier went there in 1549.
Japan is another striking
He seems to have made some attempt to reach the people throng
the Scriptures. The result could be seen in the two hundred churches
and fifteen thousand converts made. But a fact is quite plain, that
later,

was practically extirpated without leaving any
upon the morals and character of the people."
the lack was seen, "The priest had never given the

"Christianity

perceptible trace

The cause

people the Bible."
Pilkington of Uganda, as he gave himself to

God

for the people

problem thus: "God's revelation on the one
On the other a heathen
side, its breadth., its depth, its height.
How can the gulf
at ion, heathen ideas, a heathen language.

of Africa, stated the

THE BIBLE AND PIETY

463

Give them the Holy Scripture

between them be bridged?
own tongue."

in their

Henry M- Stanley

in a speech delivered in England tells the story
wonderful revolution worked in Central Africa by one copy
of the Bible in his hands. He states the effect produced in the king
by a talk upon -the Bible story of angels. The king insisted he
must see the book the book is brought he read from Ezekicl tenth
chapter, and the seventh of Revelations.
When he read the
verses, "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither
shall the sun light on them, nor any heat," he felt that Uganda
would eventually be won to Christ. The king must have the book.
Tt was given him. This people have proved their faith at the
stake, under the knobstick and under torture till death."
The value and work of such a book having been seen and felt
induced many persons of all classes to see to its spread. A century
ago we had not a single Bible society; now there are seventy-three,
and still other agencies interested in the circulation of God's holy

of the

;

writ.

It is

word

of the

estimated that there are 5,000,000,000 copies of the
Lord in circulation to-day; about one copy to every

three persons of the world's population.

out through

all

the earth, and

The American

its

words

Truly, "its line has gone
to the

end of the world."

Bible Society has truly stood in the forefront in

giving to the people the word of eternal

life.
In the eighty-six
has placed in circulation 70,677,225 copies in
numerous languages and dilaects. Verily has this work borne its
fruit.
Says a minister in a foreign land, "Nine-tenths of our suc-

years of

its

history

cesses are the result of Bible

work-"

Another writes: "Indeed,

nearly every encouraging case brought to our attention shows

some connection with the

To
them

colporters."

the Negroes of the South this great Society comes, and to
an invitation is extended to partake of the feast of the Lord's

The

word

languages and
poor and needy
a copy is very often given. It is their purpose to see that every
hamlet and hut is visited and that there be no excuse to offer that
a copy of the Scriptures is not in every home.

word.

Society offers the

prints for the lowest possible figure,

in all forms,

and

to the very

CHAPTER LXXXV

THE CHURCH AND THE YOUNG MAN
Prof.

There

are

Primarily,

several

means

J. J.

Jenkins, A. M.

meanings attached to the name, Church.
a building in which Christians assemble at
.

stated times for the purpose of worshipping
in

Jesus Christ.

Again,

means

all

God through

belief

the regenerated believers in

Christ without regard to denomination.

the gift of

God

through the sinless "Babe" of the Bethlehem of Judea; therefore it
should be uppermost in the hearts of all Christians. All believers
should be willing to uphold and maintain this gift. The church
of Christ lias always been at war with the agents of evil and darkness- They would have us believe that the church of God is a fake,
and, therefore, not to be confided in by mankind. They claim that
God is responsible for all the calamity and misery to which the
human family is heir. These agents are vigilant, active and strong,
and attack the church's stronghold with stubbornness everywhere.
Many are taking "sides'' with the evil ones, thereby adding misery
Every time a Christian
to the already wretched state of affairs.
steps to the bar and takes a glass of "mocker," he adds that much
So prevalent is the yielding to
to the fighting force of the enemy.
the influence of the evil agency of the church by our church members
that the earth is bedecked with "dives" and dungeons of vice as the
firmament is bedecked with silvery stars which assist in giving us
light by night.
The church of God is a holy government guaranteeing to every
one of its citizens, prosperity, protection, liberty and eternal life.
It cloes not give to one at the expense of the other, but protects all
of its citizens alike. No government is right that does not do this.
Let us not be discouraged because of the deplorable condition of
our people as a ra:e. I voice the sentiment of fifty thousand loyal
Presbyterians of this country in saying that we are more secure,
holding position in the church with regenerated hearts than we are
without regenerated hearts, holding high positions in the gift of the
nation surrounded by her conquering army and navy.
(464)

CHAPTER LXXXVI

THE DUTY OF THE CHURCH TO YOUNG MEN
Rev. Silas X. Ford, A. M., D. D., of Augusta, Ga.

Of the 90,000,000 of population in the United States, there are
not less than 12,000,000 young men 'between the ages of fifteen
and twenty-five, and while we have the problems of commerce,
finance and agriculture on our hands, and while we are grappling
with the liquor question, the Sunday question and the Negro question, there is no problem of equal weight and importance with the
one involving the character, and destiny of the young men now
growing up and projecting their lives into the great surrents of
society and business.
Of the 12,000,000 men in this country
between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five, it has been estimated
that only thirty-five per cent, go to church occasionally, about
twenty-seven per cent, go to church regularly, and only about
fifteen per cent, belong to any branch of the christian church.
Where are the young men?
It is plain that they are not in the
churches, and we must seek them elsewhere. Where shall we seek
them? Walk with me on any prominent business thoroughfare in
any of our large cities (and in many of our smaller cities, for that
matter), and you will see hundreds and hundreds of young men
playing pool and billiards, while there are hundreds of others
sitting around on high seats against the walls, or standing around
watching the sport, amid the fumes of tobacco and whiskey and
Hard by the pool-room, someair made hideous with profanity.

You will find the
times in connection with it, there is the saloon.
there, also for the saloon furnishes, so the young man

young man

;

up his courage while he goes
on day by day damning his soul. The theatres, with their living
pictures and high kickers, claim a large portion of our young men
every night. There they feed their passions and lower elements «f
thinks, the essential thing to keep

(465)

CHURCH AND YOUNG MEN

466

their natures until virtuous society becomes a bore to them and
they lose all desire for pure womanhood.
In the resorts where
shameless women preside yon will likewise find the young men,
night after night and day after day, sucking the poison of hell

from the lips of "strange" women. It would seem that the general
appearance of the poor, degraded, drunken, opium-eating women
ought to be sufficient to cause the young man to take heed, for
upon these unfortunate creatures God Almighty has stamped in a
thousand different ways His disapproval of their lives.

Now, what
7.

iainly,

young men?
young men, to
teaching. But we

the duty of the church toward these

the duty of the church to reach the

oring them under its direct influence, under its
must admit the simple fact that the churches of Jesus Christ in this
day do not reach the great masses of young men
The question
naturally arises, then, what may the cfiurches do to win the young
men from the bawdy-houses, the gambling dens, the saloons and
the like?

Past experience has proven,

can never hope to draw

the

think, that the churches

young men from

places of sinful

pleasure by issuing a long string of platitudinous prohibitions in
the shape of church rules and regulations, stating dogmatically

young men

that

shall not

this,

and

shall not

that,

and

shall

The logical way, the sane way, the only way to
save the young men from these places is in the way spoken of in
the Bible where we are taught to "overcome evil with good."
not do the other.

I do not believe that it is mainly the whisbar-room, nor the excitement to be found at
the race-track, nor yet the women with their silk gowns and their
painted faces to be seen in public houses; I do not believe that
I

free to say that

key to be had

in the

these are the things that attract and hold our
it

young men.

then that does keep them, that does hold them?

ship,

It is

What

the fellow-

the comradship which the young man finds
There are thousands of young men who will
more of downright brotherhood, fellowship,

the brotherhood,

in all these places.

testify that

there

fraternity in the average saloon than there is to be found in the
average churclr. Man is a social being; he was made for social
intercourse; and, other things being equal, he is going to frequent

CHURCH AND YOUNG MEN
those places where he finds the

company

—

of even- church
the duty of the church
and well-being of its young people.

and well-being

of its

to proclaim this fact

young

people.

the most congenial.

—

to look to the social

It is

from the housetops.

church to take the lead
moral as young women.

467

in insisting that

It is
life

the duty of the church
It

the duty of the

young men

shall be as

CHAPTER LXXXVI1

THE HEREDITARY EFFECTS OF THE IMMORALITY OF
THE FATHER UPON THE CHILDREN
H.

Johnson,

Ph.

D.,

Editor,

Recorder,

Christian

Philadelphia, Penn.

The tendency of character to reproduce and perpetuate itself is
not an idle theory to be relegated to the realm of speculative interest.

What

seen in nature suggestive of this vital topic are but

Hints
opening
chapters of nature when the divine seal is impressed upon sundry
organic subjects dowered by Almighty intelligence with the innate
energy to transmit their type and nature to successive and indefisignificant prophecies of its extension to the

of this inviolable law of cause and sequence

moral sphere.

abound

in the

nite ages.

There is a law in physical dynamics which establishes the illimenergy of motion. That law avers that force or matter once
set in motion maintains its active errand until neutralized by some
superior energy Under the scientific formula of the correlation
and conservation of force the same inflexible truth finds expression,
but not one whit more so than in the moral universe, where character destiny is the goal and moral free agency the highway by
which the perfection of being is to be achieved. If throughout the
vegetable and animal, no less than in the material kingdoms, this
immutable law of reproductivity of like after its kind abounds, the
itable

and moral realms are in
accordance with this principle that underlies and dominates

presumption
strict

irresistiMe that the mental

the visible universe.

Though

freighted with overwhelming interest and

momentous-

ness from an ethical or metaphysical view point, our topic, "The*

Heredity Effects of the Immorality of the Father
(468)

Upon

the Chil-

;

FATHERS AND HEREDITY
'dren./'

vastly

469

more so when contemplated

destiny of the countless millions

involves.

If at

the light of the
the start of

pilgrimage each contestant occupied an equal footing,
the godess of heredity did not

weave garlands

for

life's

some

of roses while for

the footsteps of others she seems to have prepared a via dolorosis
of thorns; if to one was not apparently outstretched the ancestral
sceptre and sugared spoon, while to another the skeleton legacy and
iron rod and serpent lash were the only heirlooms, then might succeeding generations be left to shift for themselves and the fathers
gorge themselvs with sour grapes without endangering the teeth
of the children.

In the presence of the bracing atmosphere of a Morris
College, a Clark and Atlanta University, a

Gammon

Brown

and Spellman

Seminary, are we not forced to pause- and hold our breath lest the
deadly miasma emanating from youthful vice, degradation and
wickedness paralyze our senses? In this forbidding background
offsetting the picture of promise we see teeming hordes of the
young of both sexes tramping to the dead march of hopeless dissipation or reeling as helpless captives in the maelstrom of crime
and penal sufferings.
When we recall that the unreached within reach has not as yet
been attracted to any of our numerous and extraordinary meetings
that we have not pushed our campaign in the quarters where they
inhabit in keeping with the Master's command that we are about
to break ranks and depart without formulating a single plank or raft
in our platform that will lead to the rescue of a single membi
the outstanding armies of the unreached, it is quite befitting that
our exulting give way to regretfulness on having failed to improve
a most golden privilege and to the resolution that each one of us
commit himself more to the work of uplifting his fallen brother and
raising the standard of the masses.
If fathers would bestow one-half the concern upon the souls as they
do upon the bodies of their sons and daughters, which thev usually
see are well fed, clothed and housed if they would concern themselves by asking before their birth more frequently and more seriously, what kind of name or character shall I transmit as their in;

;

FATHERS AND HEREDITY

470
lieritance,

few more generations would dawn upon a race of
and intellectual weaklings no

giants, for the fathers of moral dwarfs

longer would exist.

The Hereditary

Effects of the Immorality of the Father

Upon

the

Children
Rev.

H- Scott, B. D., Centreville, Md.

—

We recognize two factors in human development heredity and
environment, the master influences of organic life. Heredity is the
transmission of characteristics from parent to offspring. It is the
force that tends to make the child like his ancestor. It makes for
the permanence of the race. That everything produces its own kind
is the law of all organic life.
The offspring is the reproduction of parentage not only in anatomical structure and physiological constitution but also in the qualand disposition. The eagle of the present is the
The cunningness of the fox is a derivation
from its earliest parentage. "The meekness and gentleness of the
lamb of to-day were in the blood of the paschal lamb." In all the
constitutive qualities man is always and everywhere the same.
That a father may transmit to his children tendencies to vice and
crime has been observed for ages. "Moral diseases," it has been
ities of instinct

eagle of

all

generations.

said, "are like physical diseases."

They

are contagious, or epidemic,

or hereditary.
Although exerting a profound influence, heredity does not always
decide character- "Our lives strengthen or weaken the tendencies

inherit."

Prof.

Drummond

forcibly puts

it:

"What

heredity

determined outside of ourselves. No man can
has to do for us
But every man to some extent can choose
parents.
select his own
His
relation to it, however largely deterhis own environment.
first
instance, is always open to alteration.
mined by heredity in the
over
environment and so radical its inAnd so great is his control
fluence over him, that he can so direct it as either to undo, modify,
is

—
FATHERS AND HEREDITY

471

perpetuate or intensify the earlier hereditary influence within certain limits.

The burning question with
to arrest

and overcome the

the

evil

Negro must

be,

what can be done

tendencies inherited from slavery

the hereditary effects of developing the animal nature and ignoring

both the intellectual and moral natures?

In the battle for the as-

cendancy of the higher, the better nature, we must lay stress upon
the importance of favorable environment and self-determination. I
mean by favorable environment the church, the school, the home,
the neighborhood, the press, the shop, the field, the farm
yea,
every external influence that can help enthrone reason and virtue,
develop true manhood, gain self-mastery. To overcome strong tendencies to evil is no rose water conflict, and right can not afford to
fling away any of her weapons, and, least of all, her best sword
the Word of God.

—

CHAPTER LXXXVIII

THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION A
POTENT AGENCY IN THE SALVATION OF
YOUNG MEN
Rev.

Mooreland, International General Secretary, Y. Ml

C. A.

The Young Men's

Christian Association wa's founded in London,
England, in 1844 by George Williams, who still lives, and was
knighted by Queen Victoria in 1894 for the splendid service to
humanity.
In 1851 the first association was organized on this continent at
Montreal, Canada, after the London model. A few days later
Boston and other leading cities soon followed the example.
Immediately after freedom colored men saw the need of special
effort among themselves for the salvation of their young men. AsSome few did
sociations were organized in a number of places.
splendid work, but all soon failed for lack of expert direction. In
1875 the colored ministers of Richmond, Va., petitioned the Y. M.
C. A. International Convention, in session there, to do something
The cry was heard, and a secretary
for the colored young men.
put in the field in due time.
In 1 888 the first colored secretary was employed at Norfolk, Va.
The Young Men's Christian Association is founded upon the
prophets and apostles, Jesus Christ Himself being the corner stone.
The breadth of this organization gives it a power never dreamed
of in the world before— not one branch of the church, but the
church as a whole marching in solid phalanx against the hardest

—

problem that confronts her to-day.
The potency of the Young Men's Christian Association is easily
summed up in two things: the plan of its organization and the
method of its work. Gathering an active membership qualified by
(472)

473

C. A.

character and spiritual power from all the churches, it at once gets
the best of all in government and working force one becomes a

—

spur or a check to the other as the case may need. At once the
needs of an entire community are comprehended, and not a part of
it.
The great sociological law of like mindedness is shortly recognized a force is generated which becomes not that of one Elijah
under the juniper tree, but that of the army of 7,000 determined
souls.
The Young Men's Christian Association recognizes this
;

great law and simply puts the leaven of righteousness into the

already formed.

Then

lump

the great force that actuates us possibly

more than any other is the social. Give men a good social environment and you have certainly done a great deal to start them upward. "They abide with him." A man becomes like his companions,

and

his taste falls to the level of his surroundings.

The

social

one of the potent factors in destroying men. Here is the
highway for the saloon, club and many times the house of ill-fame.
The Young Men's Christian Association recognizes this factor
and uses it for good by providing a cozy reception room where men
may meet their friends and "palava" or engage in innocent amusement and become acquainted and thus create a new society which
tends upward.
This brings us to the next highest factor in man his mind. "As
The educational feature is a strong
a man thinketh so is he."
factor in saving our young men. There are night schools with an
attendant of 27,000 of all races and classes in these Associations.
Then the reading room, library, lecture and debates all these set
forces to work that lift men.
But the stone which is to complete the building is yet to be put
the development of the spiritual life. Say what you
into place
Thousands
will, the gospel still has a peculiar attraction for men.
of men are being reached all over this country in men's meetings,
and the severe teachings of the law are being issued out to them.
element

—

There are

the world to-day 6,335 associations, 551,178
worth $29,467,890. Among the colored

bers, 739 buildings,

men

memyoung

are 67 student associations and 34 city, 13 secretaries in twelve

474

C. A.

cities, 2 international secretaries traveling and supervising vhe
work, 6,890 members. Last year $10,367 was paid by these associations for current expenses; 4,500 volumes in libraries, 1,428 Bible
classes, with an attendance of 23,659 2,565 gospel meeting for men
only, with an attendance of 75,279.
;

CHAPTER LXXXIX

HOW TO
Hon. John

SAVE OUR YOUTH

Dancy, Recorder

Deeds,

Washington, D. C.

must save our boys. The glory of any race is the manhood
Develop that and all else will come on apace. In
order to attain this manhood, there must be the proper training in
of that race.

childhood.

The training must begin at the fireside and continue through
every stage of the child's progress. Personal pride, filial devotion,
rugged honesty, respect for law and authority, absolute avoidance
these
of criminal indulgences and restraint of dangerous appetites

—

constitute the basic principles of the

life

of boys that are to lead the

race up and out of the degrading conditions which slavery left us as
a legacy.

The wise man taught thousands

"My son, when
The boy must be pointed

of years ago:

sinners entice thee, consent thou not."

out to the best human ideals that he may emulate their examples.
He must be taught that life is not merely beauty, but duty that its
;

charm is not in leisure, but in work.
The boy must be taught that he needs the same training, the
same mental development, to make him great, that it takes to make
boys of other races great. He needs to be taught that in order to be
the well-rounded man, he needs the triple education of ths head, the
hand and the heart. He needs to follow the examples of a DuBois
and a Roscoe Conkling Bruce, and win honors even at Harvard
College in contests that settle beyond cavil the superiority of mind.
We need to teach the boys that the future destiny of the race is in
their hands, and on their shoulders, and that with our humble beginning and that following the present bent of our minds we will
not be exterimnated like the Indian, but survive all difficulties and
conquer them like the Saxon.
chief

(475)

476

SAVING THE YOUTH

It is to

the mothers and to the sisters that

are to look, as well

consummation so devoutly to be hoped for.
To save the boy, the father must make of him a boon companion,
taking him 6ften with him to his work or business and discussing
with him the things which are to occupy his mind and attention in
later years.
He must take him to church with him and let him

as to the fathers, for the

learn his duty

He must
God.
in

toward God as well as

see that he goes to

The boy must be

his

duty toward his fellow.

Sunday School and learns the word

disciplined to parental obedience

order to have respect and obedience to those

authority over him

when he

enters the broader arena of

He must

who may

exercise

gets from under the parental roof and
life.

be like Joseph so well trained, that even though a slave

in. a strange country,

authority by holding
life,

and respect

may

so impress himself upon those in

communion with God and

leading an upright

that he rose to second place in power and authority in the

realm; so trained that,

Moses, he

will be singled out

tence to lead his people out of darkness, another
the glorious light of iiberty

and manhood.

form of

by omniposlavery, into

CHAPTER XC

THE CRIMES OF THE NEGRO MEN AGAINST THE
WOMEN OF THEIR RACE, AND HOW TO OVERCOME THEM
Rev. James E. Sargeant, President, A. U. M. P. Church, Wilmington,

Del.

what is a crime. It implies to
condemn; an act which violates a
law or rule, divine or human, and subjects to judgment and condemnation, a breach of the laws of right prescribed by God or man.
This is what Negro men are charged with against the women of
their race. Now, if the foregoing be true, as it evidently is, what is
the nature of these crimes committed by Negro men against the
women of their race? We know that women are the weaker sex
and are much influenced by men, because of their strength of character over them. Hence they are subject to much injustice.
By
way of illustration, we often see, hear and read of men becoming
very must interested in some young women with whom they have
met, and apparently they treat them with all the courtesy etiquette
It is

well for us

first

to consider

separate, to judge, to decide, to

demands.
these

This

women

done to carry out their diabolical plans.

Often

are inexperienced, though educated, yet ignorant of

the schemes that are generally playd upon their sex.

Would any

one dare say that such treatment is not criminal? Yea, yea, it is;
and may I add, it is a sin that heaven will demand of us a severe
Again looking at these crimes to which I have reretribution.
ferred, more humanely speaking, they are shocking because of the
condition which surrounds us. Of all people, with a very few exceptions, we are subject to more inhuman treatment than any other
race of people on the face of the earth.
(477)

HOW

478

TO OVERCOME CRIMES

Our next consideration is "How to overcome them (i. e. the
crimes committed) ." The only one and true way for men to overcome is to make themselves acquainted with God, and after such
acquaintanceship, then there must be firm reliance upon His word,
which

the only light to our path.

may

succeed for a time, but
temptation they are swept

by the high

in the

away

try other methods, they

time of severe trials and pressing
by the storms of life and flooded

which will eventually draw you into the
cataract of burning desires, and ere you realize your position you
sink beneath the foaming maelstrom. Men allowing themselves to
go so far become void of conscience and inconsiderate, and commit
crimes that they themselves are ashamed of when they return to a
sober state.

tide of passion

CHAPTER XCI

MEN AND THE CHURCH
Rev.

Thomas

God intended
men as well

LL. D.
M. E. Church

B. Neely, D. D.,

Cor. Secretary Sunday-School Union,

that His church should contain a proper proportion
as a fair proportion of

women.

In a

community

where there are men, a church made up entirely of women would be
as unnatural as a church made up entirely of men in a community
where there are women. Both sexes are needed in the church and
no church is in proper condition that does not contain a proper proportion of both.

When we

turn to the church as

Men

right proportions do not exist.

actually

find that the

church are not as numerous as they should be, and the same thing is true as to the congregations.
Indeed the number is disproportionately small, and
this is true not only in the older sections of the country where
women are in the majority, but also in the newer localities where

women

in the

are in the minority.

Unfortunately the average man is not taking as much interest in
the church as he should. The attitude of many men is one of indifference others regard the church contemptuously, while others
;

are positively antagonistic.

number

The

effect of this disproportion in the

men must be most injurious. It means a lack of that
men bring into human organizations, it means

peculiar vigor which

a lack of financial strength,

community where

men and

the

and

the church

men need

the church.

means
located.

a lack of influence in the

The church needs

While many

of the best

the

workers

church are women, it is no disparagement to them to say that
the church needs also the masculine element, and, of all classes,
women should be the most profoundly interested in this question of
in the

(479)

MEN AND THE CHURCH

480

men and the church, for, if men are not under churchly influences,
they are under worse influences, and the injury wrought by these
unchurchly or anti-churchly influences in turn afflicts mothers,
wives, sisters.

many causes contribute to this condition of affairs in
we are not to attribute the comparatively small
number of men to a single fact. The natural tendency to evil no
doubt has something to do with it, but there are many other things
to be taken into account.
But the church itself may have to bear
some responsibility. Men are apt to magnify the inconsistencies
Doubtless

the church, and

few church members and forget the good in the great mass of
membership. Then, perhaps, the church has not given sufficient
care to its growing boys and young men. Perhaps it has not aimed
to interest men in its church services and in the character of the
average sermon. It is certain that a lack of dignity in a church
service repels men, and that weak preaching that simply aims to
stir the emotions, but fails to instruct and inspire, disgusts the masof a
its

culine mind.

Another necessity is to get the men who are now in the church to
go out and bring in men who are now outside the church. This
must be laid on the consciences of men, and by instruction and
exhortation they should be made willing to perform needed work
and to actually do it.
The brotherhood movement is simply a way through the individual man in the church to reach the individual man who should

come

into the church.

It is

individual

work

for the individual

man

with the brotherhood association back of the individual, or, in other
words, individual effort backed by sympathetic association. The
emphasis is on individual effort, and the brotherhood is to
strengthen, stimulate and preserve the results of that individual
effort.

Such brotherhood should be simple in its organization, spiritual
in its purpose, and practical in its methods, and this is the nature
the Brotherhood of the Methodist Episcopal Church. To represent
Invitation, Welits work this brotherhood has four key-words:
should make
members
and
its
Membership,
come, Conversion, and

MEN AND THE CHURCH
four promises, or at least two

;

first,

481

to invite and try to bring at

man a week to the church services; second, to welcome
those who do come to the church services; third to endeavor to get
men converted; and, fourth, to try to bring men into church mem-

least

one

bership.

CHAPTER

XCII

OUR DUTY TO THE YOUNG MEN OF THE RACE
Rev.
I

B. Middleton, D. D., Summerville, S. C.

movement" a state"To emphasize the spir-

glean from the "published purposes of this

ment

of the second essential, as follows:

wise use of the intellectual, social and materegard as a wise provision, and it is rightly placed as
importance to aggressive christian work among our

itual as a basis for the

This

rial."

second

young people.
word "work."

The important word in the sentence quoted is the
This as the keystone of the arch of the seven purposes of this important movement. For, what is life without labor,

toil,

industry?

all this but a poor fraction of the consciousness of humanity
awakened; and the sanctities still slumber which make it what
it
ought to be. Knowledge, truth, love, beauty, goodness, faith
alone can give vitality to the mechanism of existence. The laugh

mirth that vibrates through the heart, the tears that freshen the

dry waste within, the mus*ic that brings childhood back again, the
prayer that calls the future near, the doubt which makes us meditate,

the

death which startles us with mystery, the hardships that

force us to struggle, the anxiety that ends in trust in the living

—

these are the true nourishments of our natural being.

life

of a

man

The

or of a race must be rooted in Jesus Christ.

Christ, the solid rock,

stand,"

God
true

"On

must be the motto and experience

our race if we shall conquer success under present environment.
God has called and elected them to a specific work, and they have
proceeded to make their calling and election sure. No circumstance
Not educaof wealth, with its magnetic attractions, draws them.
tion and culture, with its sometimes haughty spirit, that led them
to the Gate City of the South to re-erect the beacon light of gospel

(482)

OUR DUTY TO YOUNG MEN
by which the mariners on the sea of

truth

life

of intemperance, the quicksands of pride, the
passions,

sinful

fishermen,

all

and the rock of ignorance;

—a

living

burning bush, blossoming

fire.

can shun the shoals
rough breakers of

for,

Galilean

the

of them were once unlearned and ignorant men.

God has destined them to be fishers of men.
asm is commonly styled zeal, and a race is at
dition

483

Enthusiasm

tained activity;

;

while

forgotten

its

best in this con-

flame, fruitiing in coals of

not fanaticism

fatigue

the soul of sus-

principle

living

presses the faculties inot a constant flow of performan:e.
ters decrepitude of old

"We

when

mas-

he said:

Hypocrites

the ahar, but only the sincere walk calmly up

Imitators will lay flow ers upon
r

it.

us go up now."

impossible to doubt the sincerity of enthusiasm.

It is

may dance around
to

age, as did Caleb, at 85,

are fully able to possess the land

But

In religion enthusi-

it,

but only the children of
upon it. Only earnest

truth have a fondness for laying themselves

men and women would out

of their scanty earnings give $30,000 for

the purpose of assembling here in the interest of the salvation of a
race.

What

do who have set our affections and tastes
world? The path Christ makes to glory
runs through the church and clear on, without a break, across the
gulf like some daring railway bridge thrown across some mountain
gorge, and goes straight on without a curve, only with an upward
grade.
It is therefore our duty to lead our young men into the
church of the living God. The manner of the work may change;
the spirit of the work and the principle of the work remain. Our
young men must surrender to Christ. "Self-surrender is the law
of heaven."
And they shall follow the Lamb whithersoever he
goeth." Better to work here as we mean to end up yonder. Work
for the home. A great evil that exists among us is the vast number
of irreligoius homes of our people, many of them, it is true, are not
without culture, refinement and social enjoyment. But lacking the
most important element that constitutes a christian home religion.

upon

will

any

of us

this poor, perishing

—

CHjAPTER XCIII

THE GREAT CONCERT
Decidedly the feature of the Negro Young People's Christian and
Educational Congress was the grand sacred concert given in the
auditorium at Piedmont park last evening. Those who have the
Congress in charge said that they had made the effort to present the

eNgro race.
making preparation

best sacred concert ever given in the world by the

Effort and
for

this

money had not been spared

event, and the musical committee succeeded in getting

together the very best talent of the Negro race.
Fully ten thousand people crowded into the large auditorium, and
among this number were at least five hundred whites. The audi-

ence was surprised and more than well pleased at the program
rendered.
It has been an oft-repeated assertion that the Negro is a natural
musical genius, and some enthusiastic admirers of musical qualities

Negro have often gone so

he is the best
musician in the world. This claim for the African has been based
mainly upon his ability to render and appreciate that kind of music
which has in it a happy jingle and to it a lively tune.
The fact of his being able to render. and appreciate the classics has
never been seriously considered, but the vast audience of fully ten
thousand people who attended the grand sacred concert given by
the Negroes under the direction- of Prof. Charles G. Harris, director
of music at Booker Washington's school in Tuskegee, Ala., at
Piedmont park last night, had this idea dispelled forever from their
in the

far as to say that

minds.
CLASSICS ARE RENDERED

With an accuracy that would have done credit to the best
choruses that come from the musical centers of the United States
and from under the training of the so-called masters, the chorus of
(484)

THE GREAT CONCERT

485

Negroes rendered the classics such as "Et Carnatus," "Qui Tollis"
and others. Professor Harris is to be congratulated and commended
on the excellence of the program rendered, and upon the thoroughness with which the chorus was trained.
The chorus was accompanied by Nickerson's ladies' orchestra of
New Orleans. This orchestra, composed of twenty instruments,
is said to be the most renowned colored orchestra in the United
States. Professor Nickerson himself is the director of music in the
Southern University of New Orleans.
The full program rendered by the chorus and orchestra was as
follows

—

Orchestra selection, "Odeon Overture" Hardy.
Chorus, "Et Incarnatus" Farmer.
Vocal solo. Selected Fannie Payne Walker, Richmond, Va.
Cornet solo, Selected James W. McNeal, New Orleans, La.
Chorus, "The Crucifixion" Negro melody.
Vocal solo, "For All Eternity," Masheroni Stella A. E. Brazley,

—

—
—

New

—

Orleans, La.

—

Reading, Original Poem D. Webster Davis, Richmond, Va.
Chorus, "Hallelujah" Handel.
Violin solo, "II Trovatore," Verdi-Alnad Julia Ellen Lewis,

—

New

Orleans, La.

—
—
—
—
—

Chorus, "Freedom" Negro melody.
Mandolin selection, "Raindrops," Nickerson Mandolin Club.
Vocal solo, Selected Prof. J. T. Layton, Washington, D. C.
Reading, Selected Liatta Marshall, New Orleans, La.
Chorus, "Qui Tollis" Farmer.
Vocal solo, Selected— Lula V. Childress, Knoxville, Tenn.
Orchestra, Selection "Larissa Waltzes."
Chorus, "In My Heart" Negro melody.

—

Vocal solo, "Where Roses Gleam" (Masheroni) Leona A. Le
Due, New Orleans, La.
Chorus, "Inflammatus" Rossini.
Reading, Selected Laura Anderson, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Orchestra selection, "Forward March" Nickerson.

—

;

—

;

CHAPTER

XCIV.

DE NIGGER'S GO TO GO
Rev. D. Webster Davis, A. M., Richmond, Va.

From "Weh Down
Co.,

Souf," Copyrighted

Cleveland, Ohio.

Dear Liza,

bin

by The Helman-Taylor

Permission granted.

down-town

To Marster
An'

all

Charley's sto',
de talk dis nigger hear

"Niggers got to go."
it bodders my ol' head,
An' I would lik' to kno',
Wriat all we cuilud folks is don',
Dat now we'ze got to go?
Is,

'fess

dem say dat long ago
To ol' Virginny's sho'
Dar kum a ship wid cuilud folks,
I

hear

Sum

twenty odd or mo'
me dat dey hoed de corn,
An' wuz good wuckers, sho',
Dey made Virginny like de rose
But now dey's got to go.

Dey

tells

when ol' Ginnel Washin'ton
Did whip dem Red-koats so,

Dat,

nigger

wuz

fus' to fall

de fo'
Dat, in de late "unpleasunness"
Dey wat:hed at marster's do*,
A-fightin'

lib

Proteckin' ub his lubin' ones,

But now dey's got
(486)

to go.

—

;

—— —
;

; ;

DE NIGGER'S GOT TO GO
I 'fess I

lubs dis dear oY place

'Twuz here we beried

Jo';

An' little Liza married off,
So menny years ago.
An' now wez feeble, an' our lim's
A-gitting mighty slo\

We'd

hate to lebe de dear

But, deu,

wez got

don't kno'

much

ol'

place

to go.

'bout politicks,

An' all dem things, yo' kno',
But de las' 'leckshun I jes' vote

Ez de whi' folks tol' me to;
Dey tole me vote fur dimikrats,
An' 'twould be better, 'do;
Sense now dey dun de leckshun win,
Dey sez we'z got to go.

Dey

mad 'long
we kummin' up, yo'

sez whi' folks

'Cause

An' sum un us

Wid

is gittin'

us,

kno';

rich,

on de do'
kan't be jes' fur

do' bells

But, den,

D it we
f

De Lord

all

dis,

got to go.

he made dis lubly lan'
an' blacks folks, too,

Fur white

An' gin each

man

his roe to ten'

Den what we gwine

do?

'habes ou'selbes an' 'specks de laws;

But dey's peckin' mo' an' mo'
ain't dun nuffin' 'tall to dem;
Den, huccum we mus' go?

Fur ebry nashun on de

glob'

Dis seems to be a horn'

;

488

——

; ;

;

DE NIGGER'S GOT TO GO

Dcy wclkums dem wid open

arms,
matter whar dey frum
But we, who here wuz bred an' borhn,
Don't seem to hab no show;
We ho'ped to mek it what it is,
But still we'z got to go.

It 'pears to

We'z got

me,

An* not a man on

Gwine

Liza, dear,

a right to stay,
dis

broad urf

dribe dis nigger 'way.

But why kan't whi' folks lef us 'lone*
An' weed dar side de ro'
An' what dey all time talkin' 'bout

"De

nigger's got to go?"

" 'Rastus," Liza sed, "trus' in

God

He'll fix things here belo',

He don't hate us bekase we'z black
He made us all, yo' know'
He lubs us, ef we'z cullud folks,
Ef de hart is white an' pure,
An* 'ceptin' de Lord sez 'Forward, march

We'z not a-gwine

to go."

;

CHAPTER XCV
READERS AND SINGERS OF THE GREAT CONCERT
J.

The

W. Bowen

artistic talent of the great concert

Among the

Miss Liattah C. Marshall, A. M.,
Sarah Alderson, Cincinnati, O.
Va.

was

of the highest order.

readers were Prof. D. Webster Davis, A. M., Richmond,

;

New

Orleans, La., and Miss

They represented in their cultu re and training the best literary advantages of New Orleans University, Clark University, Atlanta
Virginia Union University, Richmond, Va. Chautauqua School of
;

Oratory, and the Emerson School o

showed
thrilled

Each one
advantage and the audiences were instructed as well as
and pleased. Prof. Davis is a master before an audience his
f

Oratory, Boston, Mass.

;

vernacular poems are true to the h eart

and

social

life

the

race.

Miss Marshall is a young reader of dramatic promise. Her voice is
well trained and her selections were adapted to her cultured nature.
Miss Alderson carries in her pers onality the culture of the Chatauqua School and the Emerson School of Oratory. Her impersonations
were tragic and comic. Her phys ical culture shows itself in every
gesture and poise of body.

The

vocalists represent a wider range of territory

every school-of musical expression.
Miss Stella Brazely captivated the audience with her

and mellow

Her range

and almost
full,

reson-

from a strong mezzo,
She
sang without effort and with sustained voice power that reached
every corner of the vast hall. The ten thousand appreciative hearers
who sat under her spell could scarcely be satisfied with three and
sometimes four encores.
Then comes Miss Lula V. Childress, professor of music in Knox-

ant, rich

voice.

almost contralto, to the distinct and soft notes of a soprano.

(489)

;

READERS AND SINGERS

490

Miss Childress

ville College.

a graduate

from the Oberlin Con-

Her studies were voice culture, piano, pipe
harmony and thorough bass. She exhibits in her demeanor
woman of rare culture and keen sensibility. Her voice is dis-

servatory of Music.
organ,
a

approaching a mellow but
Holy City was marked with a

tinctly contralto, with a fulness at times

Her

strong bass.

rendition of the

keen appreciation of the subject and a rich delicacy of tone that
thrilled and mellowed the audience. Her power of sustaining a note
is unsurpassed and free from the slightest approach to harshness or
broken voice. The audience was lulled or lifted as she pleased under
the magic of her melodious voice.
Among other excellent singers were Miss B. Maie Boyd, Prof.
John Layton, of Washington, a basso profundo Mr. John Smoot, of
New Orleans Prof. J. Henry Lewis, Washington, D. C, a tenor of
fine merit
Mrs. Marie Williams, of Baltimore, Md. Mrs. D. H.
Klugh, Augusta, Ga. Mrs. Fannie Payne Walker, Richmond, Va.
Miss E. Marian Taylor, Columbus, Ga., and Miss Clara Matthews,
Farmville, Va., each of whom deserve special mention.
Miss B. Maie Boyd, professor of instrumental music of Tuskegee
Institute, is a soprano of the first water. Her rendition of the solo
of "Inflammatus" swept far above the five hundred well-trained voices
and the excellent orchestra. Her highest notes were clear, distinct
She sang with ease and accuracy and her hearers rose
ancf rich.
with her in her highest notes to praise the author of that classical
;

;

contribution.

All of these sweet musicians, under the leadership of Prof. Charles
G. Harris, displayed their talent in superb style.

Prof. Charles

need only be said that he is the most superb master of
and thoroughly cultured master of the raec.
G. Harris

Prof. William Roseborough is a first-class musician and musical
author and a fine director. The pianists were Mrs. William McKinney and Mrs. J. W. E. Bowen. All of these rendered valuable and
efficient service.

Part XII
Closing Session.

CHAPTER XCVI
BISHOP GAINES' FAREWELL WORDS
Permit,

which, from

yon

please, one or

two statements

point of view, the

first

as to the impression

session of the

Negro Con-

gress has created and permanently stamped upon the public mind.

The

own

first is

that the

Negro

becoming deeply interested

in his

have been accused of being indifferent and
apathetic, and depending more upon others than upon ourselves.
While grateful for all the help the white people of this country, both
North and South, have extended to us, this Congress has emphasized the fact that the Negro is learning that the chief factor in
his unlifting is his own efforts and agency.
Millions will be wasted in futile attempts to educate and enlighten
our people unless we take hold of and appropriate the opportunities
and advantages we enjoy. This Congress has made clear the fact
that the Negro realizes that after all it is his own worth and value
as a man and ps a citizen that are to determine his position and his
elevation.

place in this country.

Second. This Congress has recognized the truth that mere politagencies are powerless to change our status or to remedy the

ical

evils of

our situation.

When

the

Negro becomes

qualified as a race for intelligent citi-

zenship by moral and educational equipment, then his political
status will be rightly adjusted, and not before.
(491)

FAREWELL WORDS

492

This Congress has emphasized the truth that, to'* accomyoung people of our race must be reached and
redeemed.
It is too late now to work out these great results
through the old and midddle-aged. Those who are coming on to take
our places must be imbued with sound principles and views if they
are to make wise and useful and conservative citizens.
I congratulate this Congress upon the spirit of unity and harmony which has characterized its deliberations. "Behold how
pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity."
And now that you go from us to every section of this fair country,
carry with you the same spirit you have so beautifully manifested
Third.

plish these ends, the

here,

and stand for the same principles you have so eloquently ad-

vocated.

CHAPTER XCVII
PUBLIC DECLARATION TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
The Negro Young People's Christian and Educational Congress,
having been called for the purpose of considering the moral, religious, educational and material condition of our people, sends greetings to all the various types of racial blood and lineage which in
the aggregate constitute our national life.
We join you in the hope that our nation, true to God and true to
humanity, the grandest republic upon which the sun has ever shone,
shall become more and more under the leadership of men who fear
God and work for righteousness. And to this end we pledge anew
our heart's devotion and our life's best energies. Our purpose here
has been to deal with problems which confront the Republic in its
complex national life; but, more especially, to deal with those
problems that are essentially the Negro's, and which, in the very
nature of the case, must be virtually solved by him. While on the
one hand we have had wrongs and grievances many, on the other
hand we have had opportunities and privileges innumerable; and
we are deeply convinced that to show ourselves worthy of the
latter is infinitely better than to permit ourselves to be weakened
and discouragd by the former. Whatever of burdens we may still
have to endure, of adjustments which are yet to be made, we throw
ourselves upon the justice and fair play of the American people,
North and South, and declare our unreserved conviction that right
Consequent to the work of making ourin the end will prevail.
selves worthy of present opportunities and obligations growing out
of them, rather than to plead our wrongs and grievances, we deliberately and resolutely turn our attention.
The growth of the Negro since emancipation is unparalleled.
From four and a half millions a generation ago, we are now ten
millions, and this without the aid of immigration.
(493)

494

PUBLIC DECLARATION

In spite of the theorists and their theories, both before and after

we have shown ourselves able to live and
While our material growth has not been quite as marked

emancipation,

thrive.

as our

numerical growth, yet the results are highly satisfactory and encouraging. A generation ago we came out of bondage without a
foot of land, without a home, without a name.
Even the clothes
To-day we
that covered our poorly-clad bodies were not ours.
have some land, some homes, some money. Yesterday we had
nothing, to-day we own millions of acres of land, pay taxes on property worth millions of dollars, and raise more cotton under freedom

than under slavery.
is

These

facts

frugal and industrious, and

show conclusively

that the

Negro

constantly growing into the eco-

nomic and national life of the nation.
Many problems regarding the intellectual
have been solved. It is no longer a question

Negro
whether he can
learn or how much he can learn.
The evident purpose in some
respects to meet objections and answer theories is responsible for
some errors in our educational methods which were made in the
beginning.
Now, after years of experience, we have pleasure in
being able to say that our educational methods are both practical
and effective. While much has been accomplished in the intellectual development of our people, candor compels us to admit that
much yet remains to be done. It is an encouraging fact, however,
that more agencies are at work for their intellectual uplift than
Nearly thirty thousand young colored mena nd women,
ever before.
eighteen thousand of whom hold diplomas, have been prepared and
sent forth as christian teachers; and the success already achieved
warrants the hope that a better day is beginning to dawn upon us.
With the view to promoting our material interests and increasing
ability of the

as to

number of opportunities to earn a livelihood, we earnestly
recommend to our people throughout the country that they tea:h
the

their children the dignity

and value of manual

labor,

and that they

give them the benefit of an industrial education which will enable
them to enter the world's industries with as much knowledge, skill

and dexterity as members of other races possess. That for the
purpose of securing competent men and women to lead the race in

;

PUBLIC DECLARATION

495

its struggle for greater knowledge, purer character, better religion,
nobler manhood, and larger accumulation of wealth, we must encourage the higher education of as many of our boys and girls as

are capable of and who desire the higher training. That we extend
our gratitude to all of our friends, whether they live in the North
or the South, in Europe or America, for the help they have thus far
given us in the great work of uplifting our people: and, judging from
the results which have already been accomplished, we feel that we
can safely assure them that whatever help they may give us in the
future will not be given in vain for our highest aspiration is not
that of the anarchist to destroy not that of the master, to dominate
;

;

but rather that of the brother, o co-operae with our fellow countrymen
in building
in

upon

this continent a civilization

which

practice as well as in theory the fatherhood of

will recognize

God and

the

brotherhood of man.

and higher moral life among
home and individual life
are most gratifying. In fixing our moral status, we ask you as a
matter of fair play, do not judge us by our worst as has so often
been done but rather by our best. While we are laboring earnestly to lift up and save our more unfortunate brethren, we ask you
to continue to help us, and withal to be patient with us.
In thus asking you to be patient, we do not think we are asking
you too much for, if the more favored race who has been out of
the wilderness for a thousand years still find some obliquity in
ethics and morals among them, surely they can be patient with us
who are not out of the wilderness yet, having only come thirty-

While there

us, yet

is still

room

for a better

unmistakable evidences of

purer

—

;

nine years out of the allotted forty.

OUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE GOVERNMENT

are cognizant of the civic and political

inequalities

under

we urge our people to
continue to strive to shape their conduct that they may prove themselves deserving of any right and privilege now enjoyed by every
which our people are suffering

other American citizen.
As citizens of this Republic,

neverthless,

feel

keenly the responsibility of

PUBLIC DECLARATION

496

putting ourseles in touch with the best elements of all races and
and of doing all we can to make this truly a liberty-loving

classes,

—

nation, guaranteeing to every one rich or poor, high or low, Mongolian or Malay, Caucasian or Negro the fullest protection of the

—

law.

stand ready to join with the Anglo-Saxon, learning the same

—

lesson he learned from the ancient Greek to lay first the root of
civilization, and then with light and learning to carry it around the

world, and more especially to Africa.

Third Division*

Work

and Results of the Denominational
Boards*
Part

Work and

Results of the Educational Boards

Among

the

Race.

CHAPTER

XCVIII

THE WORK OF THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION AMONG THE COLORED PEOPLE
Rev. George

Moore, Nashville, Tenn.

The American Missionary Association, which was formed in
was the pioneer missionary society in the work of uplifting
among the colored people. It has done more in their behalf during
the fifty-six years of its history than any other organization. It was
1846,

organized with pronounced opposition to slavery, which then existed,

and against all race and caste prejudice, which still exists.
fields were early occupied, and in 1854 there were seventy-

Foreign
nine

missionaries

located

foreign

including

lands,

Africa,

Jamaica, Sandwich Islands, Siam, Egypt and Canada.
It was at this period that Berea College was established in Kentucky.

The

crisis,

so long impending,

Union armies, entering the South

came

in 1861,

instruction and elevation of the colored people.
felt itself
first

length, and the

opened the way

for the

The Association

providentially prepared to engage in the work, and the

systematic effort for their

relief

was by

it.

Large numbers of

"contrabands" or escaping fugitive slaves gathered at Fortre?
Monroe and Hampton, Va.
(497)

AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION

498

The American Missionary Association rapidly extended its work.
At Norfolk the school of the previous year now numbered 1,200
pupils. Teachers were sent to Newbern and Roanoke Island, N. C,
to Beaufort, Hilton Head, St. Helena, and Ladies Island. S. C, and
to St. Louis, Mo., and its force was scattered over the field held by
our armies in the District of Columbia, Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Florida, Louisiana. Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas.
The year 1865 was marked
by the close of the Civil War, by the establishment, by act of Congress, of the Freed men's Bureau, and by the holding of a national
council of Congregational churches at Boston, which recommended
to the churches to raise $250,000 for the work among the freedmen,
and designated the American Missionary Association as the organ-

ization providentially fittep to carry

The Association accepted

forward.

the responsibility, appointed district

and Boston, and collecting agents
Northern States.
It also solicited funds in
Great Britain and succeeded in seeming that year a little more than
the $250,000 recommended by the council.
Its receipts from all
sources ran up from $47,828 in 1861 to $420,769 in 1870. The number of teachers, which was 320 111 1865, was enlarged to 533 in 1870.
secretaries at Chicago, Cincinnati
in other portions of the

was during this period that the beginning was made for most
our permanent educational institutions for the training of the
It determined to
teachers, ministers and leaders of the people.
establish one school of higher learning in each of the larger states
of the South, and normal and graded schools in the principal cities,
and common and parochial schools in smaller villages and country
It

places.

Under

broad plan arose Hampton, in Virginia; the
in Georgia
Berea College, in Kentucky Fisk
Nashville, Tenn., with the wonderful career of the
this

Atlanta University,
University,

;

who delighted the most refined people in America
and Europe with their heart-stirring music, returning to Nashville
with $150,000 to erect and furnish Jubilee Hall and equip other departments. Talladega College, in Alabama, with its varied departments of intellectual and industrial training; Tougaloo University,
Jubilee Singers,

Mississippi, with

its

great farms, work-shops and schools of learning.

AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION

499

Straight University, of New Orleans, La., with its 700 students, and
Tillotson College, in the Empire State of Texas.

With these was established in Savannah, Charleston, Ma^on,
Memphis and other leading cities schools, normal and graded, and
through all the introduction of trades and farm work for the boys
and home and industrial work for the girls a system of education

—

so complete as to have required no serious modification afterwards.

From

come

these busy hives of industry and learning have

ever-increasing numbers the makers of character, girls

young men

forth in

who

create

good farmers, mechanics, the
army of teachers for schools of every grade, and the leaders to be
presidents of colleges, lawyers, doctors and educated ministers of
the gospel, men worthy to guide and lift people up in all the walks
of life.
In this list are included Hampton, Atlanta and Berea,
though under their own Board of Trustees, as they were founded
by the Association, and indicate the original plan of location of its
large institutions.
At this time the Association maintains sixtyneat homes, the

nine schools

among

to be

the colored people of the South.

Five of higher

education, thirty-three normal and graded schools and thirty-one

common
Avery
Tenn.

schools.

The normal and graded

C,
Macon, Ga. Emerson,
Wilmington, N. C.

Institute of Charleston, S.
;

Ballard, at

the

include

schools

Lemoyne,

at Mobile, Ala.,

;

the

Memphis,
and Greg-

ory Institute, at
Theological departments have been established in Howard University, Talladega College and Straight University.
The Joseph K. Brick school at Enfield, N. C, with Prof. Thomas

Inborden as principal, has a fine plant of 1,129 acres of land, ten
and courses of study in normal, industrial, agricultural
and mechanical training. The Albany Normal, Prof. Jas. L. Murray, principal, located at Albany, Ga., is a prosperous institution,
with three hundred students.
The Helena Normal, at Helena,
Ark.; the Knox Institute, at Athens, Ga. the Fessenden School, at
Martin, Fla. the Peabody Academy, at Troy, N. C. the Cotton
Valley School, near Fort Davis, Ala. the Lamson School, at Marshallville, Ga. the Kowaliga School, at Kowaliga, Ala., and others
under the direction of colored instructors are doing a splendid serS.

buildings,

;

AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION

500
vice in the

work

of uplifting

among

the people.

Industrial training

has held an important position in the educational work of the Association for many years. Talladega College was the first institution
in the South to introduce this important branch of study; now
about every school in the South and Southwest in our service has
more or less extended departments of industrial training. Large
farms are cultivated at Talladega, Ala., Tougaloo, Miss., and Enfield, N. C.

The receipts of the American Missionary Association for the first
year were $11,328.27. The largest receipts for any one year for
current work were in 1892, amounting to $429,949.37. The total
receipts from all sources and for all forms of work aggregate over
In addition to this, there came the magnificent gift of
$14,000,000.
Mr. Daniel Hand of $1,000,000 for the education of the colored peoIn
ple, the largest gift of a living donor to a missionary society.
addition to this, he

amount

left

a legacy which,

when

all

sums

are paid

in,

on the same conditions of the original gift. Congregationalists have expended over
twenty million dollars in the South since emancipation for the education and elevation of the Negro.
Among the early founders of this Association were such men as
the Rev. Charles G. Finney, Arthur Tappan, Louis Tappan and
Rev. Geo. P. Whipple, its first corresponding secretary. Rev. M.
E. Strieby, D. D., served as corresponding secretary thirty-four
years. The present corresponding secretaries are Rev. A. F. Beard.
D. D., Rev. F. P. Woodbury, D. D., and Rev. C. J. Ryder, D. D. H.
W. Hubbard, Esq., is treasurer Among the noble band of educators
in the service of the American Missionary Association were Rev.
John G. Fee, of Berea College Gen. Samuel C. Armstrong, of
Hampton Institute; President Edward Ware, of Atlanta University President Henry De Forest, of Talladega College, aad President E. M. Cravath and Prof. A. K. Spenze, of Fisk University.
As a result of their sacrificial service, we have such men as Booker
T. Washington, R. R. Wright, Spencer Snell, Thomas S. Inborden,
Prof. Dubois and a host of others, who have caught the spirit of
their lives and fruitful service.
will

to nearly a half million dollars more,

;

CHAPTER XCIX

THE FREEDMEN'S AID AND SOUTHERN EDUCATIONAL
SOCIETY OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL
CHURCH
Rev. M. C. B. Mason, D. D., Corresponding SecretaryCincinnati,

Ohio

This Society was organized in the city of Cincinnati in 1866,
having for its purpose the education of the newly emancipated
freedmen of the South. Several years previous to this the Methodist Episcopal Church was carrying forward its work of education
for the Negro under what was then called the Western Christian
Association, of which Dr. J. M. Walden, now Bishop Walden, was
the first corresponding secretary. In 1866 the Western Association
took a denominational form and was merged into the Freedmen's
Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Dr. Walden
was made the first corresponding secretary. Several years later
Bishop Walden was made president, and Dr. R. S. Rust was elected
corresponding secretary, which position he held for nearly a quarIn 1888 Rev. Dr. J. C. Hartzell now Bishop of
ter of a century.
Africa was elected corresponding secretary, and in 1892 the work
had grown to such an extent that two corresponding secretaries
were necessary, and Drs. J. C. Hartzell and J. W. Hamilton were
elected. In 1896, when Dr. Hartzell was elected Bishop of Africa,
the Rev. Dr. M. C. B. Mason, then assistant corresponding secretary, was elected by the General Conference as his successor.
Dr.
Mason was the first colored man elected to such a position in the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and it is gratifying to state that he
was so successful in the administration of the large interests committed to his care that at the last General Conference of his church,
which met in Chicago in 1900, he was elected senior corresponding

—

(501)

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

502

secretary by the largest vote ever given to any secretary for this
position.
From the humble beginning of thirty-six years ago, when the
its work on a borrowed capital of $800, it has grown
immense proportions, and now has forty-seven schools of chris-

Society began
to

tian learning dotted all over the sixteen

former slave States of the
South, with 465 teachers, 11,000 students, and real estate valued at
$2,155,000. In addition to the regular work of the college, the academy,

norma] and industrial school, the Freedmen's Aid and Southern
Education Society has made a specialty of professional education,
there .being schools of law, of medicine, of dentisty, of pharmaoy,
and nurse-training. It is a noted fact that more than one-half of all
the Negro physicians, pharmacists and dentists in the South are
graduates either of the Meharry Medi:al School at Nashville,
Tenn., or the Flint Medical School at New Orleans, La., both of
which institutions belong to and are controlled by the Freedmen's
Aid and Southern Education Society. The Law School at Nashville has also had a remarkable career, several of its graduates*
having practiced before some of the foremost courts in the land.
A large number of the academies have Negro principals, and in
several of

schools of collegiate grade colored

its

schools have been elected to the presidency.

Ph.D.,

;

President of Wiley University

at Marshall, Tex.; Rev. J.
President at Philander Smith College at Little Rock,
Rev. Dr. J. D. Chavis is President of Bennett College, Greens-

M. Cox
Ark.

men educated in its
M. W. Dogan,

Prof.

The Rev.

boro, N. C.

Pierre

Landry

Dean

of Gilbert College at

Baldwin, La.

In these faculties there are white as well as colored

teachers, and

needless to say that these

receive the same salary

Gammon

Negro Presidents

as their white predecessors.

Theological Seminary at Atlanta, Ga.

is the most thorbest
endowed
Theological
and
Seminary in the
oughly equipped
for
institution
the
education
of
Negro
ministers is
South, and as an
the most thoroughly equipped and best endowed in the world. In
this institution the Rev. Dr. J. W. E. Bowen, widely known all over
the country as one of the ablest men of the. rare, holds the chair of
Historical Theology, with the same salary and privileges accorded

his associates.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

503

The Freedmen's Aid Society has raised and expended for the
education of the Negroes since the close of the war over seven
millions of dollars, her total expenditures at the present time
amounting

Her

to an average of over $375,000.

tions for the education of the

Orangeburg, N. C, with

Negro are

real estate

principal institu-

Claflin University, at

and buildings valued

at $150,-

000; Clark University, at Atlanta, Ga., with real estate and build-

New Orleans University, at New Orleans,
with real estate and buildings valued at $175,000; Rust University, atmHolly Springs, Miss., with real estate and buildings
valued at $125,000; Walden University, at Nashville, Tenn., with
real estate and buildings valued at $125,000; Wiley University, at
Marshall, Tex., with real estate and buildings valued at $75,000;
Bennett College, at Greensboro, N. C, with real estate and buildings
valued at $60,000; George R. Smith College, at Sedalia, Mo., with
real estate and buildings valued at $50,000; Morgan College, at
Baltimore, Md., with real estate and buildings valued at $35,000;
Philander Smith College, at Little Rock, Ark., with real estate
and buildings valued at $30,000, and the Gammon Theological Seminary, at Atlanta, with real estate and buildings valued at $100,000.
The principal Academies are: Morristown Academy, at Morristown, Tenn., with school and real estate valued at $75,000; Samuel
Houston College, at Austin, Tex., with school and real estate valued
ings valued at $350,000;
La.,

$30,000; Virginia Collegiate and Industrial Institute, at Lynchburg, Va., with school and real estate valued at $35,000; Gilbert

at.

Academy,

at Baldwin, La., with school

$60,000; Meridian

Academy,

and

at Meridian,

real estate

valued at

Miss., with school

and

valued at $10,000; Central Alabama Academy, at Huntsville, Ala., with school and real estate valued at $10,0000; Cookman
Institute, at Jacksonville, Fla., with school and real estate valued

real estate

at $25,000.
Its present officers are

H. C. Jennings, D.

Bishop

D., Treasurer; Rev.

M. Walden, President Rev.
M. C. B. Mason, D. D., Rev.
;

P. Thirkield, D. D., Corresponding Secretaries;; with headquarW. Fourth street, Cincinnati, Ohio.

ters at 220

CHAPTER C

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OF THE AFRICAN
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Prof. Jno.

The

first

Hawkins, Secretary and General Commissioner.

direct effort

towards the establishment of our schools

dates from September 21, 1844, when the Ohio Conference of the
A. M. E. Church appointed a committee to select a seat for a semi-

nary of learning on the "manual labor plan," and projected what
called Union Seminary, which was later merged into Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio, our oldest and leading insti-

was then
tution.

1876 the General Conference appointed Rev.

Embry

commissioner or general agent to look
after the special work of schools, his successor being Rev. B. F.
(afterwards Bishop) the

first

Watson.
In 1884 education was made a special department of the church
under the supervision of Rev. W. D. Johnson, who held the position
of commissioner or general secretary of education till May, 1896,
when the present incumbent was elected as his successor.
This department has grown to be one of the most important
branches of the church work, with an organization extending all
over the States and Territories of the Union, Africa, and Islands of
Hayti, San Domingo, Bermuda and Bahama.

SCHOOLS

The
ified

show a record of twenty-five
cover the work done in primary,

latest reports

so as to

school,

courses.
(504)

industrial,

normal,

scientific,

institutions class-

parochial, graded

collegiate

and

university

AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

605

PLAN OF OPERATION
For the better government of our schools, the last General Conference enacted that the educational districts coincide with the Episcopal districts, except the First, which embraces the First, Third and

Fourth Episcopal

districts.

Each educational district has its own school or schools dependent
upon it fqr connectional aid through endowment day collections and
general support.

SPECIAL TRAINING FOR

THE MINISTRY

In addition to the above-named schools r special provision

made

for the training of our ministry by establishing regular seminary
courses at Payne Theological Seminary, Wilberforce, O., and Turner Theological Seminary, Atlanta, Ga., with arrangements for a
chair of theology or a correspondence and lecture course at Allen
University, Columbia, S. C. Paul Quinn, Waco, Tex. Kittrell College, N. C. Shorter University, Ark., and Edward Waters, Fla.
;

;

SUPPORT

These schools have three main sources of income: From pupils
a nominal sum for tuition, board, room rent, etc.; from
private donations and bequests, applied according to the will of the
donor and from a regular church fund, known as Educational Endowment Fund supplemented by appropriations from the general
church treasury. The total amount of money reported from these
three sources during the last quadrennium
1896-1900 was $270,988.54, of which $32,298.05 came from the general church treasury,

who pa
;

—

out of the 54 per cent, of the dollar money sent to the financial secretary. For this present quadrennium it is enacted that 8 per cent,
of the entire dollar money raised and reported at each annual conference shall be paid over to the general secretary of education by
the finance committee of each annual conference. This requires the

money or general fund to be divided as follows:
Forty-six per cent, to Financial Secretary, Rev. E. W. Lampton,

dollar

Washington, D. C.

;

AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

506

Ten per

cent, to Secretary of

Church Extension, Rev. B.

Wat-

son. Philadelphia, Pa.

Eight per cent, to Secretary of Education, Prof. John R. Hawkins,
N. C.

Kittrell,

Thirty-six per cent, retained by each Annual Conference and used
for local purposes.

This eight per cent, is supplemented by a special appropriation of
$8,000 from the financial department for special work in our. theological seminaries and our regular endowment day fund.

The third Sunday in September of each year is set apart as Endowment Day, when all the churches and Sunday Schools of the
connection are expected to make a grand rally for the cause of education, and,

through the pastor, forward the collection to the Gen-

Secretary of Education.

eral

The

shows that since 1884, when this department was
raised and appropriated for education $1,285,During this quadrennium we want to raise at least $400,000

latest report

organized,
013.31.

we have

for education, $100,000 for each year.

NAME AND LOCATION

OF OUR SCHOOLS

Payne Theological Seminary, Wilberforce, O.
versity, Wilberforce, O.

;

Morris Brown

College, Kittrell, N. C.

trell

Edward Waters
North

;

Turner Normal

School, Marion,

Institute,
;

Wayman

;

Kit-

CampbellHarrodsburg,

Ala.

Institute,

Delhi,

Allen

Shorter University,

Shelbyville, Tenn.

Delhi Institute,

School, South McAllister,

Fla.

Payne University, Selma,

Stringer College, Jackson, Miss.

Ky.

;

Paul Quinn College, Waco, Tex.
Western University, Quindaro, Kan.

College, Jacksonville,

Little Rock, Ark.

Wilberforce Uni-

;

University, Columbia, S. C.

;

College, Atlanta, Ga.

La.;

;

Flegler
Sisson's

High
High

FOREIGN

WORK

Parochial schools in Africa, British Guana, the Islands of Hayti,
San Domingo, Bermuda and Bahama, representing nine schools,

twenty-seven teachers, 1,291 pupils.

CHAPTER

THE WORK OF THE BOARD OF MISSIONS FOR
FREEDMEN
Rev.

Wm.

H. Weaver, D.

D., Field Secretary, Preebyteran

Church

Freedmen of the Presbyterian Church
whose officers are Rev. H. T. McClelland, D. D., President; Rev. Edward P. Cowan, D. D., Corresponding Secretary and Acting Treasurer, and Rev. John J. Beacon,
D. D., Treasurer, and whose offi:e is 516 Market street, Pittsburg,
Pa., is the authorized and accredited agency of the General Assem"The Board

of Missions for

the United States of America,"

bly of the said church for fulfilling

its

mission to the Negroes in the

South.
It

has for

its

object the giving to the

Negro the

gospel and of a practical christian education.

benefits of a pure

seeks to do this by

educating preachers and teachers, building churches, school houses,
academies, seminaries and colleges, supporting students, providing
the necessary utensils and furnishings for the various institutions,

and by giving the necessary oversight and control for the wise,
economical and successful conduct of a work so large, so important
and so pressing in its claims and urgent in its demands on the attention and support of the entire church.
This Board represents the effort of the Presbyterian church
(North) for the past thirty-seven years to do what the Lord would
have done
tion

in this field for the

souls.

glory of His kingdom and the salva-

Our church began missionary work among

new committee appointed with headquarters
committee continued the work without change
tion for twelve years, until 1882,

Pittsburg.

the

This

of plan or organiza-

when, for good and satisfactory
reasons, it was thought wise to have the committee incorporated,
and. with the sanction of the General Assembly, the committee ob(507)

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

508

became a corporate body under the
Board of Missions for Freedmen of the Presbyterian
Church in the United States of America.
Since then until this day this part of the work of the Presbyterian
church (North) has been, and is, done under the name and management of this Board. The present system of educational and evangelistic work conducted and maintained by the Presbyterian church
(North) among the Negroes in the South, commanding as it does
the attention and respect of all observers and demanding the support of all who love and follow Him who freely gave Himself for us
all, is the outgrowth of the wisdom and effort of this Board.
For,
unlike some similar societies, associations and agencies, this Board
owes its existence and present vigor not to aid first received from
the Freedmen's Bureau, but to what, under the blessing of God, it
has been able to do with that which the church has entrusted to its
management and care.

tained a charter that year, and

name

of the

During these years schools, academies, seminaries, colleges and
one nuiversity have been established and maintained in which thousands of the youth of the Negro race have been gathered, brought

under enlightened christian influences and trained in the ways of
right living and doing. Congregations have been gathered, churches
organized, church buildings erected and property secured until now
the Board, according to its last report, has under its watch and care
209 ministers, 353 churches and missions, with a communicant membership of over 21,000; 88 schools, 272 teachers, 11,000 students.

Church property valued at more than $350,000. School property at
more than $500,000. Permanent investment for the use of the
Board of more than $100,000, making about $1,000,000 invested in
property and permanent funds.
Negroes of the South under the direction of the General Secretary
(O. S.) as early as 1864. There were two committee which, under
the appointment of that General Assembly, had the work in charge,
one with headquarters at Indianapolis, Ind.. and the other at PhilThe work of these two committees from necessity
adelphia, Pa.
was confined by military lines, and was chiefly in connection with

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

609

hospitals. The General Assemunder the one general comcommittees
bly of 1865 united these
mittee, entitled the General Assembly's Committee on Freedmen,

military and contraband

camps and

with headquarters at Pittsburg, Pa.
Prior to the reunion of the old and new school branches of the
Presbyterian church there was carried on a work similar in character and purpose by the Presbyterian committee of home missions

(N. S.), with headquarters at New York. At the time of the reunion in 1870 this work among the freedmen, as thus conducted or

managed from New York and Pittsburg, was consolidated, and a
The larger part of the Board's work lies in North Carolina, South
Carolina and Southern Virginia, but it is touching with more or
less power all parts of the Southland in the benefits it offers through
the gospel of Christ and christian education.

Its missionaries are at

work not only in the Carolinas and Southern Virginia, but in Georgia, in Alabama, in Mississippi, Texas and Florida, and also in Arkansas, Maryland, Tennessee, Missouri, Kentucky and in Indian

And

Territory.

its

schools are as widely

distributed,

among

chief

N. C. The five large
seminaries for girls: Ingleside, at Burkeville, Va. Scotia, at ConBarber Memorial, at Anniston, Ala. Mary Holmes, at
cord, N. C.

which are Biddle University,

at Charlotte,

;

and Mary Allen, at Crockett, Tex. Its large coeducational colleges and institutes in North Carolina: Albion, at
Franklinton; Mary Potter, at Oxford; Dayton, at Carthage.
In
South Carolina: Brainerd, at Chester; Harbison College, at Abbeville; Immanuel, at Aiken.
In Georgia: Haines, at Augusta. In
Tennessee Swift Memorial, at Rogersville. In Arkansas Cotton

West

Point, Miss.

;

Plant, at Cotton Plant; Monticello,

Monticello;

Richard

Allen,

Pine Bluff. Its academies: Anderson, at Anderson, S. C. Arkadelphia, at Arkadelphia, Ark.
Beaufort, at Beaufort, S. C. Holbrook Street, at Danville, Va. Kendall, at Sumter, S. C. McClelland, at Newnan, Ga. Mattoon, at Greenville, S. C. and Wallingat

;

ford at Charleston, S.

besides scores of others, large and small,
parochial schools, scattered all over the South, which are not with-

out their importance and place in a work which has for

its

object

;

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

510

and aim the uplift of an ignorant and a poor people. The work ot
Board, it will be seen, is twofold: Evangelistic and educational.
First, it is to give the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to the Negroes of the South. To inform them and train them in doctrines
that are Biblical and in a morality which is christian, and it seeks
to meet this responsibility, discharge this
obligation, and perform
this part of the task assigned it by preparing, providing for and
this

sending to these needy people a ministry so trained and qualified in
head and heart as to render the service needed and required of them.
Further, its work is to give to the Negroes of the South a practical
christian education, an education

which

trains in that

which best

which leads the students up to the highest
its first and chief aim is to
lead him to Christ. In short, an education which tends to the full,
well-rounded development of the whole man, an education of the
neart, the head, the hand. Recognizing the importance and value of
industrial training to any and to all people, and the part it must take
and fill in the solution of the so-called Negro problem in America
while not making industrial education or training the chief feature
in its educational work, the Board conducts industrial education in
all its schools, large and small, to the extent that it deems it wise to
do so when its funds will permit.
As to the results of this work, no adequate estimate can be made
or given of the results of a work which has involved so much ex-

fits

for the duties of

life,

plateau of thinking and doing, because

pense, probably $4,000,000 in personal sacrifice, in effort, endeavor,

thought and prayer, on the part of the Board as well as by the
whole church and the workers on the field. The whole work has
been a matter of growth and development and its influences active
and powerful since its beginning until now. What has been accomplished by it? Therefore its results, its power for good in the uplift
of those in whose behalf it has been wrought can neither be described in words nor discovered and measured by what the statistics
of this year reveal, but by all the work done and good accomplished
throughout all the years.

COMMISSIONERS.
a

III'. C.l'.

ReY.J.O.AUeri?GreWille7s c

10
11

!eTc

Rev. T.

s pirt TJn

«]!iI

Du5n OpeUka Ala

*M»

™

m bla

Clark, Orangeburgi 8 C

S °'
"

T -E. Speed. M.D..

6V
'

Jefferson, Texas.

S^^T Tice

°^% /

Ca "^>ridge, Mass.

Rev

fev-JohnP^Burton ^D..Tallad eg a,A,a

Withrow,

Brooks

A.B., Staui

DD - New York, N.

COMMISSIONERS.
Rev. J. E. Gil more, Leona, Texas.
2 Rev. J. A. Pinson, Greenville, S. O.
3 Rev. Geo. W. Zeigler, Lexington, Ky.
Rev. W. W. Beckett, Charleston, S. C.
4
Rev. N. J. Johnson. B.I, A.B., Austin.Tex.
3
W. J. Smith. Ksq., Petersburg, Va.
Rev. G H. Dwelle, Augusta, Ga.
7
8 Rev. B. F. McDowell, D.D., Greenville. S.C.
Rev. \V. H. Logan, D.D., Houston, Texas.
9
10 R v. A. J. Harrington, Texarkana, Texas.
1

12
l-'i

15
1«

17
18
19
20

Mr. G. T. Smith, Dallas, Texas.
Rev. A. Brown, Waco, Texas.
Rev. S. E. Henderson, San Antonio, Texas
Mr. R. Tecumseh Brown, LaGrange, Texas.
Mr. L. M. Holmes, Boston, Mass.
Rev. W. E. Mitchell, Pulaski, Va.
Rev. H. Swann, D.D.. Luhng. Texas.
Prof. Win. Daniel, B S.. Longview, Texas.
Prof. H Pemberton. Marshall. Texas.
Miss Lula A. Willis, Richmond, Va.

COMMISSIONERS.
1

2
3

4
5

6
7

8
9

Rev. Thomas Sanders, Pearson, Miss.
Prof. J. A. Mason. Baxter, Ark.
Mr. E. J. Young, Charlotte, N. C.
Mr. W. P. Burrell. Richmond, Va.
Rev. H. H. Waring, Alexandria, Va.
Rev. J. E. Bryant, Navasota, Texas.
Rev. Henry Taylor, New Orleans, La.
Rev. W. A. C. Hughes. Richmond, Va.
Prof. J. E. Knox, Brinkley. Ark.
Rev. W. E. Partee, D.D., Richmond, Va.

11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19

Rev.

H. Brown, Staunton. Va.

Prof. O. A. Fuller, A.B., Marshall, Teias.
Prof. A. B. Whitby. A.B., Langston,0 T.

Rev. S. B. Holmes, B.C. King William, Va,
Rev. G. J. Hamilton, Sumter, S. C.
Rev. W. H.Jones, Gurden. Ark.
Rev. W. S. Snead, Pocahontas, Va.
Prof. A.

W. Pegues.

Ph.D., Raleigh, N. C.

Rev. Freeman Parker, Paris, Texas.
Mrs. M. M.Bunn, Richmond, Va.

COMMISSIONERS.
1

2
3
4
5
fi

8
b

10
11

Rev. J. P. Patterson, Fernandina, Fla.
Rev. Wm.MoMorris, Vicksburg. Miss.
Rev. J. H. Eason, Anniston, Ala.
Rev. T. H. Jones, Mobile, Ala.
Rev. B. G. Smith, Birmingham, Ala.

12
18
14
15
16

P. Price, Memphis, Tenn.
F. L. Teague, Montgomery,
G. A. Griffin, Milan, Tenn.

17
18

Rev.
Rev.
Rev.
Rev.
Rev.
Rev.

Vaughn,

Ala.

Springfield, Mo.
W. H. Finley. Montgomery, Ala.
Robt. T. Schell, E ufaula, Ala.

E. R.

li)

Rev. C. Lee Jefferson, Wilmington, Dei.
Rev. J. H. Nutter. Wilmington, Del.
Rev. J. M. Deas, Gainesville. Fla.
Rev. C. A.McGhee. Clarksburg, W. Va.
Prof. G. W. Trenholm, Ph.B., M. S., Tuscumbia, Ala.
Rev. L. Y. Cox. Milford, Del.
Rev. J. W. Moore. Memphis, 1 enn.
Rev. R D. Brooks. Selma, Ala
Rev. J. T. Martin, Wetumka, Ala.

COMMISSIONERS.
Rev. W. H. Higgins, Pine Bluff, Ark.
2 Rev. T. R. Wamble, Glow, Ark.
Rev. G, W. Miller, Thomasville, Ala.
Rev. C. H. Johnson. Miller's Ferry, Ala. j
Rev.JB. G. Griffin, Brinkley, Ark.
Rev. J. 0. Stanton, Pittsboro. N. C.
Rev. J. D. Brown, Springridge, La.
Rev. C. Pierce Nelson, D.D .Columbia, S.C.
9 Rev. G. L. Davis, Lake Charles, La.
'^J^
10."Rev. C. P. M. Bigbee, Newport, Ky.
1

11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

Williams, Caboba, N. C.
F. Davis, Wadesboro, N. C.
C. Pope, Lumberton, N. C.
Rev. J. S. Derry, Morganton, N. C.
Rev J. T. Townsend, Decherd, Tenn.
Rev O. P. T. Wbite, Rock Hill, S. C.
Rev D. G. Franklin. Guthrie, O. T.

Rev.
Rev.

J. C.
J.

Rev W.
.

Mr. Robert Miles, Portsmouth, Va.
Rev J.B.Middleton.D.D.,Summerville,S.C
Mr. Jerry J. Cooke, Rocky Mount,*N. C.
.

COMMISSION
1

2
3
4
5

6
7

Rev. H. South, Topeka. Kansas.
Rev. W. H. Vaughn, Covington, Ky.
Mrs. A. L. Young. New Orleans, La.
Rev. Miles Williams, Nashville. Tenn.
Mrs. R. L. Marsh, Hot Springs, Ark.
Miss Emma B. Smith, New Orleans, La.
Mrs. A. E. Randle, New Orleans, La.
Hon. Edward A. Johnson, LL.B., Raleigh,
N. C.

Rev. W. C. Banton, Columbus, Ga.
Mrs. G. M. DeBaptiste Faulkner, Chicago,
111.

Aire. M. n. Fairly, Moss l'oint, Ansa.
Rev. David Gray, Grantville, Ga.
Miss Irene L. Bagby. Indianapolis. Ind.
Mrs. A. M. Logan, Guthrie, O. T.

Mrs. E. L. Eatman, Rosello, N.

12
lb

lfi

17
18
19

Rev. J. P. Robinson. D.D.. Little Rock, Ark.
Rev. M.A. Alexander, Laurinhurg, N. C.
Rev. W. W. Tope, Winston, N. C.
Mrs. E. C. McNairy, Nashville. Tenn.
Prof. E. J4WilllamB l Buffalo, Texas.

UOMMlf 1IONERS.
1

2
3
4
5

6
7
B
D

Rev. D E. Bass, Davton, Ohio.
Rev. J. Franklin Walker, Chillicothe, Ohio.
Mr. D. G. Jacox, Norfolk, Va.
Rev. Jonas Henderson, New Iberia, La.
Rev. T. If. Allen. Ashland, Va.
Rev. L. J. S. Bell, Pearlington, Miss.
Rev. W. J. Hackett. Covington, Va.
Mr. W. J. Singleton, Richmond, Va.
Squire Lacy, Esq.. West Point. Va.
Rev. James E. McDade, Pine Bluff. Ark.

1L
12
13
14
15
16
IT
18
19
20

Rev. W. H. Willis, A.B.. Newport News.Va.
Rev. William E. Carr. Danville. Va.
Rev. W. H. Jernagin, Winona. Miss.
Mr C.C. Uogan, Norfolk, Va.
Rev. H. Cooper, Columbu-. Ark.
Rev. M. P. Faulkner. Washington, Ark.
Dr. T. A. Walker. Baton Rouge, La.
Rev. G. B. Howard. D.D., Petersburg, Va.
I. C. Norcrum, Porljsmouth, Va.
Rev. R. N. Jones, Moss Point. Miss.

Prof.

COMMISSIONERS.
1

S
4

Mrs.
Miss
Miss
Rev.
Rev.

Lula E. Mullen, Covington, Tenn.
Sidney J. Davis, Keokuk. Iowa.
Tossie P. F. Whiting, Richmond, Va.
E. J. Fisher. D.D.. Chicago, 111.
S. A. Stripling,

M., B.D.,

Nownan.Ga.

6
7

8
9

W. Telfair, Wilmington, N.C.
H. Griffin, Washington, D. C.
J. Williams, Palestine Texas.
Rev. P. McFarland. Indianapolis, Ind
Rev.
Rev.

Prof. S.

CHAPTER

CII

THE EDUCATIONAL WORK OF THE
Prof.

M. E.

CHURCH

Lane, A. M., Jackson, Tenn.

The Colored Methodist Episcopal Church, although the youngest
daughter of the Methodist family, has been actively engaged in the
education of the youth of the race. The most prominent schools
Payne College of Augusta, Ga., Texas Colunder the auspices are
lege of Tyler, Tex., Lane College of Jackson, Tenn., Homer Semi:

nary of Homer, La., and Haygood Seminary of Washing, Ark.
Inasmuch as space will not permit us to speak at length of each
Lane
of these worthy institutions, I shall make mention of the
College in particular, for it has many things in common with the
other institutions, and is a good representative of the educational

work

In doing this, however, let it be
understood that each of the others deserves much more space than
what can be had in a work of this kind. Suffice it to say that all of
these institutions are doing a commendable work for the intellectual
and moral uplift of the people.
This is one of the few institutions of learning for the education of
the

or enterprises of the church.

Negro where the

education are blended.

industrial, literary
It

and religious ideas

was founded about eighteen years ago by

the Tennessee Annual Conference of the Colored Methodist Epis-

copal Church, and

was the

by that denomination.

It is,

first

made

educational enterprises of that church.

whom
all

and

whose honor

results out of
(511)

Bishop

]

>aac

Lane, after

the institution has been named, deserves

that has been said or can be said of

self-sacrifices

a connectional school

perhaps, the most representative of the

and great generalship
such meager means.

him

for his untiring effort,

bringing about such splendid

It is

him

that the institution

COLORED METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

512

owes much
ized

it,

for its existence

but has

The school

in a

and usefulness; for he not only organ-

large measure developed and fashioned

it.

situated in the western section of Tennessee,

the colored population of the State
tutions of learning the fewest

—

where

the greatest and higher instirailroad and

manufacturing

town, making the institution easily accessible to students of the
three bordering States. The patronizing States in the order of their
contribution to the student body are: Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky, Alabama. Missouri, and Arkansas, with an occasional matriculate from Illinois. Texas and Georgia.
There are seven buildings on a campus of about seven acres.
Thes^ wnrp a s administration hall, library, chapel, dormitories and
a teacher's home.

CHAPTER

CIII

WORK OF THE PROTESTANT

EPISCOPAL CHURCH

AMONG THE NEGROES
Rev. Beverly D. Tucker, D. D., Secretary of the Commission for
Church Work Among Colored People.

The work

of the Protestant Episcopal

Church among the colored

people of the Southern States has been done in connection with the
regularly organized dioceses.

has been immediately under the

charge of the several bishops and the missionary societies, and other
agencies of the general church have simply furnished the means and
aided in awakening the interest of the people in the moral and spir-

Negro race. The work divides itself into two
which is done in connection with the established
parishes and which does not appear in the reports or statistics of
the missionary society. When the Negro was a slave there were
many of the clergy and laity who interested themselves in his religious training; churches and Sunday schools were found in many
places, and in a large number of parishes there were regular communicants from the colored people. Such work is still being done
in many places.
There are Negro Sunday schools taught by the
white members of the congregations and there are special services
itual welfare of the

pasts

First, that

held for the colored people in quite a

work can not be tabulated;
engaged

longs to them.

look upon
It is,

cially helpful in that

the

two

This

of parishes.

as a part of the church

however, none the
it

number

who

are

work which

be-

the ministers and lay people
less valuable,

and

espe-

signifies a friendship in the relationship of

races, which, in the providence of

God, are destined to

live

same country.
The Commission for Church Work Among Colored People was
started by the General Convention of 1886, and has been reapas citizens in the

(513)

PROTESTANT EPISCOTAL CHURCH

514
pointed

each subsequent General Convention.

consists of five

Bishop Dudley of Kenthe commission and has held the

bishops, five presbyters and five laymen.

tucky was the
office

first

chairman

ever since, giving

now

much

of his

time

promotion

the

member

the

commission still in service. The Hon. J. C. Bancroft Davis and Mr. Joseph
Bryan are the two laymen who have been connected with the Board
work.

since

the only clerical

of the original

organization.

its

The Commission does not undertake

to aid the work in the NorthWestern States, but confines its appropriations to the area
occrrpied by the former slave States. There is a good work done in
many Northern dioceses and in some part of the West, but it is

ern or

either self-supporting or looks to the parish

and diocese for

aid.

The Board

of Managers of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary
Society grants to the Commission annually a certain block sum.
The amount for the current year is $65,000. This is apportioned

among
among

the

The

dioceses according to their needs.

the missionaries of each diocese

made by

distribution

the bishop acting

own discretion. The dioceses aided by the Comway are twenty-four in number, they are to be found
former slave States, including Delaware. The only diocese

according to his
mission

in this

in all the

aided which

Southern

lies

outside of this territory

Illinois,

that of Springfield

where the Negro population

very large.

The

appropriations vary from $400 given to several dioceses where there
are only one or two missions to $6,000 given to the diocese of
South Carolina, where there are twenty-eight. The funds granted

can be used only for the payment of the stipends of missionaries.

Money

for the building of churches, schools, rectories, etc.,

secured from other sources.
leagues which have branches in

St.

many

Augustine's and

St.

must be
Monica's

northern dioceses, make large

contributions for buildings and endowments, and there are a

number

of regular congregational and individual subscribers and givers to

the

work

in all its

dioceses, the
trial

branches.

Commission

In addition to its direct grants to the

aids the divinity schools, the three indus-

schools and pays the stipends of six archdeacons.

Without

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH
entering into details as to statistics,

may be

515

well to say that there

more than two hundred
hundred clergy engaged in the

are about nine thousand communicants,

churches and chapels and more than a
work.

The

larger institutions connected with the

Commission

Theological Hall, Washington, D. C, of which Rev.
is

warden.

The Bishop Payne Divinity School

are,

King

V. Tunnell

of Petersburg, Va.,

of which the Rev. Oscar Bunting, D. D., is dean. Hoffman Hall,
Nashville, Tenn., which provides a home under the influences of

the church for students at Fiske University. St. Augustine Normal
and Industrial School, Raleigh, N. C, of which the Rev. A. B.
Hunter is principal; a well-equipped institution with more than 300
pupils. This school has a hospital and a training school for nurses
and is doing most excellent work. St. Paul's Normal and Industrial
School, Lawrenceville, Va., under the direction of Archdeacon Russell, is organized on the lines of Hampton, of which the principal
It has between 300 and 400 students and gives indusis a graduate.
trial

training

Normal

nearly

all

branches.

St.

and Industrial School of Brunswick,

Athanasius
Ga.,

Parochial

under the charge

of the Rev. J. J. Perry, is outgrowing its name, parochial, and gives
promise of taking a good place among the industrial schools of
St. Miark's Academic and Industrial School, Birmingham, Ala., which is doing good work. The Hospital of the Good
Samaritan at Charlotte, N. C. The Hospital of the Good Physician
Besides these, there are a number of parochial
at Columbia, S. C.

the South.

schools in different dioceses.

CHAPTER CIV
EDUCATION

Prof.

The A. M.

THE

G. Atkins, A.

E. Zion Church

tional church.

ZION CHURCH

A. M. E.

historically

and practically an educa-

early recognized the need and importance of an

educated ministry, and while

and struggles

in its early history

could not build and maintain great institutions of learning,
a high

premium on an educated

character and ability of the

ministry.

This

men who became

placed

borne out by the

the early superin-

tendents and bishops, most of them being not only of great piety,

but sound learning as well.
In this matter of education and intelligence this connection has

been true to

ment

how

its

well."

its

history.

The motto

of the church in the develop-

educational enterprises has been, "Not

The

effort

how much,

but

has not been to multiply colleges, but especi-

ally to make the one college of the connection represent the- highest
efficiency in instruction and the highest ideal of college work and

college organization.

Livingstone College, therefore, has had a

steady and ambitious growth in the effort to realize such an ideal, and,

and Theological Departments, to send
forth a product that would meet the demand wherever strong men
and women are required, and that would pass current in all academic
The character of this product has been certified to by some
circles.
of the foremost institutions of the country where "Livingstone"
men have matriculated for professional or advanced courses.
Our edu:ational system is made up, therefore, of Livingstone
College as our chief seat of learning, and six other well-organized
institutions of high-school and academic grade, preparatory to the
in the evolution of its College

chief institution.

The

schools
(516)

may

be named

in the

following order:

AFRICAN M.
I.

dent.

ZION

CHURCH

517

Livingstone College, Salisbury, N. C. Dr. H. C. Goler, PresiProf. S. E. Duncan,
2. Atkinson College, Madisonville, Ky.
;

;

A. B., Principal.

Tenn Bishop
Lomax-Hannon High School,

Greenville College, Greenville,

C. R. Harris, D. D., President.

;

Greenville, Ala. Prof. S. B. Boyd, Principal. 5. Lancaster Normal
and Industrial Institute, Lancaster, S. C. Prof. M. D. Lee, Prin;

;

cipal.

Clinton Institute, Ro:k Hill, S. C.

A. M., Principal.

;

Prof. R.

Crockett,

Zion Institute, Mobile, Ala.; Rev. R. A. Mor-

risey, A. M., Principal.

These institutions represent an aggregate property valuation of
about $200,000, and the church puts into their support for

all

purposes

about $40,000 annually.

Livingstone College enrolls nearly four hundred pupils, and the
other institutions aggregate in their enrollment nearly fifteen hundred,

showing that about two thousand young men and women are

being prepared by the Zion institu tions every year for the work of
These
the Christian minister and that of the Christian teacher.
institutions are a remarkable evidence of self-help

on the part of the

colored race, especially in viw of the fact that they have been built

and are maintained by a Negro church, composed
members of the lately emancipated race.

for

the

most

part of

The

regular receipts of Livingstone College last year

amounted

thousand dollars, and its constituency is probably
more extensive than any other similar institution in the country.
Already the graduates of Livingstone College are weilding a powerful and far-reaching influence on this large constituency.
The personality and spirit of the late Dr. J. C. Price should be regarded as
an important factor in the founding and development of this College.
The connection was not prepared for the untimely death of Dr.
Price, her great young son, and the days of her mourning are not
yet ended, but she has had occasion to be grateful to God for the
man who was raised up to be his successor.
to nearly thirty

Our

institutions, as

more the support

judged by their results, are claiming more and
In Kentucky, Alabama, Tennessee

of the church.

and South Carolina.

CHAPTER

CV.

THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE METHODIST
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Rev.

McDowell, D.

D.,

York

Corresponding Secretary,

New

City.

The movement represented by this organization was projected in
men as Bishop Matthew Simpson, the Rev.

the year 1866 by such

Drs. John McClintock and George R. Crooks and Mr. C. C. North,
and was the one permanent educational outcome of the centennial

movement

The General Conference of 1868 made
provision for the Board, which made its first loans

that year.

formal and legal

to students in 1873.

The aim of the organization is stated in the following words:
"To diffuse more generally the blessings of education and Christianthroughout the United States and elsewhere, under the direction
Methodist Episcopal Church."
The Board consists of twelve members, six of them being ministers and six laymen, all appointed by the General Conference. Two
of the ministerial members are bishops. The work proposed in the
charter of the Board of Education may be outlined as follows
(1) Collection and care of funds for the aid of students and institutions for the purpose of securng a well-equipped force of men and
women for the ministerial, evangelistic and educational work of the
church.
(a) In
(2) To act as a general agency of the church,
behalf of ministerial and general education.
(b) For communication
between teachers and those needing their services, (c) For collecting and publishing educational statistics, (d) For furnishing plans
for educational buildings,
(e) For giving counsel in regard to
location and organization of new institutions of learning,
(f) For
educational societies.
promoting the work of auxiliary
(g) To
ity

of the General Conference of the

;

(518)

BOARD OF EDUCATION M.

CHURCH

exercise general supervision over the educational

and

519

work

of the

church

to carry into effect the decisions of the University Senate.

The Board has never done anythng

in the

way

of aiding institu-

having up to this time had no funds at its disposal for this
purpose, though such fund is imperatively needed for the aid of
institutions both at home and abroad.
tions,

Board are as follows: (i) Interest
"on permanent funds invested by the order of the General ConferThese permanent funds now amount to about $300,000.
ence.
Sunday-school Children's Fund collected throughout the
The
(2)
church on Children's Day, the second Sunday in June. (3) The
repayment of loans made to students. This sum increases from year
to year.
(4) Bequests, special gifts, unconditional or on annuity;
and donations for particular purposes.

The sources

of revenue of the

The terms upon which loans
applicant must be a

and possess

member

a re

made

are

follows

"The

of the Methodist Episcopal Church,

and such intellecand fondness for study as give promise of more than
ordinary usefulness. He must be in actual attendance in some one
of our Methodist schools.
A few rare exceptions to this requirement are admitted in the case of professional students pursuing
studies not usually taught in the schools of the church. He must
have a recommendation from the quarterly conference 6f the church
of which he is a member and from the faculty of the institution
which he is attendng. He must be of sufficient age to understand
thoroughly the nature of the obligations that he assumes, and must
be advanced beyond elementary studies. He must have shown to
the officers fo the church of which he is a member, and to the faculty
a well-established Christian character

tual qualities

of the institution he

attending, that he

disposed to practice

self-

and self-help. He must sign a note for each
loan received. He must make special effort to pay the full amount
He must keep the Board inof the loan as soon as practicable.
formed as to his place of residence until all the notes are paid. He
must regard his obligation to the Board as sacred and as urgent as
any other obligation which a man can assume. Notes bear interest
denial, self-relian:e

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH

520
at four per cent."

two years out

Interest does not begin until the student has been

of school.

It will be seen from this that the plan of aid avoids the pauperizing of the students by direct gifts and other evils incident to other

forms of student aid; while
nizes the fact that

many

at the

same time

the great church recog-

of her children need a small

amount

assistance granted on a self-respecting basis and on proper terms,

and through

How

this splendid

fund proposes to furnish such assistance.-

well the church has succeeded in this matter

in the fact that since 1873 tne

Board

than a million dollars to about

partially

shown
more

of Edu:ation has loaned

12,000 students.

than 7,000

have gone into the ministry and more than 700 into missionary work. About 3,000 have become teachers; others have engaged
in other forms of Christian work.
More than half the present members of certain Conferences have
received aid through the Board of Education. This is notably true
In one or two Conferences
of some of the Southern Conferences.
of these

who have a college education are
Board of Education. This indicates
how important a relation the Board sustains to the supply of an
educated ministry. During the years since the Board began to grant
aid it has loaned money to nearly 3,000 students in the Southern
States, and to many who are now at work in the Southern States,
though they obtained their education elsewhere.
The Board publishes an excellent quarterly called "The Christian
seventy-live per cent, of those

beneficiaries, or were, of the

Student."

The officers of the Board are Bishop Edward G. Andrews, D. D.
LL. D., president; Mr. Joseph S. Stout, treasurer; the Rev. William
F. McDowell, corresponding secretary.
All communications should be addressed to the corresponding secretary at 150 Fifth avenue, New York.
:

Part
Publication, Missionary

and Other Agencies.

CHAPTER CVI
FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF THE WOMAN'S AUXILIARY
TO THE NATIONAL BAPTIST CONVENTION AND

AN APPEAL
Miss N. H. Burroughs, Corresponding Secretary, Louisville, Ky.

The following

are the receipts

and expenses

for the year,

with the

auditor's signature attached:

RECEIPTS

SUMMARY

Received from States
Woman's Missionary Union
Home Mission Board National Baptist Convention
At the last Convention

$2,022.41

250.00
150.00

368.00

$2,790.41

Balance on hand at

Grand

total

last

meeting

412.30

$3,202.71

Expenses
Balance on hand
(521)

2,364.93

837.78

woman's auxiliary and appeal

522

Days labored
Miles traveled

Addresses

32,350

delivered

350

Organizations formed
Letters sent out

Letters

12,980

received

8,72^
LIABILITIES.

Whitehead and Hoag

$40.00
15.00
12.00

Franklin Printing Co

Mayer and

Ssclick

$67 00
.

ASSETTS.

What

do and

how

1,500 copies at 10 cts each. ...

it,

$150.00

Recitations and dialogues, 450 at 10 cts each
Missionary buttons, 2,800 at 10 cts each

Missionary buttons (gold rim), 250
Cuts

45. 00
280.00

25 cents each

62.50
95 00
18.00
.

Tracts

$650 50
.

Respectfully submitted.

Miss L. C. Crittenclon. Chairman; Miss N. H.
Burroughs, Corresponding Secretary.
Executive Board:

An Appeal

to the Christian

White

Women

of the Southland

By Miss N. H. Burroughs

We
this

wish to appeal

land

who have

you

in behalf of the

which they have been subjected
of the separate-coach law.

davs are numbered

Southland for

;

thousands of mothers

suffered in silence the unchristian humiliation to

but

whom

for useful lives in this

in the

Southland since the introduction

Not so much

we do

for these mothers, for their

appeal for the young

womanhood

of the

these mothers have lived and labored and trained

strenuous age.

We are laboring to

develop these

woman's auxiliary and appeal
gems of refinement
and culture, but the tide is against us, and though we have struggled
on trying to master the situation, still we see breakers ahead.
The separate-coach law in the Southland is not only a reflection upon
young women and transform them

into brilliant

our advancement, but a stigma upon us, and the better class of whites

throughout the country consider
tion,

and would join heartily

shall

a stigma

removal.

in its

not attempt by force to break

upon American civilizaBut the law exists, and
though it has operated

—

seriously against the moral development of the race

never raised

its

the protection of

The honor

arms except

race that has

its liberties.

womanhood

of black

cower before the

—a

defense of the laws of this land and

crisis,

but

let

at stake,

and

those

let

w ho
T

will,

us here, in this place, put ourselves on

record as protectors and defenders of Christian

womanhood, white

black.

In traveling through the Southland
indiscriminately

into

one

beneath the black skin

coach

— as

all

Negro passengers

the law

ignores

are

the

crowded
fact

that

a soul as immortal, a pride as exalted, an

longing as intense and aspirations as noble, as those
which peep forth and manifest themselves in the proudest blue-eyed
Anglo-Saxon man or woman.
To be ushered from clean homes, with an atmosphere saturated with
pure ozone where we do observe strict sanitary laws to be huddled
together in cars used as smokers in the States where separate-coach
laws do not exist, and for colored passengers in the States in which
the law does exist, is an insult which we have long endured.
Though we have suffered in silence for years, we cannot longer
intellect as keen, a

—

stand

it.

now

turn, like Daniel of old,

windows towards Jerusalem and appeal
of the Southland, not for seats

open

our chambers the

to the white Christian

women

their coaches, not to help us repeal

the separate-coach law, but to help us to secure that comfort, that
protection, that decency in traveling

commensurate with our

intelli-

gence, our morals and our conceptions of Christian decency, which
principles are as dear to us as to them.

CHAPTER

CVII

FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT OF THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCPAL ZION CHURCH
Rev.

J. S.

Caldwell, D.D., Financial Steward.

The A. M. E. Zion Church was organized in New York City about
1796 by James Varick, who afterwards became its first Bishop. It,
like several other distinctively colored

church organizations which were
organized about the same time, applied itself to the task of making

itself felt for

good, and thus winning a place in the world

God-sent agents for the uplift of humanity

among

other

general and the ameliora-

downtrodden race in particular. During the first decade of the
it had its reverses and trials.
These, however, are
peculiar to any new organization. Zion was aware of this fact, hence,
instead of being discouraged and indifferent as to the mission of mercy
on which God had sent her, went forward with redoubled energy.
The rapid spread which the organization made from its inception
tion of

church's existence

tells in

unmistakable language the fact that the race

was

largely operate had been

Beginning with

agent.

about 536,000 members

and mission stations

less

among whom

waiting for just such a God-sent

than one dozen members, she has today

who worship

her shrine.

She has churches

almost every State and Territory in the Union,

foreign mission stations at Cape Coast, Gold Coast, Libera, in Africa,
in the

Bahama and

Philippine Islands, and also in the

Dominion of

Canada.

Our missionary department is well organized, and has in charge the
missionary work at home and in foreign lands. Means were placed at
the disposal of one of our bishops a few days ago, and he set sail for
a visit to the foreign field to strengthen the work and extend the
borders of the A. M. E. Zion Church by delivering the message of
salvation to our less fortunate brethren. The church extension department is not old, but is already beginning to be a helpful medium to the
church and race. It is located at Philadelphia, Pa. This department
receives about v$35,ooo annually, which

departments

Con ference.
(524)

is expended, paid to the several
accordance with the regulations made by the General

CHAPTER

CVIII

THE BOARD OF PUBLICATION AND SABBATH SCHOOT
WORK OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Rev. G. T. Dillard, D.D., Synodical Sabbath-school Missionary

The Board

of Publication and Sabbath-school

byterian Church of the United States of

and most

America

Work
is

of the Pres-

one of the largest

kind for reaching and saving the

influential agents of its

people by the sacred page and Sabbath-school missionary.

department of church work tons of literature printed
are sent into

all

parts of the

tion of thousands

who

known

in all

this

languages

world, accomplishing the redemp-

otherwise might not have been saved.

The

Sabbath-school Missionary Department of the Board unites the sacred

page with the living, consecrated missionary, and the two form a
mighty moral, uplifting, saving power, the efficiency of whose labors
and the large happy results of whose endeavor eternity alone will alone
be able to estimate.

The board has

in its

employ more than one hundred Sabbath-school

missionaries in the United States of America, twelve of

whom

are

Negroes, the others being white persons. Eight or ten years ago the
board commenced appointing Sunday-school missionaries of color
I

organize Sunday-schools and distribute Bibles and helpful literature
generally

among

the people.

The work and men grew

favor rapidly,

whose field of
labor was at that time confined to the Carolinas, Virginia and Georgia.
Two years ago our territory was enlarged so as to take in the Southern States, with an increased missionary force of from five to twelve
so

much

so that the board appointed other missionaries

missionaries.
nessee,

Five of these

Alabama and

Georgia.

are laboring in the States of Ten-

In recent years more than a thousand schools have b

established with a
(525)

men

Mississippi, the others in Virginia, Carolinas and

membership of 30,000 bv the missionaries.

CHAPTER CXIX

NATIONAL BAPTIST PUBLISHING HOUSE
Rev. R. H. Boyd, D. D., Corresponding Secretary, Nashville, Tenn.

The proposition and resolution to establish a Publication Society
were adopted at Savannah last year.
A board of managers was
elected, of which the Rev. John H. Frank was made Chairman.
This
very important matter has been carefully considered by some of this
Committee, and the Chairman of this Committee will make a special
report at the proper time.

In 1894 at Montgomery, Ala., the question was again discussed,
finding

many

obstacles in the way.

Texas, offered a

Rev. R. H. Boyd of San Antonio,

set of resolutions setting forth that this

publishing

committee, board or concern should proceed at once to the publication
of Sunday-school literature, consisting of the International Lessons

magazine or pamphlet form for the benefit of
which was adopted.
On the 15th of December, 1896, Rev. R. H. Boyd, Secretary and
Manager, opened his office in Nashville, Tenn., and secured copies of
the electrotype plates from the Sunday-school of the Southern Baptist
Convention, and employed the Brandon Printing Company, the University printing press of Nashville, Tenn., to publish for him ten
thousand copies of the Advanced Quarterly, ten thousand Intermediate
Quarterlies, ten thousand Primary Quarterlies and two thousand copies

either newspaper,

their

own

schools,

Monthly, thus launching the long-talked-of Negro
At the next meeting of the National
Baptist Publishing Concern.
Baptist Convention in Boston, Mass., Secretary Boyd reported having

of the Teachers'

•

sent out during the year 700,000 copies of the periodicals, together
with song books, Bibles and other religious literature; gross receipts
1

icing

something over $5,000. After all expenses of printing, office
and help, giving $1,000 to missions and leaving cash

fixtures, etc.,
(526)

THE SPECIAL COMMI TEE ON WORK AMONG COLORED PEOPLE OF THE INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION.
I

Mr. W. N. Hartshorn, Boston, Mass., Chairman Executive Committee.
Mr. John R. Pepper, Memphis, Tenn.,

Mr. Marion Lawrence, Toledo, Ohio, Gen-

Chairman.
eral Secretary.

4
5
6
7
8

Mr. W.

Witham, Atlanta. Ga.

Mr. J. T. Buck. Jackson, Miss.
Mr. N. H. Broughton, Raleigh, N. C.J
Mr. W. A. Eudaly. Cincinnati. Ohio.
Mr. Geo. W. "Watts, Durham, N. C.|gt.

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NEGRO RACE OFFICIALLY CONNECTED WITH T E
INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY-SCHOOL ASSOCIATION.
Rev. L. B. Maxwell, A.M., D.D. Atlanta, Ga.,
late International Field Worker lor
Colored People.
Prof. G. G. Marcus, Memphis, Tenn., present
Field Worker for Colored People.
Prof. I. Garland Penn, A.M., Atlanta. Ga.,
,

Member-at-L rge Executive Commit8tee International Sunday-School
sociation Representing Colored People, U. 8. A.

4
5

J. E. Shephard, Durham, N. C, present
Field Worker for Colored People.
Rev. E. R. Carter, D.D. Atlanta, Ga., VicePresident
International
SundaySchool Association Representing Colored People.

Dr.

PROGRAM COMMITTEE.
1

Bowen, Ph.D., D.D.
L (iarland Penn, M.A
E.

Prof.

Rev. E. W. D. Isaac, D.D.
Rev. E. R. Carter, D.D.
Mr. W. A. Hunton.

Kev. William M. Alexander. D.D
Bishop George W. Clinton, D.D
Bishop R. 8 Williams.
Bishop W. J. Gaines, D.D.

Rev.

S. N. Yass, D.D.'

First Congregational

Church, Atlanta, Ga., Rev. H. H. Proctor, B. D., Pastor.

W. Arnett, Jr., A.M., Member of Board of
Directors, Sec'y Allen Christian Endeavor,
Spiingfield, 111.

Rev. B.

Madison Ave. Presbyterian Church,
Baltimore, Md.

NATIONAL BAPTIST PUBLISHING BOARD

527

surplus on hand, besides stock, office fixtures,

etc., of $98.00.
In 1898
Publishing Board was incorporated under the laws of the State of
Tennessee with the full rights of a complete book concern and made

this

report to the annual session in September, 1898, at

its

Kansas City

Mo.
In his report of 1901 at Cincinnati, Secretary Boyd reports as folCopies of periodicals published and sent out, 5,009,600; orders
for supplies filled, 37,716; letters received and answered,
48,752; money

lows:

received, $62,423.84.
that the Publishing

page 69 of the journal of that year we

House was

find

able to appropriate to missions $8,000

over and above all of its expenses for, or that it paid, its own runningexpenses, gave a dividend of $16,425.37. to the denomination.
In the sixth annual report of the Publishing Board we find that the

Corresponding Secretary received and answered 64,955 letters, filled
43,051 orders for Sunday-school and other religious supplies, published

and sent out

the

Sunday-school department 5,509,000 copies of
weekly newspaper.

periodicals, besides their regular religious

The
this
It

total receipts for the year was $74,407.64.
The Board reports
year a clear dividend to the denomination of $23,655.69.
employes a musical editor, who writes and publishes its own song

books for the use of both churches and Sunday-schools.

its

pay

besides
in

its

roll

about

missionary

130

employees.

operation,

As the record
has handled and

will

carries

show,

paid

out

business department in the last six years $242,250.95 and has

sent out besides all grades of religious books,

and outside of furnishing

the denomination with the regular weekly paper with a large circulation,

has circulated in the Sunday-school department alone 15,406,150
its Sunday-school magazines.

copies of

CHAPTER CX

THE BIBLE AND THE PEOPLE
Rev.

William Ingraham Haven,
American Bible

D.D., Corresponding Secretary,

Society,

New York

City

stand before you this morning as the representative of a Society
is the servant of all great denominations of Christians in this

which

Republic.
a

stands for

book which

The

Bible

is itself

the people, and

all

peculiarly

and

speak a word for

distinctively a people's book.

the product of a people.

do not wish to be misunderstood. I believe in the Bible as a
divine book; a revelation from God to our race that would otherwise
I

stagger

darkness,

through a people.

though divine,

It is

however,

is,

not the result of the Spirit of

wrought out

God

breathing

simply upon an individual mind here and there, though "holy

spoke as they were moved," but these holy

men were men

men

of the

men who understood

the longings and aspirations and hopes of
mouthpieces,
were
the
not only of God, but of the
and
they
a people,
Spirit
God
had
been
moving.
the
of
upon
whom
people

people

;

The best
Some of

versions of the Bible are peculiarly a people's book.
the versions of the Scriptures were the

individual minds, and this accounts for

many

work

largely of

peculiarities in them, but

our English version, for instance, which has had a popular hold upon
great masses of men, such as has been possessed by no other book,

not the product of a single mind, but is really the product of a people.
Its history is the history of a struggle of a nation towards light and

consciousness of personality and liberty of power.
When you go over such names as Wycliffe, and

Tyndale, and
Cranmer, you mention names that are very vitally related to English
history, and the story of the Geneva and Bishops and King James
Bibles are stories that are filled with the romance of the progress of
(528)

THE BIBLE AND THE PEOPLE

520

the English people, so that the Bible that you hold in your hands

not only, in

form

its

original inspiration, a people's book, but in the very

which you possess

it,

a living product of a great popular evolu-

tion or development.

The

Bible

a vitalizing force in the life of a people.

There has just been buried, with great pomp and ceremony on a
lonely mountain in Africa, a forceful personality who has been called

"An empire
Rhodes, with

builder."

Let

say to you,

and power,

friends,

that

Cecil

dreams of conquest, his
lofty ambitions, not for himself alone, but for a mighty people, and his
unique personality, is not for a moment to be compared, as the founder
and creator of empires, with this little book, the Bible, which has gone
out among new peoples and in strange lands and had to do with their
all

his wealth

creation into great nations.

his

Let us take, for instance, our

own

nation,

mightier than any people of which this African-Englishman dreamed.

Our

pilgrims and Puritans who came
England shores with them, as their one essential book of
of state craft and of personal hope and inspiration, the Bible.

nation was founded on the Bible

to the

doctrine,

;

New

speaker at the great

Home

Missionary meeting recently held

connection with the Presbyterian General Assembly in
said

that the great

task of the early years

was

New

York,

accompany

the

frontiersman with the Bible and the influences of a Christian civilization,

and Mr. Roosevelt has given us a picture of

this

frontiersman

axe in his hands, over the Alleghenies to establish
his primitive home, and he pictures him as a man of intense nature

going

out, with his

feeding the hidden

Who

knows what

fires

of his soul often

are the possibilities of

Bible cherished in every

upon the word of God.
your race with an open

home?

have very little sympathy those who like to speak of one race as
superior and another as inferior. I prefer to give myself to a study of
the possibilities of every race when touched and molded by the highest
I

principles.

As I look into your faces this morning and think of the multitudes
which you represent, I wonder what is ahead of you, I realize that you
have come in contact with the Scriptures at the beginning, very much as
It was to them at first, not a volume to
the Anglo-Saxon people did.

THE BIBLE AND THE PEOPLE

53°

he read, for they were not a reading people, but a series of songs sung
upon the highways of old England, and thus wrought into the fibre of

many
New, were

these early days, even as the plantation melodies, which have in

of them the message of hope of the Old Testament and the

sung

into the hearts of

a reading people

and

your people.

shall treasure this

now your people shall become
volume as the one book of the

if it shall become a prized and blessed treasure on every plantaand in every hidden cabin, and in all the growing homes of the
Southland and the Northland, who can tell what is before your

ages,
tion,

people

You have

among you

already given us a Douglas; a Tanner

dreamed dreams upon canvas

would even put

that

shame

his

has

name-

sake. Your orators have won laurels in our leading universities.
Everyone knows of the heroism of the Twenty-fifth Regiment. Why
should any race boast as it compares itself with your leaders? How

vain
I

boasting.

stood not

for a

many months ago

campanile that

at the foot of the lofty

thousand years had marked the centre of the pride and great-

ness of the Venetian Republic.

has fallen and crumbled into dust

and the people have passed from their position of power.
Nations that were uncounted when it was builded have looked with
So may it be again,
disdain upon the ruins of this haughty people.

who knows?

Let there be no boasting, then, but a reverent turning to

the call of inspiration to a high

and elevated

life,

trusting the issue

with the Almighty.

But my message to you this morning is not a message of the development of a race definite and separate from its fellows. I spoke to you,
not as a peculiar people, but as an essential factor in the development
of this great nation, and if you are to do your part therein, you and we
will need to think deeply upon the truths of this imperial book.
There is one word emphasized upon the memorial of Robert Shaw,
of Massachusetts,

which

should be ever uppermost

With
of

this

life,

word and

who can

tell

characteristic

the Bible, from which

what

word of

this book,

our minds, and that word
it

that

"together."

comes, as the watchword

before us as a people?

CHAPTER CXI
&

THE

ORIGIN, GROWTH AND WORK OF THE AFRICAN
METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION PUBLICATION
HOUSE
Rev. James M. Hill, D. D., Charlotte, N. C.

The

growth and work of the African Methodist Episcopal

origin,

Zion Publication House, which was

This concern was

Concern.

New York

City.

Thomas, D.

D.,

first

called the A.

E. Zion

Book

established on Bleecher Street, in

The first business manager was the late Rev. Jacob
who published and supplied the church — h literature
;

of various kinds.

He was

ably assisted by Bishop Alexander Walters.

General Conference of 1892, which met in PittsBishop John Holliday was elected General Business
Manager of the Department, which position he held until the General
Conference of 1896. During the interval of the General Conference

A. M., D. D.,
burg, Pa.

at the

The

late

of 1892 to the General Conference of 1896, the

while in counsel at Charlotte, N.

most inviting
a

field

C, seeing

two boards of bishops
was the

that the South

of Zion to locate the Publishing House, appointed

committee, with Bishop

Thomas H. Lomax, D.

F.,

chairman, to

purchase a building on a prominent street in the city of Charlotte, a
site for a

printing house.

The bishop and

his

committee proceeded

once to look for a place.

This house has a general business manager, a general board of
assist the general manager, editor for the

managers, a local board to

church organ, The Star of Zion

editor of the Sunday-school literaand an editor for the A. M. E. Zion Quarterly Review.
At the general Conference held in Washington, D. C, Rev. James
M. Hill, D. D., was elected general business manager. The house has
been remodeled in first-class artistic style, the machinery arranged, the
building refitted for large and more efficient work, the offices for
manager, editor of Star, editor of Sunday-school literature, editor of
;

ture,

Quarterly Review, foreman and clerks'
(531)'

offices

have been

artistically

532

CHURCH

The book room on first floor has been nicely arranged,
walls plastered, ceiling painted, supplied with light, gas and desks,
repaired.

with nice, oak-finished, steel-rail counter, glass doors and adjustable
shelving.

publish and send out

subscribers, Rev.

out our

The

John

own Sundav-srhool

literature

The Star

of Zion to about 5,000 annual

Smith, D. D., editor.

publish and send

literature to about 4,000 Sunday-schools.

published and sent out from

the

Publication

House

each quarter consists of Teachers' Journals, Scholars' Senior Quarterly,

Scholars' Intermediate Junior Quarterly, Picture Lesson i^ards

for our

little

people, Historical Catechism and

Rev. Robert B. Bruce, D.D., editor.
A. M. E. Zion Quarterly Review

John C. Dancey,

editor.

Commandment

Cards,

publish and send out the

about 1,000 subscribers; Prof.

;;

CHAPTER

CXII

THE AMERICAN BAPTIST HOME MISSION SOCIETY
AND ITS WORK AMONG NEGROES
Rev. E. R. Carter, D. D., Atlanta, Ga.

Nearly a half

century has gone by since the beginning of the

War, since the
Negro was declared

gun at Fort Sumter, since the
Freedom, the beginning of a new era for
the black man, brought him many new relations and responsibilities
new relations and responsibilities which took other nations with every
facility of education to aid them a thousand years to only peartially
perform the duties laid on the Negro's shoulders without his having
Civil

firing of the first

free.

the slightest preparation for the same.

Here stood four

millions of

newly emancipated people, having between the past and the future,
which was dark and dense. There was no blazed path through the
almost impenetrable forests of new issues, duties and responsibilities
there were no footsteps of a like conditioned people to give the slightest

inkling of the most direct

way

to success in this journey.

They were

met at every turn with darkness and fearful forebodings. The whole
race was face to face with circumstances, with nothing in their experience to lead them out.

The coming

of this society at this time to aid the

inestimable blessing.

was

Negro was an

so because such like relations between

two races were never before experienced in all the history of the
world. Here is the Negro suddenly enfranchised, suddenly given all
the immunities and privileges of a citizen, and that in the very section
of the country where he had been only considered as mere chattel,
suddenly lifted from servitude to leadershhhip in State. Master and
How strange is transslave met in legislature and Congress hall.

How can the master adjust himself to these new relations?
with the former fear of the slave, how can he enjoy them? Two

formation

And

(533)

AMERICAN BAPTIST

534

men now meet on the same plane
and cultured.

;

MISSION

one ignorant and the other learned

man there arose a suppressed and yet powerful antagonand repugnant feeling to reject and refuse to recognize the
Negro's new relations as law-maker and citizen. Not because the
master did not believe in justice and truth, not because he was unwillIn the white

ism, a stern

ing to accord to his fellow-citizen the rights and privileges which had
just been given him by emancipation and the reconstruction; but
because he could not see how he could receive these things from a man

who

few days ago was his bondsman. I sympathize with the
pray for the Negro.
Let us see what the A. B. H. S. has done for the Negro and its
influence upon other like societies working in other denominations
At the emancipation there were four millions of Negroes freed. The
white

just a

man and

ratio in the Baptist

being the larger

in the race,

other denomination then at

gave the A. B. H.

work among; more than anv

the larger portion of the Negroes to

work among them.

Because of this fact,
had a larger scope for usefulness and a much broader
field for doing the greatest good to the greatest number.
Her points
of operation were stationed in the largest States in the Union, and
especially those which were most productive of Baptists.
the

society

The effect and power alone that institutions exert in the cities and
towns upon those who look there, creates an air of refinement and
No one can tell how far-reaching the influence of such a
elevation.
grand show the buildings make at Spellman Seminary, and the magnificent

picturesque display

architecture

the

entire

outlay,

Virginia Union Seminary, Atlanta Baptist College, Benedict College,

Walker Baptist Institute, Bishop College, Americus Institute, Roger
Williams Universitv, Shaw, State University, and numerous secondary
schools which circle around these like the mighty stellary around the
queen of night.

Home

Mission Society has spent more than
$3,000,000 for the Negro; enough, if placed perpendicular each dollar
end to end, would reach so far that even with the aid of the telescope
the eye would be unable to see the end or, if laid horizontally in one

The American

Baptist

;

line

would extend nearly seven

miles.

AMERICAN BAPTIST

MISSION

535

If we are to consider what the society has done for the individual,
we have only to consider the many able, erudite and indefatigable
men and women who have been trained in the schools, such as E. C.
:

Morris, D. D., E.

D. Tsaacs, D. D., Pegues, D. D., N. S. Vass,
D. D., the eloquent Hayes, William E. Holmes, A. M., the noted evangelist, Chas. T. Walker, D. D.
the scholarly and classical J. W.
:

professor of languages,

Gilbert,

Haynes

Institute

D. D., David Abner, D. D., E. K. Love, D. D.,

Simmons,

H. Lyons, Nora Gordon,

;

Bishop Holsev.
E. Jones,

Emma De

Lany, Clara Howard,
S. Willie Layten, Mrs. Julia Mason Layten, Miss Nannie E. Burroughs, Drs. W. H. Phillips, C. S. P. Taliferro, Mrs. William Scott,
Mrs. Virginia E. Broughton in the political field, the registrar of the
C.

;

treasury, J. W. Lyons; and if history is correct, we can lay claim to
the only Booker T. Washington, for at one time he attended Wayland

There are a host of others which we cannot mention
scheme of education it has held constantly before it

Seminary.
In

its

ideals,

insisting

that

there

should be presented to the

Negro

here.
lofty

the

greatest opportunities for the highest and broadest culture, claiming
for

them

men and women

the right to such an education as

would

secure to them not only skilled and trained handiwork in trades and

development of character and the unfolding of
and noblest powers. Seeking to develop in the
Negro whatever talent he may possess and putting into his hand the
key that would open to him the avenues of usefulness, both in the proindustries, but also the

their highest nature

fession and the industrial

life.

CHAPTER

CXIII

LOTT CAREY BAPTIST HOME AND FOREIGN MISSION
CONVENTION
Rev.

Wm. M.

Alexander, D.D., Baltimore, Md.

Lott Carey Baptist and Foreign Mission Convention was organized

Church, Washington, D. C, 1897. R- ev J- A. Taylor.
D. D., pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church cordially welcomed delegates
in Shiloh Baptist

good people entertained them.
organization, formed December 16, 1897,
and

This was the preliminary

his

Whitted, D. D., presided.

which meeting Rev.

The Convention was subsequently

con-

firmed September 8 and 9 1898, by large delegations from North Carolina, Virginia, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New
Jersey,

and the New England States. This meeting was
Mount Carmel Baptist Church. The pastor, Rev. W. P. Gib-

New York

held at

bons, royally entertained the Convention.
of 1899 was held in Baltimore, Md., at the
Ten other churches
Rev.
First Baptist Church,
J. C. Allen, pastor.
Convention.
entertain
the
people
to
his
assisted Rev. Allen and
Alexandria,
Va.. with the
at
held
The annual meeting of 1900 was

The annual meeting

Shiloh Baptist Church, August 29-31, 1900, Rev. H. H. Warring,
D. D., pastor. The other pastors and churches of the city were in

hearty sympathy with the Convention and the delegates were entertained according to Virginia hospitality.
Tn 1 901, the annual session was held in Philadelphia, Pa., with the

Holy Trinity Baptist Church, Rev. G. L.

P. Taliferro, D.D., pastor.

The delegates were cordially received by the Baptist brotherhood ot
the city of "brotherly love," and highly entertained.
The annual meeting

of 1902

was held

Washington, D. C, Septem-

ber 10-13, with the Liberty Baptist Church, Rev. I. Toliver, pastor.
At this meeting were more delegates and more determination expressed
(536)

LOTT CAREY BAPTIST CONVENTION

537

do the work for which the organization stands than at any previous
The Convention has four missionaries at work in Africa:
Rev. J. O. Hayes in Libera, Rev. Jno. Tule in South Africa, and Rev. C.
C. Boone and wife in the Congo Free States.
Rev. W. M. Alexander,
D. D., of Baltimore, Md., its corresponding secretary, and Rev. J. M.
Armstead, D.D., its treasurer, were also re-elected at the Washington
meeting of the Convention, 1902
Lott Carey was born in Charles City, Va., 1780. He was baptised
in 1807 and united with the First Baptist Church of Richmond, Va.
In 1 81 5 he became interested in the idea of giving the word of God to
Africa, and took active part in the formation of a missionary society
inRichmond, Va.
January 23, 1821, Carey sailed for Africa and arrived at Cape
Town, South Africa, after a voyage of forty days..
The policy of the Lott Carey Convention is co-operation with the
white Baptists of the North and South and all other regular Baptist
organizations.
The leaders and constituency have endured criticism
and great persecutions for their faith in the system of co-operation, but
they were fully determined when they organized the Convention and
to

meetings.

made

co-operation

its

foundation that they were in accord with the

Bible and Baptsist principles, and
lived the fear of opposition
tories,

The

now

that the organization has out-

and persecution, and encouraged by

vic-

they are more determined to press forward.

Home

Department was added to the Convention

at its

annual

meeting in Washington, D. C, 1902.

The Work

of the

Woman's

Auxiliary of the Lott Carey

Home

and

Foreign Missionary Convention of the United States.

Miss Addie L. Hall, Corresponding Secretary, Murfreesboro, N. C.

The Woman's Auxiliary is the woman's department of the Lott
Carey Convention, an organization of Baptists for the spread of the
gospel both at home and abroad.
About six years ago considerable dissatisfaction arose in Baptist

;

LOTT CAREY BAPTIST CONVENTION

538

concerning the

circles

demand was made

factory promises of

came

ill

management

of our foreign mission work, and

for improvement.

amendment

in this

Having
regard, a

failed to secure satis-

new

foreign mission

which developed into what is now known as "the
Lott Caiey Home and Foreign Mission Convention of the United
States." In this new organization are to be found many of our grandest
and ablest men and women. The recent session held at the Liberty
Street Baptist Church, Rev. I. Toliver, pastor, surpassed all previous
meetings both in point of representation and in the amount of coninto existence,

tributions.

The
nized

Christian

women

of the churches belonging to this body recog-

duty to help

in this great work, and to carry out
purpose the woman's auxiliary was formed. The work, so far,
has been largely preparatory, to giving general information conit

to be their

this

cerning missions and organizing local circles

among our women

for

mission purposes.

However, from a financial point of view, the success of the work
During the previous year, it being our first year,
also apparent.
our total receipts amounted to less than one hundred and fifty dollars
while for the year which closed September 12, 1902, we raised nearly
$500. The recent session held in Washington was largely attended and
and steps were taken to push the work with vigor.
full of enthusiam
The following officers were elected: President, Mrs. I. To!liver,
Washington, D. C. Recording Secretary, Mrs. M. Belle Scott, Lynchburg, Va., Treasrer, Mrs. L. .B. DelLinger Greensboro, N. C. Corresponding Secretary, Miss Addie L. Hall, Murfreesboro, N. C. Lecturer
and Organizer, Mrs. W. L. Hubbard, Williamsport, Pa.
Mrs. Hubbard, our lecturer is eminently fitted for her work. She
It
is a woman of high moral worth, and easy and graceful speaker.
energy
tireless
the
push
with
management
to
the
of
purpose
the
is
work, and enlist our women far and wide in this great movement
to evangelize Africa and to spread the influence of the Redeemer's
is

;

Kingdom

to earth's remotest

bounds.

CHAPTER CXIV

THE WORK OF SOUTHERN PRESBYTERIAN FOR THE
NEGRO
Rev. D. Clay Lilly, D.D., Secretary Colored Evangelization.

When

withdrew from
Assembly of the Christian Church in the United States
of America," they organized the "General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States," and this organization is popularly
the Presbyterians in the Confederate States

the "General

designated as the Southern Presbyterian Church.

This
field

young church

of work.

viewed

the

colored

population

great

coveted "free and unimpeded access to the slave

population," "we cannot afford to give up thse millions of souls
and consigrr them so far as our efforts are concerned to hopeless perAccordingly it resolved in this first meeting, "that the great
dition."
field of missionary operations among our colored population falls more
immediately under the care of the Committee on Domestic Missions
and that Committee be urged to co-operate with the Committee in
securing pastors and missionaries for this field." In that same meeting
a committee consisting of Dr. James A. Lyon, Dr Charles Colcocjk
Jones and Dr. Theodrick Pryor was appointed to prepare a "pastorial

on the regular religious instruction of the colored people
first step was taken at once when the Assembly appointed
Steadman, D. D.,
Rev.
Stillman,
D. D.,
O.
A.
C.
Rev.
J.
propose
a plan for
Estis
committee
to
Elder
B.
M.
a
Ruling
and
This report
organization, management and support of such a school.
was adopted and the school known for years as the Tuscaloosa Institute
and now called "The Stillman Institute" in honor of its founder, was
The Southern
It was opened in 1876 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
set on foot.
letter"

The

Presbyterian Church spends annually about $12,000.00 for
of Colored Evangelization.
(539)

its

work

CHAPTER CXV.

THE BOOK CONCERN OF THE AFRICAN METHODIST
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Rev.

One

H. Collet, D.D, Publishing Agent, Philadelphia, Pa.

most important departments of the great A. M. E.
It is sometimes called "The Publication Department" because it is supposed to issue all or the most of

Church

of the
is

"The Book Concern."

the literature of the Church.

ated and

legally

known

But the name by which it was incorpor"The Book Concern of the A. M. E.

is,

Church."
In the begining

published merely the minutes of the few confer-

ences then composing the denomination and the proceedings of the
then, small General Conferences.

larger and

more pretentious

In latter years

has issued

many

publications.

Another of its larger publications is "The Quarterly Review," a
magazine of recognized ability and great influence.
In this report to the General Conference of 1900 at Columbus, O.,

Rev. T.

W. Henderson

then the manager, gave the following valuation

of the property

Recorder and Review
Building and Grounds

$ 25,000.00
17,500.00

Steam and Power Plant
Presses,. Folders,

Stitchers,

Type, Plates and Fixtures
Stock on hand, etc

Total

etc

,800.00

4,240.00
6,000.00

6,400.00

500.00

Paper. Ink, etc

(540)

$ 61,440.00

PUBLISHING HOUSE

541

This valuation does not include the amounts due for merchandise,
printing and subscriptions to the Recorder and Review, which would

This added

be $5,659.24 more.
the

The

amount $67, 099.24.

to the actual

liabilities

valuation would

then were $11,263.60.

make
Assets

over

liabilities $55,835.64.
In 1876 Rev. H. M. Turner was elected General

Book Manager.

The
Embry

1880 Rev. Theodore Gould became General Business Manager.

under him were $14,046.85. 1884 Rev. J. C.
manager. He occupied the office for twelve
years and among many other things, gave the church the splendid
receipts

total

was

new

elected

business

building the concern

In 1896 Rev. T.

now

occupies.

W. Henderson was

elected to the

management

His report shows a business done of $53,642.49 not including loans, appropriations and Allen Day collection.
In 1900,
Rev. R. H. W. Leake was elected business manager. He served but
the Concern.

a short while.

the retirement of Dr. Leake, Bishop Derrick, Dr. J. B. StanaDr. Collett conducted the business jointly for two and oneand
berry
The receipts .were $2,394.45. On January 14, 1902, Dr.
half months.
Collett was elected by the Board to the Management of the Concern.
From January to June 30th the receipts were $5,067.79. The
Christian Recorder which is now the main source of revenue for the

Concern,
1852.

first

made

its

had before

Rev. A. R. Green was

appearance under
this

been

its

editor.

known

its

present

name

the year

as the Christian Herald

and

Rev. M. M. Clark became the first
following eminent churchmen have

The
Rev James Lynch, Rev. B. T. Tanner, Rev.
Lee, Rev. H. T. Johnson.. The Quarterly Review is one of the late
It made its first appearance in 1884 and
publications of the Concern.
editor

the

Recorder.

succeeded him as editors;

has had as editors Rev. B. T. Tanner, D.D., Rev. L.
and Prof. H. T. Kealing, A. M., its present head.

Coppin, D.D.,

CHAPTER CXVI
VARICK CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR UNION

ZION

CHURCH
Rev. Jesse B. Colbert, A.M., D.D., President.

We have nearly eight hundred societies, and
We publish our own literature, such as topic

about 20,000 members.

and pledge cards, bylaws and constitutions, regulate and control the manufacture of our
V. C. E. pins and badges, buttons, etc. The organization of these societies

goes steadily on in connection with the churches.
maintain and develop our societies

stantial aid

and encouragement.

our

representative on the

official

cietv of Christian

harmony with

the United

whom we

have received much subBishop Alexander Walters, D.D.. is

Societv of Christian Endeavor from

Board of Trustees of

the United So-

Endeavor.

The Varick Christian Endeavor Society Union is controlled and managed by a Board of Control, consisting of nine members together with
The executive officer of the sothe Board of Bishops of our church.
cieties is the president elected by the General Conference quadrennially,

make semi-annual

who

tian

Endeavor Society

required to

the official

reports to the Board.

young

M. E. Zion Church, having been adopted by
1896.

The

Chris-

people's society of the A.
its

General Conference

Dr. Jesse B. Colbert the present incumbent,

now

serving his

second term as president of the Varick Christian Endeavor Union.

(542)

CHAPTER CXVII

OTHER DENOMINATIONS AND AGENCIES

THE

CONGRESS
By

Garland Pknn

The attempt was made and successfully so to have all denominations
and agencies working among the Negroes fully represented at the Congress.
It was not a matter as to the smallness of the body, but the
desire

was

equipment
growth.

some

that this Congress should be a complete setting forth of the
at

It is

hand

for the Negroes' religious, moral and educational

therefore of value to the, student of race progress to have-

facts given in this

of the greatest

volume from denominations and agencies not
this extent the volume will be

known among us. To
service to all who wish

hitherto generally

the facts about the forces at

work for the elevation of the Negro. There is no need for the writer to
comment upon the denominations and agencies represented in this chapter.
Those who have prepared the articles are thoroughly conversant
with the work they represent, having been in touch with it from the
very beginning.

THE WORK OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST (CHRISTIAN CHURCH ) AMONG
THE NEGROES OF THE SOUTH
Rev. C. C. Smith, D.D., Corresponding Secretary, Cincinnati, Ohio

As early as the year 1873 negotiations were entered into by the Corresponding Secretary of the American Christian Missionary Convention, looking toward the establishment of a school for the education of
negroes.

This school was afterwards

known

as the Southern Chris-

tian Institute.

In 1873 a Bible School was opened in Louisville, Kentucky, and this
was successfully conducted for four years.

school

(543)

A FRO -A M ERICA N PRESBYTERIAN

544

Li 1881, a school was opened in Hemingway,
work was discontinued after a few months.

Mississippi, but this

In 18S2 the present site of the Southern Christian Institute, the 800
acres of land and the old 'mansion house,'

known

as the

Cook

planta-

near Edwards, Mississippi, was purchased and from that time unthe present educational work has been carried on at this place.

tion,
til

At the National Convention of the Church of Christ, held at Des
Moines, Iowa, 1890, the Board of Negro Education and Evangelization
was organized. In 1891, C. C. Smith was chosen corresponding secretary of this Board and still holds this office.
In the fall of 1897 the
Board of Negro Education and Evangelization, and the American
Christian Missionary Society, were united for the raising of funds for

the maintenance of the work of both.
of 1890 and the

fall

gelization

under

this

work

assumed by

still

in the

Negro Education and Evan-

of the Board of

the Christian

management

This union was dissolved

Woman's Board

of Missions, and

continues.

FOUNDING OF THE AFRO-AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
President E.

W. Williams,

Secretary

Home

Missions, Afro-Ameri-

can Presbyterian Church.

The Colored Presbyterian brethren under
E.

the leadership of the Rev.

began to take definite
Church organization, during the period

Williams of Abbeville, South Carolina,

action along

the line of separate

vocering 1892-1897.

number

of churches were organized

and two new Presbyteries

formed, namely: the Presbytery of Abbeville and the Presbytery of
The Rev. E. W. Williams was sent as a corresponding deleChester.
gate to the Southern General Assembly which met at Charlotte, North
Carolina, in 1897.

In November, 1897, a convention was held in the first Presbyterian
church of Birmingham, Ala., for the purpose of organizing the separate
colored Presbyterian church.
In May 1898, he returned to the South and went directly to
leai.3

where the convention met pursuant

New

adjournment, and on

Or-

May

19, 1898, the

Afro-An

U. M. P.

CHURCH

545

ericah Presbyterian church

had

its

birth

and the

Williams was elected its first moderator.
The first regular meeting of the Afro-American Presbyterian Synod
took place at Chester, South Carolina in January, 1899.
The
second regular meeting was held at Abbeville, S. C, November 16,
The third regular meeting was held at Dillon, S. C, in No1899.
vember, 1900. The fourth regular meeting was held at Abbeville, in
November, 1901. There are six Presbyteries and about three thousand
Rev. E.

communicant members.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE

A. U.

CHURCH

Rev. James E. Sarjeant, President, Wilmington, Del.

In the old Asbury

E. Church, corner Third and

the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight

Walnut

hundred and

five,

streets in

there wor-

shipped one Peter Spencer with a host of other colored folks, this
being the only church in the city of Washington at that time

The colored people who
wherein Colored people could worship.
worshipped in this church soon found that the facilities for wor-

God according to
somewhat circumscribed.

shipped

The

following

the dictates of their

brethren,

own

consciences were

Father Spencer, William

Anderson,

Daniel Bailey, Isaac Parker and Ferby Chippey, with fifteen families, after a special meeting between them and the preacher of the

M. E. Church for the purpose of deciding whether they would stay
under the government, having decided in the negative. They at
once withdrew and, purchasing the property on the west side of
French street, between Eighth and Ninth, which property was paid
Pursuant to special notice, the African Union
for that year.
Church and the first Colored Methodist Protestant Church met in
general convention on the afternoon of the 25th day of November,
at 3 o'clock, in St. Thomas' Church, Baltimore, Md., and after a
protracted session of several days, the convention adopted a platform to unite the two branches of Zion into one church, to be known
and distinguished by the name of the African Union Methodist
Protestant Church of the United States of America and elsewhere.

;

546

CHURCH

U. M. P.

THE WORK OF THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AMONG THE
FREEDMEN
President R.

W. McGranaham,
ville,

D. D., Knoxvilk College, KnoxTenn.

The United Presbyterian Church is numbered
denominations, having a membership of 130,000.

among

the smaller

This membership
is almost entirely in the North, one Presbytery alone being south of
the Ohio river. But though small, it has done a work among the
colored people of which no church need be ashamed.
The fields first entered upon were Nashville, Memphis, Vicksburg, Natchez, Knoxville and a few other points.

At Nashville
this

point

centrated

that

the

work was continued

interest

The mission

the

was

until

denominati jnal

opened

was at
was con-

1874.

work

September,

1863.

The

was Rev. Joseph G. McKee, a
young man who had just graduated from Allegheny Theological
Seminary and had intended entering the foreign field, but gave it up
His own feelings
to inaugurate the work among the freedmen.
found expression in a poem which he penned shortly after he began
his work, one stanza of which was as follows:
first

missionary

this

field

me not of Burmah's heathen,
Far away o'er ocean's foam
Teach them, teach them, who can reach them;
We have heathen nearer home,
"Tell

God's

own

poor."

The Knoxville College plant consists of forty-eight acres, on
which are planted nine buildings. The value of the property is $110,000. It is located in one of the healthiest portions of the country,
and the buildings stand on a hill just outside the city limits, made
historic by being the camping ground of the army ot Longstreet
during the siege of Knoxville.
Knoxville College includes

in its

departments a

full

theological

course, collegiate courses leading to the usual degrees, a normal

department, a training school department and a well-equipped inThe industries in which instructions are given
dustrial department.

PRIMITIVE BAPTIST

547

are agriculture, mechanics, carpentering, electrical work, printing,

brick-making, sewing, cooking, baking with some work in other
Through these departments students are enabled to earn a
lines.
part of their expenses while in school. Those who remain during
the

summer

work

in the industrial

department and

who

also do

such work as they can do during the school year, are enabled to
make all their expenses.
In the twenty-seven years of the history of the institution there
have been fifty-four collegiate graduates and 193 graduates in the
normal department.
The other schools under the control of the church number fifteen.
Of these Virginia has three, the Norfolk Mission College, the Chase
City Thyne Institute and the Blue Stone Academy; North Carolina
has two, the Henderson Normal and Industrial College and the
Laeksville Mission School; Tennessee has four, Bristol Normal Institute, Athens Academy, Cleveland Academy and Riceville Mission Alabama has six, located at Miller's Ferry, Prairie, Camden,
Canton Bend, Midway and Kimbrough, all in Wilcox county. Special features of the work are that in each place tne school and
church are united, the policy being that, to accomplish the most,
education must be wedded to religion.
All the schools and missions are supported by the missionary conAt the same time the people
tributions of the church in the North.
are encouraged in every way possible to help themselves, and much
;

The Board of Missions of the
is being done along these lines.
church is located at Pittsburg, Pa. The corresponding secretary of
this Board is Rev. J. W. Witherspoon, D. D., of Allegheny, Pa.,
who has been identified with the work since its beginning, and he
has proved himself a most noble and unselfish friend of the work.
THE NEGRO PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH IN AMERICA:

ITS

WORK AND

PROGRESS

Rev. C. F. Sams, D. D.

The Primitive
apostles.

Baptists

claim

have

descended

from

the

true that the line of descent can not always be

COLORED

548

traced, like a river, that now and then in
surface of the ground, and then make

is lost under the
appearance again, the
Primitive Baptists claim that from the days of the apostles until
the present time they have not been wanting for proof to back this
assertion they have been collected into churches and known under
different names who is now living would be universally recognized

its

course

its

;

as "Primitive Baptists."

From Sams'

Primitive Baptist statistics, issued annuallly,

gather the following facts concerning Negro Primitive Baptists in

America:

Churches, 10,000; ordained ministers, 11,022; deacons,

22,008; parsonages 3,028; local preachers, 14,000;

members, 755,116;

baptisms (during 1901), 16,108; value of church and parsonage
property, $4,000,000; money contributed for all purposes (1901),
$329,500; district associations, 280; ministers and deacons' unions,
191

;

schools, 5,010; superintendents, 5,010; teachers, 8,211

;

scholars,

119,850; spent for Sunday School supplies (1901), $3,192; young
people's bands, 28; members, 600.

THE COLORED MEN'S DEPARTMENT OF THE

Hunton,

International General

Secretary

The work of the Young Men's Christian Association of North
America is conducted under eight departments, in order to meet
most effectively the varied conditions of different classes of young
First, city and
men. These eight departments are as follows
town associations; second, student department; third, railroad department; fourth, army and navy department; fifth, colored men's
departmens; sixth, Indian; seventh, boys' work, and eighth, foreign
work department. The 285,000 members of the 1,575 associations
of the seven home departments constitute our American international brotherhood; and all of these departments are under the supervision of one international committee, whose headquarters are
in New York city.
The few associations organized by colored men soon after emancipation had but a short and feeble existence. During the sessions
:

ALLEN CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR
of the International

tions at

Convention of

Richmond, Va.,

549

Young Men's

Christian Associa-

churches

in 1875 the pastors of the colored

of that city petitioned the convention in the interest of the exten-

work

sion of the

Tor many

to the

young men

of their race.

was yet in
Yet it
was substantial under the patient supervision of Mr. Henry E.
Brown, Secretary of the International Committee; a good foundation was laid among the young men in this educatioanl institution.
The first city association with a general secretary was organized in

its

years, while the recently emancipated race

infancy, the progress of the association

work was

slow.

Norfolk, Va., in 1888.

The present
couraging and

status of the colored men's department
full of

promise.

Committee are now giving
department

—

this writer

Two

most en-

secretaries of the International

their entire time to the promotion of this

since

1891,

and Mr.

Moorland

since

1898.

There are 101 associations, with an aggregate membership of
nearly 7,000 colored young men. Sixty-seven of these associations
are in educational institutions and thirty-four in cities,

ALLEN CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR,
Rev. B.

CHURCH

Arnett, A. M., Springfield,

111.

Rev. John Hurst, D. D., read the report on "Christian Endeavor/'
Rev. A. L. Murray moved its adoption. The report is as follows
To the Members of the Twenty-first General Conference of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church Dear Fathers and Brtehren:

—

We, your committee appointed to
of the Allen Christian Endeavor

consider the further organization

Societies throughout our church,
beg leave to submit the following:
The phenomenal growth of the Christian Endeavor movement
since its beginning, nineteen years ago, and the great forward movement of the Epworth League, which was officially recognized and
incorporated into the organic life of the M. E. Church by their
General Conference in 1892, together with the marKed signs of
quickened interest in a deepening of the spiritual life of all denomi-

ALLEN CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR

550

nations in which young- people's societies exist, are understood in
the light of the fact that our Allen Endeavor Societies have sprung
into life and virile activity without the complete and unhampered
supervision of a special executive officer.

Recognizing the historic fact that the African Methodist Episcopal Church has never been indifferent to the care of the great

number of young people among its membership and its adherents,
and having the conviction that the various Allen Christian Endeavor Societies of the church should be united in one permanent
organization, recommend that for the larger spiritual growth and
usefulness of our young people and their thorough training in the
usages, spirit and ideals of the church, that the General Conference
adopt the recommendation of that part of the bishops' quadrennial
address which advised the election of a young minister from among
our best equipped to organize the Endeavor work in all the connection.

further

recommend

that,

whereas, the preparation and dis-

tribution of literature for the moral and religious culture of the

growing numbers

Endeavorers is one of the most
and obligations committed to our hands;

of Allen Christian

vitally important functions

and whereas, the reading of the Allen Christian Endeavorers of today will largely determine the mental and moral fiber and equipment of the church of to-morrow, urge our ministers and members
to give the "Allen Christian Endeavor Visitor" their most cordial
support, since it is supplying a present demand and is training up a
generation of young people for loyal and stalwart Christian service.

THE NEED OF A PROPERLY TRAINED MINISTRY
Rev. D.

Sanders, D. D., President Biddle University, Charlotte,
N. C.

What

a properly trained ministry?

includes a well-devel-

oped, strong body. As a type of the yet-to-come perfect preacher,
the Jewish ministry or priesthood was selected with reference to
A strong, well-trained body, kepf
perfect physical constitution.

A PROPERLY TRAINED MINISTRY
under subjection,
the church.

551

-in the active service of Christ and
burdensome body militates seriously
ministerial service, though there may be

of great value

feeble, diseased,

against the efficiency of
occasional exceptions.
It includes, in

men

the second place, intellectual culture.

God

reveals

nature and in His word, and the plan of salvation,
the scheme of redemption, can-be apprehended and appreciated only
himself to

grasped and appropriated. It follows that
is required in every one who believes the gospel and is saved. There must be sufficient of this to
enable the subject to exercise a degree of that faith which is necessary to salvation. But the minister is not only the servant, but he is
also the leader, the teacher, of others. It is obvious that he should
be well educated in the best sense of the term. If he is to lead the
people Godward he must know the way.
But a third and more important element to be taken into consideration is the matter of heart culture. To begin with, there must be
experienced the new birth of the gospel. This is fundamental. "Is
thine heart right?" is tlie question which takes precedence over all
others in a pre-eminent degree as relates to the ministry. The heart
powers, in all their exercises, must be influenced and controlled by
the Spirit of God.
But we must be true to ourselves and face the facts. True as is
all that has just been said, and much more with equal truthfulness
might be said, to the credit of the ministry, there are startling facts
which disclose the pertinence of the subject now under consideraso far as revealed truth

some degree

of intellectual culture

tion.

Negro ministers in this country,
every 450 of the race.
are also told by good authority that only about 30 per cent, of these ministers are intellectually and morally fitted for their work among the people. There is
plenty of room for controversy over the accuracy of these figures,
but granting that they are approximately correct, what do they
are told that there are 20,000

about one

for

show? The question answers itself That only 7 out of every 2Q
Negro preachers you meet are morally and intellectually fitted for
the proportionate work of leading 450 colored people in the way of

A PROPERLY TRAINED MINISTRY

552

Christ and salvation.

What

they are leading?

means anything, it means that right here
fight must be made than at any other point

of the

other T3 and 5,850 people

whom

If this

the pulpit a fiercer

along our whole line of battle.
Again, caste distinction places the Negro virtually beyond the
uplifting influence of the ministry of our neighbor race. In civics,
iti economics, in agriculture, in business, in practical politics and in
most everything of a secular nature the Negro is influenced, and, in
degree, benefited, by this neighbor.

But in matters of religion the
although the issues involved are spiritual and
eternal. Prayer and study over the meaning of the parable of the
Good Samaritan is quite likely to absorb these brethren for generations to come.
We should sympathize with them in their agony,
and pray that a clearer vision of the Christ will aid to a better understanding of His word and spirit.
Finally. A properly trained ministry is needed because race redemption depends fundamentally and ultimately upon leading the
people to the Christ of God.
All the various means of race development have their places. It
in fact, it is important
to ascertain the ecois all well enough
nomic needs of a people and give them an education of commensurate economic value. This principle is being widely applied
to-day and it is sought to apply it specially to the Negro. There is
no reasonable objection to the application of this principle within
a

case

far different,

—

proper limits.

From what has been said it follows:
1. Bad men should be put out of the

ministry wherever found.

only makes the matter worse to send them to another part of
the country. Put them down and out promptly where they are, and
see that they stay down.
2. It is most desirable that great care be taken when admitting
men to the sacred office. If God calls one to the work of the holy
It

ministry he will most surely

endow such an one with proper creden-

tials.
3.

upon the eduinduce them to consider

All proper influences should be brought to bear

cated

young men

of the race

which

will

A PROPERLY TRAINED MINISTRY
prayerfully

many men

they are called to the ministry.

It is

553
well

known

that

of this class are deterred from considering such a call

the manifest influence of

weak men

Negro

Reasonable pressure should be brought to bear that this objection may be
overcome, and similar ones which stand in the way.
4. Training schools for ministers should be planted and fostered
by all the christian churches. Such praiseworthy enterprises as the
New Era Institute and the John C. Martin library and Educational
Fund, designed to aid in supplying the need of a better trained ministry, should be encouraged, and it can but be hoped that much good
will result from what is being done in connection with them.
It c
well understood, however, that for the more thorough and permanent means of training ministers the theological seminaries and
Bible schools must be depended upon. Let the denominations here
represented, therefore, devise larger and better things for theological education, that we may in some measure satisfy the demand for
in the

ministry.

a properly trained ministry.

Part

III

Controlling Forces and Conclusion

CHAPTER

CXVIII

THE COMMISSIONERS AND THEIR WORK
I.

In so great a

movement

Garland Penn
as the

Negro Young People's Christian

and Educational Congress there was need of the help of some of the
best men and women we could get throughout the country. It was
first proposed to appoint two thousand commissioners to represent
the Congress, and these commissioners should include all the traveling men of our race, in all the denominations. This was a tremendous undertaking, as we attempted to give each appointee a
certificate of appointment as follows:
"To the Negro Raze in America Greeting: This is to certify
that, because of the Christian character, ability and known interest

—

of the

Commissioner of Richmond, Va., in the spiritual, moral, inand social uplift of the Negro race with all that follows

tellectual

therewith, especially as it concerns the training oi the youth, is
hereby appointed a Commissioner to represent the Negro Young
People's Christian and Educational Congress for the city of Richmond. We seek for our representatives a welcome and hearing in
all the churches of all denominations, before all conventions, conferences, assemblies, associations, synods,

Sunday schools, young
M. C. A.'s, Y. W. C.
of this movement, as per

people's societies educational institutions, Y.
A.'s

C. T. U.'s, etc.,

instructions
T
C> o\

)

may

where the

interests

be faithfully advanced.

COMMISSIONER

555

"In behalf and by order of the Board of Directors representing alV
denominations and agencies doing religious and educational work
among the race, the signature of the President, Vice-President arad
Corresponding Secretary is herewith attached."
This certificate was given that these Commissioners might have
positive connection with the movement.
Their duty was to hold
meetings and secure information, and much of the success of the
Congress was due to their efforts. We covet the privilege to give
the biography of each, but must be content with presenting some
two hundred faces in the plates which follow this introduction.
These are but a fifth of those appointed, as there was not sufficient
time to secure the photograph of each one. Some of the Commissioners will be found among the speakers upon the program.

CHAPTER CXIX

THE FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS SIDE OF THE
CONGRESS
I.

may

Garland Penn

be safely said that no movement ever inaugurated

the Negroes in the United States cost so

much

People's Christian and Educational Congress.
difficult

features of the

movement

among

Negro Young
was one of the

as the
It

to provide sufficient revenue to

on and to meet the large bills which had to be incurred to
We wish there was sufficient space to give the itemized account of the receipts and disbursements. This can only be
given in the aggregate. There was received from denominations
and agencies participating in the movement $1,016.35. From agenFrom other
cies and contributions, the Congress received $520.
Badges
Programs,
Souvenir
Concert,
Sacred
such
as
Grand
sources,

carry

insure success.

the Congress received $4,723.25, making a total
At the meeting of the Auditing Committee,
of receipts $6,259.60.

and Tuskegee

trip,

October 29, 1902, in Atlanta, Ga., assets were reported in vouchers
and other sources equivalent to cash of $1,693.18, making a total of
The local Committee of Arrangereceipts and assets $7,952.78.
disbursed $1,487.87, which made
raised
and
ments reported having
disbursed during the entire
and
a grand total of $9,440.65 raised
and bills were presented to
which
vouchers
Congress movement, for
Committee.
Auditing
of
the
the satisfaction of every member
the best and most
of
nine
consisting
of
The Auditing Committee,
trustworthy of our race representatives, audited every item of the

account and certified the same as follows:
"We the Auditing Committee appointed by the Board of Directors
of the Negro Young People's Christian and Educational Congress
to examine accounts of Prof. I. Garland Penn, have examined said
accounts of receipts and disbursements with vouchers and found
(556)

FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS SIDES

same

correct,

same.

and therefore attach our signatures

557
in

Gaines, Atlanta, Ga., Bishop in the A.

approval of the
M. E. Church;
M. E. Church;

S. Williams, Atlanta, Ga., Bishop in the C.
N. Vass, Raleigh, N. C, District Secretary American Baptist
Publication Society; W. M. Alexander, Baltimore, Md., Corresponding Secretary Lott Carey Baptist Home and Foreign Mission ConS.

vention

;

E. R. Carter, Atlanta, Ga., representing the

American Bap-

Home

Mission Society; John R. Hawkins, Kittrell, N. C, Educational Secretary A. M. E. Church; W. H. Weaver, Pittsburg, Pa.,
Field Agent Presbyterian Board of Missions for Freedmen; P. J.
Bryant, Atlanta, Ga., Pastor Wheat Street Baptist Church (proxy
for E. W. D. Isaacs, Nashville, Tenn, Corresponding Secretary Natist

tional Baptist

Young

N. C, Bishop

in the

People's Society) G.
A. M. E. Z. Church."
;

Clinton, Charlotte,

There are several distinct features of the business affairs of the
Congress which stand in proof of the fact that the interest of our
people in the Congress was genuine.
First. There never was such a large sum raised at a concert, nor
did ever a concert cost as much as the Grand Sacred Concert of the
Negro Young People's Christian and Educational Congress.
Second. Delegates brought each $1.00 from their churches in aid
of the Congress, which was never collected.
Third. The- willingness which each denomination manifested in
their appropriations for the Congress by the several boards and
agencies.

would name

others, but these will suffice. It

of the greatest

proportion as the "United
importance
Negro: His Problems and His Progress" is circulated just in proportion will the Congress have funds to operate upon in future, and
it is to be hoped that this will be amply sufficient.
as well as satisfaction that, in

;;

CHAPTER CXX

THE OFFICERS OF THE NEGRO YOUNG PEOPLE'S
CHRISTIAN AND EDUCATIONAL CONGRESS FOR
THE TRIENNIUM, WITH BOARD OF DIRECTORS
J.

Bowen

W. J. Ga ines, D. D., Atlanta, Ga. First ViceW. D. Isaacs, D. D., Nashville, Tenn. Second

President, Bishop
President, Rev. E.

;

Vice-President, Bishop Alexander Walters, D. D., Jersey City, N.
Third Vice-President, Bishop R. S. Williams, D. D., Augusta,
J.
:

Ga.; Fourth Vice-President, Rev. D.

Fifth Vice-President, Rev.

Sanders, D. D., Charlotte,

W. E Bowen,

D. D., Atlanta.

Corresponding Secretary, Prof. I. Garland Penn, Atlanta, Ga.
Recording Secretary, Rev. H. H. Proctor, D. D., Atlanta, Ga.
Statistical Secretary, Rev. S. N. Vass, D. D., Raleigh, N. C. Treasurer, Rev. W. M. Alexander, D. D., Baltimore, Md.
The Executive Committee consists of the officers with the additional five members: Hon. John C. Dancy Washington, D. C. Rev.
B. W. Arnett, Jr., Springfield, Ohio; Rev. C. T. Walker, D. D.,
New York, N. Y. Rev. W. H. Weaver, D. D., Baltimore Md.; Dr.
Booker T. Washington, Tuskegee, Ala.
Ga.

;

FIELD SECRETARIES
r
W. Lucas, D. D.,
Raleigh, N. C. Rev.
D.,
Vass,
D.
Rev. S. N.
Kittrell, N. C.
Hawkins,
A.
M.,
R.
Prof.
John
South Atlanta, Ga.
Tenn.;
Rev.
R. E. Jones,
Nashville,
Rev. E. W. D. Isaacs, D. D.,
Atlanta,
D.
D.,
Ga.
Bowen,
E.
D. D., New Orleans, La. Rev. J. W.
Caldwell,
D.
Ark.;
Rev.
S.
Rev. R. S. Stout, D. D., Little Rock,
J.
;

;

D., Philadelphia, Pa.

Bishop

Atlanta, Ga.
(558)

—

Board of Directors Denominations
african methodist episcopal church
The Church, 360 Houston
J. Gaines, D. D.,

street,

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Bishop B.

The Young

Arnett, D. D.,

559
P. Soc. C.

Wilber

force, Ohio.

Bishop C. T. Shaffer, D. D., Allen Christian Endeavor, 532 Wash
ington avenue, Kansas City, Kan.
Rev. B. W. Arnett, Jr., A. B., Sunday-school Union, 206 Publk
Square, Nashville, Tenn.
Rev. E.

W. Lampton,

D. D., Financial Department, 1541 Four-

teenth street, N. W., Washington, D. C.

John R. Hawkins A. M., Ed. Dept., Box 55, Kittrell, N. C.
Rev. John Collett, D. D., Publication Board, 631 Pine street, Philadelphia, Pa.
Rev. PL B. Parks, D. D., Missionary Department, 61 Bible House,
Prof.

New

York, N. Y.
Rev. B. F. Watson, D. D., Church Extension, 631 Pine

street,

Philadelphia, Pa.

Rev. H. T.- Johnson, D. D.,

The

Press, 631 Pine street, Phila-

delphia, Pa.

AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZlON CHURCH
Bishop G. W. Clinton, D. D., The Church, 415 Myers street, CharN. C.
Rev. G. L. Blackwell, D. D., 1527 Catherine street, Assistant Gen-

lotte,

eral Secretary, Philadelphia, Pa.

Rev.

J. S.

Caldwell, D. D., General Steward, 1825

Lombard

street,

Philadelphia, Pa.

Rev. J. M. Hill, D. D., Publication Department, Box 250, CharN. C.
Rev. R. B. Bruce, S. S. Dept., Box 250, Charlotte, N. C.
Prof. S. G. Atkins, A. M., Ed. Dept., Winston-Salem, N. C.
Bishop A. Walters, D. D., U. Soc. Chris. Endeavor, 28 Oak street
Jersey City, N. J.
Rev. Jesse B. Colbert, D. D., Var. Chris. En., 2625 Washington
lotte,

street, St. Louis,

Rev.

Mo.

Box 250, Charlotte, N. C.
BAPTIST CHURCH
D. D., The National Baptist Convention

Smith, D. D.,

Rev. E. C. Morris,
Helena, Ark.

The

Press,

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

560
Rev. C.

Brown. D.

D., the Lott

Carey Foreign Missionary Con-

vention, Winston, N. C.

Rev. L. G. Jordan, D. D., Foreign Mission Board, 718 Walnut
street, Louisville,

Ky.

Miss N. H. Burroughs, Corresponding Secretary Woman's Convention, 718 W. Walnut street, Louisville, Ky.
Rev. R. H. Boyd, D. D., Home Mission and Publication Board,
523 N. Market street, Nashville, Tenn.
Rev. E. W. D. Isaacs, D. D., B. Y. P. U., 523 Market street, Nashville, Tenn.
Rev. P. J. Bryant, D. D., The Press, 217 Auburn avenue, Atlanta,

W. Bishop Johnson, D. D., Education Dept., 403 N street N.
Washington, D. C.
Rev. W. M. Alexander, D. D., Corresponding Secretary Lott
Carey Foreign Mission, 525 McMee;hen street, Baltimore, Md.
Rev. J. A. Whitted D. D., The Press, Raleigh, N. C.
Rev.

\Y..

COLORED METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN AMERICA

Bishop R. S. Williams D. D., The Church, 1633 Fifteenth
Augusta, Ga.

street,

Rev. R. A. Carter, D. D., Epworth League, 331 Auburn avenue,
Atlanta, Ga.

Rev. R.
Ark.

Stout,

Church Extension Department,

Little

Rock,

Rev. Henry Bulloch, Publication Department, Jackson, Tenn.
Rev. I. S. Pierson, D. D., Missionary Department, Box 709 Atlanta, Ga.

Prof. J. F. Lane, Edcuational Department, Jackson, Tenn.
Rev. R. T* Brown, The Press, Jackson, Tenn.
AFRICAN UNION METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH
Rev. James E. Sarjeant, The Church, 1010 French street, Wil-

mington, Del.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Rev.

lanta, Ga.

Bowen, Ph.

D., D. D.,

The Church, South At-

;

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

561

Rev. W. Hi. Nelson, D. D., Missions, Huntsville, Ala.
Rev. M. C. B. Mason, D. D., Freedmen's Aid and So. Ed., 220
Fourth street, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Rev. H. A. Monroe, D. D., Church Extension, 13 10 Parrish street,
Philadelphia, Pa|
J. Price, Board of Education, South Atlanta, Ga.
Rev. C. C. Jacobs, A. M., Sunday-school Union, Sumter, S. C.
Rev. R. E. Jones, B. D., Sunday-school Union, 7621 Burthe street,

Prof. L.

New

Orleans, La.
Rev. I. B. Scott, D. D.,

The

Press, 429 Carondalet street,

New

Or-

leans, La.

Rev. G. G. Logan, D. D., Publication Dept., Corinth, Miss.
I. Garland Penn, A. Mi., Epworth League, South Atlanta, Ga.

Prof.

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Archdeacon Rev.
Archdeacon Rev.

H. M. Pollard, Raleigh, N. C.
Va.

Jas. S. Russell, Lawrenceville,

F. Bragg, 826 Asquith street, Baltimore, Md.
Mr.
Bond, Newberne, N. C. Rev. W. George Avant, Newberne, N. C, committee representing Protestant Episcopal Council
of Church Workers.

Rev. Geo.

Virgil N.

;

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Rev. D. J. Sanders, D. D., Charlotte, N. C. Rev. William E. Carr,
D. D., Danville, and Rev. A. G.. Davis, S. T. B., Lumberton, N. C,
;

Synod

Catawba.

Rev. David Brown, D. D., 11 Nassau street, Charleston,
Rev. G. T. Dilliard, D. D., 917 Washington street, Columbia,

Synod

S. C.

Atlantic.

COLORED CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
M. W. DeShong, Church and Press, Fayetteville, Tenn.
Rev. L. C. Davis, Education and Young People's Work, Pratt

Rev.

City, Ala.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
Rev. H. H. Proctor, A. M., The Church, 183 Courtland
Atlanta, Ga.

street,

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

562

AFRICAN UNION M.

Bishop B. T. Ruley, The Church 19

CHURCH

12th street, Wilmington,

Del.

COLORED LUTHERANS
PRIMITIVE BAPTISTS
Rev. C. F. Sams, DeLand, Fla.

CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Rev. M. F. Robinson, The Church, Louisville, Ky.
Rev. John R. Smith, M. D., Y. P. Work, Nashville, Tenn.
Prof. T. Augustus Reid, A. M., Missionary, Maysville, Ky.
Rev. Preston Taylor, D. D., 449 N. Cherry street, Nashville, Tenn.
FREE WILL BAPTISTS

UNITED BRETHREN

CONGREGATIONAL METHODISTS
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES
Rev.
Rev.
Rev.
Rev.
Rev.

The Church, New Orleans, La.
Washington, Education, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
E. W. Benjamin, Young People's Society, Vicksburg, Miss.
T. T. Thompson, Sunday-school, St. Louis, Mo.
Spencer Jackson, Nashville, Tenn.

R. H. Alston,
L.

AFRO-AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Rev. E. W. Williams, Abbeville, S. C.
Rev. S. G. Walker, North Wilkesboro, N. C.
Rev. S. G. Alford, Selkirk, S. C.
Rev. Thomas MIcLin, Chester, S. C.

Board of Directors

—Agencies

young men's christian association
Mr.
Rev.

W.
J.

A. Hunton, 418 Houston
E. Moorland, 905

street, Atlanta,

street N.

Ga.

W., Washington, D. C.

BOARD OT DIRECTORS

563

AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY
Rev.

N. Vass, D. D., Box 142, Raleigh, N. C.

THE AMERICAN MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION
Rev. Geo.

Moore, D. D., 926 Addison

street, Nashville,

Tenn.

THE STEWART MISSIONARY FOUNDATION FOR AFRICA
Rev.

W. W.

Lucas, B. D., South Atlanta, Ga.

THE AMERICAN BAPTIST HOME MISSION SOCIETY
Rev. E. R. Carter, D. D., 71 Tattnall street, Atlanta, Ga.

THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY
R'v.

Wragg,

B. D., South Atlanta, Ga.

THE WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION
Mrs. Lucy Thurman, Jackson, Miss.

THE PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF MISSIONS FOR >'KEEDMEN
Rev.

W. H. Weaver,

PRESBYTERIAN

D. D., 516 Market

BOARD OF

PUBLICATION

Rev. G. T. Dilliard, D. D., Columbia,

street, Pittsburg, Pa.

AND SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK
S. C.

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL COMMISSION

THE JOHN

MARTIN EDUCATIONAL FUND

THE FEABODY AND SLATER FUNDS
COLORED EVANGELICAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES

NON-SECTARIAN AND PUBLIC EDUCATION
Principal Booker T. Washington, A. M., LL. D., Pres. Tuskegee

Normal Industrie

Institute,

Tuskegee, Ala.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

564
Prof.

H. Lanier, A.

B., Pres.

Alcorn A.

& M.

College,

West-

side, Miss.

Prof.

McHenry

Charleston,
Prof.

Jones, Pres.

West

Virginia Colored Institute,

Va.

Hugo

Johnston, A. M., Pres. Virginia Normal Institute,

Petersburg, Va.
Prof.

ston

Inman

Cit}^,

Prof.

E. Page, A. M., Pres. Langston University, Lang-

Okla.

Nathan

Young, A. M., Pres. State Normal School, Tal-

lahassee, Fla.

AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY

THE KING'S DAUGHTERS
THE YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
Mrs. Delia

Hayden, V. N.

I.,

Petersburg, Va.

THE FRIENDS FREEDMEN ASSOCIATION

THE NEGRO EVANGELICAL SOCIETY (CHRISTIAN CHURCH )
THE INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY-SCHOOL CONVENTION
Dr. Jas. E. Shepard, Durham, N. C.
Prof. G. G. Marcus, Memphis, Tenn.

The

basis

upon which the permanent organization was formed

during the triennium, the denominations should
«dect some other General Offi:er than the present incumbent, or
agency desires another representative upon the Board of Directors
instead of the one now upon the Board, the General Officer elected
to represent the Board in its general work would be its representative upon our Board of Directors and the person selected by the
agency would become the representative of that agency upon the
provides that,

Board

of Directors of the

Educational Congress.

Negro Young People's Christian and

CHAPTER CXXI

THE AMERICAN PRESS AND THE CONGRESS
I.

What

the

Garland Penn

Negro needs at his back is a healthy public sentiment
which will guarantee him an equal chance in

of a friendly character,
life

with

lives.

all

This

whom he is surrounded and with whom he
prime need now. He wants public sentiment

those by
is

his

crystallized into such formidable shape as will recognize the presence
in

our country of two classes of Negroes.

intelligent, thrifty, christian class,

who

First, the progressive,

are the products of a gen-

eration of help and interest manifested in him North and South.
Second. Like other races, there is the weak, degraded class, the unreached class. That the right of the Negro to place in our bodypolitic and to the rights belonging to him in common with all
other citizens should be based upon the progressive class and not
the unreached class. The country needs also to see and accept the
fact that the Negro is after himself. That he recognizes his race has
traits and tendencies with which every christian Negro needs to
grapple. It may be said in a sentence that the books written and
the editorials published against the Negro, which either ignore or
minimize his good deeds and magnify his his evil traits, while they make
heroes of our rapists and murderers, are for the prime business of
creating sentiment against the Negro, which will eventually have as
its end the consignment of the Negro to an indifferent place in the
Every bold headline of an article on the Negro
nation's esteem.
which tells* of the murder or some other despicable crime committed is a sentiment-maker against him. What every far-seeing,
sensible Negro should do is to plan that sentiment may be made for
him and that every possible effort be started that will counteract
the poisoning effect of the books written against the Negro, as well
(565)

THE AMERICAN PRESS AND THE CONGRESS

560

newspaper attacks upon him, all of which have very wide readWith this thought in mind, the promoters of the Negro Young
People's Christian and Educational Congress sought to bring to
the front, and that, too, in sufficiently large numbers, the representative, educated, christian class of our people as would, by the very
object lesson, secure an expression from the American press such
as would encourage the Negro and his friends and give impetus to
a friendly and helpful sentiment in his behalf.
While sentiment
can't be seen as a tangible something, it is awfully felt when
against you, wonderfully helpful when for you.
In this effort of
the Congress to have the nation behold the Negro at his best
and surprise many, while confirming opinion of many as to his marvelous progress, it was pre-eminently successful. It can be truthfully said that there has never been any Congress or Convention
of the race in its history other than this, that elicited so favorable and
generous approval at the hands of the press, secular and religious, white and black, North and South, East and West. While the
Associated Press, the Scrippe McRae and other press associations
gave due publicity to the movement in every section of the world,
as

ing.

commendation so generally expressive
and so unanimously complimentary to this lesson of
race-progress and advancement was the editorial expressions of the
leading journals of America in every section. The management of
the Congress is in possession of two thousand clippings, 'and from
only a few of these can excerpts be made for this important chapter.
These few, however, will be amply sufficient to satisfy the thoughtful man that the Congress really accomplished much for the bright
yet the feature of the press
of sentiment

side

the

some of
journals

Negro

the

race progress.

headlines

of the

land.

articles

interesting,

first

which appeared

They suggest

the

notice

various

made for
make against

impression

as the headlines about outrages and murders

all,

the
the

Negro. These headlines doubtless change the opinion, and, if not
really changed, it serves to call American readers' attention to another
side of the Negro life which they arc not accustomed to see in the

American daily press. These are a few "headers":
Negroes are Religious, Young Negroes Ready

for

Work, Sn'va

THE AMERICAN PRESS AND THE CONGRESS

567

Negro Race, Many Negroes Will Attend the Congress,
Prominent Representatives of the Race Gather, The President to
Negroes. Great Xegro Gathering, Congress of Negroes Cultivate
Love and Friendship for all Races, Great Gathering of Negroes,
Negroes Speak for High Ideals, The Negro Has Claim Upon Sympathy of All Races, The Congress Says No Race Can Hate Another, The President Wishes Young Negroes Well, No Colored
Beggars Are Seen, Relation of the Colored Man to Religion and
Society, Negro Visitors Well Behaved, Congress Advises Negroes
to Return Good for Evil, The Negro's Standing, Needs, Weakness
Teaches the Negroes the Value of Labor, Seven Thousand Negroes
Conferring, The Negro Has Advanced, The Helping Race Succeeds,
Help of the South to the Negro Race, Converting the World, The
Black Race's Future, An Optimistic Crowd, Negroes Give Good
Advice to Negroes, Most Extensive Congress Ever Known, Netion of the

groes are Optimistic.
Let us hear from the South as to what they think of the greatest
South as to wha tthey think of this greatest gathering of the race.

The

Atlanta

this

Constitution

"The

Lesson:"

Congress

says

character

has

been most

sides.

The

Young

People's Congress has

verdict of Atlanta

under
the

caption

crowd

"An Object

attendance

commented

favorably

may

be said to be unanimous.

made an impression upon

upon
both

The

this city at the

heart of the South, which can not but be of great value in aiding the

work these people have in hand."
Again The Constitution, August 14,
adopted last week by the Negro Young
great

Atlanta

last

week have met with

The tone

said:

"The

resolutions

Congress held
strong endorsement all over
People's

which so admirablv
been widely commented
the
more
thoughtful
Northern
press, and the movement
upon by
has made friends at the North as it did throughout the South."
The Atlanta Journal (daily) editorially said, August 7th. while
the Congress was in session: "With the best thought and energies
of their leaders devoted to the problem along these lines there is
no reason why the Negro Congress now in session here may not be
the country.

of these resolutions,

reflected the spirit of the gathering, has

THE AMERICAN PRESS AND THE CONGRESS

568

much

value to the Negro race, but to the country at large, nor
even a few years may not witness a marked improvement in
the Negro's condition."
The Atlanta Daily News, Hon. John Temple Graves, editor, said
of

why

editorially,

commenting upon the Declaration

Declaration

a tribute to the fine

the better element of the race

"The tone

and admirable

fronting

its

spirit in

future. It

of the

which

a whole-

reflection upon the teachable intelligence
of the men who
dominated the Congress, and it demonstrates what The News does
not hesitate to affirm, that, along certain essential lines, no race in
history was ever led with more patience, more forbearance, more
excellent temper and more fruitful wisdom than is illustrated in the
lives and counsels of certain notable men of the Negro race today.
This Declaration vindicates the assembly and the value of the

some

Young

Negroes' Congress.
is making."

It testifies to

the real high progress

that the race

In closing the above editorial, Editor Graves admits new
on the race question as follows:

"Add
of

its

to this the voluntary

conductors,

its

light

testimony of Atlanta's policemen,

motormen and

its

citizens,

the order,

decorum, courtesy and bearing of the great assemblage of four
thousand Negroes, sitting for four days in racial session, and we
see at least a light on the race problem which we have not been
able to recognize before."

The Southern Woman, the organ of the white club women of the
South, published the entire declaration and added:
"The above extracts show the tone of the Negro Congress recently
convened in Atlanta, and speaks well for the good sense and conmembers. It is said that the best address was made
by a woman, and it was the best because she left theories to others
and spoke plainly to the women of the audience, telling them that
Such is the doctrine the
all depended upon their moral rectitude.
tried to impress upon
years
have
for
Atlanta
colored club women of
advice
is heeded, and then
when
this
race,
and
the women of their
desired by all
earnestly
so
improvement
only, will be seen that
servatism of

its

THE AMERICAN
good

citizens of each race,

PRESS

AND THE CONGRESS

669

and meetings of the nature of the one

no doubt."
testimony of the Atlanta people were concerned,
the climax was reached in the voluntary statement of the Chief of
Police, who doubtless expected trouble, but having had less trouble
than usual because of the presence of these Christian men and
women in the city, though Negroes, to a Constitution reporter he
paid this tine tribute. We reproduce it entire
"I cannot let the opportunity pass to prasie the Negro Young
People's Congress for the excellent order that was maintained in
the city during the deliberations of that body.
There is nearly
always a possibility of disorder where there are large gatherings
even among the better class of white people, but with 5,000 people
just passed in Atlanta will hasten the day

far as the

in the city for nearly a

police interference

week

among

there

was not

a single case calling for

the delegates to the Congress."

glad to have the chance," continued the Chief, "to express

my appreciation of the Negroes who attended the Congress. Not
only did they keep perfect order, but they had a marked effect on
our own Negroes in the city, who seemed to feel a sort of pride in
the fact that such a meeting
police had fewer arrests to

was going on in
make during the

their midst,

and the

past week.

All the

better class of Negroes in the city attended the Congress, and those

who

did not attend tried to

show

the proceedings to keep quiet.

that they felt enough interest in
was impressed not only with the

elevating influence of education and Christianity with the Negro,

but with the force of example

furnished others

who

are

among

the

class that give the police trouble.

PERFECT ORDER WAS KEPT

"The street cars were crowded every day," continued the Chief,
"and the street car men tell me that there was not an instance
where the slightest trouble arose in handling the immense crowds.
My men and officers report that although the -streets were filled
with visitors, the good order was exceptional. Not a single member
of the Congress was seen on Decatur street, the thoroughfare that
usually proves an attraction to Negroes visiting the city on ordinary

THE AMERICAN PRESS AND THE CONGRESS

570
occasions.
large

crowd

The

saloons took in not a penny extra on account of the

The

of visitors.

the best of their race,

five

thousand

wer singly and

visitors,

who

are

among

and wellbehaved as any body of people could possibly have been. A comparison of this crowd with the excursions that come into the city
on holiday occasions, when a different element mixes in the throng,
makes a marked contrast. -Take the Fourth of July celebrations,
when carloads of Negroes arrive who have not had the elevating
influences that surround the members of the Congress that has just
met here. We have to double up the police, and police barracks
are overcrowded with prisoners.
The Congress, I am told, has
accomplished a great w ork, but they have done nothing better, I
.hink, than to show the people what order can be kept by a body of
Xegroes who are laboring to elevate their race to make of themselves good and law-abiding citizens."
The Chattanooga Daily Times said "It will be a great day for
the Negroes of the South when the commission of a crime is no
longer by a common voice attributed to 'the Negro,' but to 'a
Negro.' The blacks as a people have had to bear an enormous
burden of blame because hitherto there has been small ground for
differentiation between one and another of them in their social,
political or business relations to the community in which they live.
The reception of this Young People's Congress by the people of
Atlanta and the encouragement they have received at the hands
collectively as quiet

of the leading white people
of the

Negro

as 'ignorant

surely reaching

its

surely

and

indicates

vicious'

that

the

classification

slowly but none the less

end."

The Wilmington, N. C, Messenger

(daily) said editorially:

"The

Convention of prominent Negroes from all sections of the country,
North and South now in session at Atlanta, is a notable gathereing,
and we hope that good for their race may result from their deliberaT
tions.
e have been struck with the conservative views and
sensible ideas expressed by the speakers at this Convention. The

men

arc in earnest in

their seeking after light

for the guidance 0 f

their fellowtnen, and are doing their utmost to lead

paths.

During the

first

two days

of the

them

in right

Convention there were

THE AMERICAN PRESS AND THE CONGRESS

571

—

many strong addresses speeches by men who showed understanding of the situation and had a desire to really aid their people
and lead them to better understanding with their fellow citizens."

NORTHERN PRESS COMMENTS

Our Day,

a great Northern journal published in Chicago, said:

forward when the sure solution of the Negro
problem in this country is seen, not by white philanthropists alone,
The Negro You^g People's
but by the Negroes themselves.
Christian and Educational Congress which just n.~. m Atlanta, Ga.,
composed of 7,000 young colored people, adopted a set cf -tfro-Iutions which show that they clearly recognize the remedy for their
"It

a long step

present

ills."

The New York Independent
self-respecting

temperate

said:

and Christian

"These were the educated,
class

the

race,

and of

course they behaved just as the crowd of a Christian Endeavor

Convention would behave, only perhaps better, because they were
To the white people of Atlanta this was a valuable object
lesson. The white people have seen the other side. They have seen
the educated Negro by the thousand, teachers, preachers, lawyers,
college graduates, and have heard sensible and eloquent addresses
older.

from them that make for culture character and good citizenship.
is a very different Negro from what is usually exploited in

That

and picture."

of New York said "The Negro Educational
Conference which recently closed its meeting at Atlanta, Ga., was
of a very optimistic turn of mind. The general tone of the speeches
and reports showed that all the delegates were strong in the belief
U;at the race was on the road to better things and that their future,
The resolutions adopted
to a large extent, was in their own hands.

The Public Opinion

at the

conclusion of the session are significant."

The Boston Journal said: "The present .meeting of the Negro
Young People's Christian and Educational Congress at Atlanta was
not very furry reported in the press and

did not attract the atten-

importance merited. It was at once one of the most
significant and successful gatherings of the colored people of this
tion

which

its

THE AMERICAN PRESS AND THE CONGRESS

572

country ever held, marked from beginning to end with a wise conservatism, a marvelous patience, and an unswerving devotion to
the highest interest of the race."

The Chicago Post (Daily)
from the Negro Young

result

said:

"Considerable good should
Christian and Educational

People's

Congress which has just been held

at Atlanta.
The spirit and substance of the final declaration, as of the speeches delivered by leading colored ministers and educators leave nothing to be desired.

There was a

little

the South, though

complaint or criticism of the white element of
must be admitted that there is plent of room

for justifiable fault-finding."

The

Cincinnati Commercial Gazette (Daily) said:

resolutions adopted

"One

of the

by the Negro Young People's Educational Con-

is an evidence of a remarkable advance,
ment. He has the right to ask judgment because of the best and
not because of the worst colored men. But colored men of the
stamp of the membership of the Atlanta Convention can do much
to restrain their bad and their worst elements, not tiring because
the work may be difficult, for the good results will repay the workers immeasureably.
Concerning the address to the public the Cleveland Plain Dealer
"The address of the Negro Congress to the American peosaid
ple, which was issued immediately on the close of the last session
of the Congress at Atlanta, is a temperate appeal to the whites
for fairness and consideration of the difficulties under which the
Negro labors, and to the Negroes, themselves for prudence and con-

ference held in Atlanta,

become worthy of the respect and friendship of
American people. The entire address is in admirable tone and

tinual efforts to

the

spirit.

well calculated

between two races

in the

to aid

towards a better understanding

South."

The Tribune of Chicago said "The movement of which the
Negro Young People's Christian and Educational Congress is an
expression has only just begun. In another generation the Negro
:

race will begin to reap the fruits of its regeneration. There will
be no more controversy over the black man's position. Southern
and Northern extremists will be silenced. The Negro will have

THE AMERICAN PRESS AND THE CONGRESS

573

taken the position to which his capacities entitle him, from which
nr" legislation can bar him, and above which nothing can lift him."
The Chicago Record- says "The sensible and optimistic resolutions which were adopted by the Negro Young People's Christian
and Educational Congress at Atlanta afford a happy contrast to
the impractical suggestions for Negro emigration thai are occasionally heard. The Congress did well to insist particularly upon the
Color cannot keep a man down if he has
benefits of education.
developed capacity for work, and the Negro may profit immensely
both by the industrial education, upon which stress is laid, and by
the higher education which is recommended for those who evince
an exceptional aptitude for it."
The Chicago Inter-Ocean said: "The resolutions adopted by the
Negro Educational Conference at Atlanta are as remarkable as
any ever adopted by a convention of the colored ra:e or any other
:

race.

Wrongs and

grievances are balanced against exceptional

opportunities and privileges, and the resolutions breathe the spirit
of

wholesome

aspirations.

The young

colored people of the Atlanta

conference rejoice in what has been done for their race and
the race has done for

which they say

itself.

in the strength

They

what

take pride in the record, of

and simplicity of truth."
8th, under the caption of

The Philadelphia Telegraph, August

"On

tli<*

Right Way.'" said: "President Roosevelt's

letter of con-

gratulation marks as unusually important the gathering of colored
folks

which assembled

Atlanta, Ga., on

Wednesday, and

hold-

ing meetings there during this week. This is the Negro Young
Pet-pie's Christian and Educational Congress, a recently formed

organization wlvch promises to become one of the helpful agencies
It has been said that if the X
in uplifting of the colored race.
•

America

to be saved

and

civilized,

will be the

Christian religion that will accomplish the work.

gress seems to be inspired

tional Congress,

nent rank

of the

The Atlanta Con-

by the truth of this assumption."

The New York Evening Post of
Negro Young

recent meeting of the

power

date,

August

16th, said:

"The

People's Christian and Educa-

which has just closed in Atlanta, deserves a promithe epoch-making events of the history of the

among

THE AMERICAN PRESS AND THE CONGRESS

574

Negro
in its

race, with its evidence that the race itself

own

prepared to strive

behalf for the true freedom of a better

life,

better con-

ditions arid better ideals.

The Congress proved

meeting, that such are

purposes, and by the character of

its

this,

its

first
its

deliberations and conduct of the delegates and the tenor of the

American people, it has struck a note
higher than any heretofore sounded by the Negro for himself."

declaration issued

to the

THE WESTERN PRESS

The Denver Post (daily) of Denver, Colo., said: "A notable gathwas the recent convention of the Negro Young
People's Christian and Educational Congress at Atlanta. The attendance was representative of the highest modern development of the
Negro race the proceeding were marked by intelligent conserering of the year

;

vatism, and the resolutions adopted exhibit a wise moderation,

which is the very strongest evidence of wisdom and inherent
power."
The [Minneapolis, Minn, Journal said: "This Congress shows that
the Negro is not a decadent race. It is growing instead of diminishing, and the intelligent and educated element in it is increasing.
The movement begun has received such an impetus that the
Bourbonic prejudice and
consolidation
of
stupidity
strongest
will

not be able to crush

or impair seriously

its

beneficent

action."

The Milwaukee,

Wis., Sentinel said:

"One

of the

most notable

conventions of the year was held last week in Atlanta, Ga., where
the Negro Young People's Christian and Educational Congress met

Eight thousand delegates and visitors attended
an organization that promises to do much towards
Now that the Negroes are
the settlement of the race problem.
united with a determined effort along progressive lines, a substanfor the first time.

this session of

advance can be predicted for them."
"A striking illustration of the
Francisco, Cal., Call said
hopefulness as well as the courage and patience with which the
tial

The San

leaders of the

country

Negro race

are confronting their problems in this

afforded by the Negro

Young

People's Christian and Ed-

THE AMERICAN PRESS AND THE CONGRESS
ucational Congress, which has just closed

575

meeting at Atlanta.
were marked
by a strong tone of optimism and the resolutions adopted as the
expression of the sentiment of the Congress show that the leaders
of the race by no means regard their present conditions or their
future outlook as furnishing any occasion for despair."

From

the

first

its

to last the proceedings of the session

FROM THE RELIGIOUS PRESS
Bishop C. K. Nelson, D. D., Protestant Episcopal Bishop of
Georgia, wrote thus to the Churchman of New York:

"Throughout the discussions high ground was sustained in relaand moral advance of these native Americans.
The radicals were few in number and met with
tion to both material, intellectual

scant encouragement."

Bishop Isaac W. Joyce, D. D., of Minneapolis, Minn., in the Epworth Herald says: "Nothing like it has ever been held in the
United States. The religious effects will be helpful in every way.
It is a happy revelation of the character and standing and asiprations of the

young people

of the race, a revelation to the people of

the United States and of the world of the high levels reached by
the christian

Negro people

of the South,"

"The Negro
The Southern Workman of Hampton, Va., said
Young People's Christian and Educational Congress stands by itself
as a national assembly. It was representative of the best personnel,
:

So satisfactory were the immediate results
announced of making the movement a permaand another Congress will be called three years hen:e."

character and purpose.
that the purpose

nent one,

"This Congress
The Christian Endeavor World of Boston said
and the movement that it represents touch many problems of vital
importance for the welfare of the nation and the church. The
project is one of much significance, and may well inlist the sympathetic interest of those that have at heart the welfare of the church
:

and the nation."

The Outlook

New York

directed by Negroes,

who

said

"This movement, originated and

are convinced that 'the cultivation of the

THE AMERICAN PRESS AND THE CONGRESS

576
spiritual

and moral' is the only right basis for 'the use of the inteland material.' seems to be under sound sruidance."

lectual, social

The Advance (Congregationalist) of Chicago, 111., said: "It is
very gratifying to see the manner in which the recent Xegro Young
People's Christian and Educational Congress has been received by
the Southern press. The Atlanta Constitution gave much space to
a report of the meetings, and editorially commended the conduct of
the delegates and the sentiments of the addresses."
The Christian Advocate of the M. E. Church South, published at
Xasville, said:

"The

largest convention of colored people ever held

United States met in Atlanta August 6th. The Xegro Young
People's Christian and Educational Congress. It is a hopeful sign
chat some Negroes, at least, are working in a rational way for the
elevation of themselves and their race when seven thousand of them
gather in a convention under such leaders."
The Christian Advocate of Atlanta. Ga.. M. E. Church (South)
said
"The Xegro Young People's Educational and Religious Congress, held in this city last week, was a notable gathering, in some
respects the most important meeting of the Xegroes ever held."
"A Christian and
The Christian World of Dayton. Ohio, said:
Educational Congress of Xegro Young People's Societies was recently held in Atlanta, Ga. This was the first of its kind, and is a
significant event in the development of the work which is going on
About five thousand
for the betterment of this race in our land.
delegates of really educated colored men and women filling important posts were present. Such congresses can only result in the improvement of a genuine Christian society of our land.''
FROM THE NEGRO PRESS
It should be said with gratitude that the most representative of
the X'egro press from the first mention of the Congress accepted the
spirit and purpose of the movers in their attempt to better the condition of our people and give new light upon the much mooted
These far-seeing editors grasped the result that
race question.
would come out of such an object lesson of race progress and gave
The success of the Congress is very much due
it encouragement.
to the Xegro press, and a few of their comments in attestation of
in the

THE AMERICAN PRESS AND THE CONGRESS
the

way

the

movement was

received

by our people

out of place.
The National Baptist Union, after
Edition, thus voiced the sentiment
"The Christian Congress has passed
we had prophesied in these columns

577
by no means

are

the Congress, in

its

Congress

of the great Baptist family:

It was all that
would be. It was the
largest, most intelligent and, therefore, the most representative assembly of Negroes that ever came togethr on Amrican soil. Every
denomination and religious agency operating among the Negroes
had representation, in an equitable and satisfactory measure, and
every representative told the story of progress in the most charming and captivating way. Scholarship was at a premium. On genIntellect,
eral principles the work of the Congress was well done.
oratory, music, history, philosophy and all the signal and satisfactory evidences of scholarship were manifested from day to day.
There was order and decorum as well. There were no harsh words

into history.

that

no profitless or noisy debates no offensive utterances no
no casualties, no irregularities or frivolities that were in
any wise expensive. The movement gave such general satisfaction
that it was agreed to make it permanent and to hold the next sesspoken

arrests

;

sion in three years."

The

Christian Recorder of the A.

like the

Atlanta

Young

M. E. Church

said:

"Nothing

People's Congress of last week, either in

scope of object or variety and magnitude of composition, has ever
taken place in the history of the Afro-American gatherings. More
than grand lodges, general conferences, national conventions of

whatever

cast,

was an assemblage

of the brain, culture

acter of the race, such as has never occurred before.

and char-

furnished
organizing
race
genius,
rather
of
the
or
its power
evidence
the best
given
upon
a
purpose,
its
sympathy
with
lofty
to concentrate
It

methods and aims looking toward its own highest welfare socially
and fraternally.
In the A. M. E. Review, Editor H. T. Kealing said "The South
has never seen such a spectacle as eight thousand well-dressed,
decorous and happy Negro Christians pouring into its most progressive city to hold an interdenominational meeting to 'reach the un:

THE AMERICAN PRESS AND THE CONGRESS

578

reached,' as their motto read.

Monday, August

4th, to

All day long and all night, too, from
Wednesday, August 6th, the trains kept

screeching out the arrival of

new hundreds who soon

Xegro Young
Congress and were driven to

the headquarters of the

registered at

People's Christian and Educa-

tional
their stopping places to rest
before hastening to the great auditorium which the committee had
secured for the sessions. At first, white Atlanta was indifferent,

then interested; then startled and staring, nonplussed and alarmed;
for it had come to pass at last that the Negroes had risen and invaded the Gate City of the South. Resident colored men and women
were anxiously interrogated as to the meaning of the invasion, and
they were told, 'These people are here that the saying of the prophet

Penn might be

fulfilled
Behold thousands shall come from afar,
and ten thousand from the uttermost parts of the land, and shall
assemble themselves and cry mightily unto the Lord that He might
:

a people who love righteousness.' And so it was. The
w ere crowded. The separate-seat law on the street cars
gave way to the crowding multitudes of ebon hue that rushed pell-

make them

streets

few conductors died hard, but the
and street car magnates 'Treat these people as guests, and for the time of their stay,
In that Atlanta honored herat least, let Atlanta be color blind.'
self, for this was such an array of scholarly and Christian men and
women as any city might delight to receive within its borders.
Lawyers from Harvard, professors educated in Germany, educators of international fame, bishops and missionaries from Africa,
business men who use five figures, graduates and teachers these
were some of the people to whom the freedom of the city was exmell to get a seat anywhere.

word had gone out from mayor,

chief of police

—

tended."
In closing this chapter, which

have, mention should be

the Congress by the special

brief

compared with the material

made of the valuable services rendered
Negro press representatives, Mr. W. I.

Lewis, of Jacksonville, Fla., and Mr. Charles Stewart, of Chicago,
Mr. Lewis has been long a representative of the race upon one
111.
of the leading Southern dailies, the Metropolis, of Jacksonville, Fla.,

THE AMERICAN

PRESS

AND THE CONGRESS

579

is popularly known everywhere as an all-around
newspaper man.
We wish also we might be able to give the expressions of approval of the Congress from such representative secular journals oi
the race as the Colored American (Hon. E. E. Cooper, editor), The
Rock Hill (S. C.) Messenger. The Record of Washington, The
Baltimore Afro-American Ledger, The Sentinel of Pensacola, Fla.,
The New York Age, The Indianapolis Freeman, and others whose

while Mr. Stewart

opinions rank high.

CHAPTER CXXII

AFTERTHOUGHT
Prof.

H. Crogman, Litt D., Department of Ancient Literature,
Clark University, Atlanta, Ga.

disappointment to me that I was prevented by sickness from taking the part assigned me on the program of the Negro
Young People's Christian Congress. Engaged for a lifetime in the
instruction of the young, I had anticipated much real pleasure in
meeting and welcoming to the Gate City of the South, the city of
colleges and schools, so large and so notable a gathering of the rising generation. Hence throughout the whole session of the Congress I felt very much like Ivanhoe, imprisoned in the castle, and
chafing unler the thought that a glorious battle was raging without
in which he could not participate.
The secretaries, however, with
rare generosity, have now requested of me a few words for incorporation in their forthcoming volume of addresses.
From the quiet of my study, then, and from "under the evening
lamp, "I send to all the members of that Congress my most hearty
greetings and congratulations. Their presence in this city, their
number, their deportment, their intellectual and musical talent, as
here exhibited, have left a lasting impression for good, and won
It

was

much

a sore

respect for the race.

The

daily press, lavish in its 'expressions

gave to the gathering the dignity and conof
deserved.
Many white people attended the seswell
sideration it so
For who does not like to hear a
concerts.
sions, many more the
admiration and

Negro sing?

praise,

And

on this occasion he showed himself as

master of classical music as of plantation melodies.
indeed, was almost the only kind in evidence.

The

much

former,

Those who usually expect something incongruous from the "darNo uncouth sights
kies" must have been woefully disappointed.
were seen upon the streets, such as are common on the Fourth of
(58

)

AFTERTHOUGHT
when excursions

581

all parts of the State, and out
and crowd the streets, and cluster like
bees around the stands covered with sliced watermelon and red lemonade. The trains, too, carrying from five to seven thousand persons, both on their arrival and departure, were entirely free from
anything like savage yells and gesticulations. It had never been
seen on this wise before certainly not in Atlanta. Even the chief

July,

of Negroes from

of the State, flock to Atlanta

—

Negro
was main-

of police could not let the opportunity pass to praise the

Young

People's Congress for the excellent order that

tained in the city during the deliberations of that body:

''There

nearly always a possibility of disorder where there are large gatherings even among the better class of white people; but with five
thousand people in the city for nearly a week there was not a single
case calling for police interference among the delegates of the Congress."

The most remarkable utterance from the chief of police, however,
was the statement that "the saloons took in not a penny extra on
account of the large crowd of visitors.'' I doubt very much whether
the same statement could be made, in any year, with reference to
any legislative body, State or national. It is often said by our traducers that we are "rapidly sinking into barbarism under the
shadow of our colleges.'" That gathering of Negroes was the best
possible refutation of that unwarranted slander.

The Congress, while
developing
in

many respects, made nothnew Negro has been growing and

a revelation in

ing more evident than this: that a

the shade during the last thirty-seven years, and that

the future he

must be reckoned with

;

for he is aspiring to better

things and rising to higher levels.
It may now be in order to say that if "Negro colleges have spoiled
many a good field hand," as is often sneeringly said, that they have,
at least, by way of compensation, transformed much of the uncouth, unlettered black mass into intelligent, efficient men and
women into true ladies and gentlemen, whose example and influence are among the most salutary forces at work for the redemption
;

of the

whole

race.

Let us continue to educate.

CHAPTER CXXIII

WELCOME ADDRESS
Rev. P.

Bryant, B.

D., Atlanta, Ga.

This address was omitted from the Welcome Exercises because of
unavodiable delay in reaching the publisher's hand in time for classification

and

hereby appended by mutual agreement of

all

concerned

Mr. Chairman, Brethren and Sisters Representing Forty Denominations and Agencies Doing Work for Our Racial Advancement and
Spiritual Uplift:

Prof. William

Rosborough with his excellent chorus of a thousand
trained voices brought spirit to this occasion, Bishop Gaines has given it
grace, His Excellency, Governor Candler, has given

mayor, a veritable Chesterfield, has given

tocratic

Ham, whose

sable son of
to give

and

dignity, our aristone,

racial identity is unmistakable,

and

the

appear simply

declaration.

demonstrate the truthfulness of the scripture
"The Ethiopian can not change his skin," and to stand

Gilraltar-like

by the fadeless colors of a

color

race, the excellent

netism of whose blood like that of Jesus,

drop of
It is

claims everything

and mag-

proven by the

fact

one

touches.

something new under the sun

to witness such a magnificent gath-

ering of the acknowledged leaders and accredited representatives

every evangelical denomination of color,

who have

temporarily side-

tracked their ecclesiastical differences, obliterated denominational lines

and

laid aside their

church proclivities and met on one

common

plane to

devise methods, and formulate plans, and discover remedies, as well as

lengthen the cords and strengthen the stakes "already established, to
reach, reform, uplift, inspire and develop the

people's societies, to

God

in .this
(582)

wayward

of our race, to

women's organizations and young
concentrate our forces and extend the kingdom of

edify our churches, Sunday-schools,

and foreign lands.

WELCOME ADDRESS
This

583

a significant meeting, the beginning of a

new

era, a

the right direction, an advance step, a spiritual expansion, an

good and the prophecy of a better day, for the

move
omen

race, for the church, for

humanity.

Though free less than forty years, it remained for the humble and
Negro to take the initiatory step toward and set the living

despised

example for denominational conference, religious union and spiritual
work of racial uplift and human development,
thereby setting the pace for the other races of the world and even for
the cultured and refined Anglo-Saxon. But this is no* innovation, this
is nothing strange for him
it is indeed true to his nature, characteristic of him, and in hearty accord with his history.
When the three sons
of Noah separated in the plain of Shina, Shem went into Asia,
Japeth into Europe, and Ham, our ancestor, into Africa. It was Ham
who built Karnac, Thebes and the historic Pyramids. The land of
concentration in the

;

Ham
and

was the birthplace of the great emancipator,

legislator, the

first

man

leader,

commander

to receive divine credentials to represent

Heaven in the Egyptian court, and minister plenipotenand become the greatest law-giver the world ever produced, even
greater than Lycurgus, the Spartan law-giver.
The land of Ham
furnished a servant for Zedekiah while he reigned in Jerusalem, in the
the Court of

tiary,

person of Ebed Melee, the Ethiopian Negro

king

who

interceded with the

behalf of Jeremiah, and obtained permission to rescue him

from the dark, damp, unhealthy dungeon. It was an Ethiopian Negro
army of Israel, under the command of Joab, Cushi by name, that
was entrusted with a message to King David concerning the death of
Absalom, and although Ahimaaz, the Jewish priest, outran Cushi and
reached the king first, he could not give the desired information.
Cushi soon reached the king, and the priest was commanded to stand
back and let Cushi approach. The unique and intelligent manner in
which the brother in black informed the king stamped him immediin the

The modern Negro, like
a diplomat, a soldier.
slow sometimes in reaching his destination, but his
certainly reliable when he does arrive.
It was the land

ately as a patriot,

Cushi,

information

Ham

little
is

which furnished shelter and protection for our Savior when
Herod sought to take his life. The same country furnished a Simon

welcome Address

584
to bear the cross;

baptized,

who

and the Ethiopian to

carried the

from that country.

whom

news of salvation

was the Negro who

Philip preached and

to his

own

drank

first

people,

was

at the fount of

systematic knowledge and rocked the cradle of art, science and litera-

and thus she became the school master of the world. For Greece
went to school to Egypt, Rome went to school to Greece, England and
Europe generally were educated by Rome, and America is a graduate
from Great Britain.
So that after all the stone that the builders
rejected has at last become the head of the corner. Amercia today is
largely the product of his labor, and therefore what he has made it.
ture,

felled

trees,

cleared

the farms, graded the

and

hills,

the

forests,

dug

the

trenches,

cultivated

tunnelled the mountains, bridged the chasms

shed the first blood in the
master during the Civil War,

rivers, laid the railroads, built the cities,

Revolution, protected the

homes of

his

and saved Roosevelt for Governor of New York and President of the
nation, when at San Juan Hill they routed the Spaniards and took
the block house with smiling faces and cheerful hearts, singing
'There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight."
Scientists

tell

us that our bodies are the oroduct of the food

eat,

and that every seven years our body undergoes a complete change, partaking of the food consumed. If this be true, and I believe it is, then
Atlanta and Georgia

owe us an

everlasting debt of gratitude for

making

them the most excellent governor and mayor. Having employed our
wives and daughters as cooks for more than a quarter of a century,
having received little food other than that our women have given
them, they are triply what we have made them. And when we remember that our grandparents furnished food for theirs, they are what we

have made them, warp and filling, lock, stock, hammer, barrel, ammuniNo wonder they don't want us to leave. I contion and wadding.
gratulate

them upon knowing a good thing when they

see

it.

em-

We have been here
end.
We had nothing

igration nor colonization, nor segregation in ours.

from the beginning and we will be here until the
to do with our coming here, but we will have something to do with
our going away. To our white friends north and south, we extend the
"Together let us sweethand of peace and brotherhood with the plea
:

WELCOME ADDRESS
ly live, together let us die."

out us you can do nothing.

585

You have long since found oul that withTogether we rise, together we fall.

congratulate you upon the personel of this congress, for here are

assembled citizens of both sexes from every walk of

The

life.

gospel

minister, lawyer, physician, college presidents, school teachers, authors,

musicians, editors,

month

who

which every man who opens his
is an elocutionist, and all
have made marvelous progress as indi-

a gathering in

etc.,

woman who

an orator, every

listen are scholars.

speaks

and the entire race has made considerable advancement in
the direction of civilization, and Christianity, but there remaineth vet
viduals,

much

very

land to be possessed.

Many

tianity.

and moral
neses

life

Perhaps more churchanity than Chrismade upon our social, religious
Without condoning any of these weak-

wholesale criticisms are
as a people.

reply illustratively.

Some

one of the colored churches

years ago a revival

in a certain

was

in progress

community, and the colored

in an aristocratic white family attended every night.
The meeting was worked up to fever heat, great was the preachers lung power,

cook

many were

the

"amens" and loud and long were the people's screams

and shouts, so much

so, that the

neighbors could not sleep.

morning

woman was

gently taken to task by her employer,

this colored

who

said

last

night

to quit

Mary, what

it.

in the

world was the matter with you people

never heard such noise in
is

built the temple without the
answered, yes, sir, I think I have.

the

way

to do.

Why

build dat temple yet.

done

Have you
sound of hammer

not intelligent.

swered, "Boss dat's

You

life.

not read

people ought

how Solomon

but don't you

She

or driving of nail.

Well now, go

tell

your people

don't you act like us white folks?

so,

The next

know we

that's

Mary

an-

aint near ready to

are simply blasting the rocks and ain't near

yet.

a race we have done well, but nothing like as well as we might.
have saved a few millions yes, and wasted as many more. We
have developed men of intelligence yes, and many who want no intelligence.
We have improved a hundred opportunities yes, and let
Then let us not sit idly down upon the little that has
a thousand slip.
been accomplished and failed to enter into the greater realm of that
which awaits to be done and which must be accomplished, if we hold

;

WELCOME ADDRESS

586
our

own

in a hotly contested competition

world.

must

as honest

men

with the other races of this

address ourselves to the solution of

these problems of life which are indispensible to succes and righteous-

human greatness and racial independence.
What problems await solution, moral, sociological, religious and raIdleness is growing
What a mass of ignorance to enlighten
cial ?
popular, and many instances the marriage vow is losing its sacredness
ness, to

and the spirit of divorce is growing in favor with men. with courts
and with church. There are the orphans, indigent, aged, infirm and
pious poor generally, who need our ministrations. If they do not and
cannot come to us we must go to them. Our duty is to "Rescue the
perishing and care for the dying." This is the watch word of this
congress, while our motto and determination is to reach the unreached
in the upper, middle and lower classes with the view of saving and

them for Christ. None are to be overlooked, however, lowly
For if we do not bring them up they will drag us down,
and
Let us here and now determine,
together we rise, together we fall.
and like our Master "go about
gloves
kid
off
our
take
under God. to

utilizing

vile.

doing good." Remember, "Pure religion and undefiled before God
their
and the Father is this, to visit the widows and orphans in
world."
the
from
unspotted
affliction, and keep himself
In

view

welcoming

your

you.

mission
behalf

among
of

the

us.

take

evangelical

genuine pleasure
denominiation,-OD

union,
our humble homes, our beautiful city, the greatest state in the
churches,
to our
to our public schools, colleges and universities and
I welcome you
for life.
serve
to
arranged
already
have
pastors
whose
in
homogeneous
you are
because, while you are heterogeneous in faith,
operin
Some of you may object to the separate seat law

purpose.
ation

upon our

cars.' if so let

all

for the time being turn to baptists

and
such large numbers that we baptize the whole car.
our
of
laws
the
I urge absolute obedience to
practice close" communion.
viocaught
get
accidentally
city in everv particular, but if you should
will either pardon yon, or
mayor
hearted
genial
our
law.
lating any
out of his competencv pav vour fines.
We trust vour stay with us will be pleasant and your work lasting.
old deacon offered
end we offer the petition for you that an

and ride

this

WELCOME ADDRESS

587

was expected to preach a great sermon
him up in John's shoes, and put on him
the brogans of salvation give him the eye of an eagle that he may
spy sin afar off, and sh;:n it as a deadly poison get him hold of the
gospel plow, tie his hands with the line of truth, nail his ear to the
gospel pole, bow his head way down in between his knees and his
knees way down in some dark, narrow, lonesome valley, where prayer
and supplication is much needed to be made, 'noint him thoroughly
with the kerosene oil righteousness and set him in fire for Jesus sake."
So mote it be with you in the deliberations of the Congress.
for his pastor, just before he

"Lord

bless our pastor, stand
;

;

CHAPTER CXXIV
EVANGELISTIC

WORK OF

The Congress management was

Amanda

MRS.

AMANDA SMITH

fortunate in securing the services

Mrs. Smith is without doubt the best and
widest known evangelist produced by the race.
Her travels have
covered a wider range of territory and among a greater number of

of Mrs.

Smith.

the human race than any other person of the race.
She has labored
among the millions of India with Bishops J. M, illobtun said
Her work there resulted in the conversion of thousands. She
Taylor.
then came to Europe and worked among the laboring class, and in

come

cases

was premitted

speak

before

members

the

royal

families.

Her work

the United States

State and Territory in the Union.

evidence

Through

all

almost every

of these years ap-

proaching forty, she has been diligent and successful
men and women into light. She came to the Congress

leading

conduct
the evangelistic services. Her work was most acceptable and the
vast audiences, sometimes reaching ten thousand persons, were
stirred by her songs, prayers and direct appeal. The closing service
of consecration was made memorable by her fervent and inspiring
to

prayer.

One of the most permanent institutions of her life's work is
Amanda Smith Orphans' Home, Chicago, 111. In this work she
been aided by many of her devoted friends among whom

the

has
she

labored in years gone by.

Resolutions Adopted by the Congress in Its Closing Session

Whereas, The Negro Young People's Christian and Educational
Congress, composed of over 5,000 delegates from different parts of
the United States, has bee-n in session here during the past week,
(588)

EVANGELISTIC

and has been eminently successful
deliberations

among

all

uplifting the

Negro

race.

WORK

589

in creating great interest in its

and in accomplishing the
aims and objects of its promoters; and
Whereas, This success is mainly due to the untiring efforts of
Prof. I. Garland Penn, A. M., who first conceived the idea of holding
the Congress, and of the Rev. J. W. E. Bowen, Ph. D., who from
the beginning of this movement has ably assisted Prof. Penn in
making this Congress the greatest assemblage of Negroes ever held
in our history; and
Whereas, The Rev. Wesley J. Gaines, D. D., Chairman of the
Board of Directors and President of the Congress, and all other officers thereof, the various newspapers, schools and institutions of
learning, churches and railroads have contributed greatly to this
success; therefore be it
Resolved, That the thanks of this Congress are hereby tendered to
Prof. I. Garland Penn, the Rev. J. W. E. Bowen, the Rev. Wesley
J. Gaines, and to all other officers and agencies by whose efforts
this Congress has been made a powerful instrument in the work of

Comment

classes of citizens,

of Rev.

P. Thirkield, D. D.,

Corresponding Secretary Freedmen's Aid and Southern Education
Society, Cincinnati,

Ohio

I regard the convention at Atlanta as the most significant and
hopeful event in the history of the Negro race. The presence of
thousands of educated, aspiring members of the race, the scores of

noble addresses which breathed such a high moral tone, the spirit of
in
for their fellows which was manifest

—

self-sacrificing service
fact, the entire

character and spirit of the gathering from

tion to its close

were such as

an aspiring race.
all

mark

new

and the reading of

friends of humanity.

incep-

era in the history of

worthy
these addresses must be an

The published proceedings

of large circulation,

inspiration to

its

are certainly

CHAPTER CXXV

WHAT SHOULD THE NEXT CONGRESS
Rev.

DO?

B. Scott, D.D., Editor Southwestern Christian Advocate,

New

Orleans, La.

Since

has been determined to hold another Negro

ple's Christian
fitting that

and Educational Congress

1905,

Young Peois

altogether

consideration should be given the question, what addi-

brought forward in that meeting that were
Let is be understood in the
outset that this question is suggested without any thought whatever of reflecting on the Atlanta gathering in any sense. That was
indeed a magnificent success and those who planned and conducted
it are deserving of the highest possible credit.
But it is evident
that some features may be added to the next which will, I think, go
a long way toward furthering the purpose of the organization.
In the first place, I am confident that the masses would be all the
more interested in the Congress if they were asked to send up reThese reports
ports from the various committees to be represented.
might set forth the conditions prevailing and the public needs of
tional features should be

not presented in the one held in 1902.

the people. On some forenoon or afternoon set apart for the purpose during the Congress a great central meeting should be held,
at which all the reports could be handed in, and meanwhile as many
two or three-minute staternents, or speeches, if that term be preferred, be made by those who thus represent the poeple as the time
will allow.

There would not be

sufficient time for all to speak, but a

number could, which, to my mind, would greatly popularize
the movement. It would seem that the people were expecting something of the kind during the Atlanta Congress, for I was asked by a
large number to tell them where to report.

large

In the second place,
(590)

suggest the establishment of a permanent

WHAT SHALL THE NEXT

CONGRESS DO?

591

committee or bureau of statistics which shall, before the assembling
of the Congress, ascertain facts and figures as to what the race has
accomplished and

is doing educationally, including their instituand the property accumulated and taxes paid in
various States; the business enterprises owned, and such other information as may be published in pamphlet form or included in the
Souvenir Program, thus giving that volume special value.
Then, too, I think at least one great religious meeting should be
provided for, to be conducted in such manner as, will be most helpful and appropriate.
An hour or more spent in prayer, praise, etc..
would not only prove profitable to those particiating, but would
signify to the world that the young Negro recognizes the hand of

tions of learning

God

in all that relates to his

hopes for the future as well.

remarkable history of the past and his
Finally, it is useless to suggest to the

management

that the programs for the daily sessions be shortened
comparison with those of 1902, since I am sure they desire this
-s much as any one else can. The responsibility for the length of
the programs rests very largely with others than the managers, for
it would require sn unusually cold-blooded set to refuse the appeals
made by influential individuals on behalf of their talented friends
in

whose names they

desire to appear.

refuse

some people

to be

guilty of an unpardonable offense and thus open one's self to never-

ending criticism, and yet it is evident that those who make the program for the next Congress must consent to pay this price for the
honor they occupy, they must refuse very many if the speakers
who come last are to have a fair chance to be heard.

What Should
Prof.

the Next Congress

W. Cromwell,

The next Congress should

Do?

Washington, D. C.

resolve itself into sections as affording

more exhaustive treatment, more definite and practical conclusions. Deand discussion must supplement demonstration not merely as
a sequence, but as preceding definite action along given lines.
% Academic discussion has no rightful place in a Congress whose
liberation

WHAT SHALL THE NEXT

592

CONGRESS DOf

avowed purpose is so ambitious and whose influence so far reaching.
As transcending the details indicated, I would suggest two dominant
notes which the Congress should sound:

The

First.

and

unification of rival religious bodies, identical in belief

polity, for three

hundred and

sixty-five days in a year, instead of

three days in a thousand, would be an

Negro

immense

making

step towards

the

united.

If the Negro can not utilize the results of his past religious environment so as to meet the conditions of the 20th century if he can not
;

enforce the proposition that ethnical ideas respecting religious organizations are valuable only in these broad and elastic enough for all who
insist

on the ethnic ideal as essential if not fundamental, our Congresses
sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal."

will be "as

Second.
trial

The

consolidation of the race schools for higher and indus-

education controlled by us, not only on economic grounds, but in

the interest of intellectual culture and industrial

Colleges that should be
leges only by courtesy

;

grammar

schools

;

skill.

universities that are col-

degrees that represent dollars and not scholar-

ship should have a thorough ventilation, in order that the standard for

scholarship and industrial efficiency be raised, causing a higher opinion to be spread

among

those

who

ultimately determine our place in the

civilization of the age.

What Should

the Next Congress

Do?

Rev. Bishop Alexander Walters, D. D., Jersey City, N.

The union

all

the colored denominations of

idea and should meet the approbation of

all

America

thoughtful

a splendid

men and women

This idea was crystalized by Profs. L G. Penn and
and their associates at the recent conference of the
Bowen
E.
J. W.
Educational Congress held in August last
Christian
People's
Young

of our

race.

at Atlanta,

They deserve

Ga.

indeed marks a

new epoch

It will require

gun work.

The

Negro race
The congress

the gratitude of the entire

for the splendid result eminating

from

that conference.

in the history of

c^isiderable ability

union of the race

our race.

and task
needed

to continue this well be-

order to advance more

WHAT SHALL THE NEXT

CONGRESS DO?

rapidly than heretofore the interests of the Negro.
ple love a big thing

whether

593

The American

peo-

be a magnificent building, huge trust or

They like things on a grand scale. The bigNegro can present to the world is a union of his reWe can do more through it to solve the problem than

a religious organization.
cst

thing

ilrat

the

ligious forces.

anything else of which
First of

all,

cognizant.

this organization

encourage the development of

Christian character.

This organization
is

needed on our part

tion possible.

encourage manhood

rights.

The nerves

fric-

of the patient prejudice, are so sensitive

must be handled with the greatest care hence

that he

Great wisdom

order to advance our cause with the least

;

with this

to deal

question successfully, will require our most mature judgment.

While

there is nothing else for us to do but stand up for principle and struggle
for our every right, yet it must be done in a courteous, manly spirit, and

not in the spirit of strife.

need to continue to teach our people race pride, teach them

respect,

the

tell

them

to lift their

image of God as

all

self

heads and remember that they are

other men, though that image be in ebony.

Lastly, this organization should discourage the African Emigration
idea.

It is

our duty to impress the masses of our people that this

greatest country in the world.

velopment of
civilization.

this country,

Since the Negro has aided

he should remain here to enjoy

the

in the de-

its

splendid

CHAPTER CXXVI

THE FUTURE OF THE CONGRESS MOVEMENT AND
SUGGESTION
By

Now

that the

Garland Penn

Negro Young People's Christian and Educational Con-

gress stands for a united people in religious, moral, educational and social

endeavor and

permanent as a movement, there are certain im-

portant lines this federation of interests

may

pursue, looking to defi-

nite results.
First. There ought to be a meeting of the Business League, the AfroAmerican Council and the Congress and the work of each organization
thoroughly defined, upon the basis that these National organizations

about cover every endeavor the united race needs to do for their uplift

and

salvation.

Second. Sufficient Commissioners should be appointed, in addition to
those already appointed, to cover every county in the United States and
these Commissioners

file

reports at each triennial meeting concerning

religious, moral, educational

and

social status of

our people in their

counties.

Third. In future meetings delegates should be instructed to bring reports from their churches and people giving information such as might

be collected, collated and published and a committee be appointed to
receive them.

Fourth. Each session of the Congress should study some definite

phase of our progress as well as our needs and a volume published giving the findings, of which this should be volume No. I. This would
give us a record on the past, present and future of the- race that would

be of great value.

The Congress should seek to get the American Press thoroughly in touch with Negro progress, and maintain, if not now, in the
Fifth.

future, a Press Committee, the

chairman of which, or some one repre-

senting the committee, give facts on the bright side of the race question
regularly to the press of the country.
Sixth. State Christian and Educational Conferences meeting the year
previous to the Triennial meeting of the National Congress.
(594)

CHAPTER CXXVII

THE ORIGINATOR AND
By

Prof.

HIS

WORK

Bowen

HIS BIRTH AND EARLY LIFE
I.

Garland Penn represents

in his ancestry, birth

and

culture, the

commonwealth of Virginia and

best elements of the race in the proud

the best opportunities for development that

His parentage stood for

could be afforded.

morality and genuine piety and for faithfulness in the stormy days of the nation.

Young Penn was born
herst County, Virginia,

removed with
of Virginia
his school

New

and

Glasco,

Am-

an early age

his parents to the "Hill City"

—Lynchburg,

days

about

where he began
five

years of age.

disclosed early in life the elements in

life

that

have

since

throughout the nation.

made

him known

His

school days

were characterized by steadiness, studiousness and a gradual up-grade in achievePROF. I. GARLAND
ment.
Those who knew him could easily
PENN, A.M.
have seen in him the prose of the poetry:
"The boy is father to the man." Pursuing
graduated with honor from the High
his course of study, he was
School with satisfaction to his teachers and credit to himself.
HIS LITERARY LIFE
After graduating from the High School of Lynchburg, Virginia, he

became principal of the public schools of Lynchburg and the editor
Shortly afterwards he was asof a newspaper published in that city.
of Chicago, in the preNorthrup,
Davenport
sociated with Dr. Henry
(595)

THE ORIGINATOR AND HIS W0RIC
paration of the "College of Life" or "Self Educator," which had a very

wide circulation. He was also one of the editors of the book, "Seven
Graded Schools," published by the Methodist Book Concern. His next
effort was the production of the Afro-American Press.
This was the
only book of its kind and revealed him to be a careful, painstaking literary student.

This book has become an authority upon the subjects

discussed.

Bishop Vincent said of it: "The pen is the sword of the African, by
which he will win place and power. The present volume is a library
of valuable history and biography, and a picture gallery as well."
Bishop Ninde said: "You have done a valuable service to your wideawake and progressive race and to the general public." The Indianapolis

News

said

authority on

"This book

will certainly take its place as a

standard

Afro-American Press." Frederick
Douglass said "The Afro- American Press is the most valuable record
that has come to my knowledge of the intellectual toils, trials, triumphs
of aspiring colored men in the United States." Prof. Scarborough said
"The Afro-American Press, by I. Garland Penn, I regard as a great
book." Dr. W. F. Oldham speaks of Mr. Penn as "A clear-headed,
warm-hearted, forceful leader," while Bishop Joyce regards his as
"well educated, a thorough Methodist and as one who has produced a
book that deserves a wide distribution, for it will enkindle hope and
great inspiration in many a well-nigh discouraged but brave and batthe

subject of the

tling spirit."

Penn has written for a large number of magaand newspapers, including the American Press Association and
the Sunday-School Journal, the A. M. E. Review and the Christian
Kducator.
In 1900, Rust University conferred upon him the degree of
Master of Arts.
In the next place Mr.

zines

HIS PUBLIC SERVICE AND EXECUTIVE ABILITY

No man among

us has been more severely and thoroughly tested as

and faithfulness in attention to details.
Three great important events in his life stand out prominently

to executive ability

dence of

this statement.

sioner of the

Negro Exhibit

of the Cotton States

in evi-

Commisand International Ex-

In 1895 he was appointed Chief

THE ORIGINATOR AND HIS WORK

597

It was his duty to plan what exhibits should
position, Atlanta, Georgia.
be put forward, their arrangement and display, the general order of the
building and bring the enterprise to a successful close.
He traveled incessantly and looked into every phase of the race's life and became thoroughly acquainted with what had been accomplished. He had associated with him such wise, far-seeing and strong men as Prof. B. T.
Washington, LL.D., Prof. W. H. Crogman, Litt.D. Bishop Abram
Grant, Rev. E. R. Carter, D.D., Rev. W. J. White, D.D., Prof. R. R.
Wright, LL.D., and others. These men stood by the work nobly and
rendered service without which Prof. Penn would have been crippled
and hindered. The tact, faithfulness, thoroughness and honor with
which he executed his office is seen in the confidence and high esteem
expressed for and in him by the leading business men of Atlanta and
Many of these were officially connected with the Exthe country.
Space can be only given to the following
position in its management.
;

Mr.

Garland Penn

credit to the race,

The

was unquestionably

exhibit

and the discretion and

a great

taste manifested in the selec-

and arrangement clearly demonstrated that it had been placed in
most capable hands. At no time, perhaps, in the history of this country, has the progress of the colored race been better illustrated, and the
"Negro Exhibit" at the Atlanta Exposition cannot but redound to the
benefit of the race and give new impetus to higher education and greater
tion

proficiency in

all

the pursuits of

Sincerely yours,

life.

Hoke Smith,
Secretary of the Interior, Washington, D. C.

Mr.

Garland Penn

It affords

pleasure to state that you

arranged the exhibit in the Negro Building of our Exposition that reflected credit upon your race and was one of the great attractions of the

You, as chief of that department, managed it to the entire satisBoard of Directors and in such manner as proved that
we made no mistake in making you chief of that department.
W. A. Hemphill,
Yours truly,
Fair.

faction of the

First Vice-President.

Whom

the bearer,

May Concern

This

to certify that I have

Garland Penn, since 1894, when he was

placed in

known
charge

THE ORIGINATOR AND HIS WORK

593

Negro exhibit of the Cotton States and International Exposition.
His work there was carried out with great zeal, ability and fidelity and
the exhibit collected and arranged by him was one of the most interesting and important features of the Exposition.
Having been connected

of the

with the Exposition as Chief of Publicity and Promotion,
position to

know

the facts as above recited.

was

in a

G. Cooper.

and member of the Committee on the Negro Exhibit
Company, I had occasion to know something of the energy and ability of the Commissioner, and it gives me pleasure to bear testimony to his zeal and efficiency.
I feel assured the success of the Negro Exhibit and the great
good to the race resulting therefrom, was largely due to the intelligent
management by the Chief of the Negro Department, I. Garland Penn.
Geo. W. Harrison.
Respectfully,
a director

of the Cotton States and International Exposition

Mr.
of the

Garland Penn

the several Southern States
position held here last
ful

;

affords

pleasure to say that as Chief

Negro Department, chosen by your

your personal and

fall,

;

to take

official

men and

conduct

every

way commendable and

illustrating the progress of

Yours

citizens.

truly,

Ruffus

Bullock,

Vice-President C. S.

Whom

Ex-

at the

your work was comprehensive and success-

the exhibit the most complete ever made,

your race as free

fellow Commissioners from

charge of their exhibit

May Concern:

gives

and splendid

pleasure to bear witness

Mr. I. Garland Penn.
have known him for years as an earnest, progressive and successful
teacher and writer.
During his management of the Negro Department
of the Atlanta Exposition, he displayed executive ability of a high order
to the excellent character

ability of

winning the confidence and esteem of the

Very

officers of the exposition.

respectfully and truly,

W.
President

Gammon

P. Thirfield,

Theological Seminary, 1895.

It is highly gratifying to the race to have these unsolicited words of
commendation from such high authority of Prof. Penn's faithfulness

THE ORIGINATOR AND HIS WORK

of plans and uprightness of conduct in such a delicate

to duty, largeness

and

599

trying position.

In the next place, Prof. Penn was the mover of the first Epworth
League Convention in the South among our people. He succeeded in
stirring the entire young host of Methodism to the necessity of holding
this Convention in Atlanta.
A few prophesied failure, but when the
day came, the hosts came from every Southern State and some from the
far west and east and the Moody Tabernacle was filled to overflowing
with more than seven thousand persons. The Convention lasted three
days and succeeded in awakening the young people along spiritual and
moral reform lines to a degree never before experienced.

Third.

Penn projected

Prof.

its

Negro Young People's Christian

the

He was

success the writer needs simply to say "look around you."

and of
Never

movement come

to pass.

and Educational Congress.

its

chief Executive officer

before in the history of the race had such a

was a Congress

and religious quesThroughout
this
Congress
he
displayed an exethe
race.
tions among
finances and exkeeping
track
of
cutive ability in attention to details, in
It

•

to study moral, social, educational

penses, in keeping the press busy and in directing the moral forces at

showed him to be a master of every situation connected with
He comes out of the Congress-movement with the confidence and approbation of the Auditing Committee representing the

work

that

the Congress.

large denominations in the Congress.

But

in all these

a churchman

must not be forgotten that Prof. Penn is
The esteem in which he is held by the
Epworth League of the Methodist Episcopal

matters

high standing.

Board of Control of the
Church and of which he

the Assistant General Secretary,

seen in these words of Bishop Isaac

may

Joyce, D.D., LL.D., President

of the Board of Control

"He

has

good impression on every member of the Board and
work is known. I believe he is the
the field and will be able to make great impression upon

made

the church so far as his

upon

all

right

man

for

minds and hearts of multitudes in the field he is appointed to cultiI believe in him thoroughly and trust him as a brother true in
vate.
every way to Christ and his cause/'
The Secretaries of the Freedmen's Aid and Southern Education Sothe

THE ORIGINATOR AND HIS WORK

000
ciety thus

speak of his work and character

"Professor Penn

in the

Christian Educator

Epworth League, and his work has not suffered by his connection with the
Congress, but. on the contrary, is greatly helped. For several years he
has done most excellent work among the Epworth Leaguers in the
is

a great success as Assistant Secretary of the

South, and his occasional visits to the North have alwavs been verv
helpful."

member

of the Executive Committee of the International

Sunday-school Association to
along Sunday-school lines.

He
work

in close

assist in the

work of building of

touch with the ministry and

laity of his

the race

His
Metho-

church.

well attested in the fact that throughout the borders of

is well known and beloved as a Christian brother of fine
and sensibility, a faithful officer a careful business man and one
of the most aggressive, wide-awake laymen among our large conse-

dism, he
spirit

;

crated hosts.
of Directors, men and women associated with him, the
and
large
the church with which he is identified and who look
race at
upon him with prayerful interest, all unite in saying unto him: "Well

The Board

done, faithful servant."

\
/

OCR | Wellesley College Digital Repository (2025)

References