New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-02-12
From Mississippi.
ABERDEEN, MISS. Jan. IS, 1874.


ABERDEEN, MISS, Jan. 25, 1874.
To the Editor rmc Nee National Era and Citizen:
The members of the Annual Conference Of
the Methodist Episcopal Church made the
city of Aberdeen, Mississippi, their capital
for about a week for the purpose of attending
to the spiritual and temporal duties connected
with this growing branch of the Christian
Church.
Faithful vincyard-laborcrs from all parts
of the State came to report the progress of
their yearly minIstering. Bishop Ravens
presided over the Conference, which consisted
of one hundred and fifty members. 1t is
enough at present to say that harmony and
good feelings were in the ascendant. The
good people of Aberdeen were very kind and
hospitable, and we were surprised to see
how orderly and quiet the surrounding county
was.
We found our people in possession of fine
church property and houses besides Messrs.
Holmes and Bumpass, Donaldson, Grayson,
and a few others are keeping stores and build
ing store houses for various enterprises.
We remember that about three years ago
that this part of Mississippi was one of the
most notorious Ku-Klux dens in the South.
Saturday night, the oath instant, was the
time appointed for the Sabbath-school cxhi-
bition and concert. The spacious church,
which holds about five hundred persons, was
well filled. Mr.. G. p. Westbrooks, late of
Alcorn University, and assistant teacher at
the Douglass Institute male school, con-
Quoted the exercises, which consisted of
singing, scriptual Rotations, &C., sc. Our
surprise was complete when we saw Mr..
George T. Cook presiding at the organ. The
singing and instrumental music was almost
divine. The recitations would have been
faultlcss if one or two persons had not been
too self-confident. Perhaps the public schools
of Aberdeen rank among the best in the
State. Both races believe in keeping the
sexes divided.
The female school for our people is taught
by white ladies' from New England, and the
male school has also for its principal colored
gentleman from New England, Mr.. George
Il. Cook, whom we met on our circuit about
two years ago. Mr.. Cook has given great
satisfaction in every county where he has
taught, and with the exception of the present
State Superintendent, he is one of the best
teachers, if not the very best, in the State.
We hope he will remain in this section Of
the State and not change so often from one
part of the State to another, for his influence
is felt all around this section, land he is doing
great work in the cause of education. The
as standing at the head of the profession,
and he is sought after by the cOlored people
of the county every day during the school
term for teachers, sc. There are a fen men
from the North of the carpet-bag fraternity
who, we are sorry to say, arc doing the colored
people very little good. They seem to COM
bine against all of the intelligent colOred men
of the county, and have generally succeeded
in keeping themselves in office, although this
year some colorcd men were elected to some
of the offices in this county.
The entire Republican party is composed
of colored men. The ignorant mass of our
people seem to prefer the rule of these dema.
gogues, and they make good use of their time.
The city of Aberdeen held an election fol
city marshal, an office of considerable profit
Several colored men offered for the position
The white Republicans were determined that
no colored man should be nominated for the
| position. The city nominating convention
was the place where the struggle was made
The colored people were determined to have
colored man. When the whites found thai
the colored people were for colored man
they tried to break up the convention by &C
cusing some of the colored men of controlling
the nomnatio in the interest Of color. Thi'
brought Mr.. Cook on his feet with the same
rapidity that squirrel would dart up tree
He charged some of the white Republicans
with having a determination to rule every
thing in the State he branded some of then
as the enemies of his race, and said frank.
that the city government was white man.
government when examined in its executive
parts that among the many executive Office
in. the city all were filled by white men
Seeing that the audience applauded, he move
to adjourn until the next night, when tn
colored man was nominated by large ma
jority. In all of our cities and counties wher
the Republicans have majority nomina
ton is equivalent to an election.
am devouring too much Of your space
politics. Let me say, in conclusion, to tn
ladies and gentlemen who read the ERA, tina
the South invites allwho. are educated, moral
religious, and aspiring, to come into the field
Scores Of teachers are wanted in almost ever
county in this State. A good knowledge
arithmetic, grammar, history, compositior
&C., will enable a teacher to command
salary from forty to seventy-fve dollars pc
month in currency.