Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-04-27

SOME SENSIBLE AND TIMELY REMARNs a
CoLoRED PREACHER.
Last evening there was fair audience pres-
ent IN Hamline NJ. L. church, on the occasion
of the first public concert of the Industrial
Home Sable Chorsters, composed of Professor
Bell, director: Mrs: A. Crier organiSt; Misses
Lucy Pinkw0Od, Ella Blagburn, 4. jackson
and Sarah Hopkins, and Messrs. G. Hopkins.
L: Hopkins, Elisha Walker and Robert Haw.
kins. The singing was good, particularly
some of the peculiar pieces of the days oi
slavery, such as sooner in the Morning"
viii Find You So" Wei Stand the Storm Storm"
No More Peck of Corn for Me" and The Old
Time Religion"
NECESSITY FOR CoLoRED EMIGRATION
During an intermiSsiOn Rev. DIR. Bagwen
made some remarks about the home estab-
lished at SCi street northwest, and as show
ing the necessity for such an institution he
noted that in the District there are about
5000 colored people, and the number is in
creaSing. If 20,U00 could be induced 10 find
homes elsewhere in the northern and western
states they would be benefited and those who
remain would have an opportunity of earning
their daily bread. IL would relieve the streets
of homeless beggars and clear the dOcketS of
the courts of hundreds of indictments, for
many from sheer necessity are led To the COM
mission OF crime. During years residence
in this city he had witnessed more poverty
and crime than he had observed anywhere
else, and walk through the streets or visit
TO the Police and Criminal courts would con-
vince any unprejudiced mind. Destitutionsu
wretchedness and crime stand out boldly
staring every honest, respectable and Christ
ian colOred man and woman in the face AMI
they would fain hide themselves from the
hideOus spectacle. This was a sad commen.-
tary on the Christianity OF the colored peo-
pie OF Washington. The responsibility does
not rest upon the friendleSS beggarS and Grim
inals, but finds its place
AT THE DOOR OF THE CoLoRED CHURCHES
1t is the highest duty to rescue the fallen,
succor the poor, visit the fatheress and wild
oWS, and this. st. James says, is pure religion.
Ihe church goerS fail TO employ the means
within their reach in relieving distress or pre-
venting crime, and are censurable and respon-
sible for much of the deStitutiOn and crime.
If they had used their means, to-day the cap
ltal OF great Christian nation would not be
the theater OF poverty, vice and crime. IL was
A STARTLING FACT
that in the colOred churches of the District
over forty, with 5000 members-there has
been no effort, no concerted plan to relieve
the destitute and resist the fearful increase of
crime. Among the scores of prominent col
0red men-ministers, lawyers, doctors, &c,
there were not nVe Identified with any move
ment having for its object the unconditional
relief OF the masses. Over S300,000 has, dur
ing the last ten years, been thrown away by
the colored people for excursions, entertain
mentS, society regalias, &c, and this fact shows
plainly that they have at hand the means TO
relieve and reform the masses The managers
OF the Home are convinced that the improve
ment OF the masses will never be accomplished
without the aid OF the colored people them
selves.
THE INDUSTRIAL HOME
DIR. BagWell then Sketched the efforts of Mrs
Sarah HardmOn, the general manager of the
home, who came here year ago last March
and made an effort to establish the school
submitting her plan to the pastors and asking
the cooperation of the churches but She re-
cetyed no practical response. She, undadnted.
In June last rented house and opened the
first penny lunch, and again made an appeal.
but received no response, and she exhausted
her means. She again made an appeal and,
through the cooperation of Mrs. HtZ sue
ceeded. He noticed the Reputation of this
movement by prominent cOlored men, and TO
show what was doing read the report for
March, showing that ,35l meals and Is pieces
OF clothing had been furnished that employ
ment had been found for IL OF the 20 who had
with fuel and provisions. The receipts were
but S37 q, and expenditures S62. In Conclusion
he said they had at the home a washing school
sewing school, and a cooking school: and
they were trying TO make good servants for
good employers, and to place on the market
skilled labor.