Morning journal and courier., 1886-10-21
THE A. M. A.

I
 THE A. M. A.
 I Important Social and Race Problems l In America Discussed Yestorday-The
 Indian, the Chinaman, the Poor l Whites of the South and the Black 1 Race Radical Forces of Christianity l Large Audiences-HighlyI Interest," 1 ing Papers Overflow Meetings at l North Church-To-Day'sP Programme. Ex-Governor Washburn of Massachusetts,
 president of the association, presided at the
 sessions of the A. NJ. A. yesterday at Center
 church. There was a very large attendance
 at each of the sessions, morning, afternoon l and evening, and the overflow meetings held | at the North church afternoon and evening | drew large audiences. Hundreds more of the delegates and visiting friends arrived yesterday. The morning session was preced-
 ed by prayer meeting led by Rev. w. De-
 pew of Weymouth, Mass. The first address
 was made by c. J. Ryder, the field superin-
 tendent of the association, on 'The Rela-
 tions of our Churches and Schools at the
 South" Among the specially interesting
 features of his address were his remarks re-
 garding the ambition of the colored people
 at the South to get rich, and the need of CO.,
 operation between the churches and the
 schools. They seemed to be aspiring to
 riches. They were making money and grow
 ing wealthy. But their error lay in the idea
 prevailing among many that securing wealth
 was of the highest importance The race
 seems bent on elevation and accumulation.
 But wealthy heathen is none the less 8
 heathen. Now the school, emphasizing the
 need of education, may lead the colored peo- pie into the idea that education alone is
 doing great work They are enrolling hun dreds every year. Reports pour in upon the
 central office asking for better accommoda-
 tions. The people are eager for educational privileges, but the far sighted among them | see the necessity for church privileges. A
 man may be very good blacksmith and very bad sinner. The South needs godly edu- cation if this great black race is to be re- deemed and uplifted. The object of the as- | sociation is to build character, to save souls | and increase righteousness. The colleges | founded by the church do not rival the nor nal schools. They stand for something more. They are Christian centers The ap- propriation of one hundred Blair bills could never meet the want these Christian schools do. The colored people need to be let down deep into the treasury of Gods word. They need to hide behind the cross of the Lord
 Jesus Christ If in these transitions through
 which we are taking them we rob them of their fervor and love of God we leave them poor indeed.
 Infdelity is danger to the colored peo- pie. Ignorant preachers make this especial ly dangerous. Educated preachers and de-
 cent forms of worship are needed to offset
 this. The false teaching of the past, caste
 prejudice, the offspring of slavery is men,
 ace wbich must be met. If we develop the
 intellectual powers of these people and do
 not do away with caste prejudice we shall
 have race of infdels. But we are told
 there is inherent antagonism between the races. Redeemed sinners have no right to
 entertain such feelings. The schools en-
 dowed by this association and the churches are not colored schools or white but for both races. There are no longer bond nor free,
 but all are free. The churches and schools
 work hand in hand for both races. The next paper was read by Hon. 5. G. Northrop of this State on Industrial Educa- ton Among the Colored People of the South and the Need of it's Extension" He said that industrial training provides the best cure for the nation, that manual labor is not menial. The theory that labor is drudgery is degrading. The problem of our day Is to elevate work by elevating the workman To the colored people as slaves labor was men1al.
  nifty of labor. They need industrial train | ing. Industrial training will lead to the more general ownership of land. The negro \ has passion to become land owner Those | who own their farms become better citizens. ! In the cotton States alone the negroes own ] 8, ,000 900 acres and now own over $1OO, ,OO0,- | 900 of personal property. But the vast ma jority still very poor, unskilled in labor and renting their farms from year to year. They must be taught trades and thus be en- abled to earn money. Industrial education is more needed among the negroes than the Cancasians Skilled industry developed their manhood. It will improve their homes -one of the greatest needs of the South. Home is almost misnomer in many of their cases The progress of Christianity can be traced in the homes of the people. Another result of industrial training would be larger and more general ownership of land. The solidifying of the French nation into a republic will be as- sured more by it's 500, ,O00 land owners than by arfy other cause. England is to-day on
 sleeping volcano, and will ever be 80 long as it's people are landless. The system of tenantry is simply a method of tramp
 making It will be great advantage to the country, to the negro race, when this
 desire to own land shall have become per
 manent and genuine. The great hope of the negro race is in the technical and me chanical education. The recent exhibi- tion of work performed by negroes at the southern exposition at New Orleans showed what they can do and opened the minds of the southern people to the true secret of the future development of the South Virginians are as cordial as New Englanders in commenting Hampton for it's grand re- suits in teaching the negroes. Major B. A. Burke, managing editor of the Times-Demo crat of New Orleans, says that the colored people are learning how to work out the problem of their own advancement largely l,,& oI,r D1e Of of ThA rI- umph of prohibitionists in Georgia is largely due to the work of this association. This issue is gradually becoming prominent one among all people. [Applause.] The field is grand one and the southern people are ready to help on the work.
 Following MT. Northrop's paper, President Seelye of Amherst, offered prayer.
 The next paper was by Rev. Dr. Strieb and entitled, "Forty Years of Missionary
 Work" The paper renewed the anti-slavery movement and the anti-slavery work which was done by the association. Out of the op- position of the shareholders grew the present American Missionary association, which IS definitely known as antislavery. We saw that the black and white races in the South must live together and be educated together. The white man must aid in the elevation of the ,blaek and the black must demonstrate his capabilities. The asso- citation labors to convince the white man of the equality of the two races, not by argu- ment. put by actual demonstration LIT. ! Strieby related instances to show the capacity of blacks for difficult mental feats and for I higher education in general The society works to secure the interest of the whites of the South in the education of the blacks. The blacks are increasing at the rate of five hundred day. If we were to adequately provide for them we should need 8 Hampton every week.
 Rev Dr. Twitchell of Hartford, read a port from the committee on Chinese missior.s. The A. N. A. work in China is directed by the California Chinese mission. The best
 has been done that could be done with the l means at disposal. The enterprise of Chris tianizing the Chinese while arduous is hope ful. What has been done already make es further opportunity. The prevailing hos tile sentiment is a hindrance to the work The lot of the Chinese coolie is everywhere wretched. The Chinese here are better off than they are in China or South America. The speaker condemned the bad treatment of the Chinese in California as un- Christian to say the least. The work of Christianizing the Chinese must be earnestly