The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-07
NEGRO's RELIGIOUS PROGRESS.
Rev. II. N. NJ. Smiths Address Before
the COIOred College.

Rev. II. N. NJ. Smiths Address Before
the CoIOred College.
The fifth lecture of the State Industrial
Colleges lecture course was delivered by
Rev. T. N. M. Smith of the A. Nj. e.
Church, on THE Religious Progress of
the Negro" Rev. Smith has always been
one of the strongest friends Of the school,
and this beside the fact of his ability as
a preacher. added unusual interest to the
lecture. There were a number of visitors
from the city to hear the lecture
Rev. Smith started with the statement
that the religious progress of the negro
has been most wonderful. zone great rea-
son for this fact" he said lis that he
has met with less opposition along the
lines of his religious ambition than along
any other Indeed, those who would OPP
pose him In every other possible way,
have at all times said: Let the negro
sing and pray just as much as he pleases
Let him get all of God and Christ and
the Holy Ghost in him he can hold" On
this account his religious progress has
been more steady than the progress on
any other line.
Rev Smith spoke of the numerical
strength of the different negro churches
as follows; The A. NJ. L. Church began
in 1874 with &c members. She now aggre-
gates 100000 members. In 1896 this de-
nomination reported 3,742 churches valued
at A,lO6 1851; eleven regular organized col
leges, the most prominent of which are.
Wherefore University, Ohio Morris
Brown College and Allen University. % ok,
Sunday schools, with 100000 pupils; a sun
day school union at Nashville for the pub
hcation Of its own Sunday school sup
plies, four religious newspapers, in differ
ent sections of the country and a general
publishing house at Philadelphia"
The A. NJ. f. z. Church began in 1920
with 800 members. In 1884 she reported
100000 members, S2,5OOOO0 in church prop
erty LOO travelling preachers, two col
leges, 10@i Sunday schools with 1902 00O
pupils, and a publishing house. The G.
M r. Church was organized in 1874, With
92,55S members. She now reports 673 tray
cling ministers, s27 churches valued a,
$s52,027 with $4,000 members, three col
leges.
These three Methodist denominations
have had over forty men elected to The
bishopric. N''0
THE Negro Missionary Baptists boc,r
their organization in 1888 with fou,. mem
bers. There are now 100000 members
and over twenty high schools and coa-
leges."
Rev. Smith also spoke of the Negro
Congregadonalists, Presbyterians. Cain
ones, etc~ nut said as yet cOmpara II /, alv
few negroes belong to these deaomlna-
tons.
But" he said, "the negro's religious
progress must be measured not alone nv
his requirement of church and school
property, but it is further seen in Inc
shaping a fashoning of his home life. II
has done almost everything for the nome
1t has made it sacred, peaceful and han
py. 1t has taught the negro to respect
the marriage VOW"
Rev Smith then spoke of the negro pull
pit OF to-day as compared with that Of
days of slavery. The negro pulpit has
always been and stil is the center of the
negroes religious, social and political life"
he said. Upon it has been made 70 de-
pend almost his whole existence. until
within the last fifteen or twenty wears
the schools and colleges have come 20
lis relief. While in many cases the ne
gro pulpit is not what il should be. vet"
he said, the progress mas been highly
oreditab.e; il has risen far above the once
chosen idea of whooping. believing and
whining simply for effects sake There
are now many scholarly men, VINO
can discuss the most profound subjects
OF religion with utmost credit The ne
gro's missionary work was touched upop
Almost every negro in the world who has