The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-15

Movement for Organization in That
Direction.


Direction.
Rev. l. 3. Maxwell, assisted by many
of the local colored ministers and other
speakers. held an interdenominational
Sunday School mass meeting last night
at the Second Baptist Church.
The opening address was made by Rev.
Maxwell who speaking on the interna-
tional Sunday School work, said: On
this subject I have addressed over 100000
people every year for the past four years
have been in the Sunday schools and
churches of the various denomna lions: /
have visited most of the day schools, pub
lie and private: have tried to study the
subject carefully in all It's phases L have
worked not only among the best negroes
so-called. but have also labored among
the lower classes in the cities ard IN the
country districts and I have reached the
deliberate conclusion that something must
be done to better the condition of the ne
groes morally
Il admit That. in a way. we have laid
oundaiions, broad and deep. for our in
tellectual Improvement; we are also be-
ginning to see the importance Of industrial
and material development; but as yet very
little has been done in an intelligent AMI
systematic way with reference to our
PROCESS in moral and religious training
a serious biunder II We continue to hay all
the emphasis OF our efforts upon the edu-
cational and Industrial elevation of our
race. What the negro race needs more
than all else is character Brains are
good. and skill in the industries and in
the mechanics is good, but nothing can
take the place of right conduct and right
eous lives. And TO my mind the greatest
problem that confronts our race and
threatens our future well being is the.
problem of morals of the raee--not the
problem to its civil political or socia;
rights, and not The problem as to its prog
ress in agriculture and in labor and not
the problem of educat ton. There Is no
doubt but that crime is on the increase
among us, and that our percentage OF the
criminals Of the country is out of all pro
portion to our numbers IT is a fearful
ana alarming problem, and something
must be done. and that right early to
bring about better moral status for the
race-in the home, in the church and in
the state. I have been doing what could
TO get others to see this problem as see
IT, and believe that of all the forces at
present in operation for The salvation Of
the race, the Sunday School when rightly
understood and properly estimated, holds
the balance Of power. Formation is bet
Ter than reformation Would to God that
every Sunday School teacher in all this
Southland understood and appreciated the
day OF his visitation! We are come into
the kingd m for such a time as this Our
children must be looked after. our chill
dren must not be neglected: the bows and
girls OF to-day viii be the men and women
OF tomorrow; moral training must be the
cry, the ever-repeated cry, Of the watch
men upon the walls. The greatest need,
the most imperative need of the negro
in his present condition, is moral training.
Who saves the morals of his country
saves himself saves all things, and all
things saved do bless him. Who let's the
morals Ct his country die, let's all things
die' dies himself ignobly and all things
dying curse him
His work. Rev. Maxwell said. is under
the auspices of the International Con
Vention, which is the greatest religions
organization of its kind in the world and
is made up of Christian and of different
denominations and countries The terri
tory OF his work includes sixteen states
and in Georgia alone he has already
founded eighty-eight of the organizations.
Other addresses and their subjects were:
The Need Of Early Moral Training bv
Rev c. c. Carlyle; THE Object of Early
Moral Training" by Rev. j. w. Roberts;
Parental Obligation in Early Moral
Training" by Rev. J. Crolly; THE Surest
Remedy for the Prevention of Youthful
Criminals, by Prof. n. B. Young; The
Pastors Part in Sunday School Work"
by Rev. r. H. Singleton; Formation or
lelorHatlOn, w h1chY' by Rev. c. Max
Manning; "A Common Ground for United
Effort" by Prof. John Mcintosh; The
Church and Young People by Rev. p.
II. Travis and what Can We Do Here
in Savannah to Change Present Con-
ditons," by Rev. J. ]. Durham.
The meeting was well attended, and at
the conclusion the following resolutions
were adopted
Resolved, That the moral training of
the negro youth is subject of supremely
vital Importance, and the burning question
OF the hour.
Resolved, That 1t Is the sense of this
meeting that a council be formed in this
city and section of the state for the fur
thering of the high and thorough moral
training of the youth committed to our
care.
Resolved, further, That we heartily
endorse Rev NJ. B. Maxwell in the great
work in which he is engaged, and pray
that the enlarged blessings of God rest on
his efforts"
Another meeting will be held later in the
month, at which the organiza ton of the
local branch Of the society viii be com
pleted by the election of officers to the
following positions: President vice presi-
dent. secretary, and an executive commit
tee of ten.