The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-03
TO ENLIGHTEN NEGROES
IMPORTANT MOVEMENT INAUGUR-
ATED BY COLORED PEOPLE.
Effort VIII BE Made to sSave the I'm
reached Negro" and .Stop Grim
ina.ity So DepIorabIe."

WASHINGTON, March 2.-Perhaps the
largest movement ever inaugurated among
the colored people of the United States
has just taken shape here in Washington.
at Asbury NJ. T.. Church. where twenty
designated official representatives of re-
ligious denominations and agencies en-
gagged in religious work among the negroes,
have gathered together to consider the
spiritual. moral. Intellectual and social
progress of the race and to make arrange
ments for a monster gathering Of the en-
lightened young negro men and women
i'm the summer of 1902. This meeting will
be known as the Negro Young Peoples
Christian Congress. Bishop Wesley j.
Raines. Atlanta, Ca, was elected president
of the movement.
During the preliminary session here a
greeting to the negro was drafted. which,
after congratulating the negro upon the
progress he has made since his emanclpa-
ton. says:
Wisdom suggests that I'm this first year
of a new century the sensible negro admit
the shortcomings OF his race, as well as
emphasize the marvellous results achieved,
and the hopeful signs OF the future.
Helped as we have been by the good peo-
pie of the North and South, encouraged
by friends everywhere, inspired by race
tNlAlIltC Vi III MA tAFhN 0NANA
I'm well nigh every avenue of life, as well
as stimulated to succeed by the thrusts OF
enemies rather than discouraged, we find
ourselves at the door of a new century
with thousands of unreached members of
the race, with alarming indifferent class
OF young people as TO their own spiritual.
moral. social and intellectual awakening.
with a still more alarming class of a GRIM
mai character whose deeds are dcplorablc
and the reports OF which surprise ana
shock every true, enlightened man and
.F4 al tho HMAA
''The unreachcd negro Of little culture,
Of no practical piety I'D loaded with evii
appetites. which have their origin I'm former
conditions and which hcredity has given
him, Is the criminal negro and must be
reached and good people everywhere wall
help to reach him. but the most c%onspic-
nous and far-rc0chtng work must be done
by the thousands OF young men and wom-
N Of the race trained I'm schools and
reared In good families, and 10 this work
we must and hope TO In this effort speedily
mcnt OF this character be begun, the UNDER
signed by official appointment representing
every church and we'll nigh every agency
at work along religious. moral and intellcc-
tual lines. Issue this call for u mass con-
Ncntlon OF tho negro young people OF tho
race Go be known as the Negro Young
Peoples Christian Congress with n View
Go a general awakening OF the negro youth
e the race 90 the importance OF the vast
nissionary work 10 be done at once ~ our
doors
"Thc negro has no idea OF leaving Amer
ica-thnt may be understood once for all.
IT he is 90 stay here and som or many
commit crimes. the result of vicious appc-
tites and idlencss which forces Itself to
the front, IL should he understood that
lynching and mobs Will not stop IL any
more than courts OF justice can fully pre-
vent crime or entirely put down the mob.
ITO save the unreached negro, stop Grim.
inality 80 deplorable, the remedy TO be APP
piled Is Christian education, character
training and practice, and 10 this end ev-
cry enlightened negro man and woman
should speedily address himself. Hence
this general call for the Negro Young Peo-
pies Christian Congress for the summer
OF 1902. The place 20 hold such n monster
meeting Will depend on the liberality OF the
people, ability to entertain the hosts and
other conditions.
THE general theme OF the programme
will be reaching the unreached negro
the race for Christ We request that all
conventions. conference synods, presby-
teries. young peoples 94sociations, sun
day schools. Young Mems Chrlstian Assoc
Citations, literary societies and student
bodies OF institutions of learning, temper
ance organizations and all agencies and
boards doing Christian work OF n spiritual,
moral, intellectual, or social character. In
dorse or approve of the general proposed
movement as expressed In this call at the
next meeting after the publication OF the
same"