The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-03
GRAND NEGRO RALLY
CALLED BY RINGLEADERs OF THE
RACE.
TO UPLIFT THEIR PEOPLE.
a TWENTIETH CENTURY MOVE
NIENT INAUGUR ATED.

To lie Known The Negro Young
Peoples Christian Congress-The
Gathering 90 lie Held in the sum
mcr OF 1DO2-rhe Call for the Meet
ing states the Conditions Under
which the Negro Finds Himself
and the Need for an Improvement.
Washington, March 2.-Perhaps the
largest movement ever inaugurEted among
the colored people OF the United States
has just taken shape here at Asbury NJ
p. Church, where twenty designated on
cial representatives of religious denomi-
nations and agencies engaged in religious
work among the negroes have gathered
to consider the spiritual. moral intellec-
tual and social progress OF the race, and
to make arrangements for a monster gath
ering of the enlightened young negro men
and women In the summer of 1902 The
meeting win be known as the Negro
Young Peoples Christian Congress.
Bishop Wesley J. Gaines Atlanta, was
elected president OF the movement; Rev
W. d. Isaacs, Nashville. Tenn. vice pres
ident; l. G. Penn. Atlanta, corresponding
secretary; Rev. B. w. Arnett, Springfield,
H.. assistant secretary; Rev. w. NJ. Alex
ander, Baltimore, treasurer.
An Executive Committee, who will have
charge of all arrangements has been ap-
pointed, consisting of the officers and ths
| following members:
Bishop r.. s. williams. Augusta Bish-
op Ct, W. Clinton Charlotte, N. C.; Rev.
3. N. Vass, Raleigh. N. c.; Bishop c. T.
shaeffer, Topeka, KAN; Rev. ID. j. Sa1n-
ders, Charlotte. N. c.; Rev. 1. l.. Thorn
as. Washington, d. c.; Rev. L. c. DAVIS,
Pratt City. Ala.
A greeting 10 the negro was drafted,
which. after congratu!ating the negro up
ON the progress he has made since his
emancipation, says:
Their SHORTCOMINGS Admitted.
Wisdom suggests that in this first year
OF new century, the sensible negro al
init the shortcomings OF his race as we'll
as emphasize the marvellous results
achieved, and the hopeful signs OF the
| future. Helped aE we have
been by the good people of the North and
| the South, encouraged by ( riends
everywhere, inspired by race ex-
amples OF tho most marvellous
| character In well nigh every avenue of
! life, as well as stimulated to succeed by
the thrusts of enemies rather than dis
| coutaged, we find ourselves at the door
| of new century with thousands of un-
reached members of the race, with an
alarming Indifferent class OF young peo-
pie as to their own spiritual, moral so
cial and intellectual awakening, with a
stlll more alarming class Of a criminal
character whose deeds are deplorable,
and the reports of which surprise and
shock every true. enlightened man and
woman Of the race
To Rench the Criminal Negro.
"The unreached negro, of little culture,
of no practical piety and loaded with
evil appetltes which have their origin in
former conditions, and which heredity
has given him, Is the criminal negro and
must be reached and good people every
where will help to reach him, but the
most conspicuous and far-reaching work
must be done by the thousands of young
men and women of the race trained in
schools, and reared in good families to do
this work, we must and hope to, in this
effort, speedily address ourselves. That
a concerted movement of this character
be begun the undersigned by official APP
pointment representing every church
and well nigh every agency at work along
religious, moral and intellectual lines, is
sue this call for a. mass convention Of
the negro young people of the race to be
known as "rhe Negro Young Peoples
Congress-, with a view to general
awakening Of the negro youth of the
race to the importance of the vast mis-
sonary work to be done at once at our
doors.
1.-THE negro has no idea OF leaving
America, that may be understood once for
all If he is to stay here and some or
many commit the result OF vicious appe-
tites and idieness which forces itself to
the front, it should be understood that
lynching and mobs viii not stop II any
more than courts Of justice can fully pre-
vent crime or entirely put down the
mob
Christian Education the Remedy.
1.-THE remedy is Christian education,
character, training and practice. The
place OF meeting depends on the liberal
lty 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
1--WE request that all conventions, con-
ferences synods, presbyteries, councils
young peoples societies, 6unday-schools,
Young Mems Christian Associations, lit
erary societies and student bodies of in
stitutions Of learning, temperance organi-
cations and all agencies and boards do
ing Christian work Of a spiritual, moral.
intellectual or social character, indorse
or approve Of the general proposed move
ment as expressed in this cali at the next
meeting after the publication Of the same.
Among those not above mentioned en-
gagged In the work are w W. Lucas, r.
A. Carter, w. A. IIunton and l.. r.
Maxwell, all Of Atlanta; William f. Carr,
Danville, Va; J. l.. Cook, Henderson,
N. c.
-s-o~s--v---