Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-03

BNACld al AuANs bNAANNN III SF
posed to the expenditure Of
money for the education of
the negro. from a literary or an educa-
tional standpoint,
This was demonstrated at the meet
ing of the Home Mission society of the
Methodist church which has Just
closed here. 1t was made up of very
fine body of women, and they won
their way into many hearts in Carriers
VILE on account of their Christian
spirit and the enthusiasm they display
ed in the cause in which they were In
Jerested.
But that is foreign to the story 1
started to tell.
Down I'm Augusta there is negro
school known as Payne institute. 1t
is nothing but a literary school. But
some one has conceived the idea OF
adding to il an industrial feature. 1t
was decided that 1t would be a good
idea for the ladies of the Methodist
Home mission society to raise 5000 Of
the needed amount for the new build
ing. This met with a favorable recep-
ton from many. but there were many
others who did not favor ii.
II was the most interesting feature
of the recent meeting to see how care
fully the question was handled. There
was decided opposition to the measure,
and il only needed the least encour-
agement to bring 1t out into the open.
Last Saturday a paper was presented
by Rev. Fletcher Walton on what was
done for the negro, in an Industrial
way. before the war. II was an able
paper and one filled with tender pict-
ures and beautiful language. The
leading thought in the paper was that
southern people were the proper ones
to give industrial and moral training
TO the negroes.
Last Sunday Rev Sam p. Jones
preached a strong sermon in which ev-
erybody was urged to do their level
best I'm uplifting the world.
At the conclusion of the sermon, Mrs.
J\D.. Hammond, of Nashville, made
strong talk on the work the society
wanted to do for Payne institute.
At the conclusion of the address it
was stated that the women of the
North. Georgia conference were ex-
pected to give three hundred dollars of
the desired 5000. There was no enthu-
siasm following the speech. as the sub
ject, with a majority of the delegates,
was not popular. Mr.. Jones gave 500,
Mrs. Higgenbottom, the president of
the school, gave $50. Mrs. f. p. Cham
berlin. of Atlanta. gave $50, and the
OLHEE ore A1lAAEu was AaA0Nd AAOhA NAAN
rest of the delegates, about 15Q In num-
Der. !.
Those opposing the gift have talked
much about 1t. indeed. they but voice
the sentiments of southern women. ir-
. respective of denomination. 1t is a
growing sentiment and believe II will
check a new fad that has swept down
upon US from the north.
Those who were opposed to the
measure did not speak out as they did
not wish to mar the beautiful frater-
nal spirit that characterized the meet
ing.
But here are some of the arguments
they used to sustain their opposition.
Georgia, they say, has two much IL
literacy among the whites. She stands
third in the column of illiteracy. In
other words there are but two other
states in the Union that have more
illiteracy. Among these illiterate peo-
pie are boys and girls from the noun
tains, where the purest Anglo-Saxon
blood in this country is to be found.
Hundreds of them would be glad to at
tend the colleges for boys and the col
leges for girls In the state, If they had
the money. Some of the strongest
men I'm Georgia today were from the
mountains and there are many others
VINO WOulQ 90 CEeull 10 the SldlC IL
they could only receive an education.
How much better. these good women
say, II would be to spend money in ed
ucating them than in seeking to give
the negro an industrial training that
will not be beneficial TO Georgia. Be-
tore the war. they say, the negro re-
ceived his or her industrial training in
the homes of the south, and they made
the best servants the world has ever
seen.
These opponents to the measure
used as an argument, that the general
consensus Of opinion among southern
women is that no servants are turned
out from these schools. When gradu-
ated they feel above the servant grade
and go out to teach school, seek the
presidency of some woman's club or
do nothing at ALL tt.
Many an old nanny from ante
bellum times, with but few, exceptions
is toiling day by day to give her
daughter or her granddaughter edu-
cation, so that she may not have to
work, but can have an easy time for
the balance of her life.
Another strong argument they use Is
that there is not enough benefit COM
ing TO the south from the money that
has been spent in educating the negro.
Take Atlanta. for instance" ! heard
one OF the delegates say; you can