The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-08-12

Atlanta. Ga, August 9.-The general |
theme of .today's sessions of the negro |
young people CHRISTIAN and Education |
al Congress was "the educational life |
of the race"
Interest centered in the address OF
Booker T Washington, which was de-
livered at the morning session OF the
conference. Rev. DR.. l. b. Scott, OF
New Orleans, presided and introduced
Professor washington who was greet
ed with generous applause. The sub
ject of Professor Washington's ad-
dress was THE contribution of the
south to the education of the race"
In introducing MS address, Professor
Washington stated that it must be
borne in mind that the negro was
brought here Dy physical force and
that he should nave a claim upon the
sympathy and neipful kindness of the
people of all parts of the country. The
negro race. Professor Washington
stated, had ever striven to prove itself
of service and not a burden. and Ee
cited the fact that few colored beggars
ara seen.
While we have been of service to
this country ne continued, I'VE have
obtained much, both in slavery. and
freedom that has fitted US for the duties
of useful citizenship
Professor Washington then cited
several instances 70 Illustrate the de-
gree in which The negro responds Il
C1-1sIdc influences, telling of tw) negro
tcwnahIps in Alabama. one of which
had been helped or reached by outside
influences and the other which had
been given the advantages of education
and proper training. In the first town.
ship the masses of the people were
without land, living in one room cabins
with their crops mortgaged and deeply
in debt, while ignorance and immor-
raIity were in evidence. In the second
township were les negroes homes con-
tanning 6s7 persons and the negroes are
paying taxes on $4,000 worth of prop
erty. He further cited facts to prove
that the material betterment of the
people had imp1 owed their moral ana
religious condition
Il want to see an influence go out Of
this meeting that shall, if possible,
take every young negro from off the
street corners and from the barrooma,
north and south.
1 want to see a lifting up and purify
ing of the character Of our ministers In
every part of the country.
mo race can hate another without
race being weakened, narrowed and
degraded Let us cultivate friendship
and love for all races and individuals
and harbor hatred for none. If others
will he little let us try to be great, if
others would hate us, let us try to love
them; if others would be cruel to US,
let us be merclful: if others would
break the law, let us respect it; II oth-
ers would seek to push US down, lei
US seek to raise the law. In the lons
RIM it is the race that helps to push
up that succeeds.
Finally, let Us never grow dlscour-
aged. We have made immense progress
as a race Let US remember that the
surest protection will be our useful
ness TO the community in which we
live
Among other speakers at the morning
session of the conference were Rev. w
B. Johnson, of Washington, d. c.; Rev
n. c.. B. Mason. OF Cincinnati; Rev
II. 4. Monroe, of Philadelphia, and
Rev. W. H. Weaver. of Pittsburg. Sep
arate conferences upon educatlonal
subjects were held in the various
church of Atlanta during the after
noon.
Considerable interest was aroused IL
an address of Rev. NJ. c. Mason, CORE
snonding secretary of the Freedman
Aid and Educational Society OF Cincin
natl. He spoke upon 1.-The purpose
spirit and results of educational wori
of the Methodist Episcopal church 10
the negro" After a review OF the ac
complishments of the Freedmans AN
ana Educational society in the advance
n1ent in education through the souln
DIR. Mason said that he presented III
theory for the race problem, but tina
the gospel, when given in its trues
sense would solve all problems of rae
distinction and annihilate all straine'
relations. ttMuch would be gained, n
said. s.if for the next century the mucl
sbrsed talk of leadership could be en-
tirely ceased.
The educated negro must be olgge