The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-05-03
GOOD ADVICE TO NEGROES

up to the full measure of manhood and womanhood? Is your society here where you can shape 1t as you wish eleVaung and helpful or is everybody making com plaints because things are not what you would have them, and nobody is doing anything to help better the conditions? Do you know that it Is sometimes said that when we are left to ourselves in large numbers we go back instead of pro- gressing? Whether this be true are not, let me urge you to make your individual character what it should be, and your so- ciety will be all right. The family, school, society and church are the institutions which make us what we are, and it is the duty of each one of you to help in the work of making these agencies what they ought to be.
 Since we are all concerned as to the condition of each other, you will pardon me for offering a suggestion with the hope of adding something that will be helpful in your camp. CD The men, as many of you are doing, should make themselves irst-class laborers. You should not allow any other mining camp to excel you in your labor record AS to the number of days you work and the class of service rendered every man of you should seek to make the highest per centage. Teach your employer that you have learned to express your manhood in your daily duties as laborer And when your employer sees that you are render ing him the best possible service, he will not allow you to excel him in manliness and he will be found helping you in many ways
 Again. there is more at stake than dol lars and cents in making your camp life an exemplary one. Your wives, sons and daughters are here surrounded by the conditions which exist In the community. The moral sentiment of your place will be woven into their lives. and you should see that 1t is of the healthiest character It is your privilege to make it what 1t should be. and 1t is also your duty to do it.
 T1e future of your family as it relates to their moral life depends upon your work here. The proper way for you to help along this line is for each one to bring to the assistance of the school and the church his individual influence in building up a healthy moral sentiment in your community, by every man doing his level best fin making of himself an in- dustrious worker, sober, honest and safe citizen, and bringing up your children to be worthy young men and women. We are all interested in your efforts to build up the right kind of community because, situated out here as you are away from the cities out of reach of the policeman's club and beyond the jurisdiction of the Recorders court, and separated from the white people in camp. you furnish a sub ject for study and you are being closely studied by friends and enemies who wish to know whether you are sufficiently de- veloped to conduct yourselves in manner that will reflect credit upon you as a race So many people are anxious to know whether you can bring ,xun your families correctly and whether you have the ability to direct properly the moral conditions of your community.
 If you would prove to the country that you are capable of being as reliable la borers as can be found in other races, here is splendid chance to prove 1t. If you want to show to the country that you can be safe. sober, orderly citizens who will not steal, who will not get drunk. who will not be guilty of other immoral conduct you have the chance to do that here and call on you to do it.
 @ You should spend less money than you do for useless things. Too many of you waste your money, provide no insur- ance and leave your families at your death practically without any means of support. You may think you will be given a mansion above when you die; but it Is question whether any man will be given