The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-29
CHANGE in
CONDITIONS
The Negroes Eliminated d
Northern Gatherings.
WHAT REV. DIR. PITT SAW
Has Just Returned from Attending a
Meeting Of the Baptist Denomina-
ton at Buffalo-Made a
Report There,
WHAT REV. DIR. PITT SAW

To all Southern people 1t Is striking
fact, and an interesting one, reported by
the Rev. DR.. Il. II. Pitt OF this CITY,
that the negro is gradually dropping out
OF sight in the Baptist denoHlinational
meetings held In the North.
DR.. Pitt has Just reached Richinona
from Bufralo, where he went as chair
man OF an important committee to at
tend the annual session of the Northern
Baptist anniversaries. which correspond
with the Southern Baptist Convention. lie
returns rather amazed at what he saw
and heard. Two years ago, when ne at
tended the Same meeting In Springfield.
the first thing he saw when he entered
the church was a negro woman on the
platform making speech. She IN from
+ Hartshorn college. Richmond, and she
Has making fun OF some Southern whites
to the great delight, and am. \,
the audience, which had scattered through
1t large number OF raEroes.
CONDITIONS CHANGED.
This year the conditions were very
much changed. During DR.. Pitts stay.at
the meetings only two or three negroes
were present, and they were decidedly
relegated to the rear There was but one
negro speaker. and he was preacher
from Virginia. Rev. Walker, held in high
es teen by the whites In this section FIR
his goodness OF heart and his goodness OF
sense as we'll. The striking contrast be-
tween the two meetings caused DR.. Pitt
to institute Inquiries. and he talked pri-
Syately with a number OF the most prom
inent men present. The result was that
he came away with the conviction that
Northern men are steadily coming over,
to the Southern view Of the negro prob
lem. Every man to whom DR.. Pitt spoke
thought universal suffra &c a mistake. and
expressed the belief that 1t was doing the
negro more harm than good.
TO find one OF the causes contributing
to effect this wonderful change among
Northern Baptists 1t is not necessary to
seek for. From Richmond to New York,
al1ealong the coast there stretches cor
don OF Southern preachers who have be-
come pastors OF Northern churches. a
great number Of them are from Virginia;
the majority Of this number are from
Richmond. Such men are F"rr Boyce
Tupper In Philadelphia; W. G. Biting.
In New York; r. 3. Thomas. in Elizabeth
5City;sJ. T. Dickinson, OF North Orange.
and many others.
REPORT ON PUBLICATION.
The chief mission Of DR.. Pitt in Buffalo
was the presentation OF a report for the
Committee on Publication, Of which he
Is the chairman. The American Baptist
Publication Society divides Its work into
two ranches-publication and mission
ary. and It covers practically the entire
country. Each year independent commit
tees are appointed to review the work Of
the society. and OF the committee for the
publication work an editor is always
chosen without reference to the section
Of country in which he lives. This year
DR.. Pitt was elected to this important
post. He prepared and read a report, fol-
lowing it with an address.
The work OF the society was shown to
be In the most excellent condition. It's
bookstore in Philadelphia Is one OF the
largest In the world. Its missionary work,
which Is devoted largely to Sunday
schools, Is most thoroughly done. The
society employs six chapel cars. which
traverse the country, and also has n
number Of huge calportage wagons. Which.
loaded with books. go around In the coun-
try districts
The most important feature OF the re-
ports submitted by DR.. Pitt was one which
resulted In a decision to abolish the gem
eral book stores In Atlanta, Dallas. st.
Louis, Boston and New York. AT these
agencies the society has attempted to
conduct a general hook trade, but has
done so at loss. Hereafter they Will
be toned down to simple agencies OF the
publications Of the society.