The colored American., 1903-05-16
MRS. LAWSON'S TOUR.
The Work of the w. c. T. u. in the
Southland.

disconnected way in which it is quoted,
is unjust both to myself and to the ex-
cellent people who so lovingly cared
for and helped me as l journeyed from
Norfolk, Va, to Ashville, n. c., covering
a period of six weeks
l started out by saying 1 was delight
ed at what l had seen at the progress
and hopeful outlook among our people,
then cited instances Indicating need
for remedy; these instances were not
such as would materially differentiate
the class to which referred from SINH
liar class residing in other sections;
that the habit of certaCin element
follow them wherever they go; that
this element constitute the unreached
in the race whom it is the purpose and
desire of the w. G. T. u. to help; and
these are they who make the Negro
problem in the country so difficult of
solution. l used the conversation with
the woman from Wilmington by way of
telling how open-heared and hOspita-
BILE the Southern people are, and how
with their spacious homes, abundant
gardens and farms, horses, carriages
and many conVeniencieS they are un-
prepared to understand how many
whom they encounter during a brief
visit to Northern cities can exist in
seemingly stringent circumstances.
The people of North Carolina and Vir-
ginia whom l met are doing we'll and
living comparatively easy. They have
elegant homes, we'll and tastefully fur
niShed. Their churches, in many plac-
es, are as beautiful as | have seen, and
their easy manner of living show little
if any of the stress and strain of life
in Northern cities.
One surprising but most agreeable
feature in their church life is that they
begin weekly services, as well as those
on Sunday evening, at eight o'clock
and close at nine-thirty. This custom
might be initiated with profit in many
other sections where l have visited.
The ministers seem keenly alive to
the need for accepting every lever tend
ing to raise the moral status of the peo-
pie, and consequently opened freely
their churches to the work of the w.
C. T. u.
The women representing the w. G.
T. u, with whom | held conferences in
most of the towns and cities visited,
are living on a high moral plane. They
advocate an equal standard OF morals
for men and women, and are striving
diligently to let the light which has
come to them shine in dark places.
our people III NOTJH SdIOliUd are III
earnest concerning the temperance re-
form. To Miss M. A. Lynch's excel
lent generalship is due the credit for
not only having reached the people
throughout the State, but for having
interested the schools and colleges to
such an extent that our Inter-COlleg-
late Conference on the subject of tenn
perance was held at Winston-Salem,
April 9th which marks a feat unattaln-
ed hitherto in any State in w. c. T. U.
work.
l mention such schools and colleges
as Shaw University, Biddle, Bennett
and Livingstone, telling what magni-
ficient work is being accomplished by
them in fortifying their students with
Temperatures principles along with
their scholastic and industrial courses
and spoke also of the excellent work
being done at the J. X. Brick school at
Enfield, by Prof Inborden and his fine
corps of teachers; at Scotia, by DR..
Satterfield in the charming home
school for girls there; by Miss Dole
and her assistants in the Allen School
at Ashville, as we'll as the excellent
work of Prof. Hawkins, at Kittrell Col
lege and Prof. Griffin at High Point.
This is only a glimpse into the earn
est helpful work which is characters
tic of the noble men and women whom
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