The semi-weekly messenger., 1905-09-19
A BIBLE INSTITUTE


Dean II. II. Ponton, field superinten-
dent of the John c. Martin educational
fund. who is touring this state. reach
ed here Thursday. A number Of COL
ored preachers met him Thurs lay
morning at Chestnut street Preshy-
terian church and organized a local
Bibles institute for the negro preach
ers, public and Sunday school teachers,
ers Of all denominations amcns co.,
ored people in Wilmington and vein
ity.
This movement is supported by Sir.
John c. Martin, layman Of Fifth Av-
enue Presbyterian church, New York
city The fund is now maintaining i25
local ministerial Bible Institutes, II
divinity schools in colleges, and a
number of summer Bible schools This
work thoroughly organized in the fol-
lowing states: Arkansas, Alabama,
Mississippi, Georgia and South Car
olina.
Dean Ponton is visiting North Car
olina for the purpose of organizing
the preachers in this state so that
they can receive the benefits of this
fuAd
Dean Ponton, who is native North
CarOlinian and formerly a citizen OF
Wilmington, said in part: This fund
will support a divinity school in L.iv-
ingstOne and Kittrell college each,
and SO arrange it's work in this s.ase
that every negro preacher can lake
a Bible course of study to better his
condition and the people he serves,
and thus become an agent in reliev-
ing our country Of most vexed and
aggrevating problem"
Touching the work Mr.. Martin hopes
to accomplish, Dean Ponton said:
'As young man in the Civil war
Martin first came into personal touch
with the black slave, suddenly thrust
into freedom. He perceived that the
real leaders of the race were not the
glib politicians, white or black, nor yet
their theoretical friends and advisers
in the distant north, but their preach
ers. And he became convinced that
any racial uplift must come through
the preachers and under their leader
ship.
GA searching study of the negro
minister as a type proved to Mr.. Mar
tin that, while many Cody and intel
ligent men are to be found in negro
pulpits, there was urgent need for
kind, but firm discipline and for thor
ough-going education among them.
And this discipline and education. to
be effective needed to be applied from
inside by those whom the negro
preacher believed in and admired and
whose counsels they would follow
"Leaving to others, the work T
ameliorating the negroes condition by
industrial training and similar eduos-
ton, and avoiding altogether the pc
litical recipes, Mr.. Martin struck at
the very crux of the problem by in
spring the negro ministry to adopt
higher ethical and educational stan
dards and making it practicable toc
them to help themselves to attain
these standards.
''Mr Martin does not idealize the ne
gro preacher, though heblieves in MIN
He deals boldly with his characteris-
tic faults and short comings, but with
sympathy and good temper. Very like
ly right here is one secret of the Sue
cess of the movement, the preacehrs
themselves approve his frankness
and back him up in his open and
friendly criticism.
"For the purpose of perpetuat;lg
this noble work, and that it may be
in position to receive endowments aud
! contributions. this fund has been in
corporated under the laws of the state
Of nff1PnrC
and counseIors are as follows: Mr..
John G. Martin, president; Rev. J
Ross Stevenson, D. D., vice president;
Mr. Thomas Conyington, secretary:
The Lincoln Trust Company, fiscal
agents
Trustees: Rev. Robert S. MacAI-
thur D. D.; Rev William I. Haven, d,
D.; Rev. J. koss Stevenson, D. D.;
Rev. George L. Shearer. D. D.; Rev.
D. Asa Blackburn. D. D.; Mr.. John
c. Martin. Dr. Monroe Allen, DR..
Thomas Conyington, Mr.. Lot c. Ais
| ton.
"This great work has been called
| The greatest movement for the ur-
| lifting of the negro race since eman-
| cipittation It is received with hearty
| approval by the southern people. They
| are ready when the time comes to give
! their undivided cooperation and we
are assured that the people of the
north are likewise ready to give us a
helping hand. May God speed the day
when the leading forces of the two
| races will unite on the basis of Go1's
! word, for the only solvent for the ne
gro problem, or any other problem
is the Gospel of the Lord Jesus
| Christ
The officers of the local organiza-
| ton here are Rev J. A. Bonner, pres
| ident: Rev. J. E. Jackson, secretary;
Rev. w B. Williams, treasurer
Committees-Membe Rev. H
Bell: program, Rev. T. J. DeBerry;
| temperance, Rev. G. w. Walton; Bible
school, Rev. r. w. Sassar; entertain
| ment, Rev E. H. Bennett.
INSPECTED THE JAIL