The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-03
HEARDSOUND ADVICE
NEGRO SUNDAY SCHOOL WORKERS
 IN SESSION.
Annual Adress of President c. M. Wells, Who Was Reelected, is Delivered. Several Other Thoughtful
 Addresses.

lem and in giving good advice to mem bers of their race throughout the state.
 President c. NJ. Wells. D. D.. of Mont gomery delivered his annual message, Dr. A. F. owens, dean of the theologi- cal department of Selma University, delivered a timely address and many other speakers had something to say in way of advice
 All Hail the Power of Jesus's Name" was the hymn used to open the six teenth annual session of the Negro Baptist State Sunday School Conven- tion in the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, of which Rev. R. c. Judkins Is pastor.
 In his opening remarks to the con- vention, President Wells declared that the Sunday school must play an im- portant part in the solution of the race problem, and urged that the workers devote more time to 1t. He expressed much pleasure in seeing so many edu- cated young negro men and women Tn the convention, and said 1t means much for his people. He said that the ef- fort was to lift up the negro. to make him self-supporting. ',
 The first speaker was Rev. A. F. Owens. D. D., of Selma. dean of the theological department of Selma Uni- versity, and who Is regarded as one Of the best educated negroes in the State. Dr. Owens said in part:
 All great movements in the worlds history have been initiated and direct ed by leadership. The spirit and char acter of those movements have reflect ed the spirit and character of the lead CTS. The blighting curse infesting the Russian Empire today is traceable to the virus of selfish leadership. The | unparalleled success of the intrepid Japs is traceabIe to the unselfish pa- triotism of such men as Ito. Togo, Oyama and Japan's great Emperor. Napoleon shaped the destiny of France. Bismarck was the soul Of Germany; Gladstone ruled England. and thereby ruled all Europe. This principle is of supreme moment to our race. Preachers and school teachers are the logical and recognized leaders of l the race. We cannot escape the fact l that the spirit and character of these leaders will determine the intellectual, | moral and religious status of our peo- pie, and consequently the destiny of the race for many years to come. The very best thing for the masses | is to give them wise and unselfish lead l CTS; the next best thing is to educate and Christianize them. The solution | of all race problems is to be wrought by the leaders of the races in ques- 1 tfon, as nothing Is settled unless set l tied by the eternal rule of justice and | equity It requires wisdom and pa- | triotism to determine what is right and just. We are confronted by the mo- | mentous question, what is the meas ure, attainment, standard, aim and pur- pose of our leaders While we pause to answer this question. there comes to l Us the proposition, water never rises above the level of the fountain. The inspired Jewish prophet said, | Like people like priest A recent brilliant Southern writer said, Truth, | In order to be fundamental. must be l axiomatic;' therefore, 1t is truth to | say like priest like people.
 The white Baptist convention, in its l recent meeting at Talladega, indorsing the report of Dr. W. B. Crumpton, said. l The hope of the colored people is in l their ministry. If we can help to shape and mould the men of God who | lead them. we are doing the greatest possible good for the race At Selma | University we are doing this kind of work. We are preparing preachers and teachers. We have sent out large numbers who are doing well The l time has passed to say open your mouth and God will fill it. and now l 1t is fill your mouth in some good in- ] stitution of learning and God will open | it."
 Rev A. N. McEwen. D. D.. who was pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church number of years and who Is now in Mobile, and vice president
 
 which has following of over 2,000.- l 900, was the next speaker. Dr. Mo Ewen Is editor of the Southern Watch | man, one of the organs of the negro Baptists. He told the convention that if the negro failed to look after him. self. he would go to the devil or some | other seaport of fire
 If we would get the respect f oth- CT races" he said we must respect ourselves"
 Prof. R. B. Hudson. statistician of the negro Baptists of Alabama. and assistant secretary of the National Baptist Convention thought that the hope of the negro was in the young men, and wanted the convention to turn attention to the loafing class of negroes and strive to make them bet | ter. He spoke of the number of young negroes who had the wrong | conception of life.
 We must reach the young negro in the prisons" he said the young negro who Is on his way to prison, the negro who forms the chain gangs We find 1t hard task to keep the young nc- gro boys in school because they get to be men so early"
 l Perhaps one of the most important and far reaching addresses ever de- livered to the negro Baptists of the State was the annual message of Pres ident Wells which outlined work enough for the Sunday school workers for the next ten years. and If carried out will largely elevate the whole ne- gro race. and will be helpful to the State
 There is no state in this union which furnishes better facilities than Ala
 bama for the education of the youth '
 he said. and If we fail to take ad-
 vantage of this splendid opportunity in all parts of the commonwealth then 1t will be our own fault.
 "The pride of the negro race in this State is Selma University because 1t
 represents what the negro Is doing
 for himself and for his own eleva-
 tion. As all roads led to Rome, so in
 this State all roads lead to Selma Uni
 |versity. because 1t is training the
 head. heart and hands. the head to
 think. the heart to serve God and the
 hands to work It is our intention tc
 unite in raising the money with which
 to settle every claim against our in-
 stitution, thereby showing to the world
 that we are interested in our own
 elevation.'
 | Missions were discussed, and the
 negro was told that it was his duty
 to contribute to home and foreign mls.
 sions.
 You are to send the gospel to al
 parts of the world" he said You are
 to send preachers and missionaries tC
 our rural districts. as well as to senC
 them to Africa. Every Sunday schoo
 should be a recruiting station. the
 pastor and superintendents should be
 the recruiting officers, and they should
 enlist for the Kingdom and army oi
 Jesus Christ.
 The Bible. the great hook of books | irb gftv In,