The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-08-03
Bryan's Popularity.

| paper there was only one man of the fifteen present who was not energetically for him.
 Negro Baptist Convention.
 '"The Sunday school must play an im- portant part In the solution of the negro problem in this country" declared the Rev. pr. c. NJ Wells of Montgomery in calling 1) order the sixteenth annual ses- sion of the negro Baptist State Sunday School convention in Dexter Avenue Bap- tist church this morning, and We had | just as well recognize that today"
 Following the short address of Presi- dent Wells. the convention was duly opened for business and a programme covering four days was read by Prof. J. E. Hutchlson, and approved by the con- ventlon. The president appointed two com mittees to enroll the delegates as fol- lows;
 Enrolment of Sunday schools-s. L. Battles. T. H. Randall. Bessie Gulley. Lula Lindsay, W. P. Cook.
 Enrolment of District Conventions-J. E. Hutehson R. T. Pollard E. J. Rob inson.
 Owens Address
 The Rev A F. Owens D. D. dean of the theological department of the Selma university. and who is one of the most noted negro ministers in Alabama, delivered a short address. 'I am indeed. l glad to see the progress our people are l making in this country" he said. For this means so much for us. l remember the time when it was hard to get a sec- retary for our conventions. and now we , have them who cannot only write well, but who can write shorthand as fast as man can talk Step by step, we are climbing by faith In ourselves. God has placed 1t this way Our ministers are l learning that ignorance in the pulpit is no | longer wanted, and unless a man pre- pares himself, he will be out of a job. | It is no longer open your mouth and God will fill It. but 1t is now fill your head | in some good institution and God will | open your mouth. He has made 1t pos sible for the schools to fit you The negro minister must study. He must be the best posted man In the community, for ne must teach his people how to live as well as how to de"
 The Rev A. N. McEwen Is vice presi- dent of the National Baptist convention, which. perhaps, has the largest follow | Ing of any negro organization in the world, having a membership of over 2,O00- GOO in this country. He is considered one of the most aggressive pastors in the state, and editor of the Southern Watch man, one of the leading negro Baptist papers. Dr. MeEWen Sdlu lIldL ut WAS glad to see the interest the negro was taking in himself and what he was doing for his own elevation. This is the thing l for us to do." he said, 'and if we would get the respect of others we must first re- | spect ourselves"
 The Young Men.
 We have got to reach our young men, said Prof. R. B. Hudson of Selma, who | Is principal of the negro public school and assistant secretary of the National Baptist convention, "and l tell you un- less we turn more attention to these young | loafers 1t will be hard on us in the future Look at the young men who hang around on street corners, the young men who want to live without work, the young men who commit crime, the young men who are in the prisons and form the chain gangs So many young negroes have the wrong conception of life and freedom. They keep us down. We find 1t hard to keep the young negro boy in school, because they do not get the required home training they are allowed to roam the streets at all hours of night and before they reach 15 years of age they have a tail record. We must break this up. or the future will be dark for us "I believe that our boys and girls should be kept from the streets. When they
 
 likeness breeds crime l liked the sug- gestion of Dr. Isaaes yesterday. that Is, put the young negro to work.
 Annual Message. |. President C. NJ. Wells delivered his an- nual message to the convention, in which he took up every phase of the work to be accomplished by the convention. Ills advice to the young men and women was l,o do n ct good and efficient Sunday school work Temperance and missions were advocated by him. He said that one of the biggest draw backs to the negro in this country was whisky drinking He said some thing on the negro question. He said;
 "It is possible some one will take issue with me and say that this IS not the place for the race question to be dis cussed. As long as the platform orators and the newspapers keep the ears of the people filled with what they say on this question, We should discuss 1t all the llme and everywhere. You are the Denefactofs of race and you are rendering nople service if you are true to your trust. II we have race problem, and if that problem is to be solved. 1t must be solved bv the race itself. No power from with o,,t can do the work. Revolutions must come from within and not from without. As vou stand each Sabbath in front or vour classes teaching members or our race. thus saith the Lord, you are higher than YOU would be occupying a seat il' the gallery of some white church or standing idle on some street corner. The sbiftless and indifferent, can never help in time of any crisis.
 Strong Men Needed.
 ..1,ha nagro race needs strong men and women to fight its battles. These must he trained in the Sunday school, where wa teach Gods word. We have set be- fore us high ideals of life. We must teach the lessons of honesty. frngality ana industry, for these are the essentials in the development of any people. This will make us advance in the scale of civi- lization.
 Social intermingling with dominant race will not settle the great questions believe in. the complete separation of the race along social lines. and complete and strong union against sin and the devil. and one strong pull for the develop ment of our common country l have no natienee with the negro man or woman who tries to get away from the race or who goes around apologizing for being negro.
 .T have great hopes for our race In the future. There is everything 10 gain. Set your faces toward the rising sun or pfo- gress and prosperity