Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-31
RELIGION AND EDUCATION
High Aims for Which the Association
is Organized.
ALLIED TO ORDER HERE TODAY
Delegates From Every State and Many
Foreign Lands-The Address
Of Welcome.


The Negro Young Peoples
Christian and Educational Con-
gress convened this afternoon at
4 go o'clock in Convention Hall.
When the gathen. ,g was called to
order several ts>ousand persons
were in attendance. The scene in
the hall was one of animation and
enthusiasm. Brought together In
the interests of common cause
that of the moral development of
the race and the advancement OF
religion-the members of the body
had come from every section of the
country and from many foreign
lands.
Though the hall was not filled at the
opening exercises, the central portion of
the main floor was well taken up. and
ranged on an elevated section the east
side was a numerous choir, whose white
vestments distinguished the members from
the occupants Of the speakers stand, placed
immediately IN the center OF the. east Sue
elevated seats.
The hall was brilliant with the national
colors. From the ceiling hung long fes-
toons Of bunting, reaching from section to
section. while small flags fiuttered from
many points on the walls. Over the whole
auditorium the decorations from above diff
fused a gentle glow.
Decorated With Flowers.
The speakers stand and the area set
ri 10 choir dac0ra ted with
special effect. Large and flowing leaves of
foliage encrcled both divisions and ported
plants were massed around the main stand,
where the speakers stood to address the
audience.
When the president of the congress,
Bishop Wesley j. Gaines OF Atlanta. Ca.
rose to deliver his annual address there
was scene of great enthusiasm Every
member In the hall rose and remained
standing until the venerable minister be-
gan his speech. The ..ddress of Secretary
OF the Navy Bonaparte was the occasion OF
another demonstration.
The exercises this afternoon opened with
the singing of several hymns by 1000 voices
under the direction of Prof. John I. Lay
ton. director of music In the public schools,
and s. Coleridge Taylor. director OF The
Rev. o. ]. W. Scott, D. D.. pastor of the
Metropolitan A. M. e. Church. presided. and
introduced the speakers. Rev, J. M. w al
II,
prayer. The auadrennial address was de-
uvered by Bishop Wesley J. Gaines, u. D..
of Atlanta, Ga, and president of the con-
gress.
Future Of Negro Race.
Secretary Bonaparte made an address on
the Future Of the Negro Race in Amer
-iea." in the course of which he said. in part:
MY friends. In the little time 1 shall
trespass upon your attention today I pro-
pose to speak on a topic which has long
been interesting to me, and which can
hardly fail to have some measure of inter-
est for you also; refer to the probable fu-
ture of the negro race in the United States
What part in American civilization will be
played by you. or. If not by you. by your
children and descendants? This question is
no less difficult than interesting.
THE first of these Is the undoubted fact
that the negro race is the only one which
has been ever able to live with white peo-
on large scale.
There are certain climates In which the
white man cannot live, or, at least, cannot
retain his qualities. In these he may be a
conaueror or ruler but not an inhabtant,
or if he become an inhabitant, 1t is at the
cost of degenerating both physically ana
morally. Thus many descendants of Euro
pean eoIonsts In certain parts of the new
world, even when they are of unmixed
blood are white men only in name and
color: they are indistinguishable both in
character and habits from the Indians or
half-castes among whom they i've
ION the contrary, I think 1t is pretty well
established that. although black men can
live in some climates in which white men
cannot. there is no climate in which white
men can live in which black men cannot,
and by live I mean live without loss of
health and vigor. There is no doubt that
the black people of the United States are
stronger and better-looking and more
healthy. besides being vastly more enltght-
ened. than the present people of the west
coast of Africa. Transplanting the race to
this continent has strengthened instead OF
weakening it: and see no reason to think
that any of It's good qualities are lost In a
moderately cold climate. such as that of
New England or Canada.
The Other Feature
"The other good thing to which would
direct your attention this evening is that
you can't get rid of the white people. You
can neither get away from them nor drive
them away from you. In certain negro
communities there are laws forbidding any
white man to own real estate or acquire
political rights; and even we're there no
such laws, the deadly climate would prob
ably have answered the same purpose. But
in such countries the outlook Is decidedly
unpromising; IT has been questioned wheth-
err they moving forward at all; some
competent and unprejudiced observers see,
or think they see, tendency III THESE cViii-
munities to relapse into barbarism; al
though 1t should be said In fairness that
certain current Impressions on this subject
are due in large part to observers neither
unprejudiced nor competent.
Rev NJ. w. D. Norman, pastor Of the
Metropolitan Baptist Church, delivered q
brief address of welcome on behalf Of the
District of Columbia and on behalf of the
citizens OF the District. John c. Dancy.
recorder of deeds of the District of Column
bia, also delivered an address welcoming
tho visitors.
The responses were made by Rev. H T.
johnson of Philadelphia, Pa, who spoke
on behalf of the board of directors; Rev.
r. Bowling of Norfolk, va, who re-
ferred to the denominations represented
In the congress, and Rev. c. G. Jacobs OF
Sumter, s. c.. who spoke for the Sunday
schools and young peoples societies In the
congress.
The meeting was still in session when this
report closed.
The next session of the congress will be
held Wednesday morning at . o clock. when
the general theme win be THE Home Lie
OF the Race.