Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-13
LEADERS IN EVIDENCE
Women Workers Auxiliary to
Negro Baptists.
RELIGION AND EDUCATION
Themes Discussed by President of the
Auxiliary and Others.
MRS. LAYTON AGAIN PRESIDENT
d. w. Davis, Poet and Preacher, Ex-
presses Pride in Women of
His Race.
MRS. LAYTON AGAIN PRESIDENT

opened the convention with a PRAYER meet
ing. which lasted thirty minutes. After
reading the journal Mrs. S. w Layton the
president, made a short address outlining
the work of the day.
Mrs. P. J. Bryant presided during the
morning session. She said that she was
delighted with the progress being made by
her people, and wanted them to continue
to do all the good they could.
Daniel Webster Davis of Richmond, Va.
negro poet and prea cher. introduced
and delivered an address. He spoke in
terms of praise of the women of his race,
and especially those engaged in religious
and educational work.
You are engaged in great work, and
the future of our race depends on our
women he said, land if you fail to do
your part then it is indeed dark for us as
people. But l am proud of the women of
my race. l know your struggles. l know
what you must contend with in the walks
of life. but in the face OF this you hold
up you heads, and are going on making
sentiment for u.s.
Mrs. Amanda East Of Wiliamsport, Pa,
made a short address, and following her
Prof. D. Abner, jr, president of the Coroa
Normal and Industrial College, Conroe,
Tex, was introduced, and discussed educa
ton. DR.. Abner has been engaged in edu-
cationalworn for twenty-seven years, during
which time he has signed the diplomas for
several thousand negro graduates. Many of
them filing positions in Washington.
In his address he advocated the education
of the head, heart and hands-the head to
think, the heart to serve God and the hands
to work-and declared that any race thus
developed would succeed in life.
Mrs. Iayton's Address.
At this point Mrs. Bryant introduced the
president. Mrs. s. W. Layton of Philadel-
phia, who delivered her annual address.
Mrs. Laytons address ELECTED the closest
off Ton,
She said:
"As race we have enough eloquent
speakers and need more doors of the word.
Workers are daily laboring in and among
the great common people Of the race help
ing them upward to higher plane of liv-
ing. thinking and doing
Through the churches we have. an in
compare BILE opportunity to help the masses
Of our people. Colored people are religous!y
inclined and strongly under the influence of
their pastors. Our pastors are our lead
ers and dictators. The masses of our peo-
pie retarded in the struggle of life
by prejudice and weaknesses within the
race. The weakness is the natural result
of ignorance and ignorance Is the inheri-
lance of serfdom. Race prejudice is grow
Ing stronger every day, yet l do not be-
lieve that all the terrible things we suffer
are due entirely to prejudice. / believe the
question largely is one Of economics. Be
cause OF these unhappy conditions there
ought to be a general policy of understand
Ing on the vital points at least among the
leaders of our race, so that they may be
able to carefully advise their people to do
their best for the general good Of the race.
Visionary Titles.
because of the almost unlimited conf
dence imposed in our pastors there Is rap
Idly growing army of dissemblers, wear
Ing and d!shonoring the titles Of reverend
and doctor of o-viinty,' titles which ought
to carry reverence and respect with them,
but now getting SO general that they
scarcely convey anything more than an
idea Of silk hat and clerically cut clothes
covering a man who does not care to live
by work, but prefers to prey upon some
unsuspectlng victim, and that usually q
woman, poor, thoughtess, hard worker.
These unprincipfed mushrooms are popping
up everywhere, pretending to represent some
business concern, bank insurance or stock
company that promises to pay more in
terest than principal. and robbing poor
people in various ways Our people should
begin to think and compare. These titled
frauds are doing more harm than the tenn
porary thefts practiced by them. They are
abusing the confidence of the people SO
that worthy people are mistrusted.
I'VE should expose frauds who impose
upon our Woodworking women Then our
good and strong pastors need to be protect
ed from the frauds who SANDER their pro-
fesson Women are more the victims OF
these INSCRIPTIONS men, and should begin
to think and reason for themselves. Chris
tian women must take the lead They
should be wise as serpents and harmless as
doves, remembering that church influence
must rule the nation. Women are the ma
jority in church membership. The majority
should rule Hence let the women demand
that our pastors be godly men,
Condition of Working Women.