Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-14

1urnerD
ton. I'm numbers we began with twenty
three hundred years ago. We have, as
race. increased in population until We now
number more than ten millions. That
means that we have. as 1t were, nation
within a nation or race within race. The
negro in America represents a population
that Is nearly twice as large as the entire
population of the Dominion Of Canada. and
is nearly as large as the entire republic OF
Mexico We have enough black people In
America to people FIVE of the smaller Eu-
ropean countries and then have about two
millions remaining.
THE national negro Baptist convention
which I now have the honor Of addressing
Is perhaps the largest organic body within
the negro population. Beginning. as I have
stated, with twenty slaves landed at James,
town few centuries ago. this one organl-
cation alone has grown to the point Wnere
1t now has more than ten thousand minis
tiers. more than fifteen thousand Individual
church organizations, and total church
membership of 1872, COO. The negro Bap-
lists Of America own property to the value
OF nearly thirteen millions of dollars. Let
the individual who doubts the progress OF
the negro race think upon these tremen-
dous figures.
Points Which Require Attention.
There are several points in connection
with the growth of this church which the
race should carefully guard In the first
place 1t Is too easy, fear, for persons 10
enter the ministry. : mean persons without
proper preparation. Persons who have not
the proper mental, moral or spiritual equip
ment. 1t Is too easy 1 fear for improper
ministers to remain In the church. linen
again l often fear that we have among US
too many floating ministers. The minister
who Is weak In mental preparation, weak
in moral and religious practice. Is not only
a hindrance to the congregation, but he
reflects upon the minister who is leading
boil %
the Baptist Church who are holding up be-
fore their congregation and the community
a high standard of life owe 1T to themselves
to see to it that the denomination gets rid
of the weak and immoral minister Just as
soon as possible
lone way in which the church can be
supplied with a better class of ministers
is through the establishment Of large
central training school for ministers some
where in the heart OF the south. l repeat,
heart Of the south OF the ten or more
millions of people. nearly nine millions are
in the southern states. and such semi
nary should be located right In the midst
of the people whose needs are the greatest.
Industrial and Economic Growth.
81 have often laid stress upon the impor-
lance of industrial and economic growth
among our people basis for their
moral and religious development. 1 cannot
ideas on this subject. A poverty stricken
church usually means a weak minister. In
proportion as the individual members OF
the church are the owners OF land owners
of homes. have trades, have regular en-
plOyment, good income, are taxpayers. nave
money In the bank in the same degree Will
the church flourish. in the same degree will
they be able to support the creditable and
1--WE sometimes hear 1T said that the
negro race is standing still or going back
ward. 1 have faith In such doctrine
We are neither standing still nor going
backward we are going forward at a tre-
mendous rate, and it Is the duty of the re-
ligious leaders, such as those who com
pose this great convention. to sound every
where the note of hope. courage-the note
of optimism. No general ever won battle
who did not have faith In himself. faith in
his army and faith In the cahse for which
he fighting. Our future Is very large
effort. and moral and religious growth
There are certain great natural and eco
nomic laws that govern the problems OF
nations and races. Soil, rain and sunshine
draw color line.
Create a Necessity.
1--WE must not be content to be tolerated
in communities. but we must make our
selves needed and we can only do this by
putting much brain and skill and con-
science into every line of employment as
the members of any other race. This is
one lesson that the leaders among our peo-
pie should constantly make prominent
Il sometimes fear that yield to the
temptation of parading and advertising our
difficulties too much before the public. I
sometimes fear that we are prone to adver-
tise our disadvantages rather than our ad-
vantages. l do not overlook or minimize
the fact that We are often surrounded with
difficulty; that wrong and injustice are
often heapad upon US, but at the same time
we would get upon our feet sooner by
keeping to the forefront our success rather
than our failure. After all there is soma-
thing In human nature that honors success
whether that success be attained by a black
man or a white man.
1--WE should not become imbued with the
idea that the negro is losing his friends
in America. We have friends in the white
race. both in the north and In the south.
In every southern state there can be found
white man who are Just much interested
IN the progress of the negro race as can
be found outside of the south.
What Statistics Show.
Il have referred to our progress Let
me be more definite. In material matters
the statistics show that the negro race,
since 1t became free. has secured an acre
age of land upon which he pays taxes, that
is as la ge as the combined territories of
the kingdoms of Holland and Belgium At
a very conservative figure the negro race
of America owns and pays taxes upon
three and one-half millions of dollars worth
OF property. While in many of the Euro
pean. Asiatic and eastern countries the
majority of masses are still in deep ignor-
ance, in America, after only forty years
of freedom, SO per cent of the negroes can
read and write. In proportion as the negro
receives education of hand, head and heart,
his moral and religious life Is strengthened
and made more practical and useful l re-
peat then that there is no reason for doubt
and dfSconra