The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-06
TO HELP NEGROES.
Board In Charge Explains Scope of the
Work Now Under Way.


The board which has charge of the
WORK. and whose names appear below.
has submitted the following in explana-
ton OF the work they are doing:
Inc opening Of the Birmingham Min
lsterial and Economic Institute marks
the beginning of new era, not only for
the negro laborer. but for every industry
employing negro labor In the district.
This institution has been In operation
since June Is, 1909, at the Slater school
building, Fifth avenue and Fourteentb
street. and is to run six months in the
year. 1t has four regular instructors and
Is In session three days in the week. In
ADDITION to the four instructors. four
other persons give instructions in the
reading clubs throughout the district. The
regular instructors at the institute also
visit every section of the district, where
our people are found in large numbers.
and lecture to the masses as well as to
the local leaders in such communities.
The aim of this institute is to better
laboring conditions. 1t expects to accom-
plish this by giving instruction to preach
ers who are the natural teachers of ne
groes. and through whom the masses can
best be reached This instruction will
be on the following topics, Sanitation
of the Home; Proper Care of the
Health; Saving and Proper Expendi-
ture of Money. and Industry and Put
| ting In Good Time"
This work, If persisted in. will reduce
the death rate among negroes and i'm
press upon their minds the Importance
of making good records as laborers. cit
liens. as we'll as good husbands and
fathers. wives and mothers.
1t will also prepare ministers to more
effectively perform their pastoral duties
by extending their influence and instruc-
ton along practical lines. making their
religion of more material benefit to the
people.
We believe this is the most direct way
to reach the masses with the instruction
they need SO much. 1t will reconstruct
the sentiment of the negro people as re-
lates to laboring conditions. and IL the
employers will lend helping hand we
will have a more contented and reliable
class of laborers.
During the last II months evidence has
been Astounding that much good can be
done through this agency A number of
places known as dives have been broken
up; fewer crimes have been committed,
and murders are much less frequent
among negroes.
Many of the laborers of the district have
raised gardens and chickens this year,
according to the advice of our settlement
workers, and have reduced the cost or
living, while many have taken much IN
terest in improving the sanitary condl-
ton of their homes and yards.
We are urging all employers of negro
labor to render assistance in this work.
The board which has in charge the Inc
stitute consists of the following personst
Rev. @. w. Goodgame. chairman. pas
tor Sixth Avenue Baptist church, Rev.
Mayo, pastor African Methodist Episco-
pal Zion church; Rev. Turner, pastor.
Co1ored Methodist Episcopal church; Rev.
s. NJ Hall, pastor Mount Moriah Bap-
fist church. Pratt City; Rev. r. G. Rag
land. pastor Congregational church' Rev.
c. o, Boothe. D. D., president OF In
stitute, dean of theology, Selma univer-
sity. Finance committee: w. r. Petit
ford. chairman, president Alabama Penny
Savings bank; w. c. Owens. pastor Sar-
ais Baptist church Enon Ridge; 8. l.
Fisher. pastor Sixteenth Street Baptist
church.