The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-08
MASS MEETING FOR
 NEGRO EDUCATION Prominent Speakers Point Out
 Problems Before Races EDUCATIJN WILL ASSIST pr. Mccoy Says Man Who Does Not
 Want Negro Educated Does Not Represent Best Sentiment in South.

Emphasizing their belief in the efficacy of negro education, and discussing in all it's phases the race problem from the standpoint of the southern white man and the negro, prominent men of the south, representing both races. delivered strong, sensible and feeling addresses before an immense audience at the Jefferson theatre last night. It was regarded as one of the most significant meetings ever held in Birmingham, and on the programme were men who on the one hand had been in- strumental in bringing about the great progress of the south, and on the other had been instrumental in the uplift of their people.
 The whole audience joined in singing America, with which the meeting opened. On the rostrum were seated dignitaries of the Colored Methodist Episcopal church, who had been attending the general board
 in session here prominent white and colored people of the city and the speak CTS of the evening. Each speaker voiced sentiments in accord with the accepted policy of the south in trying to help the negro help himself. Addresses were de- livered by Belton Gilreath, who presided; Dr. J. H. Mccoy, president of the Bir- mingham college; the Rev. c. M. Well, D. D., secretary Alabama Baptist Sunday school convention; Dr. ". R. Pettiford, president of the Alabama Penny Savings bank Judge N. B. Feagin, Dr. George William Walker, president of Paine col lege Augusta, and pr. James A. Bray, president of the Miles Memorial college. Among others present on the stage were the Rev Father Denis and Rabbi New field.
 The Rev. W. C. Brooks, principal of the St Marks Industrial school, deliv cred the opening prayer, after which a piano duet was played by Professor Lew of the Miles Memorial college and Gussie Rue Harris. Other music for the occasion was furnished by chorus from the Ma son City college, the St. Marks school, Birmingham Colored High school and the Miles Memorial college. MT. Belton Gif- reath presided.
 pr. Mccoy delivered a stirring address | defining very minutely the position of | the south with reference to negro educa- | tion He said that whatever may be said | of the south, the fact remained that at | no time has any southern state discrim- l mated against the negro in the distribu- tion of it's school funds. He expressed l sympathy with the doctrine of industrial | education for the negro but declared that l 1 man all that he was able to receive and | use "Education is both qualitative and 1 quantitative," said he, "and a man is neither better nor worse by being able to | add column of figures. Perhaps one | man in 1000 is hurt by an education, and | an intellect Is no more than a tool In the | hands of the man who uses 1t.
 l "The worst curse that can fall upon the | black man is not that he is educated too 1 highly, but that he may not receive the l highest moral and spiritual culture. I 1 am glad the south made the appropria- l tions for negro education when it did, | notwithstanding it was impoverished and | had two loads to carry where it had for | merly had one, but l feel that we began | at the wrong end. We will not do the
 work for you that ought to be done, you | will not do it for yourselves until more
 attention Is given to training men and
 women to teach and preach to the young | people of the race These things are fun. ] damental in the life of a people. You will
 then have better home life. I have scani patience with those people who declain
 against giving our people an education. Il | Is not worth while to deal with their no
 tions, for they do not represent the bes | thought of the south"
 Judge N. B. Feagin made an address full of advice to the negroes, particularly laying stress upon the tendency to crime