The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1910-10-28
NEGRO NATIONAL PUBLISHING
BOARD.

siderably more than two million Ne
gro Baptists, and they have their
churches, associations and conven-
tions, working together in harmony
and in somewhat organic unity, and
all with one great purpose, to fulfill
their mission for the Kingdom of God.
They are much like the white Bap-
|tiSts-in their organization more like
the white Baptists of the South
than Of the North. This comes IN
pat from instruction, and in part
from Imitation, but largely also from
their owl. working out of New Tesla
ment principles, doctrine and prac-
tice. | doubt if we have yet half reAl-
lied what the Negro race may yet
be in this country, anil in the world
for maintaining the simplicity of the
gospel and it's rich provision for i'm
provement of the human family.
Baptists as rightly considered are
not the church. with it's peopi'. but
are a great people numbering many
millions with their many churches, To-
cal in character and influence and
ROVER, as may best meet their needs
for the expression of Christian life
and belief and service. The Negro
Baptists are a mighty host with the
others, and are like them in the great
fundamentals of Christian truth.
The Negro National Baptist Con-
v~ention has the whole United States
as it's territory; and in organic struc-
ture and method it is much like the
Southern Baptist Convention; It's
sessions are made up Of delegates
from every State in the Union and
numbering many hundreds of earnest
men giving themselves for the things
retaining to the Kingdom. 1t has
been my privilege more than once to
sneak in the sessions of this conven-
ton, in behalf of one or more OF Its
great enterprises, and | have been
tremendously impressed with its
power for good and it's efficiency in
the management of its affairs.
This National Convention has lts
National Baptist Publishing Board at
Nashville. 1 have had the privilege
of watching it from the first, and
have seen it grow from an unpromis-
ing start. and have reJolced to see
it come to it's place of great useful
ness among the Negroes, as an en-
terprise Of their own, worthy and sue
cessful in every way, snd a tremen-
dous agency for good. 1t was found
ed some thirteen years ago, in a
movement led by DR.. R. H Boyd, a
very able Negro, and of remarkable ex-
ecutive and initiative skill. He mas
made a great record for himself in
Nashville though coming here as a total
stranger at the beginning of his work.
What he has accomplished for his
race in founding a great publishing
house ard in making a literature for
his people, is not surpassed so far as
know by any man or set OF men
among them.
The National Publishing Board COM
menced at the very base with abso-
lutely nothing, except a few earnest
men with a great purpose, and with
hearts to serve God and their fellows.
They chose Nashville as the base OPP
Grafton because of the great printing
facilities here, and the success of the
Board has been remarkable and its
career phenomenal. 1t used other
printers at first, but now they have
a fully equipped plant of their own,
and do their own printing with work
men of their own race.
It's. chief publishing business is the
making of Sun~day-school periodicals
numbering ten or a dozen and aggregat
ing for the year nearly twelve million
copies. 1t also issues in this same
line the National Baptist Sunday
School Commentary, an annual Smo.
cloth bound book, thoroughly credit
able in every way, and having each
year the remarkable circulation OF
eight thousand copies. 1t has also
issued a song book adapted TO the
needs of the Negro Baptists, anC
which has proven very successful
There are also other books and 6
large number of tracts. All this Is
done by Negro editors and writers
and managers and workmen, who az
the work on their own machinery ant
through their own plant.
1t addition to all this the Negro
Board, under wise leadership and skill
has created and is operating othel
lines of business and manufacture
such as making church furniture, etc
1t has its own plant, in the way O
ground and building and machinery
and full equipment of every kind AM
up-to-date in character.
They can make a book, commenclni
| with the manuscript rrom the write
and delivering it in completed form t
the reader. They can make churcI
: pews and church pulpits from tn
rough wood of the mill to their full
1 completion for service in church builc
a ings. and it is all in the hands of Mes
= VOC. ocd io ~oonducted in q most Sill