The Washington bee., 1910-06-18
DR.. COrTOthers Speaks
HOWARD UNIVERSITY.
Rev. Sylvester L. Corrothers Speaks
Out.

Howard University is a negro insti-
tuition and should be largely if not
entirely controlled by negroes. 1t is
strangely true that there IS decided
purpose to keep the management in
the hands Of the whites Do our
friends mean to tell us that after
45 years of freedom we are inCOm-
petent to govern our Institutions?
How can we be tested except by Civ
ing us the opportunity? 1t is by
assuming responsibility that develop
ment comes. Take the great church
organizations OF this country and see
how they have grown and strength
ened under self government The
brain and Drawn of the negro race IS
in the great Methodist and Baptist
churches. Wherever the whites have
done the managing and taken from
the people a voice in their own affairs,
there has been nothing but stagna-
, tiOn and death.
The freak Of new buildings at
Howard University IS no assurance
, that the management is conducting
the school to the highest interest of
the race. Take the matter Of trustees
for the university and see how largely
the board Is made up Of white men.
We believe in - first honOring the
alumni of the institution with the
positions as trustees of the school,
and after due recognition OF alumni
the great leaders OF the church should
not be ignored.
The disregard Of the great church
organizations Of this country in the
management OF Howard University
will mean its DOWNFALL No school
can live without students and the
students must come from these great
organizations. The little so-called
educated churches will never furnish
students for a great university. The
plan to pay no heed to what the
people want must be changed. We
demand better treatment
When vacancies occur on the Board
of Trustees why should not cOlOred
men be found rather than white men,
There Is at present/a vacancy in the
Theological Seminary OF Howard
University. Why not promote the
one cOlored man in that department.
If precedent is followed, a white man
will be sought. or if a colored man is
placed at all it will be in an inferior
position or possibly an unknown
colOred man without any regard to
the constituency of the school. We
are opposed to allowing our one great
negro school to be managed and
taught by so small a proportion of
ColOred people.
To industrialize Howard UniveT-
sity as the recent purchase of land
would indicate and the ignoring OF the
intelligent people of the raCe-alumnl
and friends alike-will certainly be
met by a storm OF opposition by all
people and friends of the race who
believe that Howard University Is for
colored young men and women, and
that they ought to have a larger say
in its management and teaching.
Among the great negro denOmina-
tons that have been ignored by the
present administration Of Howard
University IS the African Methodist
Episcopal Zion Church with II Epls-
C0Dal districts, 5.OOS ordained and
travelling ministers, il annual con-
ferences. 672,oOO members, $4,000
Sunday School scholars; operating in
50 different states, have been ignored
and the prayer Of this great church
thrown aside to make room for the
private citizen. who does not repre-
sent any one but himself
Notwithstanding the fact that we
have eleven institutions of learning,
with an enrolment Of over 100
Our bishops and pastors are leCtur-
ing and sacrificing day and night TO
inspire the youth of this great church
to seek the very best education pos
sible. and To say the least, the treat
ment received at the hands of the
present administration of Howard !
University Is an insult, and when the
House of Bishops and the Connection