The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1910-07-21
CoIllIllOdiOuS
Auditorium
AND COMFORTABLE DORNHTO-
RIES ARE THOSE AT DIR.
SHEPARD'S SCHOOL.
A Dream Realized
Is tho National Religious Training
School and Chautauqua. Which
Was Conceived Less Than Two
Years Ago.
(By Horace d. Slatter.)

of James e. Shepard has developed in
to a stern reality. The National Re-
ligious Training School and CHATEAU
qua exists no longer on paper. Since
the day when w. Sidney Pittman
placed his pen on paper and made
certain plans to the day of the
opening of this world famous Negro
institution, scarcely three months had
elapsed, and now one beholds NAM
moth institution in embryo, 1t is true,
but an institution, in it's beginning of
such proportions that the world must
perforce applaude a constructive gent
us of the man who made it possible.
I said sometime ago that James E.
Shepard is dreamer. He is. but for
that matter, Edison, and all other men
whose genius have startled the world
and made mankind better were dream
ers, dreamers of such magnetism and
such optimistic faith in their own
dreams that the turning of them into
time.
The work and worth Of the map
in various capacities, the actual
things that he has been able to bring
to pass, all had it's bearing upon this
new project, which not wentyfour
months ago he began to talk and
in his madness is evidenced by the
strong array of men. white and black,
north as we'll as south he has been
able to call to his aid, and never De-
fore in the history of educational eff
forts on behalf of black folks has an
institution of such magnitude arisen
In such incredibly short time.
The institution as it now stands,
and all will admit that it is only in
realty and more commodious buildings
than many much heralded institu-
tion among our people in the states.
Its one auditorium is commodious it's
dormitories for men and women are
comfortable, we'll arranged light, airy
and sanitary, and absolutely no pains
have been spared to make all the APP
pointments conducive to the pleasure
and profit of the men and women
who here have sought recreation and
improvement during the summer
months.
judge JeteT c. Pritchard. than whom
no better friend to black people can
be found, who some months ago &C
cepted the place as president Of the
Advisory Board, was himself surprised
at the remarkable slowing made, and
in his opening address gave expression
to some rather pitny and salient prin-
ciples with reference to the improve
ment OF Negroes in the Southland.
Said the learned Judge:
The colored man is now a citizen
OF this country, and under our laws is
entitled to all the rights and immu-
mites Of citizenship. While this is
true, it should be remembered that he
has reached the point in his progress
and development where he must RELY
upon his own resources, if he expects
to accomplish anything in the way of
accommodating this worlds goods or
doing those things that are expected of
every true, loyal, patriotic American
citizen.
Another particular important point
in the various efforts of friends of the
Negro to help him was touched by
Judge PritChard in this wise: For
years after the close Of the civil war.
the colored people we're confronted
with a situation that was critical in
the extreme. The efforts of the
northern people in their behalf were
from the very nature of things misun.
derstood t.. the southern people. Like
wise those Of the people of the south
who really felt an interest in their
welfare were misunderstood by the
true friends of the colored Deop1c
north of the Mason and Dixon line
fortunately this condition of affairs
mas disappeared and majority OF
the people of all sections arc now i,
hearty sympathy with the colored peo
pie In their efforts to elevate the race.
Judge Pritchard's address was in ;
cordial vein, and these sentiments
are placed before the readers of this
journal simply to emphasize the broad
and sympathetic trend Of opinion nov
rapidly gaining ground. such scnti
ment being voiced by true exponent
OF intelligent southern thought, a.
Judge Pritchard undoubtedly is.