The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1910-06-02
WRITES ABOUT THE SOUTH.

derson-Thinks Southern People
can Teach Some of the Northerners
Lesson in CordiaIity and Hos pitaIity
In the Somerset Church News, pub
| hshed at Middlebush. n. J., Rev. J.
A. Thomson, the publisher and man.
ager, writes very entertaininglv
about his recent trip South and his
stay of ten DAYS in Henderson. ac-
companied by Mrs Thomson, as the
guests OF his brother Mr.. W. S.
Thomson, and wife. We copy the
following which is of local interest:
On their way here Mr.. and Mrs.
Thomson stopped in Richmond, and
spent two days sight seeing in the
former capital of the Confederacy.
They visited many points of interest,
historical and otherwise, associated
with the war of the Revolution and
war between the States. about which
Mr.. Thomson writes interestingly.
Then on to Henderson:
Our Two days stay at Richmond was
thoroughly enjoyed and the privilege ap-
preciated. We were pleased with the
city and liked the people that we came in
contact with. One thing that me st favor
ably impressed us. was their willingness
to give us any informa ton that we
might wish concerning the place and
points OF interest; and in this respect they
exhibited striking contrast with the
people of New York and other cities of
the North.
Objective point when we left home was
Henderson, n. C., town ofabout 5 900
white people and nearly asmany blacks.
1t is located in Vance county, in the
Northern part of the state, 80 miles north
OF Raleigh, the capital of the state. We
reached there on Thursday afternoon at
| 4:35, where we spent eight days with q
brother and his wife. who have spent the
last two winters at this place
Our sOjOurn there being brief, and that
being our first visit to the South, we
were DESTROYS OF seeing all that we could
and as much as possible to get into touch
with the life OF the people and the social
conditions there. On Sunday morning
we attended the Presbyterian church and
accepted the invitation of the pastor to
assist him in the morning service by
preaching the sermon. We had very
attentive and apparently a very appre-
ciative audience. We attended the Pres
| byterian church again in the evening and
listened to helpful sermon preached by
the pastor. We visited the colored sec
ton OF the town on Saturday and saw
something OF their homes and homelife.
Sunday afternoon at 4 o'clock we at
| tended a colored church of the old fash
Toned. shouting, halleluiah type. Weun-
derstand that they call themselves the
Holy Church" the ''Sanctified. - or the
"HoIy Jumpers" The last term seems
to be the most appropriate. However,
much of the real spirit of holiness they
may possess, it is clearly evident that
they have considerable supply of the
jumping spirit. While the preacher was
shouting at the highest pitch of voice
gesticulating, wiping the perpiration
from his face, and frequently splitting,
the people in the audience would be re-
spending: "That's right Come on!
That's the world Amen! HalIeluiahp'
etc. In connection with some of the
songs, they literally hoped and jumped
keeping time with the music
This town is wei! supplied with church
es. In addition to the Presbyterian
church mentioned, there are two Meth
dists, a Baptist, Episcopal. Christian. and
Catholic, besides several colored churches.
In the suburbs of this town there is
located a colOred school, established 10
|
Missions OF the United Presbyterian
Church of North America They have a
total enrolment of four hundred pupils
who are passed through all the grades to
complete preparation for college, giving
a normal course, preparing young men
and women for teaching. We visited
this school on Monday morning, arriving
there in time to see them assemble for
chapel service. They marched in from
their respective assembly rooms in per-
feet order. keeping step to music. We
had the privilege OF conducting the
chapel exercises, and of making a brei
address to the students and teachers
there assembled. In this we assured
them of our interest, not only because
we were heartily in sympathy with the
work that they were doing but because
of the fact that it was school establish
ed and maintained by the church in
which we were reared and identified till
our theological seminary days. The
principal, who is n colOred man, gave us
a most cordial and hearty welcome. tax
ing us to several recitation rooms, where
we spent a short time, to the dOrmitOry
dining room, kitchen and laundry. to the
industrial department, where a course il
given in sewing and needle work in gen
|
every thing in perfect order, and all de
partments as neat and clean as wax
The work being done in the class room
manifested marked signs of thorough
ness, and we left that institution with
the impression that excellent work i,
there being done.
During our eight days soiourn at Hen
derson we had the privilege of attending
the commencement exercises of the pub
lie school, and visited several institution
that were OF interest as the cotton mills
where over a thousand hands were EN-
plOyed, the cotton seed oil mills and {
large carriage factory, where they max
automobiles, also
The North Carolina Federation O
Women's Clubs held their annual conven
ton at the court house for three full day
during the week, some of the sessio n
of which we attended, and got some idet
of what this organization Of women il
the state is desiring to accomplish. w
had privilege of attending one OF the re
ceptiOns given on the first evening of tn
convention. and Mrs. Thomson ATTENDED
another. At these receptions there wa
without doubt the most magnificent dis
play of female costume that we ever wit
messed. 1t had very much the appear
ance OF dressing contest Tor undressiD!
contest in some cases., each one tryin,
to Guido the rest in silks and satins, AM
fine laces and embroidery, and hats, 81
that an outside observer would be strong
ly inclined to think that the chief pur
pose of this federation OF women's club
is to have occasionally magnificent dis
play of fine dresses and thus foster the spi
it OF extravaganza along thatline;a spirit
which in this age needs curbing, insteal
OF fostering and encouraging But W
learned from some fine addresses tina
the women OF these clubs have higbe
: aims and nobler purposes, which pertain
to the uplifting and the betterment G