The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-10-12
EDUCATING THE NEGROES.
What the National Training School at
Durham Is Doing.

Durham, n G., Oct. l2.-The begin
ming Of school here to-day, known as
the National Religious training school
and Chautauqua, opens to the educa-
tional world new institution for col
ored people, uninterrupted by any other
leader. 4
The founder and president of the
school, DR., James f.. Shepard, has is
sued bulletins Announcing the courses
and those who direct them Declaring
his belief that the quickest way to racial
elevation is religious training, rather
than industrial, DR.. Shepard has planned
a school that accents the first and gives
liberal time to the second, himself d.
recting the industrial departments
The president is beginning with the
negro minister That individual is the
undisputed leader OF his race, fact
known of all men in the South. In
former DAYS, when the black man voted
under no restrictions at all, the cand-
date needed but to make his peace with
the black minister and the laymen were
voted soldly 1t was full knowledge of
these conditions that moved President
Shepard to plan his school, dedicated
largely to the black minister's education.
"lle is the leader OF the race" DR. Shep-
ard says, "and his power is such that
intelligent leadership is imperative. We
have 10000 colored ministers in the coun-
try, and every tenth man is black
man. The 100000 blacks are led by
10000 ministers, of which number only
1900 are educated in any sort OF way
betting leaders of the race and minis
tiers of the gospel" These figures show
the appalling conditions OF the coIored
clergy, race of feeble, but earnest peo-
Pile as a rule wholly unequal to the
task of lifting up the benighted people
far from the towns and cities.
The school and the president have
won the friendship of this municipality
and through the merchants association,
which has given ii a hearty endorsement,
twenty-five acres OF land have been do
mated it and there now stand upon its
campus four permanent buildings which
are to serve its purposes the coming
winter. An auditorium, mems and
women's dormitory and a dining halt
are ready for the school year, and in
these the past summer a Chautauqua
course was given by some of the coun-
try's leading preachers and teachers of
both races, closing after six weeks of
the most successful work ever attempted
by southern negroes
President Shepard has dream that
his school is to play a large part in the
evangelzation OF Africa Medical mis-
sionaries viii do their part of the work.
The first appeal that he is addressing to
the country is for money to build that
structure at a cost of $4,000 Other
buildings amounting to $4,000. extern
sion work costing $1,000, light and heat
SIS ZOO and water 81 900 are the pressing
needs of his school. To assist him in
these, Ex-Governor Glenn has recently
completed lecture tour through the
North and Judge Pritchard will later in
the year make an appeal along the same
lines
The school isn't freak. Those know.
ing the colored minister and having the
kindliest feeling for him know what
great power he has over his flock They
realize how imperative is an intelligent
and an upright leadership. Those who
know the missionary work in Africa will
conclude again that President Shepard's
idea is good Upon these two unique
principles he is addressing an individual
plea to the country for the means where
with to compass that devout end.