The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-21
WORK AMONG NEGROES
Ministerial and Economical Institute
 Outlines Work

The Ministerial and Economical insti- ute, a colored organization, of which J. w. R. Pettiford is general superintend- ent, has issued the following address,
 To the Coal Operators, Heads of Other
 Industrial Departments and Friends
 of Negro Labor:
 Gentlemen; While our population Is large and growing, rapidly, the physical, moral and religious condition of our peo- pie are poorly provided for. To improve their efficiency as laborers and their de- pertinent as citizens, and lessen their criminality; to improve their moral and religious life. they must be helped. Our schools and churches are doing great good, but far less than is neces- sary. We raise and expend for the up- | lift of our people through our churches ! and schools In this district s236 GOO annu- ally Notwithstanding we are raising the above amount, We have seating room in schools and churches for half the colored population and with gospel and economi- cal help we are not reaching one-third the population; hence 1t is plainly seen that something more must be done to save the people from crime and make them profitable as laborers.
 We are endeavoring to meet these con ditions through settlement ework The work covers the following items: Read ing the Bible from house to house or ganizing weekly Bible bands organizing children's industrial schools women's s missionary societies, weekly reading clubs, attending the Sunday school and church, publishing articles in the news papers.
 Through these agencies we are en- d To nrfr fn q q. higher standard, teaching the duty of the husband and wife to themselves and chil- dren. By distributing tracts and other literature, we seek to reduce the large death rate among us. By these Bible services and Bible clubs we hope to in crease the attendance of the Sunday schools and churches
 By reading clubs and newspaper ar ticles we seek to establish the custom of saving money and more economical liv- ing. To reduce the expenses of living we urge the raising of chickens gar dens, economical expenditures encourag- ing them to be good citizens and labor CTS. After the tuberculosis convention we were impressed with the importance of extending this work more largely throughout the district, especially in the mining camps to which we have suc- ceeded to some degree
 The machinery through which we have been operating is the Ministerial and Eoc- 1 nomical institute. Through this institute we are reaching and helping the minis ters to understand labor conditions health conditions. and get higher idea of religious duty. We are reaching and leading the labor element of our race to higher standard of service both public and domestic.
 We are glad to report that we have se- cured the cooperation of nearly all of the preachers in the district by which we have made considerable change in the fields operated. The men are better la borers, put in better time raising gar dens. are taking more interest in their houses and have commenced to realize the importance of building a record as laborers And since the ministers main tain such an important relation to our people, 1t is very necessary to have their cooperation in raising the labor of ne- groes to higher standard. We are ask ing the Coal Operators asosication to CO., operate with us and help us in this work | that will finally be blessing to every | business in the district.
 i The support for this work largely comes | from the operators and other friends, but l it has not been sufficiently supported to i accomplish the good that the importance of the work demands.
 | We shall be glad to answer any ques-
 tons on the conditions and character of | the work
 To cover the district thoroughly for the coming year, we hope that the friends Of
 negro labor will come to the aid of the
 finance committee. Respectfully sub
 mitted. J. w. R. PETTIFORD, | x A. H. PARKER, | F. c. RAGLAND, l c. J. STEVENSON. Birmingham, September 2, 1910.