The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1910-06-23
(By Horace ID. Slatter.)


Whlte Man In the South Is doing for
the Negro, is the topic on which
practically all discussion In Atlanta
is now based BY this time the pub
lie generally Is informed as to the
widespread interest In that question,
which was begun by the Atlanta
constitution several weeks ago in a
very strong editorial on the re miss
ness of Southern whites in this par
t1cular. 1t was not SO generally
known outside Of Atlanta, however,
now very conspicuously DR.. |. Gar
land Penn, Assistant General Sec
retary of the Epworth League.
methodist Episcopal church, has fg-
ured in this discussion --------
In the Constitution of May 29th,
the whole editorial section was given
to replies and letters from various
ministers, laymen of all walks Of life
IN the city and surrounding COM
munity, commenting upon the broad
ness Of the Constitution and heartily
approving the suggestions made. In
cluded in these interviews appeared
one from DR.. Penn, which was 80
very pronounced in it's tone and so
truthful in picturing the great res
sponsl0ility resting upon the people
or the dominant race in the South
that the Constitution not only feat
ured his interview, but later wrote
to representative Negroes of the
com mun1ty, seeking their opinion Of
the matter as formerly expressed by
MIN In the issue Of Sunday, June
18th, appeared a third installment Of
thls great debate, in which promi-
nent Negroes Of the community,
empathcally endorsed the ringing
appeal made by DR.. Penn, and all
acknowledging that the Southern
white man might do more for the
Immediate uplift Of the Negro.
T.. ot practical significance was the
second interview from I. Garland
Penn, which according to suggestions
made by Mr.. Clark Howell, sought
to give to the white people Of the
south some suggestions as to how
they might begin, at once to be of
more valiant service to the "un-
freached Negro" around them Mr.:
Penn's article was vigorous. forceful
and sensible, and went down to the
heart Of the situation. In the inter-
view, as it appeared in the Consti-
tuuoh, he said, among other things;
I'm my article appearing in the
constitution Of May 10th, I promised
"hen the opportunity presented it.
self, to tell our white people in our
beloved Southland, how they could
help IN the uplift Of the masses of
our race, and in that, help them
selves In the beginning let me say
tnat this great debate Is Welding a.
world of good in the frankness and
candor Of the discussion; In the
recognition Of some progress in the
race by the representative white
men and women who have written
upon it,; and, as such, an ENCOURAGE
ment to those Of the race who are
trying to go upward. 1t is arousing
the Negro to the need Of larger ef-
fort upon his part to go after his
people, as we'll as the opportunity
Of the Christian white people to aid
him.
The hour, therefore, was never
more opportune than now, for a for
ward and concerted movement in
which Christian people Of both races,
to the bridge Of social separation"
may engage in some large way for
the reaching of the unreached"
Negro. BY way Of diversion, 1t is
we'll to add that sensible Negroes
are agreed upon the bridge Of social
separation" SO it need be no element
IN this or any other discussion to
frustrate Gods purpose in the noble
work you have begun.
The "Reaching Of the Unreached"
you VIII remember, was the slogan
Of the Negro National Young Peo-
pies Christian Congress, which met
mere In 1902, and that some tangible
FORWARD movement in which the
brain and heart Of the white man
and black man may be knit to-
gether by Gods love, to pull from
the jaws of the impending abyss"
to which Chief Jennings, as per-
maps no other living man in the city
can better see-the half-heathen
Negro is going.
We are awake to 1t, friends.
Helps us more. How? / have moth
ing new or sensational to offer.
Sensation, confusion, whO-sha1l-be-
first and Who-last, who shall be hon
ored and who shall not, has no place
IN this, Gods business. The watch
word Is "Service,,.
Then 1st: The children and the
youth Of the race are to be reached
eh-masse. That's philosophical, log
ical and sensible. That's Gods way
l--pre8ervatiOn and rescue, formation
land reformation. The old way Of
reaching those Negroes who are re-
garded as the saved today, will save
| others, If We have enough euuip-
ment and enough workers. Criti-
ctsm, let it be said has no place IN
this discussion. Remember the
words used in my article Of Nav