The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-23

the State and thousands OF tho hest
white people are always ready to help
set-respectins negroes to improve
their schools their homes and COM
lnuHltles. but that 1t devolved upon
inc negroes themselves to meet their
white friends on the halfway ground
by making a start in the right direc-
ton. This start. he said. could be
mado only by the negroes putting
their hands in their pockets and helm
ing to lengthen the school terms in
thcir several communities; in helping
to preach to all the colored people Of
the State the Importance of taking
pride In the civic. moral and economir
welfare of their communities: in
striving to live each dav in the fear
OF God and in the respect and favor
of themselves and the white people
among whom they are. and who first
and last are the negroes best friend
He observed: Those OF us who Guilt
vate In our hearts the feeling that all
white people are forever against us
simply because We are negroes make
mistake, and SO far do our fellow
men and injustice. And. so far as my
experience goes. I can say that those
white people who feel that the young
negroes of this state are growing to
hate the white people likewise do a
large portion of the negroes OF this
State an injustice. The two races in
Virginia. as elsewhere. often mistudse
each other because they misunder-
stand each other. 1t is yours and
mine TO do all we can in the future.
by education and thrift and forbear-
ance in our respective communities. to
see that this condition of affairs Is
remedicd."
a most interesting feature OF the
Friday night meeting was the discus
sion of the Hcnrico plan by Virginia
Randolph who Is the evemrlar OF the
plan in Henrico county. This plan
provides for supervision teacher to
go around to the various schools in
the county and give lessons in manual
training and domestic science. What
had been done in this direction in
Henrico county was listened TO with
great deal of interest.
One thing that elected much discus
sion and proved very helpful was the
paper by Professor W. T. B. williams
on The Teacher In the School Room"
This was intended mostly for teachers.
but there were quite a number of
visitors present aside from those d.
rectly connected with school work
Professor f. a. Long. principal OF
Christiansburg Industrial Institute.
was elected president for the next
term, and 1t is predicted that the
same rate of progress that has marked
the administration of the retiring
president. James T, Phillips. will in no
less measure be evident in the admin
istratfon OF Professor Long.
A j. Oliver. the colored attorney
OF Roanoke. spoke to large and ap-
preciative audience at the Memorial
Baptist Church. Friday night The
address of Lawyer Oliver was full of
sound sense and wholesome counsel to
the teachers. and was interspersed
throughout with humor which kept
the audience in a hapnv frame OF mind
The following resolutions were
adopted by the association. which ex-
press its attitude on questions of
public interest:
while viewing with emotions OF
pleasure the evidences of moral growth
among our people in this State, we
would advise that the Importance of
the formation of moral character be
constantly kept before our people by
our teachers, preachers and especially
before the fathers and mothers of the
rising generation. and that as a means
TO this end none but the most exem-
plary characters be employed in our
schools We would call special at
tention of parents. teachers and
preachers to the superior value of ex-
ample as compared with precept, and
that precept is worth almost nothing
when the daily example is in the OPP
posite direction.
I'VE would advise that as far as
possible the teachers take an active
part In Sunday schools, churches and
general religious work OF the commu-
nifty wherever possible. and thus HELM
to improve local conditions and sc.
cure the cooperation of all the people
I'VE would call especial attention
to the deplorable practice too common
near the cities of teaching for hve
days and making haste to the cities
on Friday afternoon. there to remain
TIL Monday morning. Such conduct
tends to divorce the happy relations
that exist between teacher and pa
rents. and is. therefore, not produc-
tive of the best results. We urger in
stead that teachers live and move con-
stantly among their patrons.
Agriculture.
I'VE regard agriculture as the most
essential occupation in which our
people should engage In order to Sc
cure their speedy and final up,ift as
a race in this country. and we con-
slider that If we are to rise in the
scale of economic life we must be
owners and tillers of the soil and
must develop settled habits of indus
try and permanent residence.
Educational.
THE great need of the educational
awakening OF our people IS more
plainly seen every day. We should
therefore blend our energies in one
great effort to solve this problem.
1--WE are thoroughly In accord with
all the movements and efforts now
being made to better the condition OF
our race along educational lines. The
Improvement of teachers, better school
houses. longer terms and more thor.
ouGh cooperation between teacher and
patrons arc vital necessities for the
accomplishment OF a more speedy and
effective result in educational work.
Eve urge ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and othar