The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-03-31
EDUCATION OF THE NEGRO


lege. the institution in that city for
the education of colored young men
and women, under the auspices OF the
United Presbyterian church, had a
very able article in the last issue OF
the official organ of that church, un-
der the caption, The Education of the
Negro" The reverend gentleman
takes an optimistic view of the ques-
ton, and looks forward to very great
efforts on the part of the race in the
near future in this line. We herewith
publish excerpts from the article, and
among other things, the president
said:
While the multitude are still ask
ing, Master, who did sin, this man or
his parents, that he was born black?'
the negro has been plodding on and
demonstrating that the works of God
are being manifested in him.
In the great educational awakening
of the south, which has made the last
decade count for more than all the
years previous since the great shadow
fell across her fair face, the negro has
had full share Though "jim-crowed'
out of politics for the most part, in the
better field of educational opportunity
and the awakening he has Jared we'll.
While there yet remains much to be
desired. yet there has been conspicu-
Gus, almost spectacular, advance.
Standards have been raised in the col
ored public schools and hundreds of
communities in which no educational
training worthy of the name could be
had now provide good training in the
elementary branches, and many for
mer primary schools now offer second
airy courses, approximately those of
the white.
The negro has been known, ever
since freedom came, to have held
great thirst for Observation-Disclosures
that has meant to him. The education
al campaigns that have made a new
south" have served to quicken his
thirst, with the result that the mission
and benevolent schools are crowded,
and while there is still great neg
lected multitude, the upward striving
of so large a number gives the great
est hope.
The attitude of the southern white
man toward the education of the ne
gro is unquestionably the most inter
esting phase of the question at the
present time. Tis efforts to convince
himself that his payment of taxes for
negro education and the active work
of the northern churches in establish
ing and maintaining colored missions
entirely relieved him of any personal
responsibility for the uplift of the ne
gro.
The educator goes on to say that
the Atlanta Constitution, the nestor of
the southern press, is carrying for
ward campaign that has for it's pur-
pose the enlistment of southern
white men and women in direct SYM
pathetic and personal touch with the
negro to uplift him physically, intel
lectually and morally. 1t began by
series of editorials, entitled, Sermons
to Churches" and it has been pursued
with contributions from prominent
citizens endorsing the movement The
women also have given their endorse
ment and leading negroes have hailed
with unconcealed joy the assistance of
the white brother in uplifting his race.
The arguments urged for immediate
action are perhaps chiefly those of
self-preservation-that a neglected ell
ement is menace to our entire civil
ization-but at the same time there
has been recognition of the claims
of brotherhood and the Savior's great
commission. Meanwhile the church
CD al AOL LII some Oh the
annual church gatherings this ques-
ton forced itself into great promi-
nence. In one of these the action
adopted included the statement that if
the claim that the southerner is the
negros best friend is made, the
church must get to doing more for his
uplift than she has been doing. Mis-
sions under white teachers of the
Southern Presbyterian church are be-
ing built up in many places. That all
these things indicate that the church
in the south is fast coming to the view
of the northern church on this ques-
tionof colored evangelization is cause
for thanksgiving and promises a
brighter day for better relationship
between the races.-Times-Union
Now comes the faddists and they
are making war on coco-cola and pro-
claim it to be rank poison. We have