The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-16
MASON CITY COLLEGE
Theme of Discussion Last Night by
 CoIored Methodist Conference

The education of the negro in Alabama, as carried on by the Central Alabama college. located at Mason City, a suburb of Birmingham, was the subject of dis cussion at last nights session of the Gen. tral Alabama conference in St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal church. The occa- sion was the anniversary of the Freed man Aid society, the Methodist Episcopal organization that supports negro schools
 in the south. The principal address was made by Dr. M C. B. Mason of Cincin- natl, O., senior secretary of the society.
 The extent, scope and needs of the work of Central Alabama college were empha- sized by Dr. A. P. Camphor, president, who was the first speaker, The college was founded by Dr. Mason, and the com munity named Mason City in his honor. Forty acres of land are owned by the institution According to Dr. Camphor, the school has a very good enrolment this year, consisting entirely of young negro boys and girls from the country. Dr. Camphor declared that the students last year contributed towards their own education nearly $5000. To relieve the congested conditions and provide more suita ble accommodations for girls. the authorities are seeking to raise Sl0OOO in central Alabama. He pleaded for larger efforts on the part of the men and women making up the conference for support of this institution.
 'Thousands of negro boys and girls are In crying need of education,' he said "but owing to poverty they grope their weary way in the cheerless world of depravity and darkness. Better en- vironments, more enlightenment and up- lift and a diffusion of knowledge are needed on all sides. The negro is yet a nn in race of life."
 The meeting last night was presided over by Dr. w. w. Lucas of Meridian, Miss. Good plantation songs and several anthems were sung by the Glee club ot the Central Alabama college.
 That the negro needed to do without a lot of trashy, no account things, to cease buying toys and gew gaws, riding excursions and read more books and newspapers, was the assertion of M. DaVage, business manager of the South' western Christian Advocate.
 Answering a goodly number of discip' linary questions and electing the dele- gates to the general conference, both ministerial and lay, constituted the sum total of the days work.
 | E. M Jones, field secretary of tho Sunday school board, of Montgomery, and Dr. A P. Camphor, president of the | Central Alabama college, were elected ministerial delegates. The reserves are G. w. Lewis, Pensacola. Fla, and w. H. Nelson, Birmingham. The lay electoral | college elected s. E. Moses of Anniston and w. c. Davis of Birmingham, dele gates. and J. H. Redrick and H. c. Bin | ford of Huntsville.
 Eugene Green and Harris J. McLin were admitted to full membership. Flu gene Green will be left withopt appoint nent to attend one of the schools. Thomas w. Walker was discontinued and John w. Williams remains on trial. Samuel
 Springer, Watt Ellis, Sidney B. Thornton, Moses M. Mckinney, w. F. Dorsey and R. H. Fleming were advanced to the sec ond year.
 Phillip Wright, Isaac Autry, Geberal | G. Tuggle, Charles Diclxerson and Henry
 F. Thomas were advanced to the fourth year
 The business sessions of the conference
 will be concluded tonight One session will be held in the afternoon at Mason City
 in the chapel of the Central Alabama academy Tonight, at St. PauPs Metho- | dist Episcopal church, the seat of the conference, Dr. I. Garland Penn of South | Atlanta, Ga., will be the principal speak
 CT at the Epworth League anniversary