The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1911-06-01
Business Suspended
BY COlOred Firms to Give Employ
ees Opportunity 20 Attend First
Commencement OF Religious
Training School and Chautauqua.
Especial to The Advocate.

Especial to The Advocate)
Durham, N. c.. May 2S-The first
annual commencement Of the Nationa
Religious Training School, this city
beginning with annual musical May
~, which WAS the greatest musical
event ever held in this section of the
State, was an auspicious affair and
had strong attractive features. A
large number of prominent people OF
both races from various sections of
the country attended the exercises
and were astounded at the remarka-
bic growth Of the institution and the
effective work accomplished by the
school.
Half century ago Abraham Lin
coin struck the shackles from four
millions Of slaves. Henceforth there
could be no more trading in human
souls. Later these eX-slaves we're
given the right Of suffrage. They re-
ccived as a gift that ought Ito have
been kept as a reward for achieve
ment and SO took away from the Me-
for citizenship. We may doubt the
wisdom of this policy, but the, RENE
dy Is not to take away the ballot but
to fit the Negro for its intelligent
and efficient use. The key to the
problem today Is salvation through
education" said DR.. Augustus p Rec
ord, pastor Church of the Unity,
Springfield, Mass, I'm delivering the
baccalaureate sermon, the subject be
iuY "Ehp TlntiniSha1 Task
The speaker emphasized that the
Negro should have first been given
the proper kind of education and the
right conception of citizenship before
he was enfranchised The question
was handled with absolute fairness to
both sections of the country and the
views found In the North and South
were set forth in the following man
ner by him: in the past North and
South have approached the problem
from opposite points of view. One as
sumed that the colored people as a
race were untitled for development
and therefore all efforts to educate
them were barren. The other refused
10 recognize that the black man. after
230 years Of servitude, was not the
equal Of the white man and demanded
different training The modern atti-
tudc. which is gradually securing rec
OgnitiOn in the North and South is
that the cOlored race is simply back
ward, awaiting development, and that
its great need is systematic training
in industry, in thrift, in intelligence
in character Such IA institution as
National Religious Training School
he said, was potent factor in the
nplift Of the Negro folk, but he es-
pecially laid stress upon the race
having a leadership that will bring
it up to the highest standard. In dis
Cussing this phase of the question nc
said in part "Here however, it is
your privilege to prepare the leaders
Of your race, for no race can hope tC
become Independent unless 1t can
furnish it's own leaders. You are GO
ing forth to dedicate all your powers
to the completion of the unfinished
task, preparing members Of your race
to exercise the privilege Of citizenship
in a free republic"
The oratorical contest was o strong
N''"ShNV VI VIC hlSb SlduudIN Ol INC
institution and efcfted excellent c9m.
ment from the literary talent from
various sections Of the country. Dr.
Shephard's address to the undergrad
uates was full of wholesome advice
and showed his ability to know the
kind Of advice to give his students.
In addressing the literary societies
DR.. p. W. Few president t'finity Col
Jege, Durham, made. these Significant
utterances: II am always glad to come
into contract with single individuals
or whole peoDle who have great
tasks before them, especially if they
are willing fairly and fearlessly tt
confront their great tasks. Circum
stances have set before your people
the high task Of building in a shor
time and under surroundings Of
we'll developed society a worthy civil
ization Of your own. There are fea
lures Of the case that make your sit
uation mnTiida3nmSo ,ThSpFe T1haSpFe ds n6thhiNHg gik'
people i" "BhrRam are making linus
ual efforts, with extraordinary sue
cess, to work out the problems Of YOU
destinySD And y6u are WORKING OH