Franklin's paper the statesman., 1912-08-03
RELIGIOUS WORK
ON THE ADVANCE.
Ministers Conference In Dur
ham Was Uplifting.
MANY NOTABLES ON PROGRAM
National Religious Training School
Opens Doors to Leaders of Thought
In All Denominations - Professor
Kelly Miller Presides Over SoeioIosi-
cal Conference.

cal Conference,
Durham, y. C.-The recent minis
ters' conference at the National Rel1-
gious Training school in this city was
the greatest interdenominatonal min
isters' meeting ever held among Afro
Americans. Every denomination of
Importance was represented. Ministers
came from all sections of the country,
with hundreds of teachers from nearly
all of the southern states and from
many of the northern states.
Professor Kelly Miller presided over
the sociological conference. Among
the prominent speakers were Archdea-
con H. B. Delaney, Rev. DR.. James e.
King. Dr.. L. II. Hunter. Hon. John c.
Dancy. DR.. j. a. Savage, Dr. Calvin,
Miss Halle @. Brown, Dean D. A.
Martin of Cannon Theological sem
mary and the noted white theologians,
lecturers and scholars. Drs. w. Y.
Chapman and Jesse L. Hurlburt. DR..
James E. Shepard, president of the
school, was highly praised for the serv-
ice that he is rendering the race.
The propaganda that has been start
ed by this live movement will become
a powerful agency in the III -. of the
Negro in every section of tie world.
The following are excerpts from the
report of the committee on resolutions
of the conference:
The ministerial conference of the Ma
tional Religious Training School and Chau-
tauqua, composed of clergymen of all de-
nominations and of various sections. sends
greetings to its fellow laborers every
where and commends to their favorable
consideration the following results of our
study and free discussion during the most
delightful and profitable week it has been
our privilege TO enjoy the hospitality Of
this marvellous educational venture.
We heartily tndorse the spirit and pur-
pose of this institution. and because it !
makes religion the cornerstone of the in |
tellectual structure it is rearing pledge |
our support and influence in the further |
ance OF its high and noble aspirations. |
We call upon ministers and religious |
workers everywhere to recognize the need |
for and Importance of this new educa ton |
al propaganda, which meets a peculiar
need among our people. We believe that |
every minister church brought under
the influence of this conference owes the
institution and its founder a debt of graf
1tude for the great work he is doing for
human uplift, social betterment and re-
ligious culture.
We therefore recommend that all
churches and ministers who can shall give |
10 llllS great lnsllIullOn tneIT support Dy /
word and deed to the extent of their abil- |
ity and opportunity. both in financial aid /
and efforts, to increase the student body. |
OF the subjects Investigated and dis |
cussed there seems TO be consensus of
opinion among the ministers and other |
religious and social workers as to the fol- |
lowing. of general interest, which deserves
concerted support:
We note with apprehension the growing |
lack in Sabbath observance We stand /
c. nhSprVarCa n
Sabbath the Lords day, believing 1t |
should be kept as a day of worship and |
rest for Gods glory and mans good
We therefore discourage its desecration |
by excursions. the publishing and reading
of newspapers, Sunday pleasure driving |
and all forms of picnics or other forms of
amusements. which we believe to be clear |
ly wrong and ungodly.
We deprecate the fact that the family |
altar is not fixed institution. as it should
be, among even church members, and we
recommend that all ministers seek to en-
courage the establishment of such al
tar in every home in order that family
devotions may become the rule among
church people and thereby bring the chill
dren early under the influence of godly
training.
We note with pleasure that the study OF
sociology is finding its rightful and nat
.Ural place among church workers. We
believe that the minister is the leader of
the people and that he should exercise
that leadership for social betterment,
whether in the country, small town or
city pastorage. He should encourage CO.
operation between his church and other
uplifting social influences. such as the Y.
NJ. c. A, Y. w. c. A, social settlement
and charity organizations. The influence
of the church should always touch other
forms Of organized endeavors. that the
gospel may reach all and the spirit of
Jesus get firmer grip upon the world.
We recognize that the matter of amuse-
10 &c rTaa t1ranr vIrht tNh fba rhttr hoe
hold various opinions, but we believe it to
be the duty of the church well as the
desire of all religious people to bring all
helpful amusements under the supervision
of the church, and we recommend that
ministers address themselves to this i'm
portant task.
We believe crime to be on the decrease,
ynd we feel that 1t is the duty Of the
church and ministry to employ every
movement which has for Its purpose the
further reduction and prevention of crime.
We regard the saloon and all forms of
whisky traffic to be among the chief breed
ers of crime. Ministers and the church
militant must fight with all might and
power this particular form of crime in
cubator with its long train OF corrupt
progeny. most destructive of morals and
religion
In addition to the minister's obligation
to explain and proclaim the gospel of Je-
Christ we recognize the further duty
which devolves upon to discover among
those brought under his influence and to
call into service lay workers for the adj
vancement of Christ 8 kingdom. We there
fore urge that every minister address
himself prayerfully to this important task
in order that the efficiency of both the
minister and the church may be increased
for good.
Young Bolden Proves Genuine Hero.