The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1912-05-03

vi MT. w. W.. wilson and many others
whose names we do not now remember
Each of these gentlemen was either col
ored American citizen or had been educat-
ed in America, so we felt perfectly at home
with them.
We learned many things concerning con-
ditiOns. We learned that Mr.. w. w. Will
son, of st. Louis, who is a strong member
of the Baptist church, had helped Prof. E..
A. Curr in organizing and perpetuating the
school, but that he had severed his connec-
ton with the Colon Baptist Church for the
reason he could not get along with the white
Baptist preacher and did not like his way.
However, he said that if the Board ever
saw its way clear to furnish coored min
lister, one that was intelligent and agrees
slve, the right man in the right place he
stood ready to renew his membership and
go to work for the advancement of the
cause. He then told us of his wife and
daughter and how he regretted he had no
church relations for them.
The day was spent proftably, and we be-
gan to get ready to spend our last night on
the Zone. At night we heard the roaring
of the sea and the dashing of the waves
against the breakwaters to such an extent
that we could not resist the temptation to
go into the lonely night and sit on the banks
and spend some hours in solemn meditation,
While the waters roared Retiring for the
night, we were up at five o'clock the next
morning to have our last view of the beauti-/
full, tropical Panama Canal Zone
Arising at a. m. and leaving all the fam
lly in the home busy about breakfast, we
took little spin around the city, viewing
the open lands that are being filled with the
dirt taken from the Canal leveled over with
gravel, and where it is being laid out for
the new city or addition to the city of Colon.
We liked to have overstayed our time look
ing at this wonderful new addition and mus
ing over the future. In our imagination we
could see the houses already erected, with
paved streets and beautiful grass lawns. and
cocoanut banana and palm trees waving
their leaves. We could hear the church
bells ringing in our imagination; yes, we
saw IN our imagination great schools ris-
ing up and heard the merry school children
shouting their joyous notes, and all at once
we looked at our watch to find that it was
after nine o'clock. fastening through the
bright morning sun, we rushed back to orr
home, or to the home of Mrs. Darlington,
and found that Dr. Pettiford and LAWYER
Todd and other prominent gentlemen had
already called to meet us. We also found
that member of the firm of Evans & Rain.
a large colored firm doing business in Colon,
had called to bid us goodbye. The daugh-
ter of Mr.. W. w. Wilson, of st. Louis, and
number of friends had called to say
goodbye.
When we had had breakfast, we walked
down to the depot to see Lawyer Caring
ton and Rev. Thourbourne take the train.
While we were waiting for the train gen
tleman was introduced to us as Rev. S.
Witt, VINO was pastor of the Negro Baptist
church at Colon. Of course we were glad
to shake hands with him, &N we had not
0een accustomed to shaking hands with
White Baptist preacher who was pastor of
Negro church. At first Rev. Mr.. Witt did
not seem disposed to be very communica-
i've with US, but ventured to ask our bust
less in Colon. We told him that we had
'nly been up the Zone looking after The work
II the Home Mission Board of the National
3aptist Convention. He then began to tell
is something of the work We asked him
low the church at Colon was prospecting.
lie then gave us to understand that the
beautiful concrete building was burned
Town, and that they had temporary build
ng that would seat possibly one hundred
nd twenty-five people. He told us that for
ONE reason q number of the members had
eft the church. We then asked about the
chool. He said that they had never owned
he school, that Prof E. A. Curr and wife
ad been engaged in teaching and they had
flowed them the use of the building. Prof.
'urr was one of the leading officers, but he
ound him impudent, insulting and dis
onest, and he fired out both him and his
chool. We then asked how many members
e had He said he did not know what his
Tendance was but presumed that he had
nrolled between seventy-five and one hun
red members. We asked him why the
'hool did not continue. He said the gov
rnment was running school and he did l
OF care to be bothered with another. We
len asked him the proposition concerning,
rst, the turning over of the Negro work
} the white Baptists; he thought that was h
capital idea provided white men were in u
'ntrol of it. We then changed the uues- S
on and asked him about the white Bap- a
SITS turning over the work to the Negroes, v
which he laughed very heartily and said, b
That will never be done" He gave us the i