The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1912-04-25

in giving to the colored races of At
trica place among the great races of
mankind.
The Stewart Foundation for Africa
is the result Of bequest Of John p.
Stewart. Methodist Episcopal Min
lister, who gave a sum amounting to
about one hundred thousand dollars
to establish an African Missionary
Training school. In 1895 conference
somewhat similar to the present Ia
ternational conference upon the Negro
was held in Atlanta under the auspices
Of this foundation.
DR.. Cornelius H. Patton, in a brief
address of about twenty minutes gave
very graphic survey of present con-
ditions in Africa as they appeared 70
him after a recent circumnavigation
OF the continent. He spoke of the
steamship line, the railroad the brid-
ges, docks and other improvements
in which Europe was now investing
It's capital in different parts of Africa
He said there were sixteen railway
lines on the West Coast of Africa
starting for the rich countries Of the
Interior. Several Of these are going
| to be great trunk lines, either cross
| ing the Continent or penetrating the
lake regions. Nov for conference
like this" said DR.. Patton, "the chief
Significance of it's commercial devel-
opmemt lies in the fact that our whole
| civilization with its wonderful con-
tent has descended upon Africa in a
ca'taclysmic wave. These Pagan tribes
which have been living in their simple
and undeyeloped state from time i'm
memorial are now called upon to ad-
just themselves to the Western way
or be blotted OUT
! Central Africa according to DR.. Pa
ton, is now a battle ground Of two
civilizations; tho civilization Of Chris
tendon and the civilization of Islam
The Missionaries Of Mohammed and
the Missionaries Of Christ are the
advance guard respectively of the two
contending religions. DR. Patton thinks
that it is of tremendous Importance
that christianity should be victorious
in this battle. There were however,
other points of view represented at
this conference. There is a school of
thought in England for example which
believe that the religion of Mohammed
is better adapted to African than the
religion of Christ This opinion was
tacitly expressed in a paper by e. D.
Morel, which was not read at the con-
ference but will be published in>the
proceedings.
| The third address of the day was
made by United States Commissioner
of Education, p. P Claxton. 1t was a
good speech but was especially inter-
esting as coming from a man who IS
a Southerner. Mr.. Claxton, said: "No
state can be strong if one-third of its
lpeop1s are weak. no state can count
itself rich if one-third of it's people
must be condemned to poverty. No
state can be intelligent in the highest
degree so long as one-third of it's peo-
pie mus; be ignorant, and no state can
reach the highest degree Of virtue
so long as one-third of it's people are
exposed to vice. and are unable to
resist the temptations which come
through ignorance and poverty. M
Estate cam reach the highest degree of
power and citizenship until all of its
people are able to comprehend the pos
IsibilitieS Of citizenship and its duties
The second days session of the con-
ference was devoted to the subject Of
| Missions" There was an interesting
paper read by Rev Martin Westing
representing a-Swedish Missionary
fSociety, having headquarters in Stock
holm. He discussed the interesting
Equestion that had arisen in some parts
lof French Africa, as to the right Of
missionaries to teach the natives IL
their own tongues. France is trying
to make Frenchmen of the people II
French colonies, because she expects
to use them for soldiers 1T is cCnse-
lQueDtly important that they should