The Colorado statesman., 1912-07-20
The SUNDAY SCHOOL CONGRESS-


enth annual meeting at Tuskogee In
stitute beginning Wednesday. June B,
and closed the following Sunday night.
When the special trains from Nash
vile, Tennessee, Montgomery ana
Selma, Alabama, reached the Institute
depot Wednesday morning, the distin-
guished parties were greeted by Prin-
cipal Washington, members OF the Ex-
ecutive Council, teachers, the Institute
Band, q very Target number OF stu
dents and prominent citizens of the
community, DR.. Nathaniel H. Plus In
charge of trained chorus, and super
intendents. teachers and pupils OF
three Baptist Sunday schools of the
neighborhood. carrying banners
streamers and flags.
The greeting was most cordial.
A procession was quickly formed,
and, led by the band, marched directly
to the Institute Chapel, where Presi-
dent Clark called the Congress to or
der and the seventh annual meeting
was opened for business.
Prominent among those who ad-
dressed the Congress were Mr.. w. w.
Campbell OF Tuskegee, president OF
the Macon County Bank, who deliv-
cred the address of welcome in behalf
of the white citizens of Tuskegee and
the white Baptists of Alabama; Prin-
cipal Booker T. Washington, who de
livered the address of welcome in be-
half of the Institute; Rev. w. ii.
| Moses, D. D., who made the magnifi-
cent response in behalf of the Con-
gress, who was followed by Prof. j.
w. Bell of darlington, Kentucky,
whose short address was gem; DR..
Homer c. Lyman of Hamilton, New
York, Superintendent of Teacher
Training in the Negro Colleges of the
United States, representing the Inter
national Sunday School Association
with headquarters at Chicago; DR.. Sut-
ton E. Griggs of Nashville, Tennessee,
representing the Educational Board.
and Mrs. Booker T. Washington, in
| troduced by Prof. r. B. Hudson, as
the first colored lady of the land;
Rev. r. H. Bowling, d. D., of Norfolk,
| Virginia, who delivered the principal
address OF the Congress, reviewing in
words of eloquence the work of the
present session, and paying high
compliment to the Principal of Tus-
kegee Institute and the work he is do
! ing for the race, and DR.. Henry h.
Meyer of New York, Secretary of the
Sunday School Council of Evangelical
| Denominations in the United States
and Canada, who delivered a very
helpful address on Looking Forward"
stating among other things that the
best organized and equipped Sunday
| - Oh rhnt IN
age Sunday school will be in the near
future. Continuing, DR.. Meyer said:
81 have been profoundly impressed
during my attendance at the sessions
of the National Baptist Sunday School
Congress by the higher ideals, splen-
did achievements and efficient leader
ship which the Sunday School work of
the National Baptist fellowship repre-
sents. The place Of meeting for the
Congress this year was most fortu-
nate. Tuskegee Institute stands be-
fore the American people as the one
monumental object lesson of what in
dustry, patience and state statesman
like leadership can do in a strategic
situation. ii also appeals to me as the
greatest practical demonstration |
have yet seen of the possibilities Of in
| dustrial progress among the Negro
race"
Principal Washington was enthusi-
astically received by the Congress.
| He spoke of the ten millions of Ne
groes in this country, so per cent Of
whom live in the rural districts and
are engaged in agricultural pursuits.
These teeming millions may be COM
paratively ignorant, but they are not
degraded; they are worth saving.
The organization that will reach out
and take hold of these people in the
rural districts, said Dr. Washington,
and left them to higher plane of
Christian civilization is the organiza-
ton that shall live and grow and
abide.
All the papers read before the Con-
gress showed careful study and some
of them showed thorough scholarship
and deep insight into the concrete
work of the organization.
The personnel Of the Congress was
inspiring. Real workers were in at
tendance. There was a conspicuous
absence of pyrotechnic oratory, ex-
cept an occasional rocket. No time
was lost in fulsome praise of medioc-
rity. 1t was neither a mutual admirs-
tion gathering nor an amateur debat-
ing society. 1t was an assemblage OF
| Christian workers doing constructive
work, solving some of the problems af-
fecting the future of the race.
DIR. r. H. Boyd, of the National Bap-
tist Publishing Board, Nashville, sup
ported and surrounded by his "Cabi-
net" in the conduct of that great enter
prise, was a dominating personality in
all the deliberations of the Congress.
Delegates were present from every
section of the country. The depart.
mental meetings were especially help
/ Inc