The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-04
WILLIAM T. VERNON
SPEAKS TO NEGROES
Former Register of the Treasury
Gives Ideas on Education of
Race i'm the South

Fully 1000 of the most representative
negroes of Birmingham heard DIR. Will
liam 7. Vernon. former register of the
United States treasury, and now president
of Campbell college, a school for the
| training of negroes, maintained by the
African Methodist Episcopal church at
Jackson, Miss. deliver a strong and time
ly address last night at St Johns Afri-
can Methodist Episcopal church, Twenty
fifth street and Third avenue.
DIR. Vernon, for years one of the most
prominent educators of the race, was
president of Western university, Quin-
daro, Kans., serving in that capacity both
before and during his term of office as
register of the treasury. He spoke in
Birmingham under the auspices and in
the interest of St Johns church, of which
| the Rev. p. w. Walls is pastor, the con-
gregation of which is making strenuous
| efforts TO rebuild their edifice.
G. w. a. johnson presided over the
| meeting and DR.. Vernon was introduced
| by Dr. A. M. Brown Vernon stressed
| the importance of so training the youth
of the negro race that they would not
only be Industrious and thrifty, but that
lHty Noulu nave respect Tor the laws.
The Christian religion and Christian
education, he declared. were essentials In
the upbuildipg of the race. In the course
of his remarks, he said
Barren indeed are the efforts for gov
ernmental uplift social regeneration,
idealization of humanity without the pro-
pagation of those moral themes whose
basic principles are found in Holy Writ.
The rectification of humanitys ills must
be the result of the growth of sentiment.
The Golden Rule has ever been the foe
of the unjust. 1t shotted the batteries
of slavery, and when in full force will
cause all men of the American republic
to say, Verify, all we are brethren.
'Jals and penal institutions will de
| crease in proportion as the leaders OF
the race perform work that is ap-
preciated and is effective. Repressive
laws may in a measure restrain the
! criminaly inclined, but no law can lift
the soul from the quagmire of low
| thoughts and vicious aims This must
| be done by our churches and educational
| institutions. The highest forms of civic
virtue will be practiced by all elements
| when with an intelligent conception of
] the law there is righteous regard for
| this law.
Tn consonance with this forward move
ment for universal uplift we find added
| strength being given to advocates of
| toward reforh \ premium is being pat
| upon morality and wisdom and sanity
and goodness are being exempifed in
| the laws of these leaders who are truly
| great. / firmly believe that our
! churches and Christian schools shall more
and more do this work, there shall be
| a better era in the southland. The bet
| ter element of both races are under
standing each other. They are meet
| ing on common ground the basis
| Of which is the Golden Rule Nonessen-
| tials are being cast aside. These include
| such unnecessary discussions as social
| precedence and kindred subjects too often
| used by those who would infame the
| races to conflict.
| "rhe one great essential is the work
| of mutual helpfulness and material i'm
| provement for our southland. l have
| great faith in the splendid citizenship
| of the south and the desire for improved
! conditions the part of the leaders
| of beth races. The present day lead
| ership of the dominant race in the south
| is extending a helping hand to deserv-
| ing negroes, and a better day shall
| dawn as we do the work of righteous
| ness and racial regeneration -