South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-04-03
MISHAWAKA
NEGRO QUESTION IS
DISCUSSED BY BISHOP
Says Members of African Race
Have Great Ability and Urges
Hearers to Aid in Support
ing Schools.

ing SCn0OlS.
In mis- second address OF the day at
the Methodist conference Bishop Hen
derson treated the Negro question in
the south. He introduced the ques-
ton by saying that if there was ever
q day of romance in the race history
OF the Negro that day has passed. He
said that he is not taking up the Ne
gro cause for any sentimental rea-
sons nor should we as il is a real and
vital thing. He said that the product
IL worth the effort that is being put
forward toward their education. IL
has been said that many Of the south
ern senators would vote TO repeal the
18th amendment Of the constitution.
The bishop spent the rest OF the
time In showing that this is a fall
lacy. The speaker said that the Ne
gro is not seeking social equality but
he desires a Christian consideration
from the whites. SO long as the Ne
gro is willing TO take a place as a
social. industrial and political slave
we are willing that he should remain
SO. If he aspires to higher things
we drag him back. He will be un-
able TO get recognition until he is able
TO plead for himself All the world Is
tired of the Negro and according TO
the speaker the Methodist church
should love him for this reason.
There is only one way TO deal with
him that is the human way
The speaker claimed in the face OF
popular opinion, that the black man
is not mentally inferior 10 the white.
He gave many figures and instances
10 prove this Among these facts was
the list Of figures showing that the
Negroes from the great medical col
lege of Tennessee are more successful
when they take the state medical
examination than the white graduates
from the other class A school in the
state. Here he said that owing to the
lack OF funds to build a biological
laboratory the school had been low
cred TO class r. This school belongs
TO the Methodist church and the
speaker asked that something be done
to relieve them.
Ii was then shown that the Negro
of the schools displays greater
amount Of thrift and economy than
In one school a contest was held to
determine which girl could make the
most attractive graduation dress for
the least money. The prize winner
was eXtravagant to the extent of S1.20.
He said that all the dresses were well
made and becoming.
The bishop gave many Illustrations
as to the superior ability Of the trained
Negro in the trades. He also said
that the school for blacks at Norris
town, Tenn. was built by the students
at cost of $4,000 and would be
worth $4,000 in this locality. The
speaker said that some people say that
the Negro is lazy but he did not think
this a racial characteristic but rather
proved him human.
1t was then the work of the speaker
10 disprove the oft quoted statement
that the Negro is immoral. Enough
was shown to prove that when he Is
immoral ii is the fault OF some white.
1t was said not to damn a race be-
cause of few devils within. if so we
would be in a bad light. The claim
that the black is a coward was proven
false by the illustration OF the bravery
shown by Steadman's black at Nash
Vile during the civil war.
Rev. r. ]. Wade presided. Prayer
was offered by Rev. l.. G.. Jacobs and
Scripture reading by Rev. Roscoe 3
Shaw
At the afternoon session Bishop
Henderson spoke on Evangelism.
He said in part, that he would like TO
suggest that every pastor have defin-
lite program for his evangelistic en-
deavors within his parish. This pro
gram consists of three items, first
have a system for the saving of the le-
Ultimate constituency of his church.
second in every church there should
be at least one service each week IN
which the people have the Opportuni-
" to testify publicly, third there
should be at least one month of each
year devoted 10 a series OF protracted
evangelical service.
He defined evangelism as the pres
entatiOn of the word OF life so that II
will bring the religiously dead to life
He made the statement that we do not
need a larger field for our efforts any
more than the farmer needs larger
fields for his crops: We simply must
learn to till the field that We already
have. Evangelism must come to the
local church in order to be efficient, if
il does not il is deficient
The bishop suggested ways Of Great
ating the evangelistic feeling. He says
that the first thing 10 do is 10 secure
be easily gained from TIE church regis
ter and the Sunday school register.
The pastor should first get q complete
family list of every member found on
both registers. These people are the
legitimate constituency of his church.
He stated that any man starting a
campaign without this is evangelistic-
stated that il is nine times out of ten
just these unexpected people that are
saved.
After obtaining this data he said
divide the names into lists OF five and
give a list TO each member 10 go and
call on the people therein contained
and try to bring them to the church.
Most of the people are willing TO go
on such missions if they only know
where TO 90.
The bishop cited "A number OF in
stances to prove this, and said the
principal reason that more people are
not missionaries Of this sort is that
they do not know where TO go. A de-
voted christian does not win people
10 the Lord because he has nothing TO
tell and no one to tell il TO. The
speaker then showed his method OF
enlisting helpers in this work. He
does not ask them directly but talks
to them as though he did not have any
thought but that the person was very