The Denver star., 1916-06-24

Emphasizes Importance OF Christian
Leadership In Remarkable Addrsss.
Morgantown, w. Va.-At the recent
annual convention Of the West Vir-
ginia Sunday School association held
in this town brilliant feature of the
program was an address delivered by
Professor Byrd Prillerman, principal
Of the West Virginia Collegiate insti
tute Professor Prillerman was invit-
ed to be one OF the speakers by Mr..
Arthur T. Arnold, secretary Of the as
sociation. Professor Prillerman's ad-
dress was listened to with the closest
attention and punctuated with liberal
applause. He said in part:
l bring you greetings from the West
Virginia Collegiate institute, the West
Virginia Baptist Sunday school con-
vention and the 10000 loyal. patriotic
Negro citizens Of West Virginia. We
are proud Of our state The citizens
Of West Virginia are to be congratu-
lated on the wisdom and statesman.
ship displayed In dealing with the race
question. In this respect West Nir-
ginia has set an example for all the
other states In the Union.
In the early formation Of the state
our lawmakers saw the wisdom and
justice Of providing facilities for the
training of our colored youth. Since
that time our statesmen have made
provision for secondary, vocational
and collegiate training by the estab-
lishment and maintenance Of the West
Virginia Collegiate institute and the
school AT Bluefeld. Since emancira-
ton the members OF my race have
made wonderful progress in education,
home building. church building and
finance. Thirty years ago there was
not professionally trained member
Of my race In all this state. Now
, there are more than thirty college
graduates teaching in our schools,
twenty lawyers and sixty doctors prac-
ticing their profession.
According to the report of our state
superintendent. 67 per cent OF the 456
| colored teachers of our state hold first
| grade certificates. Among our most dis
| tnguished Sunday school teachers in
this country must be classed the late
Booker 7. Washington. He became 4
Sunday school teacher i'll Maiden. Our
development along all other lines. how.
ever has been greater than that of
training religious leaders. The greatest
need OF the race in this state to-day is
competent, consecratcd Christian lead
ership.
In our efforts TO prepare our students
for positions of leadership nj the West
Virginia Collegiate institute we have
thought 1t necessary to emphasize the
Importance o: moral and religious train
Ing. For believe with CARLYLE that "A
mans religion Is the chief thing about
him." We give our students Il fine op
portunity for academic and vocational
training. We require each student who
enters the institution to learn to use
his hands Mt some useful occupation at
the same time he secures the highest
literary training OF which he is capa-
BILE. In order To develop the moral and
religious character Of our students. we
require them to attend Sabbath school
and prayer meeting. Each sabbath
morning at 3:15 o'clock more than 3no
march TO Sabbath school to the StraiaS
of martial music.
The question may arise In your minds
as to what Is the effect OF this compul-
sorry attendance. The best answer
can give TO this question is found in
the response the students are making
to the call for voluntary Bible study
About four years ago Miss Mary Eu-
bank. our superintendent of home eco
nomics. started with class OF twenty
girls. They used Moningcr's Training
For Service" In 1914 they completed
their course, and we had our first Bible
school commencement at which eight.
including the teacher, received their
diplomas from your association.
The last school year 100 were en-
rolled and nineteen completed the
course. For the present school year
240 have enrolled and forty three grad
uated. There are classes taught hy
members of the faculty and advanced
students who have completed the
teacher training course. These classes
rccitc on Wednesday evening and at
various times during the Sabbath day
The Bible study is wholly voluntary
and is conducted in such way as not
to interfere with the literary and in.
dustrial work OF the institution
Miss Bette Perry. member OF the
present scaior class and graduate
from the teacher training course of last
year, has organized Bible class OF
thlrty-five at Raymond City. She goes
home twice II month to look after this
class. Her travelling expenses are
borne by her parents. Some OF the
members OF our faculty and the teach.
crs' wives who were most Indifferent
about Bible study have now become
among the most enthusiastic Bible
students at the institution Miss Mary