The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1917-03-23
THE NEGRO
EXODUS
o. tinued from page l.
WHY THEY GO.

"But Why do you eo?' my friend ask
- The old man, with trembling I'm
esrs drew out from his pocket crumP-
led paper and spread il out before them
AZ the top Of the sheet wss crudeIy drawn
. skull and crossbones, below MAS writ
tn: you are hereby warned that you
and your entire family must he gone
from the community within iorty-eivhi
houn. Your attention is called to the
symbol at top OF notice In tie com
munity near which the man lived wo-
man bad been burned at the stake few
month before. her crime Was due "a thu
natural impulse OF motherhood. She had
dared 70 protect her child from blows AL
ministered by . white man. And 80 the
old Ean. fearing for his life was fleeing
in the dead OF night.
In another town in Georgia four limo
cent Negroes were foully murdered in the
usual wsy-by All insane mob. The fath-
er OF the family wss lodged in Jail for AS
ssult ON an officer who came to arrest
him. The mob therefore seized the
OF whom was soon to become mother.
and . TN year old hoy. cannot 10 in
20 the revolving circumstances of il all
Suffice 20 say that little white boys saw IL
and hence seeds of brutality, hatred and
revenge were planted in their young
hears- Many Negroes are leaving that
section.
A Negro woman in Georgia resisted the
offensive attention of white rufiisn.
with the result that her house, with al
her possessions Was burned, and not G
served on her to leave the community AT
once or she would pay the penalty at III.
ropes end.
IL 10 not simply the poor, irresponsible,
shiftless Negro that undergoes such treat
msnt st the hands of a senseless mob. fl
example, the recent occurrence i'm south
Oarolina, when q Negro worth anywher,
from $4,000 to $4,000, . aw-abidinp
citizen, was cruelty put to death and hi-
family ordered to leave His son owned
. drug store, where he Was doing a good
ousinsss, ali Of which had TO be sacrificed.
U: course, these outrsees are perpe-
rated by the course, brutal mot element
Bot what are the civil authorities doing
about it? With the exception pos~ibl,
OF the case cited from South Carolina
whsre Governor Manning is demanding
IN Investigation, we know of nothing be-
ING dole 70 restrain the mob spirit which
seems 10 be rampant.
And what 10 the church doing about IL
Do Ne know anywhere of any church
sakikR an out and QUO stand againrt
suchf We seem TO be bound hand al q
foot. What 10 it We are afraid of? To
bring IL closer home: What ~ our great
Methodist Episcopal Church, South, do
tn& about it? Where 10 her influence?
Where 10 her voice? Who has gagged
hsr? L. abe . slave of prejudiceY Is sh.
coward? Or 10 abe asleep? We prefer
20 believe IL 10 the last, but il is time for
hsr 70 awake up or q great opportunit,
viii have passed and God will find an
osner instrument through which to voic.
The wrongs OF an Oppressed people.
Not only does she seem to be taking
no measure TO change existing conditions,
nos only i her pulpit silent With REGARD
70 thsss serocious wrongs, but che. tn
Ersas Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
wealthy, strong, influential. is actuall
fsiing 70 meet the responsibility of 8
eesk already assumed. Paine College j,
The one avenue through which AZ .
church, she hes even pretended to min
is>sr 10 the Negro race, by training il,
isedsrs. IL preachers, its teacher. il.
parents OF Tie generations 10 come.
o, Church of the Christ VINO minister,
- The neglected., the out casts and ia.
safsn, do you not hear His call today L
follow 10 The footsseps Of your Mast~r
snd minister abundantly to this chill,
rec, this oppressed people in our midst
Cm you face HIM with the blood of thi,
people upon your sous Will you no
"Loose the bonds Of wickedness. und.
~ bonds Of the yoke aud let the Oh
preesed 20 free7" Will you not 'Dea
ny bread 10 the hungry and bring a..
psor that are cast out 10 thy house" o
procession, and wsrmeth and safety
fhsn shall thy light" o, Church o
Chriss, break forth ~ the morning AM
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