Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-12-14
THE NATIONAL BAPTIST CON.
FENTlON AND MISS MAMIE
BURROUGHS.

| 1t was with exceeding great sur,
| rise that those who attended tho last
meeting OF the National Baptist Con.
vcntion held September 40 in Saint
Louis, Missouri, learned OF q removed
attack upon Miss Nannio Burroughs
and her work at tho National Train
Ing School. This time however great
or tho marvel, tho attack comos
| backed up by the women. Those in
! tho main body of the convention
heard nothing of the plan, and at
tempted attack, but u sido meeting
was called among tho officers of the
womcn's branch and those OF tho
mems; especially those excited by
Texas hounds.
Tho Corresponding Secretary at
tended tho board meeting called and
was told that her presence was not
preferable. Thinking that the mect-
ing had something to do with tho
amount Of over $4,000 in arrears of
her salary the Secretary quietly with
drew, either dreaming Of tho portcnt
of the meeting.
There behind closed doors the
women Of the National Convention
the officers body, those ardent suf-
fragettes, granted the officers Of the
mons division, that they were "under
the men" and that therefore the re-
port Of the corresponding secretary
should be submitted to M. NJ. Rodgers
to be audited.
Women OF other races are allowed
to go on with their work and she was
allowed to go on until she, with the
support Of friends built up great
institution. Now, we arc under the
NJ 1,n II
they sent q committee to us at the
Genet Convention in 1901 to ask us to
operate as Board instead Of as a
invention? We're we under the mon
when they stood out against the
organization of the Training School?
In these days when woman Is being
granted her "inalienable rights" it
smacks of ignorance or toadism to
hear our women in the National Con-
vention. especially those who arc
speaking for "Women's Rights" say
ing: eve are under tho men"
She has never objected to having
her reports audited by an auditor;
but when 1t Is considered their aud
itor has mado thirteen errors of
which he promised to publish cor
rections which he has mover done, 1t
10 easy to understand why shs will
not give over hor books to tho audi
tor in question. She has offered to
pay an auditing committee and was
willing to havo tho convention APP
point a public accountant ca disin
torcstcd partly on both sides who
would go over her accounts.
This is square enough to any un-
prejudiced mind. But it seems that
tho plan is not satisfactory to either
department OF tho National Conven-
ton. They back up the demand,
let her submit her reports to M. NJ.
Rodgers by statement even more
preposterous and suggestive OF deep
cr motive.
After the main body Of the Con
vcntion on Thursday reelected all
tho officers, on Monday, the officers
voted, stating shc did not sub
nit her reports to the auditor Sc
lcctcd; her nomination would re-
main open. 1t Is impossible TO con
slider tho two statements without
becoming cogni2ant OF the stratagom
which some few ambitious officers are
seeking to work out in order to OBJ
tain position which in all proba-
bility they would not know what to
do with. :
Perhaps they consider themselves
entitled to it because of their skill
in splitting conventions. But those
who have skill as splittcrs do not
always have skill in organizing and
building. No one has ever heard OF
these two traits Of character hcihS
dominant in tho same mind. Those
who SOW dissension arc not those
who work: they are those who SIT III
idlcncss and try to place II stumbling
block before they will place step
ming stone; who will call "crucily'
before they will say, "God-spced.'
Our Corresponding Secretary mas
lab0rcd conscicntiously for the GOOD
Of the Convention and for the N. i.
s, despite arrears in salary ana many
hard knocks. She has accomplished
the Hcrculcan task Of keeping strlct
accounts OF the business OF the Ma
tional Baptist Convention with SKIN,
accuracy and fidelity, and undertaken
and been partner in every depart
mcnt OF the school activity from the
mcancst task about the grounds 10
the conducting Of her classes, ana
has effected both with consistent
thoroughncss and good cheer. she
is truly one OF Gods chosen.
"Woe to them that are at ease III
I1On. BON, 40 "olh todho :" my
vineyard" The busiest are the hap
picst, the most cheerful and pure,
and feel that they are accomplishing
something. Son, go work! Where!
In the Vineyard. We must under
stand that work for God is definite
service. What makes this or that
definite service? The motive. There
fore our Corresponding Secretary is
doing definite service; for hers is not
service for mcrcenary motive as sal
airy long overdue denotes, nor for an
easy job; as those who have visited
Lincoln Heights and seen something
OF the turning Of the wheels at N.
r.. S. can witness.
She can truly say, "This is one
thing I am doing to build up the
Kingdom as Moses, keeping sheep;
Gideon, threshing wheat; David,
tending his nocks and writing poetry;
Jesus, busy in the carpenter shop;
Peter and John were mending their
Il u.