The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-27
.COLORED BAPTISTS
STRONG PEACE
Chattanooga Meet Adopts
Resolutions Pleading for
Law and Order.


The colored Baptist educational ana
missionary convention Of Tennessee as
sembled In the city Of Chattanooga IN
us 5zd annual session, with messenRers
from al parts of the state, representing
IyV,VO0 members n workers in 800
en9rcnes n S6 district associations,
ana touching the life of the race al
every point through the activities Of
us workers, adopted the following decla-
ration OF principles and policies. as
1rawn by a committee consisting Of j.
": hlpbins, A. NJ. Townsend, +. o,
Fuller, X. j.. Petty and c. A. Bell:
we are interested in the mainte-
nance Of a high standard Of civilization
ana view with deep concern the an
tagonistic influences that are at work
IN az! parts of the world to check the
CROWN OF the spirit OF brotherhood and
sood VIII SO essential to universal peace,
we deplore the presence of danger
ous elements in our own country that
seem to be making Roadway in Great
ing dlstrust and widening the breach
between capital and labor, which, II
not checked, will retard the develop
ment Of our natural resources, IL not
yeopardize the stability Of the govern
ment itself.
Cooperation and comfy between the
races In this country and especially in
the South are matters that have ever
been dear to our hearts.
"G NONt our Country ana It's DeODie,
as centuries Of faithful toll and sacri-
ilces OF blood and treasure freely made
N the home field and on foreign bat
tletields for the government and flag
will attest.
ANY evidences of increasing racial an
upathy or the lessening of the desire
for helpful interracial cooperation is
exceedingly painful to us.
we can not overlook the numerous
instances of organized efforts of white
ana black people in many communities
m our country to maintain a spirit OF
friendliness and good win at all haz-
ards, n to find a common ground upon
which both races may stand and com
may rally.
Especially do We call attention to
the strong ground taken by the South
ern Baptist convention for racial JUS
tlce and their forward step in voting
$zOO 600 toward the establishment of a
theological seminary and training school
Tor negro ministers and Christian work
ers.
THE minister is the natural leader
OF his people, d~ivinely called to Mis-
task, and anything that increases his
efficiency and power is the largest step
toward race adjustment.
The action of the house of bishops
or the Episcopal church in their session
just held in the city of Detroit is an
other hopeful sign. They suggested the
holding of racial conferences in every
large city to consider greater racial JUS
tice.
W do not condone crime nor would
we shield a criminal, but we sincerely
ask that where our people are charged
with crime and are in the custody of
the law that they be given a fair and
impartial trial and that their punish
ment follow only after their conviction
by due process of law.
we also urge that the race as awhole
be not held responsible for the acts of
individual members of the race.
ministers and members of this
convention, our full influence must be
thrown on the side of law and order.
We must be conciliatory in u utter
ances that our churches may be recog-
nized as centers from which may spread
such information and such sentiment
as will quiet the nervous unrest that
threatens the paralysis of our construc-
tive racial activities.
"The press of the country is a mighty
force. The pen is mightier than the
sword We invoke this power in be-
half Of our people and express the hope
that all hurtful comment n agitation
in the press of both races may be
curbed at this particular time, for too
often a smoking flare is famed into a
burning flame by an indiscreet and
o~verZealous press.
''We are loyal to those who stand at
the head of the government of the
state and of the nation and pray for
their health and well being.
I'VE ask for better schools, better
teachers, better conveniences OF travel
and for those rights and privileges that
render the individual citizen happy and
content.
1.-THE idea of social equality so often
construed as underlying the activities of
| our race for the rights and privileges
| OF American citizenship is utterly for
eign from what is desired by u peo-
pie.
I'm matters social, we are entirely
| content with our own, and ask that we
be not hindered and f~ettered in our
struggle upward n demand the as
to our development on account of any
misconception of our aims or misinter-
probation of our motives by those out of
touch with our real life, and therefore
can not fully understand our desires
| m ideals.
I'VE also ask that patience and sym
pathy be exercised toward our returned
soldiers, many of whom were drafted
from the humblest homes without the
| slightest educational advantages an
were, therefore, thrown into conditions
that were not always handled with per-
feet wisdom and discretion.
I'VE feel, however, that normal con-
| ditions will soon obtain II the leaders
of both races will work in harmonious
| cooperation for the adjustment of the
vital questions that confront u.s."