The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-11
'JRA|NIAe Of NEGRO,
EFFORT OF CHURCH

An appeal for redoubled effort In
the education and training of the
negro has been issued in connection
with the nation wide campaign. OF
the Episcopal church In a special
report to the managers OF the cam
pagin, Rev. DR. Robert w. Patton.
himself a Southern man. and special
representative of the American Church
Institute for Negroes, as well as ma
tional director of the nationwide
campaign, says frankly:
The great war has awakened the
racial consciousness of the negro as
no other event in the history of the
race. Their appeal today, and it is a
growing and insistent appeal. lis that
we give them q chance through edu-
cation and character training, in the
schools under the church's direction,
to prove themselves worthy of their
citizenship and OF their Inheritance as
sons and daughters OF the living God.
They have purchased the right by
their sacrifice OF labor, of treasure
and of blood. Will we refuse to pay
the debit?
Accordingly, in the mobilization Of
the resources of the Episcopal church
preparatory to embarking upon
camp aisn for after the war service,
the nationwide as we'll as the Every
Name campaign, which Ia the contri-
button Of the Diocese OF New York to
the movement, will embody enlarged
and intensive plans for work among
the negro population.
An idea OF the nature Of the work
that il being done by the church
through its institute for negroes is
given In DR.. Patton's statement that
scattered through the South are eight
well-equipped schools-though all OF
them are capable of great improve
ment--in which negro boys and girls
are being trained mot only In Chris
tan character and the regular gram
mar and high school features. but in
special courses in the trades and in
dustries. such as carpentry. masonry.
printing. nursing, agriculture COOK
ing. dressmaking. etc"
These eight schools are st. Paus's,
at Lawrenceville, Va; St Augustine's.
at Raleigh. " c.: the Fort Valley
school. at Fort Valley, Ga: the Payne
Divinity school. at Petersburg; St
Athanasius' school, at Brunswick. Ga !.
St Marks, at Birmingham. St Marys.
at Columbia, s. c., and the Nicksburg
Industrial school, at Vicksburg. Miss.
In a recent letter reviewing the
work of the church institute for ne
groes, the national commissioner OF
education. Hon. P r. Ciaxton, wrote
to DR. Patton:
The work Of the Episcopal church.
through the American Church Insti-
tue for Negroes has been especially
helpful, and I wish to express my APP
probation of the practical co-opera-
ton of your officers with us in our ef-
forts To reduce unnecessary duptF7a-
ton of schools. -. To meet the
present need for properly trained
teachers and leaders of the negro race
we must look chiefly. for the present,
and probably for many years to come.
to church schools and 10 private
schools devoted to instruction above
the elementary grades. Four or fve
times as many properly trained teach
ers as are now available from all
sources as needed in the public schools
for negroes in the South.
Il feel sure that the American
Church Institute for Negroes and the
general board OF missions will be will
ing TO make every sacrifice in their
power to develop the efficiency and
usefulness of their schools OF this class
in the interest not only of the negroes
themselves. but Of the future progress
and happiness OF this section and of
the safety OF our Christian demo-
cracy."
In urging that the nation wide and
the avery name managers make gem
erous provision in their budgets for
negro work. DIR. Patio says:
Can we do juctice in our interna-
tional relations IL we do not highly
resolve 10 do larger justice TO the
numerous races under our own flag 2
Can America long be leader in point
ing the way OF peace within our own
America cannot remain at peace at
home so long AZ there Is withheld from
any considerable number of her citi-
xan< the chance to prepare themselves
10 MAY their proper part in the great
RESPONSIBILITIES OF this new day"