The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1922-02-10
NEGRO CONFERENCES
BEING ORGANIZED

The Sentinel feels that the people
of Grenada County know that what
concerns the best welfare of the negro
also concerns the white people. The
negro is here; he is part and parcel
of the life of the county and of the
State. His mentality. his environ
ment and his habits of life place him
in the ranks of those who must in a
very large measure adhere literally
to the Scriptual injunction to earn a
livelihood by the sweat Of his brow.
OF curse there are notable exceptions
but exceptions do not make a rule.
1t would therefore seem meet and
proper that everybody should be
ready to aid the colored population
in developing better ideas of citizen
ship and in efforts to make better
farmers by cooperative work.
AS a means to that end Negro
Conferences" are being organized in
Grenada County under the direction
of A. H. Henderson, one of the best
colOred citizens in the State. Hend-
erson, as most people of the county
know, was at the head OF the colered
school in Grenada for over twenty
five years and he practically ran the
school according to his own ideas. He
owns several hundred acres of good
farm land east of Grenada and makes
his home there where he is proSpering
splendidly. He is thoroughly de-
pendable and enjoys the confidence
of the largest business men of the
county. So it may be stated as a
certainty that Gus Henderson would
not undertake any project that he
did not think the best for everybody
in the county. This much b. way of
introduction to the confidence and the
good will of all for this organization.
These Conferences are promoted
and have their inception at the
Tuskeegee College for negroes in
Alabama.
By a perusal of the constitution,
which was printed at this office, It,
will be seen that it is not secret and
that politics is absolutely forbidden.
Henderson states that already about
$50 have Joined. The objects of the
conference are stated under article
2. Below follows the written consti-
How To Organize Local !
Conferences.
Constitution by which such organi-
are to be governed. |
In organizing local Negro Confer
ences on the plan of the Tuskegee
Conference, it is very neces-
sary that the men and women in the
community have sufficient notice of
the time and place OF meeting. Our
eople are very quick to forget, and
SO it is we'll to keep these two things
impressed upon them, viz: Time and
At the meeting, the person issuing
he call should briefly explain the OBJ
iect for which the people have been
together, Following this eXpla-
the constitution contained in
his pamphlet should be read so that
he people may the more clearly un-
jerstand the principles of the confer
nee. Election OF officers IS now i'm
1t is very desirable that the
cry best and most competent persons
,c chosen as officers. Either men on
women may serve. After the election.
he officers may give short talks, after
which the conference decides on a day
or the next regular meeting.
Constitution for Local Conference.
ARTICLE l
Name-The name OF this OrganiZa-
ion shall be the Local Negro Confer
nee.
ARTICLE ,
Object-Its object shall be TO pro-
note the moral, material and educa-
ional progress of this entire COM
Believing, as we do, that we
urselves are our own worst enemies,
We pledge here and now, from this
forth. to use every effort: |. To
ho1;rI onl 10 ourov with tho mort
age system as rapidly as possible; 2.
o raise our own food supplies, such
S corn, potatoes, syrup, peas, hogs,
hickenS, ETC., at home, rather than
in debt for them at the store; g..
o stop throwing away time and
honey on Saturdays by standing
round towns, drinking and disgrace
ny ourselves in many other ways; A..
o oppose at all times the Excursion
the Camp Meeting, and to try
arnestly to secure better schools,
etter churches, better teachers, and
preachers; 5. To try to buy
ONES. to urge upon all Negroes the
ecessity of owning homes and farms,
nd not only to own them, but to
eautifv and improve them.
ARTICLE 3
peISOIiS, UolH
zen and women, who desire to
nange their way of living and strive
} better their condition may become
Iembers of this organization. Every
erson before joining should either
cad or have read to him or hsr the
wen sections under Article 2, and
ecide whether or not he or she is
illing to attempt to do the things
in the article.
ARTICLE 4
Politics-This conference is in no
,nse a political organization, and
olitics shall not be permitted to en-
r the discussion in any form what
ARTICLE
Secret Proceedings-It is not in
.nded that the proceedings of this
inference shall be carried on in Sc
'et. While we do not meal to I'M
ecessarily or unwisely publish our
to the world, still all meet