Phoenix tribune., 1922-11-25
COMMISSION COMPOSED OF EXPERTS
in EDUCATIONAL and MISSIONARY FIELDS
MAKES long TOUR OF BLACK CONTINENT
(By The Associated Negro Press)

IMAM the Dark Continent, and its vast potential
strength IN raw materials and in the development of it's
native peoples should be stressed instead of emphasizing
the jungle savagery such is the theme of report made
Dy an international commission after intensive study
OF African hygenc economic social and religious condi-
tlons The report has been published by the Phelps
Stokes Fund
The commission composed of experts in educational
and missionary fields spent months in Africa during
the tall OF 1870 and the following winter travelling
than 25000 miles through West South and equatorial
Africa Scores of schools and mission stations supported
by churches of America and Europe we're visited Colon
la Officials and European traders consulted and
native chiefs interviewed
The personnel of the commission included Dr. Thorn
as Jesse Jones' chairman writer of the official report d
rector of education Of the Fund and author
OF Negro Schools in the United States; James Emman
KWegyr Aggrey member of the Fanti tribe of the Gold
Coast who is professor in Livingstone College, North
Carolina Dr. Henry Stanley Holenback of Wisconsin.
who for II years has been medical missionary of the
American board in Angola; Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur W. Will
e OF Scotland, missionaries of the United Free Church
of Scotland appointed by the Conference of Missionary
Societies of Great Britain and Ireland to represent the
British societies. and the Rev. John T. Tucker of the
Canadian Congregational board in Angoa Leo A. Roy of
New York. expert in industrial education served as
secretary.
Besides the backing of the various missionary socie
tes the commission accorded the hearty cooperation
OF government officials. Educated Africans showed mem
bers of the commission every courtesy and gave them
cordial welcome
The report says "Of the many misconceptions that
IN
dsry and agriculture to hamper the efforts of Colonial
governments and to discourage the support of MISSIONS
there are four OF such Importance require consider
aton in any effort to evauate the educational possib
ties They MISUNDERSTANDING as to wealth of re-
and natural scenery the heathfuness of the
tinent and promising possibilities of sanitary improve
ment the improvabity Of the African peoples; and E
ropean and American influence
DR.. Jones points out in the report that the immense
and varied phylca of Africa are practically u
known to the civilized world largely because the research
50 far have been made for private and
and the results have been published and there is
sufficient evidence of potential wealth to convince the
most skepcal that Africa is the undeveloped treasure
of the world The diamond fields of Kimberley the gold
ridge Of Johannesburg, the coal mines of Rhodesa the
latanga copper plateaus OF Belgian Congo and the oil
of Angola cited specific instances of the
country's richness in natural resources.
The report continues: "Afrca s reputation for I'M
heathfuness the result Of the tragic experiences of
those who entered the continent without knowledge of the
conditions Indifferent to the hardships always attend
ing the entrance of pioneers into country fair
comparison of Africa with other parts of the world will
undoubtedly show that Africa will respond TO modern
methods of sanitation and hygiene in exactly the same
way other continents Of similar climatic economic and
social conditions
Setting forth that the most unfortunate and unfair of
all MISUNDERSTANDING that the African people do not
give promise of development sufficient to warrant efforts
in their behalf, the report says
'The improvability of the African people is clearly
shown by their response to the efforts of missions
ernments and commercial organizations There are ply
scians lawyers and ministers who have completed the
requirements of European universities While the
Der is small is sufficient to prove the capacity of the
people, The clerical tasks of government industry and
commerce largely nstrusted to young African men,
The mechanical operations railroads and in construc
ton and more being taken by African work.
Every mission gives emphatic testimony to the
value of the native ve'teachers and ministers.
The Importance Of comprehensive educational system
emphasized and Dr. Jones recommends that equal op
porunties be provided for the teaching Of both boys and
girls His plan also calls for the development of college
and professional schools for the training of the native
Continued on page A.