The Colorado statesman., 1923-03-10

this broad land, but for gripping hu-
,,,a, interest and undeniable pathos,
nn incident of the annual meeting of
tbe Executive Committee of the Coun-
iii Of Churches, held recently mt In
di,nnnolls is both suggestive of some
daftIv woven romance as well as the
nurnoseful plans of the Great Creator
in the guidance and control of the
lives of men. ~
The principals in this unusual story
of life and duty, the one, Dean W. !:
Tillett of Vanderbilt University, son ol
81 former slave owner, the other Presl-
dent $. G. Atkins of Slater Normal
CoIIace ot winston Salem, \. c., son of
81 slave in the family of the former
had NOT met nor probably thought
much one of the other since those pre-
civil War days when the journey OF
life began for them as master and
slave at the old plantation homes
AT convenient point of the proceed
inrs Dean Tillett requested the per
sonal privilege to make statement
and said: Before passing from the
consideration of the subject of Chris
tian Education l ask that may be
permitted to make IA few remarks per-
sonal to myself and one other member
of this Executive Committee who is
present here this afternoon and whose
work in life, like my own, has long
been that of Christian Education.
am quite sure the relationship between
this fellow-member and myself Is one
that does not exist between any other
two members, nor is it likely to be du-
nlicated in all the future history of the
Federal Council"
Dean Tillett then told of the affec-
tionate consideration in which the fil-
ther of Prof. Atkins was held by the
Rev. John Tillett, his father-how he
was the most trusted and best loved
of all the small group of slaves. He
| told of Mr.. Atkins highly successful
endeavors in the field of Negro educa-
ton and then said, 81 am now going to
ask Prof. Atkins to come forward and
let me present him to the Council
AS they met, Dean Tillett extended
his hand and said, IF thy heart is as
INV heart, give me thy hand Tears
arose to the eyes of many as thus foi
a moment they stood with ciaspeo
hands. Proceeding with much evil
dence of feeling, the Dean said, u
honor the memory of my father but,
want to say, President Atkins, that
also honor and revere the memory OF
your father, Allen Atkins. He was Il
good and true man, and congratulate
YOU, both on account of your descent
from so good n man and your ascent
from conditions of obscurity ana pov
erty to the high place of influence you
have achieved. l rejoice in the fac'
that YOU and | are both now free. tol
the emancipation of the Negro race II
America meant also the emancipation
of the white race-yOur father ant
mine We're both willing bond-servant'
of Jesus Christ. They are together
now in land where both are free, ant
J can but think they rejoice to SET
their sons associated together in the
freedom and fellowship of this Coun
ell and in the work of Christian Edu
cation.
There followed prolonged applause
as Dean Tillett and President Atkins
| returned to their seats, and continued
until the chairman complying with thu
: evident wish of the audience, invited
= President Atkins to return to the plat
form and say word.
Responding modestly, though elo
quently, Mr.. Atkins told briefly of hi
/ struggles to further the cause of Chris
= tian education among his people il
D North Carolina and stressed the grow
= ing interest and helpfulnesS accorded
4 his work at Winston-Salem, through
} legislative appropriation as well a
v through the genuine spirit of co-opera
2 tion that has developed between tn
+ races. AS an instance of this he re
p called that the first appropriation
Z made by the State Legislature for
school for the training of Negro teach
A ers in North Carolina, was the smal
c sum of $1,000, while the General As
c sembly two years ago appropriate
nearly $1,000,000 for that purpose.
Surely the fact of such IA happenin
= as recorded above should be seized VI
on as conclusive evidence of co-opera
, ton for that racial brotherhood 70
which this inter church movement S
nobly stands and which in ringin
tones calls the justice-loving of al
races to do battle against the minion
of ignorant prejudice and unthinkint
slavish caste.
The most important thing, as voice
by Rev. w. w. Alexander of Atlant;
at this meeting, is Il better appreci,