The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1938-04-01

largest Of the nine schools operated
under the American Church Institute
for Negroes chain Of institutions |
comprising the largest single educa
tional project for Negroes Of the
South.
Bishop Tucker says:
st. Paul in his second letter TO
Timothy urges him to study 70 show
himself approved unto God, work
man that needth not to 'be ashamed I
The purpose Of what we call missions
is to make il possible for all Gods |
children to become workman who |
do not need TO be ashamed ST Paul |
ii of course speaking Of the moral
life, but bis words imply that our
physical labor also ought to mea
sure np to the same standard. The
great tragedy Of human hfc Il that
50 many Of Gods children have no
opportunity % receive the training
bIlal ~ HEeufu w Ilah1 lll1Hl WIN
men who do not need to be ashamed
This has been particularly true Of
the Negro people ii the South For
lack Of any opportunity Of training
most Of them have had to be content
to remain all their lives unskilled
laborers," Their lot has been not
unlike that of the race mentioned IN
the Old Testament who were con-
dcmned to be 'hewers Of wood and
drawers Of water.
''The New Testament however tells
us that il ii Gods will that al mafe
should be saved, This means sha
should have the opportunity 70 de-
velop To the full capacities that God
has given them It III our Gh istian
responsibility therefore, 70 extend
this opportunity 10 those who, like
the Negroes, lack il. With this in
mind young Negro priest, James
solomon Russell. some fifty years
ago appealed to the church to help
him found school where Negro
bows and girls could be adequately
trained TO become workmen that do
not need to be ashamed. Out Of this
venture Of faith has grown that
splendid institution. st. Paul Normal
and Industrial School which next
Nav viii celebrate its fiftieth ami
versary. 1t has demonstrated the
possibility 1T making the Negro
young people workmen who do not
need to be ashamed The training
which it gives has opened tho door
elf Aoppors.nity to thoussads who
would otherwise have had no way o.
proving their worth Its graduate
have become useful citizens, insrlr-
ing their own race to strive for high
or standards and Winning the re-
spect of the white people among
whom they lived.
eve have every reason to thank
God for what has been accomplished
through st. Paul's during the past
fifty years. Shall we not also show
our gratitude by enabling II TO be-
come still more useful in the years
that lie ahead9 The very improve
ment which st. Paul's has helpod to
hrine about means that i II IS f'
continue Is develop workmen that
do not need to be ashamed, = mus'
he constantly raising its standards q
training. TO do this better equip.
ment and more adequate support VIII
Be required. | hope that se. faul
fine record during the past My
years will arouse a widespread de--
ere IL cooperate in the provision
Of whatever is needed to enabie I
to continue its service in the future. I
For fifty years, st. Paul School has
steadily grown and expanded. Today
II has an annual enrolment of more
than a thousand students staff O.
sixty teachers and officers, 1000
graduates, 10000 undergraduates
forty structures ten Of which ar,
brick, and 1000 acres Of land. TIL
School was founded IN order tha
Negro boys and girls, Handicapped
by environment and denied the ad-
vantages Of public education, Nigh
have an opportunity for trainini
that would fit them to cope wit
the problem Of earning living.
James Solomon Russell. the foun
der, himself born in slavery, deyot
his life to the task Of securing
broader advantages for Negro youth