Newspapers / Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.) / Feb. 26, 1925, edition 1 / Page 1
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VOL. XLVII. CHARLOTTE, N. C„ „ • i . * „ , ... M MAKE YOU FREE. —John viii, 32. -“1-.““. ■MSPl&f&f ■»{; j,t t^vh«»A:: _ THE INFLUENCE OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION IN THE COMMUNITY. By Mrs. J. S. Marquis. (An Address delivered at the „ Workers’ Conference at Annis ton, Alabama.) -r. The purpose that was high ip the hopes of the founders of dttr nation was that we should be a Christian people. The Pil grim Fathers were unswerving m their devotion to this ideal. Should it be necessary for us to day to plead for the continu ance of an education that is Christian? Is it not a shame that this is so necessary? Your ask, But is it really ne cessary? Let me give you the opinion of one of our eminent mission ary educators—A man who. has devoted the/active years of his long life to giving Christian, ed ucation to the people of India. We may be sure that the pub lished opinions of our own Dr. J. C. R. Ewing are the result of thoughtful investigations. In a recent address he tells us that he is “very doubtful of the ad visability of the thoughtful, skeptical young Hindoo men coming over to our universities for study.” Why? What are his reasons for making this start ling statement ? These young men are, in most cases, the pro duct of our missionary schools and colleges of India and have i imbibed the idea that the educa tion of this Christian nation is conducted along Christian lines and by Christian men and wo men. They see and hear alas ! too often the tendency to drift away and make little of Christ’s teach ings, Tha tendency is to be much ..... more.interested-in all other libels of thought and investiga tion than teaching and learning how we may make the best of our lives and best serve our day and generation, building such character that we may be ready and prepared to serve Him who will call us to come up higher, that we may be ready to live with Him who came to teach us how to live. - The Influence of a Christian Education—Training for the Whole of Life. The problem of education is coming more and more to be re garded as one of the great American problems. As a nation we are coming to see more clear ly that education and national progress are to each other as cause and effect. We are coming to realize that the nation will reap in its national life a har vest of the same kind that it sows in its schools and homes and churches; that the nation will be tomorrow what its schools and other educational influences are today. Many ar ticles are being written on ed ucation in all. its phases. The Influence—Nothing Can Exert an Influence Unless It Is An Established Fact. Education must be Christian before it can exert a Christian influence. That school is not ful filling its purpose that does not develop; the whole child, phy sically,' mentally, and morally. I have not specified spiritually because the spirit belongs to the body, mind and heart, and we must develop each of these along spiritual lines. We must xeacn me cnna mat ms oouy is the temple of God—the dwelling place of the Spirit of God. me must fit these bodies and keep them for service. Not forgetting to teach, as Jesus Ndid, that we are not to give anxious thought to the care of these bodies, to fret and worry about them. Pla to, said the development of the soul is better than 10,000 eyes. * In order that our young peo ple may learn the importance of spiritual values in. mind de velopment, we must teach them patiehce, perseverance l punct uality, regularity, industry, ac curacy and application; love of work and pride in work well done. No child will be an effi cient thinker unless he learns these fundamental principles of life. In the realm of morals—the ' ' * ' ' heart—the child must be taught kindness, gentleness, courage, faith and hope, unselfish service and sympathy, self-control, self reliance, fluty* and obedience, r&e**nc&Jef jGofl and for his, fellows. —* ; To sum. it all up, the child must be guided along the path-; way of life, so that he may “ex perience religion" and learn to guide his life by that experi ence. These are the spiritual values of life and we believe the fun damentals in education. We are put in this life for service. And all education to fit one for service must include in its reason for being Christ the Saviour of men, a regenerated humanity and a kingdom of God to cover the earth with righteousness. The accomplish ment of this purpose of God must be our supreme interest in bringing Christian education to our young people. Here is where the influence of the Christian teacher is felt. Our boys and girls will not have their God given birthright unless self-sac rificing Christian teachers and leaders and preachers, who are followers of their Master Teach er and Preacher, the Christ of Calvary, are willing to devote their lives to this work. Fellow-workers and teach ers, are we becoming so ab sorbed by the strong, drawing influences and tendencies of our day and time that we place the emphasis in our school work on training our boys and girls and sending them out into life mere ly/, to make a good living? We m£pt teach all the necessary things Jor developing the body, mind and heart, but not forget that the first and supreme object is that each young life must be sent out living the gospel. The essence of that living is given in the injunction that “no man liveth to himself alone/’ The program for the Christian teacher is a long, tedious and ofttimes an overwhelming one. Does it pay ? Every one of us may answer that it has rewards, it does pay, in coin more pre cious than gold or silver. During the almost sixty years since the first consecrated teachers gathered the children around them and taught them the answers to, “Who made you ?” “What is sin ?,” the words of the beautiful Shepherd Psalm, and other portions of Scripture, as well as the A. B. C’s on down the years until these same children extended their knowledge to “What is the chief end of man?” “Effectual Calling,” “Repentance unto Life,” “Faith in Jesus Christ,” and “What is prayer?” and portions ot God s Word, our Christian schools have sent out many boys and girls, men and women whose purpose in life and manner of living have been such that communities have been uplifted and blessed. One way by which we'can measure the influence of the Christian school is by noticing the, homes of the people. These homes are vastly, different from those of three decades ago. Not only in their physical aspect, but the entire atmosphere of the home has been changed for the better. The young people who went out from the schools in the early days carrying the influ ence of their training with them began first to change the view point of the ,inmates of those homes, create ideals, arouse am bitions and develop thoughts of what a really happy home was— a clean, fair dwelling place, even of the one-room cabin, for fath er, mother and children, where all were interested in doing each his part. I shall take one family with eight girls and six boys as an example. The atmosphere of the place was so changed by the ef forts of our teacher, “who had ■been off to college,” that the community began to hold up its head. In the early days the teacher could only have the children for two months, per haps, and of course progress was slow. The ambition was aroused, however. Then cams the new minister to preach in the church or school house. He brought his youhg wife, also from the school. A home was set up. The marriage vow was kept and honored. The boys and girls in the community, through the influ ence of that home, perhaps had ness and influence of this marriage vow* * The circle GiSihe influence of the Christian school has widened! throughout this fair land until! but few, if any, Spots remain: where the light of Christ’s teachings has not beien visual ized. These trained workers from the Christian schools go forth in various capacities, perhaps preachers, teachers, missiona ries, and, not least of all, home makers, with a broad outlook and consecrated zeal. A noticeable feature of the influence on the community of the ,Christian school is seen in this fact. Not all students of our schools have the ability to grasp all of the studies in the courses; others cannot stay in school the required number of years. In so many instances we have found that these boys and girls, who were hardworking and de pendable, have gone into the more obscure places and revolu tionized the whole community. They could not, perhaps,' shine as brilliant scholars while in school, but they became the mainstay of the pastor and Sab bath School Superintendent. They were capable of seeing what should be done and H&w the community could be made oetter, and the people showed their- confidehee- in them byah working together. We have often been amazed how these consecrated young people, who had brought away from school a vision of service, were able to make things go in their communities. We were hu miliated as well as encouraged, when they told us, “We tried to do as you taught us in Brain erd.” These young people get an ed ucation in the Christian school that fits them for accomplishing God’s purpose for them, that they can get in no other place. We deem it worthy of public notice and are proud to tell of the helpful influence that Brain erd institute, established by the Church, not far from 60 years ago, has had in our town and vi cinity. Just a few from many encouraging remarks that have Oeen made by all classes of our citizens will show that the ef fects of Christian training in our schools are a recognized force in the community. Sever al years ago an effort was made co have a bill passed in our State that would exclude our teachers. The citizens and press of our city volutarily took the matter in hand and were unani mous in their opinion that the influence of the school was so beneficial and helpful that the city and county could not af ford to do anything that would Hinder the school in its growth. The legislative delegation worked and voted to kill the bill in the senate, in the wake of this encouragement from our com munity came this very astound ing statement: Two of the oldest citizens of our town were dis cussing civic and moral issues— what had been and was being done for the betterment of the people. The older of these gen tlemen had been in Lee’s army. He said “that in his opinr ion the two men who had been of the most benefi t to the com munity were Rev. Samuel Loom is and Mr. Marquis.” This, as you know, is not to be taken personally. That remark could be made because it was evident to this man that the establishment and growth of the school and church had been a most helpful force in making and keeping the entire vicinity what it is today —a community in which all are striving to live together in mu tual helpfulness; where 'riots, mobs and ly:achings are un t, and where justice, fair nd good will prevail. Dee with these words oi R. Wells: A Transformation. s’s a diamond hid in the p of coal, s a ruby concealed in th^ pep in the humblest hu4 pbelff purest ray. Mpjwr of pressure, the feof fire, change the dross to the he human soul that daces e transformed like them.”' GREAT CHURCH MEETING! ia| WILMINGTON, N; CL | A. M$E. Bishops Held Mid Win nington, N. C., Feb. 23rd Midwinter session of the A. Df Avery, pastor. This was it time this important ng was ever held in portsittt A. M. E. gathering here sdncefthe general conference of 1336.mil of the bishops now in America were present except Bishops B. F. Lee, of Ohio (re tired) land Bishop W. D. Chap pelle,pf South Carolina, who is sick. Besides the Bishops more thanfpree hundred ministers from iiU parts of the country attended. Bishop H. P. Parks, of Oakland, California, is chairman of 'th*' Bishops’ Council, and phia, John Hurst of Baltimore, J. H. Jones .of Ohio, J. M. Con ner of Arkansas, W. W. Beckett of Brooklyn, I. N. Ross of Wash ington, W. D. Johnson of Geor gia, A. J. Carey of Chicago, W. T. Vernon of Kansas, W. A. Fountain of Georgia, A. L. Gaines of .Baltimore and R. C. Ransom of Nashville, Tenn. Bishops W. S. Brooks of West Africa and John A. Gregg _ of South Africa were absent, being at their work in Africa. The Bishops reviewed the work of the church, its membership, fi nances, and different depart ments. There are nearly 800,000 members, and the dollar money is over $300,000 per year. More than two thousand worn out preachers, widows and orphans receive pension from the Church. The general officers present were Drs. D. M. Baxter, Busi ness Manager; R. R. Wright, Jr., editor Christian Recorder; E. H. Coit, Missionary Secretary; John R. Hawkins, Financial Sec retary; Ira T. Bryant, Secretary Sunday School Union; G. W. Al len, Editor Southern Christian Recorder; J. G. Robinson, Editor Church Review; S. J. Johnson, Secretary Church Extension; S S. Morris, Secretary Allen Chris tian Endeavor League. All re ported* > their departments ir good condition. A. MJE. Church Bishops’ Coun cfi wM held here last week in St. Carolina, and the first im t’s A. M. E. church, Rev. HOME MISSION WORK. The Home Mission Society of the Second Presbyterian church of Mooresville held their last meeting -February 13, at the home of Rev. and Mrs. J. G. Murray. The meeting was inter esting throughout and many helpful suggestions were given out by the different members. The Society has always em phasized home work and has been able to do many helpful things for the needy. They have realized that missionary work is community work whether at home or abroad, through the ef forts of Mrs. Murray a good many gifts hfive been secured from friends whom she has met in New York City and elsewhere. These gifts have bee^ given to those who are in need. The officers and members are zealous in their work' and they are asking tha^, other societies pray for them. CORRESPONDENT. t By Uncle Billie. '■ -nir L u*$ ‘iso .T'o 2# ; ;ipfwtcii& : Wt>j/ fti When one’s intellect overbal ances one’s judgment, we say such a person is eccentric; and when his judgment outruns his intellect, we pity him as a work man with splendid material, but without skill. You would better; balance up. The Census of New York City. The Census of New York City shows that there are 1,440,635 Roman Catholics, 2,122,457 Protestants, and 2,056,956 Jews in that city, which means with out any mathematical dispute,' that 25.64 per cent of the pop ulation is Roman Catholic, 27.08 per cent is Protestant, and 36.58 per cent Jewish. At the present rate of . increase the JeWS null soon outnumber all other religious orders. The Protestants are those who are members of any Christian Church other than the Greek or Roman Catholic; originally a Protestant was one of the party who adhered to Luther. All the American Negroes were once Protestants except, a baker’s dozen. But now we have many more than a baker’s dozen, and we are likely to have many more within a few decades. Negroes are sending ! their children out oi Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist homes, and homes of other persuasions, to Catholic schools because some of our Southern states feel that it is sinnfftg against the Holy Ghost for a Negro to attend an eight nox un teaeh montns scnooi max is crowded out with children der one poorly prepared er ” A white Catholic laughing ly told me three months ago that an intelligent Negro ter told him. when he tlfe* colored p^efcher' wfc# he was sendinghis child to the Catholic school :\ “I. prefer my child to be a Catholic with some education to being a fool in my Church. My Church is too poor to support a school, and the city is afraid to spend any money on Negro education.” What will these children be when the Catholics are through with them? You cannot blame the Negro: He knows that any man without some education these days is to be pitied. The world requires more of you now. Even the horses that served their master and were carried to the crematory to receive respects for the last time from those whom they faithfully sierved, would give much trouble now if they could be brought back to ■this world. The airships, auto mobiles, and other means of conveyance would frighten him from the rice -swamps to the Appalachian highlands, I rather suspect. A fool is xo be pitied, and he who labors to keep one a fool is sinful, selfish, and with out wisdom. The Jews and Who? Generally speakihg there are three classes of this race: the Orthodox, Reformed, and Rad ical. >ne Orthodox Jews believe in the inspiration of the Old Testament, but follow the tradi tional explanations, that such passages a sisian i :i4 mean Hezekiah, the 53rd Chapter of Isaiah means the Jewish' na tion, which is suffering persecu tion. They adhere strictly to the traditional doctrine of the Pharisees. They believe that Christ was of illegitiihate birth, a fake teacher, and a Wiz ard, and was legally killed Ac cording to Mosaic law. " Reforihed Jews, like the Uni tarians, deny the inspiration of the Bible, and do not believe that the whole Pentateuch was written by Moses, nor the prophetical books by the prophets. Christ, they believe, was a good man and moral teacher, but they deny his di vine claim as the Son of God and Saviour of the world. Radical Jews deny even the existence of God, and the Bible to them is of no value: They be^ lieve that Christ was the first socialist. They believe that there was a Christ—each: division be lieves something about Christ— even if they cannot agree on who he is. •«. !*» **?.•. Workers’ Conference at Bar ber College. i- Through many dangers, toils and snares, I got there and am glad I went. I was there ten years ago. Things have -changed up to a marked degree: a stand ard college with A rating, ft corps :of teachers from some of our strongest colleges, with Dr. and Mrs. Scherer, who know how to run a college, supervise girls, and to entertain the breth ren. They are the most cordial folk we have met since the days of Drs. Dorland and Satterfield. They ayre strict, yet kind to the girls. Were I a girl, after com pleting my course in dear jpld Scotia, where I got my first wife, I would go to Barber, if I had the wherewithal. The hpme life there,is ideal, the food sci entifically ; prepared, and every thing looks as clean as a pi% ' Dr. Scherer and Mrs. Scherer, and all of the teachers for that matter, ea nbe approached with ease, and yet you can see some thing in them that bespeaks personality of commanding power. They have the best wish es of the brethren. , ur. ana Mrs. Lewis, the heads of dear old Scotia, were there. Dr. Lewis - doesn’t? laugh, but Mrs. Lewis iaughs sweetly. But he talks pleasantly and is a most pleasant gentleman. I have one daughter under these two good people, and, therefore* I was doubly glad to see them and ask them a few questions. By the way, I have a letter on my desk from an old Lincoln and Princeton friend, who..is practicing medicine in the far West. He says that the leading cpjojred woman -in tl M' Whieh-ne h __, cme,- in civic and social affairs, is “an old Scotia girl.” Space will not allow me to say au the good things he says about her.' Mr. Edgar F. Johnson’s ad dress dir “Mary Holmes Semina ry and its Graduates” gives you a faint idea of that school and Mrs. Johnson. Ingleside Seminary was re presented by Mrs. Altar, and Brainerd Institute was repre- * sented by Mrs. Marquis. These, two most pleasant and godly women are the wives of the heads of these schools, which in stitutions are assets to the towns iin which they are located, and Stand high among our schools established in the dark, pioneer jdays. My greatest pleasure was in meeting old college mates: Car roll, S. J. Grier, and one or two others whom I had not seen in years. It was quite a pleasure to me to be in this conference Drs. B. P. McDowell, W. ’;. Coles, and R. P. Wyche, mm whom I heard preach when I was quite a lad. These good pien are among our first colored men who came out from college as educated ministers of the gos pel. It is a source of great joy and gratitude to God to see them so active in any of our confer ences. And to hear their voices now, appears like living life Dver. We visited the High School , under Rev. and Mrs. Rice. Rev. Rice is our faithful minister at Anniston and his faithful little wife, whom I knew when a girl in Scotia years ago, is his right hand: While they have^ an .ideal Presbyterian school buildidg*— one through which birds can fly with every window and door securely closed and can* , pass from one room to the other without going through the doors f—they are doing fine work.., , While they have a Presbyterian., School. building, they are, doing. ] “A” Class work. They are doingt . real high school work. It is not.. on paper only, but in the school room. . , Abbeville. : i When I left Anniston I • went to Abbeville, and from there to Due West, and Clinton, the-lat ter the. place of my ybirth. I Shall say more about these plac es and their pepote ihv my next article. Abbeville itself would ' take up several columns. 0 ..nH. \
Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.)
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Feb. 26, 1925, edition 1
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