Newspapers / Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.) / March 14, 1935, edition 1 / Page 1
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ft’ j / ' ; :ir r > m^mmw .Til ’ "■ P?N>„ AND YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE "'™im ' ''' mrnrnrnimmmmmtmmmmmmmmesmimsnv i. . rKUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE.--John viii:S2. *m''. fs-j- -i.. ■' -1 ~ ’’ i '■■>.. v m ' I, COEDUCATION AT MARY HOLMES By President Graham F. Campbell i (A paper read at the Work era’ Conference held In the University Church at Johnson C. Smith University, Feb. 6-S.) "iiAiucation" comes from a Latin word, “isduco," which means to “draw out," 6ut you can not draw out anything which nas not flrst oeen put m, so we are endeavoring m our program at inary fioimes Sem inary to lirst instill in the neaus, haims and hearts of our students tnose things which later can be drawn out. to make them useful citizens, f or in stance, if you have a tank which js supposed to supply water to a city or a uuduing, you can not. t raw out ox this tank any water until it, has nr sc been pumped into it. Therefore, we have en deavored to put into our curric ulum those tilings which will be used m the lives of our stu dents as they go into their re spective helas of endeavor. We hope they will oe able to do better those things they will do anyway, and live better those lives which tney will live any way, for having attended our institution. Mary Holmes is an accred ited High School (one of the six in the State), and we also teach ijihie m every class. The State recognizes this work in Bible, and it is also a help to those who go out as churcn workers. Sunday school teachers, etc., as well as to the personal lives of the students. Recently we have, ada^a » practice school to our course which enables the normal atu r" pafS&Kt to ^et nrat-nancTeisr * ' „perience before they graduate. 1 he State has given our girls a course in nursing-by a grad uate nurse, and we are giving the boys a short course m ag riculture during the same pe riod. Our stuoents nave been called upon by various churches in the community to furnish or ganists, pianists, teachers, sec retaries, and, in one case at least, a superintendent of a Sun day school. vln that way, the school and community are be coming mutually more helpful. * Co-education at Mary Holmes sounds like a paradox or a con tradiction, because a girls’ sem inary does not generally have boys as students. In fact one of our boys suggested that we change the name to Mary Holmes Juhior College, since we have recently added the Junior College Department, run so successfully under the lead ership of Miss Mary E. Fores man as dean. It has been so suc cessful that the County Super intendent has promised to em ploy as many graduates as we can turn out for the next few years. There are not many schools that can guarantee their students positions as soon as they graduate in the field of their choice. This only goes to show the extreme need for pre pared teachers in the State of Mississippi. In this county alone there are 75 teachers in the col i- ored schools, and only about one-third are properly prepared for their work. We added the normal course without addition al funds and put in an addition al course without extra teach era, but rather fewer teachers. When we decided to have day students and boys about the same time, we were greatly surprised to have about 60 boys come this year. Nearly half of our day students are boys and about thirty per cent of the student body, as we have over 200 in all this year. In fact, we have the largest student body we have had during the nine years that we have been con nected with Mary Holmes. By taking in first, girls as day stu dents, and then boys as day students this year, we filled up ihe breech caused by those who could not pay full board. We can not now give scholar ships to worthy girls, as for merly, but are giving only a pittance off for extra work done. When we started out to take »n boys we thought we would nave many problems to wink out, i but we received such a nigh type of boys that we »ouiid i hat they were much more of <*n asset than a liability. , tVi -instance, three boys were pre pared well enough to enter our Senior High school class, nav al# I attended other private schools. Two of them were min isters’ runs and one is the son of one of our Presbyterian dea cons. His brother has his A. B. and is now working on his M A. at the University of Chica go. The fathers of the other .wo stand well in their respec tive churches and they are as fine a set of boys as you would find anywhere. We have organized a boys’ basket ball team and when ve play another team we are aoie co play a double header of both ooys and girls. “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” so we are endeavoring to keep them from being dull. Also oui /iris’ oasket ball team has ob tained quite a reputation, lor Aey; have lost only two games in several years. ; JLast summer we conducted * VititwjnniiBildMr Wmi :tt the Seminary.and had ojpr 100 ! who, attended, regularly and receivedN benefit from the wonderful courses in Bible, health, wood work, etc. We had the pleasure of teaching a arge class of boys chair-caning, which was not, only enjoyable, but profitable as well. It was interesting to see the boys t»ring old chairs from home with no bottoms m.thern and .hien jretum fwith ^chese r-ame chairs at the close of the school with neatly woven cane bot toms, all painted and looking .ike new chairs. It, was real cre ative work. Then they took hold of the Bible memory work and each endeavored to commit, to memory, before the others, the work assigned. We endeavor to change our program to meet changing con ditions. We used to have to turn away boarders for lack of space. We find by this plan that those who can not afford' to live in the building come as day students,, and it makes it easier to finance. REVIVAL AT ANNISTON, ALABAMA. Last week our city witnesed one of the best, revivals in its history. Rev. T. B. Hargrave conducted services at Margaret Barber Seminary in the morn ing and afternoon and at Cal vary Presbyterian church at night Last Thursday morning 66 an swered the call to accept Christ cr renew their lives. At the church 30 in all answered the call. Our pastor, Dr. A. W. Rice, co-operated with the school and in turn the President, Dr. Ho sack and the faculty and stu dents did not miss a meeting at the church. All worked to gether. Rev. Hargrave says if you attempt large things for God, large things can be accom plished. This was evidenced by the large results and acces sions to the church. We pray for the evangelist continued success. A FRIEND, Advice is very cheap because it is .a kind of generosity that requites no seif-denial on ar.y J>ody's part. This is not a laby rinth of doubt. Sometimes it comes from those who need it most, and from many who have never experienced what they advise you against. About twen ty-five years ago I sat as a member of one of our Presby teries in this State and listened eagerly to a strong, earnest minister of this Presbytery, and to a Christian woman ad dress this Presbytery; and the bdrden of their terse, cutting, cpigrammatical remarks was an exposition of why parents Tail in bringing up their children: in the right way, and a remedy for the best course to pursue 41 child rearing. Really I was much impressed by their pre scriptions in many cases. In tact it appeared that their re marks were directed to me alone. Others told me that they felt similarly, But, to my surprise, after the benediction^ 1 was informed on inquiry that neither of these adepts at child rearing was a married person; nad very little prospects of evei gracing Hymen’s altar; and they never once had the care of children. But, nevertheless, the advice was sane and sound; and they gave it freely. They lost* nothing in the giving. Per haps some one in the audience was helped. A and question arose in my mind perhaps in others—as to hoy these child-rearing profes sors cathe in possession of such not having prac hnmtmg out dry^theory on rearing chil dren? Often this is the case: some of our finest and most in forming lecturers on pastoral theology have never pastored a church; and some have failed m the attempt. I have heard many great men in our Churc tell people how to raise money ■ or the general Church; and they have failed completely as pastors raising funds for the general Church. About thirty seven years ago I remember having read a series of releases by an outstanding minister — scholarly man — under the heading, “The Preacher Who Wins.” He want on to tell what is required of a minister to win souls. He prescribed many re quisites and pre-requisites. His weekly releases were looked for eagerly, especially by young ministers. But to the disap pointment of his admirers and worshippers (in his way of giv ing light to make a preacher who wants to win) this out standing minister, though a Christian gentleman, was a complete failure as a minister, pastor and preacher. He could write most interestingly on this subject. Everything said was apropos to the mark: “The preacher who wins.” Just now, as usual, the -Ne gro is the audience to sit up and take note of advice: some hackneyed and some entirely obsolete and hardly suitable for long forgotten archives. That is quite common in the evolution of things. Some doc trines upheld for centuries have been forgotten; while oth ers have become obsolete, This is the way of things that are not fundamental. The Apostle Paul preached: “Let your women keep silence in the church: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are com manded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for wo men to speak in the church.' But if the Apostle Paul were living‘ today he would see that doctrine obsolete and detriment al to the church. Forty years ago the late Booker T. Washington sent his mesujge around the world lflj an address in Atlanta, Ga., us ing such phrases as “Let down your bucket, where you are' anrfpback to the farm” was a cUre for all economic ills, and faMiiresr; hut if Dr. Washington could get a glimpse from eterni ty into the land of time, he wonid see the doctrine, “back fa &£ famuf* threatened with senile. infirmities, and fast sa voring of the things, that are several of his releases ^Uy Miller has hden and Jie ltas taken up the refrain at a ffihe when “back to the farm” under present conditions is a joke in the streets among men who once shipped their cotton directly from Charleston port to Liverpool, at one dollar a pound. These once wealthy planters—-as they called them selves over against the up country poor white man (farm er K^are falling farther behina each year in trying to get “back to ’the farm;” and many have not been' able to pay their tax es in five years. Some are on the dole. Just a casual study m the South among Negroes, and even tile largest white farmers or planters, finds “back to the fai|n” an obsolete doctrine; for thd matter of farming carries th<| jdea of equipment in terms of money with which to farm. In ,;tommon parlance, “back to the jfarm” requires fertilizer, farming implements, beasts qf !U»tfchr*roffihg stock, tfhptwe in which to live, land at rea sonable rates—-if you have to rent,* and the majority of Ne groes will have to rent—, some thing on which to feed your beasts of burden, something to eat yourself, and at least, a nickel for your church and Sab bath school, if you are religi ously inclined; and, of course, you may not need the service of a medical physician while in cidentals are out of the ques tion. So if there be any virtue, If there be any praise, think on these things in “backing to the farm.” “Back to the farm” is a hack neyed phrase that is in the realm of the ad captandum vul ga; it appeals to the wealthy but common gallery. of the country that would see the Ne gro “back to the farm” or some other visionary region to make brick without straw. If Dr. Mil ler would arise from his com fortable swivel chair and go “back t.o the farm” in Fairfield County, South Carolina* and take his own advice for twelve months, he would soon awake to the sad fact that he was throwing his money out of the door with a farmer’s shovel and gathering it up with a teaspoon His ammunition would overbal ance his game in valus. I have lived in the coastal section of South Carolina nine teen years, where thg Negro population is more dense than in any other part of the i-'ate I. have traveled among them from Georgetown, S. C., to Sa vannah, Ga., including the many islands of the South Carolins coast; and my knowledge of con conditions among thm is by nc means second-hand. I have seei them make cotton and not b< allowed to sell it; I see then working for thirty cents pei diem; I see work refused then because they own land; I sei their applications turned 4owi for a job, sponsored by the NRA because they have a child ii school and are paying a tuitioi of fifty cents a month; I se Negroes who want work an< are refused work by the NRi local .bosses because these Ne (Continued on page 3) GREEN PASTURES AND THE RACE PROBLEM ar.lJ. By Dr. Kelly Miller : ' March 11, 1935. Mr. Richard B. Harrison, New YoricCity, N Y. My dear Mr. Harrison: I was very much distressed to read in the public press that because of illness you were compelled to forego the role of “DeiLawd” in “Green Pastures” whiqh you had played continu ously since the organisation of; the company. Here is hoping* you speedy recovery to your former robust, health and strength. I recall vividly the days when we Used to meet in different parts of the country upon the same general mission—I to in* fornoi and enlighten the people through lecture and didactic disccjurset , and you, through readings and dramatic recit als. At that time it was impos sible; to predict the glorious fu ture i which lay ahead of you. Through some good chance or happy accident, you were in ducted into the leading role hf Creep Pastures which you have made famous, and which in turn! has made you famous throughout the nation, and, in deed, throughout the world.’ Your name easily takes rank with; the great actors of our time; Although I am wishing you a speedy recovery, I can hardly say that I would like to sae you assume that role agaip. The work is complete. lour task is finished. To gild re fined gold, to paint the lily, or tint the sunset is a wasteful Shd ridiculous excess. *he Work! that' aft rises above race and color, class and caste. Green Pastures , is but an epit ome of the Bible which in turn, is but a picture of the Hebrew soul turned wrong side out. Think of a Negro caste por traying Hebrew traits and character better than God's chosen people themselves could do. The simple, unsophisticated nature of the Negro constitutes the best medium and soul stuff upon winch could be imprinted the primitive lesson which God had to impress on the human race. Your interpretation of Green Pastures is a convincing in stance of the function and mis sion of art as a solvent of com plex and aggravating social nroblems. I am convinced that ituiana nayes in me aomam oi music, and Richard B. Harrison in mimic art, have done more toward a solution of our vexed race problem than all of the discussion and agitation since Emancipation. To relieve men of their prejudices they must be approached on the blind side. Forthright condemnation and direct denunciation have never made men more humane or Christ-like. By lifting all men upon the Mount of Transfigura tion through art and song and story, they will be brought closer together in one ennobling brotherhood than by quarreling with them about their imper fections at its base. Music andj art not only have charms to soothe the savage breast but to rob humanity of its savagery. You will doubt'333 recall when you were playing in 1 Washington, I had you meet a 1 number of friends at dinner. > The ardent agitators warned 1 you not to appear at, any play • huose which seated its patrons 1 by race. My philosophy was and > is that, the function of the ar t tist is to perform his art and , let those who will or may come 1 to see and hear. HehasjMtfcing 1 to do with load senihMnt and ; seating arrangements. If any l feel their, sensibilities are L wounded by such distinctions, . they have the Gqd^iven right . to stay away. But with the per former, the play is the thing, 1 wrote a release to this effect some years previously when a similar predicament confront,ea Roland Hayes. You agreed with ray philosophy. You have taken your cast through the Soutn and have performed to hun dreds of audiences and touched scores of thousands of hearts and have made them fed more kindly, and think more sympa thetically of their fellow citi zens different in color from themselves. You have carried the ministry cf art, purifying the spirit and ' ennobling the souls of men even of this pervert and preju diced day and generation. You have built better than you knew, and great is your reward m the esteem of your fella, men. Yours truly, KELLY MILLER. TIMOTHY) DARLING PRES BYTERIAN CHURCH, DR. G. C. SHAW, PASTOR, OX FORD, N. C. ! By Miss D. E. Peace Timothy Darling Presbyterian church and Oxford have been greatly benefited as well as spiritually revived through the concerted prayers of Christians and the ministry of the word as given by Rev. B. F. Glasco, D. B, of Pittsburgh, Pa. The evangelistic effort offi cially began on March 3rd and extended through the l$th. Dr. Glasco came on Monday, March 4th, and remained through the 10th. > The preaching, of—the -wowt was given the chief place in v two messages each day, one in -he morning in the school audi torium at the assembly period; the other message at 8 P. M. it the church. So great was the press until ?xtra seats were provided and ;hen some were forced to stand in the vestibules and about the windows on the outside. Denominational lines were forgotten and all Christians gave themselves to be used by the Spirit to the glory of Christ and to the edification of their own souls. So mighty was the Spirit through the word until fifty-eight souls were born into the kingdom of God. Out of this number twenty were received into full communion at. Timo thy Darling church. To the spiritually minded person there can be no doubt about the Rev. Glasco being the "chosen of God” and a “prince among preachers,” a man in whose mind lingers no doubt about the fundamentals of the Christian faith and life. Some of the subjects present ed were: Death; Hell; Judg ment; Heaven; The Church and The Second Coming of Christ. So dearly and forcefully were these subjects presented and proven according to the Scrip ture until every one was made to realize the truth of all the arguments. In all Dr. Glasco made fourteen appearances and held some fifteen or twenty private conferences. The church work at Franklin ton, N. C., is progressing. The Sunday school is being conduct ed in the most progressive man ner as outlined by the Rev. Thomas A. Jenkins. Mr. A: O. Dunston is the superintendent. The preaching services are very largely attended. The young people are active and the mis sionary ladies are doing a good piece of work. Mt. Pleasant hopes to complete the benevo lence quota before March 31st. The church at Stovall, N. C., has recently received a new roof and windows. The Sunday school, under the leadership of Mr. Lonnie Davis, is progress .. 1 1 i . . " (Continued on page 3)
Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.)
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March 14, 1935, edition 1
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