“AND YE SHA1L KNOW THETRUTH, AND THE
VOL. LV11.
CHARLOTTE, N. C„ THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1936.
FIVE CENTURIES OF COLLEGES
(From The Montgomery Advertiser)
College education is now 300
years old in the United States.
This year (1936), is its 300th
anniversary. Harvard was the
first; and Harvard recently ob
served, with appropriate exer
cises, the tercentenary of its
founding.
From that beginning colleges
and universities in the United
States have increased to 656
senior colleges and 438 junior
colleges at present. Enrollments
have increased from a dozen or
so the initial year at Harvard
to more than one million in
1936-37. The current enroll
ment is approximately one-half
of the total living college grad
uates, which is 2,204,000. Yet
only 29 of every 1,000 adults
in this country hold college de
grees; and 109 of each 1,000
adults hold high school diplo
mas.
Harvard was a church school.
It was founded primarily for
training ministers. The same
was true of Yale, Princeton and
all other nine colonial colleges
with one exception. Even to
day, church colleges far out
number State and privately
owned institutions of higher
learning.
Although Harvard was of lit
tle consequence in public life
for its first 200 years, higher
education as a whole has grown
in usefulness until it now finds
expression and service in every
phase of American life. Most
leaders in public life, in busi
ness, in agriculture and in the
professions are college gradu
ates or, at least, college trained.
And their period of college
training continues to grow. For
example, medicine has develop
ed from knowledge mysterious
through a one-year college un
til now a young man who re
ceives his degree in medicine
has had six or eight years in
colleger '
Until recently so-called book
farmers made good jokes but
now men trained in agriculture
are leaders not only in agricul
ture but in practical farming.
And corporations, for many
years, have depended upon
young college graduates to re
plenish and enlarge their per
sonnels in both technical and
administrative fields. Until re
cently students who took engi
neering at a technical school,
such as Auburn, gave little
thought to such subjects as
economics and finance but now
they must know about econom
ics and finance if they expect
to become executives for indus
trial corporations.
Obviously, therefore, courses
for college graduates have no
bounds and their opportunities
are unlimited. This explains
why enrollment in American
colleges decreased very little
during the depression and is
now zooming to new peaks. A
horizontal increase of 5 per
cent this year over last is re
ported, some oi tne Aiawama
institutions are much above this
report. Auburn, for example,
has an increase of 12 per cent,
after refusing 300 non-resident
applications which would have
made an increase of 25 per cent.
Columbia university in New
York City, America’s biggest
university, has an enrollment
of 36,500. Last year it was 33,
511.
Two other New York City
universities are second and
third. New York university lift
ed its 28,269 to a new high of
30.000, while the College of the
City of New York jumped to
23,000 over 22,182 in 1935-36.
University of California gained
from 12,967 to 14,051, while
Northwestern increased from
12,771 to 13,000. The Univer
sity of Chicago saw its figures
soar from 11,054 $o 12,154,
while 3,300 freshmen register
ed at Ohio State university,
making a total enrollment of
12.000.
Looking back a few years we
find that at the beginning of the
century (1900) only 186,000
young men and young women
were enrolled in American col
£
leges. In 1910 about 3 1-2 per
cent of the population of the
United States of college age
was in college. Last year the
proportion had climbed to 16
per cent and is probably close
to 17 per cent this year, or
about 1,100,000.
While these figures are re
markable they are also en
couraging. They mean that
American youth is determined
to be better trained, to have a
better education, and to do big
ger and better jobs of what
they do. Education, of course,
is the only way by which hu
man beings have ever made
progress and improvement.
Without it, mankind would still
be primitive.
From a retrospect of our first
300 years of colleges we turn
to the future. None of us, ad
mittedly, are prophets, but we
do know that the past bespeaks
in part the future. Since our
colleges and universities have
made and are making major
contributions to society we con
clude safely that in the future
they will have a bigger part in
our progress and our improve
ments. They are both a moving
and a stabilizing factor in
American society and Ameri
can achievement.
ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES
AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS
MEETS |
Petersburg, Va., Nov. 27.—
(ANP)—The Association of
Colleges and Secondary Schools
for Negroes held its third an
nual meeting at Virginia State
college here Thursday and Fri
day, November 12, 13. Sixty
five representatives of colleges
and high schools from every
section of the South were in at
tendance at the gathering which
followed immediately after the
sessions of. the Land Grant Col
lege Presidents. The Associa
tion is the official accrediting
body for institutions of higher
education and high schools
clearing through the Southern
Association of Colleges and
Secondary Schools with Fred
McCuistion of Nashville as lia
son officer.
Highlights of the meeting
were the addresses of Dr. Ed
win A. Lee, director of the Na
tional Occupation Conference,
who spoke on the subject
“Deep River” and gave an il
luminating picture of the eco
nomic and social implications of
life in America for the Negro,
as well as those of Dr. Buell G.
Gallagher, president of Talla
dega, who chose the subject, “If
; I Were A College President”
and of President William Stuart
Nelson of Dillard University
who gave an address on “What
Are and What Should Be the
Relations of the Alumni and the
College?”
V. E. Daniel, dean of Wiley
college, was elected president to
succeed W. A. Robinson of At
lanta. Among other speakers
whose addresses revolved about
the implications of the group’s
economic problems were T. E.
McKinney of Johnson C. Smith
University; R. 0. Lanier, Hous
ton; President Thomas E. Jones
of Fisk; Robert P. Daniel,
Shaw; Dwight 0. Holmes, How
ard; A. A. Taylor, Fisk; Miss
Edna Colson, Virginia State;
H. P. Rainey, director, Amer
icah Youth Commission; W. T.
B. Williams and Alphonse Hon
ingburg, Tuskegee; L. F. Palm
er, Newport News; Mrs. Mary
Bethune, Dr. Robert C. Weaver,
and Sidney B. Hall, state super
intendent public instruction,
Richmond.
Comparatively few of the woes
that fall upon the average man
come as a direct result of ig
norance. Most of us know far
better than we do. We know’
better, for instance, than to
mistreat our bodies, yet invite
disease every day through our
carelessness. We know better,
again, than to entertain evil
thoughts, yet we fill our minds
with the base and low and won
der why we are so unhappy.
MISS PET'S BETTER
HOME LIVING
(Calvin Service)
Clothing and Personality
Did you ever try to size peo
ple up as to their profession by
the way they dress? When I
was in college I always picked
out certain new teachers and
would say, “She is the new
home economics teacher,” or
music teacher, etc., simply be
cause some people pay more at
tention to their personality in
relation to personal grooming
than others.
The first thing to remember
is that carriage means fifty per
cent. Two people can put on the
same suit, yet one will look
much better in it than the oth
er. “Stand tall” is the expres
sion my physical education
teacher used. A slouchy car
riage spoils everything. What
ever the garment is be sure
that the color is becoming and
that it fits you. Well-fitting
clothing indicates exactness in
personality.
Study your own ngure. ricK
out your bad points and try to
flatter them. If you have large
arms do not wear short sleeves,
half way between elbow and
shoulder; wear them elbow
length. If short skirts are in
style and you have large legs
maybe you will look better in a
dress that is a little longer,
Perhaps eight or ten inches
Trom the floor.
Large hips look better with!
less flare and that should fall
below the hips. P.eople with a
large bust should not wear a
tight fitting waist. Jabots are
always flattering and seem to
slenderize the bust. Usually
short women look better in ev
ening gowns that are toe length
than they do with one that is on
the floor. The waist-line is im
portant. Do not wear contrast
ing belts unless your propor
tions are good. Short-waisted
people look better with their
waist-line lowered a little.
Short necks look better plain.
Let your hats add. People
with wide faces should never
wnar square, turn back, off-the
face hats. Arrange the hair
with care. Avoid having
strands falling here and there.
Remember there is a head-dress
for business and one for dress
affairs. Select bags and gloves
that are in keeping with the
costume. There are as many
types of shoes as there are
dresses. Always keep on hand
one good pair of all-round
shoes. It is always better to
be a little under-dressed than
at any time to be over-dressed.
Always buy the best that you
can for the money. It will be
of more service to you.
Remember these points in
buying. First, know what 'you
want before buying and stick
to that idea. Second, go alone
when you buy for yourself,
then you will not be influenced
by the opinion of your friends.
Think, buy seldom, once or
twice a year, and then get out
fits.
PAMPHLET HITS COLOR
LINE IN WASHINGTON,
D. C., SCHOOLS
Washington, D. C., Nov. "27.
—A pamphlet entitled “The
Color Line in Our Public
Schools” has been issued by the
Interracial Committee of the
District of Columbia of which
Charles Edward Russell is the
chairman. The pamphlet, in 16
pages, is a study of the distri
bution of school funds and
school opportunities between
Negroes and whites in the na
tion’s capitol. The booklet
compares the physical equip
ment, the courses of instruc
tion, and other items of the
white and colored senior and
junior high schools and ele
mentary schools. Mr. Russell,
commenting upon the facts re
vealed by the study, declared
“The once cherished tradition
of equal opportunity for all has
become a stupendous but bitter
joke.”
PEOPLE’S PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH, DENVER, COLO.
Th Interdenominational Min
isterial Alliance of Denver held
a Union Thanksgiving Service
at the People’s Presbyterian
church, Thursday, Nov. 26, at
11 o’clock. The Rev . H. L.
Overton, President of the Al
liance, presided. Music by the
Union choir, selected from the
various churches, was directed
by Prof.' H. W. Scott. The min
isters who took part, in the ser
vice were the Rev. H. L. Over
ton, presiding officer, who offer
ed the invocation; the Rev. M.
H. Wilkinson, pastor of the
People’s church, who led in
prayer; the Rev. H. C. Tolliver,
who read the Old Testament
Scripture; the Rev. W. H.
Young, who read the New Tes
tament Scripture; the Rev. T. S.
Saunders, who read the Presi
dent’s and the Governor’s Proc
lamation ; the Rev. Russell S.
Brown, who announced the In
vitation for all churches; and
the Rev. H. C. Tolliver, W. H.
Young, 0. A Calhoun, J. L.
Rollerson and Russell S. Brown,
who received the collection.
The attendance was 500. Aft
er announcements, and the clos
ing song, the benediction was
pronounced by the Rev. H. L.
Bingham.
The young people of our
church rendered the program
at the Highland Park Presby
terian church on Nov. 15th, and
the young people of that church
returned with a program to our
church the 22nd. Mrs. Amelia
Smith of that church was the
speaker at the Woman’s Mis
sionary program at our church
on the 29th, and our choir ren
dered the music at 7:45 at the
regular service at that church,
of which Rev. Elmer I. Ladson
is pastor.
FURTHER PROTEST ON
SOCIAL SECURITY BLANK
Not^Yoritr-November 27.—
Further protest has been lodged
by the N. A. A. C. P. with the
Social Security Board on the
registration blanks requiring
the stating of race and color of
workers.
Louis Resnick, director of in
formational service for the So
cial Security Board, has written
the N. A. A. C. P. that the
board inserted this line to help
solve the difficult problem pre
sented by a ‘-large number of
persons of like name in any one
community.”
In reply the N. A. A. C. P. has
I cited the telephone books of va
rious cities as evidence that the
race and color of persons is not
I necessary for proper identifi
cation and classification. The
N. A. A. C. P. has also suggest
ed that if the Social Security
Board wishes to be consistent
and explore all the differentia
tions of beneficiaries, it might
include questions on religion of
workers and the color of hair.
DR. ALEXANDER’S
APPOINTMENT PLEASES
Atlanta, Ga., — (C) — Ap
pointment by President Roose
velt of Dr. Will W. Alexander
of the Interracial Commission
to succeed Dr. Rexford G. Tug
well as head of the Re-settle
ment Administration, and to a
place on the National Farm
Tenancy Commission is en
dorsed by the Atlanta Daily
World. In an editorial last
Thursday, headed “Dr. Alexan
der’s Appointment, A Friend
ly Gesture,” the paper said:
“Our group can look to Dr. Alex
ander for a fair consideration
in the resettlement program.
No man in the country is better
acquainted with the colored
group in America. No man would
deal more justly by them and it
goes without saying that Dr.
Alexander came to the post be
cause of his known fairness and
sympathies for the colored
group. Therefore the New
Deal set-up in in line for an
ovation for this powerful ges
ture, almost the same as if it
had appointed a colored man to
the post.”
CHURCH PUBLICITY
BY JOHN H. CURTIN
In The Presbyterian
Working; on newspapers for
twenty years and a little oyer,
has given me a few ideas about
church publicity, 'As a member
of a church, I dislike seeing far
less worthy institutions given
much more prominence in pub
lic print. And, after serving as
a volunteer publicity, man for
the church of which I am a
member, I know that, something
can be done about it, ,
Newspapers want news. Web
ster says news is “a report of
a recent event; information
about something before un
known ; fresh ■ tidings; recent
intelligence.” Keep that in
mind when. you send in your
next item. And please don’t
adopt an apologetic air about
submitting church - ..news. If it
is news it cannot be kept out of
a paper; if it is not it cannot be
kept in. For instance, in keep
ing the name of, your church in
news columns, as do commercial
publicity men the names of the
company, product or personal
ity they represent, you must
make that church name news,
connected with something in
teresting.
In your church, I have no
doubt this ' 'very minute, you
have a personality with a story
to tell, maybe a Sunday school
teacher whose years of service
have made him instructor to
many local business and pro
fessional leaders ; or perhaps
you have an Organization whose
history and membership is ba
sis for a good feature story.
The annual anniversary of the
establishment of ,> the • church
can be freshly rewritten at each
occurrence, with lat^r details
given prominence. /The num
ber of organizations; ; in,, thie
church may add instead of deT
tract from the church. Classes
or groups, their {meetings, elec
tions, outings—each with the
name of the church featured,
mind you—keep the interest of
the reading public in the church
you and your fellow-builders
are erecting.
The editor of your newspaper
wants to print what , people
want to read. When you see a,
church story you like, let him
know by letter or phone you
like it. And the next time you
send in an item for that church,
you will be happily surprised to
find it given prominent posi
tion. . Find the date of issue
and keep your copy arriving in
time. v
In my humble opinion, the
Church of the living God can be
made to live in newspaper col
umns through the medium of
properly planned church pub
licity. Let us use the newspa
pers ourselves by the Golden
Rule method—Do unto the
newspapers as you hope the
newspapers will do unto the
Church. We need not necessa
rily bewail the kind of news we
find supplanting the often poor
ly written and too-brief church
item.
Church publicity, like any
thing else about the church, is
worth a little time and effort.
But, if used properly, that is,
by suiting your particular need
to your particular newspaper’s
necessity for news, it may well
prove of great assistance in ac
quainting the general public
with the accomplishments in
community service of your
church. If the writer of church
items bears in mind that he may
be bringing those outside the
church within the shadow of its
blessings, he may discover that
here is a much-neglected way
of glorifying “Our Father, Who
Art in Heaven.”
Browning oiie time said, “God
is in the dark too.” Most men,
probably, find it easy to believe
in God when matters are going
well—when their i>lans are suc
ceeding and when" prosperity is
smiling upon them. It is ah en
tirely different matter, how
ever, when night comes on.
Then we grow doubtful.
—Selected.
AMSTERDAM NEWS STARTS
*’■ JOURNALISTIC BOOM
New York—(C)—The Am
sterdam News, 2293 Seventh
avenue, has started a “journal
istic boom” in Harlem. The pa
per went to 28 pages last week,
and simultaneously announced
a program of nationalization,
which is designed to have the
paper sell in every part of the
United States. The paper, for
26 years known as one of the
most- intensely local weeklies in
America, began its new series
of adventures tyo years ago
when a chapter of the Newspa
per Guild was organized among
its editorial employes, making
it the only Negro paper in
America with a union editorial
shop (the business department
is not affiliated with the union).
The union activities led to a
strike a year ago, which lasted
for several weeks, and the re
sult of which was a change in
ownership, Mrs. Sadie Warren
Da vis and her daughter and
husband losing the paper.
The paper was bought by Dr.
C. B. Powell and Dr. P. M. H.
Savory, executives of Victory
Mutual Life Insurance Compa
ny. Shortly after purchasing
the paper Dr. Powell, who is
president of the publishing cor
^uiauuu, «i»u uecame ecu tor. A
few months after taking the
editorship, Dr. Powell made an
other coup when he captured
the post of publicity director
of the Democratic campaign,
and turned the paper from Re
publican to Democratic support,
the first time such a change had
been brought about in the his
tory of the paper. This was Dr.
Powell’s first experience in pol
itics. Dr. Powell did his work
so well that he was praised by
Charles Michelson, director of
publicity of the Democratic Na
tional Committee.
It was while active in the
campaign that Dr. Powell decid
ed to nationalize the paper. He
hired several new writers,
brought in an efficiency expert
from the Hearst organization
to give the paper a “metropoli
tan” air, increased the pages,
and raised the price to 7c. Fol
lowing the success of that move,
he broadcast an appeal for
agents throughout the United
States and now plans to make
The Amsterdam News second
to no newspaper among Ne
groes in America.
ROSENWALD FUND HAS $7,
000,000 LEFT
Chicago—(C)—President Ed
win R. Embree of the Julius
Rosenwald Fund announced
Monday that there is $7,000,
000 left of the Fund established
by Julius Rosenwald in 1917.
About two thirds of the money
has been spent chiefly in the
education of Negroes. About
$500,000 has been spent on fel
lowships, and the present major
activity is improving rural ed
ucation in the South. A total
of $13,236,983 has been spent
so far, with $5,000,000 on Ne
gro school buildings, $2,500,000
on higher education for Ne
groes, $1,115,000 on Negro
health, 994,700 on medical
services, $653,000 on library
extension, $2,194,000 on general
education, and $576,800 on ad
ministration.
MRS. BETHUNE NAMED ON
TENANCY COMMISSION
Washington—(C)—Dr.‘ Mary
McLeod Bethune, Dr. Charles
S. Johnson of Fisk University,
and President F. D. Patterson
of Tuskegee Institute were
named by President Roosevelt
to membership on the National
Farm Tenancy Commission of
which Secretary of Agriculture
Henry A. Wallace is chairman.
Other well-known interracial
ists on the commission are Dr.
Howard Odum of the Universi
ty of North Carolina, Dr. Will
W. Alexander of Atlanta, Ga.,
and President Edwin Embree
of the Julius Rosenwald Fund.
The day is thine, the night
also is thine.—Psalm 74:16.