AND YE SHALL' KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE
VOL. XL VIII.
JULY 1, 1926
THE HAMPTON MINISTERS’ CONFERENCE.
By Rev. L. B. West, D. D.
The Rev. O. E. Sanders and I
motored from Charlotte to
Hampton, Va., to attend the 13th
annual meeting of the Ministers’
Conference at Hampton Insti
tute. We had a very pleasant
trip. We spent Sunday night,
June 20, in Durham, where we
were the gtresta-of Mr. and Mrs.
John R. Baker. We left Durham
at 8 o'clock Monday morning,
going by the way of Richmond,
and at 7 o'clock in the evening
our Ford coupe was pulling into
Hampton. We were duly reg
istered and assigned our rooms,
mud after refreshing ourselves
were ready for the opening ses
sion at 8 o'clock.
The Conference was in ses
sion June 21 to 25. The Confer
ence affords an opportunity to
the ministers of all denomina
tions to meet for a few
days of study and discus
sion of the great common prob
lems which they are facing in
their work The authorities at
Hampton seek to put their hands
on the best men they can find
in the country and bring them to
Hampton as lecturers and lead
ers in the; discussion of these
problems. The Conference has
grown in influence and in num
bers. The attendance has grown
from 23 at the first Conference
to 326 at the 13th session.
Representatives have come
from over 20 States, as well as
from foreign countries.
The Conference is headed by
a President, several Vice-Presi
dents, a Recording Secretary, an
Executive Secretary, and an
Executive Board. The Rev. M.
E: Davis of Portsmouth, Va., is
l. -W*
Lemon, of Ark, Va., is the Re
cording Secretary, and the Rev.
Lawrence Fenninger, Chaplain
of Hampton Institute, is the Ex
ecutive Secretary and directing
genius of the conference. His
abounding energy, and wise
planning, and steady pulling
, make things go.
The Conference this year was
the “best yet.” The attendance
was large. As was to be expected
Virginia was in the lead, with
North Carolina running a good
second. The number by States
is as follows: Virginia, 179;
North Carolina, 105; Maryland,
13; New Jersey, 9; New York, 4;
Pennsylvania, 4; Washington,
D. C., 3; Delav re, 1; Georgia,
1; South Carolina, 1; Mass., 1;
Ala., 2; Michigan, 1; British
Guiana, 1.
The number b. 'laminations
follows: Baptists, i.47; A. M. E.,
33; Presbyterians, 12; A. M. E.
Z., 30; Congregationalists, 2;
Christian Church, 17; Northern
M. E., 25; C. M. E., 4; Protestant
Episcopal, 12; Reformed Zion
Apostolic, 2; Holiness, 2; Luth
eran, 1.
The Conference was divided
into 3 parts: devotional, study,
and popular meetings. Each
session was begun and closed
with a season of prayer. The
daily sessions were held in the
beautiful Memorial church, and
the night meetings were held in
Ogden Hall.
The opening sermon was
preached hy the Rev. Arthur L.
James, D. D., pastor of the First
Baptist church, Roanoke, Va.
His text was: “And the devil
said unto him, If thou be the Son
of God command this stone that
it be made bread. And Jesus an
swered him saying, It is written,
That man shall not live by bread
alone but by every word of
God.” Luke 4:3-4. Subject, 'The
Material Plus the Spiritual.” Dr.
James said that the devil made
the mistake of thinking that the
only needs of man were phy
sical and material. He declared
it is the mistake that many are
making today. He clearly
showed the value of the spirit
ual over the material. He was
certain that those who neglect
ed the spiritual for the material
would suffer in the long run, be
cause the materia] passes away
but the spiritual abides forever.
He said that material possessions
did not bring lasting happiness.
True happiness only comes when
the heart of man is reconciled
to God. >
Lectures.
The lecturers were men of
note. Their names follow:
. IW ^Willmm Adams Brown
D. D., professor of Systematic
Theology in Union Theological
Seminary, Hew York, N. Y.
Rev. Major T. J. Howard, D.
D., Professor in Rural Church
Work in Gammon Theological
Seminary, Atlanta, Ge,
Rev. Harry Lathrop Reed, D.
D., President of Auburn Theo
logical Seminary, Auburn, N.
Y.
Rev. Ralph W. Sockinan, D.
D., Pastor of Madison Avenue
Methodist Episcopal Church,
New Yorx, N. Y.
Rev. Charles A. Tindley, D.
D., Pastor of East Calvary
Methodist Episcopal Church,
Philadelphia, Pa.
Rev. Chas. H. Wesley, D. D.,
Professor of History in Howard
University, Washington, D. C.
Dr. BrOwn delivered four lec
tures on prayer: 1. Why We
Need to Learn to Pray. 2. To
Whom We pray. 3. For What
We Should Pray. 4. How to
Pray. He spoke in a scholarly,
yet Christlike manner, giving
the Conference the benefit of his
rich, full life of Christian expe
rience which has been lived in
the atmosphere of prayer. His
messages were built up around
the xentral thought that prayer
was; the heart of our religion.
Dr. Brown spoke at one of the
popular meetings He told inter
ference offTJhurch tJnity which
was held at Stockholm, Sweden,
last year.
Dr. Howard magnified the
Country Church. His lectures
dealt with: 1. The Task of the
Rural Church. 2 and 8. What Ru
ral Churches Have Accom
plished. 4. The. Future of the
Rural Church. Dr. Howard has
had considerable experience in
Rural Church Work. He, there
fore, brought to the Conference
facts and figures showing what
the rural churches were accom
plishing. He also gave light on
some of the problems that con
front the rural church and was
very optimistic in his outlook
for the future of the rural
ihurch under trained leadership.
Dr. Reed lectured on the gen
eral theme—The Life Work of
Paul. 1. The Boy: at home, at
school, at college. 2. The Young
Man: an ardent pioneer evange
list. 3. The Mature Man: a wise,
sklilful organizer. 4. The Elder
ly Man: a prisoner.
Dr. Reed spoke with an ease,
a grasp of facts, and a warmth
of heart that made the Apostle
Paul live with us for those four
days. One's love for and admi
ration of Paul were heightened
beyond measure as Dr. Reed
marshaled fact after fact con
cerning the life and character of
this bond-slave of Christ, who
was the greatest exponent of
Christianity the world has seen
save the Christ.
Dr. Sockman delivered two
lectures. 1. Sermons of Person
al Culture. 2. Sermons on Social
Questions. In these lectures Dr.
Sockman gave outlines of ser
mons he had preached in his
own pulpit. In a very unique
way he showed how the gospel
of Christ can be applied to the
personal life as well as the great
social questions of the day. The
Conference was sorry that Dr.
Sockman could not give all of his
lectures on account of the fact
that he had to hurry back to
New York to attend the funeral
of one of his members.
Dr. Wesley’s lectures were : 1.
Neglected History. 2. The Pass
ing of African Tradition. 3.
Negro American Literature. 4.
The Negro Church in America.
These lectures were very in
structive and edifying and ap
pealed to the personal pride of
each member of
Dr. Wesley
the Negro
need not
ent that he
PI
e Conference,
showed that
putt that
of, a pres
glory in, and
a future promised that will place
him side by side with all men in
the vanguard of civilization.
The outstanding feature of the
Conference was the presence of
Dr. Charles A. Tindley. Rev.
Fennihger told of having visits
ed his church in Philadelphia,
and the joy that came to him as
ed Dr. Tindley wi
trembling and was glad that he
accepted.
Dr. lindley spoke in Ogden
Hall at one of the popular meet
ings. His address was a mas
ter piece. His great faith in
God and in God’s Word,
his certainty tnat man
in need of a Saviour,
must be born again ; hi« con
vincing argument that one who
is born again walks in newness
of life; his portrayal of social
injustice and world*wide restiess
ness; his eloquent plea for a
fair chance for the Negro race;
his apt illustrations and illimita
ble wit and profound philosophy,
were some of the points in an ad
dress that will linger long in the
hearts of those whose
fortune it was t© hear Dr, Tind
ley. During the Conference he
led in singing some of his songs
by request. As we listened to
him in prayer we felt like asking
“Lord, teach us how to pray:
It wag a benediction to have
heard him,
Another big event in tht Con
ference was the lecture Jtod mu
sical demonstration by Prof.
Nathaniel Dett, director of mu
sic at Hampton Institute. r
Dett gave valuable indjructi
in church music. *
entertainment was
class. Several of the spacious
dormitories were placed at the
disposal of the members of the
Conference. Every conceivable
courtesy was extended by the
authorities of Hampton to add
to the comfort of each member.
Appetizing meals were served in
the dining room at nominal cost.
An elaborate reception for
members of the Conference and
the summer school teachers was
given in the gymnasium, the in
clement weather forbidding that
it be held on the lawn in front
of Virginia Hall as planned. The
Executive Board enjoyed the
annual dinner.
The Exhibit
A stimulating exhibit was
shown in Clarke Y. M, C. A.
Hall. Books, pamphlets, papers,
posters, etc., touching every
phase of church and social life
were nicely arranged for the in
formation and help of members
of the Conference. The Confer
ence was photographed.
jrj Business.
7 pe Executive Board held its
regular meetings. The Confer
endk had its business sessions
at/which ti&*4 committees were
appointed and reports made.
Several new names were added
to the Executive Board. It was
decided to make all former,lec
turers honorary -vice-presidents
of the Conference. The Coher
ence voted that the office of
President shall be limited to two
years.
Resolutions touching the
death of departed members were
read. Resolutions expressing
the thanks of the Conference to
Hampton Institute were adopt
ed.
It waslp^cided to meet June
20 to 24, 1927.
We spent Friday night in
Richmond with Rev. and Mrs.
A. A. Hector, and after an all
day trip reached Charlotte on
Saturday night, full of delight
over a successful trip and the
profit we had gotten from the
Conference. We are booked for
the 1927 Conference.
God will not call you to ac
count for the four or five tal
ents you have not received, but
He will ask a strict account for
that one which he has en
trusted to you.—Selected.
North Carolina1
Association,
National Negz*
Association, anil
in the {State by the North
~ Mutual Life Insurance
4 National Benefit Life
Company; Winston
Life Insurance Company
the Bankers’ Fire Insurance
f, conducted during the
of February, March and
an-Essay Contest, open to
in Negro high schools of
ate.
object of the Association
to direct the attention and
A. E. SPEARS
t vought of our youth to ques
t ^ns of general interest to our
I roup. It is planned by the As
ratian to continue each year
.these contests."
cussed was “Why Insurance on
Negro Lives Should Be Written
in Negro Companies.”
Much interest has been mani
fested throughout the State, and
approximately one hundred con
testants submitted essays. Mr,
W, Gomes? Secretary-Manager
of Banners’ Fire Insurance Com
pany and Chairman of the Com
mittee oi judges, expressed him
self favorably upon the compo
sition, style, clearly expressed
research and statistics shown by
the youthful writers.
It was noticeable that many
thoughts were brought out that
otherwise would never have
come to the mind of the veteran
insurance salesman or broker. It
is indeed interesting' to note
what these boys and girls them
selves have said and to get their
trend of thought, and following
will b$„ found quotations from
Xk these ]
some'
papers:
“The only relation existing be
tween other companies and
their insured Negro patron is
the “Eloquent Clink” of the dol
lar—their unexpressed (but ac
tive) motto is ‘go get it.’ But
between the Negro agent and
his patron there is a sort
of brotherhood and a feel
ing of a common fellowship seen
and felt as often as he makes
hiBi collecting rounds or visits
the sick—never the feeling of I
am Hbetter than you’ appearing
on the surface, and it cannot
help, so far as that matter is
concerned, leaving a deep im
pression of social enjoyment as
well as safe and business inter
course.”
2. "Negro companies are
strong; and the patronage of
white companies means the loss
of funds to the race for invest
ment purposes; equality and
part ownership of Negro com
panies affording employment for
the group.”
3. “As Negroes we must open
our eyes and look around us and
see what we are doing for the
progress of the race. Parents
are making great sacrifices tc
educate their boys and girls, bul
what are -they doing to make
employment for them when theji
shall have finished ? This is the
problem we must solve for our
selves and not depend on othei
races. They have no time to in
terest' themselves in our needs/
*C “The power to succeed to
toy undertaking lies within the
reach of the Negro, but he
must search within himself
where the secret lies until he
finds it.”
*6. “There are numbers of
other companies who have
agents of their race and while
they get the patronage of their
race anu our race, too, is there
a home in the South qf the oth
er race that will permit a col
ored agent to come to it to write
or collect business even though
they may be better qualified ?”
| 6. “There is no need to boast
of our freedom as long as we
enslave ourselves and our race
enterprises, especially our life
insurance companies, by holding
lour xuU patronage from them.”
’ One young man pleads fen* en
couragement to facilitate
growth and thus mark our race
progress. One young lady
writes:
; 7. All of our insurance was
being collected by white agents
and one day I told my mother
that 1 did not think it was quite
fair to me nor to the other
children as there would never be
an opportunity for me to many
the man who was collecting or
any of his sons, and that our
money should be going to help
support some member of our
own race into whose family some
day I might happily go.”
8. “The much discussed equal,
ity in rates and class of con
tracts offered to all Negroes by
Negro companies; respect for
Negro womanhood afforded by
Negro agents, as there ara
Negroea in executive
9. “I had a hard time with my
dad trying to convince him that
we should patronize our race "in
surance companies. So one day
the supenntendent came around
with the agent to go over the
business in our vicinity and I
asked him what would be the
prospect of my getting a con
tract with his company, when
my dad spoke up and said, “Why,
my boy is a fine boy and writes
much better than on my present
card.” Of course the superinten
dent explained that he had noth
ing to do with giving the agents
contracts; that was done at the
Home Office and that they had
not made it a policy to use any
colored agents. The next week
our family made applications to
a race company and we are now
carrying business with several
of them.
Ana since we noys ana girls |
know that it means a better fu
ture for us to help build our own
companies, we should be the
ones to fight these battles in our
own homes when it is necessary
and K~/e our mothers and fath
ers see that they will be helping
us by doing business with com
panies of our own race.”
Such thoughts as outlined
coming from our boys and girls
not yet 20 years of age bespeak
a new day and we should be
proua.
There are three prizes to be
awardea and the essays have
been judged as follows:
First Prize—$15.00. Awarded
to Miss Lula Davis, Lincoln
Academy, Kings Mountain, N.
C.
Second Prize—$10.00. Award
ed Miss Clementine Stroud, Kit
trell College, Kittrell, N. C.
Tnird Prize—$5.00. Awarded
to Wm. H. Quick, Jr., City High
School, Sanford, N. C.
Mr. A. E. Spears, President of
the Association, says: “It is
gratifying to note the interest
shown by the contributing
schools, and I earnestly request
that more principals will urge
their students to take part next
■ year.”
The other officers of the
North Carolina Negro Insurance
i Association are R. W. Brown,
Vice-President; J. W. Taylor,
’ Secretary; A. L. Goodloe, Treas
■ urer; and associated with these
officers are J. A. Blume, Presi
A
annual
A few days ago fourteen pas
tors representing (supposedly)
some, of the most soundly evan
gelical churches of a certain
great city were together. They
were asked how many of them
(or their churches) Were con
ducting open air services during
the summer, and only two hands
went up! And yet all were pro
fessed followers of the great
open air Preacher pf Galilee^
Two fouowsng His example—
twelve apparently indifferent!
Most of them preach to a mere
handful ox people on the inside,
while on the outside the surging
throngs pass ceaselessly by, ap
parently unmindful of any obli
gation to God or of their own
spiritual welfare. And who eares
very much!
Would Jesus care ! Would He
wait complacently inside some
little church and expect people
to come in? If God had waited
until the world asked for Christ,
would he not be waiting Still?
If Jesus had waited until the
multitude came to Him, would
they ever have come? He went
to them!
The open air season is not yet
over. Many weeks remain. What
Ity for every evan
“ America to fill
Christ as the “Lamb of God that
taketh away the sin of the
world”—as would draw thous
ands upon thousands to receive
Him as Saviour and Lord!
The fields are ripe everywhere.
The hour is at hand for a
mighty movement of the Spirit
of God. If God’s people—
whether pastors or laymen—do
not act, the hour of gracious
visitation may pass forever, and
the multitudes be lost. There
are those who are doing their
utmost in their respective com
munities and cities. Are you
doing your utmost in your com
munity or city? For soon “the
night cometh when no man can
work.”
Pray for the speedy evangeli
zation of every community in
America and for world-wide
evangelization! Pray that your
self may be revived; also pray
for Church-wide revival!
URBAN LEAGUE NOTES LA
BOR PROGRESS.
Department of Industrial Rela
tions Presents Encouraging
Facts.
According to an announcement
made by the Industrial Rela
tions Department of the Na
tional Urban League, T. Arnold
Hill, Director, the two sections
of the country showing the most
satisfactory conditions in indus
try for Negroes are widely
separated—the New York City
district and the city of Milwau
kee, Wis. The New York dis
trict, which includes parts of
Jersey City, where prospects
are usually bright, has actually
witnessed the importation of
colored workers from the South
for railroads and industrial
plants. Wholesale transplanta
tions usually reveal weaknesses
in the jobs offered. While the
rule has followed in this case,
the movement has not been en
tirely unsatisfactory. Wages
offered have been fifty cents per
hour with seventy-five cents for
overtime.
In Milwaukee two plants are
looking for molders and chip-'
pers. Conditions there are good
in all lines and the colored work
er is getting a good opportunity.
(Continued on page 3) '