LL MAKE YOU FREE.”—John viii. 32
no. s.
‘AND YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TR
VOL. XLIX.
CHARLOTTE, N. C., THURSD AY; “FEBRUARY 3, 1927.
ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF PRESBYTERIAN
WORKERS
The Largest Gathering in History of Conference Attend Meeting
Held at Johnson €. Smith University, Charlotte, January
25-28—Splendid Addresses the Feature of Sessions.
By Rev. L. B. West, D. D.
The 1927 Workers’ Confer
ence, under the auspices of the
Division of Missions for Colored
People of the Board of National
Missions of the Presbyterian
Church, U. S. A-, met at Johnson
C. Smith University, Rev. H. L.
McCrorey, D. D., LL. D., Pres
ident, Charlotte, N. C-, January
25-28. The presiding officer
was the Rev. J. M. Gaston, D.
D. , LL. D., Secretary of the Di
vision.
The attendance was the larg
est in tne history of the Confer
ence. One hundred and fifty
persons registered from ten
States. Although the weather
was cold and gloomy it did not
dampen the fervor of the dele
gates, who pronounced the Con
ference the best they had at
tended, Thoughtful and in
structive papers and addresses
were heard on church and
school work, and warm discus
sions were made on all matters
relating to the betterment of the
race.
The University Chorus and
Quintette, under the leadership
of Prof. W. S. Peyton, rendered
excellent music at the night
meetings. Mrs. J. C. Bryant
sang a beautiful solo on Thurs
day night. The accompaniment
was played by Mrs. S. D. Wil
liams.
The faculty and student body,
led by Dr. and Mrs. McCrorey,
the entertainment of the dele
gates the best that could be giv
en. The Presbyterians of the
city opened their doors and wel
comed the Conference and
uelped to take care of it.
President and Mrs. McCrorey
were hosts at their home to the
Conference for an hour before
the opening of Tuesday eve
ning’s session. At this time
members of the Conference and
invited guests from the city met
in social intercourse, to the mu
tual pleasure of visitors and
residents.
Greetings
Dr- McCrorey extended a most
hearty welcome to the Confer
ence. Mrs. W. T. Larimer, the
beloved Asst. Secretary of the
Division, brought the greetings
of the Board of National Mis
sions and the Division for Col
ored People; also greetings from
the large number of men and
women all over the field who
had by their generous contribu
tions, helped to develop T;he
work among the colored people
of the South. Mrs. Larimer was
more than pleased with the
growth and progress of the
work, and looked into the future
with a great deal of hope and
optimism. She had words of en
couragement for the workers
She said that about 19,000 boys
and girls were now in our
schools and colleges, and called
attention to what this will mean
as the boys and girls are trained
for usefulness and sent forth
to influence others for good.
Mrs. Larimer was warmly ap
plauded.
Devotionals
jttacn session oi tne i^onier
ence was opened with a season
of Bible reading, prayer and
song, which formed a proper
setting for the papers and dis
cussions which followed. The
leaders at the devotional exer
cices were: Dr. T. R. Lewis, Con
cord; Rev. S. H- Scott, John’s
Island, S. C.; Dr. Clarence Dil
lard, Goldsboro; Rev. S. T. Redd,
Savannah, Ga.; Rev- G. W. Ham
ilton, Asheville; Rev. M- A. San
ders, Charleston, S. C.; Rev. C.
A. Washington, High Point;
Rev. B. H. McFadden, Spartan
burg, S. C.; Rev. G. P. Watkins,
Martinsville, Va.; Rev. H. Me
Fadden, Allendale, S. C-; Dr. C.
N. Jenkins, Charlotte, and Dr.
H. M. Stinson, Cotton Plant,
Ark.
Evangelism.
Evangelism had a prominent
place on the program. The Con
ference was opened with an in
stitute on evangelism, and evan
gelistic sefvfeSs were conducted
at night. Dr. I. H. Russell, Di
rector ot Evangelism, was the
leading spirit. He was assisted
by Revs. S. D. Thom, D. D., At
lantic Synodical Evangelist;
Z. A. Dockery, D. D., of States
ville and C. W. Francis, of An
derson, S. C. Revs. Russell and
Dockery thought that if our
evangelistic efforts are to be
more successful there must be
more prayer on the part of
church members. Rev. Thom
said that we should use every
legitimate method possible to
win souls for Christ- Rev. Fran
cis said that great care should
be exercised in making our
plans. It was clearly brought
out in the institute that the
great need among our churches
is vigorous, heaven-born evan
gelistic campaigns for the sal
vation of lost souls.
Interesting sermons were
preached by Revs. Thom, Dock
ery and Francis.
The Church
Several subjects deailng with
thfe work pf the Church were
with
profit to all. Rev. 0. E. Sanders,
of Charlotte, read a comprehen
sive paper on “The Essentials
for a Standard Church. Among
other things he mentioned: (1)
Spirituality; (2) Loyalty to the
truth revealed in the Scriptures;
(3) Progressiveness; (4) Prop
er Organization; (5) Prayer, and
(6) Self-Support
Rev. C. M. Dusenbury, of Stu
art, Va., in a thoughtful ad
dress, showed what young peo
ple can accomplish in church
work when they are encouraged
and put to work
Rev. A. H. George, of Wilson,
magnified “The Pastor’s Place
in the -Work of the Church.” Af
ter speaking of the pastor as
shepherd, teacher, leader, friend,
he showed how the pastor can
get young and old to work
harmoniously together for the
good of the church. He said
that the elders are to be taught
that youth is not to be con
demned wholesale, and youth
need somebody to tell them that
“flaming youth does not know it
all.”
The subject of Church Fi
nance was illuminatingly dis
cussed by Dr. Z. A. Dockery, of
Statesville. He condemned some
of the methods for raising fi
nances in many of our churches
and gave suggestions for a bet
ter system.
The Rev. L. M. Onque. of
Modksville, in a strong paper,
said that the business of the
church is to furnish a constant
supply of Christians for the bet
terment of the community.
“Church officers should be
God-fearing men,” declared Rev.
G- M. Ulmer, of Winnsboro, S.
C., in a splendid paper. Contin
uing he said that they should be
humble, wise, tactful and hon
est in the discharge of tfoeir
many duties.
The Rev. C. J. Baker, D. D.,
of Atlanta, Ga., Secretary of Be
nevolence in the four colored
Synods, gave valuable instruc
tions for the carrying out of the
Every Member Canvass- He al
so gave interesting facts touch
ing the workings of the Boards
and made a strong appeal in be
half of each church raising its
benevolence quota.
ColoreJ Missionaries for Africa.
The Rev. A. B. McCoy, D, D.,
of Atlanta, Ga., Regional Direc
tor of Sunday School Work
Among Negroes in the South,
in an address gave a vivid de
scription of his trip to Belgium
last summer as the colored re
presentative of the Presbyterian
Church, U- S- A., to the Confer
ence on Christian Missions for
Africa. The Conference rose and
sang “Praise God from whom all
blessings flow” when Dr. McCoy
decelared that the way was
clear for the Foreign Mission
Board to send colored men and
women to Africa as missiona
ries. The books are now open
for colored applicants who can
qualify.
The School
The importance of the work
of the school in all its branches
was ably set forth. Mrs. A. A.
Jones, of McConnellsville, S- C.,
for 40 years in the parochial
school work, called attention to
the good that had been accom
plished and to the boys and girls
who had gotten the right start
there. She said that th© day
had not yet come for the aban’
donment of the parochial school,
rhe Conference was overwhelm
ingly in favor of Mrs- Jones’
opinion.
The cause of industrial educa
tion was championed by Rev.
Prof. A. H. Reasoner, of Harbi
son College. Irmo, S. C- He dis
counted the false idea that peo
ple entertain about work and
held up the dignity of labor. He
3aid that work was not an afflic
tion. He declared that the hap
piest people are those who work.
‘The hustler gets along better
than the loafer.” He told of the
program of Harbison College in
teaching industrial education.
The Kev. uranam r . uarap
bell, of Weat-^Eoint, Miss,, -the
riew President of Mary Holmes
Seminary, said that the possibil
ities of Mary Holmes Seminary
Were great- It was the only
achool of its kind ministering to
a colored population of 900,000
people. It was his first visit to
the conference and he was
pleased to be present.
Mrs. T. R. Lewis, Principal of
Scotia Woman’s College, Con
cord, in a well-prepared paper,
traced the history and develop
ment of Educational Train
ing for Women. She called at
tention to the changed attitude,
and showed that the avenues in
education as well as other lines
were now open to women.
Miss Maud Kinniburgh, Dean
of Barber College for Women,
Anniston, Ala., readan excellent
paper- She told of tne influences
for good which accrue from a
college education/The girl learns
to be truthful, straight-forward,
considerate, patient and honest.
She spoke of the physical, men
tal, cultural and spiritual values
which come to the girl whose
privilege it is to receive a college
education. She called attention
to the fact that a girl’s progress
in college depends on her past
training, and said that several
ef the girls who come to Barber
are handicaped because of a
poor foundation. Miss Kinni
burgh closed by saying that a
college education was a start in
life with a bonus.
‘The School and the Commun
ity” was the subject of a very
interesting paper prepared by
Mrs. John A. Savage, of Albion
Academy, Franklinton. -/It was
elearly shown that the school is
a community center- The idea
was advanced that the school
discovers the needs of the com
munity and helps -to supply
them. The school helps to de
velop men and women, not only
intellectually but. morally and
spiritually. Concrete examples
of what the school can do were
given of Albion Academy. Mrs
Savage was unable to be pres
ent. Dr. Savage read the paper.
Dr. G. W. Long, Principal of
Coulter Academy, Cheraw, S. C.,
in a forcetul address, held up the
economic, intellectual and social
advantages of co-educational
(Continued on page 2)
SCOTIA CHAPTER OF
|NEW YORK AND VICINI
TY NOTES.
stt
elc
elc
Sn<
Ai
er.
B<
lor,
D.
ers:
me]
a
firsl
ant
Ne
wh:
the 11th of December the
iter entertained Mrs. Mary
Bethune, President of
Bethune-Cookman Institute
also President of the Fed
►n of Colored Women of
ica. Mrs. Bethune is a
hter of Scotia and the
r was very happy to en
her. It was practically
Scotia students of
nd surrounding
±ue Johnson C- Smith
nts were well represented.
I the December meeting the
tion of officers took place.
Willie Bowers Harris was
President; Miss Clara
Vice-President; Mrs. C.
den Jones, Secretary; Miss
M. King, Social Secretary;
C. Ward Moultrie, Treasur
Members of the Executive
are Mesdames M. J. Tay
L. M. Levy, Daisy Judge,
§ Sanders and C. James By
Miss Otto Allen, a recent
uate of Scotia, became a
ir of the chapter.
Hope Chest Contest was
it success. This is the
ear we have had a contest
rom any State other than
York and New Jersey,
it made it quite exciting.
Many members are originally
North Carolina and were
anxjgius for their home girl to
winiT The hearty applause of
the ^audience showed their ap
prov il and joy because of Miss
Iola Jranch, of Mary Potter Me
mor: tl School winning the beau
tiful chest. The second prize, a
diari rad ring, went to Miss Ed
wins Moultrie, daughter of Mrs.
C. Ward Moultrie, of Engle
woo« N. J.; the third prizt, a
nrnw^"T plir- to Miza Scott, of
Englewood, N. J., and the
fourth, a slave bracelet, to Miss
Booker of Brooklyn- Up to this
writing the chapter has realized
$593 from the Hope Chest.
The January meeting was en
tertained by Mesdames Earllot
to Miller, Daisy Judge and U.
Snead Sherwood, at the home of
Mrs. Miller, 180 Classon Ave.,
Brooklyn. 'The day was very
disagreeable, but nevertheless
the members were out in full.
After the business meeting the
hostesses served the most appe
tizing collation of cream chicken
patties, ice cream, cake, coffee
and candies.
Mrs. Cora Lomax, former Sci
ence Teacher of Scotia, and Mrs
Minnie Hicks-Francis joined the
chapter.
Mrs. Johnsie Carson Mitchell
and Dr. Julia Hughes Coleman,
who have been away for some
-time, are with us again.
Mrs. Louise McCullough Alex
ander, of Charlotte, N. C.» is vis
iting her sons, who are attend
ing school here. Mrs. Alexan
der has been entertained by the
different members of the. chap
ter
Miss Lucia E. Jones, daugh
ter of Mrs. C. Snowden Jones,
was a graduate of Wadleigh
High School last week.
The Scotia chapter of New
York and vicinity would be glad
at any time to hear from the
other Scotia chapters. The
chapter thanks the Af rico
American Presbyterian and
wishes it a happy and prosper
ous New Year.
CARRIE SNOWDEN JONES.
157 W. 142nd Street.
OKLAHOMA TEACHER
WILLS FORTUNE TO
TUSKEGEE.
(From the Lincoln County Re
publican, Chandler, Okla.)
Albon L. Holsey, Secretary tc
the Principal of Tuskegee Insti
tute, was here last week for a
conference with H. C. Callark
retired school teacher (colored)
and owner of valuable city and
farm properties.
Following their interview, Mr
Callark authorized the announce
ment that he has made Tuske
gee Institute chief beneficiarj
under the provisions of his will
which has just been made and
recorded. The properties
owned by Mr. Callarkkre con
servatively estimated! to be
worth $50,000 and less than a
week ago oil was discovered on
land adjacent to one of the
eighty acre tracts which gives
added value and importance to
his holdings- i,
Mr. Callark’s life story is a
gripping drama of the closing
days of slavery and of the pion
eer days of the Middle West. He
was born near Newark, N. J.,
and between the ages of three
and -four, he and his brother
were kidnapped and taken to
Missouri, where he lived! as a
boy until sixteen years of age.
In 1863, with the aid of a col
ored man. Edmund Chandler,
he was ‘"kidnapped” again and
ran away to the North.
When the two runaways
reached Kentucky, young tCal
lark left his friend and benefac
tor and joined the Union army
as orderly to one of the officers.
A soldier in the same company,
Matthew Hayes, became at
tached to the young Negro or
derly because of his quiet re
serve and unfailing loyalty and,
at the close of the war, took him
to his home in Missouri. Two
years later, Callark went to Wy
oming and thence to Iowa,
where he worked for a family
named Gaston. The Gastons be
came interested in him and en
couraged him to enter Taber
College, where he began his edu
cation- The friendship of the
Gastons has continued until the
present day and he tells of some
of the Gaston children with
whom he played who are now
parents and grandparents.
In 1879 Mr. Callark deter
mined to enter the teaching pro
fession-an^-^fter-eorapletiRrthe
teachers’ course at a normal
school in Jefferson City, Mo.,
taught for nine years in Texas
and then came to this place
where he farmed and taught
school ior more than twenty
years here in Lincoln County.
Six years ago, Mr. Callark re
tired and now devotes his time
to Sunday school work and to
looking after properties he has
accumulated. He has never
married and has never seen his
parents since that eventful day
back in New Jersey when he
was stolen from them. In spite
of his seventy-seven years, he
is active, giving much of his
time to reading and occasionally
writes poems of real merit.
SWIFT MEMORIAL COL
LEGE, ROGERS VILLE,
TENN.
The faculty and students wor
shipped at the African Method
ist church last Sunday morning.
The services were very inspir
ing.
The Y. W. C. A. program was
in charge of the third year class
last Sunday. Each member of
the class was at her best and a
spirit of cooperation was
shown.
Miss Inez E. Patton, a college
student o± Virginia, is expected
to return to us very soon to con
tinue her studies. SKe was
called home to the bedside of her
mother.
Miss Vera Mae Crawford was
called to Johnson City, Tenn., to
attend the funeral of her uncle.
Rev. W. C. Hargrave, D. D.,
a member of the faculty, has
been appointed to ^attend an ed
ucational meeting in New York
very soon. He is to go in com
pany “with other distinguished
members of the Presbyterian
Church. They are to discuss
some means by which the young
men and young women of the
Church can have aid in educat
ing themselves for missionary
work.
Mr. Flack had charge of the
prayer-meeting this week. He
gave an inspiring talk on the
“Prodigal Son.” He emphasized
the fact that God is always
ready to forgive.
| M. ADRENE HOLSTON.
ONE QUARTER SFCTI0N OF
LAND DONATED.
One Hundred and Sixty Acres of
New Mexico Land Given to the
National Baptist Publishing
Board.
Nashville. Tenn., Jan. 81.
(Special)—One hundred and six
ty acres of land in New Mexico
have been donated to the Na
tional Baptist Publishing Board
of this city. The donors were
Mr- Clinton Ragsdale and his
wife, Mrs. Mollie Ragsdale. The
announcement was made by
Henry Allen Boyd, the Secreta
ry of the Board, when he re
ceived a letter from Mr. Clinton
Ragsdale, dated January 26th,
in which he enclosed the deed.
The generous donors are
members of the Baptist church
out in Dexter, New Mexico. The
deed is recorded in the county
clerk’s office at Dexter, New
Mexico, and has the official seal
of the great State of New Mex
ico on it. “This is the first do
nation of any kind along that
line ever, received by the Na
tional Baptist Publishing Board
ince its organization in 1896.
by the late R. H. Boyd, its
founder,” declared the Secretary
oday, in making announcement
of the contribution.
It is understood that this land
is valued at between one hun
dred and one hundred fifty dol
lars per acre, and that it is lo
cated in a fertile section of the
State. Mr. Ragsdale, in his let
ter, informed Secretary Boyd
that he contemplates adding
another one. hundred and sixty
acres to this donation, as he
holds the National Baptist Pub
lishing Board and the founder
in the highest esteem..r|,r-:.r....
BARBER COLLEGE
NEWS
By Joetta Stinson .
Quite unexpectedly visitors
came to Barber last Saturday
evening. Great was the excite
ment when Miss Katherine
Hammond with h3r sister, moth
er and brother, stepped from
.he car which brought them all
the way from Illinois. Miss
Hammond will be remembered
as the College History teacher
last year. Remaining all day
Sunday Miss Hammond sang:
“The Perfect Prayer” for Sun
day school. Girls and faculty
were very glad to welcome these
friends back and sorry they had
to leave Monday morning on
their trip to Florida.
The Coleridge-Taylor Choral
Club, of Anniston, introduced
Mr. Carl Diton, pianist, last
Monday evening, at the Seven
teenth Street Baptist church. A
large and appreciative audience
was present, including some of
the faculty and student body of
Barber. Mr. Diton gave little
lectures about the composer, his
environment and the idea of the
composition before each inter
pretation. The audience was
charmed throughout the pro
gram. The technique and the
power of the pianist, together
with his feeling, must have ex
pressed what the composer felt
when the piece was written. One
of the teacherss who heard Pad
erewski, placed Mr. Diton very
close to this great musician.
Some of the selections rendered
were: four selections from &a£h,
including “Nocturne” which was
beautiful and rich in singing
tone; two of Listz’s numbers,
one of which is supposed to be
the most difficult piece for the
piano ever written.
Near ‘the end of the perform
ance Mr. Diton in a rich, clear
voice jJang several numbers.
Spirituals were included j^nd
among them were: “Knqckpig
at Your Door,” “Steal Aw^jij,”
arranged by Mr. Diton and sev
eral others). The audience called
(Continued on page 3)