VOL. XLIX.
CHARLOTTE, N. C., THURSDAY,
MARY POTTER AND THE SCHOOL
OF METHODS
Mary Potter extends both the
invitation and welcome to the
School oi Methods which will
convene here the last week in
August.
The School of Methods meets
the needs of every forward
looking worker in the field of
Christian education. That it is
a panacea for the difficulties of
Sabbath school and church work
will be amply and clfearly ex
plained by another contributor
in a following issue of this pa
per. We here shall acquaint you
with the advantages that will be
had by coming to Oxford, N. C.
First and foremost, those at
tending this year, aside from
the rarified atmosphere and un
usual contacts that give one a
new point of view, will get the
history of a genuine secondary
school by first-hand information.
Mary Potter is the elongated
shadow of a man who has per
sistently stood for morality,
sterling Christian principles,
Christian education and Negro
uplift. It will be well worth the
trip in terms of inspiration to
see Dr. G. C. Shaw in all of his
virility, the man who founded
and has piloted Mary Potter
through the years.
Dr. G. C. Shaw has not only
been a true herald of Christi
anity, but a genuine race leader
as well. This recognition is
clearly demonstrated by his con
tinuous holding of a place on the
Inter-Racial Committee of this
State for years. He functions in
that place with a prophetic vis
ion for the race and fails not
to make an opportunity to offer
sojution^ that willmake for ade
quate readjustments. Tn e
youth of Catawba will do well
to come here for the School of
Methods and drink of this well
of inspiration.
Buildings and Grounds
Mary Potter is amply able to
accommodate all who come.
Pittsburgh Hall, a modern, spa
cious, commodious $50,000 build
ing will be the home of the
young ladies. Wells Hall, an
up to date building, is the am
ply spacious home for the men.
The Mary Potter Administra
tion Building is reputed to have
the best school auditorium
among the colored boarding
schools of the State. The acous
tics of the auditorium is of such
equilibrium that it makes for
ease both to the platform lectur
er and the hearers. Dr. Shaw is
sparing no pains or effort to
whip everything in shape for
your acommodation and pleasure
during your stay here for train
ing.
Four beautiful tennis courts,
the volley ball court, and cro
miAt: ornunds will be in first
class condition.
Two Largest Orphanages
Another advantage looms up.
Two of the largest orphanages
in the State are in this commun
ity. The largest orphanage for
the whites, with beautiful build
ings and well kept grounds, is
within three blocks of Mary
Potter. It is attractive in beau
ty and potential in its effort to
educate the white orphans of
the State.
The orphanage for colored
children, headed by Hon. H. P.
Cheatham, an ex-Congressman,
is only a five minutes’ ride from
Mary Potter. In these two in
stitutions both orphans and de
linquent boys and girls are giv
en an education that is practica
ble. The above mentioned insti
tutions offer excellent opportu
nity for observation both for
work in education and social
welfare, as they are being con
ducted by the State.
Center of Schools and Colleges
Oxford has the right name.
Aside from being the second
largest tobacco market in the
South, it is the center of educa
tional institutions. Ten of, the
largest and most progressive
secondary and collegiate institu
tions in the State are within a
radius of fifty miles of Oxford.
While in Oxford take a ride for
three hours and this coveted op
portunity will be yours.
Break Down Decadence
That there is decadence in out
church institutions is evident on
every hand. The failure of the
church and Sabbath school tb
keep pace with other educational
institutions is a fact that needs
but to be mentioned and proof
is outstanding in every commun
ity- ■ . , . i
To meet this growing need in
our churches Rev. F. C. Shirley,
Dean of the School of Methods,
and Dr. J. M. Somerndike, the
director of Sabbath School Work
in the Presbyterian Church, U.
S. A., are procuring the serviced
of the best lecturers and experts
in the field of Sabbath School
work to instruct our youth. In
view of the tentative plans,
those in charge predict this will
be one of the best ever conduct
ed.
We, the Mary Potter School,
extend the invitation to the Ca
tawba Synod in particular and
all others that feel the urgent
need, to come to this School of
Methods, which will be held
here August 22-29k Here you
will get facts, spiritual inspira
tion, refreshing recreation and
the educational approach that
are indispensable in building up
adequately and efficiently our
churches and Sabbath schools.
H. S. DAVIS.
THE SOUTHERN WORKMAN
FOR JUNE.
The current issue of the
Southern Workman „ (published
by the Hampton Institute
Pres§) contains an article by
Robert T. Kerlin, called “Con
quest by Poetry,” in which he
strikes a new but timely'note
on the young Negro poets. Dr.
Edwin Mims’ Founders’ Day ad
dress at Tuskegee also appears
in which the extremes of the
age, the “Runnin’ Wild, Lost
Control” of modern society are
emphasized as opposing forces
in the “battle for a genuine
idealism and a chastened opti
mism.” . .
The annual report of Princi
pal James E. Gregg, of Hamp
ton Institute tells of the present
status of the school in a full but
interesting way.
Editorials comment upon the
obligation of the country to fur
nish real education to Negro
Americans, the annual meeting
of the Commission for Interra
cial Cooperation recently held in
Atlanta, the dedication of the
Harris Barrett Memorial Cot
tage at the Virginia Industrial
School for Girls, and some high
lights on the report of the May
or’s Interracial Committee of
Detroit. There is also an obitu
ary of Herbert Barclay Turner,
Chaplain Emeritus since 1919 at
Hampton Institute.
CONQUEST BY POETRY.
iThe Negro is today singing
himself into the respect of the
world; not with the precious old
slave spirituals, exciting pas
sion, but with new songs that
win admiration and disarm prej
udice. .
More and more difficult is the
task of evaluating or describing
the literary output of the young
Negro writers of the day. It is
too various for easy generaliza
tions. There are too many
strongly differentiated artists.
The time has therefore come for
critical essays upon individual
creators. This is to say a great
deal, by implication, on the sub
ject of recent Negro achieve
ment in literature.
Braithwaite’s “Anthology of
Magazine verse” an event of
major importance in the litera
ry annals of each year, an au
thoritative and unrivaled vol
ume, contains in the 1926 issue
twenty-three poems by eleven
(Continued on page 4)
RFV. G. C. SHAW, D.'jD.
President Mary Potter Memorial School.
BY THE WAY
Butting In
While Dr. Frierson’s picture is
gloomy, it is nothing more than
a shadow of a gloomy substance.
Some shadows flatter the sub
stance;. , and_snm£time&_Jthe
grade of the paper is too coarse
for the number of the screen,
and therefore a smattering of
ink instead of a picture. Truly
Dr. Frierson’s is a gloomy pic
ture of a disadvantage in Ne
gro education in South Carolina,
our native State. Many of us
who know the real facts in the
case and the cause, see the
remedy in the glare of the ail
ment. Certain physical disor
ders suggest the remedy to ar
rest them while the organs of
the body return to their proper
mode of functioning. A case of
malarial fever suggests a good
dose of calomel and soda fol
lowed by quinine for several
days; while the mothers of your
and my day, Mr. Editor, ran to
the cupboard for a piece of mut
ton suet to grease the baby’s
chest and feet when the little
fellow had a “bad cold.”
These gloomy conditions pre
vail and stand out as an ancient
doctrine still practiced by a peo
ple ancient and hard-set in an
cient ideas and customs, which
are subversive to Christian prin
ciples, to perpetuate gross igno
rance among Negroes and only
Negroes. This has ever been the
case and determined custom and
cult where laborious agriculture
is the bread and meat of the
high and low. Perhaps the
same conditions would exist in
Maine and Massachusetts if cot
ton, rice, and other tropical pro
ductions could be produced at a
profit while the sun points ver
tically at high noon. Perhaps
the South—South Carolina, for
instance—would see its way
quite clear to give equal accom
modations in educational facili
ties for Negroes if skilled labor
ers or artisans were the princi
pal laborers. As a general rule,
men’s opinions vary with their
interests. Few men adhere to a
righteous principle at the ex
pense of the unrighteous busi
ness in which they are engaged.
Consistency dictates the repudi
ation of the principle and the
fostering of their unrighteous
business; or the forsaking of an
inequitable business and the up
holding of a Godly principle. The
presence of one destroys the ex
istence of the other, to prevent
a contradiction of terms.
It goes without saying that our
white brother in Dixie is consist
ent with Ithe business he is en
gaged since he has decided—as
Clarence Darrow says—that he
will not work, and that he can
thrive best on the Negro’s igno
rance and| poverty.
Like many qf us, Dr. Frierson
is sick of these South Carolina
education conditions for Ne
lic just how he feels about it.
His described feelings suggest
the old time remedy, which is
almost a hackneyed common
place — the Golden Rule.
Schemes to keep in darkness are
against God’s principles and
teaching. Men who love dark
ness rather than light have evil
deeds attributed to them. Only
an enlightened Christian con
science actuated by the Golden
Rule becomes nauseated at the
cause and effect of such school
conditions existing in the South
generally. These conditions can
be changed by the application
of the Golden Rule only. This
application would give the Ne
grfc a man’s chance, which would
cause a complete restoration of
our white brother and neighbor
in the South to our confidence
in his real love for the religion
of Christ. He knows better.
“He goes on Sunday to the
church,
And sits among his boys;
He hears the parson pray and
preach,
He hears his daughter’s voice,
Singing in the village choir,
And it makes his heart rejoice.”
And yet he will not come to
himself and say: “Let’s do right
in our attitude toward Negro ed
ucation in our section.”
About twelve months ago the
superintendent of one of o.ur
South Carolina city and county
schools went to one of our pa
rochial schools and informed the
minister that his parochial
school was “not in line” since
the county had not been notified
of its existence and operation.
But the parson opened not his
mouth in the form of a dispute,
but went right on teaching Ne
gro children seeking light; and
today the school is still “out of
line in line” doing most excellent
work while the superintendent
comes by and greets the parson
and his efficient wife with a
pleasant good morning and a
smile. But just how much of it
is sincere is hard to say.
Such deception and wickedly
contrived schemes to frustratt
the plan and policy of Negro ed
ucation make our group sick
but the nature of the sickness
suggests the remedy to every
Christian and less belligerent.
UNCLE BILLIE
Edisto Island, S. C.
HAINES INSTITUTE,
AUGUSTA, GA.
By Prof. A. C. Griggs •
The commencement at Haines
was up to its usual standard and
in many events set a high mark
for those to follow. On Monday,
May 2nd, the Junior class enter
tained the Seniors by present
ing the play “Stop Thief,” a
farce (fact) in three acts.
Laney Percival protrayed the1
part of James Cluney very well
and was ably supported by sev-j
eral very clever actors. A ban-1
quet followed the play and cov-J
ers were laid for 125. The din
ing hall was beautifully’ deco
rated in class colors.
There was a keen but pleas
ant rivalry shown Thursday,
night, May 5th, when the Junior
and Senior Oratorical contest
was held in McGregor Hall.
Never before in the history of
Haines did so many speakers
come within a fraction of the
coveted prizes. The Elsie John-j
son Memorial prize, $10 in gold
was awarded Catherine Fair of
Graniteville, S. C., and the Hen- j
rietta McNatt Memorial prize,
$5 in gold, was won by Charity
Richardson of Augusta. The
opinion of the audience was in
harmony with the decision of the
judges. The judges were Dr. R.
L. Lockett, Prof. John Cade,
and Mr. Thomas Berrien.
Monday, May 9th, the Prim
ary School held its closing exer
cises at which time the operetta
‘The Neglected Flower Garden”
was rendered before a large and
enthusiastic audience. The ex
hibition of the little folks show
ed great patience and skill on
the part of Mra. Oliver and her,
co-workers:
Tuesday, May 10th, the stu
dents of the music department
were presented by the teachers
of this department and gave the
audience a real treat. The play
ing of Viola Harris and the
singing of Winona Howard
showed signs of great promise.
Wednesday, May 13th, was
Senior class day. It was a beau
tiful afternoon and Miss Laney’s
heart was cheered as the Seni
ors made the contribution to the
athletic field.
Rev. Oscar M. McAdams,
pastor of the Mattoon Presby
terian church, Greenville, S. C.,
delivered the Baccalaureate
sermon to a capacity audience.
It was a scholarly sermon and
all went away well paid for com
ing.
The musical comedy, “A
Night in Arabia,” under the di
rection of Miss Helen Sherrill,
drew a large and appreciative
audience on Monday, May 16.
The audience who heard the
rendition of “The Doll’s House,”
on Wednesday evening, May 18,
on Haines campus was more
than delighted. This play was
so well done that one would have
thought that the characters
possessed something of the pro
fessional. Their fine interpreta
tion of the play is to be accredit
ed to Mr. Willie Rowe Carter,
of New York City, who direct
ed it. So engrossed was the
audience that it was reluctant
to leave; many even went so far
as to express disappointment be
cause the ending was different
from what they had anticipated.
The closing event of the com
mencement was the graduating
exercises held Friday, May 20,
at which time diplomas were
presented to 50 graduates by
Dr. Greene, assisted by Rev. A.
C. Griggs, treasurer and mem
ber of the board of trustees. The
class was represented by Govan
Stevens, whose subject was
“The Glory of Going On.” The
speaker made a plea for col
lege trained leaders. The 2nd
speaker, who was the valedic
torian of the class, Annie Neal,
used as her subject “Are we
, Fit,” protraying the importance
of physical, intellectual, and
spiritual fitness for the big jobs
, before the class of 1927. The
commencement address was de
- —I.. .. ■■
livered by Dr. l£ N. Brooks of
Atlanta, Ga. This noted edu
cator was forceful and impress'
ive.
Rev. Griggs awarded the
following prizes: The L. R.
Burroughs prize in English,
$2.50 in gold, was awarded
Ruth Plair. The Corine Robin
son Memorial prize in English,
$5 in gold, was awarded Emma
Pitts. The Negro History prize,
a gold medal, was awarded An
nie Neal. The prize in Mathe
matics, $5. in gold, was award
ed Charles T. Walker. The
chemistry prize, $5 in gold, was
awarded Jessie Lundy. The
prizes in mathematics and
chemistry were given by the
Junior class. The prize in phy
siology was won by Fannie Em
ma Champney and Levessa
Moore. The Music prizes were
captured by Catherine Wright
and Viola Harris. The N. M.
Grigg’s scholarship prize, a
gold medal given to the student
making the highest average
during the school year, was won
by Viola Harris.
The following scholarships
were awarded members of the
Senior Class: Atlanta Univers
ity, Annie Neal, Edwina Dugas,
and Emma Pitts.
Knoxville College, Pinkie
Young, Annie Cummings, and
Charlotte Bussey.
Talladega College, Bessie
Abrams, Catherine Duncan,
and Alberta Carter.
Lincoln University, Charles T.
Walker.
The following gifts of the
year were announced:
The iXcy Laney League of
New r vk City, $300.00; The
Lucy Laney League of Chica
go, $125.00; The Lucy Laney
League of Savannah, $106.10;
•The Lucy Laney League of
*Maooa> The.-, ^
Club of Augusta, $30.00; The
Class of 1927, $500.00; The
Class of 1912, $21.00; The
Junior Class. $10.00.
The Haines Auxiliary made .
their usual gift to the school on
commencement night. No group
working in the interest of
Haines has been more loyal to
Miss Laney in all of her strug
gles for community uplift and
betterment and they deserve
all praise for their unselfish
service.
The late Dr. G. N. Stoney,
who for forty years had been
an unfailing friend to Haines
Institute, in keeping with a
long standing promise, left in
his will a legacy of $300 to the
Institution. The same was pre
sented by Mrs. Mary Nelson
Jones on commencement night.
Mrs. Jones spoke of him as a
most generous spirit and as a
great benefactor, and his ser
vice to a large number of the
citizens of this community in a
professional way. He was hos
pitable and his secret, unbound
ed charity to those in distress
is a poem of praise. His loss to
the community, state, and na
tion is deeply felt. He was our
standard bearer and never left
the field in the hour when his
services were needed. Miss Lan
ey in accepting the gift spoke
his interest in the institution
from its beginning and jelled
him a true friend of Haines.
Senior class roll: Annie Neal,
89.7; Edyvard Dugas, 85; Pink
ie Young, 83.9; Emma Pitts,
83.2; Bessie Abrams, 83.1;
Catherine Duncan, 82.2; Annie
Cummings, 82; Alberta Carter,
81.7; Helen Beatty, 81.8; Char
lotte Bussey, 81.8; Sarah Ad
dison, 80.7; Catherine Fair, 80.
2; Mary Louise Powell. 80;
Lavada Dunbar, 80.
The tides of the Eternal are
with us when we resolve to be
true.
A brilliant scholar whose
whose death Cambridge, Eng
land, is just now mourning, is
reported to have said: “I am ‘as
blind as a bat.’ But I am not
deaf. At any rate not so deaf
as the clergyman who read
! family prayers with his knees
on the cat.”—Christian Life. •