“AND YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND
VOL. XLIX.
CHARLOTTE, N. C., THUHSD
HAMPTON MINISTERS’
CONFERENCE
By Rev. L. B. West, D. D.
On to Hampton,! That was
the cry of 358 ministers in 14
States representing several
denominations. And to Hampton
they came. The occasion was
the Fourteenth Annual Minis
ters' Conference, sponsored by
the authorities of Hampton In
stitute, with Chaplain Laurence
Fenniriger as executive secreta
ry. The date was from the eve
ning of June 20 to the afternoon
of June 25. It was an interest
ing group of men. There were
those who had turned gray in
the service of the Master, and
also those who were young in
the cause, all manifesting an
eagerness to gain knowledge to
better fit them for usefulness in
the building of the kingdom of
God. And they were not dis
appointed, for the lectures de
livered were full of instruction
and inspiration.
The weather on the whole was
good and interest in the confer
ence was sustained from the
opening sermon to the last lec
ture.
Lectures
The lectures dealt with such
subjects as “The Institutional
Church“The Problems of
Youth as Related to Religion,
Race, Practical Morality, and
Life Work;” “Church Music;”
“The Problem of National Suf
fering as Viewed by a Prophet
of Israel;” and “Four Direc
tions in Preaching.” Each lec
ture was given by a man who
had gained distinction in his
particular field. ^
fn diSCussing'iht? Institution
al Church Dr. William N. De
Berry, pastor of St. John’s Con
gregational church, Springfield,
Mass., after giving the facts
from Scripture which warrant
such a church, made a vivid de
scription of the founding of in
stitutional work in his church,
and the steady growth and de
velopment covering a period of
28 years. Dr. De Berry told
his story in a simple, straight
forward manner. He was sure
that the hand of God had guid
ed him. He clearly showed how
St. John’s church ministers to
the religious and varied social
needs of the community.
Dr. Nathaniel Dett, Director
of vocal music at Hampton In
stitute, gave the conference
much valuable information on
“Church Music.” He began
with music in the early church,
and showed the ministers how
they can get the best results in
dealing with their choirs today
and in the proper selection of
music.
The lectures on preaching
were spoken by Rev. Gaius
Glenn Atkins, D. D., L. H. D.,
Professor of Homiletics in Au
burn Theological Seminary, Au
burn, N Y. Dr. Atkins cap
tured the hearts and minds of
the ministers. He said preach
ers should preach “out” of re
ligion, experience, the Bible and
other twoks. He declared
preaching was big business and
ministers need to keep their re
sources filled up. He said all
preaching must have a purpose.
The “out” and “at” must meet
in a man’s preaching. In preach
ing a minister should aim “at”
the perfecting oi tne saints,
the work of the ministry; the
edifying of the body of Christ.
“Christ,” he said, “must be in
carnated.” The world must see
Christ in the face of believers.
The task of the minister is to
so instruct the people.
Dr. Atkins said a preacher
should preach “with” relation
ship to his church. He should
know the needs of his congre
gation. The minister should
preach with quenchless cour
age; with consistency of life—
his life is to be an open book,
with honesty, ho deceitfulness;
with positiveness, no negations;
with self-effacement—he musi
preach Christ, not himself;
with a consciousness of the un
seen and the eternal.
In his closing lecture Dr. At
kins declared that ministers
should keep the gift with which
God had blessed them kindled
in. a constant flame. Preaching
“up” meant that ministers were
not to be lazy and indolent, but
to be ever and anon on the look
out to use to the best advantage
the talents the Lord had given
them—keep them “stirred up.”
In no uncertain tones the Rev.
Howard Thurman, pastor of Mt.
Zion Baptist church, Oberlin,
Ohio, told the conference what
the youth of the land was think
ing about religion and morality.
Rev. Thurman, although young,
has had quite an extended expe
rience with youth in schools and
colleges and otherwise. He
electrified the conference with
his frankness and ability to of
fer thoughtful suggestions in
dealing with the revplt of youth.
It was clear to the conference
that the Church must change
its method of approach in deal
ing with the young people of to
day.
The problem of national suf
fering as viewed by the prophet
Isaiah was presented in a schol
arly and clear-cut way by Pro
fessor Kemper Fullerton, Pro
fessor of Old Testament in the
Oberlin Graduate School of The
ology, Oberlin, Ohio. The con
ference received very helpful in
formation on the Book of
Isaiah. ;
• The Opening Berwow^
The Conference listened with
deep interest to the opening ser
mon which was preached by Rev.
Charles A. Tindley, D. D., pas
tor of East Calvary Methodist
Episcopal church, Philadelphia,
Pa. The text was: “Be of good
cheer; I have overcome the
world.” John 16:33. Subject:
“The Dynamics of Christianity.”
Dr. Tindley said that some of
the dynamics were: Faith in
God; The love of God; Prayer;
The peace of God and Meekness.
In discussing these dynamics the
preached drew upon his imagi
nation and upon his ripe expe
rience as a pastor and a Chris
tian and carried his audience to
great spiritual heights.
Union Meetings
Union meetings of preachers
and teachers were held in Ogden
Hall on Tuesday and Thursday
nights. On Tuesday night, Dr.
J. H. Dillard, President of the
Jeanes and Slater Funds, Char
lottesville, Va., delivered a
thoughtful address on keality.
He urged the teachers to strive
to be real in all their work. They
were to guard against taking
buildings and equipment for the
real thing in education. He said
the big thing was to train the
children to think. He reminded
the preachers that the great
need of the day was justice, not
sentimentality. Men needed to
have reverence for God and love
mercy. He closed by declaring
that progress walks on two legs,
viz., wisdom and courage. It is
in this spirit preachers and
teachers were to perform their
work.
Dr. Chanmng ti. Tooias, sec
retary of the Nation^) Council
of the Young Men’s Christian
Association, New York City,
gave an illuminating account of
the start and development of the
Y. M. C. A. He delighted his
audience as he related the noble
part the colored men had played
in the work.
On Wednesday night Dr. At
kins made a profound impression
on the teachers and preachers
in an able talk on “The Five
Gifts of Good Books.” The
gifts are: 1. It gives a full and
intelligent mind— 2. The mas
tery of our mother tongue. 3.
The understanding and inter
pretation of life. 4. Inspiration
ahd vision. 5. Freedom amf
Happiness.
Devotion and Business
The devotional spirit pervaded
the conference. Each session
was opened with a season of
prayer and Bible reading by
some member of the conference.*
Two business sessions were
held. The conference elected a
new President. Rev. L. Li
Downing, D. D., of Roanoke,
Va., succeeds Rev. M. E. Davis,;
D. D., who has been President
for 8 years.
Several new members were
added to the Executive Board.
Resolutions of thanks were
read.
Memorial resolutions on the
death of those who had passed
away during the year were read
and prayer offered.
A daliy news sheet of the
conference was published giving
interesting facts.
The conference made an of
fering for the flood sufferers in
Arkansas after listening to an
interesting letter from that sec
tion.
Entertainment.
The entertainment was very
good. Captain Brown met the
men as usual with his quiet
smile and gave them a comfor
table bed to sleep in, in the dif
ferent halls.
The dining room was full of
good things to eat every time
the preachers walked in. The
service was excellent.
The annual executive dinner
was greatly enjoyed by the ex
ecutives.
The annual reception for
:eachers and preachers was held
>n the lawn in front of Virginia
Kail. Cake and cream were
served.
: A very profitable social houi4
n religious education, under
Prof. Smith, asked the preach
ers some pertinent questions on
"eligious education.
The exhibit in Clark Hall on
'eligious education was very in
jtructive and interesting.
Summary
Denominations Represented, 14
Baptist, - 183
African Methodist Episco
pal - 38
African Methodist Episco
pal Zion - 27
Methodist Episcopal (North) 39
Colored Methodist Episco
pal - 6
Christian -18
Congregational - 5
Disciples - 3
Holiness - 2
Lutheran - 1
Presbyterian - 18
Protestant Episcopal - 12
Reformed Union Zion Apos
tolic _ 2
No Denomination Given — 5
358
States Represented, 14
Delaware - 2
District of Columbia - 3
^Georgia - 1
Kentucky — 1
Maryland ..... 29
Massachusetts - 2
New Jersey - 9
New York - 7
North Carolina 118
Pennsylvania - 3
South Carolina- 2
Virginia -178
Tennessee -,— -- 1
Ohio_ 2
358
INSURANCE COMPANIES
AND NEGRO BANKS
The recent announcement that
the National Negro Insurance
Association has worked out a
plan whereby the various col
ored insurance companies will
make their deposits and place
their monies in Negro banks is
the most important thing that
has come from Negroes, per
haps, in the life of the race in
America since its emancipation,
The plan is all right if the offi
cers of the various insurance
companies can but see the im
(Continued on page 4)
'ECTOR OF INTERRACIAL
COMMISSION ADDRESSES
Race conference
Will W. Alexander, of At
lanta, Tells of Rise of New
South.
Indianapolis, June 25—De
daring that a new South has
>me into being, directed large
by business men, many of
rhom are turning to the Repub
lican Party, Dr. Will W. Alex
ider, of Atlanta, Director of
te Commission on Interracial
delations, last night addressed
te National Association for the
idvancement of Colored People
>w in 18th Annual Conference
lere.
“The new leaders of industry
the South are hardly conscious
if the race question at all,” said
jpr. Alexander. “To them it is
a labor question and an indus
trial question. They are preoc
cupied as the rest of the nation
1$ in making money. With them
the hot spot in their thinking
fs neither the race problem, pol
itics, nor. fundamentalism; it is
business. They do not get ex
cited over the race problem ex
cept as it might affect industry.
They are willing to listen with
minds open and go at least as
far as the best interests of in
dustry demand.
The coming of industry and
e new economic background is
owly working a change in the
olitical philosophy of the
uth. Thousands of business
inen are Republican, nationally,
and are yielding to the argu
ments that make the business
section of this country favorable
to the Republican party. They
no longer respond to the old
slogans in local politics. As a
ride they are-indifferent to local
politics but ultimately that in
difference must give way to an
intelligent interest based upon
what they conceive to be good
business policy. This means a
profound change in the politics
of the South.
Colleges Studying Race Relations!
“The most obvious change
which is taking place in the
South with relation to the race
problem is the intelligent inter
est of many college teachers,
college students and thoughtful
people generally. In the old
days there was much talk but
little study. In nearly 100 col
leges courses of study on va
rious phases of the race prob
lem are now in the regular cur
riculum. Thousands of students
are working and writing on
these themes and an exhaustive
examination of these papers
from all parts of the South re
veals that they are thoughtful,
honest and liberal.
“The churches in the South
—I refer to white churches—
have in the past been silent.
This silence is being broken.
Two great Southern denomina
tions are today working out
fairly liberal programs of edu
cation for their young people,
to be used in young people’s so
cieties and Sunday schools.
Neero Test of American Democ
racy.
“The nation must find some
way to deal with the mob and
mob violence. The fight is dis
couraging. Aiken was a slip
ping back on the part of South
Carolina. The guiltiest States
are now Mississippi and Florida
where there is no effective oppo
sition to mob violence and Ar
kansas where there is very lit
tle. These States have been the
least influenced by the new eco
nomic and industrial develop
ment. They have particularly
large populations of the poor
white type. They have many
isolated communities. Lynching
must be looked upon by the
whole nation as so horrible that
these indifferent and backward
States shall be forced to put an
end to it.”
“In closing may I say that I
am not especially interested in
Negroes or the race problem.
Something very much larger
khan this is involved in the sit
nation. It is a question of civ
ilzation. Can human beings be
civilized and can they learn to j
meet the situations that they
confront by civilized methods
md a civilized spirit? This is
he great question. The experi
nent of the human race in civ
lization is very interesting and
important. The outcome of the
lemocratic movement which
rave birth to this nation is an
important aspect of the experi
nent in civilization. Twelve
nillion American Negroes and
heir future are a test as to the
mtcome of this experiment in ]
lemocracy and free institutions.
“What chance has democracy?
)n every hand I am reminded
>y cynics and dogmatic indus- ;
rialists that the whole idea of j
lemocracy is a failure to be
listrusted. Aiken, Mississippi
ind Arkansas and Florida in
line one to think so. But look
ng back over the past sixty
rears one sees that there have
mdoubtedly been some steps
’orward. In spite of handicaps
Negroes have made great pro
gress. My presence here to-(
light is evidence that at least i
>ne white man has made pro-j
rress and I represent a type and'
hat is the only significant
hing about my presence.
“At the University of North
Carolina last spring the distin
guished Executive Secretary of
his organization made a very
moving statement, speaking to
i great audience of students and
faculty in the chapel of the in
stitution : I
‘Negroes want full participa
tion in American life and they
hey expect to secure it.'
That last clause has great
lower in it. If they continue in
his intelligent expectation it
will probably come, step by
step even i«r -the Scttihrz-cerr
tainly in the South if anywhere
in the Nation, for the South will
;o with the nation.”
URBAN LEAGUE REPORTS
ON INDUSTRY FOR MAY.
Bulletin No. 15 of the Indus
trial Department of the Na
tional Urban League summariz-j
ss employment conditions as fol
lows :
While reports from New Jer
sey, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri,
rexas, Maryland, Virginia, Or
egon, Michigan, Indiana, North]
Carolina, Pennsylvania, Arkan-,
3a, Texas, Massachusetts and'
New York showed little change
in the employment status of
Negro wage earners—a situa
tion not unlike others experi
enced throughout the country—
some little advance was report
ed for both Negro women and
men. The notable improve
ments were from Cleveland,.
Plainfield and Boston. The con
tinuous rainfall interfered with
the usual outdoor spring activ-J
ities, but did not prevent the
employment of many men in
parts of the middle West which
had experienced a long period
of unemployment.
Favorable Conditions
In Cleveland there was a “slow
but steady increase in opportu
nities offered men in skilled
work.” Two openings, in posi
tions formerly held by other
workers were reported and
placements showed a decided in
crease over those of the previous
month. In Plainfield, N. J., a
concern manufacturing metal
toys gave employment to fifty
colored girls, and reported that
their work was very satisfacto
ry. In Boston 25 new opening?
were obtained in hotels and 15
factory placements were secured
in jobs that had not been filled
by Negroes. From Texas came
the word that Negro labor was
regaining many places occupied
by Mexicans, and many cities re
ported activity in the building
trades.
Miscellaneous
The American Federation oi
Musicians protested against ant
thereby removed discriminators
practices against Negroes ii
dining rooms and hotels durinf
its annual session in Baltimore
Several years ago this same or
ganization's insistence brought
about similar results in &t.Lou
is.
Running only three months,
a local labor union of longshore
men in Newark, has a member
ship of 1,500. The industrial
problems of Negroes livipg in
Buffalo are promised attention
jy the newly formed Urban
League of which William L.
Evans, a former Industrial Sec
retary of the Chicago Urban
League, is the Executive Sect
ary. Industry in the Pitts
burgh district was enhanced
vhen A. C. Thayer, formerly of
;he Atlanta Urban League,
x>ok charge of the Pittsburgh
League which had been without
m Executive almost a year. ,
ST. JAMES CHURCH
GREENSBORO
By Mrs. G. A. Bridges *
Dunuay morning ncv. n.
Miller spoke from Exodus 12:
13, “And when I seer the Wood 1
will pass over you,” etc.
The speaker’s subject wa&,
‘The Ground of our Salvation
rypified in the Power of the
Sprinkled Blood to Save the Is
raelites.” By way of introductio i
he told of the two migrations
from Egypt to Palestine, the
first led by Moses and the second
by General Allenby. The an
cient people depended upon Go 1
for food and water, while ttn
modern depended upon moto '
lorries for food and they piped
water from the Nile.
God, said the speaker, will not
do for us things we can do for
turselves. »
Very vivid was the word pic
ure. J«f the busy dgy
amp as Israel got m shape for
he journey. One almost heard
he bleating lambs and saw the
>loody hyssop striking the door
)osts. It mattered not whether
he blood was upon the house
>f Pharaoh or of Moses, results
vould have been the same, for
safety was in the sight of the
sprinkled blood, not the person
vithin the house.
We are not saved because of
>ur goodness but by application
;o our hearts of the blood of
Christ. , „
Rev. S. L. Fulwood, of Wax
law, preached an excellent ser*
non Sunday night from I Cor.
5: 19, 20, theme: “The Price
Paid for Us.”
The Sunday School was well
ittended. Up and Doing Class
von the loving cup while Ear
lest Workers won the banner
for attendance.
The Daily Vacation Bible
School has an enrollment of 104
and unless more helpers are se
cured those in charge will be
forced to refuse others who are
anxious to attend. Friday at
the close of the period Superin
tendent Burgin served all the
children to cream and cake.
Mrs. L. A. Morrow, Mrs. W.
J. Jones and Mrs. Georgia
Harry have been added to the
Dailv Vacation Bible School
Dr. and Mrs. W. L. McNair
were called to Danville, Va.,
Saturday, on account of the
death of Mrs. McNair’s sister,
Mrs. Lily Payne, who died at
the Freedmen’s Hospital, Wash
ington, D. C.
St. James Sunday school will
carry their annual picnic to
Charlotte, July 12th. Quite a
crowd is expected to take in this
the first out-of-town picnic in
many years.
Elder Matt Bums has been
confined to his home for the past
week on account of illness. El
der Bums is called “The Whip
of the Session.” We hope for
him a speedy recovery.
Mr. J. H. Wilkins has just
completed a handsome two sto
ry brick building on East Mar
ket Street which is a credit to
the race. The People’s Drug
Store will move into this build
ing, as well as many other race
enterprises.