Newspapers / Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.) / Nov. 3, 1927, edition 1 / Page 1
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AND YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH SHALL ■UMBBMMSH CHARLOTTE, N. C., THURSDA /SKETCHES OF SOME FORMER RICHARD ' SON SCHOOL STUDENTS By Rev. G. T. ftllard, D. D. if,':. Article V. (Note:—I wrote a part of my life and a friend wrote the other part. With this number the curtain falls upon the historical narra tives of the Fairfied Normal In stitute.! am sending the Afrieo American Presbyterian newspa per every week to Miss Clara Richardson Pierce, who lives in Milford, Delaware. She is very anxious to read every one of these sketches. She is the last of the teachers of our school. I am very grateful to every body who helped to get the facts and events which made it possi ble for me to prepare and pub lish in our paper, the Africo, these historical sketches. My thanks are due and ex tended to the editors, Dr. H. L. McCrorey and Mr. W. E. Hill, of the Africo-American Presbyteri an newspaper, for giving ample' room and time to.these sketches and for Courtesies shown me along all lines. And now unto Him who loved us and gave himself for us be all the honor and glory forever. Amen.) SKETCH OF THE LIFE, ETC., OF G. T. DILLARD. I was born several years ago near Winnsboro, S. C. My par ents were Thomas and Julia Dil lard, whose mental vigor and self-respect were of a good grade. Just set free from sl .v ery my parents had nothing on which to live. My father ren. ad land and I was his main plow boy lor years. Of course the children had little or nothing to wear .or to eat. Shoes for chil dren were not in fashion, and the only method for warming my feet when I was plowing was to walk in the trench which the plow made in the ground. My father’s rule was that we should not stop to warm feet or any thing else, and we knew that we must keep his rule. As time went and came I found myself loving music, writ ing, reading and preaching. Rev. Edwards, the first Negro preach, er I ever saw and* heard preach, came to Winnsboro and started an A. M. E. church and preached there for years. Hie next day after hearing this man preach 1 did all I could to repeat his ser mon ana to sing me songs me church folks sang. Many times I would be plowing up' the corn or cotton in those days, and did not know it because I was try ing to preach like the man I heard ppaach Sunday. Blit when I saw the corn or cotton lying fl^t on the ground I planted every bit of it back in the grdund; for if my father had come upon the scene I would not have been able to preach any more. But the passion to preach, the desire for knowledge and singing or music never left me but grew back there when my big yellow feet were haked and flat on the ground. My call to the ministry was when I was plowing back yonder. 1 used to carry a small dic tionary wit)i me to the field. When I got to the end of the row imd while turning the mule round to plow back the oth er way I would get a word from too dictionary and repeat its meaning again- and again until ^stayed put. I have always words and they like me. in lon’t do much of that now. brighter day j§ a better, Trying conditions and tyl darkness and ignorance m to be moved, and the light benediction of Christian ed ion became the slogan for po youth in and about i Winnsboro, S. C. Rev. Willard Richardson and family from Houston, Delaware, " was the man under Qod who lifted the dark clouds of distressing moral and religious ignorance /which hung over our folks like the blackness of night, but vejry soon conditions began to change for the better and the colored peo ple felt that the time had come which they had long prayed for when freedom of body hnd edu cation of the mind were really in their reach. Mr. Richardson be gan work first at Chester, S. C. Hut for good reasons he soon left Chester and went' to Winns boro, leaving Rev. Roomis, an other missionary .from the North, in charge ^at Chester. There were three teachers in Mr. Richardson’s family* himself, his daughter, Miss Cliira, and his son, Oscar W. Richardson, Mrs. Harriet Richardson, his wife, taught some time. The school began about 1868 and was known as the Fairfied Institute. A suit able school building was erected, furnished with all necessary things with which to do good work: blackboards, seats, lights, etc. The teachers had a nice home on Main Street and the boys and girls had suitable quar ters to live fti on the school grounds. The Normal Institute grew from the beginning. The Negro children in town and country crowded the school un fras eager for a 'tkm. Institute did thorough work. The subjects that 'were used or taught in high grade Normal In stitutes were taught in Mr. Richardson’s school. The ^pupils were drilled and drilled in every thing'until they 'made it a part of them. Take mental arithme tic, for example. The hoys and girls, most of them, would do problems in that science so quick and exact that it would make your head swim. They had to do it and did jt. The Richardson students in the world who have made good are clear, logical thinkers. They think the thing through, and think on their feet, and know their stuff, and that is why. Al ter the Normal Institute was es tablished and doing good work Mr. Richardson began a hunt for choice young men who might de sire to study the ministry. A goodly number responded or made it known ^that they wanted to preach the gospel, and I was among them. But there was one trouble in my way. I was my father’s only plow hand; and he told Mr. Richardson that he could not do without me. My heart failed me that day when I heard my father say that to Mr. Richardson. I have not got over that fright yet. My father, M. G. Johnson and Mr. Richardson went off and talked so that I could not- hear what they said. That made me feel worse. Very soon Mr. Richardson came to me and said, “.George, your father says the oniy way he will let you go‘way and prepare for the ministry he must be paid $400 fpr the years you are under age; and if this is not done you twill have to go back and, plow that, mule. But I ha,ve agreed to pay him the money. So get your things ready and go with me.” I got roy stuff ready and off I went with Mr: Richardson, and: soon was at Biddle University and later completed my theological work at Jloward University. I was sold for $400.00 - to Mr. Richardson. I thank, both my father Slid Mr. Richardson *or( this sale, for it took both of those 1 men to get me away to school. I am yet thanking Almighty God for what happend that day, for without His "guiding hand that sale might never have taken place. But let me say to my friends that since the day of that sale I have never, no never, plowed that mule again. In order to help the Fairfield Normal Intitute to do the work better Mr. Richardson organized a band of singers known as the “Carolina Singers.” Every fall and winter for three years these singers sang throughout the States of New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania. This troupe was composed of five women and three men. These were all yoimg folks and had been trained to sing by Miss Clara Richardson and others. Of course the Negro spirituals were the songs the troupe sang prin cipally. These singers were in demand everywhere. The Fisk Singers, of Nashville, Tenn., had the ears of the country in those days and they deserved all the praise and popularity that went their way. I was a member of the Carolina Singers and sang bass for the troupe fur three years, and have heard very near ly every group of Negro singers in the U. S. A., but have never seen the original Fisk Singers take second place. They were great. The Carolina Singers made good. Mr> Richardson had charge of them and large sums of money were sung from the pockets of Northern people for our work. Just two of our sing ers are alive. The others have crossed the bar. Peace be to their ashes. One night in Brook lyn, N. Y., a white man hunted me up after our concert was naaffie Dil lardT’ I tolS pirn yes-* lie said, “I have heard! the Carolina Sing ers two or three nights and have been interested in your bass voice. I am collecting a troupe of Negro singers who will be trained and prepared in every way to sing their own spiritu als as well or better than the Carolina Singers ' do. I have heard your voice several times, and have not heard its equal any where. If you will go with my troupe to England I will give you any amount of money you want.” I thanked him but re fused to go with him because I was the only bass voice in our troupe and did not care to leave Mr. Richardson or venture to cross the Atlantic Ocean. George i. JJiuara compieieu the entire course required by the Fairfield Normal Institute and was among the best of the students in all things relative to knowledge and human advance ment. As stated elsewhere Mr. Richardson secured a number of young men who felt that they were called to preach whom he sent |to Biddle and Howard Uni versities to prepare themselves fully for the ministry. Dillard was one among these men and attended both of these schools named. He completed the the ological course at Howard in 1880 with a class of bright men and was rated second best in the class. Dillard was always stu dious and forward looking and clean in life both private and public. The teachers liked him and everybody else. You knew where to find him. His address in the graduating class took high ground and was delightfully eloquent ahd outstanding. It was a gem. The same year of his grad uation Dillard returned to his home toim where he met his folks and the teachers of Mr. Richardson’s school. It was a great blessing to get back and see each others’ face—teachers and everybody. Very soon Dillard appeared before Fairfield Presbytery at Chester, S. C., and after a satis factory e? subjects ion in all the was ordained to >1-wherever God should direct the principal min part in th$*ex Rev. Samuel harge of Brainerd Carmel church of and Mr. Richard was not asked lead ing ^uestioi| or questions which suggested t$e answers. No. The questions were asked and Dil lard answeffed them or failed to answer thefc without help. In June bf 1880 Dillard took charge of .oir church in Laurens, S. Cj, and for nine years held the conducted a church ourse Dillard was dertaking a church time he was greatly d somewhat fearful re of his work and t the work grew with him. He de God. With Him ail. The members ch got together. |ings were revived and new; liff was injected in eve ry department of the church and everybody fplt better and worked harder. For several years Dil lard had three other churches beside the Laurens chuch. Four churches for one man ought to be enough for him. Our preachers were few in number in those days when time was young and Presbyterian schools for ^training men for the gospiel ministry were few and far between. It was while Dr. Dillard was still preaching at Laurens, S. "C., that he was se lected, by the Board of Publica tion and Sattbath School Work of our Church to be a Sun. School Missionary, In South Carolina. 'Many Sunii*/ schools, in desolate sections of the State were or ganized; poor, ignorant families visited, taught and prayed for. He was the only Sunday School Missionary in the State, but he was active, always on the go and many of the schools he organized grew into Presbyterian mission stations and churches in many places in the State. We could name many of our best churches which developed from these schools: and also Baptist and Methodist churches which came from these schools. In after years other men were appointed Sunday school missionaries by the Board and of course larger results came about and the king dom widened in every direction. The Sunday school work grew to such an extent that the Board commissioned Dr. Dillard Syn odical missionary for the Synod of Atlantic with the understand ing that he was to continue to do the work of a Sunday school missionary in the State and to visit and help the missionaries throughout the bounds of the Synod. This new venture of the Board, judging from the fruit it bore in the way of popular es teem of the Synod and the un reached masses, was most time ly and profitable and made its own appeal. God really set His approval upon it, and upon the man that had been appointed to help make it go or to report the reason why. preach the! m His Proii him: Twoi isters who 1 amina"^ Loomis, in} institute Chester, S. son.; Di” chuifch anc schcjol. Oft young and; for the first concerned as to the fi himself, and !God wj pended uj you cannot of the. cl Prayer me<! Facts and figures oi tne worn done by the Sunday school men throughout the Synod were.pubr lished in several of our homq newspapers and in the literature of the Board. Very soon many calls were sent to the Board for Sunday school missionaries to be employed in all the Presbyteries and Synods made up of Negroes of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. The Board granted the request and sept suitable men fired by the Holy Spirit who have done and are still doing a splendid service for the degraded young Negroes and others. (Continued on page 2) - Iir thankfulness for whatfflU been achieved during the past year, especially for the part played by. every Synod* ana Presbytery in the raising of the million dollar debt, the Beard of National Missions sends oiit its full message, inviting Synods, Presbyteries mid churches to a joyous celebration of 126 years of organised Presbyterian mis sions in this country. day afternoon and evening given over to a reminiscence of the past. This includes as a rule the meeting of the women in the af ternoon, followed by a sterecipti con lecture on facis of the mis sioh held jrf special interest to the general .group, followed by a supper for men and women. Af ter the supper a group of young people present a pageant such as “Two Thousand Miles for a Book” which is full of romance, daring and a deep spirit of reli gion. This takes about half-an hour and can be simple or mod erately elaborate as desired. Another pageant which has. just been issued is entitled, “Deep Unto Deep,” a series of episodes covering the work from the At lantic to the Pacific and a set of tableax, Heroes of the March. Any of these can be had on ap plication to the Department of Education and Publicity, Board of National Missions, 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City.) Fol lowing the pageant there ate his torical addresses : on local and general work. A plwa similar to this is also being arranged the deputation idea so that the same presentation may be re* peated in a number of churches. Churches Aim to Show Appreci ation of the Work of Nation With the lifting of the debt of National Missions has come a conviction that there should be ig in to quarters 1 places, ygsoups a week Missions. no more debt. The securing oi a balanced budget is always de pendent upon two factors: 1st, the ^eduction of the budget of disbursements; 2nd, a legitimate increase of the budget of re ceipts. During the past three years the Board has very care fully. pruned its work; in the last year, in many instances, to the serious injury of the required growth. The Board would like to invite all ministers to sit on its Budget Committee and wit ness the real economy by which the following reductions have been effected: 1926 to $5,300-, 000 ; 1927 to $4,700,000 and 1928 to $4,300,000. One difficulty to the Budget Committee, however, is this: the figure for the present Church year needed to be set before the full returns of the year 1926-’27 "were available. Although the ■year ending March 31,1927, was one of the best years the Church ever had in the lifting of debt and establishment of the Pen sion Plan, the current work of National Missions suffered a loss. The position the Board now finds itself in is that there must If , Increase in the of ferings of the churches of at least $245,000 before March 31, 1928, in order to meet the esti mated actual expenditure being made upon a budget already re duced twenty pejr cent in the last three years. , Churches and Sunday Schools Plan Generous Anniversary Year Offering Preferably for Some Sunday in November. ! The full plan of the Board of 1 National Missions is to request ievery, church in the denontina Ition and also every Sunday ►pealing to the it its own oh, sts, because of that this be 126; Let the # school set its * #.00, or $1.06 i lollar fobtWch t fThe Sundiy of the Ihlis some school superintendents tat. em? phasize the Thanksgmhg.i>rfvi- " lege erf gifts tp Rational Mis sions. First,. to. the 2,000,000 Presbyterians considerably few- > er than 900,O00t make any con- v. tribution in the course ©fa year -..fc; to Presbyterian benevolences; >1* for the health of their souls an opportunity ou$ftv<idrtainly to ‘ i be given at" the ThankSki Ving seasohfor a'gift to^fhe^Biflnirit ,w work of National Missions. ^ ond, under our plan ' pf ’i^neVo^ ; lences two recognized methods of securing*the amount, requast ed of us by. the General Council are Open: one, the Eyery.„M«pi^ ber Canvass, and .the otb^a a ; <, special offecingeachiforNatton al Missions, Foreign Missions^ and Christian Education some- - time during the* year: AU:of* these Offerings eoUnt towarePthe ’ quota requested- of the .ChTfffiSJ^ and go to the current expenses of the Boards. Many a church., that has never used the special offering plan before can readily utilize the anniversary. idea and,, v fittingly allow not oidythe I*t00)000 non-cohtribUtora to'do' soaring duri»g 'Ndvem^'j^J,:l*‘‘; this cause; blit‘also mSalkd po|ai4<. w / tyre ’bMdgftrri contributors who have a desire to do somethingfor National Missions’ interest. The SpecifkAhniWiraary Fund Seeks Mainly Individual Gifts. •' The Board of . National Mis sions has ma4a proviklcm » campaign seeking ^BOOiOOG for a sneeial Anniversary s Fund It is understood, however, that ' this f600,000 is withht the to- ’ tal allowed to the fkwird of Na- % ' tional Missions by the (Ssneral Council, so that credit for ‘ these :; gifts may also be allowed ontfte 11 assfned benevolent^ quota. The Outstanding Emphasis; of the Board of National Missions for This Year .is on Evan* .. u gelishf;':.. .. The Board of optional *t sions is advocating the holding of retreats by Pre^bytw^hs a^d. ... by districts, asking the outpour. ing of God’s grace upon all .of ... ,' our churches. In addition it is requesting churches = and Pres- ,, byteries to adopt some specific plan of Evangelism for the pres- • ent church year. , The Divlsion v . of Evangelism, Or.? George GL;.} Mahy, Secretary, has provided ;rw, many suggestions and. stands.^., ready to help any given uni( to the .extent of his ability . ,i STUART Rev. R. L.‘Hyde wa^ :fit his-' *1 best Sunday night, and ’ he1* ' preached a very impressive' eeii-, tnon from Amos 7: 7: ‘‘Thus he showed me, and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall .made by a plumbline with a plumbline in ' his hand.” ..,*! We are pleased to report that the repair work on our chuwlh is finished. We have added ten feet to the church, We are thankful . to Jtev! and Hyde for pushing the work Jq completion before cold weather.^1', All .the captains of . the crabs ^ worked hard,'. Miss Allepe Staples celebrated J?' her f7th:,4)irthday October 8. ^ JBhe Was a lovely, hostess. After 'V playing many games the guests *' (Continued on page 4) i %
Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.)
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Nov. 3, 1927, edition 1
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