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’AND YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH. AND THE TRUTH SI MHMPBNie CHARLOTTE. N. O, MARCH 17, 1932. VOL. JJIL DO WE GET WHAT WE DESERVE By Dr. Csrtsr G. Woodson After I had spoken before the students and faculty of the University of Nebraska the other day a considerable num ber of them came to meet me at a reception immediately fol lowing the address. Among those who greeted me was a Negro student from Kansas. “How did you happen to come here for your college work?’' I inquired. “Is not the University of Kansas adequate to your needs?” “In a way it is,” he said, “but T could not stand the race prej udice there. They do not allow Negro students to use the swimming pool, aiid they try to segregate them elsewhere as they do at the University of Illinois. Here at the University cf Nebraska there are only a few Negro students, and we do not have any such troubles.” Other students whom I re cently met at the University of Omaha and at the University cf Wichita tell the same story cf the hostile attitude of the leading institution of “Bleed ing Kansas.” Universities fur ther North, however, are not always more uuerai wwaiu stu dents of African blood. And such is the story of the • Negro in white institutions. Such is the story of the Negro in penetrating white commun ities. Some of them receive Ne groes and treat them all right for a while, and then follows a change of attitude. Why does this happen ? Is this due to the increase in the number of Ne groes, to the addition of unde sirables, to a change in the character of the Negroes, or to all of these things? Or is it due to the change within the mind Negro remains a constanTfac tor, growing neither in num bers nor changing for better or worse? Have we actually inves tigated these things? Do we know the facts ? While crossing the Atlantic once in a palatial steamer I was seated at one of the most con spicuous tables in the dining room with persons of the Cau casian race. Everything pro ceeded smoothly until we left Cherbourg and started directly across the ocean. That evening at the close of the dinner a Nor dic from the Red Hills of Geor gia said in a low tone to anoth er American who had never thought of being at a table with a man of African blood: “This ship ain’t crowded, and I am going to change my seat, too.” * “Why do you want to change your seat?” the other American inquired. • “I am not going to sit at the table with a nigger” was the reoly. And he did not stay any long er. He left the table and car ried with him the other Amer ican , V T Now I often wonder why l had not done or did not do something so to impress my self upon that neutral Ameri can as to attach him to me or *o carry him off with me to some other table because I did not care to be bothered with a Red Neck; but this would have been the wrong thing for me to do you would say. Certainly, however, this fearless exponent of race prejudice was more in dustrious than I was in plying his trade, or he made use of his natural advantages while I neg lected to employ mine. He, therefore, won in that com bat. While it is a miserable feeling for one to have to bear in mind continually that he is constant ly on trial, the Negro must rer alize that he has to win his way. Nobody will .do this for him. Such has been the history rf all oppressed peoples. The Neigfro must make Mends of his enemies; and those of other races, who are neutral with re spect to the race, he must bring around to the liberal point of view. While others are daily tlying to turn them against us, we should be equally as diligent in combating such efforts. Now a good many will say that the Negro has endeavored to do these very things, but I have not found this always the case. As a rule we never think seriously of losing {ground in the social and economic spheres until the thing ha* actually hap pened. We are too much in clined to go through the world like children playing and never thinking about the noise they are making until it has gone to the extent that others annoyed thereby drive them away. We go off, then, to ourselves, either to abuse our foes or to express ourselves vociferously in one of our usual whereaS-therefore be-it-resolved meetings. mere are numerous instances 0* Negroes who endeavor to win friends in other races, but un fortunately the methods used are productive of more harm than good. Most of such efforts are no more than begging, cringing, or pleading for mer cy. Such confessions of weak ness do us much injury. Others observing us in this attitude, lose whatever of respeet they have had for us. Real men will always have contempt for beg gars and cowards. ' The only way for the Negro to win the respect of others is through real worth. Then, he must not cringe. He must not cower. He must become just as clean, just as industrious, just as thrifty, and just as upright as any others in the communi demand it as a man equal in worth to others of the social order Talking with a college profes sor of the North some years ago I was asked to give an ac count of the various Negro graduates of his institution. In the course of the conversation I informed him that one of them had gone altogether into propaganda to right the wrongs rf the Negro. This gentleman immediately expressed his re gret that such a .scholarly Ne gro would thus waste his time. “That man,” said he, “is a bright fellow. He has a remark able intellect; and he would ha ve done his race much good by restricting himself to crea tive matters to demonstrate to other races the equal capacity of the Negro.” “You know,” said tne proces sor. further, “there is nothing in propaganda anyway, for eve ry race gets what it deserves. I did not like this when I first heard it. I did not believe that it is true. As I grow older, however, I become inclined to think that we do get what we deserve. If Negroes as a whole carry as much filth as I have known them to have at schools, if Negroes going into white communities let their property run down and the community become noisy and vicious, if Ne groes continue to spend most of their time trying to enjoy what others have produced rather than unite and do some thing for themselves—such Ne groes, then, do get what they deserve when others try to get rid of them. LETTER TO PRESBYTERY OF SOUTHEN VIRGINIA Dear Brethren: A few more days and the end of the Church year will come. These have been hard times not only for our churches but for the Boards of our great Church. Let us do all within our power to send in our benev olence. F. D. NANCE, Chairman. Norfolk, Va. THE RESURRECT! By Rev. E. W. “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witness es/’ (Acts 2:32.) The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a doctrine which oc cupies an essential place in the system of Christianity. If Christ is not risen there is no atonement for sin, no interces sion for saints, no Holy Ghost, no salvatiofl, no hope of heav en, no resurrection at the last day. There is no truth in prophecy, no honesty and can dor in the Apostles. They are all false witnesses before God and the world.,A future exist ence is a delusion; we may eat, drink and be merry while it is today, for tomorrow we die, and a1! is over forever. “But now is Christ risen from the dead.” “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses.” This foundation standeth sure. It rests on an in lestructible basis. Here we have a statement made by Peter in the presence of thousands of people that God raised Jesus Chjrist from the dead. Here we have the wit nesses of the truthfulness of this statement: “We are all witnesses.’* 1. The Statement Made That Jesus Was Raised From the Dead. 1; This statement was in harmony with the ancient pre diction and type that the Mes siah should be raised from the dead. 2. This statement was in harmony with the promises and teachings of Jesus during His sojourn with His disciples. 3. This statement was in purposes of God in reference to the salvation of the world as revealed up to that time. 4. It was a real resurrection, for. He died and was buried. There are abundant proofs of these 5. There is no impossibility in the event, seeing it is attri buted to God. To God nothing is impossible. II. Consider the Men Who Pre sent Themselve(s as Witnesses of This Wonderful Event. Almost everything depends upon the witnesses as to the -eception or rejection of evi dence concerning an alleged fact. If they are qualified, reli able. trustworthy, sufficiently numerous, their testimony is taken as ample justification for hnlio-f nf 4"Vi o 1. These witnesses were many. First of the Apostles; then of five hundred, and then of Saul on his way to Damas cus. He was seen of them all. 2 The apostles could not be mistaken in His identity, as they had seen Him and had been with Him for three years before His death. Seeing Him as they did after His resurrec tion they must have known whether He was the one they saw before 3. They witnessed with firmness, boldness, ingenuous ness, uniformity and constan cy. 4. They witnessed every where, at all times, and before all persons. 5. They were teachers of such morality as precluded all prevarication, untruthfulness and deception. 6 They practiced the mor ality which they taught. Their characters were above all sus picion. 7. They had no interest of a pecuniary nature in bearing evidence to this fact. No brib ery. No worldly gain. 8. Rather than give up their testimony, they endured the greatest privations and .suffer ings. , . 9 They had the approval of conscience in bearing testimo ny. 10- Being of such origin, connection Jetc., they were in capable of # concocting such a story.as t|fi resurrection. testimony to such could not have ion and currency 11. A f n statem found ri ?t sueh'ti 12. H; been false been e IS. means to i 14. H been been their testimony could easily have used no unfair luce men to believe, their testimony false' it would not have followed with such won derful effects upon the hearts and lives «f men in their day and in all'’subsequent ages. 15. The je. things rtiay be deemed as sufficient to prove the genuineness of the witness es and the validity of their evi dence. May we |ot forget the joy that comes’to us and the world today fro: fexts 1. Let of the roc in Christi 2 We irrefutable proves thi our religio 3. We great con which are imate co viz , Chr this and similar feel the solidity on which our faith iity stands, lould rejoice in the evidence which essential truth of E>uld receive with fence all the truths tvealed as the legit Sequences of! this, ascension, .inter cession, the descent of the Spirit, justification, a living Church, the resurrection of the dead. etc. f DR. I. H. RUSSELL AT JAME& ISLAND, S. C. 1 ounuay CL.X uary &p, marKea ,lbe niflpiff r^vivt ftrrmrfTj conducted at St. James church, James Island, S. C., hy the Rev. I. H. Russell, D. D., Evangelist of Catawba Synod. Throughout the entire week the services were inspiring and well attended. On Friday night a special sermon was preached to the women of the church. The truths that were brought home by Dr. Russell were felt by the entire congrega tion, and many who were asleep decided to wake up. A host came forward—young and old—to confess Jesus Christ. On Saturday, March 6th, the Island was visited by a storm, which, as usual, took its toll by destroying crops, uprooting .trees, Completely demolishing houses, or taking off the roofs. The rain continued until ten o’clock Sabbath morning, and the wind was moving at a be Iceity of 100 miles per hour. In spite of this by noon the church and gallery were packed for communion services at which time 43 were received into the Presbyterian church. Four of the converts have been received into the Baptist church, and 15 into the Methodist church. Dr, Russell was at his best as he nreached from the sub ject, “Self-Confidence.”' The Holy Spirit was shed abroad in the hearts of the people as he spoke to them. The closing ser vices on Sunday evening were just as inspiring. At this service 36 young people came forward and expressed a desire to come over on the Lord’s side. Rev. and Mrs. S. H. Scott and Miss Dola Stokes worshipped with us at these services. Just after the sermon Mrs. Scott and Miss Stokes sang beauti fully and effectively “I’m a Pil grim.” " Dr. Russell left us on Mon day, but his messages will ever be felt in ther hearts of the peo ple of James Island. This fact is being manifested day by day* On Sunday, March 13th, 17 boys and girls united with our church. We have not the num ber, perhaps, who joined the other churches, but we can truthfully say- that the converts (Continued on page 3) SCHOOL NEWS OF ANDER SON, S. C. The Reed St. High School The Reed Street High School activities have been very suc cessful this scholastic year. The faculty have been trying to the best of their ability to put the program over in the truest sense. A few days ago a drive was put on to obtain six out standing pictures for our audi torium and they came just in time to be presented during the observance of Negro National History and Music Week. The members of the Senior class presented a picture each morn ing along with selections from different classes. Our devo tionals were opened each morn ing with The Negro National Hymn, Scripture and prayer. Then the programs were pre sented. i oo luucn prai»e can nut lkj given Mrs. Marion for her un tiring effort in training the boys and girls in handling Ne gro music. Their songs really caused a burning sensation within us as we sat and listened to them. We are proud of Mrs. Marion as a music teacher. During the week we had some very encouraging words from Revs A. P. Gilliard, A, P. Robinson and S. C. Campbell, Prof. J. A. Gresham and Mrs. Alice Webb Anderson. The basket ball team, under the leadership of Miss Eva Kate Dunlap, is doing gobd work. So far we have had three games and won each one. We highly commend the girls and their ef ficient coach. The Senior class of Reed St. School rendered a very unique program ai the St. Paul Baptist church on a recent Sunday eve preach Wg-im ro Na tional History and Music Week. At the conclusion of their pro gram several of the local busi ness men, along with their Principal, gave some very en couraging remarks and com mended them for rendering such a program. Anderson County teachers are fortunate in having an ex tension course held at Reed St. School where they can better prepare themselves for their work and renew their certifi cates. This course is being fos tered by State College, with Prof. C. A. Johnson as Princi The North Side School The North Side School of An derson celebrated Negro Histo ry Week. The accomplishments of the race—men and women living and dead—were freely discussed If all the Negro schools of America will put forth a similar effort as the North Side School did to ac vfuaint the children with the lives of the great people of our race there will be a very #ew young people who have not heard of the characters who give us inspiration to go for ward. Most of these were born rf slave parents’ with poverty and everything else to handi cap them. If they made a mark in life how much more is ex pected of us today? Monday morning of History Week Mrs. Corinne Peek, Prin cipal. gave us the life of Mary McLeod Bethune who was born in the backwoods of South Car olina. telling how she has forged ahead and is now head of the Bethune-Cookman Col lege which she founded. When one sits and listens to her, you forget whether she is black or white. Her face may be black but her soul is as white as snow. ' Following Mrs. Peek, Mrs. Birdie Davis related the life of Paul Lawrence Dunbar who wrote about the Negro as he really is. She then recited “In the Morning." “Temptation” was given by Rose Lee Sim mons. “Accountability” by Wil liam Wardlow and the Second ) . Grade rendered “Jirtnp Back, Honey, Jump Back” and “Life.” Tuesday morning Miss S. E. Rucker gave us the life of Fred erick Douglass. Among the many things she told about this great man was’how earnestly he sought an education. He was sold as a slave when he was ten years old and his mis tress taught him to read and write. When his master found „ this out he had the teaching shopped. He continued to learn and became one of the greatest orators of his day. He was an anti-slavery lecturer and abo litionist. Wednesday morning Miss Maggie Butler, in a most pleas ing way, related the life of Ro land Hayes, one of the world’s greatest tenor singers. He was born in Curryville,. Ga., but his mother moved to Tennessee where her boy would have bet ter school advantages. His first public appearance was made in Boston. There was hardly room for the singer to stand, the crowd was so great. Every one who heard him said there was s omething in his voice that no other singer has. From this time on the lyric singer has had no trouble in finding #n audience. After the story, the North Side Quartette sang a number r.f Negro Spirituals. In this group of siftgers we could al most hear future Hayeses. Thursday morning Miss A. Cecil Johnson gave the life of Broker T. Washington. The children enjoyed learning the fact that this educator named himself. However, when Miss Johnson finished every child could trace his life from his birth to the great Tuskegee In stitute which he established, and there on the campus where hou^ave -his, life eould in the mind’s eye see the last resting place of our own Washington. Then came Mrs. Seipio Gam broil Jones with the life of Phyllis Wheatley, the first po etess of America, and Miss Del la Vance with the life of Col. Chas. Young and his activities during the world war. Friday morning being Abra ham Lincoln's birthday, we stoped to pay tribute to him who played a great part in abol 'sh'ng slavery. A unique pro gram was rendered by some of *Le pupils. CORRESPONDENT. NOTICE Dear Brethren of McClelland Presbytery, greetings: We are soon to report to the Presbytery what we have done. Here before me is a report of what has been sent to the Boards to date. It looks bad. Brethren, some of us have not done well Times are bad with us, I know, but too many of our churches have given noth inir. What church in McClelland Presbytery is really so poor it could not give a few dollars to 'he Boards? Are you expect ing to receive anything from the Board ? Where do' you think the Board gets the money for - you? Suppose the other fellow did not give as you do, what then? Have you thought what such a course would mean? I rethren, it is neither wise nor safe to burn the bridge be hind you. Even at this date ra:e some money for the Board. Your church just can not af ford to come up blank. McClel land has always stood high as to duty done. Let us not spoil a ood record. Please have your Hanks properly made out and presented to the committee at Presbytery. Presbytery's rule is that all churches seeking aid from the Board must pay its full assessment. Look you to that, please. Let us have faith enough in God to work and sac rifice for His cause. Yours fraternally, C. W. FRANCI8.
Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.)
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March 17, 1932, edition 1
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