Negro
Evangelization
UNION OF SENTIMENT
AS SHOWN AT A
Great Mass Meeting
AT
BOWLING GREEN, KY., Jan. 12, 1908
Participated in by North and South—White
and Black—and by all Religious
Denominations.
Reprint from report in the Cumberland Pres¬
byterian, Jan. 23,1908. Copies mailed
free on request sent to W. J.
Darby, Evansville, Ind.
FACULTY AND TEACHERS, BOWLING GREEN
ACADEMY.
Negro Evangelization.
At the Neal Auditorium on Sunday-
night, January 12, 1908, the citizens of
Bowling Green, Ky., regardless of denom¬
inational relations, held a mass meeting in
the interest of intellectual, moral and in¬
dustrial training among the colored people.
A few persons interested in the Bowling
Green Academy of the Cumberland Pres¬
byterian Church, colored, arranged for the
meeting. Promptly, one church after an¬
other announced its purpose to suspend its
evening services and participate in the
meeting.
When the audience came together, it was
found that almost every pastor in the city
was on the platform, and in spite of the
storm that was raging, the membership of
these churches filled the portion of the Au¬
ditorium set apart for white people, while
the portion set apart for colored people
was also filled. On the right of the plat¬
form were the pastors of the colored
churches, Cumberland Presbyterian and
Methodist, the faculty of the Academy and
the club of "Jubilee Singers," who were to
furnish the music for the occasion. The
space occupied by the negroes was exactly
similar to that occupied by the whites, the
center aisle of the Auditorium dividing the
two races. It was a unique spectacle, peo-
3
pie of both races and of all denominations
filling the Auditorium—ministers, lawyers,
teachers, bankers—on the platform as speak¬
ers; men who stood for the South during
the war and men who wore the blue, all
representing a common citizenship, assem¬
bled for a common purpose—the uplift of
the negro race.
The social distinction between the two
races was as clearly recognized and as dis¬
tinctly drawn as it was in the ante-bellum
times, when whites and blacks were mem¬
bers of the same church and worshiped
and communed together, but each in his
separate place. This distinction clearly
recognized, all else was in common, every
other distinction set aside in the presence
of the one supreme desire to do some¬
thing toward working out the right solu¬
tion of "The Negro Problem," a solution
that must come, if it comes at all, on the
basis of the word of God and by the
agency of the good white man and the
good black man.
The exercises of this occasion were in¬
troduced with remarks by Hon. C. U. Mc-
Elroy, the chairman. Dr. W. J. Darby,
of Evansville, Ind., was called upon to
state the object of the meeting, which he
did, as follows:
"In stating the object of this meeting I
would say first, that it is designed to
awaken and rightly direct public sentiment
in behalf of the best things for the negro
race. Bowling Green is a center from
which influences may ramify to the far¬
thest boundaries of the state of Kentucky,
and we want to build up here an institu¬
tion for colored people whose influence
will be felt throughout this entire com¬
monwealth. For six years the colored
Cumberland Presbyterians have been strug¬
gling to establish the Bowling Green Acad¬
emy. We propose to help them, though
4
not by any means to take the manage¬
ment or direction of the work out of
their hands. They have their own separate
and independent church organization, and
their plan is so to continue. They have
their own board of trustees and faculty,
and they hold the title to their school prop¬
erty. So far as we can go in aiding them,
we want to help them to lay broad and
deep the foundation principles of moral
character in the colored youth of this coun¬
try. Intellectual training they ouffht to
have, so that they may the better fill any
line of service they may enter, no mat¬
ter how humble it may be. Moral char¬
acter they must have, whether we con¬
sider their good or ours. Hence, our first
act in helping them to make this Academy
what it ought to be has been to furnish
them a Bible teacher, a well-educated man
who gives all his time to this department.
Maintaining an Academy and not trying to
make a college, we have advised them to
establish an industrial department in which
their young people may be trained for the
practical activities of life. The value of
truth, of honesty, puritv and industry, the
dignity of labor, whether for one's self
or in another's employ—these are the things
that will be instilled into the students in
this school.
"The negroes of the South need better-
educated preachers and leaders in church
work; they need more and better-trained
teachers and high-grade men and women
for other positions of leadership. The
foundations can be laid here in this Acad¬
emy, and then those aspiring for these lines
of work caii go elsewhere for higher edu¬
cation.
"A good primary education for the
masses, furnished under Christian aus¬
pices, by Christian teachers, with Bible
in hand, instilling the fundamentals of a
good moral character; a good industrial
5
training preparatory to intelligent service
in many lines of activity—these are the
things aimed at in this school. It has been
organized and will be conducted under de¬
nominational auspices, but in no sense sec¬
tarian. All persons of every denomination
will have the same privileges. Its man¬
agement bears the. Presbyterian name, and
we of that household of faith have volun¬
teered our aid. Others denominations
bearing the same name will doubtless be
welcome to aid them as their hearts may
prompt. In this union service in behalf
of the moral and intellectual uplift of a
weaker race are Methodists, Baptists, Dis¬
ciples and others, testifying their interest,
and we trust this large gathering of all
the different denominations of the com¬
munity is an omen of good and a prophecy
of the best things for the colored people
of this community."
Co-Operation Among Presbyterians.
After stating the object of the meeting,
Dr. Darby referred to the action taken by
the Council of the Reformed Churches with
reference to co-operation in colored evan¬
gelization, saying: "In mv judgment the
time has come for all Presbyterians in this
country to rallv to a common standard
and to unify their efforts in behalf of these
nine millions of colored people in the South.
Some branches of the Presbyterian family
have been doing something in their sepa¬
rate capacity, and all concede that one of
them in particular has done a great deal.
All of them might have done much more
could they have acted together. Why may
we not now have a unity of effort on the
part of the whites and a similar process
on the part of the blacks, with no trans¬
mission of our theological or sectional dif¬
ferences into this struggling mass of col¬
ored people whose attention should be su-
6
premely centered on the one business of
rising to better things? Just how, in either
case, this may be done, perhaps no one of
us can now tell, but if it is right and those
having the responsibility of leadership will
devote themselves in a Christ-like spirit to
the solution of all difficulties that may arise,
God will open the way. At the recent or¬
ganization of the 'Presbyterian Council' in
the City of New York, delegates were pres¬
ent from most of the Presbyterian
churches, and much attention was given to
this particular question. All were delight¬
ed with the oneness of spirit that was found
to exist, and action was taken which may
mean much for the future of the negro
race in this country. The zeal and frater¬
nal spirit of our brethren of the Southern
church was a prominent factor in the meet¬
ing, and the committee appointed by the
Council to guide in this important work
has for its chairman Dr. J. R. Howerton,
the moderator of the Southern General As¬
sembly. I shall count it a high privilege
to serve on this committee under Dr. How-
erton's leadership, and my belief is that
every man in the Council has a like feeling.
I believe the same is true of the various
Boards that have this work in hand. We
are brethren, and we are going to show it
on this great question, than which there is
not a more important one now before the
American people. By unanimous vote the
Council adopted the following:
" 'Resolved, that it is the sense of this
Council that the principle of co-operation
which has worked so admirably on the for¬
eign field should be applied, so far as pos¬
sible, to work among the colored people
of our country as conducted by the con¬
stituent bodies of this Council.'
"Pardon the personal mention, but know¬
ing the sentiment of the united church I
wrote this resolution, a Southern Presby-
7
terian delegate offered it, and after full and
frank consideration of its purport and
bearing upon future plans of work, it re¬
ceived the unanimous endorsement of the
Council. If the General Assemblies of the
respective churches approve of this action
of the Council, it will mean that just as
we are uniting our forces on the foreign
field, so we shall unite in this work here
at home, with sectional differences for¬
ever buried. A large proportion of the
money needed in this great work must
come from the North, but Presbyterians
in the South are so situated by personal
contact with the negro race that they can
guide in the administration of the details
of this work, whether in the schools or
evangelization among the masses, in a way
that the people of the North cannot possi¬
bly do. Thus allied, with one spirit, such as
I believe pervades this Bowling Green au¬
dience, largely composed of Southern peo¬
ple, I believe we shall have a new era that
will be a joy to the heart of all Christians,
both North and South."
Hon. C. U. McElroy, chairman, then
spoke as follows:
"My Friends and Fellow Townspeople:
"I am very much gratified to see such a
large and representative white audience
here to-night, composed as it is of people
of every shade of political belief, and rep¬
resentatives of every creed, and from every
church in this place, and some, perhaps,
who stand independent of all party alle¬
giance, or ecclesiastical conditions. And I
am no less gratified to see such a repre¬
sentative gathering of the colored people,
composed of the best colored citizenship,
not only of this community, but of the
state at large.
"It is doubtless unnecessary so to do, but
I beg to add a thought to the very lucid
8
and ample statement of the object of this
gathering just made by Dr. Darby.
"I have long been of the opinion, which
has ripened into a firm conviction, that the
only solution of the so-called race problem
of the South is to be found in the doing
of two things—one by the white man and
the other by the black man. If the mem¬
bers of the dominant and stronger race will
stretch forth the hand of sympathetic help¬
fulness to the weaker race; if the white
man will be a little patient with the weak¬
ness and limitations of the black; if he
will aid in his education, and teach him
what education implies—that it is only a
means and not an end, that education is in¬
tended, not to enable the black man to quit
work, but to work the more intelligently,
profitably and usefully; if the white man
will teach the black man that integrity is the
basis of all business worth, and, that char¬
acter is as essential to the black man in
his sphere as it is to the white man in his;
it the white man by sympathetic effort
will teach the teachers and the ministers
of the black and thus rescue both from
the quagmires of ignorance and supersti¬
tion, and thus help him to a higher plane
of morality, intelligence and citizenship:
and if, on the other hand, the black man
will promptly and properly respond to all
such efforts for his uplifting and better¬
ment; if he will learn that morality, in¬
telligence and good citizenship are respected
in him, and in his race as well as in the
white man, and in the white race; if he
will learn the fact, and act upon it, that he
must work, /work intelligently, honestly
and faithfully, and that he will be re¬
warded according as he works:—then, when
these conditions are fulfilled, we shall have
gone a very long way toward the solution
of a perplexing problem, which has given
much concern to the thoughtful men and
women of both the North and South.
9
"One other word: 1 see in this move¬
ment here conducted by Dr. Darby and Dr.
McClelland and backed by a great and pa¬
triotic church, and by many patriotic and
kindly people, a step, locally, toward the
settling of the race problem in this com¬
munity and settling it right. I beg to as¬
sure these gentlemen, and through them,
to assure those whom they represent in
the North and elsewhere, that their efforts
toward the uplifting and betterment of the
colored race of this state, I believe, meets
the hearty approval, and has the sincere
sympathy, of our entire citizenship of every
faith, creed and political affiliation."
The invocation was offered by Rev. John
D. Hunter, of the Presbyterian Church.
Rev. Dr. J. S. Grider spoke of his life¬
long interest in the negro race, his con¬
stant contact with them from childhood,
his readiness to help them all through his
ministerial career, and the fact of his abid¬
ing desire to make himself felt on the right
side of this great question, as evidenced by
the fact that, notwithstanding his ad¬
vanced age, he had driven six miles through
the storm to lend his presence to this meet¬
ing for the betterment of the negro's moral
and intellectual condition.
Address By Dr. McClelland.
The principal address of the evening was
delivered by Rev. Dr. H. T. McClelland, of
Pittsburg, Pa., field secretary of the Board
of Missions for Freedmen of the Presby¬
terian Church in the U. S. A. His theme
was "Our Common Sacrifice for the Weak¬
er Race." The address created a profound
impression and evidently commanded the
hearty endorsement of the entire audi¬
ence. Dr. McClelland said :
"In the first Christian century an angel
10
of the Lord sent Philip, the evangelist, to¬
ward the South in the saving interest of
one transient Ethiopian. It is a convincing
demonstration of the increasing purpose of
God that runs through the. ages, that, all
of his angels of grace, mercy and peace
are calling upon his evangelical churches
in this wide, united land of ours, not only
to arise and go toward the South, but to
arise in the South in the saving interest not of
one transient Ethiopian, but of some nine
millions, of Ethiopian derivation, who are
here to stay. Representing one evangeli¬
cal church, for more than forty-two years
somewhat obedient to this injunction, I
wish by your kindness to place before you
the basal reasons for our obedience to the
heavenly vision.
"These reasons are tersely stated in Heb.
13: 16. 'But to do good and to com¬
municate forget not, for with such sacri¬
fices God is well pleased.' Here the apos¬
tle says. Public worship without beneficent
service is inadequate. Doing good by the
personal touch and communicating money
to get others to do for us the service we
cannot do by ourselves complete our iden¬
tification with Jesus in the sacrifices with
which God is well pleased. Our classic ex¬
ample here is the 'Good Samaritan.' His
compassion for the man who needed his
help overcame bad example and race feel¬
ing. He helped with his own hands and
with his money and stood pledged to care
for the unfortunate man until he could
take care of himself. Is not Jesus saying
to each of us most distinctly, 'Go thou
and do likewise?' And the apostle adds,
'For with such sacrifices God is well
pleased.'
"This motive is the highest possible. By
such sacrifices we come into the same class
with God's dear Son. Thus we set our
faces toward his throne, where having over¬
come, we shall be enthroned with him as
11
he, having overcome, is enthroned with his
Father. Leaving all other details of Chris¬
tian sacrifice, let us ask at once, Why is
God well pleased when we make sacrifices
in the saving interest of our Southern ne¬
groes? Because God is well pleased with
the manifestation of his own perfections
by his children.
"i. God is wise. It is wise for us to
make sacrifices to give the gospel of Je¬
sus Christ to our negroes in church and in
school. It has been demonstrated that this
is the only means that solves for the negro
his personal problem as a sinner and his
tremendous neighborhood problem of how
to live in helpful peace and mutual confi¬
dence side by side with you. It is wise to
lead him by the hand of trained, devoted
preachers and teachers of his own race
by a saving knowledge of the cross of
Christ to a fit use of the carpenter shop of
Jesus. This is the way of life in which his
heart and head and hands must be trained.
The all-wise God, our Father, is well
pleased when to this end we make the sac¬
rifices of wisdom.
"2. God is just. The great principle of
Christian ethics is that the strong ought to
help the weak. The responsibility of our
race. in bringing the negroes here is abso¬
lute. Philanthropy and patriotism have
filed their indisputable claims. To save
them and thus to save ourselves is unadul¬
terated justice. The infinitely righteous
God, our Judge, is well pleased when we
make such sacrifices of righteousness.
"3. God is merciful. The mass of the ne¬
groes in our Southland is a great lost mul¬
titude. This is the estimate of one of their
own number, a student of the sociology of
his people, who commands highest respect
in the world of scholarship Let us call
into this Auditorium one hundred represen¬
tative negroes, representing in their physi¬
cal, intellectual, moral and spiritual condi-
12
tions all the negroes of the South. I will
arrange them in a class facing you as vou
sit. To your left count nine—nine out of
every hundred are accounted vicious, sub¬
merged. Find them in convict camps and
in chain gangs. Find them drinking vast
draughts of bad whisky, playing craps, car¬
rying razors, bringing a hideous, nameless
fear to many parts of our beloved South¬
land. Surely the merciful God is well
pleased when we make sacrifices to save
some even of these.
"Still to your left, count ten—ten out of
every hundred are well up to the standard
of twentieth century Christian civilization.
By means of the sacrifices of mercy these
have become good people. You know them
here in jTour own city. They are thrifty.
They know and practice truth in order to
holiness. They strive to bring their chil¬
dren up in the nurture and admonition of
the Lord. Surely the merticul God is well
pleased when we make sacrifices of mercy
to help this advanced ten per cent to try
to save those multitudes of their people who
are still far down in the scale, far back in
the race. We have estimated nine of our one
hundred representatives as very bad, and
ten as correspondingly good. We have still
left the great majority of eighty-one out
of the hundred. These are in a state of
unstable equilibrium. If cared for they will
rise. If neglected they will go down. Now
they are too ignorant and too shiftless to
lead decent and thrifty physical lives. They
are too ignorant and too superstitious to
lead the lives of that godliness which is
now and forever profitable. That ninety
per cent of our Southern negroes are still
a burden and a menace to themselves and
to us calls with pathetic poignancy, 'O God
of mercy, lead us to those sacrifices of
mercy with which thou art well pleased.'
"Here in Bowling Green you have un¬
commonly fine opportunity for these sacri-
13
fices of wisdom, justice and mercy. I have
been in touch with this work for thirty-
eight years. I have visited critically many
negro schools. I have never visited one
with which I have been better pleased than
with the Bowling Green Academy.
"I may say in closing that the board which
] represent has been long overwhelmed with
a sense of the magnitude of the missionary
work to be done among our Southern ne¬
groes. Accordingly, this board has consis¬
tently sought and has gladly welcomed, and
will gladly welcome more and more, the
co-operation of Southern Christians. The
good white people of the South know the
negroes well and are most kindly disposed
toward them. The good negroes of the
South reciprocate their kindness and con¬
fidence. The possibilities for the mutual
affection and helpfulness of the races in
the South, whose distinctness is to be in¬
exorably preserved, are boundless. So it
comes that of all people the white people
of the South are best fitted and placed for
making, and for helping those whom I
represent, in making those sacrifices with
which the great and glorious God who
gave his own Son up freely for black and
white alike, is well pleased."
So manifest were the interest and enthu¬
siasm of the audience, the exercises were
prolonged far beyond what had been
planned. Extracts are taken from the re¬
marks of various speakers called out by
the chairman, as follows:
Southern Presbyterian Pastor Speaks.
Rev. Dr. William Irvine, pastor of the
Southern Presbyterian church: "We are
exceedingly glad that Dr. McClelland has
given the people of Bowling Green the op¬
portunity to show their interest in a cause
that lies so near to the heart of the South¬
ern people, and I am sure this large audi-
14
ence, representing all the evangelical
churches, and the best classes of society,
will abundantlv satisfy the movers in this
enterprise of the hearty sympathy of our
people of any work looking to the amel¬
ioration of the colored people. We did
not need for any one to awaken in our
hearts a deep interest in the uplift of a
race that has alwaj's been near to us, and,
I might say, dear to us, because of their
fidelity and lovalty to us and our interests
when the clouds of war hovtved over our
Southland. The people of the South have
only withheld their support in this great
movement for the want of means, and we
are more than willing, yea, we rejoice in
the opportunity of joining hands with our
brethren of the North in ministering to
the development of the negro, spiritually
and industrially.
"That pathetic song of the Jubilee Sing¬
ers wTith that almost weird refrain, 'O my
Good Lord, show me the way,' wras like a
Macedonian cry. It was indeed a cry in the
night; a cry for the light, and to whom
can they go for help and guidance but to
those who are the stewards of the Mas¬
ter's wealth, and are ministering in the
name of the Master? And to this end we
rejoice in your effort in our midst, and
we shall alwTays be glad to help on any-
good work looking to the raising of the
fallen and the rescue of the perishing
among a race to whom we are bound by
the ties of long association."
Judge Wilkins' Address.
Judge John M. Wilkins, for twenty-five
years president of the City Board of Edu¬
cation, spoke in part as follows:
"I don't know what more I can say than
to give my absolute approval of all that
has been said this evening and a promise
15
of hearty co-operation In all that may he
done in this direction, personally, and with
my knowledge of the spirit and the senti¬
ment of this my native home, a guarantee
of sympathy and co-operation by the peo¬
ple of our goodly city. Our graded schools
have been maintained for over twenty-four
years, giving to the negro an equal chance
at education with the whites, supported by
taxation on a valuation of between three
and four millions of property, our colored1
friends being taxed on only about one hun¬
dred thousand dollars of this amount. We
have not been altogether unselfish in this,
but have done it for our own good largely.
As an old negro friend said to me: 'De
white folks is here and ain't gwine away,
and de nigger is here and can't git away.'
So, knowing they are our neighbors, the
whites have felt that it was good policy to
make good citizens out of them and con¬
sequently good neighbors, and I am sure
the beneficial results are apparent to all,
both white and black. The efforts of our
friends in establishing this school among
us is an evidence of genuine sympathy for
the people of the South in the burden of
solution of the much-talked-of 'Negro
Problem.' I am sure this effort will be
met by our people in a hearty and true
Christian spirit, with moral support and,
if necessary, substantial aid."
Brief addresses in a similar vein were
made by Rev. Dr. W. B. Ricks, pastor
State Street M. E. Church, South; Rev.
Dr. J. S. Dill, pastor First Baptist Church;
Rev. Dr. W. T. Wells, pastor of the Chris¬
tian Church; and Mr. Whit Potter, one
of the leadinc bankers of the city. All of
these gentlemen endorsed most heartily the
educational work being done by Presby¬
terians and others of the Northern states,
in their effort to improve the intellectual
and moral condition of the negro in the
South. They urged the heartiest co-op-
16
eration between the two sections of the
country and insisted that the solution of
the negro problem is not to be expected
through political or sectional methods, but
through the united efforts of the Christian
people of the entire country on the basis
of the word of God.
The following from Dr. William B. Ricks
will serve as a sample of the breadth of
spirit and earnestness of purpose of these
Southern men as they face the present-
day demands of this vital question:
"I am strictly a Southerner, born and
reared on a plantation in eastern North
Carolina. My father and forefathers were
slave-holders, and, though born since
slavery, I have known the negro from my
earliest recollections. I feel a deep in¬
terest in his uplift, mentally, morally,
and spiritually. My first and second ser¬
mons were preached to the colored people,
and I have never had a pastorate where I
didn't preach to them in their churches.
The South knows the negro, is interested
in his progress, and is doing much for his
elevation and highest good.
"I am profoundly impressed with this
great meeting to-night, and have listened
with deep interest to the addresses of Drs.
McClelland and Darby. We welcome them
among us and appreciate the fact that they
are here to help the Colored Bowling Green
Academy, especially their effort to inaugu¬
rate a movement for better Bible study and
an industrial department for the better
equipment of the negro for the various du¬
ties and responsibilities of life. Bible study
and industrial education are the special
needs of the negro, as I understand the race,
if he is to continue to live in the South,
and he is here to stay.
"I give my hearty endorsement to this
movement and hope to be able to help in
some way."
17
A feature of the exercises that greatly de¬
lighted the audience was the singing of the
Jubilee Club, organized from the faculty
and students of the Academy, and led by
Prof. B. L. Tate, who is a graduate of
President Council's Normal University in
Alabama. These were among the songs
rendered:
"There's a Meeting Here To-Night."
"Show Me the Way."
"I Know the Lord."
"Roll On."
"The Old Ark's A-movering."
Significant Demonstration.
When the chairman announced that the
meeting must close, Dr. Darby reminded
the audience of the strong assurance given
by Judge Wilkins that this educational
movement under Christian auspices, for the
good management of which the Presbyte¬
rians of various shades stood sponsors,
should have the unqualified moral and ma¬
terial backing of all white citizens of the
community, regardless of creed or party.
Those endorsing Judge Wilkins' statement
were asked to rise, and the entire white
portion of the audience stood in response
to the proposition.
The colored portion of the audience was
reminded of their obligation and responsi¬
bilities and were asked if they could stand
in testimony of their determination to help
themselves in the struggle for the better¬
ment and higher usefulness of their own
race and in pledge of their assurance by
economy, industry and faithful service in
the school and the church, in the home,
or the shop or on the farm, to strive to
prove themselves worthy of the assistance
and encouragement received from their
friends and neighbors and fellow citizens
of the white race. The entire colored por-
18
tion of the audience arose and as the two
thus stood in pledge of mutual co-operation
and sympathy, the benediction was pro¬
nounced by Rev. \V. T. Wells, of the Chris¬
tian Church.
Thus closed what is expected to prove an
epoch-making meeting in the history of the
movement to rightly train and fit for bet¬
ter things the colored population of the
state of Kentucky, particularly in such
forms of work among them as the differ¬
ent branches of the Presbyterian Church,
North and South, may undertake.
WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO DO IT.
Educational Board of the Former Cumberland
Presbyterian Church.
By direction of the Columbus General
Assembly this Board located at Nashville,
Tenn., and composed chietlv of Southern
men, is entrusted with the responsibility
of aiding ami advising these colored Cum¬
berland Presbyterians in all departments of
their work, just as it did previous to the
union. What the Pittsburg Board does for
these brethren is to be done through the
Nashville Board. The Secretary of the lat¬
ter Board is Rev. W. J. Darbv. Evansville,
Ind., to whom all correspondence on this
subject should be addressed. He is assisted
by Mr. S. B. Sansom, of Evansville. The
Presbyterian B ">ard of Education concedes
part of Dr. Darby's time to this form of
educational work.
Gifts for the Schools of This Denomination.
Standing in the same relation to this peo¬
ple as did the former Cumberland Pres¬
byterian Church, the United Church pro¬
poses to aid them first of all in their edu¬
cational work. Other schools are at Hunts-
19
ville, Ala., and Newbern, Teun. All con¬
tributions from former Cumberland Pres¬
byterian churches will be applied to aid
these schools, if they are so designated
when sent to the treasurer, Dr. E. P.
Cowan, Bessemer Building, Pittsburg, Pa.
From its general funds this Board pays
the salary of the teacher in the Bible De¬
partment at Bowling Green and it further
agrees to place all contributions from for¬
mer Cumberland Presbyterian churches in
a special fund for the aid of educational
work in the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, Colored.
Students for the Ministry.
All agree that one of the most pressing
needs of the negro race in the South is
a ministry who can really teach the people
and whom the people can trust and follow.
It is proposed to furnish the best possible
preliminary training in Bowling Green
Academy. Professor McLurkin gives all
his time to Bible teaching and kindred top¬
ics. The Presbyterian Board of Educa¬
tion at Philadelphia proposes to aid wor¬
thy young men properly recommended by
presbytery who come for instruction in the
Academy. The Board's own treasury can¬
not be drawn upon for this purpose because
these young men are in a separate denomi¬
nation, but it solicits special gifts for this
worthy object. Remit to Jacob Wilson,
Witherspoon Building, Philadelphia, indi¬
cating that the money is for this purpose.
It is urgently needed.
Dormitory for Girls.
The trustees of the Academy hold an op¬
tion on a suitable building, with large
grounds admirably adapted for a home for
girls attending the institution. It is just
across the street from the Seminary bui}d->
20
ing and the price is $3,500.00. To the Worn
an's Missionary Societies of the forme
Cumberland Presbyterian Church has bee:
assigned the privilege of buying this prop
erty for the school. When sending thei
gifts to the Home Board in New York tli
portion designed for the Woman's Depart
ment of the Freedmen's Board should b
designated as from a former Cumberland
Presbyterian Society. The entire amoun
thus forwarded, so far as needed, will b
applied toward the purchase of this Dor
mitory. For particulars about this wor
address Mrs. W. J. Darby, Evansville, Ind
or Mrs. V. P. Boggs, Bessemer Building
Pittsburg, Pa. This property is now in us
for a dormitory, and the school pays ren
until funds are raised to purchase it.
Industrial Department.
A beginning has been made at Bowlin:
Green for an Industrial Department, but i
is only a beginning, on a very small scak
Several thousand dollars are needed a
once for this new department. Gifts o
individuals are urgently solicited for thi
purpose. Remit to the treasurer of th
Board at Pittsburg and specify the object.
Summary.
The Freedmen's Board supports the Bi
ble Department at Bowling Green.
The former Cumberland Presbyteriai
churches help to sustain the general teach
ing force of these schools.
Individual gifts are to be used in main
taining the Industrial Department, unles
otherwise designated.
The Woman's Missionary Societies o
the former Cumberland Presbyteriai
Church are to oay for the Dormitory fo
Girls at Bowling Green.
21
Management of the School.
This school belongs to and is controlled
by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
Colored, a separate and independent denom¬
ination. It has its own presbyteries, syn¬
ods and General Assembly, with probably
25,000 members located principally in Ken¬
tucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi,
Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
The direct control of Bowling Green
Academy is by a Board of Trustees ap¬
pointed by Kentucky Synod. Correspond¬
ence regarding the work of the school
should be addressed to the President, Rev.
R. L. Hyde, D.D., Bowling Green, Ky.
Those preferring to send money directly to
the school should remit to William Nelson,
Treasurer, Bowling Green, Ky.
Articles of furniture for the Dormitory
or supplies for the table, or books for the
library, sent to Dr. Hyde, will be thank¬
fully received.