USA > Alabama > The cyclopedia of the colored Baptists of Alabama, their leaders and their work > Part 15
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(c) The Publication Society has rendered substantial aid in the gift of books to our ministers and Sunday Schools as well as by the personal touch and teaching of their Sunday School Missionaries.
(d) The Missionary Societies of the Baptist women of Chicago and Boston have done a great work among us. Their good missionaries, such as Misses Moore, Knapp, Voss and others whose names will ever be precious to our people, have given themselves to work among our women and girls. They have breathed into our home life their beautiful piety, and
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Fes
First Baptist Church, Selma, Ala. C. J. Hardy, l'astor.
they have acquainted our mission bands and church workers with the latest and best methods of labor. We have seen with their eyes and felt with their hearts.
(e) THE SELMA UNIVERSITY, with one exception, is the source of our greatest blessing. It is simply impossible to estimate the good that has come to Alabama Baptists out of this institution. What it has done is beyond the power of calculation. Only Omnisciencecan reckon up the good effects of its power upon the people. God be praised for Selma Uni- versity ! When we began the school in 1878, we hadn't one single graduate in our midst. Since that time graduates have gone forth as follows :
1884. R. T. Pollard, S. A. Stone, W. W. Posey, T. II. Posey, R. B. Hudson, L. J. Green, C. R. Rodgers, A. A. Bowie, D. T. Gully, A. W. Hines, and Miss Washington, now Mrs. R. T. Pollard.
1885.
J. A. Anthony, W. E Large, J. H. Eason and Mrs. Thomį :- son.
1886.
W. S. Matthews, If. L. Thomas. Dr. L. L. Burwell and Mrs. H. M. Baker.
1SST.
M. M. Archer, S. H. Campbell, J. C. Copeland, W. T. Bibb, W. A. Watson, F. P. Tyler, J. H. Culver, P. A. Kigh, C. H. Patterson, Mrs. R. B. Hudson, Mrs. A. W. Hines, Vannie Brooks.
1888. S. H. Abrams, D. A. Bible, R. D. Taylor, Mrs. M. F. Wil- son, E. J. Nelson and Mary F. Williams.
1889. R. M. Williams, E. L. Blackman, Mrs. P. F. Clark, Mrs.
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W. T. Bibb, P. E. Gresham, D. L. Prentice, J. R. Willis and Dr. W. R. Pettiford.
1890.
W. J. Bryson. R. T. Payne, J. F. Payne, Dr. R. Tyler, Dr. L. Roberts, E. W. Knight, J. C. Leftwich, L. A. Sinkler, Mrs. W. B. Johnson, Mrs. G. A. Brown, Wm. Cooper, Emma Garrett, M. Turner, Mary L. Smith, P. S. L. Hutchins.
1891.
P. B. Taylor, C. E. Clayton, Mary Osborne, Lula Gray, Ida M. Wilhite, Viola Hudson, Mamie C. Welch, A. M. Jack- son, J. McConico, J. H. Hutchinson, M. M. Porter, E. T. Tay- lor.
1892.
R. L. Hill, G. P. Adams, E. M. Carter, W. T. Coleman, I. B. Kigh, B. R. Smith, Chas. White Jr., M. J. Brown, A. E. Gilliam, Pattie Richardson, Amelia Tyler and Maggie John- son.
1893.
J. A. Graham, W. M. Montgomery, H. E. Grogan, Eva Green.
1894.
I. T. Simpson, C. J. Davis, W. H. Wilhite, Annie Stone, T. W. Calvary and Eliza Fuller (Mrs. Knight).
1895.
Lula E. Ware, Annic L. Jones, Comer E. Carter, Benja- min F. Sanders, Lila L. Jones, Julia L. Sanders, Mary F. Mc- Cord, Emma P. Jones, Earnest W. Brown and Donnie E. Hillson.
We see very little that these names mean except we asso- ciate them with the masses of the people in the various walks of social and business life. But, associating them thus, we see them as so many stars lighting up the dark places around
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them. However, to do this is by no means to place ourselves where we can sec the whole truth. What has been wrought upon the thousands of students who failed to finish the pre- scribed course? They are elcvated and they have borne their elevation to their neiglibors. From their teachers and from the refining atmosphere of the school, they have drunken purer thoughts, loftier aims and a stronger manhood. This they have carried to others less favored than themselves, and now it works as the leaven in the dough. Again, the school has strengthened us by its weight upon our hearts and hands. Labor, well directed, develops strength in the laborer. We are greater because we have been compelled to care for that institution, and it has caused us to have faith in ourselves. We now know that it is possible for us to maintain an educa- tional work. It is needless to say that by means of it, we have looked larger in the eyes of others. Somehow, he who can do something good and great commands our respect.
(f) THE HOME MISSION SOCIETY .- This society has served us to greater results than any other agency. To this society the university owes above half the money which has given it support all these years. They have given us mission- ary aid which has served to produce higher life and better or- der in our churches and associations. And from their schools beyond our state we have received many of our most capable persons, among whom we may mention Drs. Dinkins, Purce, Stokes, Owens, our eloquent Fisher, and Jones, our scholarly Peterson, the urbane Jackson of Eufaula, the industrious Bradford, and others whose names I cannot at this moment re- : call. Mrs. C. S. Dinkins, as well as Mrs. C. O. Boothe, came to us from the Roger Williams University, a Home Mission Society School. But what has been said will suffice to show us how we have come to be a wiser and a better people than we were thirty years ago. And if we see what has blessed us
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in the years gone by, no doubt we shall be able to see that the same things may, if we will permit them to do so, bless us in the years to come. May, our steps not be forgotten by our children.
III. THE POINT WE NOW OCCUPY.
Thirty years we have been beneath the opportunities and duties of free manhood, which is to say that for thirty years we have been associated with the family institution as bus- band, as wife, as parent, as sister, as brother, as son, and as daughter. Three decades with the family, developing af- fection and making patience.
Thirty years of business life has passed upon us, which is to say that we have for this length of time been associated with those facts which grow out of our physical wants, such as labor, system, economy, competition, skill, etc.
We have had thirty years over our own consciences, over our own wills, over our own church affairs. We have had thirty years with books and schools. We have had thirty years under the duties of citizenship. What have we attained to in this time? Have these years given us any fruits? Are we where we were in 1865? Let us see.
(a) CHURCH PROPERTY .-- At the close of the war we owned (?) two frame buildings in Mobile and owned (?) the briek basement of the building now occupied by our white brethren in Selma, worth-all told-about $8,000. We now own nine brick buildings, worth not less than $100,000 above their indebtedness. And we cannot make an estimate of tlie church property whereon are frame structures. The property of this sort in the city of Birmingham and vicinity is worth $15,000, in Montgomery $26,000, in Mobile 812,000, in Talla- dega 810,000, in Greensboro $3,000, in Eufaula $6,000, in Tus- kegec $2,500, in Opelika $2,500, in Eutaw $2,000, in Demopolis
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Miss Joanna P. Moore, Nashville, Tenn., thirty years Missionary to the Colored People of the South.
Hopefully in Christ- Sintin Its . 01 -
$3,000, in Decatur $1,500, in Florence $1,500, in Courtland $1,200, in Gadsden $2,000. But, it is not intended, and is not necessary, to mention every point, as the aim is to show that throughout the State we have churches in their own quarters, on their own land. Everywhere we have put our work not only into mind but we have put it into dirt, brick and stone. Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars worth of church prop- erty scattered throughout the State, as it is, affords a good foundation for future operation.
(b) SCHOOL PROPERTY .- Our school at Selma is now worth about $30,000. It was bought in 1878 for $3,000, and has been in constant operation ever since, though at one time a debt of about $8,000 threatened its life. We owe a debt of a little over $3,000 at this time. The Howard College, the leading school of our white brethren, owes it is said a debt of about $33,000, and lately the report has come to the writer that the management had thought of assigning, because they could not see how they could raise money enough to meet the interest. I mention this only to show that our struggles arc similar to the struggles of other good people, and that we have abundant cause for rejoicing and hope.
Well, we have in Selma University an educational founda- tion. The Marion Academy, worth about $2,000, begins aca- demies.
(c) EDUCATED MEN AND WOMEN .- Over one hundred young people have received diplomas from Selma University. Graduates have come to Alabama from other States. Baptists have graduated from other schools in this State-schools like Talladega and Tuskegee, the school at Huntsville, and the school at Montgomery. This statement of facts is calculated to turn our minds toward a possibility and prophecy of the 17-
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near approach-even on the part of the masses-of that state of mind which lives and moves in the higher pleasures and to the more sacred ends of life.
(d) HOMES .- The wandering life which characterized the masses of the people in 1865, is fast giving place to settled home life. We have invested hundreds of thousands of dol- lars in town lots and farm lands, where we are quietly and contentedly rearing our loved ones, studying the good of our community, and arranging for the prosperity of the house of God. In other words, we are fixtures in the country and fixtures in the cities and towns. We have attained to affairs- to the possession of money and other forms of material value- so that we have power in the world of exchange. Prof. B. T. Washington is a wonder among men as the builder and man- ager of the greatest school in Alabama, and his friend, Mr. Logan, proves that the colored men can manage great money schemes, while Mr. B. H. Hudson and others, of Birmingham, establish the Negro as a banker.
(e) ORGANIZATIONS .- We are now together-acquainted, organized. In the beginning of 1865, the minister in one part of the State did not know the minister in the other part. There was no union, no plan of agreement. Now there are about 800 churches, all organized into associations. Each church may be reached and affected through its association, with regard to any line of work. We have created a strong sentiment in favor of education and a strong sentiment against intemperance, so that the masses of the people may be easily led in right directions. The day of pioneering lies behind us, and most of the pioneers are gone to their long home. We are now at the point for action on new lines. As individual Christians we need to turn our attention more directly upon the one aim of human life, namely, God-like character building
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in ourselves and in them with whom we have to do. As churches, we need to see to it not only that we win souls, but that we train them in Christian work also. All other points being equal, the trained soldier is the man to trust with the battle. The Sunday school work and the young people's unions are very available as training institutions. May God put it into the hearts of the leaders of this new day and new chapter in our history to see to it that these organizations shall serve the ends for which they are so well suited. May their hearts wholly enter into the possibilities and purposes of every sacred organization !
I take courage, and there arises in my mind glorious prospects coming down the future, as I see the faith and push of our Sunday school and our women's conventions. If our present Sunday school leaders should succeed in wrapping their mantles about men who will be as faithful under the midday light as they have been in the dawning, the future must find an ever broadening compass of Bible influence, and an ever-increasing beauty in our words and lives.
THE WOMENS' CONVENTION-A HIGH POINT.
The Women's State Convention organized in 1886, marks a new era in the history of our denomination. The present brick building on our school grounds owes its existence chief- ly to this organization. They came into the field in a dark time, and at a time when the wheels of the school dragged heavily. The circumstances which sent Miss S. A. Stone be- fore the people of the State seemed a providence. The time. the conditions, needed the heart of a woman to control them. And the Women's Convention conquered the hardness of heart and the division of opinion, prevailing among the people, by sending Miss Stone among them. Most grandly did she con-
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quer. Well, what is the lesson here? It is this: let the wo- men still be encouraged, let them continue to operate. We need all our forces in line.
Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon Mesdames G. J. Brooks, R. T. Pollard, C. J! Hardy, A. A. Bowie, W. R. Pet- tiford. A. J. Gray, M. Tyler, S. HI. Wright, E. W. Armstead, J. A. Craig and the other noble women associated with them, for the services they have rendered the state in the support they have given their Convention. The times demand that this work shall still be faithfully continued. I am glad that we are up in our ideas of woman, and the fact that we are argues progress on our part.
It is a praiseworthy fact that we colored Baptists occupy advanced ground with regard to the questions which involve the powers and rights of women. I remember that upon one occasion just after the close of the war, my mother returned from church rather disgusted because a woman had been called upon to lead in public prayer. Now, too, the singing, the reading and the praying in our congregations, are assum- ing forms suited to our advanced or advancing state of mind. The song is suited to the text and fewer stanzas are sung. The music is not so slow and is rendered with more harmony and life. In the sermon, the preacher aims to give his audi- ence thoughts rather than feelings, and longs to make his hear- ers wiser rather than happier. He who reads the Bible to others, whether he reads in family or church, reads by para- graphs-taking in a single thought or fact at the time-in place of the old custom of reading a whole chapter in connec- tion with which no one idea was raised into prominence. In short our gospel reformers seem now to realize that saving faith in the truth is that excreise of soul regarding truth that satisfies the intellect, impresses the sensibilities and bows the will beneath the gospel forms and gospel spirit. Of course
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this is not truc of all our teachers, but it is true of many of them ; and the tendency upon the part of the whole people is in this direction. Individual human essence leavened with the Divine essence, is the goal in the eye of the representative leader of our people. Largely we have attained to the confi- dence of our white brethren. In the union conference of the white and the colored ministers of Birmingham, recently held, I plainly saw that the white Baptist ministers were more at ease with the colored brethren than the white ministers of other denominations, except perhaps, the Presbyterian breth- ren. And I think they were not so much disturbed about the social question. I call attention to this fact in order to say that their joint work with us has enabled them to see our good qualities and concede to us the claims which belong to intellectual and moral culture. And as our Christian culture shall widen its radius and deepen its impressions upon all who may be touched by us, the prejudice and barriers inci- dent to our color must retire behind the curtains of the past.
' " Were I so tall to reach the pole, Could grasp creation in my span ; I'd still be measured by my soul- The mind's the standard of the man."
I delight to record that we are attaining to humility as a Christian grace. This is the crowning grace. Some years ago the writer called at the home of Dr. J. M. Pendleton, in Upland, Pa. The doctor was upstairs. A servant answered the door bell, and the visitor was conducted to the parlor to await the famous man's entrance. As the visitor was in every way a very little man, and as he thought of Dr. P. as being in every way a very large person, he feared the sound of every footstep. Ile expected to be over-awed by the majesty and dignity of the great man. As the door knob turned he was almost annihilated. But how different the
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,
Rev. C. J. Hardy, l'astor First Baptist Church, Selma, Ala.
sight ! There stood the noted writer in the spirit of a child. How mighty, yet, how meek and lowly ! How charming, how winning was this child-like simplicity and hospitality ! With the bewitching smiles and musical tones of childish inno- cence, he repeated, "Brother Boothe, from Alabama, I suppose."
Toward this end we, too, are coming. The time has been when the best man among us would air his big words, hang out his learning (?), strut because of a fine suit, boast of his school advantages, laud his superior graces, gloat in his empty titles. Not so now. To be meek and lowly in heart, to be full of prayer and watchfulness, to be charitable and self- abasing, to be pure and pious-these things are before us now.
The old plan of collecting money for church work regard- less of system and regardless of the duty associated with Christian giving, must also soon retire to the past ; for forces are now appearing which will work as the leaven in the dough.
Dr. Pettiford has recently brought out a book titled. " God's Revenue System," wherein the author labors to bring before the people the Bible methods of giving. Arguments . are presented and proof texts are given in their support. This work is being widely circulated among the churches and min- isters. And the writer served a church where the following plan prevailed : At the end of each year the church appointed a committee to figure on the expenses of the ensuing year, and to help the members and friends apportion the burden among themselves according to their several abilities. Each person took upon himself what he thought he might be able to pay, and dividing his share as the church might have need, he paid it in installments. Usually the money was collected in the conference meetings. Another church came under my notice that had in it " the tithe band, " which gave a tenth of their income to the house of God. In a session of the Sea
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Coast Association I witnessed the following, it was what they called " Women's Day:"
One woman, holding her money in her hand, said : " I am president of a mission band which meets once a month to learn of our duty to missions. We tax ourselves one nickle a month, and this is our donation to the work."
Another said : " I raise chickens. One hen in my yard I've given to God. This money is from her eggs and chickens."
Still another: " In my orange orchard there are some trees which I have dedicated to God. The money which comes of the sale of the fruit grown on these trees goes to the cause of Christ." And she laid her donation on the table.
In a Christian home I saw on the mantelpiece a little box marked, "God's bank." Into this money was dropped at stated seasons in order that there might never be any want of consecrated money in the house. In a certain home sickness had cut off income. The missionary secretary sent to this home for money. In order that a donation might be sent in, the family agreed to leave the sugar off the table for a certain length of time. Thus a small amount was saved for the cause of Christ. Thank God, that truth on all lines is finding an echo in our souls! We are not only learning the value of money and enterprise, but we are also learning that "a man's. life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesses."
Wedlock is becoming more sacred. More and more the people are growing into a responsiveness to the sacredness of the marriage relation. The husband has increased in knowl- edge regarding his duty to his wife; the wife sees better her relation to her husband; the parents more clearly perceive what is possible and proper with reference to their children ; and, therefore, we can claim thousands of homes which are sources of refinement, of love, and of purest pleasure. Music
is brought in, and in many homes the family choir contributes to the enjoyment of children and parents, whose hearts feast upon mutual, sweet affection. Not long ago the writer had the pleasure of receiving the hospitality of a family in which such a choir existed. Each member had his place somewhere on the staff; either he was in the tenor, or in the alto, or in the soprano, or in the bass. Mother, father and children dc- lightfully partook of the feast of song. Their Scripture lesson was not a long, disjointed chapter, but a single thought, namely : " The wisdon that is from above." Its qualities were considered-they were: (1) Pure; (2) peaceable; (3) gentle; (+) approachable ; (5) merciful; (6) fruitful of good works; (7) impartial ; and (S) honest. This lesson was in a scheme on the blackboard, kept in the home for such pur- poses, thus :
1. 2. 3. Gentleness.
Purity. Peaceableness.
Heavenly Wisdom,
4. Approachableness.
Its Qualities. 5. Mercy. 6. Fruitfulness in good works. 7. Impartiality.
8. Honesty.
This plan gave opportunity to discuss in a few words _ each designated quality. Each person large enough to take part was encouraged to do so. One part of the evening hour was spent in amusing literary games, like the following :
A word was suggested, and so many minutes were al. lowed to elapse, during which time cach member of the family sought to make the greatest number of words out of the let- ters composing the word suggested. At the close of this allotted time, spelling was compared, and the difference as to the number of words made by cach was noted. The exercise was pleasant, exciting and profitable. The writer mused :
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" This is so much better than gossip, unsoeiableness, sullen silenee, and quarreling." From the word abatement, for ex- ample, came the words : At, mat, bat, bet, tab, mate, am, an, ant, tent, beat, abate, Abe. At other times problems in mathematies furnished the wrestling point; then points in geography and history were entertained. " Name as many eities as you ean containing so many thousand inhabitants, and tell where they are," was proposed. Thus an hour or so of the early evening was profitably passed away in shunning evil and gathering knowledge for good.
We dare hope that every home will seek to improve on this line. Evil eannot be kept out of the home except in pro- portion as we fill it with what is good. And the quality of the home life must determine the quality of the social life, of the ehureh life, and of the politieal life, as well as of the busi- ness life, of any people.
As a further illustration of the influenees and plans oper- ating among us-as a fitting conelusion-we present the follow- ing from Miss Knapp, one of the faithful missionaries of the Women's Baptist Home Mission Society :
MISSIONARY WORK IN BIRMINGHAM DISTRICT.
Many are the blessings God has bestowed upon mission- ary work in Birmingham and it is a real pleasure to state briefly some of the methods employed which have given the workers so mueh joy, and which our Heavenly Father has used to advanee bis eause.
Religious visiting in the homes of the people is a very im- portant part. God's word never returns unto Him void, and when it is carried into the homes and its truths taught and heart to heart talks given only eternity will reveal its results in leading lost souls to look to a loving Savior, and arousing indifferent Christians to the faet that God has chosen them
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Rev. S. L. Ross, Sunday School Missionary for Alabama, under Auspices Ala- bama Baptist Publication Society.
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and ordained them that they should go and bring forth fruit. Again, the teaching of the children is a work never to be over- looked, for the future of any race or nation depends upon the moral and religious instruction given to the young. The Sun- day schools, children's meetings and industrial schools are means which are accomplishing great good. From two hun- dred to three hundred meet each week in the industrial schools during the school year. We have one session each week in each of the schools. They are held in the different churches. About one half of the time in each session is spent teaching different kinds of sewing, and the remainder in giv- ing moral and religious instruction. The progress made by many of the pupils in sewing and in gaining Bible knowledge is often a marvel to the missionaries. The strong temperance stand taken by many of the children is truly a delight, and when one after another professes a hope in Christ we are led to say, " Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. " The welfare of the young people also has a large place in our hearts and with the faithful co-opera- tion of pastors and the young people themselves, there are about forty local B. Y. P. U.'s which are united in an Assso- ciational Baptist Young People's Union. Great things are ex- pected of these young people from the Bible knowledge they are acquiring and instruction which they are receiving con- cerning Christian work.
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