He would be a daring prophet who, in face of these examples, and of the instances of moral greatness actually produced by this race, should assert that something noble in character, some unique type of spiritual excellence, some splendid order of manhood, may not yet emerge from this now degraded and unpromising race. What the nature, the moral capacity of the American negro is, future ages will determine; and if we believe that God made him and gave him his nature, with all its unrealized possibilities, it surely cannot be hard for us to believe that there is for him a glorious future of moral and spiritual character.
Our Hope in Schools and Churches.
To the schools and to the churches, then, of the South we look as the hope of this race. But there are schools, and schools; there are churches, and churches; and everything depends on the kinds of schools and churches they have.
Depend upon it, unless we help the negroes to establish schools which will impart the kind of education which will give them intelligence and thrift, which will bring to them a consciousness of their resources and ambition to use them to the utmost, and thus raise themselves in the social and political scale, others will see to it that schools are established which, in response to their cry for knowledge, shall keep the word of promise to their ear, and break it to their hope; which shall give them the kind of education that occupies and amuses the mind without developing it, and that will leave them fit subjects for the ecclesiastical and political yoke which has even now been prepared for them. And, unless we plant churches among them, which shall aim to consecrate and employ in Christ’s service heart, soul, mind and strength—the whole man and all his capacities—others will see to it that churches are established which, appealing to his love of display and big responsiveness to sensational and dramatic demonstrations, shall keep him a child forever, submissive to his self-constituted masters at home and abroad.
ITEMS FROM CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.
Wilmington, N. C.—“Applications for next school-term are coming in. The students don’t mean to be caught as they were last year. I had to refuse so many for want of room.”
Atlanta, Ga.—There are known to be more than 142 of the present pupils of Atlanta University engaged in teaching during their three months’ vacation. This short term is all the present school system of Georgia contemplates during the year. Although many are prepared every year to take up the work, the demand is constantly larger than the supply. A short time since, application was made at the institution for three teachers in one day, to take schools already organized in the country, and none could be found to go. One graduate of the school, who has taught a school of his own in the southern part of the State for two years past, has raised up the present teachers of nearly every school in two counties, and a large part of those in seven others.
Byron, Ga.—Four persons united with the church, July 7th. One infant was baptized. Many are inquiring the way of life. A woman’s prayer-meeting is held every week. The Sunday-school numbers fifty-two.