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GOV. NORTHEN THE CHRISTIAN FRIEND OF THE NEGRO
HIS LAST PUBLIC UTTERANCE BEFORE GEORGIA BAPTIST CONVENTION WAS AN EARNEST APPEAL FOR THE EVAN
GELIZATION AND SPIRITUAL TRAINING OF THE NEGROES AT OUR DOOR.
TOUCHING LETTER FROM A LEARER OF THE RACE.
HERE was no more beautiful note sound
ed at the funeral of ex-Governor Wil
liam J. Northen than that which was
produced by a message of sympathy
T
from a prominent negro leader of Savannah.
It was addressed to Mrs. Northen, and coming
from a negro of education and evident Chris
tian character, it rang with a touching sense
of gratitude for what the great and good man
had done in love and kindness for the spirit
ual betterment of the negro race.
Dr. J. J. Bennett, secretary of the Georgia
Baptist Mission Board, as he read the letter
referred to the fact that the last public utter
ance of Governor Northen before the Georgia
Baptist Convention was an earnest plea for
consecrated activity on the part of his brethren
in behalf of Christian work among the ne
groes. Dr. Bennett strikingly declared that he
believed if Gov. Northen could speak he would
testify that no feature of that memorial hour
had more deeply touched his heart. The mes
sage follows:
Ever since childhood I have heard his name
associated with so many kind acts toward my
peop’e, and as a result I can only picture him
as one who tried to do only that which was
right, only that which was Christ-like.
May I ask that you accept the humble pray
ers and sympathy of a son of an ex-slave —
of one >who believes that the fourth genera
tion should bow their heads in reverence and
sorrow, in recognition of service rendered by
your illustrous husband. In prayerful sym
pathy, A. R. FEREBEE.
Savannah, Ga.
Prof. R. D. Stinson, the sensible and success
ful principal of the Atlanta Normal and In
dustrial Institute for colored youths, publish
ed the following:
“Ex-Governor Northen, who died at his res-
A MOVEMENT FOR THE COUNTRY CHURCH
“CONFERENCE FOR EDUCATION IN THE SOUTH, ’’RICHMOND, APRIL 16-18—MAKES NOTABLE EFFORT TO QUICKEN
LIFE IN RURAL DISTRICTS.
E
iPossibly never before in the history of
this country has there been such a se
| ries of meetings as will be in held in
Richmond, Va., April 16-18, 1913.
Thoughtful men everywhere are awakening
to the urgency of developing a country life
that will be satisfying as well as wholesome.
Intent upon this the farmers of the South are
coming together to work out marketing plans,
aiming to provide an ample economic basis.
Business men, realizing that the best asset of
the usual town is the country around it, will
meet at the same time in Richmond to take
steps for aiding in this farm life development.
With increased income will come comforts
for farm households; but country life must
have deeper satisfactions. In undertaking to
increase the productive power of the farm, both
school and church can aid effectively. How
ever, their special opportunity lies in creating
social conditions that will make the country a
delightful and satisfying place in which to
live.
The schools workers have their part well
planned and under way. Therefore there has
arisen a spontaneous call for a conference of
country preachers dealing with the problems of
The Golden Age for April 3, 1913
idence Tuesday, was one of the best friends of
the Atlanta Normal and Industrial Institute
(colored). His speeches, letters and other en
couragements proved him to be an unselfish
friend for the proper education of the negro
youth. I could mention a score of instances
when the ex-governor rendered good services,
both as governor and as a private citizen, in
pleading for peace, good will and friendship
between the races.
“Every intelligent man and woman of the
negro race knows of his incalculable services.
Had the sane members of my race been per
mitted to drop a flower on his grave he would
have slept last night beneath a wilderness of
flowers. A good man of large and unselfish
service to humanity has departed this life to
enter into a larger and happier abode with his
Creator.
“RICHARD D. STINSON, Principal.”
These testimonials from leaders of the race
whom Gov. Northen sought so earnestly to help
brings afresh the memory of how, immediately
following the deplorable Atlanta riot, this
great, unselfish Christian statesman went wide
ly over Georgia at his own charges preaching
the application of Christian principles to the
race problem and seeking to organize the citi
zens of every community in such away as to
keep alive these principles of love and kind
ness and put them into everyday contact be
tween the whites and blacks.
Criticism Did Not Daunt Him.
We remember, also, how some of the politi
cal press, lashed into harshness and blindness
by extreme political leadership, visited bitter
criticism on Gov. Northen’s head because of
this humane, constructive work.
But William J. Northen was nothing daunt
ed. He knew he was dealing with basic prin-
the country church. The following programs
have resulted. An earnest invitation is extend
ed to all interested to come to Richmond and
to take part in these and in the other meetings.
The plan is to have real conferences. The lead
ers are to take but a few minutes in putting
facts and propositions before the different bod
ies, giving abundant time for everybody to
take part. The purpose is to work out definite
plans and get the means of carrying these out.
Conference of Virginia Preachers, Richmond,
April 16, 1913.
Dr. D. C. Lilly, president of Richmond Min
isterial Union, Chairman.
The Social Service Ideal for the Country
Church in Virginia—Dr. Robert Frazer, La
hore, Va.
Co-operation Among Country Churches in
Social Service—Rev. B. M. Beckham, Danville,
Virginia.
The Country Church and the Country
School—Mr. T. S. Settle, Richmond, Va.
The Country Church and Health—Dr. En
nion Williams, state health commissioner,
Richmond, Va.
The Country Church and Recreation—Rev.
J. J. Gravatt, Rapidan, Va.
ciples in our complex civilization; he knew that
if putting these principles of God’s truth into
the heart of the negro did not save him for
this world and the world to come, then nothing
wou’d; he knew that his Christian, as well as
his patriotic duty to the white man, called to
him with trumpet voice to make the negro a
better member of society; and he knew what
some putrid politicians have never learned —
that if kindness will not make the negro a
better neighbor to the white man then “cuss
ing” and abuse will never do it.
In the thrilling speech of Dr. E. C. Dargan,
president of the Southern Baptist Convention,
on Gov. Northen as a denominational leader,
special emphasis was laid on that reigning
quality of unfailing courtesy and kindness
which showed itself always, whether in his rul
ings as president of the Georgia Baptist Con
vention, the Southern Baptist Convention, gov
ernor of Georgia or practical friend of the hum
blest and most unfortunate negro.
In an address by Dr. John E. White, which
was a literary and spiritual classic, Dr. White
found the key to Gov. Northen’s greatness as
a public and private citizen when he declared
in the words of Lord Salisbury concerning
Gladstone: “Gov. Northen was a great Chris
tian.”
And Dr. Arthur Hale Gordon, pastor of Ponce
de Leon church, of which Gov. Northen was a
devoted member, found the mainspring of the
great man’s rare and beautiful life in his home
religion, his family altar, his prayer meeting
regularity and his general church loyalty.
Verily, such a Christian man will always
rejoice to do his duty to everybody who needs
him, whether the man of need be white or
black. In such a life as Gov. Northen’s is
found the solution of the race problem—and
every other problem.
The Country Church and Community Morals
—Rev. W. S. Noye, Louisa, Va.
Conference on the Country Church, April 17-
18, 2:30 P. M.
E. C. Bronson, professioner of rural econo
mics, State Normal College, Athens, Ga., chair
man.
How can the country church aid in devel
oping a stable and productive farm-life ? Three
minute answers led by S. C. Mitchell, president
of the University of South Carolina, Columbia.
What part has the church in movements for
the betterment of community conditions? Rev.
George P. Mayo, founder and superintendent
of the Blue Ridge Industrial School for Moun
tain Boys and Girls, Dyke, Greene county,
Virginia.
Is it possible for the country church to pro
mote home and neighborhood industries? D.
H. Hill, president A. & M. College, Raleigh,
N. C.
How can the country church promote co
operation enterprises among farmers and what
will the social and ethical results be? E.
M. Tousley, secretary of the Right Relation
ship League, Minneapolis, Minn.; the Apostle
of Co-operation. “The Story of Clark’s