The Twin City star. [volume], October 23, 1915, Image 1

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GOOD NEWS FROM
LIBERIA COLLEGE
President Dossen Makes Plea
For Higher Education.
CAPABLE LEADERS NEEDED.
Fortner Vie* President of Little West
African Republic Emphasizes Im
portance of Education as Means of
National Protection Sees General
Awakening Among the Masses.
By JOHN E. BRUCE "GRIT."
The newly elected president of Li
beria college, a former vice president
of the little republic. Hon. J. J. Dossen.
In an address on the occasion of the ju
bilee celebration of Liberia college and
also on bia induction into office, deliv
ered two significant and meaningful
addresses which should interest color
ed Americans. At the Jubilee celebra
tion be, among other things, said: "The
name of Booker T. Washington, who
Is at the head of one of the greatest
Industrial movements in the world, will
live as long as history is preserved.
His conception of the education best
suited to the condition of the American
Negro and best calculated to release
him from the various forms of depend
ency in which he found himself after
bis so called emancipation was pro
■ON. I. J. DOSBBN.
claimed ban placed him among the
foremost thinkers and leaders of the
nrt in the United States of America.
“But in emphasizing industrial educa
tion for Liberia I do not wish- to be
understood that it should in any wise
supersede or be given greater promi
nence than the higher or intellectual
education. The republic needs and
must have literally men to conduct in
telligently the affairs of church and
state. The aim of education in Liberia
should be, as In the past, to qualify
men for this as much as any other
service in national and private life.
The future of this republic would be
seriously jeopardized and its progress
imperiled if for any cause we should
neglect the higher intellectual training
of our citizens. The state requires the
service and support of men of literary
attainments and professions as well as
It does its industrial element. She must
have skilled physicians uud medical ex
perts to preserve the public health
through the application of hygienic and
aanitary rules and regulations and to
combat the Mils to which flesh is heir.’"
At the inauguration exercises, which
were attended by the president mem
bers of bis cabinet and many promi
nent and distinguished citizens, the
Hon. Mr. Dossen said:
"We cannot emphasize too strongly
the importance of education as a means
to national improvement and progress.
It la the vital force that will uplift so
ciety. elevate the nation and qualify
the people for the responsibilities and
duties of citizenship. All history
proves that Illiteracy Is a potent draw
back to any people. The nations that
lead the world today in power and
achievements are those that have laid
atress upon the value of education and
have diligently promoted knowledge
among all classes of their citizens.
"The great source of power and effi
ciency In the leading countries of the
world lies primarily In their colleges
and universities. Remove these and
their influences from among them and
the result would be national decadence.
From this source emanate the leaders
of thought aud action, the men who
do the great deeds and perform the
noble achievements which are the pride
and boast of those countries. We in
Liberia have a great task before us—
the task of rearing and maintaining on
African soil a republican society, the
most complex of all clvl] institutions.
In no other form of government is the
need for an intelligent public more
urgent than In this form.
“Not only must the masses be edu
cated. hut their education must be so
liberal as to enable them to exercise
those high privileges, prerogatives and
rights of free citizens. It is a hopeful
sign that throughout the republic there
Is a general awakening of the masses
and a growing tendency toward Intel
lectual Improvement. Not only does
this apply to our civilized communi
ties. but in native centers as well there
seems to be a deeper thirst for knowl
edge.”
These sentiments from the lips of an
African who is of the "race racy"
merely hiut at what is back of the
black man’s mind in Africa. Those
who have formed opinions about the
dense ignorance of the "heathen Af
rican" will have to revise their opin
ions. I have personally met and
known in the past thirty years huu
dreds of native Africans, and 1 have
not met one who could not read and
write. 1 used to know a stupid looking
Kroo boy in Washington, who did not
»eem to have intelligence enough to go
in the uouse when it rained, who wrote
a beautiful baud and was as quick at
figures as an expert accountant. He
said that his instructor was a black
man. a Mohammedan. And there are
u great many like him on the west
coast of Africa. Liberia college in past
years has had several distinguished
men as its president, among them the
scholarly Alex A. Crummell of blessed
memory, the erudite and accomplished
E. W. Blyden, the late Justice Richard
son of the supreme court and now the
young, virile, able, talented, patriotic
Dossen.
I have written Mr. Dossen, urging
him to move for the establishment in
Liberia college of a chair of Negro his
tory. Liberia is the gateway to Africa,
and Liberia college should sustain to
the entire Negro world the same rela
tion that Oxford and Cambridge do to
England, Heidelberg to Germany and
Harvard and Cornell and Columbia to
the United States. For in the fullness
of time Africa—Ethiopia—will sudden
ly stretch forth her hands unto God
and take her pluee In the family of na
tions in a larger sense than she has done,
and “men equipped in nil the wisdom
of the Egyptians" for the duties and
responsibilities of the hour will be need
ed to meet and combat the questions,
national and international, which will
then come up for settlement.
They should be men trained to think
and act as Negroes, prond of their heri
tage and all the traditions of their race.
And what better place for the eduea
tion of Negroes than a Negro college
or university manned from president to
janitor by Negroes? Where better than
In such an Institution of learning could
Negro youth acquire tbe habit of think
ing and seeing block? Tbe Negro race
of tbe entire world should assist in
raising an endowment of a million and
a half dollars to make Liberia college
tbe greatest educational institution for
Negroes In the world, and its profes
sors and teachers Rbould be the best
The West Indies, Africa. South Amer
ica and the United States are tilled
with educated men of the race who are
eking out (some of them* a miserable
existence and living lives of repres
sion in lands where they cannot give
out the best that is in them. Their
ideals are white. Their destiny is not
co-ordinate with that of the race which
dominates the western hemisphere,
and it cannot be made so by legal en
actment, state or national. When this
war in Europe is ended the black men
in America and abroad will face the
hostile opposition of white men in
many avenues of labor and industry
which he has never met before. They
will need the opportunities which these*
blacks are enjoying, and they will get
them, for always remember that blood
Is thicker than water.
Alexander Again In Editorial Harness.
Professor Charles Alexander, former
ly of Boston, but who has resided in
Los Angeles for the past two years or
Kiore. is now editor of the Los Angeles
Post Mr. Alexander was editor and
publisher of Alexander’s Magazine at
Boston before taking up bis residence
In Los Angeles. He Is well known In
the east as a lecturer and dramatic
reader.
Pullman Porters to Establish Homs.
The Pullman Porters’ Benevolent as
soclation. with headquarters In New
York, has decided to found a home
for the aged and dependent men of
the service among its active members.
Prank C. Kane is treasurer of the as
sociation and one of the prime factors
in the new movement
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v * l ~
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. NOV. ,27 1915.
WELL QUALIFIED
YOUNG MINISTER
Achievements of R:v. 6. N.
Jackson of Lcwrence, Kao.
CHOICE FOR STATE LEADER
Man From Missouri Shows Kansas
Folks How to Get Results In Organ*
ized Religious Movements Makes
Many Desirable Improvements In
Ninth Street Baptist Church.
Lawrence. Kan. —ln the ministry
Kansas has its share of strong, able
men. who are battling against sin and
the many evils which they must meet in
the struggle to make the race better.
In the front rank of this class of well
trained men Is to be found the Rev.
G. N. Jackson. D. D., minister of the
Ninth Street Baptist church in this
town. Like most men who are leaders
in this state. Dr. Jackson is not a na
tive of Kansas, but hails from Mead
ville. Mo., where he was born May 21.
1809. When he reached school age he
found his way into the graded school
in the town of his birth. Ue was con
sidered a smart boy by his teacher;
hence he made rapid progress in bis
studies.
When but a lad he joined tbe Baptist
church and ut the uge of seventeen felt
that be bad been called to tbe work of
tbe gospel ministry and entered at once
upon his calling. Step by step lie made
bis way to the front. Having to work
regularly, his education was retarded
to some extent, but he had declared
that be was going to have an education
If it took his whole life to get It.
In tbe ministry In the state be was
recognized l>y the* leaders of bis de
nomination. At the age of twenty-five
he entered Western college, Macon.
HIV. DR. G. N JACKSON.
Mo., where be remained until be
finished the course of study. He work
ed during the week and served the
Baptist church at Latbrop and Hamil
ton on Sunday. He graduated from
tbe Western college with honors, re
ceiving the degree of B. 8. D. and B.
S. T. in 1000. His diplomas were
from the literary and theological de
partments.
Recognizing his ability and worth
and his knowledge of tbe Bible. West
ern college conferred on him the hon
orary degree of doctor of divinity.
Dr. Jackson has not been without
honors in his own country, because
the Baptist convention of Missouri
honored him by making him the corre
sponding secretary of the convention,
which position he held for seven years.
During his pastoral work in Missouri
be was in charge of Baptist churches
in Louisiana. Fulton and Palmyra.
For four years he was the moderator
of the Mount Carmel Baptist associa
tion. which has become the leading
association in the state.
In all good movements for racial ad
vancement. as far as his time permits,
be is an ardent worker. As a member
of the United Brothers of Friendship,
a benevolent organization, be has been
one of the leading spirits. He served
as grand secretary for four years. In
1010 he was called to the pastorate of
the Ninth Street Baptist church in
Lawrence and bns made wonderful
progress. During his stay In this city
be has put SO,OOO worth of improve
ments on the church, making it one of
the best churches in Kansas. It has a
large membership. It may be said to
his credit that the Improvements have
all been paid for and there is not a
mortgage hanging over the ehureh
■ v . M v X- ■ •
jyr-wgj*
property.
It is* not surprising that the Kaw
Valley Baptist association should have
placed this leader ut the head by elect
Ing him moderator four years ago. In
this capacity he Is doing an excellent
work. It Is one of the leading Baptist
organizations in the state and has a
large membership. In the association
are to be found some of the best edu
cated men in the state.
Recently he entertained the Baptist
state convention at the Ninth Street
church, and it was Indeed the best meet
ing yet held in the history of the con
ventlon. All departments of the church
are well organized. Dr. Jackson is a
great organizer and financier. He is
conservative, energetic and a Christian
gentleman. He lives In the hearts of
his people and has many friends also
among the leading white people.
ATTORNEY B S SMITH OF MIN
NEAPOLIS MAKES AN ELO
QUENT ADDRESS AGAINST
EXHIBITION OF “THE BIRTH
OF A NATION" AT A PUBLIC
HEARING IN ST. PAUL.
The following is an editorial from
the St. Paul Pioneer Press:
A Champion Worth While.
If the negroes who opposed the
presentation of “The Birth of a Na
tion" so strongly felt it incumbent on
them to offer proof to the public that
their race has progressed since the
period covered by the much-discussed
film play, they would need to seek no
farther than Brown S. Smith, the
negro attorney whose masterful ap
peal won for them the partial victory
which was granted by the City Council
on Wednesday.
Though surrounded by several wel’
educated, cultured men of his own
race, Mr. Smith towered above them
all by the force of his unique person
ality and the wonderful eloquence o'
his address. He spoke for nearly an
hour to an audience which contained
many who opposed his proposals tnos
strongly, but he held the absolute at
tention of every listener. As he made
his points, rounding them out with a
touch of humor or pathos, or a burst
of eloquence, he swayed and converted
many of his auditors who had entered
the council chamber wtih their minds
set in favor of his opponents.
There was more than the appeal of
one man in his speech. Listening to
his remarkable flow of words, the im
partial hearer was forced to the con
clusion that here was the sincere ap
peal of a race of men and women
with the same pride in accomplish
ment, the same depth of feeling, the
same earnest desire to progress, that
the white race possesses. His flashes
of humor softened the sting of his sar
casm and served to drive home his
points. His features reflected every
emotion of his brain; his expressive
eyes twinkled wtih merriment at times
and glowed wtih fervor at others. His
choice of words and his knowledge of
the tricks of elocution proclaimed him
a finished orator.
Aside from the merits of either side
of the argument in which this man
participated, his part in the real-life
drama was an unanswerable argu
ment in refutation of the theory,
which even now finds exponents, that
education and enlightenment are bad
for his race.
CAUSE OF THE EUROPEAN WAR
John E. Bruce “Grit" Attributes It to
Bin and Selfishness.
The root of sin is selfishness, and
selfishness is at the bottom of the
present war, which is devastating Eu
rope, says John E. Bruce “Grit” of
Yonkers, N. Y. Selfishness is the
mother of greed, uvarice. inordinate
desire and all unrighteousness. Its
other names are benevolent assimila
tion and covetousness.
A good many popple would like to
en.ioy the fruits of Christianity with
out having the root of Christianity in
their philosophy. Some of the stronger
races have made the attempt, and they
have failed. Christianity may not be
said to be a failure in America for
the reason tbat It has never been giv
en a fair trial by those who profess to
have a monopoly of It.
They have never really practiced it
nor accepted what it teaches. Until It
has been given a fair trial it were well
to suspend judgment on it. Tliut
which now passes for Christianity Is
a libel upon tbat which Jesus Christ,
its Founder, taught and practiced 1900
years ago. for it embraced in its broad
folds men of every race and nution
and recognized God as our common
Father and all men as brethren. Mod
ern Christianity does not go quite as
far as this.
i
iifflimtMk* Ji , fyt % A-i
STORY OF PHILLIS
WHEATLEY POEMS
Learned Critics Discuss Slave
Girl’s Liierary Work.
VIEWS OF MANY NOTABLES.
Known Now York Book Dealor
Publishes Three New Volumes Deal
ing With Writings of First Poet of
the Colored Race In America —Schom-
burg Wrote Introduction.
Charles Fred Heartmann, an anti
quarian and bookseller of New York
city, has brought out three volumes
de luxe dealing with Phillis Wheatley,
which collectors and book lovers will
appreciate because of their rarity. Mr.
Heartmann is a German scholar and a
former journalist who has traveled
much In Europe and, like a good Jour
nalist, has made excellent use of his
eyes and ears. He has long had the
idea in mind of doing justice to the
little African poetess who In her day
was lionized by the best class of Amer
icans and the nobility of England,
where she made an indelible impres
sion by her talents and genius as a
writer of poetry, says Johu E. Bruce
"Grit"
There have been several editions of
Miss Wheatley's poems published in
the Uulted States and in England, but
there has been no such attempt mude
as this of the altruistic German gentle
man to give this Negro girl her true
place in American literature—that of
the first American poetess, for no
white woman in this country, so far
as we have been able to discover, had
achieved any distinction as a writer of
either prose or poetry at that period,
so thut Phillis Wheatley was easily
first among American literary women
of that day.
Mr. Arthur A. Schomburg, secretary
of the Negro Society For Historical
Research, who collaborated with Mr.
Heartmann in the compilation of these
books, in his introduction to the poems
and letters of Phillis Wheutley cites
Dr. Samuel Stanhope Smith (1810) in
his essay on the variety of complexion
and figure In the human species, who
said, answering Jefferson's criticisms,
that religion had produced a “Phillis
Wheatley, but it could not produce a
poet” and added that her poems were
•‘below the dignity of criticism."
To this Dr. Smith made answer as fol
lows: "The poems of Phillis Wheatley,
a poor African slave taught to read by
the indulgent piety of her master, are
spoken of with infinite contempt. But
I will demand of Mr. Jefferson or any
other man who Is acquainted with
American planters bow many of those
could have written poems equal to
those of Phillis Wheatley" (putfe
Mr. Schomburg further along in his in
troduction states thut many of the
poems of this girl were quoted by
Thomas Clarkson, the great English
abolitionist. In his celebrated Latin
essay, which won the lirst prize at
Cambridge. 1785, on “The Slavery and
Commerce of the Human Species.” He
quotes also Lydlu Maria Child, who
said of her poems: "Jefferson denies
that these poems have any merit, but I
think lie would have Judged differently
had he been perfectly unprejudiced.”
It would be indeed absurd to put
Chillis Wheatley in competition with
Mrs. Hemans. Mary Hewitt. Mrs.
Sigourney. Miss Gould and other mod
ern writers, but her productions cer
tuinly appear very respectable in com
parison with most of the poetry of that
day, and a later critic, J. B. Earnest.
Jr.. M. A., who says: "An excellent lit
tle volume of poems by a Negro girl
who was a slave in Massachusetts.
The work cannot approach
lence of the poetry written by Paul L.
Dunbar, yet it is wonderful poetry for
a Negro slave of the eighteenth cen
tury.” Mr. Jefferson, it appears, did
not accept Dr. Smith’s challenge. The
reusons are obvious.
The lord mayor of London. Mr.
Brooke Watson, was so well pleased
with Phillis’ poems on her visit to
England, where she wus the guest of
the Countess of Huntingdon, to whom
she dedicated her book of poems, which
was published in 1773. that he pre
sented to her as a mark of his appre
ciation of her talents a Foulls edition
in folio of Milton’s "Paradise
which Is now the property of the Har
vard library. Mr. Scbomburg has done
well in Ills introduction and bus given
us muny important facts al>out Phillis
which have not hitherto been put in
such compact form. Mr. Heartmann
has done even better in making possi
ble these three books about Phillis
Wheatley.
A DISTINGUISHED WOMAN
VISITOR.
Leading Business Woman of Her
Race Spends a Week in
Minneapolis.
Madame C. J. Walker of Indianapo
lis and New York City arrived here
last Saturday, on her return from a
five months’ tour of the Western
states. Madame Walker is one of the
wealthiest women of her race in
America. She is a woman who has
accumulated about $120,000 worth of
valuable real estate as the result of
MMB. O 9. W A LICKS.
ten years as a hair culturist. She
manufactures the famous Walker Hair
Grower, and gives a course of instruc
tion on “Madame Walker’s Method
of Hair Culture.” She appeared at
Zion Baptist church Sunday night, be
fore a large audience and gave a
stereopticon lecture, showing her rap
id rise in business and her property
interests, including many luxurious
places, among them “Bishop’s Court,”
the New York (Flushing, L. I.), resi
dence of the late Bishop Dorrick,
which costs $50,000 to build and covers
nearly an acre of ground; also much
residential property in Indianapolis
and “the Lelia College property,**
owned by her daughter. Mrs. Walk
er is making a great sacrifice for her
people. She gives bountifully to char
ity and does not use for herself any
money taken in on her business trips.
She has toured the West Indies in her
auto, also made several trips from In
dianapolis to New York. Her homes
are luxuriously furnished, having as
her guests most of the celebrities of
her race. The late Dr. Washington
was her guest at her Indianapolis
home on his last visit there. Her
object in giving these views is only
to show the capabilities of a Negro
woman to rise by perseverance and
faith in God to unlimited heights of
success, she having been a servant wo
man, who began business on the capi
tal of $1.50 now having agents near
ly everywhere representing sales to
SIOO,OOO yearly. She desires to show
the ability of Negro women to prosper
in business, to accumulate wealth and
their capabilities as to taste, decora
tions, and every qualification to enjoy
the result of their earnings as those
of other races. Her success is an in
spiration, worthy of emulation and
admiration. Madame Walker appeared
at Pilgrim Baptist church, St. Paul,
on Thanksgiving night. She was well
received. She went to Duluth Friday
night and will leave for Chicago on
Saturday. She is accompanied by
her granddaughter, and while here se
cured satisfactory accommodations at
the beautiful residence of Mrs. Mar
guerite Martin, 3013 Garfield avenue.
Madam Walker is suffering from a se
vere cold, and was unable to meet her
engagement to meet several ladies, at
Madam Hart’s, the milliner, 1202
Washington Avenue South, who were
interested in her work. She will re-
turn to our city and may establish a
branch of her business here. As one
of her much heralded charities, she has
given SI,OOO to the Indianapolis Y. M.
C. A., SSOO to the National Negro
Business League, supports several stu
dents at Tuskegee, and has many pri
vate sources of charity. She is a
Christian woman, who attributes her
success to faith in God, honesty, per
severence, and confidence in fellow
beings.
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