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 husband, as wife, as parent, as sister,
as brother, as son, and as daughter. Three decades with the family,
developing affection 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 brick 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 the 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 $12,000, in Talladega $10,000, in Greensboro $3,000,
in Eufaula $6,000, in Tuskegee $2,500, in Opelika $2,500, in Eutaw
$2,000, in Demopolis $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 property scattered throughout the State, as it
is, affords a good foundation for future operation.
[Illustration: Miss Joanna P. Moore, Nashville, Tenn., thirty years
Missionary to the Colored People of the South.]
(_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 are 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 foundation. The Marion
Academy, worth about $2,000, begins academies.
(_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 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 dollars 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 manager 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_ 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.