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Greatest Needs of the Negro Race
Bishop :t. s. Cald'Well. D.D.
THE egro race has made remarkable progress since its emancipation,
yet there is much to be done before the status of the race can be
regarded as being anything like satisfactory, even to itself.
The means employed for its development have been, for the nlO t
part, the church and schools for higher education. Tbese agencies are
looked to more and more as the years go by, but·in addition it is nece sary
to develop the physical man as well as the moral and intellectual.
Hence, in recent years, an industrial phase of education ha been
coupled with most of our educational institution .
In the rural di tric.ts of the South the
Negro race has not had the best possible
educational adnllltage that it hould
have had. Tbi condition i not improving
as rapidly as it should. Some
of the legislatures of the South are considering,
and some have pas ed, a law
which provides that the taxes accruing
from property a sessment of each be
devoted to the education of said race.
Thi has had a di couraging effect upon
the 1 egroes, because it means a reduction
in the school term f.or their children.
Since it is true that m> people who are
ignorant can keep pace with our advancing
civilization, I am of the opinion
tbat one of the needs, perhaps the most
important one, i education for the
masses.
The greatest progre s that has been
made by the race is along religious
lines. It owns more real estate in
church property than in any other. We
have had from tbe very beginning of
our career a fairl~' intelligent and an
earnest ministry. At present our teaching
from the pulpits by the men of our
own race will compare favorably in intelligence with the pulpits of the
men of other race. A keen appreciation of tbe Bible, its great truth
and it wonderful Ie son ,i an imperati"e need of om people, and an.,'
movement uch as i suggested that looks to the religious training of
our young people through a tud.\' of God's Word, and through
unday- chool method, is worthy our be t support becau e it
responds lo a great need.
A quickening of the busine s life of the egro is n neces ity. The
race has not been entirely in ensible or indifferent to this demand, but
it ha found itself circum cribed or hampered in tbis field.
The Negroe of tbe orth, for the most part, are barred from labor
union anci thereby prohibited from becoming skilled in many industrial
pursuit, as well as being con tnntly ubjecteJ to the hard hip of
going without an opportunity, for long intervals, to earn a livelihood.
The race needs a healthier sentiment created throughout the whole
country in fa"or of equal opportullit~·and fair pla~' for it members who
haye a desire to make progress along industrial lines.
I a ure you I am in full )'Illpathy with the work which ~'ou are undertaking
to perform and will encourage the effort in :ln~' wa~' po sible.
BISHOP ]. S. CALDWELL. D.D.
Residence: Philadelphia. Pa.
Bishop J. S. Caldwell, D.O.
A. PI. E. Zion Church
BISHOP CALDWELL presides over the AJJeghanyand
Ohio, California, Kentucky, West
Alabama, and Hawaii conferences. He was
born in Mecklenberg County, N. C., in
August, 1861.
His early years were spent largely at work,
and his " schooling" until he was fifteen was
less than two months a year, but by severe
application and "much burning of midnigbt
oil," he secured a good education and graduated
from Zion Wesley Institute, now Livingstone
College, Salisbury, N. C., in 1888,
subsequently taking a po t-graduate theological
course in Union Theological Seminary,
New York.
Among hi pastorates were tho e at the
"!l1other Zion Church," New York, and
Wesley Church, Philadelphia. He was made
financial secretary of the denomination for
several years and was elected bishop in 1904.
An Episcopal associate, writing of Bishop
Caldwell, say : "Physically, ment.·Llly, and
morally Bishop Caldwell is one of the highest
types of egro manllood. A man of singular
and exceptional executive ability, a well as a
financier of his church, he has been preeminently
successful. His reverent and fear-less
attitude in defense of right principles has been his dominant characteri tic.
He is an example of what pluck and perseverance can accomplish. With a
singleness of purpose, keenly alive to the needs of his race, he has risen from
obscurity, and by his own labor has attained the highest position in his
church."
He is considered a safe and sane leader for his people both in eccl iastical
and civic affairs.
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