352                      Church Review.


                       Education.



  The term "New South" when first made prominent by such eminent
men as the late Henry W. Grady, was received with much hesitancy by
those in whose minds the picture of life in that section as drawn by
men like Calhoun and Toombs was yet fresh.  Then, too, the press re-
ports of racial antagonism, and in many instances the shiftlessness
manifested by some of the Southern Negroes who found their way North
seemed to justify the opinion that neither race was making much pro-
gress. Notwithstanding, however, one sees indisputable evidences that
the South has advanced from her old position, and with it, the Negro
who has both contributed his share toward its development. and prof-
ited by his due proportion of its benefits.  The influence of institu-
tions like Atlanta, Fisk and Howard Universities. co-operating with
and supplemented by the work of Hampton, Tuskegee, Calhoun and sim-
ilar schools, has long been felt and appreciated. But for these edu-
cational centres, preparing competent leaders and equipping skilled
workmen to return to their respective communities and devote them-
selves to the development of its resources--mental, moral and material
-there would be little hope of a "Southern Renaisance."
  In this connection and in striking contrast it is refreshing to find
now and then a few communities that have been given a tone of thrift
through the energy and tact of men who were neither college-bred nor
free-born.  Such examples are rare, but the more interesting is their
study because we can discern in their untutored minds the basis of
real intelligence and the elements of genuine philanthropy. The man
who works to educate his children and sees the necessity of it because
of his own limitations, is to be commended, for he is an inspiration
to the entire community; the man who sets resolutely at work to de-
velop his surroundings though not through the light of any theory of
economics, gets at the real kernel of it without knowing it. It is with
some hesitancy that I make this personal reference, but few who
know anything of the struggle and success of John Benson, who has
been spoken of before in these columns, can withhold admiration from




			

African Methodist Episcopal Church Review, Vol. 17, Num. 4

Education Department

Volume:  17
Issue Number:  04
Page Number:  352
Date:  04/1901