The bulletin of Atlanta University, 1907 no. 170

              Number 170                                      Atlanta, Georgia                                   February, 1907 New Era of Reconstruction Thus would Rev. H. H. Proctor characterize the promised reign of co-operation between the races for the good of both. In his address before the school Saturday night, Jan. 26th, he indicated four new and hopeful movements which ha,ve arisen in the wake of the Atlanta riots. The co-operation of the colored people with the white people in the solution of the problems which arise from the presence of both races in the same country: this is the new and encouraging element that characterizes each of these four movements. They are the religious, the civic, the industrial and the temperance movements, and each is rightly associated with the name of the man who inspires it. Former governor, William J. North-en, is devoting his time and energies to the religious movement. He has recently returned to Atlanta after a tour of Georgia towns in the interest of the Christian League. He reports that he finds the leading citizens everywhere ready to co-operate in the purposes of the league. Mr. Charles T. Hopkins, one of the leading lawyers in the city, is the power behind the Civic League. To it he has devoted time and thought without stint and is untiring in his efforts to make it a success. To the influence of the Civic League Mr. Proctor attributes the acquittal of an innocent Negro who was accused of assault upon a white woman and positively identified by her; and the unusual quiet which prevailed in Atlanta during the Christmas season, a season which in former years has been characterized by excessive drunkenness and rowdyism. Future plans of the league involve the appointing of a competent lawyer to defend Negroes arrested under suspicion, but reasonably supposed by responsible persons of their own race to be innocent; and the appointment of a number of Negro police to uphold the law  in Negro communities. The industrial movement, which contemplates the establishment of industrial schools, is fostered by Mr. Clark Howell of the Atlanta Constitution. The temperance movement, receiving new life from the realization of the part intoxication played in the awful deeds of the riot, is supported by the Anti-Saloon League, in which the Rev. Dr. Len G. Broughton, pastor of the Baptist Tabernacle, is particularly active. Mr. Proctor spoke particularly of the Civic League, with which he is closely identified. Each branch of this organization now has an enrollment of over a thousand members. The Negro branch is represented by a committee of twenty-five influential men. They have in turn appointed, of their own number, an executive committee of three, who will be in constant touch with the representatives of the white branch. We were interested to hear that four out of five of the committee of twenty-five, and all three of the executive committee were college men. A strong note of optimism rang through all that Mr. Proctor had to say. The partial or complete failure of past historic efforts at reconstruction and development he attributes to the lack of this element of co-operation which characterizes the present efforts. We may therefore look upon these various movements for interracial co-operation as indications of the dawn of a new and better day. The Day of Prayer Friday, Feb. 8th, was obseved as the day of prayer this year. Mr. Ware addressed the students, taking his theme from the words of Jesus, "I am the way, the truth and the life," and urging upon them the importance of openly and earnestly entering upon the Christian way of life. Rev. E. P. Johnson ('79) assisted in the service, and conducted an aftermeeting, to which about eighty of the students remained. Several expressed their determination to commence the Christian life. There has been just organized, in this city, an association of undergraduates from this institution. The president is Dr. J. W. Madison, one of the Atlanta physicians; the secretary is P. A. Allen, a lawyer; and the treasurer C. C. Cater, a grocer. These gentlemen worthily represent a large number of former students, who failed to graduate, but who are doing excellent service in the world. We hope for them good success in their organization. In Florida and Alabama At the urgent request of friends who felt that a few days of rest would be a benefit, I spent eleven days in January in the above mentioned states, about half of the time in the city of Jacksonville. While there I was entertained at the home of Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Hart, the former a banker with a promising business, the latter one of our A. U. non-graduates. Pres. N. W. Collier ('94) of the Florida Baptist Academy gave me a liberal share of his time, that I might see the schools and various interesting points in and near the city. To one familiar with the ways of Atlanta, three Jacksonville deviations seemed refreshing: the Carnegie public library is not exclusively for white citizens; on one street car line may be seen colored conductors and motormen; in the public school system provision is made for three high school grades for colored children. One day was spent at St. Augustine, whose many interesting sights were shown to me by Dr. D. W. Roberts, a colored physician with a successful practice, including many white patients. I was able to spend only a few hours in Tallahassee, at the Florida State Normal and Industrial College. The school is beautifully situated on the top of a hill, and Pres. N. B. Young and his colleagues are there doing excellent work for the cause of education in Florida. Coming thence to Alabama, two days at the Calhoun School, in Lowndes county, were full of interest. Here the community work, associated with that of the school, is unique and admirable. Thousands of acres of land have been paid for by colored citizens in the neighborhood. And now, having largely paid for their land, they are building neat frame houses, about thirty having been recently erected, or now in process of construction. Calhoun is also one of the centers where care is being taken to preserve the jubilee songs, putting them in form for publication. A day at Talladega College, with its well equipped plant, its large variety of activities and its useful history, completed the trip. And I returned with a feeling of rest arid of encouragement, to the familiar work in Atlanta University.                               M. W. Adams.