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Some Efforts of American Negroes for Their Own Social Betterment.
Report of an Investigation under the Direction of Atlanta University;
Together with the Proceedings of the Third Conference for the Study of the Negro Problems,
Held at Atlanta University, May 25-26, 1898:
Electronic Edition.

DuBois, W. E. B. (William Edward Burghardt), 1868-1963, Ed.

Funding from the Library of Congress/Ameritech National Digital Library Competition supported the electronic publication of this title.

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(title page) Some Efforts of American Negroes for Their Own Social Betterment. Report of an Investigation under the Direction of Atlanta University; Together with the Proceedings of the Third Conference for the Study of the Negro Problems, Held at Atlanta University, May 25-26, 1898.
Edited by W. E. Burghardt Du Bois, Ph. D.
66 p.
Atlanta
Atlanta University Press
1898
Atlanta University Publications No. 3
Call number E185.5 .A88 no. 1-5 (Rare Book Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

        The electronic edition is a part of the UNC-CH digitization project, Documenting the American South.
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Library of Congress Subject Headings, 21st edition, 1998

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Revision History:

SOME
EFFORTS OF AMERICAN NEGROES
FOR THEIR OWN
SOCIAL BETTERMENT.
Report of an investigation under the direction
of Atlanta University; together with the proceedings
of the Third Conference for the study.
of the Negro Problems, held at Atlanta University,
May 25-26, 1898.

Edited by
W. E. BURGHARDT DU BOIS, Ph. D.,
Corresponding Secretary of the
Conference.

ATLANTA, GA.
ATLANTA UNIVERSITY PRESS.
1898.

        The Corresponding Secretary of the Atlanta Conference will upon request undertake to furnish correspondents with information upon the Negro problems, so far as possible; or will point out such sources as exist, where data may be obtained. No charge will be made except for actual expenses incurred.

CONTENTS.

Page 2


                         "The sky of brightest grey seems dark
                         To one whose sky was ever white,
                         To one who never knew a spark
                         Thro' all his life of love or light,
                         The greyest cloud seems overbright."

--Dunbar.

Page 3

INTRODUCTION.

        Atlanta University is an institution for the higher education of Negro youth. It seeks by maintaining a high standard of scholarship and deportment, to sift out and train thoroughly, talented members of this race to be leaders of thought and missionaries of culture among the masses.

        Furthermore, Atlanta University recognizes that it is its duty as a seat of learning to throw as much light as possible upon the intricate social problems affecting these masses, for the enlightenment of its graduates and of the general public. It has therefore for the last three years sought to unite its own graduates, the graduates of similar institutions, and educated Negroes in general, throughout the South, in an effort to study carefully and thoroughly certain definite aspects of the Negro problems.

        Graduates of Fisk University, Berea College, Lincoln University, Spelman Seminary, Howard University, the Meharry Medical College, and other institutions have kindly joined in this movement and added their efforts to those of the graduates of Atlanta, and have in the last three years helped to conduct three investigations: One in 1896 into the Mortality of Negroes in Cities; another in 1897 into the General Social and Physical Condition of 5,000 Negroes living in selected parts of certain Southern cities; finally, in 1898, inquiry has been made to ascertain what efforts Negroes are themselves making to better their social condition by means of organization.

        The results of this last investigation are presented in this pamphlet. Next year some phases of the economic situation of the Negro will be studied. It is hoped that these studies will have the active aid and co-operation of all those who are interested in this method of making easier the solution of the Negro problems.

Page 4

RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION.

BY THE EDITOR.

1. The Scope of the Inquiry.

        --The aim of this study is to make a tentative inquiry into the organized life of American Negroes. It is often asked What is the Negro doing to help himself after a quarter century of outside aid? The main answers to this question hitherto have naturally recorded individual efforts in education, the accumulation of property and the establishment of homes. The real test, however, of the advance of any group of people in civilization is the extent to which they are able to organize and systematise their efforts for the common weal; and the highest expression of organized life is the organization for purely benevolent and reformatory purposes. An inquiry then into the organizations of American Negroes which have the social betterment of the mass of the race for their object, would be an instructive measure of their advance in civilization. To be of the highest value such an investigation should be exhaustive, covering the whole country, and recording all species of effort. Funds were not available for such an inquiry. The method followed therefore was to choose nine Southern cities of varying size and to have selected in them such organizations of Negroes as were engaged in benevolent and reformatory work. The cities from which returns were obtained were: Washington, D. C., Petersburg, Va., Augusta, Ga., Atlanta, Ga., Mobile, Ala., Bowling Green, Ky., Clarkesville, Tenn., Fort Smith, Ark., and Galveston, Tex. Graduates of Atlanta University, Fisk University, Howard University, the Meharry Medical College, and other Negro institutions co-operated in gathering the information desired.

        No attempt was made to catalogue all charitable and reformatory efforts but rather to illustrate the character of the work being done by typical examples. In one case, Petersburg, Va., nearly all efforts of all kinds were reported in order to illustrate the full activity of one group. The report for one large city, Washington, was pretty full, although not exhaustive. In all of the other localities only selected organizations were reported. The returns being for the most part direct and reduced to a basis of actual figures seem to be reliable.

2. General Character of the Organizations.

        --It is natural that to-day the bulk of organized efforts of Negroes in any direction should centre in the Church. The Negro Church is the only social institution of the Negroes which started in the African forest and survived slavery; under the leadership of the priest and medicine man, afterward of the Christian pastor, the Church preserved in itself the remnants of African tribal life and became after emancipation the centre of Negro social life. So that to-day the Negro population of the United States is virtually divided into Church congregations, which are the real units of the race life. It is natural therefore that charitable and rescue work among Negroes should first

Page 5

be found in the churches and reach there its greatest development. Of the 236 efforts and institutions reported in this inquiry, seventy-nine are churches.

        Next in importance to churches come the Negro secret societies. When the mystery and rites of African fetishism faded into the simpler worship of the Methodists and Baptists, the secret societies rose especially among the Free Negroes as a substitute for the primitive love of mystery. Practical insurance and benevolence, always a feature of such societies, were then cultivated. Of the organizations reported ninety-two were secret societies--some, branches or imitations of great white societies, some original Negro inventions.

        Both the above organizations have efforts for social betterment as activities secondary to some other main object. There are, however, many Negro organizations whose sole object is to aid and reform. First among these come the beneficial societies. Like the burial societies among the serfs of the Middle Ages, there arose early in the Nineteenth century among Free Negroes and slaves, organizations which did a simple accident and life insurance business, charging small weekly premiums. These beneficial organizations have spread until to-day there are many thousands of them in the United States. They are mutual benefit associations and are usually connected with churches. Of such societies twenty-six are returned in this report.

        Coming now to more purely benevolent efforts we have reported twenty-one organizations and institutions of various sorts which represent distinctly the efforts of the better class of Negroes to rescue and uplift the unfortunate and vicious. Finally, we have a few instances of co-operative business effort reported which typify the economic efforts of the weak to find strength in unity. Let us review each of the classes.

3. The Church.

        The following table presents the returns of seventy-nine Negro churches in nine Southern cities; the queries sought to bring out especially the economic situation of these corporations, and their social and benevolent activity:

Page 6

        

TABLE NO. I.--CHURCHES.

WASHINGTON, D. C.
  NAME. Denomination. Enrolled Members. Active Members. Value of Real Estate. Indebtedness. Religious Meetings Weekly. Entertainm'nts per year. Lectures, Lit'ry Exercises pr yr Suppers and Socials per year. Fairs per year. Concerts per year
1 Mt. Carmel Baptist 1,404 1,000 $26,000 $ 2,500 6 24     1  
2 Y. P. Tabernacle Baptist 40 40 7,000 750 3 12 6 4 2 4
3 Asbury M. E. 787 500 80,000   8 12 1 1 1  
4 Liberty Baptist 850 400 30,000   4          
5 Rehoboth Baptist 350 200 1,500   5 30     1 3
6 Union Baptist 20 12     5 6   6    
7 Grace Chapel A. M. E. 52 35 1,500 275 4 21 5 3   3
8 Northeastern Baptist 100 25     4 25   24 1  
9 St. Luke. Baptist 300 150 10,000 140 5 40     1 20
10 Rock Creek Baptist 300 160 1,000 100 4 30        
11 18th Street Baptist 1,500 800 80,000 10,000 7   1 10 1 5
12 Galbraith AME, Z 350 300 35,000 16,000         2  
13 First W Washt'n Baptist 700 700 16,000   4         4
14 Metropolitan A. M. E. 800 500 90,000 24,000 5   30 4 1 5
15 Virginia Baptist 400 350 17,000 3,400 4 50 13 25 2 10
16 Shorter's Chapel A. M. E. 26 12 4,000   3 4   4    
17 M. Wesley AME, Z 500 200 50,000 7,500 5 20 50 2 1 1
18 Fifteenth Street. Presby. 312 160 60,000 7,000 1 6 4 2 1 2
19 Berean Baptist 264 150 24,000 12,500 3          
20 Macedonia Baptist 119 73 1,900   4 27 20 5 1 9
21 Campbell. A. M. E. 150   5,000 2,400 5 20        
22 Miles Chapel C. M. E. 207 90 24,000 16,000 4          
23 St. Luke's P. E 500 400 70,000 8,000 5 45 30 4 1 6
24 Metropolitan Baptist 700 450 65,000 25,000 4 15     2 3
25 Plymouth Congr'l 227 158 25,000 5,000 2   4 10   6
26 Vermont Avenue Baptist 3,300 1,500 75,000 15,000 5 50 20 5 1 10
27 Israel C.M.E. 400 200 60,000 8,000 10 20 16   1 3
28 Ebenezer M. E. 784 500 50,000 20,000 9   47 2    
29 U. P. Temple Congr'l 100 100 3,000   8 15 50 3   2
30 Third Baptist 975 450 40,000 17,000 3   50   1 4
31 Mt. Zion. M. E. 650 550 27,500 2,800 22 10 5   1 4
32 Zion Baptist 2,139   45,000   12 24 5     12
33 Lincoln Mem. Congr'l 188 125 25,000   4 4 8 6 1 3
34 John Wesley AME, Z 265 150 75,000 15,000 5 50 10 1 1 5
35 Our Redeemer. Luther. 50 30 9,000   6 40 40     2
36 Bethlehem Baptist 145 75 2,500   3 6        
37 Second Baptist 1,650 950 50,000 18,500 4 10 52 3 1  
38 Shiloh Baptist 900 600 40,000 11,000 4 50       4
PETERSBURG, VA.
39 St. Matthew Baptist 50 30 $ 800 $ 300 3 21 12 5   4
40 Zion Baptist 227 102 3,000 928 3 30 15 3 1 4
41 Union Street C.M.E. 75 65 8,000 500 4 8 1   4 3
42 St. Stephen's P. E. 111 80 3,500 100 5 12 2   4 6
43 First Baptist 2,700 400 28,000   5 13 8     5
44 Tabernacle Baptist 1,200 874 8,000   6          
45 Gilfield Baptist 2,612 1,996 35,360   3   12      
46 Central Presby. 39 19 2,500 800 1 4       2
47 Oak Street. A. M. E. 400 250 23,000 1,515 6 25 10 10   6
48 High Street. Baptist 80 60     4 11 4   1 6
49 Bethany Baptist 100 75 600 257 3 1        
50 Third Baptist 374 111 2,000 179 5 37 18 4   15

Page 7

        
WASHINGTON, D. C.
  Other Entertainm'ts per yr. No. of Church Organizations. Literary Societies. Benevolent Societies. Missionary Societies. Societies to aid Church. Annual Income. Annual Expense. Expenditure for Charity. Number of Persons Aided. Work in Slums and Jails, etc. REMARKS.
1   7 1 1   5 $ 2,406 $ 2,406 $288 10 Two workers.  
2 4 8 1 4 1 2 700 700 20 6    
3   12 2 5 2 3 4,000 3,800 250   Miss'n for jails.  
4   4       4 1,250 1,250 78 30    
5   6     1 5 3,000 3,000        
6   1       1 75 50        
7 10 3   1 1   600 595 5 5    
8   4     1 3 900 900        
9   1       1 1,060 1,060 100      
10   2       2 1,000 1,000 100      
11 2 20 3 3 4 5 5,714 2,840 432   Some.  
12   4 1 1 1 1 3,000 3,000 200      
13   3       3 *2,000 2,000 150     Owns 2 tenements
14   11 1 4 2 4 10,000 9,000 226 50 Some. Has Asst. Pastor
15   12     1   1,500 1,000 200 250   Two churches have split off from this.
16             300 300 5   Visits to slums.  
17 25 6   2 1 3 2,120 2,000 100 30    
18   10   3 1 1 2,000 2,000        
19   8 1 2   5 2,480 2,200 180      
20 12 7 1 2 1 3 200 200 7 13 Much work.  
21             1,200 1,200        
22     1   1 3 2,087 2,000        
23 4 12     3 9 3,500 3,500 500 120    
24 10 5     1 4 3,900 4,160 75 25    
25     1 1 1   1,785 1,785 62 5   Receives $300 a year from A. M. A.
26 4     3 1   4,000 3,500 200   Three workers.  
27     1   1 5 3,450 2,291 50 7 Occasional.  
28   22 1   1 20 4,926 4,926 75   Much work.  
29 5 19     2 1 1,500 1,500 50   Much inst'l wk  
30     1 1   6 4,000 4,000 84 36 Occasional.  
31   8 2 2 2 2 3,000 2,800 140 25 Some.  
32 11 1                 Mission.  
33 3 6 1 1 4   1,226 1,500 75 25 Visits. Receives $300 from A. M. A.
34 33       1 7 2,200 2,000 50 10    
35     2 2     400 600       Receives aid.
36   3 1 1   1 550 500 50   Some.  
37   12 1 2 2 7 6,000 5,900 150     $1.25 a piece usually given charity applic'nts
38   13 2 4 1 6 4,500 4,425 400 100 Seven workers.  
PETERSBURG, VA.
39   3 1 1 1   $ 250 $ $ 10 30    
40 7 4 1 1 1 1 800 850        
41   1       1 300 350 10 5    
42   2     1 1 492 664 12      
43   3 1   1 1 7,500 7,500 400   Three missions  
44       1 2 1 1,231 1,130 378   An orphanage.  
45   5 1 1 3   2,350 2,350        
46 2 3   1 1 1 600 600 25 12 1 Missionary.  
47   5 2 1 1 1 1,000 900 50 25 Mission. Owns church, parsonage, mission house and tenement.
48             330 400        
49             400 400 15 4    
50   5 2 1 1 2 400 400        


        * This probably does not include pastors' salary: the total income must be $4,000 or $5,000.


Page 8

        
AUGUSTA, GA.
  Other Entertainm'ts per yr. No. of Church Organizations. Literary Societies. Benevolent Societies. Missionary Societies. Societies to aid Church. Annual Income. Annual Expense. Expenditure for Charity. Number of Persons Aided. Work in Slums and Jails, etc. REMARKS.
51   3 1 1 1   $ 3,000 $ 2,400 $ 3   Irregular  
52 5 3   1   2 3,500 3,500 125 89    
53   3   1 1 1 2,000 2,000 50      
54 3     2 1   1,000 1,000 50 20    
BOWLING GREEN, KY.
55   4   1 1 1 $ 500 $ 450 $ 7 6 Some.  
56   8 1   1 1 800 900 10 5    
57 7 4   2 1 1 1,300 1,000 20 15    
MOBILE, ALA.
58   6         $ 1,500 $ 1,400 $600 75 Visits.  
59 1 4         6,214 6,214 387 200 Twelve visits. Value par. $1,500; organ, $1,000.
60 9 4 1   1 2 2,000 1,900 125      
61   4   2 2 2 425 425 25 10   $300 from A.M.A.
FORT SMITH, ARK.
62   1 1 1 1 1 $ 1,059 $ 1,059 $150 25    
63     1   1   982 980 42 10    
64   2   1 1   1,300 1,300 75      
GALVESTON, TEX.
65   3   1 3 1 $ 1,200 $ 1,200 $300 10 Eight visits.  
66         2 1 1,250 1,230 150 75 Visit hospitals. monthly.  
67     1   1   1,600 1,600        
68   3 1 1 1   1,550 1,500 300 125 Ten visits Parish school.
CLARKESVILLE, TENN.
69   3 1 1 2 1 $ 2,000 $ 2,000 $ 75 15    
ATLANTA, GA.
70   5 1 2 1 1 $ 2,000 $ 1,800 $200 20 Some. Publishes paper.
71             2,046   19   Some. One mission.
72       1     3,000   1500   Some. Two missions and Home for Aged.
73       1     6,000   80      
74             2,300   25      
75             2,920   45      
76             700   14      
77             1,242   17      
78             3,002   20      
79             203   66      

Page 9

        
AUGUSTA, GA.
  NAME. Denomination. Enrolled Members. Active Members. Value of Real Estate. Indebtedness. Religious Meetings Weekly. Entertainm'nts per year. Lectures. Lit'ry Exercises pr yr Suppers and Socials per year. Fairs per year. Concerts per year.
51 Trinity C.M.E. 850 850 $ 7,850   3 1 12      
52 Bethel A. M. E. 500 200 20,000 3,600 8 37 10 12   10
53 Union Baptist 325 217 15,000 3,500 15          
54 Central Baptist 656 200 15,000 150 3 8   5 2 4
BOWLING GREEN, KY.
55 College Street C. Pres. 130 74 $ 2,800 $ 4 5        
56 Taylor's Chapel A. M. E. 183 120 5,000 800 4 25 8 7   10
57 State Street Baptist 850 600 1,500 4 24 6 5 5   6
MOBILE, ALA.
58 Zion A. M. E. 750 650 $ 7,450 $ 700 5 3 12      
59 State Street AME, Z 1,000 800 18,000   4 5 52 4 1  
60 Bethel. A. M. E. 420 300 5,000 75 5 25 8 6   2
61 First. Congr'l 125 100 3,000   3 12     1  
FORT SMITH, ARK.
62 I. W. Burns C.M.E. 140 75 $ 2,000   7 25 52 19 1 6
63 Mallallieu M. E. 142 92 1,200   3   10 12    
64 Quinn Chapel A. M. E. 250 200 5,000   2          
GALVESTON, TEX.
65 Macedonia Baptist 500 250 $ 7,000 $ 150 4 24   24   5
66 Reedy Chapel A. M. E. 427 304 20,000 1,207 4   4 13 2 5
67 Frank Gary M. E. 300 200 9,500   6   24 4 1 1
68 St. Augustine P. E. 300 185 13,000 2,200 3 3     2  
CLARKESVILLE, TENN.
69 St. Peter's Chap. A. M. E. 323 225 $20.000 $ 263 6 6 24     4
ATLANTA, GA.
70 First. Congr'l 400 300 $10,000 $ 100 5 10 10 12 1  
71 Wheat Street. Baptist 1,692                  
72 Friendship Baptist 1,570                  
73 Bethel A. M. E. 1,350                  
74 Lloyd Street. M. E. 800                  
75 Allen Temple. A. M. E. 595                  
76 Reed Street Baptist 460                  
77 Providence Baptist 391                  
78 Shiloh Baptist 230                  
79 New Hope. Presby. 100                  

Page 10

        This table may be summarized as follows:

        
Number of Churches reported 79
Number of Denominations reported 9
Baptist 37 Churches.
Methodists:  
African Methodist Episcopal 14
African Methodist Episcopal Zion 4
Colored Methodist Episcopal 5
Methodist Episcopal 6--29 Churches.
Congregational 5 Churches.
Presbyterian 4 Churches.
Protestant Episcopal 3 Churches.
Lutheran 1 Churches.
Total enrolled members 42,631
Active members, less than 30,000
Value of real estate owned, 67 churches reporting $1,542,460 00
Reported indebtedness 295,114 00
Total annual income 157,678 00
Total recorded expenditure in local charity (65 churches reporting) 8,906 68
Number of missionary and benevolent societies reported 123
Number of persons directly aided so far as reported (36 churches) 1,422
GENERAL BENEVOLENT AND REFORMATORY ACTIVITY.  
Some irregular work in slums, jails, etc 8 Churches.
Considerable irregular work in slums, jails, etc 2 Churches.
1 mission established in slums. 3 Churches.
3 missions established in slums 1 Churches.
Regular visits to slums 3 Churches.
Mission for jails 1 Churches.
2 regular workers in missionary and benevolent work 1 Churches.
1 regular worker 1 Churches.
3 regular workers 1 Churches.
7 regular workers 1 Churches.
Regular institutional work 1 Churches.
8 visits a year 1 Churches.
12 visits a year 1 Churches.
10 visits a month and parish school. 1 Churches.
Visits to hospitals with food 1 Churches.
Orphanage 1 Churches.
Home for aged and two missions 1 Churches.
Total 29 Churches.

Page 11

        These returns do not give an account of all of the benevolent work of Negro Churches; much is done by individuals, and perhaps the larger part of the charity is entirely unsystematic and no record is kept of it. Some needy person or cause appeals to a congregation. Immediately in a whirl of sympathy or enthusiasm a collection is taken up and the money given, although no official record remains of the deed. So, too, the distress of the needy is often relieved by neighbors through notices given in the church. While, then, these returns do not indicate the whole benevolent activity of churches, yet they do give an idea of the orderly systematic work of the more business-like organizations.

        A better idea of the activity of Negro Churches will be obtained, perhaps, if we tabulate the income and charitable expenditure of such churches as give $100 or more annually in charity.

        

27 NEGRO CHURCHES EXPENDING $100 OR MORE ANNUALLY IN CHARITY.

No. PLACE. DENOMINATION. Annual income. Annual expenditure in charity. Per cent. of Income expended in charity.
1 *Atlanta. Baptist $ 3.000 $1,500 50.
2 Mobile Methodist 1,500 600 40.
3 Petersburg Baptist 1,231 378 30
4 Galveston Baptist 1,200 300 25.
5 Galveston P. E 1,550 300 19.
6 Washington P. E 3,500 500 14.
7 Fort Smith Methodist 1,059 150 14.
8 Washington Baptist 1,500 200 13.
9 Galveston Methodist 1,250 150 12.
10 Washington Baptist 2,406 288 12.
11 Washington Baptist 1,060 100 10.
12 Washington Baptist 1,000 100 10.
13 Atlanta Congregational 2,000 200 10.
14 Washington Baptist 4,500 400 9.
15 Washington Baptist 3,000 150 7.5
16 Washington Baptist 5,714 432 7.5
17 Washington Baptist 2,480 180 7.2
18 Washington Methodist 3,000 200 6.6
19 Mobile Methodist 6,215 388 6.3
20 Washington Methodist 4,000 250 6.2
21 Mobile Methodist 2,000 125 6.2
22 Petersburg Baptist 7,500 400 5.3
23 Washington Baptist 4,000 200 5.
24 Washington Methodist 2,000 100 5.
25 Washington Methodist 3,000 140 4.7
26 Washington Baptist 6,000 150 2.5
27 Washington Methodist 10 000 226 2.2


        * This church is building a Home for the Aged, so that this is extraordinary expenditure.


        --Nineteen other churches give between $50 and $100 a year, and thirty-three churches either give less than $50 or make no returns. Probably most of these give considerable in an unsystematic way.

        Some individual churches present noticeable peculiarities. One Congregational Church "is doing a varied work along institutional lines." In

Page 12

a Methodist Church "the Wayside Gatherers have a mission for assisting the denizens of slums and jails." Another Methodist Church has "a committee to visit the jail every week." A Baptist Church has the interest from a fund, amounting to $150 each year, set aside for the poor; "We only give them enough to buy medicines and, at times, fuel, never appropriating more than $1.25 to each." Another large Baptist Church, with 800 active members, reports a detailed budget:

        

BUDGET OF THE NINETEENTH ST. BAPTIST CHURCH, WASHINGTON, D. C.

1895.
Total income $5,714.09 Total expense: Build'g and improvements $2,840 00
    Sunday-school Charity: 132 00
    Church poor $236 00
    Educat'n of Min'strs 32 52
    Missions 30 14
    Miscellaneous. 134 00 432 66
    Pastor's salary and other church expenses 1,871 77
    Balance on hand 437 66
      $5,714 09

        One Baptist Church in Petersburg, Va., conducts an orphanage, and another in Atlanta is erecting a home for the aged at a cost of $6,000. Whites have contributed considerably to this latter enterprise, but much of it has been done by Negroes.

        From this data it is clear that Negro Churches are becoming centres of systematic relief and reformatory work of Negroes among themselves. At present the actual expenditure of the organized agencies is not large compared with the income of the churches; but when we remember that the members of these churches are largely poor working people, with little business training, and that much of the unorganized and spasmodic work is unrecorded it seems that the work being done is both commendable and by no means insignificant in amount.

4. The Secret Society.

        --Ninety-two lodges, belonging to nine different secret societies, were reported, although these by no means cover all existent lodges in the cities studied. Those reporting were:

        
Grand United Order of Odd Fellows 38 Lodges.
Ancient Order of Free and Accepted Masons 13 Lodges.
Grand United Order of True Reformers 12 Fountains.
International Order of Good Samaritans, etc 8 Unions.
J. R. Giddings and Jollifee Union 8 Tents.
Independent Order of St. Luke 7 Councils.
Ancient Sons, etc., of Israel 3 Tabernacles.

Page 13

        
Knights of Pythias 2 Lodges.
Knights of Tabor 1 Lodge.
9 Orders 92 Organizations.

        Of these the Odd Fellows, Masons and Knights of Pythias are simliar organizations to those among white people but are not directly affiliated with them. The Negro Masons of the United States, for instance, sprung from a lodge of Boston Negroes who received their charter from England. Most of the other orders seem to be Negro inventions purely, and form curious and instructive organizations. Their main function is insurance against. sickness and death, the aiding of the widows and orphans of their deceased members, and social intercourse. Their activity and condition in detail is given in Table II.

Page 14

        

NEGRO SECRET SOCIETIES IN SOUTHERN CITIES.

PLACE. NAME. ORDER. Members. Active Members. Investments in Real Estate and other Property. Cash on Hand. Total Annual Income. Source Thereof. Total Sick Benefits. Total Death Benefits No. of Persons Aided.
Washington, D. C. Peter Ogden Odd Fellows. 112 102 $ 1,040 00 $250 00 $ Dues. $175 00 $275 00 10
Washington, D. C. Star of the West Odd Fellows. 84 69 1,000 00 23 00   Dues. 277 00 256 25 12
Washington, D. C. Bloom of Youth Odd Fellows. 102 87 12,000 00 150 00   Dues. 133 00 207 00 17
Washington, D. C. Rising Sun Odd Fellows. 76 68 500 00 147 00   Dues. 901 00 195 00 16
Washington, D. C. Free Grace Odd Fellows. 109 100 14 20 694 00   Dues. 146 46 310 07 16
Washington, D. C. Mount Olive Odd Fellows. 85 75 14 46 81 00   Dues. 218 80 237 00 33
Washington, D. C. John F. Cook Odd Fellows. 78 49 607 07 71 00   Dues. 101 15 208 00 12
Washington, D. C. Eastern Star Odd Fellows. 68 41 870 09 391 00   Dues. 77 00 147 00 17
Washington, D. C. Potomac Union Odd Fellows. 90 64 326 27 59 00   Dues. 324 00 191 00 5
Washington, D. C. Union Friendship Odd Fellows. 70 62 880 00 333 00   Dues. 45 05 90 00 11
Washington, D. C. Progressive Lodge Odd Fellows. 55 55   228 00   Dues.      
Washington, D. C. Corinthian. Odd Fellows. 58 38   96 00   Dues. 75 50 147 40  
Washington, D. C. Golden Reef Odd Fellows. 71 60 909 90 148 00   Dues. 12 00 15 00 3
Washington, D. C. A. K. Manning Odd Fellows. 95 77 800 00     Dues. 78 00 80 00 14
Washington, D. C. Traveling Pilgrim Odd Fellows. 33 20 105 00 34 00   Dues. 23 50   5
Washington, D. C. W. A. Freeman Odd Fellows. 107 93 1,769 00 451 00   Dues. 171 00 237 00 18
Washington, D. C. Osceola Odd Fellows. 78 69 275 00 12 00   Dues. 75 00 39 00 11
Washington, D. C. Union Light Odd Fellows. 70 60 700 00 192 00   Dues. 99 05 71 15 9
Washington, D. C. Social Odd Fellows. 89 81 900 00 220 00   Dues. 117 05 120 00 15
Washington, D. C. Rose Hill Odd Fellows. 73 70 338 40 88 14   Dues. 45 25 177 25 8
Washington, D. C. Old Ark Odd Fellows. 136 128 1,509 45 115 00   Dues. 281 22 44 75 14
Washington, D. C. Simon Odd Fellows. 120 105 600 00     Dues. 207 85 180 00 27
Washington, D. C. Green Mountain Odd Fellows. 102 79 1,000 00 128 00   Dues. 289 74 98 03 11
Washington, D. C. J. McCrummell Odd Fellows. 107 75 100 00 45 00   Dues. 195 85 237 00 19
Washington, D. C. Western Star Odd Fellows. 47 42 378 30 245 00   Dues. 96 65 100 00 11
Washington, D. C. Columbia Odd Fellows. 57 52 700 00 93 00   Dues. 64 71 120 00 2
Petersburg, Va. Taylor's Fountain True Reformers 43 43     180 60 Dues & asses 12 50   10
Petersburg, Va. Christoe's Fountain True Reformers 18 15     90 00 Dues. 12 00   4
Petersburg, Va. Cedar Leaf True Reformers 32 29     160 00 Dues & asses 16 00   14
Petersburg, Va. Sheba Lodge Masons. 45 30 700 00   100 00 Dues. 10 00   6
Petersburg, Va. Virginia Lodge Masons. 15 16 300 00   30 00   5 00    
Petersburg, Va. Bethel True Reformers 47 47     195 87 Dues & taxes 20 50   9

Page 15

        
PLACE. NAME. ORDER. Members. Active Members. Investments in Real Estate and other Property. Cash on Hand. Total Annual Income. Source Thereof. Total Sick Benefits. Total Death Benefits No. of Persons Aided.
Petersburg, Va. Gethsemane Giddings 45 45 $ $ $163 80 Dues & taxes $ 12 00   3
Petersburg, Va. Keystone Fountain True Reform'rs 72 72     350 00 Dues & taxes 77 00 $375 00 23
Petersburg, Va. Green Bay St. Luke 45 43     154 80 Dues & taxes 6 00   2
Petersburg, Va. Friendly. Masons 17 15     45 00 Dues & taxes      
Petersburg, Va. Mt. Olive True Reform'rs 16 16     80 00 Dues. 20 00   8
Petersburg, Va. H. O. Johnson. Samaritans 10 10   29 42 30 80 Dues & taxes      
Petersburg, Va. Sarah's Giddings 39 38     85 15 Dues. 19 50   2
Petersburg, Va. St. James Israel. 20 20     60 00 Dues. 4 50   3
Petersburg, Va. Jerusalem Masons 30 30 500 00   135 00 Dues. 24 00 60 00 8
Petersburg, Va. Pocahontas Masons 18 18 750 00   50 00 Rent & dues 10 00 30 00 2
Petersburg, Va. Abraham Masons 19 19 500 00   119 50 Dues 27 75 60 00 5
Petersburg, Va. United Sons of the Morning. Odd Fellows. 84 76 1,400 00   320 00 Dues & rents 102 50 50 00 18
Petersburg, Va. Mahala's Giddings 16 16     55 00 Dues & taxes   20 00 1
Petersburg, Va. Leah's Giddings 28 28     87 36 Dues. 12 00   5
Petersburg, Va. Shiloh Rosebud True Reform'rs 19 19     37 61 Dues.   29 00  
Petersburg, Va. Rose Bud Fountain. True Reform'rs 26 26     45 00 Dues & taxes 21 20    
Petersburg, Va. Rosebuds True Reform'rs 14 14     42 00 Dues. 15 80    
Petersburg, Va. Randolph True Reform'rs 96 96     340 29 Dues. 60 00 250 00 20
Petersburg, Va. King Solomon's Israel. 42 42     130 20 Dues. 21 00   7
Petersburg, Va. Samuel's Israel. 28 28     86 80 Dues. 6 00   2
Petersburg, Va. Abigail Tent Giddings 25 25     66 00 Dues. 5 50   3
Petersburg, Va. Mt. Ararat St. Luke 21 21     78 02 Dues. 8 50   5
Petersburg, Va. Charity Samaritans 30 30 300 00   100 00 Dues & fines 40 00 75 00  
Petersburg, Va. Eureka St. Luke. 23 23     82 80 Dues & fines 7 60   4
Petersburg, Va. Mt. Lebanon St. Luke. 15 15     60 20 Dues. 1 00 14 55  
Petersburg, Va. St. Mary's St. Luke. 20 20     72 00   18 00 20 00 7
Petersburg, Va. Mt. Carmel St. Luke. 19 19     70 68 Dues & fines 10 00 45 00 5
Petersburg, Va. Sheba. St. Luke. 16 16     57 60 Dues & fines 4 50   3
Petersburg, Va. St. Joseph Odd Fellows. 57 57 2,800 00   196 00 Dues & fines 28 50   6
Petersburg, Va. Roxeillas Giddings 23 23     74 40 Dues & fines 10 50 10 00 4
Petersburg, Va. Hannah Giddings 35 35     113 40 Dues & fines 22 00   9
Petersburg, Va. Shiloh True Reform'rs 53 53     265 00 Dues & fines 19 57 37 73 2
Petersburg, Va. Dinwiddie True Reform'rs 34 34     170 00   27 00   15
Petersburg, Va. Queen Esther. Giddings 41 35     105 00 Dues & fines 25 00 80 00 15
Petersburg, Va. Eureka Masons 25 20 200 00   95 00   50 00 75 00 10
Petersburg, Va. Weldone Odd Fellows. 18 18     90 00 Dues & fines 15 00   4
Fort Smith, Ark.   Knight of Tab'r 81 81 400 00   300 00 Dues, picnic 91 73 120 00  
Fort Smith, Ark. Widow's Son Masons 52 40 One lot   300 00 Rent, etc. 300 00 200 00 4
Fort Smith, Ark. Matier. Odd Fellows. 52 49 3,000 00   800 00 Dues. 200 00 100 00 25

Page 16

        
PLACE. NAME. ORDER. Members. Active Members. Investments in Real Estate and other Property. Cash on Hand. Total Annual Income. Source Thereof. Total Sick Benefits. Total Death Benefits. No. of Persons Aided.
Mobile, Ala. Crystal Fountain Samaritans 580 580 $9,000 00 $ $2,700 00 Dues. $630 00 $500 00  
Mobile, Ala. Garrison                    
Mobile, Ala. Golden Gate                    
Mobile, Ala. Sparkling Water                    
Mobile, Ala. Star of Hope                    
Mobile, Ala. Ark of Safety                    
Mobile, Ala. Tompkins                    
Odd Fellows 300 300 50 00   1,260 00 Dues. 300 00     Mobile, Ala. Bethel
K. of P 56 40     150 00 Dues, picnic 36 00   12 Clarkesville, Tenn. Mt. Vernon
Odd Fellows 35 29 500 00   210 00 Dues. 48 00 7   Bowling Green, Ky Mt. Calvary
Odd Fellows 27 19 400 00   150 00 Dues. 20 00   4 Atlanta, Ga. Rising Sun
Masons 75 75 900 00   250 00 Dues.       Atlanta, Ga. Crystal
Masons 80 25     150 00 Dues.       Atlanta, Ga. Rising Sun
Masons 80 50       50 00 Dues. 20 00 15 00 Atlanta, Ga. Richard Allen
Knights of P. 60 50       Dues. 50 00     Atlanta, Ga. Plymouth
Masons 40 37       240 00 Dues. 16 50 3 00 Atlanta, Ga. St. James, No. 4
Masons 62 37       325 00 Dues. 10 00 3 00 Atlanta, Ga. Star of the South
Odd Fellows. 65 60     360 00 Dues.       Atlanta, Ga. Pride of Georgia
Odd Fellows. 175 165 One lot   990 00 Dues.       Atlanta, Ga. St. James.
Odd Fellows. 140 130     780 00 Dues.       Atlanta, Ga. Fulton Enterprise
Odd Fellows. 160 140     840 00 Dues.       Atlanta, Ga. Love of Freedom.
Odd Fellows. 72 65     390 00 Dues.          

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        A summary of this table can be made as follows:

        
Total membership 5,763
Active membership 5,150
Total value of investments in real estate and other property *$49,073 05
Total cash on hand 4,651 40
Annual income 16,060 62
Annual Expenditure:  
For sick benefits $6,960 98
For death benefits 5,934 78 $12,895 76
Total numbr of persons aided last year 612.


        * Plus two unvalued lots.


        Some facts about certain societies are of interest: One lodge of the Giddings Order in Petersburg, Va., has been organized 23 years, and is composed entirely of women; another lodge in the same place describes its work as consisting of "relief given to widows and children, and the education of minors." One lodge of Masons in the same place was organized in 1867, and a lodge of Odd Fellows in 1866. Of a lodge of Masons in Clarkesville, Tenn., it is said: "Most of the members own their own homes;" the lodge has spent "$10,000 for burials and sick dues since organization," September 28, 1874, or an average of over $700 a year. They own a lot and expect to build a hall on it soon. Another Petersburg lodge of the Giddings Union assesses each member $1 a year to support an Old Folks' Home for the general order. One Odd Fellows' Lodge in Mobile has been organized fifty-five years, that is, since 1843. Both Masons and Odd Fellows in Fort Smith. Ark., own halls, two stories in height, with stores below, which are rented out.

        We have here a kind of an organization which contrasts sharply with the churches, considered as business enterprises. First, it demands a higher average of intelligence and thrift in its membership, and more quiet, business-like persistence along selected lines of effort. The process of social selection has consequently made the group much smaller than the church organization, averaging fifty and sixty members, and having in no case over 175 members. These smaller and more compact groups do not handle as much money as the churches, but by arranging regular sources of income and carefully calculating expenses they use their funds more effectively. The secrecy and ritual of these lodges is not without a certain social value. It attracts members, and then, too, it allows the establishment of a hierarchy of authority, which does away, to some extent, with the democratic freedom of the church; thus the more competent (and at times, it must be confessed, more unscrupulous), get a chance to guide and rule. The main practical objects of these societies are life and sickness insurance, and social intercourse. They represent the saving, banking spirit among the Negroes and are the germ of commercial enterprise of a purer type.

        On the other hand, the secret societies represent much extravagance and waste in expenditure, an outlay for regalia and tinsel, which too often lack the excuse of being beautiful, and to some extent they divert the savings of Negroes from more useful channels.

Page 18

5. Beneficial and Insurance Societies.

        --The beneficial society sprang directly from the church organizations and has developed in four characteristic directions. First, by taking on ritual, oaths and secrecy it became the secret society just mentioned. Secondly, by emphasizing and enlarging the beneficial and insurance feature and substituting a board of directors for general membership control, many of these societies coalesced into, or were replaced by, insurance societies. Thirdly, the training in business methods thus received is now, in an increasing number of cases leading to co-operative business enterprise. Fourthly, the distribution of aid and succor tended to pass beyond the immediately contributing members, and become pure charity in the shape of Homes, Asylums and Benevolent Societies of various sorts.

        In number of organizations the secret societies outstripped the benevolent societies, while the others naturally are still but partially developed. Nevertheless the beneficial society antedates emancipation; some now in existence are fifty years old or more, and others now extinct can be traced back to the Eighteenth century.

        These societies, of all kinds, sizes and states of efficiency, are still very numerous. Take, for instance, Petersburg, Va. There alone we have reports from twenty-two, as follows:

        

BENEFICIAL SOCIETIES OF PETERSBURG, VA.

  NAME. When Organized. No. Members Assessments per Year. Total Annual Income. Sick and Death Benefits. Cash and Property.
1 Young Men's 1884 40 $7 00 $ 275 00 $ 150 00 $ 175 00
2 Sisters of Friendship, etc.*   22 3 00 68 55 43 78  
3 Union Working Club 1893 15 3 00 45 00 23 00  
4 Sisters of Charity 1884 17 3 00 51 00 30 00  
5 Ladies' Union 1896 47 3 00 135 00   128 25
6 Beneficial Association 1893 163 *25c. 5 20 1,005 64 808 46 440 00
7 Daughters of Bethlehem   39 *12c. 3 00 129 48 110 04  
8 Loving Sisters 1884 16 *25c. 3 00 22 50 30 50 62 00
9 Ladies' Working Club 1888 37 *12c. 3 00 95 11 52 65 214 09
10 St. Mark. 1874 28 *12c. 3 00 84 00 32 00 150 00
11 Consolation 1845 26 *12c. 3 00 68 00 27 00 100 00
12 Daughters of Zion 1867 22 *12c. 3 00 66 00 40 00 36 00
13 Young Sisters of Charity. 1869 30 *12c. 3 00 90 00 30 00 100 00
14 Humble Christian 1868 26 *12c. 3 00 68 00 35 50 75 00
15 Sisters of David 1885 30 3 00 90 00 60 00 120 00
16 Sisters of Rebeccah 1893 40 3 00 120 00 85 00 175 00
17 Petersburg 1872 29 *12½c. 3 00 85 00 11 00 99 53
18 Petersburg Beneficial 1892 35 *50c. 5 20 182 00 158 00 118 00
19 1st Baptist Church Ass'n 1893 100 60 60 00 40 00 80 00
20 Young Men's 1894 44 *25c. 3 00 211 00 202 25 100 00
21 Oak St. Church Society 1894 38 1 20 42 60 112 63 50 00
22 Endeavor, etc 1894 98 3 00 120 00 96 00 43 00
  Total   942   $3,113 88 $2,177 81 $2,275 87


        * Organized before the war.



        *Assessment upon each member in case any member dies.


Page 19

        Returns from other places are not so full, not because of the lack of such societies, but because of the difficulty of getting exact reports from them. They are small, have no public office and must be searched for. Probably there are at least one hundred such societies in the nine cities. Some are small and weak, others flourishing. Of the latter class the condition of six typical ones is given in the next table.

        

SOME TYPICAL BENEFICIAL SOCIETIES.

PLACE. NAME. When Organized. Number Members. Assessments per Year. Total Annual Income. Sick and Death Benefits. Cash and Property.
Galveston, Tex Daughters of Rebecca 1866 53 $ 12 00 $ 900 $ 800 $3,000
Augusta, Ga. Trinity Moral Reform 1850 240 1 00 960 500 100
Augusta, Ga. Union Relief 1894 100 1 20 800 300 1,000
Augusta, Ga. Young Mutual 1886 475   661 498 87
Atlanta, Ga Helping Hand 1879 50   140 100 1 lot.
Atlanta, Ga Coachman's Benefit 1896 40   240    
  Six Societies   958   $3,701 $2,198 $4,187

        The business methods of beneficial societies are extremely simple. A group of mutually known persons, members of the same church or neighbors, unite in an organization and agree to pay weekly 25 cents or more into a common treasury; a portion of the fund thus secured is paid to any member who may be taken sick, and, too, the other members in such case give their services in caring for the sick one. In case a member dies each of the other members is assessed from 12½ to 50 cents--usually 25 cents--in addition to their regular fee, to help defray funeral expenses. This simple and safe insurance business has everything to commend it as a method of self-help, and it has without doubt had much to do with the social education of the Negro, both before and since emancipation.

        The indications are that ten or fifteen years ago the number of these societies was twice as great as at present. Over half of those reported in this inquiry were established before 1890, and are probably survivals of a very large number of enterprises. The insurance societies have come in to replace the activities of these societies, and the change, while indicating higher economic development, is at present having many disastrous results. The impulse towards insurance societies was given by the large number of white societies organized to defraud and exploit the Negroes. Everywhere the Freedman is noted for his effort to ward off accident and a pauper's grave by insurance against sickness and death. In New York city a canvass of one slum district showed that 15% of the Negro fathers and 52% of the mothers belonged to insurance societies.*

        *Laidlaw, 2nd Sociological Canvass, 1897.


In Philadelphia the situation is similar, although the disparity between the sexes is not so great.*

        *DuBois, The Philadelphia Negro.


So, too, throughout the South the operations of these societies has been wide-spread. Partly in self-defence therefore,
Page 20

and partly in obedience to a natural desire to unite small economic efforts into larger, the Negro insurance societies began to arise about 1890, and now have throughout the country a membership running into the hundred thousands. Some of the secret societies are in reality insurance societies with a ritual to make membership more attractive. The True Reformers' order, for instance, was started in Richmond, Va., not over fifteen years ago; it now extends widely over the East and South, owns considerable real estate and conducts a banking and annual premium insurance business at Richmond.

        Three typical Virginia insurance societies are the Workers' Mutual Aid Association, the Colored Mutual Aid Association and the United Aid and Insurance Company. The Workers' Mutual Aid Association was organized in 1894. It is conducted by twelve stockholders and has two salaried officers, besides the agents. It claims 10,053 members, an annual income of $3,600, and sick and death benefits paid during the year to the amount of $1,700. It owns property to the amount of $550. Its rates of insurance are as follows:

        
Weekly Premiums. Weekly Sick Benefits. Death Benefits.
$ 05 $1 25 $ 17 00
10 2 00 35 00
15 2 75 45 00
20 3 50 55 00
25 4 25 65 00
30 5 00 75 00
35 5 75 85 00
40 6 50 95 00
45 7 25 105 00
50 8 00 115 00

        The agent reporting declares: "This class of enterprises do well, but the great drawback is they are too numerous, and it is hard to find young men who are willing to do the work necessary to make them a success; and then the class who are willing to take hold honestly, is at a very grea premium." The headquarters of this association is in Petersburg, Va.

        The Colored Mutual Aid Association was organized in 1895; the number of stockholders is sixteen; the number of salaried officers, three; the number of members, 5,000; the total annual income, $1,172 82; the total expenditures for sick and death benefits, $800. The rates of insurance are:

        
Weekly premiums. Weekly Sick Benefits. Death Benefits.
$ 05 $ 1 50 $ 15 00
10 3 25 35 00
15 3 50 40 00
20 4 50 50 00
25 5 25 60 00
30 6 00 75 00
35 7 00 85 00
40 8 00 95 00
45 9 00 100 00
50 10 00 115 00

Page 21

        The United Aid and Insurance Company, according to its report, "was organized in Richmond, Va., four years ago; we have a total membership of 21,500 members. We are doing business in all the cities of this State and also in some other States. The financial condition of the company is good; it pays all claims promptly." The company occupies its own building in Richmond.

        The membership of these societies is naturally much smaller than reported, but nevertheless it is large. The insurance charged is of course very high. A thousand dollar life policy costs about $250 a year premium, against $30 to $40 for a middle aged man in the regular life insurance companies.*

        * Mutual Benefit Life Ins. Co.'s rate for a man of 45 is $37.42.


This high rate is to cover the weekly benefits in case of sickness, and as there is no age classification and practically no medical examination, it represents the gambler's risk. Such business, of course, opens wide the door for cheating on both sides. The educational value of conducting these enterprises is, among the Negroes, very great, and considering their lack of business training, the experiment has been quite successful. On the part of the insured, the old beneficial society was a more wholesome method of saving. The insurance society savors too much of gambling and discourages the savings bank habit.

5. Co-operative Business.

        --There are undoubted proofs that the native Africans, or at least most Negro tribes, are born merchants and trafickers, and can drive good bargains even with Europeans. Little trace of this, however, survived the fire of American slavery. Communism in goods, abolition of private property, and absolute dependence on the master for daily bread almost completely robbed the slaves of all thought of economic initiative. Business enterprise would therefore be the last form of activity which we might expect to see recover from the effects of slavery, even under normal conditions. The situation to-day is, however, abnormal, from the fact that the white South is making unusual strides in commercial life, and so no sooner has the Negro learned something of the business methods about him than further advance on the part of the community has rendered them obsolete.

        There are two ways in which a primitive folk may establish co-operative business effort: First, by the establishment of private business enterprise and then combining the single businesses into one joint stock company; or by beginning directly with co-operation and either developing into a less democratic form of directorship, or disintegrating into private enterprises. Negro co-operation has thus far been largely of the latter type. For instance: Opposite the campus of the Atlanta University has stood for a long time an unsightly old tumble-down dwelling. Last year a small group of Negroes bought it; they met for awhile in it; formed an organization, moved the building back and prepared to build. By regular contributions they began a fund which supported a leader with a salary. They hired laborers and masons from their own number, and with their own labor have now nearly finished a tasteful brick building. This organization was a church, but its activity has been so far co-operative business, democratic in direction and peculiarly successful. From such enterprises sprang the beneficial societies, and to-day slowly

Page 22

and with difficulty is arising real co-operative business enterprise detached from religious activity or insurance. On the other hand, private business enterprise has made some beginning, and in a few cases united into joint stock enterprises. It will be years, however, before this kind of business is very successful.

        Indeed, all co-operation in business among Negroes is as yet in the experimental stage. For that reason it is especially mentioned in this study, since it represents not so much private gain as social effort for the good of the group. Of the fifteen enterprises reported in the next table, probably not more than ten are at present paying enterprises, and some of these are only moderately successful. The rest are either just making ends meet, with a prospect of future growth, or are tottering and destined to fail. The cities reporting are not in all cases identical with the nine which sent in the other reports; of those only four reported co-operative business. The reports are as follows:

Page 23

        

CO-OPERATIVE BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.

  PLACE. NAME. Organized. Nature of Business. Capital. Members, Partn'rs or Stock holders. Real Estate, Mortgages and Cash. Income Last Year. Expense. REMARKS.
1 Washington, D. C. C. Savings Bank. 1888 Banking $150,000 35 $ 55,440 $16,320 01 $. Very successful.
2 Washington, D. C. Indus. B. & S. Co 1886 Building Ass'n 50,000 700 31,000   396 50 Fairly successful.
3 Galveston, Tex Cotton Jam'rs & Longshor. A. No. 2 1879 Trades Union   700 cash 5,000
tools 1,000		 6,000 00 2,000 00 Very successful.
4 Atlanta, Ga. Atlanta L. & T. Co 1890 Real est. & rents   15 7,000 700 00 1,000 00  
5 Atlanta, Ga. Ga. Real Estate Loan & Trust Co. 1891 Real est. & rents   25 3,500      
6 Atlanta, Ga. South View Cemetery Ass'n 1885 Burial Ground   26 4,000
20 acres.		     Successful.
7 Concord, N. C. Coleman Mfg. Co 1897 Mfg cotton goods 50,000 100 *20,000   17,000 00 Not fully started.
8 Richmond, Va True Reformers' Savings Bank 1889 Banking and ins. 100,000 500 115,000      
9 Augusta, Ga Wk'gmen's Loan & Bldg Ass'n 1889 Building Ass'n   120 3,400 3,900 00   Very successful.
10 Richmond, Va * Nickel S'v'gs Bk   Deposit and bk'g. 30,000          
11 Birmingham, Ala. *People's S'gs Bk   Deposit and bk'g. 50,000          
12 Hampton, Va. People's Bldg. & Loan Ass'n 1889 Building Ass'n 75,000     31,000 00   250 homes bought
13 Jacksonville, Fla. Capital Trust Co. 1894 Banking 25,000 30   4,500 00   Dividend of 10% last year.
14 Little Rock, Ark. L Loan & T. Co. 1898 Building Ass'n            
15 Hampton, Va. Hampton Supply Co. 1891 Retails wood, etc 4,500     12,000 00    
16 Hampton, Va. Bay Shore Hotel Co. 1897 Summer resort 2,600     1,000 00    
17 Hampton, Va. W'k'ngmen's Cooperative Union. 1897 Retail store 400     500 00    


* Mill and houses are being erected; 100 acres and building

        * No direct report has been received from these two banks.


Page 24

        The chief co-operative businesses are those which the pressure of race prejudice rendered necessary, as, for instance, cemetery associations. Although details of only one of these is reported, there are known to be a considerable number, and they are well conducted. Efforts in handling real estate come next in popularity and have had various degrees of success. The Workingmen's Loan and Building Astocitiation, of Augusta, Ga., conconducted wholly by Negroes, is now nine years old and has been the means of securing over 100 homes for its members. Its eighth annual statement is as follows:

        Eighth Annual Statement of the Workingmen's Loan and Building Association at the close of business May 31, 1898:

        
RESOURCES.  
Loans $15,422 66
Real estate 3,100 00
Office fixtures 75 00
Cash 49 18
  $18,646 84
LIABILITIES.  
Capital stock $10,725 00
Bills payable 1,540 38
Undivided profits 3,324 03
Surplus 3,057 43
  $18,646 84

        The building and loan association of Washington has been pretty successful. It was organized for the "purpose of demonstrating business capacity and unity in the Negro race, and was intended especially to operate among, and to secure the support of the large class of colored people employed in the departmental service of the government here and as school teachers in this city, since this class was known to handle, in the aggregate, large sums of money monthly. But our hopes in this direction have not been realized. Such success as our company has achieved came almost altogether from the wage-earning element, not from the salary drawers. These latter have seemed to prefer to put their money as well as their personal influence on the side of business institutions conducted by white persons, institutions in which they are rigidly excluded from all participation whatever. And a still more discouraging aspect of the situation is that there seems to be but little change for the better in this condition. Not alone in this association is this sentiment observable among the better paid element of the race, but it applies to all organized business efforts in this city so far as I am aware. These are supported by the middle and lower classes, among whom the instinct of race affinity is strongest and the support of race institutions the most permanent and substantial."*


        *Report of Secretary, Mr. Henry E. Baker.


Page 25

        In Little Rock, Ark., several well-to-do Negroes have started a building association, with a nickel savings department attached. The company was incorporated in 1898, and is now ready for work.

        The People's Building and Loan Association of Hampton, Va., has been very successful. It has been in operation nine years and has a paid up capital of $75,000. Last year (1897) it did a business of $31,000, on which the gross profits were $5,000. The officers have been, and still are, all colored. The association has been the means of erecting 250 homes. It "has proven a blessing to the poor people of this community by assisting them to get homes; also a good investment for those who desired to bank a small amount, it having paid these years 7 and 8% interest." It has two salaried officials and 500 members.*


        *Report of a stockholder.


        Hampton also has two successful co-operative stores--a form of enterprise which has not heretofore succeeded. The Hampton Supply Company was organized in the year 1891 and has 100 members. The paid up capital is $45,000. It went into business in 1896, and since that time it has dealt in wood, coal and feed stuff, and does a businees of $12,000 per year. It gives employment to five persons.

        The Workingmen's Co-operative Union has twenty members, a capital of $400 and does a business of $500 to $1,000 annually. It handles coal, wood, feed and groceries.

        In this connectien the Bay Shore Hotel Company of Hampton may be noticed. It is an attempt to furnish a decent summer resort for Negroes, since the majority of resorts are shut against them. It was organized in 1897, with sixty members and a paid up capital of $2,600. Last season it did a business of $1,000, employing four persons.

        Of these three enterprises in Hampton, an officer of Hampton Institute writes:

        "These are all incorporated companies, officered and controlled by colored men. They have been organized and operated as an outgrowth directly of the demands of the people rather than as a speculative investment in the different forms of business in rivalry of those already in existence; and to this extent they have all been successful."*


        *Mr. D. R. Lewis, instructor in mechanical drawing.


        The most successful Negro bank of the six or seven which have been organized by Negroes, is the Capital Savings bank of Washington, now ten years old.*

        *NOTE.--It was reported in the last Hampton Conference that there were over fifty Negroes in Washington worth $10,000 and over. Returns from thirty-five of these showed that only twelve invested their money in Negro business enterprises, and only seven of these invested to any considerable extent. This, after all, is but natural. The money of men who have successfully accumulated property is attracted mainly by the returns to be gained and less by philanthropic or sentimental reasons; that of the lower and middle classes is more influenced by considerations of race pride and social advance. It is, however, no mean compliment to Negro business enterprise that it has thus early been able to attract 20% of the well-to-do of the race in competition with the business of an industrial age.


When it started, white business men of Washington refused to rent it proper quarters, whereupon it bought a pleasant building
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on F street, where it conducts a growing business. Other banks, like the one in Baltimore, have failed through the rascality of some of the officers.

        A very promising institution is the Capital Trust Company of Jacksonville, Fla., organized March 6, 1894. It consists of thirty Negro business men and artisans who have invested $25,000 in a banking business. They loan money and discount paper. They have no salaried officials and reduce expenses to a minimum ($6.35 for last year). The officials manage the affairs of the bank in connection with their own business. Last year they earned 18% on their capital and distributed 10% in dividends. The president is a contractor and builder.

        The banking business conducted by the Grand Fountain of the Order of True Reformers, on North Second street, Richmond, Va., is capitalized at $100,000. It owns much property, over $115,000 in buildings, residences and the like. There are 7,086 depositors reported, and $101,933.32 deposited. Since its establishment in 1889 it claims to have handled $3,795,667.36, and to have paid out for the insurance department of the order $370,910.75. The work at present is reported as being "in a prosperous condition," and it is certainly the largest financial enterprise conducted by Negroes outside the church organizations.

        No direct reports have been received from the other banks, but they are known to exist. The Atlanta Loan and Trust Company, which has invested chiefly in city lots, "has not improved in the last two years. The company is self-sustaining, but yields no dividends to the stockholders." This is probably the condition of several other ventures.

        Two notable enterprises must be mentioned. One is the Cotton Jammers and Longshoremen's Association No. 2 of Galveston, Tex., who "have the reputation of doing the best work of any cotton screwmen at this port." They are more than a trade's union, as they have invested in $1,000 worth of tools used in the business. They receive dues from members and also from the different gangs at work. They pay sick and death benefits. The association is nineteen years old. The other enterprise is the Coleman Manufacturing Company, which is erecting a cotton mill at Concord, N. C. The president and all except one of the directors are Negroes, and in August, 1897, they issued the following prospectus:

COLEMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY.

        "Incorporated under the laws of the State of North Carolina. Capital stock, $50,000.

"Concord, N. C., August 20, 1897.

        "DEAR SIR: We beg to call your attention to our new enterprise, indicated above. We are a co-operative stock company of colored men who propose to build and operate a cotton mill in the interest of the race. This is a gigantic effort and we need the cooperation of every friend of the race. Its promoters are among the most successful Negro business men in the country. Many of its stockholders are influential citizens of the white race, and may be found in every section of the country. Capital stock has been raised to $100,000, half of which is already subscribed; the remainder we now offer at $100 per share. This may be paid in installments of 10% or taken in paid up stock. When the full amount has been paid, certificates

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of stock, negotiable, are given. From 40,000 to 50,000 bricks are being turned out daily; we expect to begin laying them in a few weeks time. When completed we will employ from 300 to 400 hands. Avenues along all lines of work will open up, and we want some one to open a boarding house, run a truck farm, livery stable, dairy, etc. We urge you to consider this Negro enterprise and write us for any further information you may desire. Yours in interest of the race,

"W. C. COLEMAN."


        Since that time the mill and some houses have been built, and "we are ready to install engine and boiler and other machinery. Work of operation will commence as soon as we sell some more stock." A special trade edition of the Concord Times, a white paper, March 10, 1898, speaks of the enterprise as follows:

        "Can the Negro race successfully own and operate cotton mills? This question so long in doubt is about to be answered and we believe in the affirmative. The first great stride in that direction was taken when on the 8th of February, 1898, was laid with Masonic honors the corner stone of the handsome three-story brick building, 80×120 feet in dimensions, of the Coleman Cotton Mill. It was indeed a marked epoch in the history of the Negro race and pronounced by all present an entire success. Noted speakers from all over the United States were invited and the railroads gave reduced rates from all points. Following the laying of the corner stone was the annual election of officers, who are as follows: R. B. Fitzgerald, of Durham, N. C., president; E. A. Johnson, of Raleigh, N. C., vice-president, and W. C. Coleman, of Concord, N. C., secretary and treasurer. The following gentlemen constitute the board of directors: Rev. S. C. Thompson, Camden, S. C.; L. P. Berry, Statesville, N. C.; John C. Dancy, Salisbury, N. C.; Prof. S. B. Pride, Charlotte, N. C.; Prof. C. F. Meserve, Raleigh, N. C., and Robert McRae, Concord, N. C. Among these are some of the highest lights of the Negro race, and under their careful direction we have no doubts as to the final results of the enterprise. The promoter of this enterprise, Mr. W. C. Coleman, is the wealthiest Negro in th