civilization which has
been fitting him somewhat for the large Christian movement of the
present. We are working for a people which in all probability will
form at least one-eighth of our whole population; and we have the
problem of lifting them as a race up into Christian enlightenment. The
dark skin is growing darker. There will be less and less of
intermixture of blood between the two races. Hence all study of this
educational question must have in view the large moral and
intellectual enterprise of dealing with a race as a race. I believe
that there is nothing in all history to compare with this opportunity
which has come to our very doors. Here is a nation in our land and
with it every perplexity, every difficulty, every embarrassment, and
also every encouragement, every hope, and every inspiration for work,
that can appeal to any foreign missionary. Here is this God-given task
laid at our very thresholds and with all the sentiments of patriotism
and Christian devotion urging us to our large privilege.

What the race needs now is right leadership, and for many years to
come we are to equip men and women religiously and intellectually,
who, in home, in church, in social and business life, will be moral
and social leaders. And by this power of leadership I mean something
far other than those foolish conceits which have taken possession of a
few who have touched only the surface of the new life that is coming
to this people.

I have rather in mind leaders who shall have that moral and
intellectual fitness which produces reverence, earnestness and
humility, leaders who can draw their people away from their
foolishness, weakness and self-consciousness into the larger life that
is possible for them. Without a {97} doubt, what is needed is true
leaders, and I wish to show where these leaders are now demanded.

Before the war, the South knew nothing of the benefits of public
schools, and the private school was in harmony with its social and
political conceptions; but of late, and especially during the last
decade, a remarkable change has taken place which is doing as much to
affect the whole Southern problem as anything that has occurred there
during half a century. It is a movement in the South, which, however
imperfectly it has been developed as yet, has come to remain, and will
ultimately affect every institution, social, political and religious,
in our section of the country.

_It is now being recognized in every