o be the
best in the community, the white men, striving to reduce to practice
the Golden Rule, may it not come to pass that "They shall beat their
swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks," and that
the country of Lincoln shall thus become the "land of the free and the
home of the brave," where all men of all races shall be treated in all
departments of life according to their worth?

FOURTH PAPER.

WILL IT BE POSSIBLE FOR THE NEGRO TO ATTAIN, IN THIS COUNTRY, UNTO THE
AMERICAN TYPE OF CIVILIZATION?

BY BISHOP J. W. HOOD, D. D., LL. D.

[Illustration: Bishop J. W. Hood, D. D.]

BISHOP J. W. HOOD, D. D., LL. D.

The subject of this sketch was born in Kennett Township,
Chester County, Pa., May 30, 1831. His father's house being
near the line between freedom and slavery was a station of
the Underground Railroad. Hence, the boy was very early
impressed with the evils of slavery and imbibed an intense
hatred toward that institution, and an intense love for his
afflicted race. This sentiment has been a great factor in
shaping his conduct through life. His moral and religious
convictions were fixed in early life. He was sensible of a
call to the ministry, but hesitated a long time because he
felt a lack of necessary qualification. He was licensed to
preach in 1856; ordained a deacon in 1860; elder in 1862,
and bishop in 1872. He entered upon a course of studies soon
after he was licensed, and has been a hard student ever
since.

His first appointment was to a mission in Nova Scotia. In
December, 1861, he was appointed to missionary work in the
South. Following the army, he reached New Berne, N. C.,
January 20, 1864. As a traveling minister he always had
encouraging success, especially in North Carolina, in which
State his denomination has a larger following than in any
other. Two of its most important institutions are located
there, namely, the Publication House at Charlotte and
Livingstone College at Salisbury. Bishop Hood is one of the
founders of the college, and has been President of the Board
of Trustees during its entire history.

He has been married three times, and has six living
children, all of whom have been mainly educated at this
institution. The Bishop is an untiring worker, and has
traveled as much as 20,000 mile