topics of interest to the communities in which the
various societies may be organized, and topics relating to the general
welfare of the race, and especially to farmers.

(5) To teach the people to practice the strictest economy, and
especially to obtain and diffuse such information among farmers as shall
lead to the improvement and diversification of crops, in order to create
in farmers a desire for homes and better home conditions, and to
stimulate a love for labor in both old and young. Each local
organization may offer small prizes for the cleanest and best-kept
house, the best pea-patch, and the best ear of corn, etc.

(6) To aid each other in sickness and in death; for this purpose a fee
of ten cents will be collected from each member every month and held
sacred to be used for no other purpose whatever.

(7) It shall be one of the great objects of this society to stimulate
its members to acquire homes, and urge those who already possess homes
to improve and beautify them.

(8) To urge our members to purchase only the things that are absolutely
necessary.

(9) To exert our every effort to obliterate those evils which tend to
destroy our character and our homes, such as intemperance, gambling, and
social impurity.

(10) To refrain from spending money and time foolishly or in
unprofitable ways; to take an interest in the care of our highways, in
the paying of our taxes and the education of our children; to plant
shade trees, repair our yard fences, and in general, as far as
possible, bring our home life up to the highest standard of
civilization.

This Society has standing committees on Government, on Education, on
Business, on Housekeeping, on Labor, and on Farming. The chairman of
each of these committees holds monthly meetings in the various
communities, at which time various topics pertaining to the welfare and
uplift of the people are discussed. As a result of these meetings the
people return to their homes with new inspiration. The meetings are
doing good in the communities where they are being held, and our sincere
hope is that such meetings may be extended. It is the aim of the school
and of its several organizations, to reach the ills that most retard the
Negroes of the rural South. The articles of our simple constitution go
to the very bottom of the conditions.

Thus it will be seen that the work of the class-room is only a small
part of what we are trying to do for the uplift of the Negro people