in
the Black Belt.

CHAPTER 8.

CAMPAIGNING FOR FUNDS IN THE NORTH.

The matter of raising money for undenominational schools in the South is
no easy task, and right here I ought to state just why I preferred to
have such a school. Our people in the rural South are mostly Baptists
and Methodists, and of course the denominations have their schools,
located in certain cities. While no one is barred from these schools, it
is a fact that undue influence is exerted upon the pupils to make them
become members of the church that supports the school. This is not only
true of the Methodist and Baptist schools, but is also true of all
denominational schools in the South. I did not like that and our people
do not like to have any one influence their children to join churches
other than the one of their choice. We may shut our eyes to this truth,
but the fact remains that Methodists do not want their children to be
persuaded to join some other church, neither do the Baptists want theirs
taken away from them.

Now, I wanted that my school should be free from such "isms." I wanted a
school for all the Negroes, thoroughly religious in its spirit, but
entirely undenominational. For twenty-five years now we have adhered
strictly to this policy. Many times when all was dark and there seemed
to be no way, some of these denominations would come and offer me the
money to run the work, provided I would accept their faith. But this I
have never done, I had rather that the work should die than to sell my
principle for money. I repeat that raising money for such a school is a
hard task. I have never been particularly interested as to the choice of
the church that my students make, but I have been profoundly interested
in their finding salvation.

A great many people to whom I appeal for aid from time to time, tell me
that they give all their alms through their church. But in spite of all
this, I feel that the kind of schools most needed for our people, should
be broad and not narrow, deep and not shallow.

After winning the approval of the people in the community, both black
and white, and getting whatever help I could from them, my thoughts
turned towards the North for means to run the work. My first attempt was
in March, '97. I got as far as Washington, D. C., and saw the
Inauguration of President McKinley, and then I returned home.

The following June Dr. Washington wrote me to come to Tuskegee so as to
accompany the Tuskeg