Page:The National Cyclopedia of the Colored Race (1919).djvu/25



T. Washington thundered from the Tuskegee Institute platform the doctrine of service. "Go back to your homes, put a hinge on the gate, a latch on the door. Don't stand around and whine. Get into the church, in the school, into the shop and help. Own your own homes and become a tax-paying, respectable citizen."
 * OR fully a score of years Booker

Benjamin H. Barnes after graduating under his father's teaching, sat beneath the voice of the Tuskegean and caught the vision that the great leader sought to impart. He did not pick out any one of of these suggestions but seemed to absorb them all. While at Tuskegee Mr. Barnes excelled not only in his studies both in trade and in books but also in music. He played the violin, the piano and sang. For part of three years he traveled as a Tuskegee singer. Returning to Tuscaloosa his native town, he accepted work as a teacher in the city public school and began to live to the full the life that Booker T. Washington had so ardently preached. Mr. Barnes immediately connected himself with the work of the town church, the First African Baptist Church. He had been in attendance here

but a short time when he was elected superintendent of the Sunday School, a post at which he served for twenty-five years. Not long after this Mr. Barnes was made church organist: and for twenty years the Baptists of Tuscaloosa have sung to his playing in the church.

Some years ago this church set out to erect a new building. The cost of the house was to be $25,000.00. Mr. Barnes along with his church and Sunday School work had demonstrated that he was a business man. The church members placed him at the head of the Committee, rallied to his support and put up a splendid brick structure. Tho' ministers came and went, Barnes stayed by his post till the last brick was laid. He is now financial secretary of the church, secretary of the board of trustees and one of the strong active deacons.

However, his biggest service as a Christian worker is being rendered among the young people of the state. Alabama is peppered with Negro Baptists. Blow your Baptist trumpet in the remotest hamlet and a regiment of loyal followers will come for ward to bear up the standard. Among their organization is a Baptist Young People's Union. Mr. Barnes has been the president of this organization for sixteen years. In recognition of his religious services and of his exemplary scholarship, Selma University some years ago conferred upon him the honorary degree of Master of Arts.

All through his life Mr. Barnes has been a very intense student, both in books and in affairs. He spends many hours in home study, in a very exceptional home library. From time to time he has taken home correspondence courses from the University of Chicago. In addition to this he keeps tho roughly abreast with all educational movements in the state. No convention or gathering of educators in the state is likely to assemble without finding Benjamin H. Barnes on hand ready to give advice, time or money to make things go.

The home of Benjamin H. Barnes, all paid for, is one of the most handsome of the half dozen excellent Negro homes of Tuscaloosa. As one purchase whets the appetite for another Mr. Barnes after paying for his home, bought other buildings and now owns property to rent.

This is not the full business story of Prof. Barnes. The Union Central Life Relief company of Birmingham is one of the comparatively few Negro firms of the -kind to stem the tide of business adversity. Casting about for a manager of a branch office in Tuscaloosa, the Union Central Relief found the man they wanted in Prof. Barnes. In this office and in visiting patrons Mr. Barnes spends his summer and spare hours when not on duty in the school.

One dominant trait is unmistakable in the Barnes family, that of holding fast to the duties in hand a father, school teacher in one place forty-two years: a son, school teacher for nearly twenty years, Sunday School superintendent twenty-five years, president of Young People's Baptist Union sixteen years.

Mr. Barnes is married; his wife is his partner. She has rendered valuable service in all of his endeavors. They have celebrated their crystal wedding with much pomp.