AND YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE fRUTH
CHARLOTTE, N. CL,
VOL. XL VII.
-
A PROPOSAL FOR A NATIONAL MINISTERIAL
INTERDENOMINATIONAL ALUANCE
My Dear Fellow Minister:
A Leaders cannot accomplish
anything worth while divided.
We are- living in an age of or
ganization ' and specialization
Those desiring to do evil have
learned the value of organiza
tion, and they organize them
selves to accomplish their de
sires. Those desiring to do good
must learn the value of organi
zation, and organize themselves
in order to accomplish their
good desires. There is power in
organization.
T belieive the time is ripe and
feasible for a Colored National
Ministerial Alliance, composed
of preachers, preacher-pastors,
presiding elders, district super
intendents, general officers,
bishops, and national modera
tors in good standing in their
respective denominations. Of
aU the professions worth while,
the ministry is the only one
that has not a national organi
zation; where national questions
are discussed, and a general un
derstanding on vital things is
hid.
Look at the National Medical
Association, an organization
which brings the doctors togeth
re- annually, where they impart
their knowledge to one another
er. Every denomination is re
presented among them, but they
do not meet and discuss denomi
nations. They discuss their pro
fession, and study how to im
f prove it, and how to keep up
with the discoveries of their
jSfrofession. It does not matter
with them whether the man
that discovered the X-ray is a
Presbyterian, or a Lutheran.
*lSfrB"wmrlhichhas
beeii * discovered, so that they
may be of more service to the
rtcwmle
In the ministry , there are
scholars, authors, philosophers,
poets, etc., but they are not
known and felt in a national
way. They have no national
organization composed of all de
nominations, where they can
meet and impart their knowl
edge to one another.
A National Ministerial Inter
denominational Alliance would
not only serve as a medium for
imparting knowledge to the
ministers, but would enable the
ministry to discuss national
evils that are affecting the peo
ple.
Some one may ask what good
can a National Inter-denomina
tional Alliance do in discussing
national evils? We will answer
the question by asking a ques
tion: What good do local min
isterial inter-denominational al
liances do in the local communi
ties when trouble is raging, in
justices meted out, and other
kindred things? They do untold
good. Well, a National Ministe
rial Inter-denominational Alli
ance Would do in a national way
What the local alliances do in a
local way.
yea, and mucft more, it wm
be “better felt than told," and
before a great while will become
International
This pamphlet' does not at
tempt to work out the details
that will be done ere long when
we meet to organize; then the
constitution; by-laws, officers,
committees, etc., will be pro
vided for.
The Ministerial Inter-denomi
national Alliance of Washing
ton/!). C., has given its hearty
endorsement to the proposed or
ganization. An extract from
. the Washington Post, one of
the white daily papers of Wash
ington, D. C., will explain.
1 Extract
“Dir- G. L. Russell, pastor of
Israel - Metropolitan Colored
Methodist Episcopal Church
i and President of the Ministeri
al Inter-denominational Alli
ance Of Washington, D. C.,
brought before the Alliance at
its Fall ■ session yesterday a
proposition for a National Min
isterial4 Inter-denominational
Alliance, to be composed of the
ministers of the various denom
inations of the country in good
standing in their respective
denominations.
“The President said he was
willing to put himself on the
altar, and travel apd write cir
cular letters to interest the
ministers of the various denom
inations. Dr. J. Milton Waldron,
pastor of Ninth Street Shiloh
Missionary Baptist church,
made a motion to accept the
President’s proposition, and
give him whole-hearted support.
The motion was seconded by i
Dr. H- T. Medford, pastor of
John Wesley A. M. E. Zion
Church, and unanimously en
dorsed by the Alliance.”
The following named persons
have been appointed to assist
the President in perfecting the
proposed organization :
Dr. J. Milton Wajdron, pastor
of Ninth Street Smloh Mission
ary Baptist church.
Dr. H. T. Medford, pastor of
Johin Wesley A. M., E. Zion
church.
Dr. J. C. Olden, pastor of
Plymouth Congregational
church.
Dr- J. W. Waters, pastor of
Ebenezer M. E. church.'
Dr. D. E- Wiseman, pastor of
the Church of Our Redeemer;
Lutheran. ,
Dr. P. A. Scott, pastor of St.
Paul A. M- E. church.
Dr. C. M. Lewistall, pastor of
12th Street Christian church,
l)r. H. B. Taylor, pastor of
15th Street Presbyterian
church. t
May you be impressed and ih
phpFt^^e^e^^t^natlmu
win give it your hearty endorse
ment and support.
Yours for Christ and human
ity,
REV. C. L. RUSSELL,
Pastor of Israel Metropolitan
Colored Methodist Episcopal
church.
Residence: 402 South Capitol
St., Washington, U. >C.
NEGRO PROGRESS.
There is no longer a real race
problem in the South. It exists
in the minds of those, white and
colored, who are seeking selfish
advancement; who are trying
to intimidate others, and have
no better weapon that the cow
ardly appeal to racial prejudice
and racial antipathy. When
some marplot attempts to dis^
cuss the matter it is better to
ignore it entirely. The only
real “race problem” of the Ne
gro race is the same problem as
that of the white race or any
other race—the earnest efforts
of its foremost men to lead their
people into the realm of better
citizenship. 'That is the prob
lem the solution of which is the
aim of every forward-looking
citizen, be he white or black- In
its most serious aspects, there
fore, the problem is not social,
but economic.
ino otner race in tne worm s
history, starting under such a
great handicap, has ever made
social, industrial, and intellect
ual progress that even ap
proaches that of the Negro
race. How we are best to con
tribute to the continued ad
vancement of the Negro is, I
think, already in process of de
velopment. Here in North Car
olina and in other parts of the
South we 1 white folk are quick
ly coming to a proper appraisal
of the Negro’s part in our
growth- We are acknowledg-;
ing his worth as a citizen, his
spirit of co-operation, and his
vital contribution to our indus
trial progress. We can have no
real progress in this estate or
in any other Southern t State
unless we reckon the Negro ns
a vital element in our economic
life. His destihy and ours are
inseparably linked.
—Angus W- McLean
Governor of North Carolina
in the Southern Workman.
SOME UNFAIR
An Address by Rev. H. C.
Greensboro
Joint Meeting of
(From the Greensboro
An address of Rev. H. C* Mil
ler, pastor of St. James Presby
terian church (Negro), featured
the joint meeting of the Greens
boro Ministerial Associfttjdb and
the Negro Ministers’1 union De
cember 7 in Grace Methodist
Protestant ehurch.
The minister spoke on^ome
Unfair'.Racist .Distinctions.” It
was a conservative paparand
evoked genuine: MKPP ‘
[. Harding Hughes led the dis
cussion of the paper—all pres
ent pronounced it a helpful doo
ament, and the conservative
tone in which it was fajitten was
praised by the white ministers.
A committee, composed of S.
K. Sphar, R. Murphy .Williams,
John.F. Kirk, I. Harding Hughes
and. J. J. Scarltet (Negro), was .
chosen to draft a pronounce
ment upon law observance and
to remind' iChristiaiss of the
temperance which istespecially
Iue at this season of the year..
The nominating committee
iue at this season of Jhe year,
is composed of C. E. Hodgin, H.
A.. Fesperman and S. K. Spahr.
It was moved and carried
that the.; President represent
the association on the council
af social agencies. It was sug
gested that the communi
ty chest include in its subscript
tion list members of both races
rather than .the. white race
alone. : ' :
The ministers heard the pro
posed unifying of the city’s
schools discussed. It was pure
ly an informative discussion,
and, of course, no action was
v Resolution, m r un.
The resolution on law obser
vance reads in full as follows:
“The ministers of the city ap
peal to the church membership,
and all good people of the city,
to be wakeful in their interest
for the observance of the law
and good order during the glad
Christmas season when strange
ly many men are* sorely tempted
and need to be helped by the
example and sympathy of the
favored and high-minded citi
zen and churchman.
“Especially is it felt that
many people, some even of prom
inence and leadership, degrade
the sacred season of Christmas
by indulging themselves, as well
as influencing their friends, in
the promiscuous purchase and
jiving of* strong drink, thus
weakening the moral effect of
the law on the community, en
iangering human life and safe
ty, : and making a travesty of
respect for law
“Because of our interest in
the welfare of the whole com
munity, we believe that we shall
have the co-operation and sup
port of every thinking person
af the city; and we would like
Greensboro to set a' high moral
standard worthy of herself and
af the true spirit of Christmas.
(Signed)
S. K. Spahr, R. Murphy Wil
liams, John F. Kirk, I* Harding
Hughes, and J. J. Scarlett', (Ne
jro.)
Ministers Address.
Rev: H. C. Miller’s address to
the ministers reads in full as
follows:
“Mr. President and Brethren :
“Standing before Agrippa,
Paul said: ‘I think myself hap
py, King Agrippa, because I
3hall answer for myself this
day before thee, touching all
the things whereof I am ac
cused,’ etc. . .
“The two most powerful
moulders of sentiment in our
country today are the pulpit
and the press. We are inclined
to believe that the tone of the
press is in a large measure a
reflection of the pulpit. This
meeting of the spiritual and
moral leaders of two distinct
races—men who are trying to
turn this world downside up—
is indeed the happiest omen of
a better understanding and co
w.m
cdl
ms
m
the
qu
P*
give
ti
am
that
ten*
suel
people who
1 the
select
on some
vital and
of our group,
i;: exceedingly glad as
.teful in relating: “Some
Racial Distinctions."
question of race and
lationship are the most
t. questions of the mod
id, then the problem in
itry surcharged with
aivest danger is—the race
grace
problem in its final
may be stated thus:
the white man and
k man live side by side
country, and each be
develop to the heights of
ven capacities? !
course, the answer to this
indeed, the solution‘ to all,
ms of such nature, was
2,000 years ago—-‘As you
that men should do unto
lo ye even so to them/
rifce and crimes: No one
ise a rebuttal to the asser
tiomSfchat there are good people
people in every race;
a rule crimes' are com
by the bad people. The
of the individual off
oth# races are more or less fas*
upon the individual as
It so often happens when
o commits a crime, the
heaped; upon the entire
which is an unfair racial
tion. ■ • • • *''•
leers of the1 law: Officers
lected or appointed for
rtecffBUofail-the citrous.
It eems that the weaker ele
ment should be accorded even
closer guard. Certainly where
opportunities for crimes are
greatest, there will be the larg
est number of crimes commit
ted.
sections oi most cities wnicn
are well lighted and have few
er dives and alleys, seem to be
the fixed beat of law officers,
while the outer rims, the ill
lighted sections, where usually
Negroes live, are only visited
when an arrest is to be made.
This, too, is an unfair racial dis
tinction.
“Public carriers: Life in our
country has been made very
easy for those who must travel
for pleasure or business- The
law of our section of the coun
try has assigned a compart
ment to each race. There is
also a room called the smoker.
“It so often happens that
men of the dominant race dis
regard the rights of Negroes,
and for reasons better known
to themselves, enter the colored
section of a train and smoke, re
gardless of the sign, “No smok
ing-” This again is an unfair ra
cial distinction.
Sanitation: This has done
much to lower the death rate' in
every community. Cities vie
with other cities in having per
fect sanitary conditions. If so
often happens that Negro sec
tions have no light or poor
light, muddy streets, no sewer
age whatever. . This is an un
fair racial distinction.
“North Carolina is, to my mind
and liking, the best State of the
Union and Greensboro the best
city of the State. The educa
tional facilities for the whole
people are good. In justice, be
it said the interest of our group
is being amply cared for—as
sembly rooms excepted.
“It so often happens, howev
er, that the per capita expens
es for the Negro child is a mile
behind that of the white child.
It occurs to us if the white
child whose ancestry started in
the march of civilization a
thousand yeafs before. Christ
died on the cross, needs $65
for development, how. much
more ought the child need who
has no such background ?
“Public fljpeakers: It may be
thought that our group is a bit
selfish or unduly preji
'not inviting Tenders <
'group to share with us
people your larger outlook
experiences. It is not that
are selfish or unduly prejuc
but because so few are “
lie speakers who will _
Our people freed from unfa
dal distinctions. What we
is the attitude assumed
often ofie of condescension
stead of helpfulness-* Moi
the terms carelessly and,
haps, unconsciously used,
as ‘yohpebple,’ ‘darky/ '
any after effect the
might have made on any
group.
“We close as we began*
ape happy to have had the
ilege of stating some of
things you as Christian
moldePs of sentiment,/ can
to correct. We appeal to fi
brethren for your continued he
and encouragement; thaify
in going up always rememt
the tie that binds all races ii
one. human race. As guides lc
trig up the long trail, do not
the rope that holds us togethf
After all, in this city of bt
in this state,, in this Country
ours and in the world—We
go up together dp we all
down together.” *
THE GARY INTERRACIAI*
PROGRAM
The schools are playing a
part in the interracial progrtup
of Gary, ' Indiana. There are
two large colored schools, the
other schools being mixed. One
delightful feature of the schools
is that they are open day and
evening throughout the year
and are the community and re
creational centers for both
young and old. The Froebel
nighfschoo^Qfien two^evgiings
regular classes for adults and
older children who work and
would otherwise be deprived of
an education. There are also
evening clases in millinery,
dressmaking, shocjmaking, ma
chine work, wood work, social
dancing, swimming for men and
women, and movies.
As to Gary's municipal gov
ernment, three Negro aldermen
sit oif the City Council. Four
uniformed Negro policemen and
three plain-clothes men are sta
tioned indiscriminately. Two
full-time city juvenile workers,
one man and one woman, have
been appointed within the last
three months. The County Ju
venile Court retains a full-time
colored worker and has also es
tablished a small boarding
home—the Harris Home for De
pendent Children.
Summing it all up, the out
look for interracial development
is decidedly hopeful. The in
terest and attention of the
Chamber of Commerce, the pub
lic schools, the daily press, the
churches, the public library, and
other institutions are focused
upon it, and the probability of
putting on an educational pro
gram, bringing to the attention
of the unbeliever the Negro’s
history, past and present, has
developed into a very real possi
bility.
—Southern Workman.
CHARLESTON CHAPTER
COLLLECTS MONEY FOR
J. C. S. U- CHIME CLOCK.
On the evening of the- 14th of
December, Charleston Chapter
met in Dr. H. S. Johnson’s of
fice, 436 King Street, in the city
of Charleston, to redeem their
pledges. This chapter voted (*
pay no less than $100-00 to be
paid to President McCrorey on
the chime clock. Half of this
amount was to be collected this
month. The following members
of the Chapter met and paid
their pledges—some in full and
others in part: Mr. A. J. Clem
ent, $10; Rev. J. R. Pehrson,
$10; the Secretary, $10; Dr- H.
S. Johnson, $5; Rev. S. H.
Scott, $5; Rev. M. A. Sanders,
$5- Those of our number that
were notable to meet with us
on this occasion will remit this
week. This will enable us to
of Johnson C. Smith
In the month of
Chapter of Chariest*
its second payment <
wIK foot up to $124
$20 from pur Sabh
Convention.
W.L.
Secretary of the
Chapter.
> Last Spring when your Pres
ident was calling the boys from
every quarter o£the globe to at
tend our re-Umon, one of the
boys grew quite jealous as
where, the honor of working \
the re-Union would fall, “
thought the President sh
stop writing about the re-U
and let somebody else say
thing, lest the Pree '
the" honor. The
stepped aside for a
§4 gave others a
ipop up the homi
e boys and eyea
'4ff iftto pleasant
Now, boys, while there is a
great honor shown any ii
tion for her faithful sons
turn and do her honor,
measurably more hi
give tangible and
support to your
liquidate he* debts
I was in Sumter Thanksgiving
week and met a large number
of the old Biddle boys. I count
ed about a dozen in and about
Sumter county. I begged them
to organize and send up at least
one hundred dollars by com
mencement- They spoke favor
ably of the idea. Dr. Miles J.
Jackson, Rev. I. P. Pogue, Revs.
Nelson and Smith and others
with Biddle diplomas and honors
can organize a strong chapter.
Sumter county is full of old Bid
dle boys- Some did not gradu
ate, but they are loyal to the
very core.
Going down South Tryon St.
in Charlotte one will see carved
over the County Court House
door: Quam esse vidire, which
is a classical way of saying: “To
be rather than to appear to be-”
At our re-Union many of our
boys appeared to be willing to
“eat the husk that the swine
did leave” that Johnson C.
Smith University may broaden
on her deeply laid foundation;
but it means infinitely more to
the institution that made us
for us to be loyal sons than to
assume that appearance. Honor
is in doing and not in appear
ing.
Appearance means nothing it
it is not supported by doing
something worth while.
I Am Forced
In casting about for Chap
ters my net dropped in North
Carolina and in and about
Mecklenburg County; but hith
erto I have fished all the week
and caught nothing. What is
the trouble? Is it that I have
not cast my net on the right
side amidst the multitude of old
Biddle boys and J. C. Smith boys
in the old North State? Are
there no Chapters there? Is
there one in Charlotte ? Evident
ly there is one in the house
whence we came. The strong
est Chapter should be in Char
lotte and not in New York or
Washington. But financially
the strongest Chapter seems to
be in Charleston.
Would it not be like the real
thing if we can get twenty
chapters at least to bring up
one hundred dollars between
now and our coming commence
(Continued on page 2)