Newspapers / Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.) / May 7, 1936, edition 1 / Page 1
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AI L KNOW THETRUTH, AND THE TR John viii:8£~ VOL. LVII. , < . ■ ! ? ■ NQ. 19. THE STORY OF KACAWA By Rev. Herbert Spangii j In The Charlotte News If peacemakers made the headlines as do the warmakers, another name would take place on the front pages of our news papers along with the twentieth century Caesars. That name would be Kagawa, perhaps the greatest figure in the Orient to day. While others prepare for wari he labors for peace. While oth ers devise ways and means tot the destruction of life, he labors to make it more tolerable, and happy. J Apostle of Japanese Christa anity, Toyohiko Kagawa at forj ty-eight is the greatest single power for good in the East He came from a wealthy fam ily but orphaned at the age of four, his childhood and youth was a dreary procession of years. The turning point for him came with contact with two miissionaries, Dr. ti. M. Myers and Dr. C. A. Logan, who led him to the Christ. With the heart-felt prayer, “0 God, make me like Christ,' he entered up on that fellowship with God, to me reality oz wnich his whole later lie has been an eloquent] testimony. Espousa* of the Christian re ligion, tnd his entrance into its active ministry drew for him disinheritance from the family. His life was dedicated to the service of the poor, especially in the slums of his native ci-. ties. He was a hard student and; his health broke. In the second; year of college he was stricken; with tuberculosis. Compelled toj seek health at the seashore, hd devoted himself to service) Wafer*^ 11 ywfolgk aoout m — It was' here that he wrote his first novel, which was one day to give him a place among the foremost writers of Japan. Such was his poverty that he was (tempered; M write upon the pages of castaway maga zines with a Japanese writing brush. At the time of the Russo Japanese war, Kagawa, already then an avowed pacifist, was taken out by his fellow-students on the athletic field and beaten. In later years the hands laid in violence upon' him then, were laid upon him in the blessing of his prayer of ordination into the ministry. When only partially recov ered, Kagawa went to the theo logical seminary at Kobe, a large commercial city Of Japan. Its slums, reputed to be among the worst in th? world at that time, early received his attri tion. Living there were some twenty thousand outcasts, pau pers, beggars, criminals, pros titutes and defectives who lived like hopeful dogs in human ken nels of filth, vermin and dis ease. Infant mortality often reached the staggering height of over five hundred in a thous and. Among these people, Kagawa lived, and to them he ministered as he carried on his studies. His one room was about six feet square without a bed, stove, ta ble rp chair. Into this humble home he received all who came ministering to the side, in structing.'in reading and writ ing in the early morning hours before his students went to work. After his first novel had been discovered by a publisher who called on Kagawa looking for material for a magazine, it ap peared in book form. Soon his name was a household word throughout Japan. Other boohs rapidly /appeared, 41 of {them eagerly devoured by the public. A national figure, he felt the responsibility demanded fur ther study. Two years were went in America at Princeton Theological Seminary and in • i'i " ' . studying social service institu tions in this country. Upon his return to his native jqjvT many doors opened to him. Lucrative positions were his for the acceptance. Hut he returned to his own little room in the slums. He espoused the cause of down-trodden labor, and in 1921 led striking workers in a proces sion several miles long: demand ing recognition oi their union. “Laborers are personalities. They are not to be bought and sold according to a scale of wag es based on the maraec price/ ne declared. Often arrested, he always emerged a greater figure, and one to whom the nation. must pay attention. The majority af Japan’s workers ana larmers live in a country smaller than the State of California, 32 per cent of which can not be cultivated. This % the most overcrowded land in the world. Forty-six per cent of them are tenant farmj era. To these Kagawa has brought light and hope, a Christ tianity that helps body and soul; He has estabnsned v-ospel school! where religion is interpreted in terms of scientific farming and village improvements He has set up magazines to pro mote the cooperative movement among the peasants, schools for their instruction, and hopitals for their care. ' Kagawa'a preaching of the Gospel interprets in terms of living. While proclaiming him-! self a socialist, he has stood auk against extremes on both “d®8* .. . . . fo the effinnlhation economic causes for war. He organized the National Anti* War League in Japan in 1928. Naturally he is opposed to the imperialistic policy of his gov ernment sine; 1931. He is the leading spirit hack of the Kingdom of God Move ment which is stnving to unite the Chrstian forces of his land in a campaign which has as its goal, “One million Christians in Japan, and the realization of love in social life.” Kagawa is a world figure, about whom far too little has been heard in our own laud. Although his health is still poor he is able to produce the work of several men. He has found a source of en ergy, known by many, experi enced by few—the power of prayer—arid each day he sets apart an hour for fellowship with God. Hig source of power is also available to those who will pay the cost, and are not “too busy.” HAINES INSTITUTE HON ORS ITS FOUNDER Augusta, Ga., April—(ANP) Haines Institute, nationally known school, founded by the late Miss Lucy Craft Laney, last week celebrated its 50th anniversary, the services being dedicated to the life and service of its beloved founder and hav ing as its theme, “Women Build ers.” The opening program Sun day was broadcast over station WRDW. Among those taking an active part during the week's celebration were Rev. A. C. Griggs, Princpal of the school; Mrs. Mary Wallace ' Browh, President of the Haines Alumni Association; Dr. R. L. Lockett, Frank Hutchins, Dr. A. S. Clarke, Dr S. S. Johnson, Dr. J. M. Gaston, Mrs. Mary Jack I son, McCrorey, for 25 years the .Associate Principal at Haines, and many other prominent citizens. “The duty which God requir teth of maii is Obedience to His revealed will.” Three seniors of Margaret Barber Seminary returned Sunday, April 2b, from the Third Annual State Academe meet at State Teacners college, Montgomery, imrcy-tnree high schools were represented. Tests were given , in ten subjects, a test in Engnsn Usage ana fhrge other subjects being required of each applicant. Among the 112 pupils from throughout cfie Stale, two giris from Barber ranked third and fourth. Jonnsie Mae Grower cook secona uunors m English literature, second nonorg m Bi ology; tied tor sixth place in Geometry, ana ranked tenth m| English Usage, in tne group oi pupils from private and denom inational sonoois without* Col lage Depantmeifcs, she ranked first in her four tefts. in this group Geraldine Turaef, also of Barber, ranked sedond; while in the entire group of contest ants she tookjounh place m Al gebra, tiemg for third place in Physics ana ranking ninth in English Usage. Herbert McNeal, of Barber, ranked fifth in the group from private schools, taking second place in Physics, thira place in vVorld Histofy and ninth place in English Literature. Our entrants' records entitle Barber Seminary to first place in the group of private and de nominafaonal schools ^without college departments. Commencement at Margaret Barber Seminary will be on Monday, May 25th. Members of the Senior class are presenting the jnjqgranjj^' mmmmgB . Alumni ' Meeting and Banquet, and Piano Recital will be on Thursday, hriday and Saturday, JMLay 2L-u. The very appreciative notice of Naomah vv lliiams-Maise's Recital at Barber was written by Col. H. M. Ayers, editor of The Anniston Star. The tribute was an earned one. ANNISTONIAN GIVES PER FORMANCE AT SEMINARY the Senior class (From The Anniston, Ala., Star.) Those Annistonians who lacked the hardihood to brave the elements last night missed one of the most artistic per formances ever held in Anniston when Naomah Williams-Maise, soprano, appeared in recital at the Margaret Barber Seminary, where she secured her element ary training. She was excellent yl accompanied, at the piano by David Mills, who rendered a pi ano solo, “Jub& Dance,” by Dett by special request of the audi ence. Her encores were: “Amer ican Lullaby,” by Rich and “Talk About a Child Like Jes us,” arranged by William Daw son, also an Anniston. Negro, and now nationally famed as a composer. Beginning her recital with the difficult “Where’er You Walk” by Handel, this cultivated so prano was gven ovation after ovation by an appreciative audi ence^ tp. the very end of her pro gram; Especially noteworthy was the Italian number1 by Gluck; Me, numbers by Tsohaikow sky, Hahn, Woodman, Bur leigh, and , Johnson, theJast two being spirtuals. The high point on the program, however, was the “Ave Maria,” in which she was accompanied by Drew Davis on the violin. It would be diffi cult to conceive of more sym pathetic and artistic renditipn of this Gounod classic. DaV\s also rendered'Massehet’e “Medi tation” from “Thais”'in a yery acceptable manner. _ " f “ While Naoriwh WiWamsrMaige is advertised as . a soprano, possesses remarkable range and heir lower register is lpvely. £er is best evidenced in aaiinu euect wiucn sue ntn great aeucacy. one t voice teacner at thfe .College, Atlanta, axu4 itaoied under scnoi ; .the JUiiiiard Bcnool lorit, but is Known be daughter of Blanche I who has served in tne usenoia on Tyler Hill t jears. one was pre r me local audience by it. M. tiosaeK, president er, ana received an •uc deception alter ner JVlKJX . xor mi seated ute *ve' wi xta enthusi priori chur loBtfter for ANF).—L»e claringjfcaifc training for a high er standard of living was a ne cessary |omplement to improved housing Mrs. Franklin^ JD.j Koosevift, wile of the ^resiueai, told an audience of 600 persons at Mine# Teachers’ College, Sat4 urday night, that the habits formed, »y living in sub-stand ard dwellings “just don’t disap pear but have to be got rid of by • education.” The^lfirst Lady was the prin cipai SpMcefcfatt the closing ses-4 sioii of a one-day conference on, oetter Housing among Negroes sponsored toy. the Washington Comnuttee ph. Housing, Major Campbell C,' Johnson, Executive 'Secretary of the Twelfth Street Y. M.. & A., general chairman. Delegates from 107 fraternal, religious, educational and social orgianizatSJonjs werte In attend ance at the conference. Mrs. Roosevelt said: “We are so deeply interested in housing because fundamentally we are looking for a better way of kv is a means to e beginning is re ally made- toward elimination of ramshackle and unsanitary dwellings in the District’s in habited^alleys. .I’ve actually seen sdine of thfe oJ(|- alleys go and now tod are iibping to see bet ter housing for. all people, re gardless of colqr, in the city of Washington.” Citing a tour of the city’s slum areas she said, “I have always felt that Wash ington should (be the example for the rest of the country, the place where people come to see how things are done best.” Declaring low incomes to be the primary cause of bad hous ing, Mrs. Roosevelt said the Government had an obligation to* “see that people who can not pay beyond a certain rental shall still have:decent .-living quar ters.” * i'-i • • Kj, “Together with better educa tion must'g» education for liv ing,” Mrs.; Roqsevel said, stress ing the fact that the habits that have-grown ’ up in poor housing circumstances just do not disappear by Piracies. They have: to be got rid ;of by educa tion and pride,” : she claimed. Continuing, the First Lady said, “We need to 'learn how to make whatever we have got count ^or 'the most Strive for recreation for our children.” Asserting that much of the trouble that produces criminals comes from the fact that we do not have adequate recreational facilities and the children' are not brought up under the prop er circumstances, Mrs. Roosevelt said,’ “The; wealthy hemes are 4§6t always'tHp happiest.” She said in between the two ex tremes, poverty and wealth, it is possible fa'make real homes, go6d 'citize‘ns’v ^a]>pya homes and hdppy families^ but it required ‘‘effort, 4®t®1^ninati!Q,ri, that will not be relinquished by ' cir cumstancea” . , the delegates to strive f^petter^.education, and better reereuiion, ‘the First Lady said, “We^;|^ indivdugls, .must put forth l'he effort to secure what we. i"and. stop letting the responsibility^ rest—on- the i ^ <Continued on-page 4) IN REVIEW By Frink Marshall Davis (ForjA; N. P.) i #*c Colored Siinjuwt^ An tln terefttfr* BoofcilA j i Euiteu, compile; and- to 4* large extent written by FayC1 r'. rjveretc, 54 year oai 8t. Louis! school teacher/ "me Colored situation," an ammc*ous 81$ page volume, has just been puo* listed oy tne Meauor Co. of juoston. ihe editor nopea thiS worn, described as "a book of vocational and civic guidance fur tne biegro youth/ will be used as a text book in Negrd schools, contributors to its pages in elude a good many of the big gest names boasted by this ka leiaoscopic race. Ibere are Dr. ueorge &. naynes, benjamin r. Hubert, Aloon L. H(dsey> James a. ‘‘billboard" Jackson, Alisha Scott, Robert R. Reed; rtarry ft. race, beinziB. Le; mus, Proi, J. C. Evans, JSi Duke, Claron b. Hutchinson; james A. Parsons, George James rleming, Joseph E. MitcheJfc Ai Philip Randolph, Miss Fannie Mae Matthews, Romeo/ L; Dougherty, Dr. Algernon £. Jackson, E. W. Woods, sJames E. Stephens, Stewart A. Cal noun and John A. Kenney./ Each of these meh tellcft&'vo cational opportunities in his particular held where he stands as an authority. Interspersed; ath their biographies are the editor’s own intefprfctatioa and analysis of conditions. The stu dent is expected to get the most accurate picture possible of just what to expect $q any held he hope§ to enter. For this reason the book should -fill a great need and is the sort of; tfilhg'etery school ougfcFktfiX) have in its library if not in the classroom. w ^ r However, “The Colored Situ ation” does have one defect. Certain portion© of the' book were apparently written several years ago, and, therefore; do not allow for a number of vital changes in the economic and vocational scene. It would have aided Mr Everett hack,, he brought ms matter up to with in a few months of his publica tion date in 1936. . • | In the Journalism section, ; written by George James Fleming, now city‘editor of the New York Amsterdam News, it is stated that “already one successful attempt has been made (by the Scott Brdthdrs of Atlanta) to publish a tri-week ly chairf of papers in four' ci ties” when as a matter of fact no tri-weekly has been . pub lished by that organization since 1932 and the Atlanta Dai ly World has been published daily and Sunday continuously since early March of 1932,to gether with a chain of subsidi ary papers once numbering 51. On still another page the Associated Negro Press is called the “Association Negr©,. Press.” A section is also devoted to the National Colored Merchants’ Association, defunct for a good many moons, but treated as up and going economic phenome non. There may be still other discrepancies inVother fields,. Still, this does not keep the book from being interesting of for no other reason than a score or so of Afro-Americans .were roped together in print for a symposium. If Mr; Everett ever revises “The Colored Situation,” it will enhance its valuer.. to make all sections contemporary. Mitchell Shoots ' Representative ArHwfir W. Mitchell, of Illinois, last week hi Congress took ] aim afid let go with a broadside aimed to quash both |;he Republicans and his Chicago opponent in the No vember elections, Oscar f)e Priest, ex-Congressman. - Purely by being Republicans, office-seekers in the past have -considered half the battle won. By striking directly at the Lin coln myth, previously the G. 0. P, hole card, Mitchell intends to melt away sentimentalism, both locally and nationally and toreduce the issue to one of men and not of party. It will' be ‘ interesting to watch just what success he will have in his home -district. Friendly Britain ;; While Capt: Anthoiir Eden sought to Wrangle the League of Nations at Geneva into im peding * Sanctions againfcft Italy to tjie 'advantage of Ethiopia arid was busy posing Britain as .a friend of black folk, her Squtli African Parliament stripped "the African -native of pia Tight to vote, -held since Withr native Africans becom ing atdonger economically and more of them gaining education, minority' whites saw c that soon black men would be elected members of Parliament and thereby rulers' of the country. Sd'ther vete was taken away. - With-Negroes in the- South ■voting,-whites saw. where-col ored -folk would- away elections and-if not putfcng their own in elective positions, would force great concessions .from white candidates; hence disfranchise ment . . -- - . - .. With Italy occupying Ethiopia andothe Bide .Nile headwaters as well as in a position to event ually, grab other British Afri can, cplonies or .strike at India, Great Britain saw her own em pire in - danger of destruction. Hence, opposition to Mussolini. o Th«: .law of self-preservation transcends alt human-action to day M ft. did at the dawn of his tory- Negroes might as well get this* through their dart nog gins;. colored people everywhere can depend only on themselves nt base for preservation, for ho group or nation will" aid" them unless it is to that group or na tion's advantage.; BALLET /RUSSE—HAMPTON INSTITUTE’S AMBITIOUS OFFERING FOR 1936-1937 Hampton Institute, Va., April 25, ^36.—The most ambitious entertainment offering ever made to the public" by Hampton institute will be Col. W. de Ba sil's Ballet Russe to be given on a date in the coming school year, 3.936-1937. The ‘ Musical Arts Society, casting about for a feature which should place within reach of residents of the Peninsula one of the world’s highest grade^ entertainments, decided to bring to Hampton the cele brated organization known as the Ballet Russe or Russian Balletv Thei venture viewed merely as such, is notable because of the necessity for filling Ogden Hall as a condition precedent to pro viding for overhead expenses. It is believed from past; expe rience, however, that this com munity composed not only of the- Institute population, but of friends of the school as well, will give the needed support to the entertainment. / The legitimate successor of the Russian ballet-offered in the imperial theatres of the late Czar of all the Russias, it in herits the fame of that institu tion and can lay claim to being the largest and most oustand ing of its kind in the world. Its reception in the United States ' mped it as one of the taeles of our times, of the beautiful in music, drama, gorgeous scenery dnd the perfection of bodily grace, will do ifM' fo wait^ for this production.' 1 “Thou wilt keep 'Kim'in.'l^'" feet peace whose mind is stayed > on thee.” > v ] i'xh
Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.)
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May 7, 1936, edition 1
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