Newspapers / Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.) / April 14, 1938, edition 1 / Page 1
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Afi^*American Pre .— ‘AND YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRU^H SHALL MAKE YOU FREE.”—John viii:32. VOL. LDL CHARLOTTE, N. C., THURSDAY, APRIL 14 1938. NO. 15. THE GILLESPIE-SELDEN INSTITUTE TODAY AND TOMORROW By Mrs. A. S. Clark (A paper read at the 24th Annual Workers’ Conference, held at Johnson C. Smith University, March 7th to llth.) When Jesus Chnst our Lord laid aside the glory he had with the Father before tne world be gan, and came into this world to make it possible for us to be reconciled to God, he brought with him a three-fold program which he meant to be carried out in the affairs of men. The nature of this program will be clearly seen by any one who will read a portion of the 4th chapter of the Gospel Ac cording to Matthew where the writer says, “Jesus went about all Galilee teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom and heal ing all manner of sickness and diseases among the people.” The program, therefore, was one that consisted of first, teaching; second, preaching; and third, healing. Following the example of our Master, when we went to Cordele, over 35 years ago, we looked over the field and saw at once that without some earnest and effect ive teaching it was impossible to carry on the work of the Lord in the city of Cordele with any degree of success. We saw also that this teaching had to go"" along hand in hand with the preaching of the gospel of good tidings to a lost communi ty. That was not all. Ignorance of the truth and right ways and methods of living is possibly the greatest enemy of man. Ad vancement along practically all lines is very much dependent upon a sound physical basis. I repeat—a sound mind in a sound body. Our aims may. be heavenly— our thoughts and purposes may reach out even to the celestial courts above, but we, clad in bodies physical, must, in some way, walk and feed upon things we can see and feel and touch. 1. Gillespie School Yester day. In order that we might know what Gillespie School is today—it is necessary that we should know something of the past history of the school. It began in the little church and home in 1902 with 27 pupils and 2 teachers. The enroll ment has grown from 27 to over 450. The school has sent out as graduates over 300 high school students. Scores have found their way to College. Many have completed their Col lege work and are heading up our schools in various sections of the Southland. Some in medical work are Dr. Reid, heading a drug busi ness in Chicago; Dr. Bouyer in Atlanta; the first Negro woman to pass the Georgia Board of Pharmacy, Dr. Druscilla Spence; one in Philadelphia, Dr. D. C. Ford; in Washington, D. C., Alger Brown. Christine Shackles, of Austin, Texas, heads the English Department of Tillotson College. We are represented by nurses from Sea view Hospital, N. Y., to Miami. Fla. Last but not least—those in the ministerial world, preaching the unsearchable riches of Je sus Christ. 2. The work has broademed in its scope of unselfishness in recent years. The recent change in the program in the State of Georgia caused by vote of the people last June the 8th brought our work into closer relation to the State work. The State is now doing some public school work upon our grounds. Be cause of these new relations we have been able to secure from the State an Agricultural teach er. This has given an Agricul tural department to our school —using our school as head quarters. The teacher not only gives instructions to Gillespie boys, but goes throughout the county and in a very practical way gives instructions to the farmers in general. We are hoping also in the near future to obtain govern ment help for our Domestic Science Department and for a Trades Department which we have been told by reliable au thorities may be granted to us by the State. We are most hope ful in this direction. 3. Acting upon the sug gestions of some of the leading educators of the State, we have added one year of Junior College work and plan to add another. Now we hesitated to do this, because we knew the wisdom of such a course would be ques tioned by some because of the fact, a Junior College needs an annual income of from ten to fifteen thousand dollars. But due to the fact that we have about 2500 teachers in the State of Georgia who do not have high school certificates, and we have only four schols specializing in Teacher Training work, and that all of these schools together turn out scarce ly a hundred teachers annually, we felt the call to try to help supply teachers to, take the places of many of those who are not prepared. Since the State is to a greater -and greater ex tent taking over the grammar and high schol work, it seems that the Chprch—our great Presbyteriaii Church—should accept the God-given opportuni ty and sacred trust of putting a Junior College, adequate in every way — financially and otherwise—in the city of Cor dele to help supply the demand for teachers in that State which stands almost at the bottom of the educational sys tem of America. A. movement was recently started in the State of Georgia looking forward to the reorgan ization of the College system of Georgia. The object of this movement is not only to raise the colleges already in opera tion, but, because of the fewness in number, to lift other schools of high school grade to college standards, where promising in stitutions in this direction are found. Our Gillespie school has been spoken of by some of the State authorities as the most outstanding school of this kind in the State of Georgia. This ipeculiar position occu pied by us is due to the recent improvements, including one of the best administration build ings in the State, and the only real modern hospital connected with any Negro institution in the State. For which reason we have been urged by members of the State Board of Health to build our program of education around the principle of a sound iiiiiiu in a suuiiu uuuy. 4. Then, too, our Church—St. Paul church. God bless our lit tle church, for it stands in that community there as an example of plain, sincere, honest, pure worship—-a light in a dark cor ner helping to direct the vision of our people toward God. No child who comes to Gillespie School and spends nine months at St. Paul church can go away from there without a clearer vision of God. Day after day, Sabbath after Sabbath—the Cross of Jesus Christ is held before his eyes and the mes-1 sage of our Lord is sent home to his soul. 5. And the Hospital—What a blessing to that entire sec tion! What a God-send! Not only a blessing to our people— the Negroes—but to the white people as well—for persons of both races have been served there. Oh, the hundreds and even thousands that have been bene fited by that little hospital. Once so humbly unpretentious but now so beautifully grand and exquisitely furnished and for the patient—sick and sore —the very last word of com fort. How can we give thanks to those who made this possible! God bless the memory of those who contributed their gifts and have gone on to their everlast ing reward—Miss Nannie J. Gillespie, Wm. Gillespie and D. L. Gillespie! God bless and stand by those who still re main who are giving their mon ey, their prayers, their time, their desires—practically their all that the work may go on. I refer to you, Dr. Gaston, Mrs. Snively, Miss Ray, and the Nan nie J. Gillespie Sunday School class. For He, our Lord and Master, has said in his holy word, “Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these my little ones, ye did it unto PLEASANT VALLEY CHURCH, BROKEN BOW, OKLA. By Mrs. G. A. Morrow It has been quite a long time since our friends have heard from us but we are still working in the Master’s vineyard. The second week in January our church observed our Week of Prayer. Our pastor was in charge. Those who spoke each night were Mrs. W. J. Meach em, Mrs. A. C. Hankins and Prof. W. S. Todd. Much good was derived from the meetings. All felt spiritually blessed and have taken on new life. Young People’s Day was ob served in our church. We had a splendid program. The writ er secured Prof. W. S. Todd to address the young people. The theme was, “If I Follow Him.” Prof. Todd is an orator, and held the young people spell bound from the time he took the floor until he closed. I think the young people of our church know now what it means to fol low Jesus. Prof. Todd is the only brother of our pastor’s wife, Mrs. W. J. Meachem. He added much to our church and community while here. He <ia « spieedid musician and also has a lovely voice to sing. He made many friends while here. On leaving for New York he left some sad hearts among the female sex. We are hoping he will return soon. The first Sunday in Febru ary our Sunday school mission ary, Dr. H. C. Cousins, held a Sunday School Institute in our church. We had a large crowd present. Rev. J. W. Mallard preached at the morning serv ices. The subject was, “Prayer.” He preached a splendid sermon. It was also rally day in our church °for our manse. The men were asked to give $1.00 and the ladies 50. The follow ing named persons contributed: Rev. A. S. Meachem.$1.00 Mr. James Richards _ 1.00 Mr. C. M. Burris. 1.00 Mr. C. H. Herndon. 1.00 Mr. L. Parker . 1.00 Prof. McFalls . 1.25 Mr. S. K. Burris . 1.00 Mr. J. E. Burris . 1.00 Mr. N. H. Herndon. 1.00 Dr. H. C. Cousins. 1.00 Mr. J. E. Diggs . 1.00 Mr. W. Cubit . 1.00 Mr. O’Neal Burris.50 Mr. Witherspoon .50 Mr. T. C. Brown.50 Prof. R. Spigner ..75 Mr. M. Lewis. .50 Mr. B. Graves . 1.00 Mr. S. P. Hall . .50 Mr. June Hankins.50 Rev. J. W. Mallard.50 Mrs. W. J. Meachem ..... .50 Mrs. G. A. Morrow.50 Mrs. Laura Richards.50 Mrs. R. C. Burris . .50 Mrs. S. H. Herndon.50 Mrs. M. Graves .50 Mrs. Julia Burris.50 Mrs. P. S. Diggs . 1.00 Mrs. F. D. McFalls.. .50 Others gave smaller amounts. The captains reported as fol lows: Mrs. W. J. Meachem ... $8.50 Mrs. G. A. Morrow .... 2.00 Mrs. A. C. Hankins.80 From the Queen’s con test sponsored by Rev. W. J. Todd ........_7.25 Total ....$50.00 In the afternoon our mis sionary spoke on the goals for Sunday Schools. His address was very good, and full of in terest. At 4 o’clock the photog rapher made a picture of the whole church and the manse. Sunday night Dr. Cousins preached a wonderful sermon to a full house. Miss Elrena Malone, from the Elliott Com munity Center of Valliant, .came with Dr. Cousins and read a nice paper in the Insti tute; Prof. W. S. Todd sang a solo, “Consider and Hear Me.” It was a pleasure to have him sing at this time. His voice is wonderful and his solo won the hearts of the whole congre gation. The fourth Sunday in Febru ary our pastor brought us a wonderful message on “The Man Who Was Absent (Thom as).” He said we miss so much when we are absent from the Lord's house. Little Billie Meachem joined the church at the dose of the services. I must say something about our manse. Our pastor and family moved in the manse the first Saturday in February. The writer and others helped Mrs. Meachem to arrange things. Each'boy and girl was eager to help. We as a church are proud we have a nice manse for our pastor and his family. They are now comfortably situated. Lincoln Day was observed in our Sunday school. Rev. W. J. Todd spoke on the life of Lin coln. We raised an offering and sent it to the Board. Our pastor is now back on the field after attending the Workers’ Conference. He re ports a wonderful meeting. He is full of new ideas and plans for I better and bigger Pleas ant Valley. On his return home he brought his mother, Mrs. Meachem, with him. We are glad to have her back with us. Our Christian Endeavor is doing a fine piece of work, with Miss Annie Herndon as Presi dent and Miss Vashti Juanita Morrow as Secretary. We meet every Sunday evening. We have our mission study class started. “Highland Heritage” is the'Jtjook we are studying. Mrs. W. J. Meachem is the sponsor for the C. E. The writer teach es the mission study book. Sunday, March 27, was a high day in our church. It was rainy but a nice crowd was present. Our pastor preached a glorious sermon from Joshua 7:20. At the night services we were blessed to have with us Rev. Harris Wesley, an Indian min ister, and three others who came with him. They sang in their own language, “There is a Fountain Filled With Blood.” The young man who came with him served as pianist. Then we sang “Alas and Did My Sav iour Bleed,” and “In the Sweet By and By” together. We sang in our language and they in theirs, and made fine harmony. Rev. Wesley then spoke to us from II Kings 6:20 He preached in the Choctaw lan guage and in turn interpreted in English what he preached. Rev. Wesley pastors at St. Matthews Presbyterian church, Eagletown, Okla., near St. Paul, one of the churches our pastor serves. Rev. Wesley is an en gaging speaker. We hope he will come again. As our Church year draws to a close I am happy to say we as a church and missionary socie ty have paid all our benevo lence, and have much to be thankful for. Death visited us only once this year, taking then the infant daughter of one of our Elders, Brother James Richards. We ask the prayers of all that we may do more for Christ and His Kingdom and that souls will be saved. “A CUP OF COLD WATER IN MY NAME" It is not great deprivation and suffering that is so apt to bring tears in the refugee camps of China as little acts of kindness. In cold weather Chinese babies wear caps and it is a distressed mother who has not a cap for her baby. Mrs. P. Frank Price, of the South ern Presbyterian Mission, Shanghai, Jaiits many caps. Mothers have been so grateful for them that they have actual ly cried. HRS. MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE CALLS A won HOUSE CONFERENCE _j_ By DR. KELLY MILLER Mrs. Mary McLeod Bethune recently called a conference of the National Council of Negro Women, of which she is founder and president, which convened at the White House Monday,. April 4, 1938. The conference was addressed by Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt and other distin guished women holding high po sitions in various branches and bureaus of the Federal Govern ment. From the beginning Mrs. Roosevelt has shown a lively in terest in Mrs. Bethune and her work for the elevation of the colored race. Sixty-five representative col ored women from all sections of the United States were in at tendance. A careful scanning of the list reveals the names of prominent women leaders from all parts of the country in the varied fields of activity. An in teresting feature of the confer ence was the presence arid par ticipation of such well known attorneys as Mrs. Sadie T. M. Alexander of Philadelphia, Mrs. Eunice Hunton Carter of New York City and Mrs. Clara B. Bruce, wife of the well known educator and „ realtor, Roscoe Conkling Bruce. Female lawyers, physicians, educators and social workers greatly strengthened the list of promi nent women who usually forge to the frorit in such movements. The New Deal strives to ex tend the functions of govern ment to the forgotten woman as well as to the forgotten man. For the first time in our politi cal history members of the fe male sex have been appointed to the highest governmental sta tions, such as Cabinet Officers, Ministers to Foreign Courts, as well as heads o£ government al bureaus and departments. The liberal purpose of the ad ministration is markedly mani fest towards the so-called weak er sex. The colored woman has not been forgotten in Mr. Roose velt’s liberal program. For the first time in our history the col ored woman has been assigned to an influential post under the Federal Government. More than a year ago Mrs. Mary McLeod Bethune was made Director of Negro Affairs in the Depart ment of the National Youth Ad ministration. The needs and requirements of Negro Youth represent the most vital feature of the race problem at this crit ical time. The selection of Mrs. Bethune to head up this vital work indicates the confidence which the government imposes in her as representative of her people in this important Nation al task. Already thirty-six thousand students in high schools, colleges, and graduate work are receiving scholarship aid to complete their education and prepare them more ade quately for the duties of adult life. In addition to this some twenty-two thousand are receiv ing instruction and general di rection under Mrs. Bethune’s supervision, in connection with existing institutions and social I agencies. rresiaent rneoaore Koosevelt appointed William H. Lewis, of Boston, as Assistant Attorney General, which established a precedent which his successors were either unable or unwilling to follow. The assignment of colored men as special assistants in several departments of the government was inaugurated by President Wilson, during the progress of the World War. Dr. Emmett J. Scott was made spe cial assistant in the War De partment and charged with the delicate and responsible task of. keeping Negro sentiment aligned with the spirit and pur pose of the War. Dr. George Edmund Haynes was given a similar assignment in the De partment of Labor. The Bu reau of Commerce placed a col ored man in charge of specific Negro interests. From these predecessors this has become a fixed policy of the government. President Roosevelt has far exceeded the .limits set by his a predecessors, and placed colored men and women in charge of Negro affairs in the depart ments of the Interior, Justice, Commerce, Labor and Agricul ture. In addition to these, special Negro representatives have been assigned to the of fice of Education, the National Youth Administration and the Census Office. j-l is oi me nature oi tne pol itician to belittle and decry the efforts of the opposing party. Negro Republican critics are in the habit of saying that these Negro attaches are mere figure heads and have no function and perform no positive racial serv ice. All subordinate employees in the government, to employ Roosevelt’s phraseology, must have a passion for anony mity. Their personal ambition is absorbed in the service of the departments which they repre sent. The lighted candle is placed under a bushel. Such Negro representatives as Am brose Caliver of the Bureau of Education, Eugene Kinckle Jones of the Department of Commerce, Robert Weaver of the Interior Department, Law- * rence A. Oxley of the Depart ment of Labor, and William Houston of the Department of Justice, are rendering satisfac tory and efficient service in their several fields although there is little advertisement of their work in the press and on the platform. But Mrs. Bethune’s lighted candle shines so brightly tjiat it must needs to be placed on a candle stick and giveth light to all who are within the house hold of her sphere and activity. By virtue of her dynamic per sonality, the director of Negro Affairs of the National Youth Administration was given as it were a carte blanche. Anony mity and Mary McLeod Bethune can never go together. We all recall the National Conference on the Problems of the Negro and Negro Youth which brought together one hundred colored men and wom en from various fields of racial activity and endeavor and de liberated for three days without fuss or friction and drew up an agenda of things which can be accomplished in whole or in part by action of the Executive and Legislative branches of the Federal Government. These findings received a more gen eral public approval and accept ance than any of the other, race wide conferences of recent years. The personnel of the present conference was confined to col ored women and the agenda was focused upon the needs of Ne gro Youth, with which women are most vitally concerned. The findings show a genuineness, simplicity and race statesman ship which characterize all of Mrs. Bethune’s undertakings. In a release on the National Conference on the Problems of the Negro and Negro Youth, I referred to Mrs. Bethune as the logical successor of the late Booker T. Washington. She is acceptable to the white people of the South, the white people of the North, the Negro him self, and the government au thorities to a degree and ex tent not equaled since the man tle of leadership fell from the shoulders of the great Tuske geean. The thief on the cross had nails through both hands, so that he could not work; and a nail through each foot, so that he could not run errands for the Lord. He could not lift a hand or a foot toward his sal vation, and yet Christ offered him the gift of God, and he took it. He threw him a pass port, and took him with him into Paradise.—D. L. Moody. “Life is too uncertain for any human to ignore dependence upon God.”
Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.)
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April 14, 1938, edition 1
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