T^W
Star Day, Sun
, - • •: •- • •• • • •- • •• - V - '___
THE Off ICIAL ORGAN Of THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION CHURCH
number fourteen
CHARLOTTE^ NORTH CAROLINA. THURSDAY APRIL 14, 192L
VOLUME FORTY-FIVE
The Negro in the
North
(Reprint of Editorial from the New
York Globe, Wednesday, April 6,1921)
Are the 11,000,000 Negroes in the
United States gradually shifting their
habitat from southeastern United
States to the north and west ? During
' the last ten years there has unques
tionably been an amazingly large mi
gration^ In 1910 there were already
1,049,000 out of a total population of
9,787,000, living in the north and west,
and in twelve northern cities there
has been an increase of 300,000 color
ed people since 1910, most of them
unquestionably coming from the
south. The 1920 census returns have
not yet been completed, and the total
• increase in the north is conjectural.
Together with this evidence of a
rapid shift comes rather definite tes
timony as to its permanence. The Nat
ional Urban League, which has car
ried on social work among Negroes all
over the United States, states that
those returning southward have total
ed less than than 100,000, and pos
sibly no more than 50,000. The cause,
say the league investigators, is social
rather than industrial. Natural con
ditions favor the Negro in the south.
If he could have there the advantages
he can secure in the northern states he
would probably remain. But in the
north he can get better educational
advantages for his children, at least
theoretical equality as a worker, fair
er trials, and greater security from
mob violence. The white north is not
disposed to welcome him as a full
equal as yet, but whatever sense of
superiority it may have is less likely
to become an incentive to persecution.
North and south may both profit
by reflection upon these facts, and
by study of the general work which
such organizations as the National
Urban League are doing. The annual
report of the League has just appear
ed, and it shows that the Negro is
still engaged in a struggle for the
most elementary privileges. One of
the great tasks of the organization
has been to get positions for Negro
contractors, skilled tradesmen, and
effice workers. The world of intelli
gent occupations has been walled off
from the average Negro, no matter
what his natural capacity. It is
only now beginning to crumble even
in the north. As the Negfo population
in New York, Illinois and Ohio grows,
such a situation becomes a matter
for serious thought. The migration
northward was a protest. The protest
will simply be transferred if the Ne
gro finds that he has fled from open
injustice and discrimination to tacit
injustice and discrimination. The
growth of Negro population in New
York City from 97,000 in 1910 to 158,
000 in 1920 indicates, perhaps, a pref
erence for New York in place of At
lanta or Memphis or Baton Rouge.
But it also indicates a will to better
ment which may prove the old north
ern attitude toward the colored pop
ulation no longer adequate fc«r a
group rapidly increasing in numbers,
intelligence and self-respect.
NOTICE.
The Rev. C. M. Joshua at 802 E.
Brainard St., Pensacola, Fla., is, de
sirous of one good evangelist for
St. Mark A'. M. E. Zion church. He
•wants a real soul-saving revival.
Plenty of money and a good attend
ance guaranteed.
NOTICE.
Any one wishing the service of
Rev. W. W. Deener and wife, evan
gelists and gospel singers, of Wash
ington, D. C., can secure their ser
vice by writing to headquarters,
1530, Tea Street, N. W.f Washington,
D. G.
“No feature of the American atroc
ities that have made the world thrill
with the incredible cruelty of the un
speakable Turk” is lacking in the
story of the Georgia peonage hor
hors, declares the Knoxville Sentinel
(independent democratic).Similar dis
gust is expressed by most of the press
over the revelation of the murder of
eleven enslaved Negroes at the insti
gation of a modern “Simon Legree” in
Jasper county. It is not merely the
crime, however, but rather the insti
tution of peonage which it was in
tended to conceal, that eauses some of
the most bitter criticism. Connivance
of Georgia authorities and passive
toleration of the crime by the commu
nity are declared by some to warrant
immediate and drastic federal action.
From Georgia itself comes stern
condemnation of the deed and a call
for justice. “Decent public sentiment
in Georgia,” says the Atlanta Consti
tution (democratic), “will not permit
a thing of this kind to go unnoticed,”
and the Augusta Chronicle (demo
cratic), makes a similar demand, but
“refutes, with all the vigor of its
might/’ the charge ef “unchecked law
lessness”'in the state.
‘ But “the Brutality of the exposure
is only secondary/V the Pittsburgh j
Dispatch (independent), points out, >
thus reflecting the opinion of a num
ber of writers, “to the fact that slav
ery was not abolished in the south
by the Lincoln proclamation and con
stitutional amendments.”
The New York Mail (independent)
says: “Negroes are put to work un
Every soul that is bom into the
kingdom of God today, has a larger
yision of the possibilities of that king
dom on earth, than the majority of
those who accepted Christ 50 years
ago. The concepts of the human mind
depend very largely upon the con
dition in which they are formed^
The great outcry of the human
soul today is, fraternity, co-operation,
good will and world, brotherhood. The
lifting up of Jesus Christ to the gaze
of humanity is the dawn of freedom
to every thinking mind. The high
state of 4 economical development to
which the world has come; lays a
broad basis for co-operation. It may
be well said, “No man liveth to him
self.” To continue the rapid pace of
commercial and material development,
fraternal relations among men, must
increase in order to insure the toil
er, a just and equal compensation for
the honest service which he renders
Nations must realize that the best
good of one is the b&st good of all
and the best good of £11 must be the
highest happiness of 6ach. Hence the
world cry for brotherhood: and there
is but one example to Much all minds
A BIGGER AN0 BETTER
• ZlOfrf
By Dr. H. Xj Callis.
__4.
musl^ttirn. We beheld Him twenty
centuties ago, born In Bethlehem of
Judea, sojourneyin| in Egypt,
schooling in Nazareth, consecrated in
the temple at Jerusalem, preaching
from the hilltops an$ the valleys of
Judea, proclaiming the good news by
the Sea of Galilee, spending midnight
hours in prayer, dyiijg on the cross,
rising from the dear!, ascending to
heaven: the suprewie example of hu
man brotherhood. Say what you will
the evangel of the religion of Jesus
is being called to earnest, honest con
secration dnd toil in presenting the
story of the cross today as in no oth
er age of the world.
The spendid efforts of Dr. Wj. J.
Walls in the winning pf souls fos the
kingdom, the electrifying sermons of
oiir General evangelist, Dr. B- G.
Shaw, which have swept hundreds in
commendation, but earnest prayer and
to the kingdom, deserve not only the
consecration to conserve the work that
they and others are doing; that the
goal set in soul saving by our Church
may be realize^.
j When world brotherhood is achiev
ed it must come through the Church
i of Jesus Christ; not one of the other
religions to which the world has been
subjected are equal to the task. The
Evangalistic Christian Church is the
church for humanity. The hope of the
Continued to page 5.
APPEAL OF THE BOARDjjOF BISHOPS FOR THE
CHVRCHVAPERS.
f
To the Presiding Elders, Pastors
and the Members of the A. M. E. Zion
Church:
Fellow-Workers:
Recognizing the flood of literature,
circulating many kinds of confusing
propaganda, both in religious and
civil matters,
pensibttity of
simplified and ready for application
to our common tasks and every day
living, we make the present appeal:
The papers of the Church were
established to meet this specific need
in this age of the press. We renew
our faith in the present service and
the possibilities of our Church jour
nals, which are meeting our needs
in advertising our undertakings,
propagating our policies and advo
cating the faith of our Fathers. The
papers also voice the opinion and
sympathy of the Church in all move
ments of race-building and the world
problems. We believe it wholly ne
cessary to have the largest possible
circulation of these periodicals to
bring the object of our Christian
family before the humblest worker,
and most indifferent members of any
local congregation. To do this, the
papers must reach the people at their
firesides and in their quiet moments.
At present there is a limited circu
lation of the pape:
and file of our m
500,000 members
000, iomes at leas
the papers has a
than 6,000. Within
we propose to pla
least 10,000 hpmes.
imong the rank
ership. Nearly
(presenting 40
only pne of
rcir emulation
present year
ie Star in at
subscription
cost of issuing the pape*. We hold
the price of subscription within the
means of the poorest families. The
Star of Zion is $1.50 a year; the
Quarterly Review, $1.00 a year; the
Missionary Seer, $1.00 a year; the
Sunday School Bulletin, $1.00 a year.
We advise, in each church, an
agent or club be designated to se
cure subscriptions. First, to The Star
of Zion, our weekly organ, and to
as many other papers as any may de
sire to take. We call upon each Pre
siding Elder and pastor to turn his
attention directly to the mutual ef
fort for the good of our common
cause, assuring each and all that
there can be no wiser investment of
our time and attention than to bring
our whole membership into the read
ing family, to know the spirit, un
dertakings and . achievements of o^r
Zion. When this has been fully ac
complished, the work for every min
ister and officer will be greatly sim
plified and helped along by the grow
ing loyalty and enlightening enthu
siasm for the cause we espouse.
We designate the week preceeding
Sunady, May 5th, as a suitable time
for “ Star and Periodical Day.” Use
all meetings, part time, at least, for
placing this matter before the
chuixhe&^^ijrging the necessity of
reading the Church papers as a pro
tection to the families of the Church
against the hostile propaganda which
they meet, and in too many instances
lose the loyalty of the youth and
dampen the faith of the adults of
our communion.
Thanking you for your co-operation
in this cause of our mutual interest
and assuring you of the increased
inspirtaion and the grand success to
each of us who toil growing out of
this capaign and wishing each of
our Presiding Elders and pastors the
success which you so richly deserve,
we are,
Your Chief Pastors:
G. W. Clinton,
J. S. Caldwell, v
G. L. Blackwell,
v L. W. Kyles,
W. L- Lee,
G. C. Clement, |
J. W. Wood, '
P. A. Wallace.
WHAT AMERICA THINKS
OF PEONAGE.
der conditions no better than slavery.
Wages are low and men easily get
into debt. No doubt their weakness
es are exploited to get them into
debt. They borrow small sums to be
paid back in labor. But they never
get an accounting* They ask for one
at their peril. Year after year they
work, and the debt is never reduced*
Charges of law-breaking are ‘framed’
against them, and they are black
mailed into hugging their chains. We
fpught a war to end what is tak
ing place in Georgia* and it must be
ended”
The blame “for this cumulative
brutality” lies on the state of Geor
gia, the New York World (democratic)
believes, since" it “legalized the sub
letting of convict labor,” and there
lation of the employer to these men
“is the relation of an overseer to his
gang in the days before the civil
war.” Such conditions, indeed, as
the murders revealed, “could not
exist unless the iocal authorities
were either indifferent or connived at
this barbarous practice;” declares the
Birmingham Age-Herald (indepen
dent democratic). “Traversity” says
the Chattanooga Times (independent
democratic), will be written over the
laws of Georgia if this peonage sys
tem, besides which the peonage sys
jtem of Mexico was tame,” is not
eradicated.
j That “public opinion” could remain
“lethargic” in the community in which
such conditions existed is “disquiet
ing” to the Pittsburgh Sun (demo
cratic), and the New Haven Jour
1 al-Courier (independept) calls it “a
cheerful state of society” where this
■ could occur, and adds, “It is note
worthy that though this modern Le
! gree is credited with disposing of a
number of blacks no one proposes to
lynch him.”
The Utica Press (independent) also ;
accuses the -commtmity: “It is fairly
evident that state" and local officers
were doing nothing to end peonage, .
whiph suggests -a virtual, if not ac
tual; collusion 'by them with offend- 1
_<*> I 1
Continued to pagfe 8,
Over the Line Versus
Mother Zion.
By Rev. J. Edward Mason.
New York .City, the greatest Me
tropolis in all the* world, It also en
folds^-Harlem,' ,the largest, most
densely populated city of Afro-Ameri
cans. The complex population of
greater New York, represents near
ly every nation in the bounds of civi
lization. All great interests are re
presented here- It is the head of
America’s commercial, educational
religious and industrial activities
and the mecca of her philanthropies,
Within a decade Afro-Americans
from all parts of the world have found
a home or an asylum within its
borders. Different church boards in
consequence are unusually active*
Extraordinary efforts are being pro
moted to provide for the unchurched
thousand^ A great field is awaiting
and enriching harvest. Within a gen
eration, from the present outlook,
over a half million Negroes will form
a part of the inhabitants of this
mighty center of life- It is the great
est missionary field of all American
cities, among the Negroes.
A few months ago the colored
Methodist Extension department, be
fore a church organization had been
effected, purchased a valuable pro
perty for $80,00.00 making an, initial
cash payment of $40,000.0(\ Today
a congregation of over a thousand
are regular worshippers. The Church
Extension the Methodist Episco
pal Denomination, recently purchased
a plot of ground for $50,000.00;
where the St. Mark’s Colored M. E
church, is preparing to e/ect a great
temple at the cost of $350,000|.00.
The leaders of the Congregational De
nomination seeing their opportunity,
have called to this city, Rey. Dr.
Proctor, who is now planning tor
erect an Institutional church costing
$250,000.00. The Baptist leaders who /
are ever on the job, are enlarging
their boundaries, directed by able
Dr. Brown last, year purchased a
magnificent edifice formerly owned by
Presbyterians for $80,000.00 and is
now making additional purchases, as
Rev. Dr. Powell secures a large and
centrally located property, and
plans are announced for a new mo
dern church, cost, betwenn $250,000
00 and $300,000.00. The Episcopal
Church is securely entrenched with a
million dollar plant extending its lines
under a well organized financial
board.
lnese major cnurcn movements se
curing the stragetic points, are des
tined to determine within a few
years the place and 5$he possibilities
of the respective denominations, in
the betterment of the colored citi
zenry, and the uplift of the race.
Mother Zion, the oldest colored
church organization, is in its rightful
place in the vanguard of religious
work. In paying this special tribute
to Mother Zion and its peerless pas
tor, Rev. J. W. Brown, I am hot un
mindful of the superior work being
accomplished by the eloquent Dit
W. C. Brown, or the faithful and en
ergetic, Dr. G. M. Oliver. But, as the
pastor of Mother Zion was the first
to reach the limelight in the solution
if the perplexing problems of reach
ing, organizating the'many-sided ele
ments, and unifying them into the
most powerful church of the denomi
lation; I take this opportunity to em
phasize certain facts of denomina
;ional interest.
Eight years ago, guided by our
greatest living organizer, Dr. Brown,
adopting the latest progressive me
;hods—started a new era in the varied
listory of the Mother church. The
nembership and congregation have