THE OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE AFRICAN METHOD!*) I EPISCOPAL ZION CHURCH
NUMBER THIRTY-NINE,
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1922
VOLUlfB FORTY-SEL
SPIRITUAL BROAD
CASTING
WHAT MAKES GOOD SOIL O]
TUB SOUL.
B«r. Frederick G. Bulgin, Harfon
Pennsylvania. .
In the springtime Jesus walke«
through the countryside. Across ,
newly ploughed field He saw a farm
er planting. He did not have a planl
< ing machine. He carried his seed ii
a wallet slung about^iis neck. Wit!
measured step he crosses the" fiel<
and almost with the precision of s
eleek scatters the seed broadcast. Hi
threw the seed away upon the com
men dirt. But that stuff we cal
common dirt is one of God’s grea
miracles.
The common dirt will take a tinj
acern, and by subtle alchemy, toiling
on through the years, it will make
of it a mighty oak.
it will take a multitude of tiny
specks holding the living germ, and
it will weave a carpet. Brussels or
Axminster never made a carpet half
sp delightful to tread upon, or so
delicious for the feet to sink into, or
se restful for the eye to gaze upon
as the earth will make when she sets
her silent loom to work.
Throw down to her a handful of
seeds and she will make you a trail
ing” vine. It will shade your porch
and fill it with sweet odors and look
k»yher than apy curtain ever de
signed.
Out of the common dirt there may
be a tree to , adorn your lawn, a bou
quet to beautify your table, sweet
seented flowers to fill your home with
fragrance, vegetables to maintain your
life, and luscious fruits all gaily paint
ed in delicate tints and gaudy colors
to gladden our hearts. And it is be
cause the earth is God’s great mira
cle "dorker, producing marvellous
» things of entrancing beauty, that the
, “sew^r goe* forth to sow.”
But Christ, who saw so much and so
far, discerned a more productive
soil. A soil out of which could come
greater miracles than ever were
wrought out of our glorious dirt.
The human soul is a soil. Rich or
impoverished, soured or baked, fer
tile or barren, as the case may be.
t But every human soul is a field out
of which there is at least the possi
bility of an abundant harvest.
The only condition is that this soil
' of the soul must have seed before it
ean begin its fructifying work. And
the seed is the word. Any kind of a
word, a whispered word, a shouted
werd, a sung word,' a written word,
a telephoned, word, a wireless word.
So long as it drops into the soil of
' the soul it may bring forth much
fruit. It was but a little while since
our sowers went forth to sow in the
primitive manuer of the eastern farm
er. We scattered by handfuls a few
words at a time.
Now they have turned the aeroplane
into a mammoth planter. They sail
ed into Germany toward the close
) 'of the war and dropped pamphlets
by the thousands. They hoped the
word would find a lodgement in the
V soul of the German peoples all rank
with weeds and lies.
No one is able to tell what luxu
riant growths will come forth from
the soil of the soul as the result of
the great broadcasting of the “word”
on the wings of the wind by means
of the radiograph.
Every election time there are sow
ers* who go forth to sow. They carry
with them a word that has to do
usually with the affairs of govern
ment. They broadcast far dnd wide
and what they hope for is a crop
•f votes. But their seed ,meets the
mum fate ae the seed of the king
COontfcsned to page 8)
ECHOES OF PUBLIC OPINIOI
RACE, CHURCH AND STATE
By Rev. James H. McMuller
By far the most illuminating put
lication we have read is “The Tren
I, Of The Races,” by Dr. George E
Haynes, published expressly for th
“Council of Women for Horn
j Missions and Missionary Educations
j Movement cf the United States an
_ Canada.” The fact that these womei
_ all white, have adopted a book writte
! hy an able writer and author of th
j Negro race, whose findings and we
j stated facts appeal to them as'a fi
t subject of study in their movemen
, for missionary education, thrills on
. with new hope.
Dr. Haynes:, because of his wide in
- formation, through contact and in
vestigation of every phase of racia
relations all overN the United State;
°nd his travels in Europe, has pre
sented the cause of the Negro t<
thes-e council women in a way to ar.
rest the thoughtful attention of th<
federal Council of the churches o:
Christ in America, as nothing elst
has in modern times. It was our privi
lege to see a dozen pr more white
missionary women, buy this book it
ess than five minutes in the Methodisl
look Store in Pittsburg the other day.
It does not present white-washed
statements, but de^ls with actual facts
and conditions as they are and have
been for fifty years, and the tendency
oward race relations of the white
>nd colored people in.
• ’an be morednepiringrW^wiiiPlSiwi
mdication of the progress of a race
apparent than the fact that white
educational workers, seeking light,
turn to the writings of Negro men and
women for illumination? Every race
loader among our group would do
well to read this inspiring volume. It
is full of racial facts calculated to en_
courage the most despondent as to
our future. ^
The Church
The Episcopal church in General
Council is taking high ground on the
question of divorce in their church.
While not entirely against the habit
of divorces on scriptural grounds, they
seem to think that to marry again
unfits one for membership in the
church. Paul said that spiritual lead
ers must be the husbands of but one
wife. That is cardinal ih Methodism.
The church has a tremendous pro
gram before it in the world to_day,
and this matter of lightly considering
matrimony is one. The fundamental
foundation upon which the church
stands to-day aside from Jesus Christ
is the Christian home. Infidelity and
laxity there, will exert its undermin
ing influences in the church. The love
of God and church cannot exist in
hearts of church members where love
does not rule the homes of husbands
and wives. Afid how can we rule the
church of God says the Apostle, if
we cannot rule our own home? “The
making of books’!, one said, “there is
no end,” and the making of laws in
our church sometimes seems almost
endless. We would suggest a more
rigid enforcement of fundamental and
vital laws on our statutes which if
enforced and lived up to would great
ly increase the influence of the Chris
tian church. The crying need of the
church is more righteousness, more
love for God and more love in the
home. As we listened to Dr. B. G.
Shaw, in revival meetings a few
weeks ago in Akron, Ohio, pounding
forth the truth of the sacredness of
the home and picturing to enthusias
tic crowds the impossibility of ac
cepting Jesus Christ until men and
women get right at home, we were
compelled to believe that, after all,
the people are hungering for the solid
.ruth of both the law and the gospel.
(Continued to page 8)
((
Watch Your Step”
The Power Of
Protest
Rev. B. C. Robeson, A. M.
ignorance.
without pro.
aught of sin.'
t the rule of
of God’s cre.
He gave His
This is a woTd which spells power.
This is the medium thru’ which
recognition is gained .-v This is the
battle cry of all who do' and dare and
follow where convictiptt leads. There
is no knowledge wit||&ut protesting
against the ravages
There is no righteoui
testing against the
Jesus protested ai
Satan and his martin;
ated jewels. As a res;
life ftnd ransomed the!
Martin Luther profc
grip of the Pope of
sinful practices. Fr
tions came the Refor:
it Protestantism.
T?he thirteen Colon’
against “taxation
tion.” As a result
backed up by united e
of republicanism was
Stars and Stripes we:
Slavery was wrong,
+ested. The South i
The Civil war came
hung on the scaffold
The World war ca
silent witnesses,
us. Germany went
ceased to be a
against the
re and their
its protesta
and with
protested
, representa
sis _ protest
' the cradle
and the
h pro_
le protest,
ivery was
3dom.
we were
act riled
patience
Pl
ight democracj
-p—o—t—e
tattle.*
'Protest, a word
This is one word the American
Negro must put into his vocabulary.
This easy indifferent, I’ll take what
you give me attitude must go if we
want-recognition. A North Carolina I
sweet Potato against the head of a !
bully gave me one of the best friends
I have today.
They lynch us one minute and hold
ip the flag for a shout the next.
They outgermany Germany over here, ■
hen send us to- France to fight for J
democracy. Our rights are abridged,
Sur privileges denied us and little is
one to bring about justice. Germany
•aped Belgium and we loiider than all
the rest demanded reparation. Texas,
(Continued to page 8)
TREND OF DEPOSITS AND SAV
INGS OF NEGRO WORKERS, AS
INDICATED BY SAVINGS BANKS’
REPORTS FROM TYPICAL IN
DUSTRIAL AND BUSINESS
CENTERS.
An increase of 12.44 per
cent in the number of sav
ings bank depositors among Negro
worker^ is indicated for the fiscal
year ended June 30, ^922^ as com
pared with the same period of 1921,
according to conclusions which the
Department of Labor has drawn from
reports submitted by representative
savings institutions in thirteen States
and the District of Columbia, all of
which are located in typical industrial
and business centers of Negro popula
tion . During the same period the total
savings of Negro depositors of the
same institutions! are indicated as
having decreased 2.376 per cent^ The
comparison, however^ is altogether
favorable in view of the industrial de
pression and .its attendant unemploy
ment situation.
A closer comparison of the two
periods shows that the per capita de
posit of Negro savings bank patrons
of $95.63, on June 30, 1921, was re
duced to $83.03 by June 30^ 1922, a
per capita withdrawal of $12,60, or
$1.05 per month.
The savings banks submitting re
ports are - located in Connecticut,
eorgia, Illinois, Indiana Kentucky,
ouisiana, Michigan, New York, North G
SPECIAL REDUCED RAILROA
RATES HAVE BEEN GRANTE
DELEGATES WHO WILL A1
TEND COMING LAW EN
FORCEMENT CONFERENCE
AT NASHVILLE^ TENNES
SEE.
In'order to obtain benefit of thes
reduced® rates each delegate mus
first obtain identification certificate
for use in purchasing their ticket
at starting point. The way for eacl
delegate to get the necessary identi
fication certificate mentioned is tc
wire at once to Dr. J. N. C. Coggin
conference director headquarter?
Colored Y. M.,C. A. building, Nash
ville, Tennessee giving name and ad
dress of himself (or herself) and name
and address of any dependent member
of his (or her) family who desires tr
attend the Temperance, Public Morals
and Law Enforcement conference^ (In
terdenominational— colored) ' to be
held at Nashville, Tennessee October
3rd—6th, inclusive, 1922.
Unless this identification certificate
is sent from headquarters (Colored
Y. M.* C. A.} Nashville Tennessee),
and used by race delegate in purchas
ing his or her railroad ticket at the
starting point (before coming to the
convention) the ^special reduced
round trip railroad rates will not be
granted.
cally all lines throughout the country,
including the Southeastern, South
western, Western. Central, New Eng
land and Trunk Line passenger asso
ciations (excepting those stations on
'‘Jew Orleans Great Northern railroad).
The fare for round trip tickets on
all railroads will be one and oneJhalf
fare (from starting point to Nashville^
and return.) Tickets on sale from
September 29th to October 5th. Final j
return limit October 13th (that is, del- j
egates ‘must leave Nashville after the
convention in time to return home
by midnight of October 13th.)
In the case of Missouri^ Kansas,
Arkansas and Louisiana^ these special
tickets will be placed on sale from
September 29th to October 5th, inclu
sive with final return limit, October
LSth’, 1922. In the case of Oklahoma
ind Texas, tickets will be on sale
from September 28th to October 4th
nclusive, with final return limit
October 14th.
Western Passenger association sell
ng dates September 2'9th to ^tober
;th, inclusive, with final limit of
)ctober 13th 1922. From Illinois,
owa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri^
Nebraska northern Michigan^ North
)akota South Dakota and Wisconsin,
Iso, from Jjiles> Colo. September
8th to October 4th, inclusive, with
inal return limit of October 14th,
922, from Colorado (except Jules,
urg), Idaho Montana, New Mexico,
itah and Wyoming. 1
The local committee at Nashville 1
ave made arrangements to care for j
le delegates attending the Law En_ (
jrcement conference at the rate of ^
L. 50 per day for each delegate.
arolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania Tennes
je? Virginia, and Washington D. C.,
id are believed to portray result*
hich are illustrative of the entire
mntry. The conclusions are derived
om basic figures showing 49,871 Ne_
•o depositors with holdings of
1,769^323 on June 30, 1921? as coin
ired with 56,077 depositors And
^655,987 on June 30) 1922, a differ.
ice of $113,336. ’ ' ‘ .
The survey was conducted j by
iil H. Brown, ** CoSamissionjtr of
mcfliation. -&S&A
9
,
3
'S Pff?CO.
LATOR
By A. Joseph Gorham.
Z/ON
Thompkms Metropolitan A. M. B.
Zion church, Chattanooga, Tenn., ia
one of the recent actualities of the
A. M. E. Zion church. The new edi.
fice is not a joke. It is a real
structure. Dr. Douglas has not ever
magnified this grand building— It ia
stately and presents a very attractive
appearance. He has added new
laurels to himself and congregation*
and they, are proud ©^ him. x %
The Rev., Henry Durham^Of Buffa.
iO, N. Y., will give Zion connection
another surprise when he presents to
the Western New York conference,
one of the finest church edifices in
-he cohfines of Buffalo. Bishop Lee
rightly calls Dr. Durham, "a 'depen,,
dable man.” Watch Durham in
Buffalo.
Many of Zion’s most faithful pas.
tors are seldom seen in our periodi.
cals; they are the’ forces behind the
throne. They plod away uncomplain.
ingiy for God and Zion. , *
The Rev. H. N. Bexley has
wrought mightily at Lacawdnna, N.
Y. He has built and dedicated a
beautiful brick structure
is one'of the leading
Western New York conference. He
knows what it is to go up against a
stubborn proposition.
It is with painful regret that we
learn that some o± our Southern con.
ferences find sufficient reason to re_
jedt the Ter.Centenary movement.
Zion must pull together or suffer de_
feat in one of tbfe biggest financial
efforts she has ever put oh.
With the General conference yet
in the distance, the brethren are tak_
ing measures for bishopric timber.
The following candidates appeared be
fore the Western New York confer,
ence for observation:—Drs. J. W.y
Martin, F. M. Jacobs, W. C. Brown,
C. C. Alleyne, C. S. Whitted and J.
H. Callis. Each made a**splendid im
pression. Rev. J. H. Ellison is also
a candidate with hopeful possibilities.
In our zeal for the church would it
not be of more interest to all concern,
ed to see less of ourselves, and more
of the kingdom of God? “We are work* ,
ers together with Christ*’*
Every minister in the church has^
the right to aspire for any office fib.
the gift of the church; but he has no
right because he/is defeated to speak
unkindly of the church of his choice.
‘Many are called but few are. chosen”.
Our bishops gave evidence at the
Council of being over worked. They
ire human and need the sympathy
if the brethren. Their task is irksome
it the best, and much worse since
he passing away of four of their ©ok
eagues. The approaching General
inference should devise some piano
>y which they may find some relief.
May we not emphasize more and
uore the evangelistic field? This work
s alj important —it is very vital,
feed we gay that our ministry
Leeds to be rededicated and begin
fresh in this much neglected depart,
aent of our ministry? The shouts of
eaven born souls in some sections of
be church is almost an unheard of
bing. Most of the present day
reaching seems to be some what of
compromise. "Preach the prea«h
ag I bid thee,” is the command of,
be God of our fathers.
Rochester, 3J. IT.
K