'>■ * the ornciAi organ or the African methodist episcopal zion church NUMBER FOUR CHARLOTTE. NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, JANUARY, 24, 1924. VOLUME FORTY-EIGHT PASSING OBSERVA TIONS. '.- i \ By S. W. Weller. The forthcoming session of the General Conference promises to be a formidable rival of Its predecessors for notable achievements. With the delegates will rest largely the de cisive question whether little or n.ucb shall be accomplished. For the most part the clergy' cdhs'ders the annual conference a vacation, but surely it is a serious mistake to look upon the General Conference in the same light. Only the most urgent sort of business should cause a del egate to leaveTbefore the business of the session is completed. We have never been able to agree with the idea that the election cl bishops should be put off last. The candidates for this, the highest hon or of the Church are there not mere-, ly to get elected, but like others, to give of their best, for the success of the conference. Man is mortal, and and how can mortal give of his best or be at his best occupyiny the “anx ious seat" It may be asked haw the non-elects? Well, they should take their defeat philosophically. It seems to me fcoi be the consensus of opinion that five new bishops .will be elected. At least, the vacancies should be filled. Which of the de ceased bishop’s memory would we dis honor by refusing to fill his place? put it is going to rhe a heavy respon sibility, that of selecting at this ses sion the* five. It will call for much prayer and for sound judgment.' For in our humble way of thinking there never was a time like this, a time when there was a such a> splendid lot' of material before the church from which to; %elect- Look at them! All good men and true: Drs- Jones, Whitted, Martin, Alleyne, Walls, Shaw, Brown, Brown, Callis, Madi son, McMullen, Swain Matthews, Crooke, Auten, Slade, Hamblin, Bla lock, Robinson and others. It seems now as if our senior bishop wr.ll have to call us up to the upper chamber again. Then, if you please, the present times call for extra care and special divine interposition ip\this matter. Christianity is passing through a transition period when because of the war and its after effects the world so to speak, is being made over. Flans and policies are undergoing re casting, followed by serious applica tion of thought. The Christian Church is being Caught in the maelstrom of revolu tionary ideas and methods. The Ne gro Church needs just as many, per haps more so, men as leaders who will measure up tq the requirements of the times. Undoubtedly there is an impendi-. ism in the present times which we do well to take notice.of. The fast ricing tide of trained thought and in dependence /of spirit as represented by our hoys and girls, stepping out of our schools and college £ to grapple with life's urgent problems and de ' mands, the Church must prepare for. - The Chistian Church, like other aggressive organizations that are making a bid for world recognition, must specialize. Our bishops,, the men who lead us, must be specialists in their realm and what a wide and influential realm it is! Our bishops should be our leaders in thought and application- They should be alive to the needs of the day, able to point us who follow to what lies out there awaiting ua and to tell us how to do as vjrfell as what to da. They must face otber giants ih the intel lectual and religious and industrial realms . They must be men able ^ to stand shoulder to shoulder with lead ers of other organizations. Talented men we must have, ijot all alike, ’tis - true; that can miverbe; the M. E. and Protestant Churches Have their men for the wilds and the Indians „ "t V/\:. ' / of the NjCrtl-West as well as for the rich and powerful metropolitan sec tions, or for the highly cultured Bos ton area. The one may not fit in where the other excels, hut there they are, each a geniius in his own why and sphere, and solving his particu lar problems. They come together as a Board or flench or the general church, but when they speak each voice is the voice of a master. To exalt the Christ in word and doctrine should be the great outstanding mark of a bishop. The brethren who are J^ing consumed with the one-wife idea have farther a-field to go, much farther. ' Each aspirant for episcopal hon ors should ask himself the question, am I truly ready for this high office should the Church call me to it? Brethren, you all have the writer’s best wishes for |uccess- We hope to meet you in Indianapolis. One of life’s greatest victories is to conquer defeat. Bridgeport, Conn. PRESIDENT AND MRS COOL IDGE CAtL ON COLORED VALET, ILL. a. . ' v \ ^ t Member of Zion Church. / -- • Arthur Brooks aspired to be the “perfect servant.’’ !So well did he strive that he was chosen White House valet back in the Taft administration. He remains today the President’s “man.”" Two weeks ago illness fonced the “perfect” Brooks to take his bed, leaving .to other hands thd care of the President’s clothes.. 15-Minute Veit About I P. M., yesterday a -big limousine drove up to the house in the 1300 block of S. St., N. W., where Brooks lives. The President and Mrs. Coolidge stepped out and went into the valet’s home. Preceding them a huge bouquet of roses from the White House green houses had been carried to Brooks' sickroom ' For 15" minutes the Coctlidges chatted with Brooks, who tOM them he hoped to return to his duties scion. Mrs. Cool’dge suggested delicacies from the White House Kitchen. Tactful, Says Taft When they drove away several hundred persons) had gathered/'in the street and in near-by doorways and windows • , President Taft, notoriously ill dressed, said Brooks probably was the most tactful servant he ever met. President Hard'ng was much inter ested in the fact that Brooks was a studious reader. Brooks has many books which were "'gifts from the Presidents he served. Mr. Brooks is the husband (>f Miss Louise Jpy whoselparents were among the founders of John Wesley A. M. E. Zion church, Washington, D- C. (From the Washington News, Issue of Monday, Jan..14, 1924. WATCHING THE BREAKERS. j__ The Southwestern Christian Ad vocate—Ulylsses S. Porter— The Last General Conference. By W. H.-Davenport. f The jealousy for democracy as it is understood and taught in the Meth odist Episcopal Church imbues itself in the minds of those who come and dwell under the influence of that Church, occasionally manifests its impatience with the practice -and governments of Negro! Methodism, by drire '•prophecies of desecration and decay to the latter, notwithstanding the attestations of history that all Methodisms, aa well as other fauna, are far, very far from perfection The Negro Methodist Church is an experiment in self-government. Its rulers are the immediate descend (Continued to page 5) % All Race Conference— The Negro Sanhedrin. i'Aa. .mi - i , .i... CHICAGO, FEBRUARY 11-24, 1924. Important Group Conferences Will Be ^Arranged. Preliminary Program (Subject to Modification.) (For The Associated Negro Press.) / “Let me write ‘Union’-' at the top of the page, and yon njaSr write under that anything you please-’’—Abraham Lincoln - | Cooperation of the organizations, activities and iaH^ncies devoted to ra cial welfare will be the key-note of the entire program. 1. “The Function o,f the Negro Press.” " l&'V ■■■ : Hon. R. Abbott, The Chicago Defender,' Chicago, 111. Mr. Carl j. Murphy,' Editor, The Afro-American, Baltimore, Md. Mr. Robert L- Vann, Editor, Pittsburgh Courier, Pittsburgh, Pa- ' - 2. “How to Improve the Physical Stamina of the Race. ” Dr. A. 5fV Curtis, Ex-Pres.. National Medical Association, Washingtoif, D. C. Dr. Algernon L. Jaekscrn, Direc tor, SchooLof Public Health and Hygiene, Howard University, Washington, D. C.,, ' 3 S■ Civil Service Commissioner, New York City- - 4. “The Function of Agitation in Race Welfare.” Mr. Ja'lnes Weldon Johnson, Secretary, N. A. A. C. P.. New York City. Rev, T. J- Moppins, Pres., Equal Rights League, St. Louis, Mo. ' 5. ‘The Religious Factor in Race Welfare.” Bishop, John Hurst, A. M. E. Church. Baltimore, Md. Bishop J. S Caldwell, Ar M. ^E. Zion Church, Philadelphia, Pa. Bishop R- E. Jones,. M. E. Church, New Orleans, La. • Bishop R. S. Williams, C. M. E. Church, Augusta, Ga. Rev. L. K. Williams, Pres., . National " Baptist Convention, Chicago, 111. Rev. Mordecai Johnson, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Charles ton, w! Va. - Rev. R. L. Bradby, Pastor, Second Baptist Church, Detroit, .Mich. Rev. M. A. Talley, Pastor, Homestead, Pa. Rev. Alfred ' Lawless, General Superintendent Congregational Southern Church Work, Atlanta, Ga. Rev. Moses H. Jackson, Pastor, Grace Presbyterian Church, Chi .. cago. 6. ‘‘The FuncMon of Social and Civic Agencies in Race Develop^ ment.” v (Continued to next week) . “Politics e Equation! Hon. Wm. Vti U. . . . Hon. Ferdinand Q. Morten, IT. COLORED POPULATION OF NEW YORK REPRESENTS COLORED PEOPLES OF THE WORLD* Washington,—. The native Ameri can colored population" of New York, is represented by people who were bom in every state of- the Union, &nd in our outlying possessions, including Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, Panama Canal Zone. Philippine Islands, Porto Rico, and Virgin Islands. A few were born „at sea under the American flag, hnd several hundred, of American, parent age, were/born abroad. But Virginia. North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, together, and in the order .named, have contributed more than all of the other states combined, the number exceeding by several thous-' and those whot are native |)orn ;New Yorkers- The population of Pennsyl vania, not unlike that of New> York, is composed of people from every state and from all of this country’s outlying possessions.' Here, too, the state of Virginia leads in her contri bution of* citizens, followed by Mary* l$nd, North ^Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina • In Illinois, persons bom in Tennes see outnumber those from any other state, but are closely followed by Mississippi, which is trailed by Ken tucky, Alabama, Missouri and Geor gia. The colored population of Ohio owes its growth largely to Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, Virg'nia and Ten nessee, in fhe order named. The state of Mi^higijjfn, whose colored pop? ulation hasj sq'greatly increased dur ing recent’pfears, is indebted first ta Georgia arid then to Alabama, Ten nessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Missis sippi, in the order named. Into Indiana has poured a steady stream of- persons who were bora in Ken tucky, who, added to those bora in Tennessee, Alabama, Ohio, Georgia, Mississippi and Illinois, constitute 58 per cent of the total colored papu lation of the “Hoosier’’ state. j RACE RELATIONS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY I / New York, N Y. Jan. (By The Associated Negro Press) The Feder al Council Commiss'on^on the Church and Race Relations is asking that February 10, he . observed in all the churches of the country, white and Colored, as Race Relatipns Sunday. Since this subject holds such a vital place just now in the effort to, make Christianity fully, effective, it is felt that in every pulpit at least one ser mon a year might well be devoted to it, and cine program in every Sunday School, Young People's Society and other religious group. The Commission is publishing a booklet suggesting programs, topics and materials suited to the occa sion. Everyone interested, can write for it to the Commission on the Church and Race Relations, 105 Ea3t 22nd St., New York City. RETJGTOUS LIFE IN CON GRESS. Washington, D. C-„ Jan.—(By the Associated Negro Press) Ninety per cent of both houses of the Sixty* eighth Congress are- members of some religibus denomination, according to a survey made tyy the board of tem perance of the Methodist Episcopal church. Of the other 10 per cent, the majority are consistent, the actual members. » Vjifethodists lead with ninety six members in the ^louse and twenty three in the Senate, or slightly more than 18 per cent <ctf the full mem bership of both bouses. WHITHER ARE WE DRIFTING? The General Conference—A Forecast-—The Bishopric. By S. H. Michael. With the early annroanh of the Conerai^Ootttferetice the eves of the thinking element of the Church are turned toward Indianapolis. Somp ■th>«r more than casual interest o£ cnbies their m'nrts. for at. no"t*me in the hfstorv of fMI Church has the, need of sane legislation been more" pertinent. . ';f> Other Oeneral ifSonfereuces have been charged with filibustering and with the emnloyment of fan fiare me^ho^s or nroeedure and non es senffpis-whieh have caused the wiser ones to blush in sgame. (Continued to page 5) PILGRIMAGES. , DOUGLASS, WASHINGTON, I DUNBAR AND YOUNG. Staff Correspondence. IF'K Washington, D. C., Jan. (By the \ Associated Negro Press) Pilgrimages to the shrines of the great is a c'us handed down to present generations from ancient times v The Mohamme dans,V in their annual pilgrimage to Mecca perhaps reach the highest de velopment in this .worthy (hjsto^m. In the Old World, there are, hundreds and hundreds of historical places made sacred by the work iof iftapkind. Prom the Holy Sepulcher to the home of Shakespeare: from the, Valley Pf the Kings in Egypt, to) the abundance of historical spots in glorious France, thousands and tens, pf thousands of people journey from all parts of the world to pay homage to the great of the earth from the beg'nning of civilization. . Here in America the custom has not been so. pronounced, speaking en masse- This country has been so bu I sy developing resources into, dollars that sentiment has been compelled to play second fiddle- But the day has arrived when America is waking: up to the duty and value pf homage Mt. Vernon, the final resting place* of Gearge Washington, has long sin<?6 b4en a center ot pilgrimages; and so has Springfield, Illinois, the burial place of Abraham Lincoln; and Riv-V | ersiide Drive, New York, where all, that is mortal of U, S. Grant re mains; and the little, cemetery in Oyster, Bay, to which thousands of lent respect toi the memory Of The odore Roosevelt. „ Colored America Awakened. Colored America is awakened to the duty and Value of remembrance. This fact has been demonstrated in the last few years in a manner that has given great inspiration. to those who are seeking^ to be d service to the people. In the spring of 1920, this writer, with a group of twenty-six business men from Kansas City, headed by Prof. J. R. E. Dee, then principal of Lincoln High School, now field secretary in thfe National Urban League, was at > Tuskegee institute, in the course of a tour. of. southern cities. One of the firat thoughts was a tribute to -Booker T - Washington-* . The request was made to Dr. Moton that our party be permitted to place a wreath on the grave of Dr .* Wash ington . Dr. Moton readily cemented, was deeply moved at ‘the idea, and stated that it was the first request from a group of our( own people; that certain foreign visitors some time before had thus honored the great educator. The finest wreath procurable was elected. Jus£ as the sun was setting ode of the. most im pressive events ever witnessed was carried out, joined in by,Dr. M-oton, > the faculty, choir, visitors and stu-1 dents. ''Swing Low Sweet Chariot,’^ and "Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray,” j favorite selections of Dr. Washing ton, sung by the . Institute choir, fillqpfc^. the air with solemnity and inspire-* , tion. , For years unsuccessful efforts were made to pay off a mortgage on the home of Frederick Douglass in Ana* costia, District of Dcluarbia,- that it might become a shrine for Colored! America. Finally the National Asso ciation of Colored Women, .unf^r the magnetic direction' of the late Mrs Mary B. Talbert, accomplished tfce deed, and In-August 19^2, when the borne war formally dedicated, the greatest pilgrimage of Colored Amer-^’ leans ever witnesses took place. The celebration of’the birthd^tof Fred erick Douglass, February fP has long since been an annual event in many sections of the country / Coming as , it does, so close to the birthday of Abraham Lincoln, February 12th, in

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