Newspapers / The Star of Zion … / Dec. 11, 1924, edition 1 / Page 1
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THE OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE AFRICAN METHODIS T EPISCOPAL ZION CHUR' VOLUME FORTY-EIGHT NUMBER F< CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA THURSDAY; DECEMBER 11, 1924 WALKING ABOUT ZION. Bishop J. & Caldwell, D. D. Mr. Editor: . - . A few weeks ago 1 decided that I would take a few days off from my immediate work and visit the brethren who were engaged in annual confer ence work. I find this a good thing to do sonmtimcg, because it gives one who JsTengkJfed in a^imilaf wor# an opportunity to get the view-point of other people x I have always been a student of other men and thing*, and the information gained has al ways stood me well in hand. My first stop was at Livingstone College Salisbury, North Carolina-; Here I found President Suggs and his co workers hard at work.“I had a enhance to look over tho campus and to look through the class rooms where the teachers were bh action. Prom all appearance, the Institution is on the upward grade and harmony seems to prevail. President Suggs, conveyed me by automobile from Salisbury to Statesville, North Carolina; where Bishop L. W. Kyle3> D. D-. had convened the Western North Carolina conference. This is the 'largest conference nu merically Mn our ' denomination. Bishop Ky’es eeexps to he happy-in the prosecution oi| his work in this great conference... Tfhe men seem to be vicing with each dtber in their effort to make the conference a hundred per cent along all lines. Over a thous and dollars war rained on Educational night and ’turned• Prof. Suggs. Every interest of our great Church was locked after by this Conference.... Bishop Kyles ana ms nappy facul ty Is keeping his conference in good humor. Being- a hard worker him self. he sees to it that his men who ' pre assigned responsible tasks per form them well. Dr. W. H. Goler, D. D.( Financial Secretary, was in evidence through out the session of the conference. He preached or splendid sermon to a large congregation on Sunday. The old man eloquent, is still in the ring when it comes to preaching the gos pel. The Publication House, Charlotte, IT. C., was next visited. Manager Watkins and Dr. J. Franc’s Lee were at their posts- Editor W. H. Davenport was on the wing attending conferences. Tilings at the Publication House seem to be going on as of yore. We could wish for more conneetional literature on the shelves of our. Pub l’cation House- We believe that this business concern should give back to the Church in the way of literary out put more than it does. This can only be made possible by our conferences and people generally patronizing the House by sending their printing there tc- be done and paying for the same. The manager informed me that sev eral thousand dollars are being car ried on his books over due from per sons- who have had work done and have not paid Tor the same. You . cannot make brick without straw. | Wherever the fault for this^ state of affairs may be, we have got to correct ! it, or have no publishing plant worth the name- If the church w:th'n does not support its own business , concern death ^rom starvation is in evitable. Concord, N- C^, my old home wa^ the next place visited. Here we j found Bishop G. C. Clement and tire j brethren of the West Central North j Carolina conference in session. Bieh* Clement Ts an old hand at the bus iness of holding conferences. He goes about his work without circum locution. This was the first session of the new administration. We heard it said on all sides that the men are supporting the new administration with a hearty wiK. A new presiding elder district was set off and several ether forward looking measures lnau. gurated . It whs in the bounds cf this eonference that I- received my first appointment. It goes without the saying that Iwas glad 'to see the brethreu rWl |E. D- W. Jones and the Palmetto conference brethren were in session was the next point reached. We presided over this conference for a number of years* Bishop Jones, while young as an Episcopate, goes about the work of the conference with unusual ease. He is kind,'sym pathetic and yet positive. He is well acquainted with the usage of the Church and imparts with great pow er and efficiency the information which the men so much need in an nual conferences. We were treated roytffty hefe as «^e"%ife kl-ai^SSte others. The cause of Mother Zion in New York and Mother St. Peter's, at New Eern) N- C., was given hearty sup port by the bishops and men of all these .conferences. The sottveniys which we* presented at one dollar each, were taken until we had ne more- The men in all the confer ences pledged us their support in distributing these souvenirs among their members. . On invitation of Bishops B. G. (Continued to page 5) EXCLUSION ACT BRINGS DEMAND FOR BLACK AMER ICANS. : CALIFORNIA’S AGRICULT URAL INDUSTRIES SUF FERING FROM SCARCITY OJ^FARM LABOR. By Geo. Perry, Los Angeles, Calif- Nov.—(Pucifio\ Coast New® Bureau.) For the first time in the history of the South-west, the black American as become a fac tor in the future development of its wonderful agricultural- possibilities Exclusion of the Japanese, Chinese and Hindu farm labor through the enforcement of the anti-alien land law; and the increase of cotton pro duction in California, are the factors responsible for the present scarcity of experienced farm labor. With a total acreage of 445,000 acres with a predicted yield of 256, 932 bales the 1924 cotton crop will yield approximately |40,000,000 to the farmers of Southern California, Low er California, and the Salt River Val_ ley in Arizona. Through arrange ment the aliens will be permitted to harvest the 1924 crop yield; but thousands have left, and have at this early date caused such a serious shortage of efficient farm help that distress call® are heard in many sec tions. In the Yuman Valley district below Needles with cotton averaging a bale an acre* 3,000 cotton pickers are needed. In the San Joaquin Val ley district north of the Negro town of Allenwworth, with 4,000 cotton pickers employed at $1.50 per 100 more are needed. In fapt So serioqs is the outlook for 1925 that definite steps have been recently taken by several communi-* ties and concerns to colonize certain •sections, particularly in the cotton districts, with experienced Negro farmers’ from the South- One con cern is opening 2,000 acre® for Ne-„ gro colonization in the Palo Verde Valley, a promising locality near tjie Colorado River, with a cotton pro duction of 13.500 bales valued at $2,295,000. Another concern ha® a project near Victorville, while others are planning similar methods of. in suring the California cotton industry of a plentiful future supply of effL cient form labor.. / In order to supervise the coloni zation of the Negro in the various nrejects the California Colored Re alty and Development Assn. (Inc.) a Negro Real Estate men'® organiza tion, was recently formed in Los An gele® for the purpose: of co-operating with the land owners, farm organi zations and realty boards in syste matic campaign of activity, publicity and supervision with the object of Interesting, and locating .reliable, effl. - cient apd industrious Negro farmers of the South in the approved colo THE .SEASON jWE CELEBRATE IS the dead Tear By T. Thomas Fortune. (In The Negro World) The human creature is so con stituted that he is never happy. Perhaps happiness unalloyed is an unattainable thing. We have spasms nesaL it its true, but they are followed ;bV hjK&Vulsffe 'agtf ire or less , traceable to the spasm of happiness- In every pleas ure there appears-te be some hidden poison that spoils it all or leaves a feeling of ..lose and remorse . . We can’t understand, axid Iperhaps wp never shall, lit seems mcredible that human beings should the eternally doomed to such condition of exist ence as has been imposed upon thpin as far back as we have historical record of the hopes hnd aspirations of the race. The season we oefebrate- from Thanksgiving to New - Year’s day is one of sorrow over the death of the Old and the birth of the New Year; and this is all the more strange because we all imagine that it is a season of relaxation* reunion^ festiv ity and pleasure, into which we car ry all. our pent-up hopes and disap pointments. However we will, how eve^ the shadow of the dead year seems to go over with us into the new year, and in our supremest re laxations and pleasure we feel “that coining events cast their shadows before.” $00 always r'es. me Christian people have been hoping for the coming of a new and better life ever since Jesus made the supreme sacrifice on Calvary, but they have had for the most part orily the army of destruction, led until-Scecent wai% by this, cavalry horse—which may easily spell the Cavalry of Death. Who of us knows? Certainly oceans of blood have been (spilled by wars and rumors o? wars' among the Christians of - the Faith since the Atonement. “Peace on earth; good will to men,” appears as remote and unattainable as when the - echoes first carried the message out of Pal estine into all the world- Indeed there appears to be more of race and creed hatred among mankind now than when the Christian era was eup_ posed to have presaged and ushered in a new and better life for us all Nothing has gone wrong in the “plan of salvation.” perhaps^ and it may be because we are ignorant of the mystical meaning of the word “sal vation,” and''! have a mind that is the csee. Wo don’t understand the physical meaning.' We often think cne way and talk and write ^,noth;. er way. We don’t understand. Will we ever? It doesn’t look as if wa» shall to me? * " But it is not for me to strike the doleful note in this season of lelax ation and enjoyment, in leaving the old and going into the new year, the new life,4 as itwere. My philosophy has always been to make the most possible out of life under any. and all circumstances, and in that way I have found, we/ are bound to get a little happiness out of living to off set, the big^ bunch cf misery which wc have with us all of the time. 'So then> let us cheer up in the generous spirit of the season! We have much to gain by looking on the bright side of life and everythng to lose by look ing on the dark side. OBSERVATIONS AND OPINIONS. THE NEW BISHOPS IN ACTION. J. Francis Lee, A. M., S. T; D It was a great privilege, as well at a pleasure to visit the variou i con ferences and see the new bishops h action. The writer spent Satnrda: and Sunday of the week With Bisho] Jones ; in the Pee Dee conference Bishop Jones, was at his best, presided with the positive, lie is very kind to his men. They love him and almost worship him. He has received a great re sponse fromhis conferences in Soutn ' Carolina- He is really putting pver the programme in the South. J From Bishop Jones, the writer ^went to Bishop Shaw in attendance upon the-Caha'ca conference. Indeed ho was in three of Bishop Shaw’s conferences, spending with Bishop Shaw a part of three weeks. The Bishop is sweeping things before him in Alabama. While he is large - l?€a*ic down to ctnffblooded business. He is gracious and kind; but he is also very candid and positive. He sees to it that the brethren come up with their assessment, even takes the last dollar from them, and he wiU then put his hands into his own pockets'and share with them.hi$. last dime. Every conference in ASsjf: vhama, perhaps with one exception. dKdttgiit tp -the!fu&.assessment, and ■ti&fc «5hf4ronee went far ahead of hist year. The Bishop is putting on a at?reat programme for Alabama, and the men believe in him and respond tc him. The writer visited also the North Alabama and the South Ala bama conferenced. We went from Bishop Shaw to Bishop Wpod^Ft the West Tennessee and Mississippi conference. Bishop Wood, although » £ftie unwell, had matters fully in hand; and he had the conference greatly inspired. The men are responding to the efforts with splendid heart • It seemed that Bishop Wood had his full assessment iust about in eight- It was our priv ilege to preach the Sunday morning (Continued to page 5) THETAINT. By William Pickens. 4FCr the A lasociatad - Negro. ,Rre®s. \ The claim that a New York mil lionaire had married seme girl who hag colored people’s b’ood in her veins, brought forth headline® of the ueual nonsense about being “accus ed” of being a Negro, about “denying tjie taint,'” and about the boo-hooing Oi! sapheads and idiots, who are eas ily frightened into asservating: “I ain’t ’colored • ” Who is it that “ain’t colored” in the United States, if to have a few drops of Negro blood or other peo ples, blood in one’s veins makes one “colored?” Why, nobody can know There are unknowable millions of “white” Americans who are crossed by that standard. Race prejudice has been forcing muflattoes to “cross the line” for ten generations. And whar do .you suppose those mulattoes have been doing all this time? And it is hliocy for an editor to speak of “taint” in blood meaning only that a Person belonging tc ©ne race has a minor .quantity of the blood of" another, race in his vein. The Only tainted.blood is diseased blood , or the blood that flows in the vein® of the maniacs and idiots who write such rot as wo all have the privilege of reading when some sup posedly 100 per ceat white person marries another person ' whe is known to have other blood besides Teutonic or Nordic in his'veins. If to have in your reins the blood of some other race is to be “tainted” then about everybody, “white” and “colored” in this country is tainted. That is, we do not need to consider the- few who are not. A fellow, supposedly* “white,” got married to a girl of the same kind in Bostoj»_ and after the ceremony be went into her room and found her boo-hooing as if her heart would break: Asking what the trouble was. he heard this great confession: “Dear. I’ve gpt colored blood in my v.eins and I Just can’t fool you any longer. Boo-ooo-ooo!” He patted her oh the shoulders, feel ing much relieved, but f&rfhd ft con venient to ignore the fact, and es pecially to keep itTrorn others. Then there are many more thousands still who have “colored.. Wood” without even their own knowledge. Seeing to tw that ofcly the knowl edge of it* i« the thing, that does any In a syndicated article appearing in current issues of our A4*®*®*®* is the following.*; 'fWr kield) said through Christian:, Advocate, of Their (Negro bishops)* elecffbn by a t^winKrwosJ^ w ith cohtagioua enthini^sn •»!» the whole world,' is an evefct of far reaching importance, .-It assurance that ourar'^ih 1^; man’s Church bnt"a CAi^fe^i^hiroad as humanity and as aW-inclhgJYe as •HSr*-: redemptive -vbh^itl'xjf., Jettw Christ. ’ ’’ This te presented as erl .jjeifce members in the Metho^|^|w|inppl Cfrnrcb that would to ours; and is pirinrlr if; ini' ii ifliijiijiji 'ftir rhdt favoring the at Unification . Thin and other kindred utterances in the.~:'8^ne:v^r^Sj^hsr ether authors, todhe; s^e hi|eni^liavo Iut me to wondering: Do I Belohg to “a white man’s Church?” Whfen I came into it in 18S5 • /ifcei%.:■■ were 207,766 Negroes in itf ^n^/apnie of, them were exhc?ig;8 |hd, or, a few were local. all of them were real members, of the , Methodist Episcopal Churoln, ■ ~ iijOW> rw \ 11 y> ijyv ii 11'> • •' * South, and to her glory ffl^y ft hr «aid . On the Congo there are about nine hundred member^ ^qt^.our they will be coming err General Conferences. Sente of these very black Southern Method, lets, and some pf them will' be preachere and later on one edit be a By common consent for eeptarie* jthe human race has been divided ia to white, yellow, and black people. We have in our Church 2,3Q6. Japan ese, 8,414 Koreans, 10,90? . Chin, ese, and 4,802 Indian®, aggregating 26,423 yellow people. Several hna c’red of these are preachers, and by and'by some will be bishops, and they are ,not white people, but ail of them are members of the Methodist Episcopal Churchy South;' afid some of them come and serve as delegates in our General ^Conferences, and more of them will come. Besides all of these, let us put 371,546. preachers and members of the Colo rod Meth odist Episcopal! Church, pt which the much-loved and honored Bishop Lane is the senior bishop, for they arc our wards, and are in a very es sential sense black Southern Methr odists - . Is our Church "a wh'te man’s Church?” God forbid! Is it not rath 3i', as Bishop Thjrkield says of;his, *a Church as broad as humanity and oe . all-inclusive as . the redemptive Mood of Jesus Christ,” t[ cannot im derstand the significance of all ,of his about the two Negro bishops in :he Northern Methodist Church ivhlch we read from the pehs af‘some outstanding opponents. of tlie pending Plan of Unification if it does hot more than suggest that •'our Church must be made and.kopt, unlike the Method, 'si; Episcopal Church, a distinctly ‘white man’s Church. thousand times no, it mus of Christ’s Chi^ of it: “Go, make dii nations.” (Matt. 28:1 all the world .WSj co the whole 1 15.) N<fman, w mellow, or too •ace or too low^'in aorant.dar too t>er of the ' Church, South; peats and Jesus Christ. It. seems the good bre that the **coh sense an be^jgi not
The Star of Zion (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Dec. 11, 1924, edition 1
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