‘AND YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TR1
VOL. XLV1H.
X Til. a I&'-Jt
1^1 4
||fl
[ II
Bf THE WAT
BY UNCLE BHX1E
Where prosperity Abounds,
friends do much more abound;
and where poverty abounds
friends pass you by on the oth
er side, far, far away; therefore,
immutability is not an attribute
of man.
That two and two make one
is poor arithmetic; and yet we
see such published in the Africo
American Presbyterian. Read
the issue bearing the date. April
22 under the caption, “Yadkin
Presbytery.”
The addition table runs thus :
“The report of the Council
was adopted with reference to
the program of field activities.
Any church that did not pay its
quota, or at least a part of it,
will not be heard in Presbytery.
“Something new under the
sun occurred at this Presbytery
that we have never known be
fore. Whatever happens, some
body always says, I knew that,
Whether it is good or bad; but
idmething happened in Greens
boro that nobody knew even
could happen. The First Pres
byterian church (white) opened
their doors to the Presbyterial
Society to hold their meetings
in their church. That act alone
shows the splendid standing of
the Rev. H. C. Miller and the
class of men and women that he
preaches to.”
The reference to white .Pres
byterians who opened their
doors to the colored Presbyte
rians, etc., sounds like “some
thing new under the sun,” in
facto; but to say that “Any
church that did not pay its quo
-to^er-aMeast a part of it witt
not be heard in the Presbytery”
is surely “something new under
the sun” if the Presbyterian
Church is operating under a
democratic form of government.
What in print prohibits a Pres
byterian church from being
heard because it has not paid a
specified sum set by the Church ?
Of course, a church that does
not pay what is imposed upon
it by the general Church, or any
part of what the general Church
imposes, is in the light of con
demnation; but by what author
ity is her mouth closed?
One and one make two new
“somethings under the sun.”
This seems to be an era of rev
elation ; strange things are com
ing to pass even in a Church
with a democratic form of gov
ernment.
Era and Epoch.
A poiilt of time from which
a series of years is reckoned,
or a period of time starting
from a given point; as the
Christian era dates from the
birth of Christ and is supposed
to include the years in which we
are now living. Or clearer still,
a series of years in the Presby
terian Church, U. S. A., func
tioning under a democratic
form of government, without
any serious break in doctrine,
law or polity, is called an era.
On the other hand, when the
particular church or general
Church comes together and clos
es a particular church’s mouth,
or particular Presbytery’s
mouth for that matter, and
stands over it and says: “Don’t
speak until you have paid the
uttermost farthing, or a part of
it” you are safe in calling that
point of time an epoch. Some
thing happened that was out
standing in the era; it came to
a head. That is an epoch.
When law-makers stand in
stiff opposition to the enactment
of a law to make lynching a vio
lation of the Federal law, on the
ground that such a law is inter
fering with State’s rights, such
law-makers say in other words
that a State has the right to
lyiich a man. It certainly Whs
true to form that the man who
gets on the wrong side of an
argument sacrifices all sane
courses of reasoning.
The pretty white girls parade
the streets in Charleston with
cigareties in their mouths and
tney just putf away smoke
througn painted lips and watch
the smoge curl and vamsh. Are
tne heauties oi our race some
where trying to decide which
has a sweeter flavor of the two,
a Chesterfield or a Camel?
Are they getting ready to smoke
in the streets and elsewhere?
Parents, preachers and teachers,
speak out anti.
A lady of education and standi
ing asked me a few days ago:
“Hasn't a woman just as much
right to smoke on the highway
as a man ?'' What could I say but
“yes?" and 1 am right. She has
just as much right to smoke ih
the streets as he. But right ip
the social world must have the
approval ol custom and discre
tion written on it ; notwithstand
ing right is .right, if it has not
the approval of custom and dis
cretion, young sister, the world
will bury you in the potter’s
field, away from those who were
once your pals and consulted
discretion.
Prof. C. B. Johnson, in his ar
ticle a few weeks ago, criticises
methods and seems to deplore
the lack of the adhesive ele
ments in a Biddle man to climb
the Sabbath School Missionary
pole and the lack of such ele
ments to stay up the pole if he
is successful enough to climb it.
“Will somebody please answer?"
I met a brother the same day
the piece came out, with writing
material and “material other
wise,” I suppose, saying he was
“going to answer Johnson right
away.” He insisted on giving me
his line of argument, but I told
him I preferred seeing it in
print. But hitherto he has not
“come out.” I don’t know the
facts in the case, but if what he
says is not true, my old friend
and college mate Johnson should
be exposed; and if what he says
is true it is not Christian, and
Johnson should be commended.
A Good Fellow
Twenty-five years ago the class
of ’98 graduated from the The
ological Seminary of Biddle. The
members of the class were few,
only three: W. R. Muldrow, J. M.
Johnson, and Hugh L. Harry.
When they entered the Semina
ry Mr. Sandy D. Thom, who is
our pastor of Radcliff Memorial
church in Atlanta, and who is
now Moderator of Atlantic
Synod, joined the class,
which made the class number
four. This gentleman made an
average of 98 per cent for three
years under a-hard man like the
late Professor Allen P. Bissell,
Ph. D., who received his degree
from a German University,
Leipsic, and who taught Hebrew
in Lane ’76-’77. Mr. Thom, on
account of his high average,
won ten dollars, given by Dr.
Bissell, over the other three of
his class. But he was and is
hitherto generous and thereby
surprised Dr. Bissell and his
classmates, seeing the financial
straits of his classmates, by di
viding the amount equally be
between himself and the other
three.
Real manhood without a col
lege diploma is far more to be
desired than literary proficien
cy minus nianhood. But when
they are united in man we have
A reflection of the Creator. We
have too much of the latter and
very little of the former in many
communities. Such fellows are
dangerous characters. They
are real syhophants; they
come before the assumer of
power and cringe and almost
iawn upon their superiors in
order to incur favor. A man
who is self-centered has such
for his henchmen. And we seq|
far too much of this thing hi
some of our inter-Racial gathers
mgs. Some of these Inter-Ra
cial meetings have done mud
good, but the most of them is tc
Keep tab on the sons of Ham.
They tell you to “be frank and
speak your mind so we can help
you;” and a limber-tongued gets
the floor and outspeaks Cicero^
while some unconcerned looking!
but well informed gentleman
writes him up in shorthand and
reports to the leading citizens*
the next day. This is no suppo
sition nor a guess, but real fact.
I have them before me as I type
this letter.
I am neither too optimistic
nor am I too pessimistic, but the
signs of the times say the worst
is yet ahead for our group and
the American white man, if the
Christian religion continues tb
grow a theory. Just now it is
being used as an agent to push
forward divides, and to central
ize power in a certain group.
Take the Ku Klux Klan for a
single example.
When a young Negro goes
North and uses his liberty for li
cense he makes himself a nui
sance and intolerable; and
through his cpnduct the Whole
Negro race must suffer condem
nation and keen criticism. I j
BETHANY PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH, NORFOLK, VA.
Rev. W. Scott Miller assumed
official charge of our congrega-,
< inn, Tnminiji 1 ntj nfifii »'ififi|pi
relation was dissolved ’by his
decease Thursday, May 6, 1926.'
When he began his work he
found us |ew in number, help
lessly in debt, and bankrupt in
morale. With indefatigable will
he set himself to the task of ton.
ing up our courage, paying off
our debt, and building up our
membership. In all of these re
spects his efforts succeeded.
His most notable achievement
consisted in effecting the release
of an eight thousand dollar debt
and freeing our property of a
cancerous incumbrance. He was
often heard to say that with
this task accomplished he would
regard his service here as end-1
ed. This declaration proved a
prophecy in its tragic realiza
tion.
There can be little doubt that
his vitality was undermined by
his arduous activity in the cause
that lay so heavy on his heart.
Scarcely was his purpose con
summated, and preparation set
in progress for its commemora
tion, when he was notified to lay
his labors down, to set his house
in order and await the summons
from the court of heaven to come
to his reward.
Stricken shortly before the
coming of Presbytery, whose
happy host he was to be, he lan
guished in delirium while his
guests enjoyed the hospitality
he had prepared for them.
He underwent his illness with
calmness and with courage. His
strength endured almost to the
end, but his mind relaxed its
vigor. No doubt he was obli
vious of the moment when he
embarked upon the passage
whence there is no return, but
when, he reached the other
shore and found himself invest
ed with celestial faculties, he re
alized that he had been delivered
from his earthly prison, and
taken bis abode within that
house not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens.
His friends can find no better
way of honoring his memory
than improving the advantages
he has secured for us.
J. RILEY DUNGEE,
Clerk of Session.
PRESBYTERY O
AT ROME, GA.
& .. nil .
Rev, The*. B. Hargrave
_ there
ho regular pastor on this
Fl^;*Av and
coworkeft wdjsS jadStere of
situation. v ^
e have long thought that
.Fortun^missed his calling
sn take theology,
h^.has been just as zealous
as & minister and makes one of
the most powerful laymen we
|ave ever known.
[ The cgM?ig sermon was
reached by Dr.' S. D. Thom, of
tlanta, who preached with his
power. His text was found
Acts. 16:10. theme, “A Great
ftt
The Presbytery was called to
' Rev. Thom and the
»11 wall eaUed. Nearly all the
isters were present.
Election of officers was in or
and Rev. T. L. Kennedy was
:ted Moderator and T. B'^ Har
are, clerk pro tem.; Rev% F.
of Newnan, Vice-Moder
> and Rev. Garrick, of Dak
assistant temporary clerk.
Prof. A. B. Fortune, chairman
the committee of arrange
rs, made a pleasing report.
. Again we heard an outburst
jpf eloquence and oratory in a
elcome address by Elder For
ie. We could not help from
feeling at home in Rome after
' ich a welcome.
Rev. A. A. Wilson, of Decatur,
ide the response.
Thursday morning . Jtev. W.
Wood, of NewgnS^Sundav
100I Missionary ,r :^^4ucted
lahin^-Tbari
was then called to order with
player. The business of the day
began..
Rev. A. A. Wilson, of Deca
tur, presented the Presbytery
with a gavel, made of wood from
the oak tree where the first
Presbytery meeting of colored
Presbyterians in Georgia was
held. This oak tree still stands
in Washington, Ga. Our Moder
ator did not fail to use it with
power. |
Rev. W. D. Wood made an
interesting report on Home Mis
sions and Rev. Garrick on For
eign Missions.
Rev. A. A. Wilson made an
inspiring address on benevolence
and asked that the churches
go over the top with their quo
tas.
Rev. F. Gregg in a masterful
way made a full report on
Christian Education.
Rev. T. L. Kennedy, of Con
yers, made a report on temper
ance and moral welfare.
The meeting adjourned until
2 P. M.
The delegation went to their
places of abode and feasted
highly.
At 2 P. M. sharp the Presby
tery was called to order with
prayer.
; The reports on Sessional Rec
ords were received.
The Sunday school misionary
made a good report, also Dr. S.
D. Thom on church work.
Free conversation on religious
matters was inspiring and all
the workers made good reports.
At 8 P. M., Rev. Griggs of
Haines Institute, Augusta, Ga.,
preached with power from the
theme, “The Man With the With
ered Hand/' A large audience
was present and all enjoyed the
meeting.
Friday was full of activities.
The commissioners to the Gen
eral Assembly are Rev; J. R.
Harris; alternate, T. B. Har
grave; lay commissioner, Elder
A. B. Fortune; alternate, Elder
Cox, of Atlanta.
Mr. Johnson of Gammon The
ological Seminary, Atlanta, was
appointed Stated Supply of Eb
enezer church.
Dr. Thom made the financial
report for the Presbytery and
Dr. Griggs, of
the General Assembly report
for Dr. Johnson.
The ladies made a grand re
port at the evening session.
Mrs. J. R. Harris, although very
ill, made an excellent address,
is did Mrs. L. A. Gregg, of New*
nan.
Sunday, Rev. T. L. Kennedy
preached and Rev. W. D. Wood
inducted the model Sunday
School.
The Presbytery adjourned to
meet in Augusta. We shall never
forget the pleasing hospitably
>f the people of Rome.
ATLANTIC PRESjifcrERIAL
Being somewhat mocfest about
writing up what transpired on
our field at the meeting of At
lantic Presbyterial, which con
vened here April 15th, 1926, 1
bad been waiting to give some
one else a chance to blow oux
born for us, but it seems as it
every one is silent* and, being
the Corresponding Secretary, 1
feel sure that it is my duty to
let the friends know of oux
meeting and to begin to blow
it ourselves. Why not?
Atlantic Presbyterial was held
in the auditorium of the Lari
mer Parochial School Devo
tionals were led by Mrs. W. H
Faden, oi Adam's Run.
The theme of our Thursday
afternoon session was "Our
Many Responsibilities to Our
Young People.” The many pa
pers read and discussed showed
a thorough knowledge of the
subjects assigned by the pro
gram committee. The discus
sions were both helpful and in
spiring. Excellent papers were
read by Mrs. B. K. Myers, of
Gillisonville, and Mrs. G. D. Har:
rlsoftHaf'Oraiigelmi'g.
Singleton gave an excellent re
port of our Synodical meeting.
Mrs. J. L. Pearson’s eulogy of
Mrs. Emma Frayer, who died a
short while before, was quite im
pressive. Our county nurse,
Miss Jennie S. Trezevant, read
an excellent paper on Child
Health and made a strong ap
peal to the mothers for the care
and protection of their daugh
ters. This was indeed a treat
and a talk so very much needed.
We wished that more mothers
had been out. This meeting
was largely attended by the
women of the local community,
which was indeed gratifying.
Thursday Evening, 8:30
The Woman’s Popular meet
ing began with music by the
choir. There was Scripture by
Mrs. G. D. Harrison, and prayer.
The welcome address was given
by Mrs. W. L. Metz. The re
sponse was ably made by Mrs.
M. A. Sanders.
Next was the President’s mes
sage by Mrs. S. E. Gray.
Mrs. M. M. Jones then
spoke. The principal ad
dress was delivered by Prof. A.
A. Adair, on “The Training of
Young Peoeple for Christian!
Service.” Two very beautiful
solos were rendered by Mes
dames J. L. Pearson and 0. 6.
Sanders. The church choir fur
nished music also.
The collection amounted to
$45.16.
Friday Morning
The business meeting was
opened with devotionals.
Reports from the local socie
ties were read and received.
They mostly showed some im
provements in our societies. The
financial report was the best in
the history of the Presbyterial,
the full quota having been paid
to the Boards.
A committee was appointed
to draft a new constitution and
by-laws. ?
The next business of impor
tance was the election of offi
cers. Reelected: President,
Mrs. S. E. Gray, John’s Island,
S. C.; Cor. Secretary, Mrs. W. L,
Metz, Edisto Island; Treasurer,
Mrs. S. H. Richardson, Charles?
ton. Mrs. 0. B. Sanders re
qmrements. The total amount
collected at this meeting was
$104.68.
| The delegation attending the
meeting was unusually large
for the Spring meeting and
some of the Principals of out
schools have found out that a
few days’ Spring holiday will
do no harm, that some of their
wives and teachers might attend
Presbytery. All expnfliM
themselves as being pleisin
with Edisto Island, etc.
We were delighted to have
Presbytery meet with Us and
feel sure that, imod racnlti will '
feel sure that good results will
be obtained from this meeting
of Presbytery.
MRS. W. L. METZ,
f Cor. Sec.
MORRISTOWN (TENN.) PA
ROCHIAL SCHOOOL.
Dear Dr. McCrorey: Will you
rindly give' publication to the
following items?
The writer in company with
Miss Lectia T. Snapp and Miss
Pearl Carson, teachers of our
local schools* motored to Mor
ristown, Tenn., May 5th, to wit
ness the closing exercises of one
of our parochial schools.
The Morristown
ml
most successful terms in its his
tory. Monday evening ‘‘The
Golden Circle of Time” was giv
en by the students, conducted by
Misses Leabough and Nance.
Tuesday .evening the play,
"The Truth of This Folly,” was
given by the Grammar Grade
students, directed by Miss Sallie
H. Pittillo.
Wednesday evening a beau
tiful play was tendered by the
Senior class, entitled, "Alias
Miss Sherlock,” directed by Miss
Pittillo.
One of the most delightful
numbers of the evening Was a
beautiful class song, composed
by Miss Ruby Leabough, and
sung by the class.
The diplomas were presented
by Dr. W. C. Hargrave, of Dan
dridge, Tenn., who, with a few
well chosen words, explained
each letter in the class motto,
bidding the class to go forward
in the furtherance of their edu
cational attainments.
Eight persons received the
school’s diploma. Three of the
young ladies of the class will
take a college course at Barber
College. One will teach and take
a course in music. The two
young men of Hie class will
work at their trades as mechan
ics. Others—two—have not aa
yet decided as to their future ac
tions.
This school is doing great
good in the progressive little
city of Morristown. The trou
ble with it, as with many other
of our schools, is that it is ham
pered for want of rdom to do
its work properly. They need a
building so that they won’t have
to use the church auditorium
for class work, and also for the
closing exercises, or other enter
tainments of theschool. •
On Wednesday evening stand
ing room was at a premium.
Under such conditions they can
not show to advantage the cred
itable work the school is doing.
Dr. E. R. Clarkson, the prin
cipal, is a good schoolman. He
has a record of over twenty
years of successful school work
at this one place.
Oh, that some friend would
(Continued on page 4)