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VOL. XL VIII.
- The most lively and stirring
theme before the American peo
ple today in state and Church,
is the Volstead Act or the 18th
Amendment to the Federal Con
stitution. That the ultimate
fate of this humane, and benefi
cent act should even seem to
rest in the balance after the ex
perimental period of a few years
is a very sad commentary on
our boasted progress^ proud civ
ilization, and even Christianity.
For whatever else might be said,
this act per se has been more
fruitful of good to all the peo
ple of the country, and has
proven to be more far-reaching
in its benignant effects than
any other that has found its
way to th$ statute books, and
has richly earned a place as
part the organic law of the
land. None more wise and im
portant has been enacted into
law within a centary perhaps.
There are those in our group
who firmly believe^ tins act nas
come in the evolution of the di
vine plan to purge and purify
the American people, hence, it
cannot long rest in the balance,
if at all, neither go backward nor
miscarry. It must and will
meet the divine purpose, to wit,
the deliverance of the most pro
gressive and aggressive group
of the human family—the peo
ple of the United States—from
the thraldom of the rum demon
—finally the world.
It is quite natural and a thing
to be expected, that the secu
lar element of the country
should entertain varying views
fljjhiecijjt
.. .
r_ion, hence, break up in
to hostile and madly contending
camps. The fight when con
fined to the realm of politics
gathers more than passing no
tice and interest as it promises
a decidedly temporary advan
tage or disadvantage to the
pros and cons.
For already men are translat
ing the ^retention or abrogation
of the Volstead law into national
issues that will overshadow all
others in the next Presidential
campaign. Prohibition thus
employed largely loses its moral
force and effect and is degraded
into a matter of political expe
aiency.
But here is a new world won
der. The church of Jesus
Christ seems almost as evenly
and hopelessly divided as any
other organized body, if we are
to credit current press reports.
The clamor for some form of
modification or even the repeal
of the Volstead law rings out as
loud ana clear from some quar
ters of the Church as from any
unholy camp of the world. It
seems to this lay writer that it
this subject had but the single,
saving element, to wit, the Ifft
ing of American manhood and
womanhood into a higher and
purer atmosphere, the Church,
the Christian Church—ought to
be able without ^scruple, bent
or bias, to present a united front
and stand full four square to
the heavens. /The wonder be
comes more wonderful when
one considers the social, eco
nomic, civic and the less notice
able values, blessings %nd ben
efits that fall into the lap of
all the people following in the
of temperate living
rttfther forced or voluntary.
!ut I have gone very far
Jd generalizing, and must
„ t back to my chosen theme—
rhe Attitude of the Colored
American to the Volstead Law
M- Prohibition.
When it comes to the matter
rf violating the prohibition law,
[ freely and frankly confess,
with shame and confusion of
face, that the colored American
can’t take to himself very large
comfort, while pointing a scorn
ful finger into the face of some
other with the taunt, “holier
than thou.’’/>
Vet since in any local or
country-wide issue, the final set
tlement ojl which vitally affects
the whole people, the man of
color is kept under closest sur
veillance, and actions are care
fully watched and subjected to
critical scrutiny, his attitude to
any such issue should be made
up on facts And evidence. What
are the facts and evidence be
fore the court of public opinion
in making up his attitude to the
|l8th Amendment? He seems
possessed of an insatiable appe
tite and an inordinate desire for
intoxicants. His dispositon to
drink to excess is almost well*
inigh proverbial. In addition to
this the frequency with which
he is caught in charge of an il
licit still, watching a blind tiger,
with small quantities of whiskey
bn his person, haled into court,
takes a sentence, a fine or both,
and thus earns free publicity
through daily press reports, an
jgo very far in determining pop
ularly his attitude to the 18th
Amendment. I am not inclined
to enter into a discussion of the
thus
but
fairness or unfairness of
determining his attitude;
since there are facts more ger
mane and bearing more decid
edly upon the matter under con
sideration, they ought to be al
lowed and duly credited.
That such facts are available
and adducible ought to cheer
the man of color, his friends
and all truth-loving and fair
minded people. Any just and
fair determination of the
attitude 'of the colored Amer
cab
faff1";
Amendment, must take into ac
count, primarily, his activities
in connection with the manufac
ture of contraband liquors.
Here it needs only to be noted
and said, if he figures at all, it
is as a moorer, and hence, be
comes nothing more than the
dead machinery harnessed in
the service of some master
mind. His part the country
round, therefore, as a manufac
turer in violation of law is neg
ligible.
In the second place, his con
nection with and interest in the
illicit sale and dispensation are
as little worthy of serious no
tice, as his participation in the
manufacture. If he enters the
field of trade at all, he can come
in one oj. two ways: he must
enter either as employe, or is
duped in under the delusion
that sooner or later it will prove
to be “a gold brick.”, In either
case he almost inyariably be
comes a willing tool of someone
“higher up.>
Third, ''when it comes to the
matter of administering and en
forcing the prohibition pro
vision, the colored American
stands eliminated and is not en
couraged to cherish even the
faintest hope of a look-in. In
this respect all doors seem per
manently closed in his face.
From these important and sig
nificant points of view, it would
seem that he has not played the
leading role in violating the
prohibition law, nor does he
share largely the responsibility
for failure in the law to meet
the ends of its enactment. The
question of obeying or violating
the prohibition law becomes one
purely and simply of patriotism,
morals and religion as far as it
concerns the man of color. It
does not appeal to him as a bus
iness proposition since it is
hedged about by legal
restraints. It is noteworthy
and goes down to his everlasting
credit that whenever and wher
ever he has been allowed voice
or vote on prohibition, that voice
has been generally lifted, and
that vote nas been cast and re
corded on the side of law and or
der. He has been uncomplain
ing, has taken no concerted ac
tion, has entered no protest, and
no studied and unified opposi
tion to the 18th Amendment
can be set to his account. No
reguest or petition for modifi
tion, repeal or otherwise has
emanated from him. While he,
perhaps, is proportionately the
greatest sufferer as a violator
and an evn doer under the law,
he cannot De charged with being
the greatest malcontent.
Touched with all the feelings
and infirmities of a man; heir
to the propensities of a de
praved and sinful nature; sur
rounded by the most powerful
stimuli and manifold tempta
tions, who wonders that he
should at times fall victim to vi
olating the prohibition law?
il wish it distinctly understood
{that I enter no plea and make
jno apology for the shortcorangs
of this man in living up to the
requirements of tins most phil
anthropic law* But I would like
to see, and suggest that the
jrules of the game—fairness to
all—be followed and applied in
!a matter so vital as determining
the real attitude of the colored
American to the i8th Amend
ment. I teel if this is done, the
eye of suspicion which now rests
so intently upon him will find
time to turn in some other direc
tion, and . the suspicion that
falls upon him as a standing
menace to law and order will he
perceptibly lifted. At any rate,
it will do much to sfiVe him bit
ing, bitter, and withering criti
cism, hasty and unrighteous
judgment, harsh and undue cen
sure. I plead for him no ex
ception in the application and
enforcement of the law. For
already the American man of
color has reaped by far the
ine and substantial citizenship,
and his growing desire and dis
position to participate in the
larger ana more general human
concerns have been noticeably
increaseu. His economic and
civic relations and condition,
and even religious status are
all changing for the better.
Finally, since all that is here
in claimed for him is true, he
can be counted on to align him
self with all the forces at work
to save the country and con
serve tne principles of right
eousness. He can be relied on
to do his full bit in the prohibi
tion crisis now before the coun
try as he has done in all the
past. The Church as such needs
have no misgivings as to where
her colored contituency stands
on pronioition, if I have proper
ly senseu and analyzed the at
titude of the colored American
to the 18th Amendment. For all
this is remarkable, unique, on
viable.
Yours for truth and fairness,
A. U. FRIERSON.
Lancaster, S. C.,
Box 146.
JOHN HALL CHURCH, CAR
THAGE.
By Mrs. Belle M. Jackson
Sunday morning, July 25,
Rev. P. N. Boykin preached a
very helpful and practical ser
mon from Ecclesiastes 11:6.
Just after the morning ser
vice we entered into the Sab
bath school and the lessons
were enjoyed by all. It was for
merly suggested that the class
raising the highest amount
would be given a picnic. Great
enthusiasm prevailed through
out the Sunday school. The
Young People’s Division, taught
by Miss Alice E. Kelly, defeated
the other classes by raising the
sum of $20.31. {The total
amount raised was $43.00. The
amount appropriated to be sent
to the Board of National Mis
sions was $50.
The instructors conducting
the Daily Vacation Bible School
are having much success with
the work.
The Children’s Day exercise
was largely attended at Ingram
(Continued on page 3)
Synodical Convention and School of Methods, Haines Institute,
Augusta, Georgia, August, 1925.
ation and s
ready beei
the vacati
y, P. D.
aran<?es
entions
Methods
full and
From all
our four
and Schools
are going1
overflowin
Registration
ing in rap
are being
course
way to
rooms—re;
'Fhese
nd
e com?
d rooms
ed. Of
only
.picfc
eari:
recre
ve al
on
vacatM)j calendar
ux a so.odbftjfaMriher of
persons arid they look
forward to going to
Swift, Haines, J. C.
Smith University and
Cotton Plant- Academy
with the same regulari
ty that they go to their
places of business. I was
told by a man the other
day that he has been
present in all of the con
ventions for four years,
he and his wife, but this
year he is going to bring
his four children. And
we will be glad to have
those children, too. Pro
visions will be made for
them and the . mother
will have ample conven
iences in any of the con
ventions to care for the
children.
A letter from a pastor
states, At last I have
succeeded in getting
every auxiliary in my
church to agree to send
a delegate to the School
of Methods this year.”
Another one writes,
“Whom should we send
and how many?” You
can realize at once that
this church has never
been with us before. We
welcome them this year.
That’s not a bad ques
tion, though; is it?
Just “ whom to send”
needs to be gone into
very carefully on the
part of our churches.
Pick out the most prom
ising ones in your
school, Young People’s
Society or from the
church at large. «Or
would it be easier to tell
you those you ought not
to send? No teacher that
is disinterested in her
work, no head of any de
partment that is only
there out of respect for
age; no young person
whom you wish to re
form should be sent to
the School of Methods.
1 We have a line-up this
year in class leadership
that is unexcelled in any
one of the white confer
ences. Those who have
been selected to teach
bur Bible classes are
inen of ripe experience
and intellect—such men
pie, Dr. West, Dr. Jack
son and others. I heard
Dr. Jackson preach for
a week not long ago. I
say unreservedly that
he is in a class by him
self.
Our own Miss Perci
val has returned from
Boston University
where she spent the
past school year. She is
ready and full of the
best in her line. Miss
Dawson, of Iowa, is a
gifted athlete and
promises to put some
new thrills in our recre
ations. What has been
said about these can be
said about all the other
members of the Faculty.
Have you noticed our
list of speakers? Read
your program. The
names of Prof. Sea
brook, Rev. Francis,
and Rev. C. A. Eding
ton should be sufficient
to guarantee what is in
store for us. -Please
note also that we have
a Woman’s Night in our
popular evenings’ pro
gram. Such speakers as
Mrs. H. W. McNair, of
Kentucky, Mrs. H. L.
McCrorey, of Charlotte,
and Mrs. J. T. Douglas,
of South Carolina, are
to grace our rostrum.
Sure, fte old “stand
bys” will be there. Car
you conceive of our haw
ing a Convention with
out Miss Kinniburgh,
Mrv Black and Mr. Som
eriidike? If you want tc
see Presidents White
(Mrs.) Clark, Watkins
and Crowell smile, pile
up a big delegation at
these conventions.
; You will note from
your programs that the
East Tennessee , .Con
vention meets at Barber
College this year, open
ing August 9th.
_;_J_:_' ,
SPECIAL NOTICE — EAST
YADKIN CONVENTION.
! The members of Silver Hill
jchurch are in full effort in
their endeavor to make the S.
S. Convention which convenes
at their church, August 12-15,
the best-ever held in the Yad- ,
kin Presbytery. Silver Hill
community is the . ideal of.
Scotland County for" sdawdi
people. >4 4
We are also trying to plan the,
most economical way of travel,
for the delegates and friends,
coming to this convention; in
doing so, we offer the following,
plan:
All delegates coming by * the.
way of Sanford, Aberdeen, and
Hoffman are advised to come;
down on the “Shu Fly”. Thursr
day morning and get off at.
Hoffman, where you will be met.
by cars to take you to Silyer
Hill for the price of $1.00. This;
will make a net saving, for you
of about $1.00 one way. Wei
will also return you to Hoffman
for the same rate ($1.00). Re
member, we are only going to
meet the “Shu Fly” Thursday;
morning; all persons coming af
ter Thursday morning had bet
ter come to Laurinburg. So we .
advise ministers and superintend
dents to see to it that your del
egates have $2.00 . outside of
their R. R. fare to Hoffman.
Explain this fully, to your del-,
egates before leaving. - ?
On Sunday we are planning a
great service and are expecting
folks from all over the district.
We are requesting all delegates
and visitors to send in their
names immediately to
REV. J. B.. FRANCIS,
P. 0, Box, 312,
Eaurinburg, N. C.
EBENEZER PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH, HENDERSON
VILLE
..
Sunday, July 25th, _ Rev.. W,
G. Hamilton delivered the*
morning sermon - for . the Rey,i
Brannon at the| Star- of Bethel
Baptist church. Rev. Brannon i
filled Rev. Hamilton’s pulpit in,,
the afternoon and preached an;
inspiring sermon. After, the
sermon Deacon Dempsey, Reid, s
took charge as It, was -his day*
He was head eaptain and was..)
successful in raising the* most
money. The results are as folr
lows': . ■ • >■
Deacon Demp»»hb|Reid, $38;,;
Elder Jason JqN0u425; Mrs./
L.- A. Whitley,' $22<50.‘Totftl,
185.50.
'-1 ■, J JUf. JJ - r;
) Human life is flO**shriiirti!that*
we must learn from /experi
» ences of others ?fes weft/ ail* ott*;
* own. * *‘rt- wfh.: o</!