■M A-. U«K30WfATlll>#WlTl* m . t
T8E SOUTHERN EVANGELIST.
Rev. H. L. McCR0REY, D. D.. LL. D.,
Editor. '>.(
'■* W. E. HILL, Associate Editor.
Rev. C. P. PITCHFORK,
• Business Manager. ,
Devoted to the Educational, Mate
rial, Moral and Religious interests
of our people in the South, and pub
lished at Charlotte, N. C., every
Thursday.
All questions arising under the va
rious subjects above indicated are
discussed from a Christian point of
view. Each number contains the
freelist and best news , from the
Southern field,and from the Church
at large. There carefully lelect
ed reading matter suited to all class
es of our people—the farmer, the
mechanic, the artisan and ' the pro
fessional man.
The Sabbath School and Mission
ary causes will receive special at
tention. ;
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION.
Single copy one year
Six months....—.—~. .76
rhree months_-— JO
RATES OF ADVERTISING
Given on Application
We earnestly ask the sympathy
anil praye:s of onr brethren and
friends at large in order that our
; efforts in this enterprise may be
crowned with success.
AGENTS WANTED—to whom a
liberal commission will be paid. >
Send all money by P. O. Money
Order, Registered Letter or Bank
Check, otherwise it might get lost
and the sender alone will be respon
sible. ,.
Entered at the Postoffice at Char
lotte, N. G., as second class matter.
THURSDAY, 0(?T. 28,1926
The Africa - Americ;
87«.
DR. WEST AND BIDDLE
VILLE CHURCH.
The celebration this week of
v the tehth anriiversary of Dr. L.
B. West as minister of the Bid
dleville church has given oppor^
tunity for his members and
^ friends to express their appreci
ation, pt the worth and service
- of this talented young preacher.
1 -Uf4 West man of: high spkr
v: ituality, a fine,, pastor, with
exceptional gifts as a speak
er, and withal a lovable
man. He is not only popular
with, his own people, but enjoys
..the admiration and friendship
of other congregations who are
delighted to have him preach for
them. . .
The Biddleville church has
made admirable progress under
his ministry, and with the inspi
ration got from a review of the
past ten years’ accomplishments,
the record of the next decade
should show creditable advance
in all departments of the
church’s work. Like most pas
tors whose lives are wrapped
vip in their work, Dr. West has
ideals for his church which sewn
hard - of ’ attainment, but lie be
lieves that the .' Biddleville
church, united, aggressive and
functioning vigorously, in all de
partments, is destined under the;
divine blessing to exert a larger
influence for good-in the imme
diate community as the years
pass. In this faith he faces the
future Hopefully.
ARE PRESBYTERIANS, U. S.
A., IN THE SOUTH, TO AD
VANCE OR RETREAT?
By Rev. Z. A. Dockery, D. D.
To some readers* this question
may be a surprise, especially
when it is known that one who
has taught and preached in the
Presbyterian Church for 18 or
20 years is asking it. . But the
writer is very much concerned
about the apparent condition
which is rapidly approaching
and whicn is by no means en
couraging. And, too, from past
reeord, we do not seem to be
sufficiently elastic to meet the
requirements, bit prefer re
treat. All of our^scuse-making
ing is simply an:, evidence of a
tendency to retreat, or a willing
ness to agree to an unmanly
compromise.
We have not been loyal to the
Church’s missions. In years
, prim: to. the World War our
greatest effort was to fill each
space in our annual reports
with one dollar. We often came
short of doing that. After the
World War our Church, like all
other Churches, faced new re
sponsibilities, which required a
great deal more money to ac-1
complish them. The Church
'decided to put on a drive that
might reach every congregation
to the latent that every mem
ber might share the great task.
This drive caused the colored
churches to multiply their con
tributions many times. But, in
the first place, we have not yet
measured up to our task by far.
Again, our multiplied gifts
have hot kept us even Vith our
former records. For, while we
have paid more since the war,
our increased cost to the Church
has been far more in proportion
than our increased giving. Be
cause of such dependence upon
others and the shameful lack of
interest in the missions of the
Church we are now suffering.
We should not allow others to
do for. us the things Tor which,
through our doing, God plans to
bless us.
The first evidence of our suf
fering is seen in our flat failure
to build our churches into inde
pendent states. For, with few
exceptions, they are weaklings
and beggars. We seem to for
get the fact that the secret of
growth is systematized, personal
effort. Also that the gifts of
others may open the way into
a great opportunity but when
such gifts are such as to cause
neglect Oj. needed personal ef
forts and contributions, then
such gifts cause paralysis-par
tial or total. Frankly, a lack of
proper struggle for self-support
has crippled our congregations.
Our first great mistake is our
failure to put more of our pray
ers and money into missions.
Jesus Christ accepts no com
promise or excuse when he says,
“Go ye .and teach all na
tions.” Tnis mission is the pur
pose for which the congregation
h^s its authority for exist
ence. Nor will prayers and
preaching cause spiritual pow
er when the congregation refuse
to obey. So after all of our ex
cuse-making we are rapidly fac
ing a great dearth in our church
es/
The second trouble is the
ministry in the churches. The
ministry is being cut off at both
ends: at the first by a lack of
inspiration to preach the gospel;
at the latter end by dearth and
feebleness.^ ; \ . . / .
Ons of the results is our va
cant pulpits, with small congre
gatiohs which are not willing to
support missions, are multiply
ing. In most cases these pulpits
must empty some other pulpit
or they will remain vacant. But
they have not much salary to*
offer and some of them have no
manse. So the only hope to fill
most of these pulpits is to ap
peal to the Board for more mon
ey with which to compete with
some other church which the
Board is supporting. Do all not
see the accumulative and yet un
necessary burden which we are
causing the Church to stagger
under? And, in the meanwhile,
we are suffering under the
curse of robbing God, and why?
Because we will not give, as we
should, our means to support
the Church.
At the last meeting of the
Catawba Synod at Wilmington,
N. C., it was brought out that in
a single case the Synod had paid
to a Board during the year $800
but the Synod had drawn out
from that Board $11,000.
I fear very much that if con
didates for the ministry are to
be inspired by the spiritual life
of the cnurches as it is shown
by the support, they will be very
few.
But tnere is another side—
this increasing tension must be
relieved or broken. We have-;
asked the question, “Are Pres
byterians, U. S. A., fit* the
South, to advance or retreat?”
This question is not to be evad
ed mucn longer. There is a
stubborn fact staring us in the
face, via., wow much longer will
our increasing demands upon
the Churcn: for more money to
keep us going be tolerated, in
view of our present rate of giv
ing, and our annual net result
in memDersiup ?
Now, then, saying the above
is not an indication of my dis
couragement. • The necessary
Change must take place in the
pulpit or there is no remedy.
NOTICE
The AnnuaL Workers’ Con
ference is to be held at Johnson
C. Smith University, Char
lotte, N. C., January 25-28,1827.
JOHN M. GASTON,
Secretary and Assist. Treaa,
COUNTEE, CULLEN ON
STAFF OF OPPORTUNITY.
I•' | *r ir$ ^
Countee Cullen, poet and au
thor of color, whose verse has
charmed thousands and captuted
new friends for vthe race, has
been added to the staff of Op
portunity.: Journal of Negro
Life, published by the National
Urban League.
Mr. Cullen’s position will be
that of assistant to the editor
in that magazine’s growing
work and programs. He will se
lect its poetry and counsel with
the hundreds of young writers
whose eager demands have long
exceeded the magazine’s means
of attending them adequately.
Me will contribute occasional ar
ticles and conduct a monthly
column of substantial discussion
on booKS and personalities, so
cial and literary trends signifi
cantly related to tjie Negro and
race relations in general;
Aside from Mr. Cullen’s extra
ordinary gifts which have car
ried him to the first rahks of
American poets, he brings an
unusual equipment for the de
liberate programs Of Opportuni
ty. He is a graduate of New
York University, a ,Phi Beta
Kappa, a Master of Arts from
Harvard University, a brilliant
and successful competitor in
several Negro poetry contests;
editor of the special issue of
Palms; one who, although
young, has contributed to prac
tically all the fdajor literary
magazines in this country, and
is, perhaps, the best known of
the younger Negro poets in Eu
ropean circles. He is a fortunate
addition to the staff of a journal
which already includes Eric
Walrond, author, of Tropic
Death, the ’ recently published
volume of starkly realistic Car
ibbean stories, and Gwendolyn
Bennett, whose Ebony Flute
has drawn warm praise for its
constant delights.
“I WUZ DE KICKER”
Over in Johnston* Cotnity they
have a fine up-to-dite county
hospital with a colQred charity
ward for which the.Negro people
raised over a thousand dollars
under the direction,-of Mrs.
Laura J. King, Supervisor of
Negro schools, who has been of
great help to Mrs. I)j J. Thurs
ton, the county superintendent
of public welfare.
Mrs. King was making her
first vist to the ward, and as she
entered a black face disappeared
under the sheet. She walked to
the bed and gently removed the
cover to see who the first pa
tient was.
“Miss King,” came a small
voice from the still patient. “I
sho’ is shame to see you, ’cause
when you wuz axin’ fer money
to build dis place I wuz de kick
er, and never gave nary cent.
An’ here I is—de fust to git de
benefit. If de good Lord ’lows
me to git out again, I sho’ means
to work out ten dollars and give
to dis hospital.”—N. C. Public
Welfare Progress.,
NEGRO BAPTISTS OUTNUM
BER WHILES IN NEW
YORK AND CHICAGO.
New York, Oct. 23.—CAP)—
The migration of Negroes from
the South has been sp great dur
ing the last few years, the board
of missionary cooperation of the
Northern Baptist Convention
announced today that there are
at the present time more Negro
than white Baptists in both New
York and Chicago. I
The increase has been so great
in Detroit that whereas there
were only five Negro Baptist
churches there in 1917 there
now are 60.
The Northern influx of Ne
groes and the great increase
throughout the cpuntry of
widespread unchurched subur
ban belts were named as two
outstanding problems to be met
by a special $1,000,000 fund to
be raised next year by Northern
Baptists for church building.
r ’
RESPONDING TCP DR, GAS
TON’S APPEAL.
Let us make Dr. Gaston
smile. He asked all of his work
ers to send him from $35.00 to
$40.00 soon. If we can’t do it
let us do it any way. I have sent
$5.00 and will send $35.00 more
this weex.
> N. BELL.
Huntersville, N. C.
October 25r
SCOTIA CHAPTER OP NEW
YORK AND VICINITY.
The first fall meeting of the
Scotia Chapter of New York
and vicinity met at the home of
Mrs. Emma Milledge Wise, 65
W. 140th St., New York City,
September 26, 1926, at 3:30 P.
M.
The chapter includes New
Jersey, New York City and
Brooklyn. The chapter is one
of the most active clubs of this
city and has many activities
during the season.
The spacious living and dining
rooms of the hostess were filled
very eany. Plans are nearing
completion for the annual Hope
Chest Contest. The contest, one
of the chapter’s outstanding
events each year in the wintry
season, is expected this year to
surpass all former records. The
object of this contest is to help
swell the funds for our scholar
ships and charity activities. Any
young lady not a member of the
chapter is elegible to compete
for the chest. The girl selling
[the highest number of votes
gets the chest. There jure three
[other prizes given.
After all outstanding busi
ness was transacted the business
meeting adjourned. Our social
hour then began which included
a short program with short ad
dresses by Mr. A. P. Allison,
Mesdames Sanders and Allison.
The hostess graciously served
a delicious luncheon. Mrs. Spen
cer, of Montreal, Canada, was
guest of the chapter. Mrs. Lau
ra Pressly Williams, one of our
members, who now resides in
Chicago, was with us. After
spending a profitable as well as
enjoyable afternoon the meet
ing adjourned to meet with
Misses Annie Henderson and
Ella Saxon, 244 W. 63rd St., Oc
tober 24th.
Officers of the chapter are
Emma Milledge Wise, President;
Daisy Everett Campbell, Vice
President; Carrie Snowden
Jones, Recording Secretary;
Rose Lowe, Social Secretary;
Carrie Ward Moultrie, Treasur
er.
' Members present were Mrs.
Jennie Hughes Allison of New
ark, N. J.; Mrs. H, E. Bowers,
Mr*. Willie Bowers Harris, Mrs.
Carrie Ward Moultrie, Mrs. G.
Williamson, Mrs. Daisy Everett
Campbell, Englewood, N. J.;
Miss Theo. Gibson, Miss Annie
Henderson, Mrs. Hilton, Mrs.
Daisy Judge, Miss Rose Lowe,
Mrs. R. V. Lee, Mrs. Carlotta
Willy, Mrs. V. Sneed Sherwood,
Mrs. Ella Saxon, Mrs, Mattie
Johnson Sitgraves, Mrs. D. J.
Sanders, Miss Clara Twine, Mrs.
Emma Milledge Wise, Mrs. Janie
Ryals Williams, Mrs. Laura
Pressley Williams, Mrs. Carrie
Snowden Jones.
MRS. CARRIE S. JONES.
HAUNTED BY HER PAST
After 15 years of happiness
as wife and mother, a woman’s
conscience is asking her ques
tions. Her father deserted his
family when she was 5. As an
unprotected girl in her teens
she met with several unfortu
nate experiences. Later in life
she met the -man she married
who frankly told her he had a
past. This woman, a true and
faithful wife and a good moth
er, is now tormented by the
question whether she should
keep silent and stay happy or
tell her husband of her previous
life and take the consequences.
She finally submitted her prob
lem to the Rev. S. Parkes Cad
man, who answered:
“Your wisest course under
t he circumstances is to share
your secret with none but God.
Why destroy the happiness of
your home? Both you and your
husband have memories you
would like to blot out. His can
dor apparently insured your
forgiveness, but you are not
certain your candor would in
sure his. The best plan for you
is to forget the past so far as
you and he are concerned. You
should not allow a sad past to
overshadow a future which
your devoted children can
brighten. They have a right to
the love and reverence they feel
toward you. The rest you can
leave to One who is greater
than your heart.”
It is part of a preachers’ duty
to act as umpire over affairs in
two worlds. Dr. Cadman seems
equal to it.—Capper’s Weekly.
If you would win a man to
your cause, first convince him
that you are his sincere friend.
“THOU SHALT NOT 8TBAL,”
B y lev. York* Jones, D.
W. v 0P I. "■? ’ '
“Alice, tty life has keen so lone
ly.”
Breathed slick-haired Andrew,
Hazel-brown, one morn
As he took Alice, his wife,
In his arms as he was going
Out to his office and she ,
To her school. He was a dentist—
She a graded school-teacher.
They were about the same age—
Thirty-five—having wed a year ago.
There was a reason Alice
Had not wed sooner.
Andrew Wright had been a widower.
“I married early in life,
My wife died leaving me a child;
He died when he was six.
I never saw anyone I wanted
Until I saw you, Alice-”
H
That same balmy April day,
Four-thirty, William Walsingham,
A mailing clerk, who,
Two days in the week
Had a stop-over in Oakville,
Occupied his long-time
Acquaintance’s deptal chair.
They had been brought up
Together in a distant city.
They had been rivals
For the hand of Andrew’s
First wife, now deceased.
Dr. Andrew Wright’s winning
Had made William Walsingham
And the dentist friend-enemies—
Friends in all seeming,
But neither liking the other.
Only six months had
Mailing Clerk Walsingham
Been having a stop-over
In Oakville.
He had visited the home
Of the Wrights.
For Walsingham’s wife,
Muriel Andrienne,
And Wright’s second wife
Had been brought up together
In Belton—their families
Being old citizens in Belton.
Walsingham, when he visited
The Wright’s, had much talk
With Alice about girlhood
Incidents of Alice and Muriel,
Told him.by Muriel.
Wright, enthusiastically in love
With his wife, eagerly heard
And enjoyed every incident
Walsingham could recall.
Alice, however, was often
Confused and embarrassed
By these reminiscences,
And would change
The conversation
Whenever she cpuld do so.
m
“Alice, do you think it
Makes you too old
For Will Walsingham to talk
About girlhood days of yours
And his wife?”
“Why do you ask that,
Andrew?” replied Alice,
In a voice even yet one
Which suppressed emotion.
“Nothing, except that
I notice you usually
Switch him off from talk
About your life, when you
And Muriel were growing up.”
This talk took place
Between the Wrights
After Walsingham had
Been running into Oakville
About four months.
IV
Walsingham was now
In Doctor Wright’s chair,
Having dental work done,
Engagement to do which
Had been made three weeks
Before that afternoon.
Conversation between the two
Touched the boyhood
Of the two men, then
Their social activities—
Including Wright’s
Victory over Walsingham
In Wright’s first marriage.
V
“I never dreamed, Will,
That after Lula’s death and
My boy Andrew’s death,
That I could ever be
Happy again—happy
As I am with Alice.”
Walsingham seemed
To wince in the chair.
Wright was naturally
A great talker; and he
Talked to distract the attention
Of his patients—to distract
Attention from their pain.
A man likes to dilate
To life-long acquaintances
On his hard-won successes.
This Wright was doing.
VI
; I was happy with Lula.
But I am happier with Alice.
The fact is, Will Walsingham—
Heaven is just three doors
From the corner of Beech
and Eighth streets, where
Alice and I live.
I used to grieve over
The death of my boy, Andrew:
But God knows best.”
VII
Just then Walsingham
Was allowed to spit.
:—
“Wright, speaking of your
Dead bey, why don’t you let
Alice’s toy come to you?”
—■■■t ■ , - vra
In blank astonishment
Doctor Wright looked at
His friend enemy, Walsingham.
The dentist’s hand trembled.
He opened his mouth, then shut it.
Then he stuttered: “Alice’s boy?
Alice has no boy!"
“O, yes she has! I know him!”
Doctor Wright’s world fell
In a resounding crash!
His friend-enemy had violated this:
“Thou shalt not steal.”
Walsingham had stolen
Andrew Wright’s happiness
By destroying the husband's
Confidence in his wife.
Here is the story:
In girlhood, Alice had loved
Well but not wisely. '
She became a mother.
The father of her child fled.
The child was "given away.
Alice, thereafter, lived
A spotless life, marrying '
When she was past thirty.
Few knew of her mishap:—
Andrew Wright never knew
Until her friend-enemy
Told him, and, thereby,
Stole Andrew Wright’s happiness.
“Thou shalt not steal.”
Aught material,
Nor aught non-material.
MT. TABOR CHURCH*
BLACKSTOCK, S. C.
By Miss Cora Russell
On last Sunday morning, Oc
tober 17, Dr. J. M. Miller, of
Emerson Institute, Blackville,
S. C., preached a soul-stirring
sermon from Matt. 26:41,
“Watch and pray that ye enter
not into temptation; the spirit
indeed is willing, but the flesh
is weak.” His subject was
“Watch.”
Dr. Miller was also given a
few minutes during the Sunday
school hour to speak in the in
terest of bis school^ We hope
by his coming some boy or girl
may be inspired to,go to,Emer
son. We have $ne student there
this term. ,
We were glad jtb have two
members, who have been away
for some time, worship with us,
Mrs. 0, L. McCormick, of Ches
ter, and daughter, Mrs. Sarah
Green, of Pittsburgh, Pa.
The Master has called to re
ward two of our faithful mem
bers, Elder J. E. Strong and
Deacon T. Brown. They are
greatly missed.
Our minister, Mr. R. N. Cow
an, a member of the Senior
class of the Theological Depart
ment at Johnson C. Smith Uni
versity, preached a splendid ser
mon Sabbath evening.
The minister and congrega
tion worshipped with the Meth
odist church last Sabbath at
three o’clock.
PLANNING TO RID NEW
YORK OF SLUMS AND OLD
SHACKS.
New York, Oct. 23.—August
Hecksher, millionaire philan
thropist, is planning to rid New
York of its slum district on the
lower east side. Proposals
whereby the “old Taw" tene
ments would be demolished, to
be replaced by model apart
ment buildings surrounded by
parks fend playgrounds have
been furnished to Mayor Walk
er by Hecksher. ' The philan
thropist has just returned from
a tour to Europe, where he was
Mayor Walker’s “special emis
sary" to study methods now
prevailing in Europe for proper
housing relief in congested dis
tricts.
In this connection, it is under
stood by associates of Hecksher
that he is willing to devote dose
to $100,000,000 of his personal
fortune toward the undertaking.
According to Hecksher’s plan,
the city and the State would be 4
asked to add $250,000,000 to a
fund of a like amount collected
from individual philanthropists.
Present lower east side dwell
ers, Hecksher says, could be
housed by the city in temporary
quarters while their homes are
being razed and rebuilt. The en
tire project, according to Heck
sher, could be completed in
from 10 to 15 years and it would
do away with what he considers
New York’s most immediate
problem.