mBMEae
VOL. XLIX.
CHARLOTTE, N. C„ THURSDAY,
28, 1927.
BY THE WAY
A desire to excel is human,
but to advertise one’s excellency
is weakness incarnate and pro
ductive of hate.
Watch-Care Members
Why ask me this question?
Why not ask those who seem
to be extremely jealous about
Presbyterian law and usage and
‘’points of law” on this subject?
At the outset we see nothing ip
it to cause a real Presbyterian
to become alarmed over what
may appear to him an infraction
of Presbyterian law as he un
derstands it. Then, too, where
there is no legal barrier there
is liberty. j
There is no Presbyterian prei
scription for posture in prayer;
therefore Presbyterians have
elected to stand—and this is not
iron-clad, for some sit and bow
their heads in prayer. There
is no Presbyterian law declar
ing oh what night of the week
the church should or must hold
its prayer meetings or at what
hour on the Sabbath we should
or must begin our religious ser
vices; but, as a general rule, we
conduct our prayer meetings on
Wednesday night and begin
preaching services on the Sab
bath, In the rural districts, at 12
o’clock, noon. "
These are matters that are
adjusted by the conditions and
circumstances governing the
case at hand and not by any
point of “lex scripta or lex non
scripta.”
As to watch-care members
they are not enrolled among
the membership of the church
whose session gives them
watchful care. Some watch
care-members are simply mem
which they worship, but have
particular watchful care of the
session; they receive from the
session moral and spiritual at
tention and advice as often as it
is convenient and possible, with
the hope that such persons will
soon decide to connect them
selves with the church under
whose session, they are carefully
watched. The session, being
Godly men, is to strengthen
these members in faith—“Peter,
when thou art converted,
strengthen thy brethren”—-to
the end of bringing them into
the church. Then, there are
Presbyterian church members
in your town or community who
are members of a con
gregation in some other
town or city, who are quite of
ten objects of many of our ses
sions’ watchful care. Our ses
sions—if they are up to their
duty—will see that such mem
bers are at home in their church
and among the flock. The Mod
erator and session are to see
that they are not neglecting to
strengthen the things that re
main by not exercising watchful
care over such members by
keeping in touch with them
from tvery angle of the church.
By the way, a minister in a
town of New York State wrote
one of our Fresoyterian minis
ters in Charleston two years
ago and gave him the address
of one of his members, who was
in Charleston for the winter, and
asked this Charleston Presbyte
rian minister—not knowing that
the Charleston minister was
colored—to visit this member—
giving his name, street and res
idence number—and to keep in
touch with him and ‘‘give him
watchful care”
While this is not “Presbyterian
Ijaw” it is an old practice that
has not outlived its day among
Presbyterians who^ elect to usd
their liberty in tKe absence of
law, when the use of that lib
erty is carrying out the two
great Christian duties, and thal;
is: organize and strengthen the
things that remain. As Chris
tians that is our whole duty and
the only job we have to put
over. All other phases of Chris
tian service are subservient to
these two (organize and
strengthen.)
This watch-care “fright” was
practiced in the Presbyterian
Church among Scotch ministers
in pastoring British subjects
and in this country .by men
strong in the faith delivered to
the saints and in • Presbyterian
law and doctrine. It was the
practice of many of our first
workers from the North to the
Freedmen, just after the Civil
War, and hitherto among those
who can distinguish . between
law and the liberty that wins
spiritual battles. It was good
when used by Scotch minister?
among British subjects, and it
is most excellent now. Many
of our strongest and most faithr
ful church members were first
under the watch-care of the
session. Nearly every membe^
of the colored Presbyterian
churches of the-Islands of South
Carolina was first a watch-car^
member. He had some spiritual
father among the members of
the session, or Godly man outf
side the session for that matter^
to lead him and instruct him iri
the upward way. And if that i?
against Presbyterian law, let us
lay Presbyterian law on the shelf
among the things that are oblir
vious., I feel free to say without
any fear of a successful contra*
diction that the most responsive
and respectful for Godliness one
wishes to find among churcli
folk in our colored wing of the
Church are in these islands. I
am not boasting. I have beeri
the rounds among Negro Pres
byterians and do not know the
half of all, but I know that.
To be more specific, I should
say that this watch-care mem
bership was the practice by
strong Presbyterian ministers
in Virginia and in North
and South Carolina and in
Georgia, .where the strong*
hold of Nefcro toesfeyterians is.
Bit' tins makes it neither right
nor wrong, but shows that it is
expedient, prudent and wise. It
exhibits breadth of vision, in
vites growth and strength as it
relates to the Church. Then,
too, if there were any law or
polity against such practice, to
step over it means victory for
the Church; for it is an effort
to enlarge God’s Kingdom by
means that are in no way mor
ally questionable.
Wise and far-seeing men have
elected many times to suspend,
overstep or repeal any law or
custom when such obstructed
moral victories and Godly and
manly principles. Makers of
history have this to their credit
writ large. This is engrossed in
much of Christ’s teaching that
His Kingdom may not crumble
under many of Moses’ laws.
Otherwise a poor woman would
have been stoned to death.
UNCLE BILLIE.
Edisto Island, S. C.
PRESBYTERY OF MCCLEL
LAND.
The Presbytery oi Mcuieuana
convened with Bowers’ Chapel,
Wellford, S. C., April 6. Rev. 0.
M. McAdams, the retiring Mod
erator, opened the session with
a very excellent sermon from
Gen. 18: 19.
The Rev. L. E. Ginn was unan
imously chosen Moderator and
Eld* S. J. L. Patterson was
made Clerk pro tem.
Mr. Luther Quarry, Mayor of
Wellford, graciously tendered
words of welcome on hehalf of
the town of Wellford and Prof.
C. B. Johnson made a timely re
sponse for the Presbytery.
Revs. C. J. Baker, L. D., and
D. S. Collier, Presbytery of Bir
mingham; G. W. Long, D. D.,
and W. C. Jones, Presbytery of
Fairfield ; F. H; Wardlaw, Pres,
bytery of Enoree, and A. L.- Sex
ton, Spartanburg Baptist Asso
ciation, were granted seats of
corresponding members.
Rev. B. H. McFadden was
elected Ministerial Commission
er to the General Assembly and
Dr. B. F. McDowell alternate.
Elder G. W. Marion, Sr., was
elected lay Commissioner, and
Elder W. Smith, alternate.
From the reports of the
churches on religious status
gratifying results were evident
The records showed that most
of the churches had met their
full benevolent quota. Dr. C. M.
Young, Chairmen of the Com
mittee on Program and Field
Activities, in making his report,
stood erect and vri-h lion-like
boldness and with a broad smile,
informed Dr. Baker that the
Presbytery had gene over the
top with a surplus of $51.
r. Dr. C. J. Baker, Secretary of
Benevolence for the four colored
Synods, and Dr. G. W. Long,
Synodical Executive, gave the
Presbytery inspirational and en
couraging addresses. Drs. Bar
ker and Long are far from asj
suming the role of bishops ip
our Church as some would thinkl
They are but servants of th^
Church and representatives of
the Boards and Agencies of the
Church. To these men, for the
energetic work on the part of
the Chairmen on Program and
Field Activities in the sixteen
Presbyteries and the cooperation
on the part of the ministry as a
whole, a debt of gratitude should
be ascribed. The colored branch
of the Church seven years ago
was simply a liability in benevo
lence. How do we stand today?
Let others speak.
Two real, genuine, gospel ser
mons were delivered to the
Presbytery during the devo
tional periods Thursday and
Friday by Revs. D. S. Collier
and F. H. Wardlaw. The latter
is the pastor of the white Pres-r
byterian church of Wellford. ,
Thursday evenings' session
was appropriated for a Men's
Popular Program. The Presby
tery listened with pride and in
terest to addresses on the fol
lowing named subjects: WJiat
Can Be Don§ to Increase the At
tendance of bur Tonify TJpon Out
Church Courts? Prof. C. B.
Johnson; What Can Be Done to
Create More Interest in the
Church Among the Young Peo
ple? Rev. J. H. Toatley; Our
Day Schools, Drs. C. M. Young
and J. S. Williams and Rev. C.
W. Francis. Prof. R. W. Boul
ware gracefully presided.
Mr. Patterson was taken un
der the care of Presbytery as a
candidate for the gospel minis
try, and was recommended to
the Board of Christian Educa
tion for aid to pursue his course
of study at Johnson C. Smith
University.
Friday evening was given
over to the Women’s Presbyte
rial for a popular program. The
program rendered was excellent.
The President informed us that
the women had gone over the
top with a surplus. Mrs. J. H.
Toatley presided.
The committee on resolutions
of thanks was very profuse in
its commendation of Dr. B. F.
McDowell, Bowers and the sis
ter churches for the comforta
ble manner in which they cared
for the Presbytery. The Pres
bytery was the recipient of a
unique reception Friday evening
in the beautiful church edifice.
The congeniality and hospitality
were so great on the part of
members and friends of Bowers
that the Presbytery began to
think as did Peter, “It is gpod
to be here,” and let us stay, but
on more sober reflection, she
thought that it was best to de
part to the valleys and other
hills where souls yet need to be
saved. So we took our leave
following prayer and the Apos
tolic Benediction, to meet with
Westminster church, Spartan-!
burg, S. C., the first Thursday
in September, 1927.
J. H. TOATLEY,
Stated Clerk;
H. Grattan Guinness, speak
ing of the Bible, well says:
“Witnesses of the Bible still
multiply. The mighty past is
speaking. God is bringing forth
its testimony. Egypt, Assyria,
Babylon, have broken the silence
of the ages. The moldering
monuments, the buried cities,
the sandy deserts, the sculp
tured rocks have found a voice.’1
igfii
WBA PRESBYTERY
t. L. B. West, D. D.
'' Spring meeting of Catawr
bytery was held with
yd Presbyterian church,
outskirts of Charlotte.
,te was April 6 to 8. The
orke Jones, D. D., is the
ir in charge.
I. M. Martin was the
Moderator. The Rev*,
on, pastor of Westmin
urch, Concord, preached
ning sermon. The text
/‘According to your faith
to you,” Matt. 9:29. “Lei
hesy according to the
ion of faith,” Romany
Rev. Wilson preached on$
of ifLe most illuminating ancj
challenging sermons that Presr
has ever listened to. Thq
;t of the sermon will apj
this paper.
Rev. Levi J. Melton, D;
tor of Cedar Grove and
ge churches, was chos
oderator.
Thf Rev. A. W. Foster, Ph. D.;
and Rev. R. L. Moore were the
clerk;
ytery received a warm
from Dr. Jones. In do
ing s$ he gave the facts in con
nection with the beautiful new
in which Presbytery was
The old Lloyd church
ught by Ex-Governor
s. Cameron Morrison. A
lie was selected near Gray
,rk on the Monroe Road,
and ‘ Mrs. Morrison
the lot, and built a nice
church and furnished it. The
churc i sits in a beautiful
grovei Jt has two acres of fine
land. f Dr. R. P. Wyche, Stated
Clerk of the Presbytery, assist-;
ed Bi| Jones in the negotiations.
'sons have not only
mm bdthave prom
ised to help in its progress and
development.
Dr. Chas. H. Shute made a
very fitting response to the wel
en
welcc
come.
Presbytery was largely at
tended. The weather conditions
were good. The churches made
encouraging reports, although
they had some very discourag
ing features to contend with dur
ing the year. The rural churches
had lost a good many members
through migration. The financ
es of the churches had a set-back
on account of the low price of
cotton. But in spite of that
more benevolence and General
Assembly money had been
raised than a year ago. The
spiritual condition of the
churches was good. Evangelis
tic campaigns had been carried
on and several accessions had
been made.
Several new ministers were
added to the Presbytery’s roll.
Rev. W. R. Mayberry, Yadkin
Presbytery; Rev. 0. E. Sanders,
Cape Fear Presbytery, and Rev.
J. H. Gamble, Fairfield Presby
tery, were received by letter.
Presbtery ordained two can
didates to the gospel ministy:
Messrs. J. H. ‘Ward and L. C.
Alexander. Dr. F. J. Anderson
made the ordination prayer and
Dr. P. W. Russell delivered the
charge.
The following ministers were
accorded seats as corresponding
members; Rev. T. R. Lewis,
Pittsburgh Presbytery; Rev. C.
J. Baker, Birmingham Presby*
tery; Revs. A. H. Prince and
Warren C. Jones, Fairfield Pres
bytery
The Commissioners to the
General Assembly are as fol
lows: Ministerial, the Rev. C. H.
Shute, D. D., Principal; the
Rev. L. J. Melton, D. D., alter
nate; lay, Elder C. A. Burke,
Principal; and Elder D. C. Rich:
ie, alternate.
Presbytery voted to make the
General Assembly, Presbyterial
and Synodical tax 20 cents per
member for a period of two
years.
Presbytery appointed an as
sistant to the Stated Clerk. The
Rev. H. Wilson is the assistant;
Presbytery appointed a statis
tical committee to work in con
junction with the Stated
--~--—*- ...
Clerk’s office. The Committee
is as follows: Revs. H. Wilson,
F. C. Shirley and L. B. West.
A resolution was passed to
the effect that all churches ap
point a benevolence committee
whose duty it shall be to collect
the benevolences of the church.
This resolution will be sent to
each church in printed form.
Presbytery listened with
pleasure to an address freon
Dr. T. R. Lewis, President of
Scotia Seminary, on the progress
and development of that insti
tution. He said the prospects
are very bright.
Presbytery accepted its be
nevolence quota for the ensuing
year.
Dr. C. J. Baker, the Field Sec
retary for benevolence of the
four colored Synods, made a
stirring appeal for Presbytery
to raise its full benevolence quo
ta.
The work of the women was
forcefully presented to the Pres
bytery by Mrs. H. L. McCro
rey, President of Catawba Syn
odical, and Mrs. Eli Jewell, an
officer of that body.
A popular meeting was held
on Thursday night. The sub
ject of ’ evangelism was very
ably presented. The speakers
were: Drs. R. P. Wyche, W. E.
Partee and C. H. Shute. Dr. I.
H. Russell, the Synodical Evan
gelist and Director of. Evangel
ism in the four colored Synods,
delivered, an effective address.
The meeting was presided over
by Dr. C. N. Jenkins. The choir
of Lloyd church rendered ex
cellent music.
The members of Lloyd church,
assisted by members of Ben
Salem and Murkland Presbyte
rian churches, and Weeping
Willow A. M. E. Zion church,
entertained Presbytery in high
class fashion. Presbytery was
more than pleased and ex
pressed its gratitude in resolu
tions of thanks as well as by in
dividual expressions from the
floor. The pastor and people are
to be highly commended.
Memorial services were con
ducted in memory of Dr. F. L.
Brodie who had passed away
during the year. Moderator
Melton presided. Appropriate
music was sung. Short eulogis
tic addresses were made by Drs.
C. N. Jenkins, L. B. West and
C. J. Baker. Prayer was offered
by Dr. G. S. Leeper.
The report of the Committee
on Vacancy and Supply showed
that a few changes had been
made. Rev. L. C. Alexander
goes to St. Paul. Dr. Geo. S.
Leeper goes to Lisbon Springs.
Rev. E. U. D. Goring goes to
Green Street and Trinity. The
vacant churches are: Brook
lyn, Lincolnton, Lloyd and New
Hope.
Presbytery appointed the fol
lowing committee to install the
Rev. 0. E. Sanders, pastor of
Brandon church: Revs. C. N.
Jenkins, H. Wilson, and L. B,
West, and Elder W. H. Stinson.
Presbytery adjourned to meei
in the Fall.
URBAN LEAGUE REPORTS
ON INDUSTRY FOR
MARCH.
Bulletin No. 13 of the Indus
trial Relations Department of
the National Urban League
summarizes employment condi
tions as follows:
General Conditions
Employment improved some;
what during March, the adT
vance coming late in the month.
The iron and steel plants, in
which a large proportion of Ne
groes is employed, showed imr
provement in Ohio and Pennsyl
vania. -;
Prolonged unemployment pe
riods in the West were eased
and the month closed with
brighter prospects for April.
Condition Among ^Negroes
Reports from our associates
in scattered parts of the United
States tell of unemployment and
curtailment in working hours
almost without exception. This
caused a general restlessness
wit lithe result that workers
moved bade and^ forth among
cities within easy reac hof each
other. Baltimore andColum
buS usually fruitful cities for*
Negro workers and among the
last to, feel the depression, re
ported large numbers out of
work.
Specific reasons were given
for the shortage of work among
Nemroes in certain cities.;; For
instance, in Springfield, Illinois,
nine lockouts or strikes have
forced some 5,000 men out of
work, of whom 225 we*e Ne
groes; in Florida work ordinar
ily done by Negroes is being
taken from them and given to
whites, and wages have, been
cut. In Milwaukee the retire
meqt of colored waiters has
been forced by patrons . of a
large hotel.
Organized Labor ^
Here and there were- incidents
showing relationship with Or
ganized labor. In Baltimore,
the Young Workers Labor Far -
ty has been especially actiyfc^
two colored speakers appeorthg
at its open forum. '
One half of the brick-masons
of Lexington, Ky., who received
a raise from $1.25 to $1.50 per
hour were Negroes. ; ,
In Philadelphia* through the
Armstrong Association there*
the cooperation of colored em
ployees was sought and. secured
in a recent labor dispute between
the Manufacturers' Association
and the labor forces of that city*
ST. JAMES CHURCH
GREENSBORO
By Mrs. G. A. Bridges "•/,
Sunday morning Rev. H. C.
Hirpe from Eccl. 3:lfl,
ising as a subject, “The Event
rhat Will Not Disappoint Ub.m
By way of introductipn the
speaker said: “Since life and
ieath are ultimates they canhot
t>e explained.”
The speaker showed how
things slip from us—wealth,
friends, health. Few realize
their hope. Continuing, he
pointed out how man has tri
umphed in his battles against
the forces of nature; how he
has strangled the bacilli so that
a dozen pestilences lie dead at
his feet, yet he has found ho
method to battle death—rthe
event that comes to all. i
•The Ladies’ Aid met with
Mrs. M. C. Phifer last Thursday,
The meeting was well attended
and much business Was; dbtte;
after which the hostess served
delectable refreshments. !.
The Earnest * Workers; are
still holding the Loving Cup, the
banner for finance, and attend
ance going to J. R. Nocho class.
Her many friends will be glad
to know that Miss Nettie Mae
Fuller is at home again and is
very much improved in health,
We pray for her a speedy recov
ery. . vij
r
Mrs. M. C. Phifer left last
Saturday evening for New York
where she will join her husband;
We regret very much to losekso
faithful a worker in our Sab*
bath school and the Missionary
Society.. - j : • -
Mr. Reginald Cuhdiff;;> of
Wilkesboro, spent Monday with
his aunt, Mrs. G.> A. Bridges.
One of the most enjoyable af
fairs of the week was the love
ly banquet given by Superinten
dent Burgans for the Earnest
Workers on last- Thursday night
in the basement of the church.
The decorations.-were lovely.
Carnations and fern were - used
as center pieces on each table.
The members of the Up and Dot
ing Class /were guests of the
Earnest Workers. Mrs. E. B;
Meares had charge of the games
which were very interesting- and
amgfcg. -"‘A ’
The menu for the evening was
chicken salad* lettuce, ’ English
peas, candied sweet', potatoes;
stuffed celery, crackers, lemon
mousse with macaroni, aiad cot
fee. ■ ' '■ * - !
arr;M .