Newspapers / Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.) / May 15, 1930, edition 1 / Page 1
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lijT&g ■■■ -:" i' ''i“- '^Tj[*' I*! Sill -. ——:-- - BY TOE WAY Wealth makes friends with wings who fly away at Wealth's funeral; but the wise will be honored and remembered after death for their wisdom. Rev. H. M. Scott, our faith ful Salbbath School Missionary, who carries on in the State of Florida, invited some brethren of another denomination to ac company him to our white Syn od. U S. A., in session in one of our Florida cities last Fall to let the brethren of a sister denomination see just how we carry on as a great Church. As soon as they entered, the pas tor in whose church this Synod was despatching business, ap proached them and kindly asked them to vacate and told the colored brethren: “You know just how it is down here; but I am sorry/’ etc. There was noth ing to do but to hide your face and steal out as if you had com mitted a very serious crime. Last Fall one year ago Rev. W. T. Frasier, our pastor of Wallingford church in Charles ton, and Reverend Ledbetter pastor of the Plymouth Congre gational church in Charleston, visited the Scotch Presbyterian church, U. S. A., in Charleston to witness the examination and ordination of Dr. Alexander Sprunt’s son. Dr. Alexander Spruht, who is the pastor of the Scotch Presbyterian' congrega iton, met these two colored preachers at the door and most cordially shook hands with them and introduced these brethren to the Presbytery of Charlesr ton; and on motion Rev. Fra| sier was accorded a seat as cor* responding member, and Rev. Ledbettef-Congregational minister, wa's introduced. This was done by a rising vote of Charleston Presbytery, one of the most thoroughly Southern Presbyteries in the world when it comes to honoring the tradi tions and gathering up the brok en and scattered links of cus toms of the old South. Was Dr. Sprunt ignorant of Southern traditions that are so deep-seat ed and crystallized in the warp and woof of the South’s social and economic fabric? I say not. I)r. Sprurt, though having been born in Glasgow, Scotland, is an rlumnus of Davidson College of the early 70’s; and a graduate of Union Theological Seminary at Richmond, Va. They tell me that he was reared in Wilming ton, N. C., where his father was a wealthy cotton dealer. This w mid seem to show Dr. Sprunt in the light of a real Southern man. Evidently he knew where, what and who. Why" did these skypilots act adversely in their behaviour to ward these two brethren of col or’ The reason is quite clear to me. I think those of us who have kept ourselves informed in the history of these two branch es of the Presbyterian Church know that the Presbyterian Church, U. S., believes that the Negro should be off to himself, while the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., takes the opposite view of the matter. But when a preacher of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., comes South, he feels that he is in Rome and must do as the Romans do (in Florida for instance) or as he thinks they would do under cer tain conditions and circum stances. The Presbyterian preacher, U. S., seems to feel that his branch of the Church put the bars up and only his branch of this great Church has a right to take them down. He feels that if social and ecclesiastic in novations are to be initiated and carried out in full measure on Southern traditions as they affect the Negro, they must be the objects of their own efforts. And when these two branches of the Presbyterian Church *titait$ktogether the comin£ «en~ eration will find this tobe the crux, the Gordian knot. Dr. Walter Lingle, President of Dayidsen College,,said in The Presbyterian Magazine in the February issue, that neither the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., nor the Presbyteran Church, U. S., is "One hundred per cent in its treatment to the Negro/’ He is pretty thoroughly correct; but there are degrees in treat ment. I feel very sure that Dr. L ingle’s Northern brethren ex hibit mo^e the fraternal spir it than his good brother among whom we live; while we have quite a number this side of the Mason and Dixon’s line with hearts' that are as big as the souls of men dying in the Chris tian faith; but they have to go slowly and speak often behind closed doors. But we appreciate that. UNCLE BILLIE. KIAMK» PRESBYTERY The Presbytery of Kiamichi was convened by the call of the Stated Cleric in Pleasant Valley Presbyterian church at Broken Bow, Okie.* April 17, 1930, at 7:30 P. M. The opening sermon was preached by the retiring Moderator, Rev.. J. D. Stan back! Rev. Stanback took for his text Acts SJB, “Silver and gold have I none, hut such as I have give I thee/’ Rev. Stanback proved beyond ,a shadow of a doubt r that we should use what w# have for the glory cf God and the adancement of His kingdom. Many expressed themselves as having heard a most wonderful aermon. Wo are always glad to hove Rev. Stan swtian. The Presbytery was called to order and prayer offered by the Moderator. The roll was called and a quorum declared. Revs. ,C. N. Shropshire and W. E Houston, of the White River Presbytery, were accord ed seats as corresponding mem bers. Rev. J. W. Mallard was elect ed Moderator and Elder Gar field Williams was elected Tem porary Clerk. The Committee on Arrangements reported and a collection was taken. The long meter doxology was sung and we retired for the night. Friday morning was taken up in discussing National Missions and Evangelism. We had with us the iRev; W. E. Houston, of Springfield, Mo., of the White River Presbytery, who is also a member of the staff of the Board of National Missions. He addressed the Presbytery on the subject^ of National Missions. Dr. Houston fired us up with en thusiasm. Long may his words linger with us and keep the fire of duty burning on the al tar of our obligations. The re port on Evangelism showed an increase of 17 per cent in mem ^.ership for the Presbytery. nev. t. js. nargrave, our syn odical Evangelist, paid us a visit, stopping, at Beaver Dam church. Grant, Okla., for 8 or 10 days. He swept the people off their feet. Notwithstanding there was some objection to having a meeting at tliis sea son of the yew, 14 conversions were had and there were 12 ad ditions to the church, making 20 additions since last we met. The church almost doubled its number last year. Foreign Missions and Board of Pensions were also discussed. . The next striking feature of the day was the report on Pro gram and Field Activities. This report showed a wonderful growth of interest in our Boards and an amazing increase in the interest in our churches in pay ing their quotas. More than 75 per cent of the churches paid their full quotas. The quotas for the current year were ac i REV. T, A, W Pastor of Good Will Presbyteri 1 Before coming to us at Ft. Pieil Luke Presbyterian church, Orange! at Bamberg, S. C., where he laboa Principal of Frasier Excelsior Aca] Presbyterian church of the same n He was born August 1,1890, ini the ancient city of Midway. He 3 Maria Robinson. He attended pub] well and Colleton Counties, S. G*ftl State College. Lateb he took a b C.. He finished, his preparation for] four-year course in Thjeology. Gospel ministry. . . The subject of this sketch hi being a gifted preacher he is3 the Middle West and the East. 9i. Pitres Fla. itev. Robinson served St. rg. S. C.» and waa stationed for a number of y earn as my, and pastor of Zion Hill sll County, S. C., near $th cbBd .of Cato and rtvate schools in Bam E>uth Carolina. A. & M. •se in Durham, N. I] y by taking a full ss ordained to the He is an apt and fluent speaker as well as an exceptional writer. He firmly believes in, and teach es by precept and example, the fundamental principle of good morals. He holds that a person may have good morals without Christianity, but no man can -be a Christian without the best mor al character. WM. WHITE, Ft. Pierce, Fla. cepted t>y' the Preslbytery, and the ministers and elders were urged to see that their churches raise their quotas. Rev. G. A. Morrow was elect ed principal ministerial com missioner to the General As sembly, and Rev. J. W. Mallard was elected alternate; and El der C. M. Burris - was elected principal lay commissioner, and Elder Garfield Pratt was elect ed alternate. Friday night was education al night. The usual popular meeting was held. Rev. C. N. Shropshire, our Sunday School Missionary, had the floor, and spoke in the interest of the Sab bath School Work and the Board of Education. Rev. J. D. Stan back followed with a plea for Elliott Academy and its great work. A nice sum was raised for education. Saturday morning was the day for “Free Conversation no the State of Religion.” The dis cussions were fine. Every one seemed to have a brighter hope for the work in the future. The Stated Clerk read a com munication from Mr. and Mrs. Franklin in which was the in formation that they had given us an acre of ground and an old house building for church pur poses We have had our eyes on this property for some time, but we had no means with which to purchase it. Now the Lord has given it to us. .The Presbytery heartily accepted this property and appointeda committee to draw up a deed and place the same on file. All other matters having been adjusted to the satisfac tion of all, the Presbytery closed one of the most successful meetings in its history. G. A. MORROW, Stated Clerk. Sr. jjmes crater GREENSBORO By Mrs. T. B. Jones On Sunday morning, our. pas tor, Rev. H. C. Miller, gave a very fitting discourse which was on the theme of Mother’s Day. I He spoke from the text St. John 19:27; “Then saith he to the disciple. Behold thy mother.” Jesus, while He hung upon the cross—the cross which symbol izes so much in the lives of all men who embrace Christianity —remembered the women who followed Him to the last and showed honor and respect for his mother. Rev. Miller more over said, the cross upon which Jesus hung and His pierced hands have oyerturned nations and empires. Some of the vir tues he pictured the cross as symbolizing were: sacrifice, faith and sympathy. In the same way in which our Saviour was sacrificed upon the cross that we might not die, so have mothers of all times —the women of a\J ages—sac rificed their joys and even their lives for the well being of hu manity, nations and empires. The cross stands also for faith, without which who of us shall see God? Sympathy is typified through tears and heartaches, which are the part of the woman who bears the shame and disgrace which may fall upon her home, her family or her people. The pride of a nation was emphasized by the speaker not as wealth, citizens, soldiers, nor even vast domains, but as her women, her mothers. They stand behind every individual, nation and race. The earliest laws demand re (Continued on page 3) By Mrs. Hattie Toney Sunday, Ap*tt*Tth, was a d»y long to be remembered by our members and friends here. j& marked the culminating point of the installation of our worthy pastor, Rev.Thos. A. Robinson, who hag been laboring faithfully m our Zion for more than tvjo yea^s. For Rye nights during tl|e previous week, every church in in our community joined in ren dering special services each night, at which time the several pastors, yrith their member*, played well their parts in an of ficial way. Each night brought £ splendid crowd; at times standing room was at a premi um and some had to be turned .chooi came m lor its share of *rvice one night, bringing ou| i capacity crowd. The following ministers de? ivered able *nd forteful ser nons during the week: Rev. NL Smith, pastor T of Mt. Moral) Primitive) Baptist church lev. C. Byrd, pastor Beth' •taptiat.chunch; Rev. J. N. B ard, -pastor St. John A. M. K :hurch; Rev. M. P. Chappell* «8tor St. Phul A. M. E. church Prof. N. M. Christopher, Ch% ain and. Vice-Principal of Li: ?oln Park ?an to arrive, _______ he full quorum was present. Fhe glad tidings of their arri val soon began to spread among the members and^ friends who were anxiously awaiting them. Dinner was served m the manse and the brethren, most of whom had motored over two hundred miles and were fatigued, retired for the night. Sunday morning brought us a most ideal day, with a clear, beautiful sky. Old “Sol” began early to spread his glittering ra.ys over the beautiful and fa mous Indian River. It was just another of those beautiful sun rises that suggested the name, “The Sum-Rise City,” to the founders of Ft. Pierce. It also brought - a new epoch to the church life of South Florida and Ft. Pierce. Never before had a Presbytery sent a commission to install a minister as settled pastor of a Presbyterian congre gation of our group in .two hun dred miles or more of this point. Church loyalty and Christian enthusiasm were at high water mark from morning until night. By lO o’clock in the morning happy grpupg of little children, young folks and adults could be seen streaming towards the church from every direction. The firet service of the day was the- Sabbath school which opened with a large and enthu siastic crowd. The theme for the day was: “Giving Up All for the Kingdom.” Every, one seemed to be inspired with the spirit 'of the theme. Rev. E. J. Gregg, D. D., pastor of Laura Street Fredbyterian ehurch, Jacksonville, Fla., and Rev. H. M. Scott, our Sabbath school Missionary, were welcome vis itors, and made helpful re marks. • Promptly at 11:15 A. M., the visiting ministers with the pas tor ascended the-rostrum- and the. regular - morning services began at the proper time.. Rev* J.’ P. Foster, pastor of Mtr Vernon ’ Presbyterian church* Palatka, Fla., according to the scheduled program, preached the special ordination sermon to the two deacons who had previously been elected. He used as a text The Acts 6:3, fore, •brethren, look among you seven men nf honest report, full of the Holy Ghost, and wisdom, whom 7e may appoint over this busi ness,” Subject, “The Qualifica tions of a Deacon.” The speaker aptivated his audience with his Oliver tongued oratory, while Hod used him as a mighty shep herd, feeding his flock to the fatness of their souls. It was ndeed a burning message, long o be remembered. At the conclusion of this ser mon two brethren were set apart o the holy office of Deacon by he imposition of hands: Bros. Solomon Lowery and Marion McCoy. The congregation was dismissed until S P. M„ at which time the installation ser vice proper was scheduled. The hour of three brought a lacked hciise from every quar ter in the community—minis ters, teachers, doctors, business men, and folk in every walk of life—-to witness the crowning went of the day, the installa tion. mu Rey. E. J. Gregg, D. D„ ac cording to schedule, delivered the installation sermon. He used as a text the following words, “And there went out with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.” I Sam, 11:26, subject, “The Touch of His Hands.” The lowliest hearer could with ease clearly realize during his discourse that the spiritual Sun was in its zenith from the start of this great mes sage to the close. 0 how our heart? did burn within us while the man of God talked with' us by the way! The speaker drove home to his hearers the fact that in order to succe i1 there m ust go with the pastor * band * mop.-whose hearts God had. least God* has,, never touched has a right to office in God's great Church. He said that “righteous officers are equally important as righteous pastors and ministers.” At the conclusion of the ser mon which blest our very souls, the chairman of the commis sion, Rev. J. P. Foster, took up the installation ceremony prop er. The pastor-elect was asked to stand, which he did, at an an gle facing the audience slight ly from the left side, and the presiding minister from the right. Rev. Foster propounded the questions to him in a very grave and solemn manner from the, iBook of. Discipline, after which the members were asked to stand while questions of love and duty were propounded to them. The chairman then charged the pastor concerning his duty, and the members were charged of their duty to the pastor by Rev. H. M. Scott. The most beautiful ceremony was concluded by a warm greeting of handshakes by the members who were joined by more than two hundred visiting friends, and the presentation of flowers. The benediction was pronounced by the newly installed pastor. At night another stirring mes sage was delivered by Rev. H. M. Scott, at which time one new member, Miss Lula Toney, came forward and united with Good Will church. Closing re marks were made by Elder Bry ant, one of the commissioners from I aura Street Presbyterian church,; Jacksonville, Fla.; Dr. E. J. Gregg, Rev. J. P. Foster, ,,, and Elder Walker, of Palatka, Fla. Upon request of Elder Bry ant, “God Be With You Till We Meet Again” was sung as a cles ng piece by the congregation, while the entire audience min gled with a parting hand-shake, amid tears of spiritual and sa- .. . cred joy. Truly a great spiritual feast itt&iuk Zion bad closed which will long be remembered, and a happy people and pastor, were left to keep alive the spir itual fire. , Mr John Masefleld was re cently appointed Poet Laureate of England.
Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.)
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May 15, 1930, edition 1
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